I want to explain something in the first sentence and then say some opposite thing in the second sentence. I thought, I could use the phrase in contrast to make the flow of a paragraph.
For example:
The statistics illustrate a low overall result. In contrast, the
figure shows a good completeness.
I doubt whether I am using the phrase in contrast correctly because I found the usage of in contrast to something correct as well. So, my main concern is whether we should use in contrast to something or simply in contrast followed by a comma.
Best Answer
The use of in contrast isn’t quite right here, and it isn’t really clear what is meant. Do the two sentences mean that the statistics are complete, but that they show a result lower than might have been expected? If so, you need to say something like The figures are complete, but they show a disappointingly low result.
EDIT: I see now that you are asking whether in contrast can be used on its own to introduce an opposing sentence. It can. For example, I might say It rained the whole of May. In contrast, June was a very dry month.
It follows in principle that you can use it that way in your example, but it remains unclear what two items are being contrasted. That may because of the use of completeness (which is not a good choice here anyway). Does it mean that the statistics are complete, or that whatever it is they describe is complete?