a rather astonishing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rather astonishing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is surprisingly impressive or remarkable. Example: "The results of the experiment were a rather astonishing revelation to the scientific community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

By F. Saunders and Wolcott Gibbs The New Yorker, June 11 , 1938P. 7 The executives of the Junior League got a rather astonishing letter from Joseph Otmar.

The New Yorker

In its first years, Channel 4 enjoyed a rather astonishing commercial honeymoon period: its advertising sales were handled by its main competitor, ITV.

The Guardian

A rather astonishing twist involving a doozy of a family secret explodes near the end, sending the rest of the story flying in every direction, but Mr. Akil reassembles it all in reasonably sound, if wildly implausible, order.

The New York Times

Using these social games we have a rather astonishing "fit" of 0.77.

TechCrunch

Trading exchange MTGox said it had struggled to handle a "rather astonishing" sudden influx of new users.

BBC

The game attracts almost 100 million viewers, a rather astonishing number given that there are only about 300 million people in the country.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"We can't get the right potatoes to make French fries right now," chef Smoire explained--a rather astonishing claim, I thought, in this noted year-round world capital of French fries.

Los Angeles Times

I find it all rather astonishing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though a world-class collector of data on anti-Catholicism -- a bias rather astonishing, as he shows, in its historical depth, its varieties and their application to basic issues of modern democracy -- he is not an apologist for the church.

The New York Times - Books

That quest is an illustration of the rather astonishing fact that we can't even really tell if drug prices are too high.

Independent

Through an error of punctuation Time ran the following rather astonishing post-election item: "In Minneapolis the discovery of a 10,000-vote tabulation error put snaggle-toothed William J. Gallagher, 69, a retired street sweeper, and Henry George, single-taxer, into the House".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this phrase when you want to convey a sense of wonder without being overly dramatic or hyperbolic.

Common error

Avoid using "a rather astonishing" in overly formal or academic writing where a more neutral or objective tone is required. Opt for phrases like "a significant" or "a notable" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rather astonishing" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to emphasize the surprising or remarkable nature of the noun it describes, adding a layer of emotional response or evaluation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rather astonishing" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to express surprise or mild disbelief. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts and is suitable for neutral writing. While it conveys a sense of wonder, it should be used judiciously in overly formal settings. Alternatives such as "a truly remarkable" or "a quite surprising" can be used depending on the desired level of intensity. The analysis demonstrates that while commonly accepted, considering context and desired level of formality when employing this phrase is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an utterly astounding

Substitutes "astonishing" with "astounding", while "utterly" intensifies the level of wonder.

a truly remarkable

Substitutes "astonishing" with "remarkable", emphasizing the noteworthy nature of something.

a quite surprising

Replaces "astonishing" with "surprising", softening the intensity of the amazement.

a considerably amazing

Replaces "astonishing" with "amazing", while "considerably" amplifies the extent of the amazement.

a greatly surprising

Replaces "astonishing" with "surprising", while "greatly" amplifies the extent of the surprise.

a genuinely impressive

Replaces "astonishing" with "impressive", focusing on the quality of eliciting admiration.

a decidedly stunning

Replaces "astonishing" with "stunning", focusing on the beauty and impressiveness.

a fairly incredible

Replaces "astonishing" with "incredible", emphasizing the unbelievable nature of something.

a surprisingly wonderful

Replaces "astonishing" with "wonderful", focusing on the pleasing and delightful nature of something.

a wholly unexpected

Replaces "astonishing" with "unexpected", highlighting the element of surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "a rather astonishing" in a sentence?

You can use "a rather astonishing" to describe something that is surprisingly impressive or remarkable. For example: "The discovery was "a rather astonishing" feat of engineering."

What phrases are similar to "a rather astonishing"?

Similar phrases include "a quite surprising", "a truly remarkable", or "an utterly astounding", each conveying a sense of wonder or surprise with varying degrees of intensity.

Is "a rather astonishing" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a rather astonishing" may be too informal for some academic or professional contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "a significant" or "a notable" finding.

What's the difference between "a rather astonishing" and "an utterly astounding"?

"A rather astonishing" conveys a mild sense of surprise or wonder, whereas "an utterly astounding" suggests a much greater degree of amazement and disbelief. The choice depends on the intensity you wish to convey.