Against all expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Against all expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happened that was surprising or contrary to what was anticipated. Example: "Against all expectations, the team managed to win the championship despite being the underdogs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Against all expectations, OPEC holds most of the cards.

The Economist

Against all expectations, GCHQ is also flirting with Holacracy.

The Guardian - Arts

Against all expectations, Western influence suddenly seems to be winning out even in Myanmar.

The Economist

Against all expectations, he becomes a professor of the classics at the University of Missouri.

The Guardian - Books

Against all expectations, the victim, a young French-Canadian ne'er-do-well named Alexis St. Martin, did not die.

The New York Times - Health

Against all expectations, silicon-based chips have continued to improve in speed and capacity for the last five decades.

The New York Times

Against all expectations, you approach "Rabbit Hole" with a heavy heart and leave with a lighter one.

The New Yorker

Against all expectations their vintage electronics and thrusters are still, mostly, working in the intense -253C cold of outer space.

The Guardian

Against all expectations, the Tories have emerged intact (their grassroots effectively sidelined), while Labour is in serious danger of implosion.

The Guardian - Opinion

Against all expectations, they wore the other side down, using the media to whom Mr Purcell had never bothered to endear himself to great effect.

The Economist

Against all expectations, NBC renewed its quirky comedy "Community" on Friday night, at the same time that it quietly pulled the plug on the eventually ill-named "Smash".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Against all expectations" to highlight a surprising or unexpected outcome, creating emphasis and reader interest. Ensure the context clearly establishes what the expectations were.

Common error

Avoid using "Against all expectations" when the outcome isn't genuinely surprising. Overusing it diminishes its impact, reserve it for situations where the result truly defies what was reasonably anticipated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Against all expectations" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a clause or sentence, indicating that the event or situation being described is surprising or contrary to what was anticipated. Ludwig confirms its usability and correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

21%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Against all expectations" is a grammatically sound and widely used adverbial phrase to denote surprise or unexpected outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is both correct and versatile across various contexts, especially within news, scientific, and wiki-based sources. While several alternatives exist, such as "contrary to expectations" or "unexpectedly", "Against all expectations" maintains a strong presence due to its clarity and impact. When writing, it's best practice to reserve it for instances where the outcome genuinely defies anticipation, avoiding overuse to preserve its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Contrary to expectations

Direct synonym, replacing "against" with "contrary to" for similar meaning but slightly more formal tone.

Unexpectedly

A single-word adverb that captures the element of surprise, more concise.

Surprisingly

Similar to "unexpectedly", but emphasizes the feeling of astonishment.

Despite all predictions

Focuses on the contrast between predictions and the actual outcome.

In defiance of expectations

Suggests a stronger resistance or challenge to what was anticipated.

Against all odds

Emphasizes the difficulty or improbability of the outcome.

Belying all expectations

A more literary alternative, suggesting the reality proves expectations false.

In an unforeseen turn of events

Highlights the unpredictable nature of the situation.

To everyone's surprise

Focuses on the general reaction of astonishment.

It was not anticipated that

Expresses a formal and passive way to convey surprise about a specific outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "Against all expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "Against all expectations" to introduce a statement that contradicts what was predicted or anticipated. For instance, "Against all expectations, the small startup became a market leader."

What can I say instead of "Against all expectations"?

You can use alternatives like "contrary to expectations", "unexpectedly", or "surprisingly" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "Against all expectations" in formal writing?

Yes, "Against all expectations" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, in highly formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "contrary to expectations" or "despite all predictions".

What's the difference between "Against all expectations" and "Against all odds"?

"Against all expectations" implies a result that was not foreseen, while "against all odds" emphasizes that a result was achieved despite significant challenges or difficulties.