Meaning
used to indicate that something goes against common or widespread beliefs.
Primary Function
counter-myth opener
Communicative Purpose
to correct a widely held misconception by asserting the opposite is true.
Pattern
Contrary to what; think
Core Structure
Contrary to what; think
Função primária
counter-myth opener
Propósito comunicativo
to correct a widely held misconception by asserting the opposite is true.
Situações de gatilho
when presenting factual information, debunking rumors on social media, writing essays or reports where accuracy matters.
Contextos
informal conversations, academic discussions, news commentary, educational settings.
Padrão
Contrary to what; think
Estrutura central
Contrary to what; think
Slots de substituição
'many people' → 'most people', 'popular opinion', 'common belief'
Colocados típicos
- actually
- in reality
- the truth is
- despite popular belief
Substituições comuns
- Contrary to popular belief
- Unlike what people assume
Erros comuns
Adding extra clauses like "but ..." after the opening phrase creates redundancy and can obscure clarity.
Similar / contraste
Contrary to popular belief
Interferências
Learners may confuse this with "Actually" or "But", leading to weak contrast or redundancy.
Família do chunk
- counter-myth openers
Nuance
Slightly conversational tone compared with the more formal phrasing of 'contrary to popular belief'.
Efeito pragmático
Engages listeners by directly addressing their likely misconceptions, signaling that a correction will follow.
Dica de memória
Your thoughts are wrong
Nota
This chunk is often used in informal and academic contexts to challenge common misconceptions.
Upgrade path
from "Actually" → "Contrary to popular belief" → "Contrary to what many people think"
Log in to save chunks.