a surprisingly good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a surprisingly good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that exceeds expectations in quality or performance. Example: "The movie was a surprisingly good experience, far better than I anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is a surprisingly good fake, too.

The New York Times - Books

— and a surprisingly good candidate for pickling.

The New York Times - Magazine

Nowak is a surprisingly good writer.

The New York Times - Books

By our ­second lesson, ­Cumberbatch makes a surprisingly good sound.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Google's driverless car does a surprisingly good job.

The Washington Post

October was a surprisingly good month for national newspapers.

The Guardian

Breathing is a surprisingly good indicator of internal state of mind.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Mets have had a surprisingly good run so far this season.

The New York Times - Sports

They have had a surprisingly good crisis given the country's economic woes.

The Economist

Yet 2007 was a surprisingly good year after the debacles of 2006.

The Economist

THIS year has turned out to be a surprisingly good one for the world economy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a surprisingly good" to convey a sense of unexpected delight or positive outcome. This phrase is most effective when the good quality contrasts with prior expectations or assumptions.

Common error

While versatile, "a surprisingly good" can sound informal in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "remarkably effective" or "unexpectedly positive" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a surprisingly good" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its quality. It expresses that something is better than anticipated. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

11%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a surprisingly good" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something exceeding expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's versatile, appearing most often in news and media, and conveys a sense of pleasant surprise. While generally neutral in tone, consider more formal alternatives like "remarkably effective" in academic or business writing. Use it to add nuance when something turns out better than anticipated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

better than expected

Highlights the comparison against initial expectations.

surprisingly effective

Focuses on how surprising it is that something is effective.

pleasantly surprising

Indicates that the positive outcome was also a pleasant surprise.

surprisingly adept

Focuses on unexpected skill or proficiency.

unexpectedly positive

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the positive outcome.

unusually successful

Stresses the unusual nature of the success.

remarkably effective

Emphasizes the effectiveness as being notable.

impressively capable

Emphasizes the impressive capabilities that are being highlighted.

exceedingly well done

Highlights the quality of the execution that was done exceedingly well.

notably superior

Emphasizes that whatever is being discussed is notably better.

FAQs

How can I use "a surprisingly good" in a sentence?

You can use "a surprisingly good" to describe something that has exceeded expectations. For instance, "The amateur production of Hamlet was "a surprisingly good" rendition of Shakespeare's classic."

What are some alternatives to "a surprisingly good"?

Alternatives include "unexpectedly positive", "remarkably effective", or "better than expected". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a surprisingly good" too informal for academic writing?

In some academic contexts, "a surprisingly good" might be considered slightly informal. Consider using alternatives like "remarkably effective" or "unexpectedly positive" to maintain a more formal tone.

What makes something "a surprisingly good"?

It indicates that something has exceeded initial expectations or preconceived notions, delivering a positive outcome that was not necessarily anticipated.