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Meaning & use

contrasting phrases

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/kənˈtrɑːstɪŋ freɪzɪz/
US/kənˈtræstɪŋ freɪzɪz/

Meanings

  1. nounplural

    Groups of words used to show a difference between two things, often with words like 'but', 'however', or 'on the other hand'.

    Grammar: Always plural; the singular is 'contrasting phrase'.

    Patterns

    • use contrasting phrases to do something
    • a list of contrasting phrases

    In her essay, she used contrasting phrases like 'on the one hand' and 'on the other hand' to present both sides.

    The teacher asked us to find contrasting phrases in the article that signal a change in opinion.

    Contrasting phrases such as 'however' and 'nevertheless' help connect opposing ideas smoothly.

  2. nounplural

    Short expressions that describe two things by emphasizing how they are different, often used in writing or speech for effect.

    Grammar: Countable; can be used with 'a pair of' or 'several'.

    Patterns

    • a set of contrasting phrases
    • use contrasting phrases in a sentence

    The speech was full of contrasting phrases like 'not this, but that' to highlight the choice.

    Learning common contrasting phrases can make your English sound more natural and fluent.

    He compared the two cities using contrasting phrases: 'bustling' for one and 'peaceful' for the other.

Word forms

singularcontrasting phrase

Common combinations

use contrasting phrases
Good writers use contrasting phrases to make their arguments clearer.
a list of contrasting phrases
The textbook provides a list of contrasting phrases for essays.
common contrasting phrases
Some common contrasting phrases are 'however', 'although', and 'whereas'.
contrasting phrases in English
There are many contrasting phrases in English that express opposition.

Synonyms and how they differ

transition phrases
Broader; includes phrases that add, contrast, or conclude, not only contrast.
linking words
More general; can show addition, cause, or contrast, while contrasting phrases specifically show difference.

Word family

contrast verb
To compare two things to show how they differ.
contrast noun
A clear difference between two things.
contrastive adjective
Relating to contrast, especially in language teaching.

Commonly confused: contrasting phrases or comparing phrases?

contrasting phrases vs comparing phrases

Comparing phrases show similarities ('like', 'similarly'), while contrasting phrases show differences ('but', 'however').

Practice

Which sentence uses a contrasting phrase correctly?

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “contrasting phrases”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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