which could contradict

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which could contradict" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a statement, idea, or piece of evidence that may oppose or challenge another statement or idea. Example: "The new evidence presented in the report is significant, as it includes findings which could contradict the previous conclusions drawn by the researchers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

There was no conceivable human behavior which could contradict them".

The Guardian - Opinion

This impression, then, was further explained by the qualitative data, which could contradict, confirm or complement.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Digital currency wise, we're really concerned about the environmental impact and scalability of the blockchain," he says — which could risk Openbook contradicting stated green aims in its manifesto and looking hypocritical, given its plan is to plough 30% of its revenues into 'give-back' projects, such as environmental and sustainability efforts and also education.

TechCrunch

This behaviour could contradict forestry management strategies as deer may browse on target species, e.g. beech or oak, which are of high economic value for forestry and nature conservation.

Forest Ecology and Management

Would he do that if they could contradict him easily?

The New Yorker

When perceived competence to develop evidence-based practice was assessed in a Spanish study, it was found that nurses with shorter experience obtained the best scores [ 21], which could be seen as contradicting our results, and was explained by recent experience from university studies.

BMC Family Practice

This observation, which could initially raise some concerns, does not contradict previously reported nucleosome maps where MNase degradation was supposed to only reflect nucleosome positioning [ 10, 11, 43- 50, 59- 61].

BMC Genomics

This can be illustrated by individual Rip contradicting the species phylogeny like RipG7CMR15[ 17], RipD CMR15, RipH2_1Po82 and RipAX1Po82, which could be indicative of rapidly evolving or horizontally acquired genes (Additional file 4).

BMC Genomics

It is understandable that with these contradicting properties the pelvic floor is prone to failure, which could ultimately lead to symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction [1].

Insights into Imaging

The ruling, which could affect thousands of Eritreans, one of the largest groups to seek asylum in Britain every year, contradicts the government's existing country guidance, which deems it safe for migrants to return to Eritrea after leaving illegally.

The Guardian

These studies, at times contradicting with respect to some mechanisms, underscored that short-term treatment with anti-TNFα may partially restore a more tolerogenic microenvironment, which could be instrumental for the induction of immune tolerance with epitope specific immune therapy.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which could contradict", ensure that the statement it refers to is clearly defined and understood by the reader to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid stringing together multiple clauses with "which could contradict" as it can lead to convoluted and difficult-to-read sentences. Break down complex ideas into simpler statements for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which could contradict" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or noun phrase. It introduces a potential opposition or inconsistency. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which could contradict" functions as a relative clause indicating a potential contradiction. While grammatically sound, as Ludwig AI states, it is relatively rare in general usage, primarily appearing in scientific and news media contexts. Alternatives like "that might challenge" or "which may counter" can offer subtle shifts in meaning. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in the statement it modifies and avoid overuse in complex sentences to maintain readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which may counter

A more direct substitution, keeping the potential aspect but using a single verb.

that might conflict with

Replaces "contradict" with "conflict with", indicating a struggle or incompatibility.

that might challenge

Substitutes "contradict" with "challenge", indicating a less direct form of opposition.

that potentially opposes

Replaces "could contradict" with "potentially opposes", softening the strength of the contradiction.

that could undermine

Focuses on the potential to weaken rather than directly contradict.

that potentially clashes with

Uses a more vivid verb "clashes" to denote the contradiction.

that might refute

Uses "refute" implying a stronger contradiction, and replaces "could" with "might".

which may disprove

Replaces "could" with "may" and "contradict" with "disprove", suggesting a higher degree of certainty.

that may invalidate

Emphasizes the potential to render something invalid rather than simply contradict it.

that may belie

Suggests that something may disguise the truth, implying a contradiction between appearance and reality.

FAQs

How can I use "which could contradict" in a sentence?

Use "which could contradict" to introduce a clause that presents a potential opposing viewpoint or evidence. For example, "The new data includes elements "that might refute" previous findings".

What are some alternatives to "which could contradict"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "that potentially opposes", "that might challenge", or "which may counter", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "which could contradict" formal or informal?

"Which could contradict" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, though it appears more frequently in formal and scientific contexts. Simpler alternatives may be preferred in very informal settings.

How does "which could contradict" differ from "which does contradict"?

"Which could contradict" implies a potential or possible contradiction, whereas "which does contradict" states a definitive contradiction. The former is more tentative, while the latter is a statement of fact.