a truly shocking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a truly shocking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extent of something that is surprising or disturbing. Example: "The documentary revealed a truly shocking truth about the environmental impact of plastic waste."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

This is a truly shocking story.

The New York Times

It is a truly shocking idea.

The Guardian - Opinion

There is for instance a "truly shocking amount of roadkill".

The Guardian - Books

It is a truly shocking thing to deal with".

The Guardian

A new case of rape is reported in India every twenty minutes – a truly shocking statistic.

Independent

Speaking from Downing Street, David Cameron said: "It is clearly a truly shocking and appalling incident.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

It is an astonishing, truly shocking book that connects unspoken terrors in the domestic world to social horrors exploding in public.

The Guardian - Film

And yet to call a Haydn symphony truly shocking today sounds like a critic's hyperbole.

The New York Times - Arts

This is quite a statement, of course: ISIS has made a lot of truly shocking and abhorrent atrocity videos.

Vice

This is quite a statement, of course: ISIS has made a lot of truly shocking and abhorrent atrocity videos.

Vice

A century on, the truly shocking thing about The Rite is still with us, right there at its climax.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a truly shocking" to introduce information that is genuinely surprising and likely to evoke a strong emotional response in your audience. Ensure the context supports the intensity of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "a truly shocking" for trivial or mildly surprising events. Reserve it for situations that are genuinely significant and impactful to maintain its effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a truly shocking" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. According to Ludwig, it is used to emphasize the extent of something surprising or disturbing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Wiki

13%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a truly shocking" is a common and grammatically correct adjective phrase used to express a high degree of surprise and dismay. According to Ludwig, it's suitable for emphasizing the extent of something disturbing. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to highlight events or information deemed significantly surprising or appalling. While effective, it's crucial to reserve it for genuinely impactful situations to avoid diluting its meaning. Alternatives like "an utterly disgraceful" or "a deeply offensive" can offer nuanced variations. Using this, you're able to introduce information that is genuinely surprising and likely to evoke a strong emotional response in your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an exceptionally shocking

Adds emphasis by using a different adverb of degree.

an absolutely appalling

Emphasizes the repulsiveness of the situation rather than just the surprise.

an utterly disgraceful

Focuses on the shamefulness of the situation.

a completely scandalous

Highlights the potential for public outrage and damage to reputation.

a profoundly disturbing

Emphasizes the emotional impact and unsettling nature of the event or information.

a deeply offensive

Stresses the potential to cause hurt feelings or moral outrage.

a surprisingly disturbing

Highlights the unexpected nature of the disturbing event.

a truly horrifying

Focuses on the frightening and dreadful aspects of the situation.

a genuinely alarming

Emphasizes the sense of danger and the need for concern.

a remarkably outrageous

Highlights the extreme and unacceptable nature of the situation.

FAQs

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

Use "a truly shocking" to describe something unexpectedly disturbing or surprising. For example, "The report revealed "a truly shocking" level of neglect within the institution".

What phrases can I use instead of "a truly shocking"?

Alternatives include "an utterly disgraceful", "a deeply offensive", or "a profoundly disturbing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a truly shocking"?

It is best to use "a truly shocking" when describing events or information that are significantly surprising, disturbing, or appalling and warrant a strong emotional response.

Is "a truly shocking" an overused phrase?

While "a truly shocking" is a common phrase, its effectiveness depends on the context. Overusing it can diminish its impact, so reserve it for situations that genuinely merit such strong language. Consider using synonyms like "a genuinely alarming" or "a remarkably outrageous" to vary your writing.