Word: conversely (adverb)

Associations

"Conversely" is used to show that the next statement is the opposite or reverse of what was said before.

• Example 1: "He loves spicy food. Conversely, his sister prefers mild flavors." Here, it shows the opposite preference.
• Example 2: "The weather was very hot in the city. Conversely, it was quite cool in the mountains." It contrasts two situations.
• Example 3: "She is very outgoing. Conversely, her brother is shy." It points out the difference between two people.

A well-known synonym is "on the other hand." The difference is that "conversely" often introduces a direct opposite idea, while "on the other hand" can show contrast but not always a direct opposite.

Substitution

You can replace "conversely" with:

• "on the other hand" (a bit less formal)
• "in contrast"
• "however" (but this is more general contrast, not always exact opposite) Using these changes the tone slightly but keeps the idea of showing difference or opposition.

Deconstruction

The word "conversely" comes from the root "converse," which means "to turn around" or "to be opposite." The suffix "-ly" turns it into an adverb, meaning it describes how something is said or done, showing the relationship between ideas.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a sentence where you want to show the opposite idea? How would you use "conversely" there?
• Have you seen "conversely" used in books or articles? What was the opposite idea it introduced?
• How is "conversely" different from just saying "but" or "however" in your own language?