🦩 On the "on the contrary" 🦩

This is one of the most common mistakes I have to correct. Here is the deal: "on the contrary" does not mean "however" or "on the other hand." I repeat - it does not mean that. "On the contrary" means "the opposite of what has just been said is true."

✅ Here are some examples of its correct use. These come from a bunch of dictionaries.
- It is not an idea around which the community can unite. On the contrary, I see it as one that will divide us.
- "People just don't do things like that." "On the contrary, they do them all the time."
- The risk of infection hasn’t diminished – on the contrary, it has increased.
- "It must have been terrible." "On the contrary, I enjoyed every minute of it."

⛔️ Here are some examples of its incorrect use. These were written by me, but they closely imitate what was written by my IELTS students.

Writing task 1
# 1
In Italy, the oldest age group made up the largest proportion of the population in both years. On the contrary, in Yemen, it was the youngest age group.
# 2
CO2 emissions in Italy increased tenfold by 1968, remaining stable for the last ten years. On the contrary, in Sweden, they showed a steady decline, halving by the end of the period.

Writing task 2
# 3
Financial aid to developed countries is bound to be wasted or embezzled. On the contrary, humanitarian aid will be more beneficial, helping to tackle such problems as unemployment and famine.
# 4
Although higher prices may seem to be a good way to encourage people to consume less sugar, this measure cannot change people's genuine desires, and, on the contrary, may have negative effects on people's health.

✅ Here are my re-writes of the incorrect sentences above:

# 1
While in Italy the oldest age group made up the largest proportion of the population in both years, in Yemen it was the youngest age group.
# 2
CO2 emissions in Italy increased tenfold by 1968, remaining stable for the last ten years. However, in Sweden, they showed a steady decline, halving by the end of the period.
# 3
Financial aid to developed countries is bound to be wasted or embezzled. Humanitarian aid, on the other hand, will help to tackle such problems as unemployment or famine and will therefore be more beneficial.
# 4
Although higher prices may seem to be a good way to encourage people to consume less sugar, this measure cannot change people's genuine desires and may even have negative effects on people's health.

Generally, you won't ever need "on the contrary" in Writing Task 1 and hardly ever in Writing Task 2. Because - why would you write something that is not true and then disprove it? In #IELTS, you'll probably write something that is true immediately.