a large surprise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large surprise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a surprise that is significant in size or impact. Example: "The announcement of the company's merger was a large surprise to all the employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Constitutional Court's decision on the Lisbon Treaty did not come as a large surprise.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Though sudden, this shouldn't be a large surprise.

TechCrunch

According to the press release, Logitech is increasing its focus on mobile products and improving profitable in PC-related products, which shouldn't come as a large surprise.

TechCrunch

Nor do women expect that the pizza delivery boy will be packing a large surprise underneath that large pizza, even if the order does just so happen to be a meat lover's pizza.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The others being United and Chelsea, unless Tottenham spring a very large surprise with the Gareth Bale bounty.

The Guardian - Sport

The numbers offered some hope, but investors said it would take a much larger surprise to build optimism as traders await the Labor Department's monthly report on unemployment, which comes out on Friday.

The New York Times

That limited partners were willing to write the firm larger checks isn't a big surprise.

TechCrunch

Kevin and Alex wrote their chapters separately, neither letting the other read his writings until the manuscript was complete, so that epiphany came as an even larger surprise than one would assume.

Huffington Post

To give credit where it is due, there is something at least theoretically ingenious in the way Jacobson re-engineers the love plots from the original so as to bring about his own large surprises.

The Guardian - Books

We're looking out for a year or two for a large magnitude of surprise.

Forbes

To my great surprise a large and well-conducted study recently found the lowest mortality in the severely ill who had received low to moderate doses as compared with those who had taken no medicine or high doses.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a large surprise" when you want to emphasize the magnitude or impact of something unexpected. Consider alternatives like "a big surprise" or "a significant surprise" for different nuances.

Common error

While grammatically correct, consistently using "large" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using adjectives like "significant", "major", or "unexpected" depending on the specific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large surprise" functions as a noun phrase, where "large" modifies the noun "surprise". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, highlighting examples where it describes the magnitude of an unexpected event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a large surprise" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe an unexpected event of considerable magnitude. As Ludwig AI validates, the phrase is versatile, appearing in various contexts, from news reports to scientific publications. While "a big surprise" is a more colloquial alternative, "a large surprise" emphasizes the impact of the unforeseen event. Remember to vary your adjective choices to avoid repetition and tailor your language to the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a big surprise

Replaces "large" with "big", a more common synonym, resulting in a slightly more informal tone.

a huge surprise

Emphasizes the magnitude of the surprise more strongly than "large".

a significant surprise

Focuses on the importance or consequence of the surprise, rather than its size.

a considerable surprise

Indicates that the surprise is noteworthy and deserving of attention.

an unexpected development

Shifts the focus from the feeling of surprise to the event itself being unforeseen.

a major revelation

Suggests the surprise involves previously unknown information that has been uncovered.

a startling discovery

Emphasizes the shocking or alarming nature of the unexpected event.

an unforeseen event

Highlights the lack of anticipation for the event, distancing from the feeling of surprise.

a monumental shock

Combines the impact of the surprise with a sense of disbelief and astonishment.

an eye-opener

Implies that the surprise led to a new understanding or awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "a large surprise" in a sentence?

You can use "a large surprise" to describe something unexpected that has a significant impact. For example, "The company's sudden announcement of the merger was "a large surprise" to its employees".

What can I say instead of "a large surprise"?

You can use alternatives like "a big surprise", "a significant surprise", or "an unexpected development" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a big surprise" or "a large surprise"?

Both "a big surprise" and ""a large surprise"" are grammatically correct, but "a big surprise" is generally more common and informal. "A large surprise" may emphasize the magnitude or impact of the surprise.

What's the difference between "a surprise" and "a large surprise"?

"A surprise" is a general term for something unexpected. "A large surprise" specifies that the surprise is significant in size, scope, or impact.