suggest the contrary

USAGE SUMMARY

"suggest the contrary" is a perfectly valid and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when someone is making a suggestion, but you would like them to consider the opposite viewpoint. For example: "I think that we should open the store on Sundays. Suggest the contrary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

But recent news suggest the contrary.

The Guardian

Recent events around the world suggest the contrary.

The Guardian

(This despite a laughable effort to suggest the contrary, by Fox News contributor Steve Emerson).

The New Yorker

But many on the far right were just as keen to emphasise that there was no evidence as yet to suggest the contrary.

The Guardian

Though in his memoir Mill denied that they had had sex before they were married, there are purring letters that suggest the contrary.

The New Yorker

No MBA programme can provide you with a new network or guarantee you will be able to leverage its connections, much as they may suggest the contrary.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

And over the century since it was discovered, no experiment has ever suggested the contrary.

The Economist

As for the mounting archaeological evidence suggesting the contrary, Rabbi Grossman said: "There's no evidence that it didn't happen.

The New York Times - Books

The Zacks, though, rattle off anecdotal accounts and some academic work suggesting the contrary, and maintain that science is on their side.

The New York Times

For every scientific paper cited by those who say intensive farming is wrong, those who support it can produce one suggesting the contrary.

The Guardian

They spoke of enhanced focus, confidence and discipline after outlasting the Bills in a 20-penalty fiasco, and yet all evidence suggested the contrary.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "suggest the contrary", ensure the context clearly establishes the initial suggestion or expectation that is being contradicted. This provides a strong basis for comparison and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "suggest the contrary" when the initial suggestion is not explicitly stated or easily inferred. This can lead to confusion and weaken the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suggest the contrary" functions as a transitional phrase used to introduce information or evidence that opposes a previously stated or implied idea. It indicates a shift in perspective or a contradiction of expectations. Ludwig AI supports this usage, providing numerous examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "suggest the contrary" is a useful tool for introducing contrasting information or evidence. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in science and news media. As Ludwig examples show, the phrase functions to challenge existing assumptions by presenting alternative viewpoints. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, clarity is key: always ensure the initial suggestion is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Consider using alternatives like "imply the opposite" or "indicate the reverse" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imply the opposite

Replaces "suggest" with "imply", focusing on indirect communication of the opposite idea.

indicate the reverse

Substitutes "suggest" with "indicate" and "contrary" with "reverse", emphasizing a direct opposition.

point to the opposite

Uses "point to" instead of "suggest", highlighting directionality towards an opposing idea.

hint at the inverse

Replaces "suggest" with "hint at" and "contrary" with "inverse", suggesting a subtle indication of the opposite.

argue the antithesis

Uses "argue" instead of "suggest" and "antithesis" instead of "contrary", conveying a formal and direct opposition.

demonstrate the negation

Replaces "suggest" with "demonstrate" and "contrary" with "negation", emphasizing a clear and proven opposition.

evidence the contradiction

Substitutes "suggest" with "evidence" and "contrary" with "contradiction", highlighting the existence of conflicting information.

intimate the converse

Uses "intimate" instead of "suggest" and "converse" instead of "contrary", suggesting a subtle and potentially unspoken opposition.

lead to a different conclusion

Rephrases the entire idea to focus on arriving at an alternative conclusion, rather than directly suggesting the contrary.

offer an opposing view

Rephrases to focus on presenting a different viewpoint, rather than a direct contradiction.

FAQs

How can I use "suggest the contrary" in a sentence?

Use "suggest the contrary" when you want to introduce evidence or findings that oppose a previous statement or belief. For instance, "Initial reports suggested a decline in sales, but later data "suggest the contrary"".

What is a more formal alternative to "suggest the contrary"?

A more formal alternative is to say "indicate the reverse" or "demonstrate the negation". These phrases are suitable for academic or professional writing where precision is important.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state what "suggest the contrary" is opposing?

While not always mandatory, explicitly stating or clearly implying the idea being opposed enhances clarity. Without context, ""suggest the contrary"" can be vague.

How does "suggest the contrary" differ from "imply the opposite"?

"Suggest the contrary" typically introduces evidence or data that contradicts something. "Imply the opposite" focuses on indirect communication, where the contradiction is hinted at rather than directly stated.