That would be unexpected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "That would be unexpected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express surprise or disbelief about a situation or outcome that is not anticipated. Example: "If he wins the election after all the controversies, that would be unexpected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Another category under this umbrella term is gender nonconforming, which Olson says can be used to describe children who are "not necessarily transgender" but who are "behaving or expressing their gender in a way that would be unexpected based on their genital anatomy".

Huffington Post

On the other hand, when considering the unliganded enzymes and in the absence of large changes in protein conformation that would be unexpected for this point mutation, W203Y would be assumed to be the most hydrated because of phenol's polarity and potential for forming hydrogen bonds; this would have resulted in less exothermic binding, which was not observed.

Biochemistry

Now that would be unexpected.

TechCrunch

These were designed as to get the music for these stuck in the players' heads as something they would remember throughout the day; to avoid making these become too routine, certain episodes featured variations on the interstitial that would be unexpected, keeping players on their toes throughout playing the game.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

At first glance this would be unexpected given that we found that a single 17 nt deletion in SMIM1 is the predominant cause of the Vel− blood type.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Although it is possible that such interactions may be antibody-specific, this would be unexpected.

British Journal of Cancer

First, this would be unexpected given that, overall, the incidence of Microcystis blooms in Ethiopia is much higher than in Belgium.

Evolutionary Applications

Though this would be unexpected to anyone following the headlines, it maybe isn't so surprising to those really paying attention.

Forbes

Given its bulky size, this would be unexpected.

Wikipedia

Earlier this month Musk trailed a new product that he asserted would be "unexpected by most", with the unveiling due to take place on October 17, ahead of a separate Tesla/SolarCity announcement planned for October 28.

TechCrunch

However, since cDNA microarray studies suggest that multiple proteins play a role in acquired drug resistance, it would be unexpected that ABCB1 siRNAs could fully restore drug sensitivity in our drug-resistant breast tumour cell lines.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that would be unexpected" to politely express surprise or disbelief, particularly when discussing potential outcomes or behaviors that deviate from the norm. For a stronger emphasis on surprise use a close synonym like "That would be surprising".

Common error

While grammatically correct, relying heavily on "that would be unexpected" in formal contexts can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that would be unexpected" functions as a comment clause expressing surprise or a lack of anticipation regarding a hypothetical situation. It often appears in scenarios where an outcome deviates from the expected course, similar to what Ludwig's examples illustrate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that would be unexpected" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey surprise or a lack of anticipation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While its frequency is relatively rare, it appears across various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. To enhance your writing, consider using synonyms to avoid repetition and tailor the phrase to the specific nuance you wish to convey. Alternative phrases include "that would be surprising" or "that would be unforeseen". The phrase serves primarily to comment on a hypothetical event, implying it deviates from current expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

That would be surprising

Replaces "unexpected" with "surprising", focusing on the element of astonishment.

That would be unforeseen

Substitutes "unexpected" with "unforeseen", emphasizing the lack of anticipation.

That would be unanticipated

Replaces "unexpected" with "unanticipated", highlighting the lack of prior expectation.

That would be a surprise

Simplifies the structure, focusing on the noun "surprise".

That would be out of the blue

Uses the idiom "out of the blue" to indicate suddenness and lack of warning.

That would be a shock

Replaces "unexpected" with "shock", implying a stronger sense of surprise.

That would be quite a turn-up

Uses the British idiom "turn-up" to express an unexpected event or outcome.

That's hardly what I'd expect

Expresses a stronger sense of disbelief or deviation from expectations.

That's not what one would anticipate

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing the lack of anticipation.

It defies expectations

Shifts the focus to the action of defying expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "that would be unexpected" in a sentence?

You can use "that would be unexpected" to express surprise about a potential outcome. For example, "If he actually apologizes, "that would be unexpected"."

What can I say instead of "that would be unexpected"?

You can use alternatives like "that would be surprising", "that would be unforeseen", or "that would be unanticipated" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "that would be unexpected"?

Yes, "that would be unexpected" is grammatically correct. It uses a conditional clause followed by a descriptive adjective to express surprise or disbelief.

What's the difference between "that would be unexpected" and "that is unexpected"?

"That would be unexpected" suggests a hypothetical scenario and the speaker's surprise if it were to occur. "That is unexpected" describes a present situation that the speaker finds surprising.