That was not unexpected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "That was not unexpected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a particular outcome or event was anticipated, even if it was not explicitly stated. Example: "When the team lost the match, I thought to myself, 'That was not unexpected given their recent performance.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

BAGHDAD — The Arab League delayed its annual summit meeting yet again on Wednesday, a decision that was not unexpected given the turmoil sweeping the region but was nonetheless certain to disappoint the Iraqi government.

The New York Times

According to the official press, the prime minister, Gen. Thein Sein, and 22 cabinet ministers gave up their uniforms on Monday, a move that was not unexpected in advance of the elections.

The New York Times

In a move that was not unexpected given the personnel shifts over the last two weeks, Hearst Magazines today named Kate Lewis as chief content officer.

Forbes

Use of AED drugs was heterogeneous among patients, a finding that was not unexpected in a multicenter retrospective study over ten years.

Critical Care

A good death was identified as one that was not unexpected, where appropriate care goal transition could take place and there was time to evaluate various treatment options.

BMC Palliative Care

A simultaneous Wald test for the inclusion of all 13 terminal nodes in the model was significant, with a chi-square statistic of 34.3 (p = 0.001, with 13 degrees of freedom), a result that was not unexpected, given that the terminal nodes were created through binary splits determined via hypothesis tests.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Then came a question that wasn't unexpected: Was China really twenty years behind the United States, like he'd read in the newspaper?

Vice

Many of the doctors I spoke to or exchanged e-mail with made commonsense suggestions that were not unexpected.

The New York Times

This indicates a temporal change in the cage environment that is affecting mortality, an effect that is not unexpected, because the cage environment was not cleaned during the course of the assays.

Plosone

The GSN shares extensive similarity with the EDM, a result that is not unexpected given that the two draw on the same data sources.

BMC Systems Biology

However, being able to attribute causality to events that are not unexpected in the diabetic population is not a precise science (7).

Diabetes Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "That was not unexpected" to subtly convey that an outcome, although possibly negative, was within the realm of reasonable possibility based on prior events or circumstances. It adds a layer of understanding and acceptance to the situation.

Common error

While "That was not unexpected" is grammatically sound, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and nuanced language that directly states the reasons for the lack of surprise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "That was not unexpected" functions as a commentary or assessment on a situation or event. It expresses a lack of surprise, indicating that the outcome aligned with prior expectations or knowledge, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "That was not unexpected" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a lack of surprise at an event, suggesting it aligned with prior expectations. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase functions as a commentary, conveying understanding and anticipation. While its register is generally neutral, more formal contexts may benefit from more specific language. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media and scientific sources. Alternatives include phrases like "that came as no surprise" and "that was foreseeable". The frequency of "That was not unexpected" is common, indicating its regular usage across various sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

That came as no surprise

Replaces "unexpected" with "surprise", emphasizing the lack of astonishment.

That was foreseeable

Substitutes "unexpected" with "foreseeable", highlighting the predictability of the event.

That was predictable

Similar to "foreseeable", but focuses on the ease of predicting the outcome.

That was anticipated

Uses "anticipated" instead of "expected", stressing prior expectation.

That was to be expected

A more formal way of saying something was predictable.

That wasn't surprising

Focuses on the lack of surprise the event caused.

It was always on the cards

An idiomatic expression indicating the event was likely to happen.

We saw that coming

An informal way to say something was anticipated.

It was a foregone conclusion

Suggests the outcome was inevitable and known in advance.

That was inevitable

Replaces "unexpected" with "inevitable", stressing the unavoidable nature of the outcome.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "That was not unexpected"?

You can use alternatives like "that came as no surprise", "that was foreseeable", or "that was anticipated" depending on the context.

What does "That was not unexpected" imply?

It implies that an event, situation, or outcome was predictable or likely based on prior knowledge, circumstances, or patterns. It suggests a lack of surprise or astonishment.

Is "That was not unexpected" a formal or informal expression?

The phrase "That was not unexpected" is considered relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more precise language might be preferred in highly formal settings.

How to use "That was not unexpected" in a sentence?

For example, "Given the company's financial difficulties, the layoff announcement, that move "that was not unexpected"."