But unsurprisingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "But unsurprisingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a statement that is expected or predictable based on prior information or context. Example: "The team struggled to meet the deadline, but unsurprisingly, they were overwhelmed with the workload."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But unsurprisingly, he's only stopping in major 2012 battleground states".

The New York Times

But unsurprisingly, they disagree sharply on how to accelerate hiring now.

The New York Times

But, unsurprisingly, the industry got taxpayers to pay for the inspectors.

Independent

But, unsurprisingly, many of the small farmers have got into difficulty and have had to sell up.

The Economist

But, unsurprisingly, an excess of critical-theory-reading photography majors doesn't make for a promising donor pool.

The New Yorker

But, unsurprisingly, the language on the driving ban is a bit vaguer, mainly guaranteeing "women's rights to free travel".

The Guardian - Opinion

But, unsurprisingly, the smaller parties that benefit from the two-ballot system are unlikely to back the change.

The New York Times

But, unsurprisingly, the collapse of the housing market had a serious impact on a couple with a nest egg tied up in real estate.

The New York Times

But, unsurprisingly for a free market journal,  it said that "techno-nationalism" was not the answer to fears of cyber-espionage.

Independent

But, unsurprisingly, he had mixed feelings about it.He sat out the races in 1972 (too soon after Chappaquiddick) and 1976 (his son was recovering from cancer).

The Economist

But unsurprisingly, it was still a very liberal crowd: 79percentt identified as "left-leaning" and 89percentt reported voting for Hillary Clinton.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "But unsurprisingly" to smoothly introduce a statement that aligns with prior context, creating a sense of logical progression for the reader. Remember to ensure the "but" introduces a contrast, while "unsurprisingly" signals the predictable nature of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "But unsurprisingly" if there isn't sufficient preceding information to make the statement's predictability clear to the reader. This can lead to confusion or a sense that the phrase is being used incorrectly, as the lack of surprise won't be evident.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "But unsurprisingly" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It connects two clauses, indicating a contrast introduced by "but", while also signalling that the information in the second clause is predictable based on the prior context, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "But unsurprisingly" is a grammatically correct and common construction used to introduce a predictable statement in contrast to a preceding clause. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase serves to acknowledge a contrasting situation while highlighting its lack of surprise. When using "But unsurprisingly", ensure that the context clearly supports the expectation being conveyed to avoid any confusion. Alternatives such as ""not surprisingly"" or ""predictably"" offer similar meanings and can be substituted based on the desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not surprisingly

A more straightforward and slightly less formal alternative to "But unsurprisingly".

Unsurprisingly, then

Inverts the structure while maintaining the core meaning, suitable for emphasizing the lack of surprise.

Yet predictably

Replaces "unsurprisingly" with "predictably", maintaining a formal tone and implying an expected outcome.

However, as expected

Uses "as expected" to highlight that the outcome aligns with previous anticipation.

Though predictably

Similar to "Yet predictably", this option introduces a slight contrast while emphasizing predictability.

Still, as anticipated

Emphasizes the anticipation of the event, making it a slightly more formal alternative.

Even so, predictably

Implies that despite a previous condition, the expected outcome still occurred.

Even so, as one might expect

Adds a touch of formality by using "as one might expect", suggesting a widely held expectation.

It was no surprise that

Shifts the focus to the lack of surprise, rather than directly stating the event was unsurprising.

As was to be expected

Highlights the inevitability of the outcome, implying a strong expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "But unsurprisingly" in a sentence?

You can use "But unsurprisingly" to introduce a statement that follows logically from the previous context. For example, "The project was poorly managed, but unsurprisingly, it went over budget".

What are some alternatives to "But unsurprisingly"?

Some alternatives include "not surprisingly", "predictably", or "as expected". Choose the one that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

Is it redundant to use "but" and "unsurprisingly" together?

While both words indicate a degree of expectation, "but" introduces a contrast, and "unsurprisingly" emphasizes the predictability. Using them together can strengthen the sense of inevitability while still acknowledging a change in direction.

What's the difference between "But unsurprisingly" and "Surprisingly"?

"But unsurprisingly" indicates that something expected happened despite a potential contrast. "Surprisingly", on the other hand, indicates that something unexpected happened. They convey opposite meanings.