a pretty shocking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pretty shocking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is surprisingly or unexpectedly shocking in nature. Example: "The news of the sudden resignation was a pretty shocking development for the entire team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

It's a pretty shocking visualization.

The New York Times

That's a pretty shocking figure.

The New Yorker

That's a pretty shocking statement, he says.

The Guardian

"It's a pretty shocking state of affairs for ordinary consumers," he told me.

The New York Times

That's a pretty shocking position for a man who aspires to be governor of his state.

The New York Times

A primary school in Somerset has berated parents for sending children to classes in a "pretty shocking state".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

So yeah, this is all pretty shocking.

Huffington Post

There are a lot of good Alex Katz paintings but a great one is pretty shocking.

Huffington Post

When I look at Hollywood as someone who's sort of an outsider, it's pretty shocking.

Vice

As a way to concentrate the mind, it's pretty shocking.

TechCrunch

She said it was an ideological attack on science and that it was "pretty shocking that leading Tory politicians are lining up to attack women's reproductive rights on the basis of no support in the medical community.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a pretty shocking" to express a moderate level of surprise or disbelief when something is unexpected but not necessarily devastating. It's suitable for conversational and informal writing.

Common error

While acceptable in informal settings, avoid using "a pretty shocking" in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more sophisticated vocabulary like "a remarkably surprising" or "a considerably startling" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pretty shocking" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe something surprising or unexpected. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a pretty shocking" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to express surprise or disbelief. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is commonly found in neutral to informal contexts, especially within news and media. While versatile, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives like "a remarkably unexpected" in academic or business settings. Ludwig examples show that its purpose is primarily to convey a sense of moderate surprise or unexpectedness rather than deep shock or horror.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite a surprising

Replaces "shocking" with "surprising" and "pretty" with "quite", softening the intensity.

rather a surprising

Similar to the previous one, but uses "rather" instead of "quite", maintaining a similar level of formality.

a genuinely surprising

Uses "genuinely" to emphasize the sincerity of the surprise.

a truly astonishing

Replaces "pretty shocking" with "truly astonishing", highlighting the level of amazement.

a considerably startling

Emphasizes the intensity of the surprise using "considerably" and replaces "shocking" with "startling."

a remarkably unexpected

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the event, replacing "shocking" with "unexpected" and enhancing it with "remarkably".

somewhat of a surprise

This phrase uses a noun form "surprise" instead of the adjective "shocking", altering the grammatical structure slightly.

a surprisingly disturbing

Replaces shocking for disturbing, altering the emotional undertone to concern or worry.

quite an eye-opener

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the sense of revelation and surprise.

a bit of a jolt

Employs informal language to express the suddenness and impact of a surprising event.

FAQs

How can I use "a pretty shocking" in a sentence?

You can use "a pretty shocking" to describe something surprising or unexpected, such as, "It was "a pretty shocking" revelation when he announced his resignation unexpectedly."

What can I say instead of "a pretty shocking"?

You can use alternatives like "quite a surprising", "rather a surprising", or "somewhat of a surprise depending on the context".

Is "a pretty shocking" too informal for academic writing?

Yes, "a pretty shocking" is generally considered too informal for academic writing. More appropriate alternatives include "a remarkably unexpected" or "a truly astonishing."

What's the difference between "a pretty shocking" and "a surprisingly disturbing"?

"A pretty shocking" generally conveys surprise, while "a surprisingly disturbing" suggests that something is unsettling or causing concern beyond simple surprise. The latter carries a negative connotation related to unease.