Meaning & use
counter assertion
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Meanings
nouncountableformal
A claim made to oppose or answer another claim that someone has already stated.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a counter assertion' or 'several counter assertions'.
Patterns
- make a counter assertion
- a counter assertion that ...
- a counter assertion against something
- offer a counter assertion
In her reply she made a counter assertion that the figures had been read the wrong way.
His counter assertion, that the policy had never been tested, went unanswered in the debate.
The report offers no evidence for its counter assertion about falling costs.
noununcountableformal
The act of stating firmly that another person's statement is wrong.
Grammar: Uncountable here: it names the activity rather than one single claim, so no 'a' or plural.
Patterns
- counter assertion of something
- by counter assertion
The argument moved forward by counter assertion rather than by proof.
Her style of counter assertion annoyed the chair, who wanted documents, not denials.
Word forms
| plural | counter assertions |
|---|
Common combinations
- make a counter assertion
- The lawyer stood up to make a counter assertion about the timeline.
- a strong counter assertion
- That is a strong counter assertion, and you will need evidence for it.
- a direct counter assertion
- His direct counter assertion surprised everyone at the meeting.
- respond with a counter assertion
- Instead of answering the question, she responded with a counter assertion.
- a mere counter assertion
- A mere counter assertion will not convince the committee.
Synonyms and how they differ
- counterclaim
- A counterclaim is usually a formal legal or official claim made in reply, while a counter assertion is simply a stated denial or opposing claim in speech or writing.
- rebuttal
- A rebuttal is the full answer that tries to prove the other side wrong; a counter assertion only states the opposite and may give no proof.
- denial
- A denial says that something is not true, but it does not necessarily put forward a new claim, which a counter assertion does.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: counter assertion or counterargument?
counter assertion vs counterargument
A counterargument is a whole line of reasoning against a view, often with reasons and evidence; a counter assertion is just the opposing statement itself.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'counter assertion' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Make a counter assertion that ...' is the usual pattern, with 'that' introducing the opposing claim. Option 2 uses the verb form wrongly with a bare clause, and options 3 and 4 use prepositions ('of', 'for') that do not fit this noun pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “counter assertion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.