Suddenly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Suddenly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens unexpectedly or without warning. Example: "Suddenly, the lights went out, leaving everyone in darkness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He died suddenly in 2006 in unclear circumstances.

The Guardian

Suddenly, you're on your own.

The New York Times

Depression is like that – it's never just suddenly over.

The Guardian - Sport

I suddenly found myself playing against the Villa first-teamers.

The Guardian - Sport

The youngest of five children, Musharaf says he developed a stammer very suddenly when he was five.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I'm not going to get into attacking individual candidates … but I do think we should be setting out Labour ideas for the future and not just saying suddenly the Tories are right about a whole series of things," she said.

The Guardian

"Suddenly, you can do things to get a clue about what might account for the result," he says.

The Guardian

Out of my depth, and committed to a professional political engagement I no longer believe in, I suddenly have every sympathy for David Cameron.

The Guardian - Opinion

They argued that, because loyalist paramilitaries had no representation in the Stormont parliament or that because socioeconomic or educational attainment was low in poor Protestant areas around eastern Belfast, these communities suddenly erupted in anger.

The Guardian

After the final whistle the odd supporter used social media to allege that Carver – whose suddenly relegation-threatened side are now only five points above the bottom three and visit renascent Leicester on Saturday – had sworn at his detractors, before issuing an invitation "outside" for a fight.

The Guardian - Sport

I was angry because I knew that I was too young to confront the nihilistic truth that Christmas was suddenly devoid of meaning or purpose.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Suddenly" to introduce an element of surprise or a change in the narrative flow. It works best when setting up a contrast with the preceding situation.

Common error

Avoid starting too many sentences with "Suddenly" in a single passage. Over-repetition can diminish its impact and make the writing feel repetitive. Vary your sentence structure with alternatives like "all of a sudden" or rephrasing the sentence altogether.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "Suddenly" primarily functions as a sentence adverb, modifying the entire clause and indicating a rapid and unexpected change of events. Ludwig examples show it introducing surprising occurrences in various narratives, conforming to standard grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Suddenly" functions as an adverb to denote unexpected and rapid occurrences, as affirmed by Ludwig. The phrase is grammatically sound, enjoying widespread use across numerous contexts, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it's important to avoid overuse for stylistic reasons, instead using alternatives such as "abruptly" or "unexpectedly" to avoid repetitive sentence structures. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and applicability in diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

All of a sudden

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the event more strongly than "Suddenly".

Without warning

Highlights the lack of anticipation preceding the event.

Abruptly

Focuses on the sharp and immediate nature of the action or change.

Unexpectedly

Directly points out the lack of expectation surrounding the event.

Out of the blue

Suggests the event was completely unpredicted and surprising.

In an instant

Highlights the speed and brevity of the occurrence.

In a flash

Similar to "In an instant", but with a slightly more dramatic tone.

Like a bolt from the blue

Uses a vivid simile to convey the unexpected and shocking nature of the event.

On the spur of the moment

Indicates an action taken impulsively and without prior planning. Emphasis on spontaneity instead of the rapidity.

In the blink of an eye

Emphasizes the extreme speed with which something happened.

FAQs

How can I use "Suddenly" in a sentence?

"Suddenly" is typically used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to indicate that something happened quickly and unexpectedly. For example, "Suddenly, the music stopped" or "The rain began "all of a sudden"".

What are some alternatives to "Suddenly"?

Alternatives to "Suddenly" include "unexpectedly", "abruptly", "all at once", and "out of the blue". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "Suddenly"?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with "Suddenly". It functions as an adverb modifying the entire sentence.

What's the difference between "Suddenly" and "Immediately"?

"Suddenly" implies something unexpected happened, whereas "immediately" means something happened without delay. "The lights went out suddenly" suggests the power outage was unexpected. "The doctor arrived immediately" means the doctor came as quickly as possible.