Wow

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "Wow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise, admiration, or excitement in response to something impressive or unexpected. Example: "Wow, I can't believe how beautiful the sunset is tonight!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Opinion

Music

Travel

Books

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.30pm BST23 30 "I thought, wow, here's ol' moderate Mitt.

The Guardian

"He recognized that, wow, he's making significantly more than women who are more qualified than him, and that's really not OK," said Voswinkel.

The Guardian

So good for Jenner for unleashing her "wow" factor – but I doubt that it will be the full story.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now I know what most of you are thinking, and no doubt it runs something like: "Copyright infringement is a tricky issue that sh- … wow, that Princess Machine advert looks pretty cool!

The Guardian - Music

"I was excited just to maybe be invited along to the event and see some of the stars, but the fact they've put us up there as a nominee, alongside the boxing and the football and the motor sport and the golf, I was like, wow.

The Guardian - Sport

Brown's vital interventions towards the end of the Scottish referendum campaign were surprising only in the "wow, so he's still alive" sense.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

079126 29514, srilankaholidayhome.com, from £25 a night, £750 a month Pow-Wow Point Lodge is on the banks of the Peninsula Lake near Huntsville, Ontario, a beautiful area to explore.

The Guardian - Travel

AN ALLEGED assassination attempt on his deputy, a pow-wow in London for 15 opposition groups hoping to topple his regime, a call for him and his lieutenants to be tried for war crimes, and yet another row with UN weapons inspectors: on the face of it, the past week has brought nothing but bad news for Iraq's President Saddam Hussein.

The Economist

The acolytes of Ron Paul, a libertarian presidential candidate with a devoted and disgruntled following, did not disrupt the Republican pow-wow in Tampa as feared.

The Economist

Hence the antique rifle Mr McConnell brandished at a conservative pow-wow on March 6th he needs to persuade the hard right that he is not squishy.Republicans need a net gain of six seats to capture the Senate.

The Economist

"One strike and you're out," was Mr Immelt's message to the company's top 600 managers as they gathered for their annual pow-wow in Boca Raton in January.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Wow" sparingly in formal writing. While effective in casual communication, it can sound unprofessional in academic or business contexts. Consider alternatives like "remarkable" or "impressive".

Common error

Avoid using "Wow" in professional documents or academic papers. Its informal nature can undermine the credibility of your writing. Instead, opt for more sophisticated expressions of surprise or admiration.

Linguistic Context

The interjection "Wow" functions as an exclamatory expression used to convey a sudden feeling of surprise, admiration, or amazement. Ludwig provides examples of it being used in various contexts, reflecting its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Music

10%

Opinion

10%

Travel

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Wow" is a versatile interjection used to express surprise, admiration, or disbelief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and very common in informal contexts. While frequently found in news and media, sports, and lifestyle content, it should be used sparingly in formal writing where alternatives like ""incredible"" or ""amazing"" are more appropriate. Remember to consider the context and audience when deciding whether to use "Wow" in your writing to maintain the desired tone and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Incredible

Single-word exclamation conveying strong disbelief or admiration, less conversational than "Wow".

Amazing

Similar to incredible, but slightly more versatile across different contexts.

Unbelievable

Emphasizes the difficulty to believe something, often due to surprise.

That's astonishing

More formal and emphasizes the surprising nature of something.

I'm impressed

Directly expresses the speaker's feeling of admiration.

That's remarkable

Highlights the exceptional nature of something.

I can't believe it

Expresses disbelief, often used when something surprising happens.

How extraordinary

More sophisticated way of expressing surprise or admiration.

What a surprise

Directly states that something was unexpected.

You don't say

Expresses mild surprise or disbelief, sometimes sarcastically.

FAQs

How can I use "Wow" in a sentence?

"Wow" is typically used as a standalone interjection to express surprise, amazement, or excitement. For example: "Wow, that's an incredible performance!" or "Wow! I didn't expect that."

What can I say instead of "Wow"?

You can use alternatives like "incredible", "amazing", or "unbelievable" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "Wow" in formal writing?

No, "Wow" is generally considered too informal for formal writing. In such contexts, it's better to use more sophisticated expressions of surprise or admiration, like "that is remarkable" or "I'm impressed".

When is it appropriate to use "Wow" sarcastically?

"Wow" can be used sarcastically to express disapproval or disbelief. For example: "Wow... I can't believe you would do such a thing." The tone and context are key to conveying the sarcasm.