“On the contrary” vs “In contrast” - NYU Web Publishing

So we can see, then, that “in contrast” is used to refer to a different subject that does some other thing that is different from the first ... Skiptocontent Home–welcome! Appointments–forfeedbackonyourwriting Resources–acuratedlistofadvice Updates–thelatestprogramnews Sci-WriBlog–originalthoughtsonsci-wri About–andcontact RecentPosts Bookwithme September5,2021 Freshflyers:Sometimesallyouneedisafreshperspective December17,2020 ReturnofWritingFeedbackServices December17,2020 “Onthecontrary”vs“Incontrast” December17,2020 COVID-19homestays:Yourwritingawaits March10,2020 MailingList Latestprogramupdatesandblogpostsstraighttoyourinbox EmailaddressEmailaddress [email protected] It’sbeenaminutesinceI’veprovidedahotwritingtip,sohere’sonethatispositivelyspicy: Onthecontrarydoesnotmeanthesamethingas incontrast!  ToooftenIreadpaperswhereauthorsuse“onthecontrary”whereinfacttheymean“incontrast.” Sowhatexactlyisthedifferencethen?I’llillustratewithsomeexamples. Incorrectusage: –Fredwaslate.Onthecontrary,Wilmawasearly. Correctusage: –Fredwaslate.Incontrast,Wilmawasearly. Correctusage: –Fredwasnotlate.Onthecontrary,hewas10minutesearly. Incorrectusage: –OurNMRresultssuggestthestructureisX.Onthecontrary,ourXRDresultssuggestthestructureisY. Correctusage: –OurNMRresultssuggestthestructureisX.Incontrast,ourXRDresultssuggestthestructureisY. Correctusage: –OurXRDresultsdonotsupportthehypothesisthatthestructureisX.Onthecontrary,theyconfirmthatthestructureisindeedY. Sowecansee,then,that“incontrast”isusedtorefertoadifferentsubjectthatdoessomeotherthingthatisdifferentfromthefirstsubject.Incontrast(seewhatIdidthere?),“onthecontrary”isusedtorefertothatsamesubject,buttointensifythedenial(negative)ofwhatwasstatedjustprior.Fromtheabovesentences:NotonlywasFrednotlate,butevenfurther,hewas10minutesearly.NotonlydotheXRDresultsnotsupportX,butevenfurther,theycompletelydisproveX. Takethistipandgoforthandwritewell.Ihaveconfidencethatyouwillnotconfusethesetwophrases.Onthecontrary,youwillalwaysemploythemcorrectlyfromnowon🙂 LeaveaReplyCancelreplyYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*CommentName* Email* Website Savemyname,email,andwebsiteinthisbrowserforthenexttimeIcomment. Δ Postnavigation PreviousPreviouspost:COVID-19homestays:YourwritingawaitsNextNextpost:ReturnofWritingFeedbackServices