That's unbelievable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "That's unbelievable" is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English
It is often used as an exclamation to express surprise or disbelief. Example: "I can't believe you finished the entire project in one night. That's unbelievable!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Informal Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

"Oh my God, that's unbelievable," he said.

The New York Times

"To win 14 in a row, that's unbelievable," Brady said.

The New York Times - Sports

People come with tremendous passion … They have anger that's unbelievable.

The Guardian

He added that the company had a product pipeline that's "unbelievable".

The New York Times - Tech

You can go out there, and you stand on a mountaintop, and it's so quiet that you get this sense of space that's unbelievable.

The New York Times - Magazine

He never stops running and working hard for the team and never looks tired, and for an 18-year-old kid that's unbelievable.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Seeing Both do that was unbelievable.

The Guardian - Sport

"What an innings, that was unbelievable.

BBC

Tell Lowry that was unbelievable".

Los Angeles Times

"You have these moments that are unbelievable.

Los Angeles Times

"They have anger that is unbelievable.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In sports reporting, use this phrase to punctuate a moment of extraordinary skill or an unexpected comeback.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase as a generic filler in professional writing. If used sarcastically without clear context, the reader may misinterpret your reaction as genuine praise when you intended to express skepticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "That's unbelievable" functions primarily as an evaluative exclamation. It consists of the demonstrative pronoun "that", the contracted linking verb "is" and the evaluative adjective "unbelievable". In many Ludwig examples, it serves as a reactive sentence that comments on a preceding statement or event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sports

20%

Personal Essays

5%

Less common in

Academic Writing

2%

Legal Documents

1%

Technical Manuals

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Analysis of data from Ludwig AI confirms that "That's unbelievable" is a highly effective, grammatically correct phrase used to signal extreme reaction. It is a cornerstone of conversational English and reactive journalism. Whether used to celebrate a sports milestone or to express shock at political news, its core function remains the same: marking an event as extraordinary. While it is versatile, writers should be mindful of the surrounding context to ensure their tone (admiration vs skepticism) is clearly understood. Alternatives like "that's incredible" or "that's astonishing" can provide more specific nuance if needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

That's incredible

Stronger emphasis on positive wonder or awe.

That's astonishing

Slightly more formal and emphasizes the scale of the surprise.

That's amazing

Common informal alternative used for positive surprises.

It's hard to believe

Shifts the focus to the speaker's personal struggle with the facts.

That's beyond belief

More emphatic and often used for negative or tragic situations.

That's unheard of

Suggests that the event is unique or has no precedent.

That is inconceivable

Significantly more formal and suggests something is impossible to imagine.

That's preposterous

Adds a layer of judgment, implying something is ridiculous or foolish.

That is staggering

Highlights the overwhelming nature of a statistic or fact.

That's mind-blowing

Modern slang that emphasizes extreme intellectual or sensory shock.

FAQs

How do I use "That's unbelievable" in a sentence?

It is most often used as a standalone exclamation or a parenthetical comment. For example: "He broke the world record again. "That's unbelievable"."

What can I say instead of "That's unbelievable"?

Depending on your intent, you can use "that's incredible" for positive awe, "that's astonishing" for formal contexts, or "hard to believe" to express doubt.

Is "That's unbelievable" always a positive comment?

No. While it can praise a great achievement, it is frequently used to describe something tragic, illogical or false, as seen in phrases like "that's beyond belief".

What is the difference between "That's unbelievable" and "That's incredible"?

While often interchangeable, "that's incredible" almost always carries a positive connotation, whereas "That's unbelievable" is more neutral and can be used for both positive and negative shocks.