Surprisingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Surprisingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce an unexpected or astonishing fact or situation. Example: "Surprisingly, the team managed to complete the project ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Scandals that aren't out of tune with a celebrity's image are often surprisingly easy to bounce back from: after images of Kate Moss snorting coke surfaced, her bookings fell, but, over time, they went up.

The Economist

Suddenly and surprisingly, at what many thought was the end of a long career at the heart of EU politics, Juncker has become the most divisive figure in Europe.

The Guardian

The median length of a marriage is about 11 years which, they point out, fits "surprisingly well" with the Pleistocene 15.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He is one of a dozen new players and although the money raises expectations, they have actually brought a new team together surprisingly quickly: Nuno is a charismatic manager with talented players and the results have been impressive.

The Guardian - Sport

Available across all the price ranges (beginning at £15) there is a surprisingly large swathe of games back on the market, including both quarter-finals at the Millennium Stadium, England v Uruguay, New Zealand v Argentina, France v Ireland, South Africa v Scotland and France v Italy.

The Guardian - Sport

There are, of course, Basque cultural organisations in the city, such as Harrobia Bilbao, a performing arts group established in a former church in the Otxarkoaga area in 2011, but their presence feels surprisingly marginal in a city that is supposed to be at the heart of Basque culture.

The Guardian

Most ardent fan: George Martinez, surprisingly, is a massive Bronson fan.

The Guardian - Music

Social media users have been surprisingly vocal about the weather across much of the east coast.

The Guardian

Not surprisingly, the Russians nevertheless believe that they were misled: imagine our reaction if the position were reversed.

The Guardian

Perhaps surprisingly, this temple to a key pastime of students and the hungover has been launched by a physiotherapist, Bryan Robertson.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A surprisingly tense and nervous Mr Blair has stressed time and again that he believed Saddam should be removed "if there was any possibility" that he had WMD.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "unexpectedly" or "astonishingly" to avoid repetition and maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "Surprisingly" merely as a transitional phrase without genuine surprise or unexpectedness, which can dilute its impact and make your writing seem less purposeful.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "surprisingly" is to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, adding emphasis to the unexpected nature of the action or quality being described. Ludwig confirms this through its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surprisingly" functions as an adverb to denote something unexpected or unusual. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that its grammatical usage is correct, and it appears frequently in various contexts, especially in news and media. While it's a versatile term, be mindful of overuse and consider synonyms like "unexpectedly" or "astonishingly" to maintain engaging writing. Remember to use "surprisingly" when there is a genuine surprise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unexpectedly

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation surrounding the event or situation.

Astonishingly

Highlights the degree to which something is surprising or impressive.

Remarkably

Focuses on the noteworthy or exceptional nature of the surprising element.

Incredibly

Stresses the difficulty of believing or imagining the surprising thing.

Unbelievably

Implies that something is hard to accept as true.

To my surprise

Indicates a personal feeling of astonishment about something.

Against all expectations

Emphasizes that the outcome defied what was generally anticipated.

Contrary to popular belief

Suggests a contrast with commonly held assumptions.

Out of the blue

Highlights the sudden and unexpected nature of something.

Who would have thought

Rhetorically questions the predictability of the surprising event.

FAQs

How can I use "Surprisingly" in a sentence?

You can use "Surprisingly" to introduce an unexpected or unusual fact. For example, "Surprisingly, the weather was perfect for the entire trip."

What can I say instead of "Surprisingly"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpectedly", "astonishingly", or "remarkably" depending on the context.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "Surprisingly"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "Surprisingly" to emphasize the unexpected nature of the statement that follows.

What's the difference between "Surprisingly" and "unexpectedly"?

While both words convey a sense of something not being anticipated, "Surprisingly" often carries a stronger emotional connotation, indicating a feeling of astonishment or wonder, whereas "unexpectedly" is more neutral.