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Phrase: On the other hand
Today, we’re going to get into the nitty-gritty of English phrases by looking at the phrase, on the other hand.
On the other hand, is a little phrase used to introduce a contrasting idea or point of view.
It is one of the ways of presenting two different perspectives or opinions on a particular topic or issue.
The phrase on the other hand can introduce a contrasting idea after you have already made a point.
For example, if someone says, “I love spending time outdoors,” they might follow up with, “On the other hand, I hate camping.”
We often associate being outdoors with camping, but those two things do not go hand in hand at all for this person.
This phrase provides balance to the conversation and allows for a more nuanced discussion.
Another way to use, on the other hand, is when introducing an alternative perspective to an argument.
For instance, if someone argues that technology has made our lives easier, another person could say that technology has made our lives more complicated.
The phrase, on the other hand, can be used to introduce this alternative perspective.
“Sure, computers have sped up office work and made it much easier, but on the other hand, it has also complicated things exponentially.”
During my life, I have lived in many big cities such as Sydney, Australia; Toronto, Canada and Osaka, Japan.
Here is an example of how I can use, on the other hand, in a real-life conversation:
“I really enjoyed living in the city for its convenience and access to amenities. On the other hand, I prefer the quiet of living in a small town.”
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least an 8th-grade education (age 13 – 14).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 61.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.