10 Formal Synonyms for “On the Flip Side”

Are you trying to figure out the best ways to say “on the flip side” formally?

If you’re worried the phrase is too informal or insincere to include in professional writing, you’ve come to the right place.

This article will teach you how to say “on the flip side” professionally.

These synonyms will help to get the ball rolling for you:

• Conversely
• On the contrary
• In contrast
• Alternatively
• On the other hand
• Inversely
• To contradict this
• However
• In a different vein
• Nevertheless

Keep reading to learn a formal synonym for “on the flip side.” We’ve compiled the list above, and now we’re going to break each alternative down further in the headings to come.

1. Conversely

We recommend starting with “conversely” as another way to say “on the flip side.”

Generally, this is a great option to include in academic writing.

For the most part, it keeps things professional and direct. So, it’s a good opportunity for you to explain your opinions to a reader, especially when you’re about to contradict them.

Of course, it’s important to remember that “conversely” will always introduce a contradiction to the sentence before.

So, you can check out these essay samples to learn more about how to use it:

This is the best option I had at the time. Conversely, I noticed other participants had a few other choices.

It’s clear what must be done. Conversely, something still doesn’t seem to fit with the results in question.

2. On the Contrary

We recommend using “on the contrary” as another way to say “on the flip side.”

Switching “flip side” for “contrary” is a great way to keep things more formal and sincere. So, you can use this when writing essays that indicate counterpoints or other arguments.

Generally, this works best when writing about specific arguments that go against a previous sentence.

You can use it in argumentative essays to demonstrate how you feel about a specific subject.

Also, you can review these examples to learn more:

They could argue about this for a while. On the contrary, I believe neither party has an appropriate solution to the problem.

This is my take. On the contrary, I can understand why others might disagree with what I’m offering.

3. In Contrast

For something a little simpler, feel free to write “in contrast.” This is one of the more common ways to introduce a counterargument in your writing.

This time, we recommend using it in a professional email.

After all, these synonyms aren’t only useful in essays!

You can use this when writing to a client. You might want to use it when contrasting what you can offer them to another company that offers a similar service.

Also, it’s good to check out this email sample to learn a bit more:

Dear Miss Woodland,

They can offer you only a few extra perks every year.

In contrast, we are happy to lay out exactly what we have planned for you.

Yours,
George Mighty

4. Alternatively

Going back to basics, there’s nothing wrong with using “alternatively.”

Generally, this works well in a professional setting. So, you can use it when writing to an employee and giving them options.

For the most part, “alternatively” will come later in your email. There’s no reason to start your email with the word because you aren’t responding to anything that gives an alternative view.

So, check out this email sample to learn a bit more:

Dear Taylor,

You could do this alone if that suits you better.

Alternatively, it might be smart to have a partner with you as you present your findings.

All the best,
Jonathan Foster

5. On the Other Hand

Another great phrase to include in your writing is “on the other hand.”

This is a great professional synonym for “on the flip side.”

Generally, if you’re going to include this, it will accompany “on the one hand.”

For instance:

• On the one hand … on the other hand …

The implication is that you start the first sentence with “on the one hand.” This allows you to explain your first point to the reader.

Then, your second sentence begins with “on the other hand.” This will help you to introduce a quick and effective counterpoint.

Here are some helpful essay samples to show you a bit more about it:

On the one hand, I could continue working on this. On the other hand, I think I’ve expended it for all its worth.

On the one hand, they could not work it out. On the other hand, they were looking in the wrong place and needed further guidance.

6. Inversely

Next, you can mix things up by using “inversely” instead of “on the flip side.”

This allows you to introduce a counterpoint in a more controlled way.

It’s formal and clear, making it easy to express to the reader what you want to achieve.

You might want to use this when writing an email to your employer. It shows you’ve considered your options before you consider leaving, and you want to get their feedback.

So, check out this email sample to learn a bit more about it:

Dear Ms. Jameson,

I have weighed up all the positives for my accepting this new offer.

Inversely, I hope you can counter the offer because I’ll miss the people here.

Yours,
Thomas Redgrave

7. To Contradict This

You can also include “to contradict this” in your writing to make your counterpoints clear.

There is no ambiguity or confusion with this phrase. Instead, it makes it clear that you’re attempting to contradict a previous point raised in your writing.

So, you might want to use this in academic writing. It’s a good opportunity for you to keep the reader on their toes and introduce an interesting argument.

Here are some helpful examples to show you more about it:

This is the best option I could think of. To contradict this, I still think it’s worth exploring some other choices.

They made their position on climate change clear. To contradict this, the other party offered an ultimatum.

8. However

We want to return to something a bit simpler for a second. After all, everyone has heard of “however” before.

You can use “however” instead of “on the flip side” to quickly and effectively introduce counterarguments.

It’s a fantastic way to show that you’ve thought things through and have to consider all the positives and negatives of a situation.

So, you might benefit from using this when writing to an employee. It suggests that they have to make a decision based on all the information you’ve given to them.

Feel free to check out this email sample to learn more:

Dear Freya,

I’m going to have to talk to you about this.

However, I’d like you to continue working on it for now, as I can see why you enjoy it.

All the best,
Jon Wells

9. In a Different Vein

You should also try writing “in a different vein” to mix things up.

This allows you to go off on a tangent and introduce a new idea. As with most of the synonyms in this article, it’s important to include this after a sentence to introduce a new point.

So, it’s good to use this when writing a professional essay.

If you can introduce counterpoints to your own arguments, your essay will stand out much more than the rest. So, it’s a surefire way to impress the reader with this method.

Check out these examples to learn more:

I was going to explore the impact of this on the environment. In a different vein, it seemed like a moot point.

It’s clear what has to happen next. In a different vein, I’m unsure whether I have the ability to do it.

10. Nevertheless

Finally, we recommend using “nevertheless” instead of “on the flip side.”

This is another one of the more common synonyms that most people come to expect.

So, you can use this when writing to an employee.

It’s an excellent opportunity for you to contact them to introduce two points that contradict each other.

For instance, you can use it when asking an employee to change a project. Even if you’re impressed by their choices, if they didn’t follow the original plan, you could use this term.

Check out this example to learn a bit more if you’re still confused:

Dear Martha,

I like what you’ve done with this project.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t meet the guidelines, so you will need to adjust it.

Best regards,
Don Smith

Is “On the Flip Side” Formal or Informal?

It’s clear that “on the flip side” is an informal phrase. So, you can’t use it in an essay.

Generally, you can’t use it professionally because it’s too casual to work well in most email formats.

With that said, it’s still correct to include it in your writing.

However, if you’re going to include it, we recommend doing so in text messages or something more casual.

You can review this example to learn how to use “on the flip side” in a sentence:

I suppose we could follow his ideas. On the flip side, I think we should reconsider what options we have