a truly startling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a truly startling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the surprising or shocking nature of something. Example: "The results of the experiment were a truly startling revelation that changed our understanding of the phenomenon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

He calls it bouncing, a truly startling motion he added last year to help with his focus and rhythm.

The New York Times - Sports

"Buika has really developed as a singer in a truly startling way," Ms. Vargas said in a telephone interview from her home outside Mexico City.

The New York Times - Arts

Neil MacGregor has been director of the British Museum for eight years now, and in that period he has presided over a truly startling transformation in its image.

The Guardian - Books

Abandoning swagger and roguishness, knee-deep in perdition and redemption as the tortured protagonist Raskolnikov, it's a truly startling, genuinely mature performance.

The Guardian - Film

"Don't want anyone seeing.... " "Audiences don't bother me," Hate snarled, as Alice began shrieking and Laura started yelling with what, to Mike's ear at least, was a truly startling level of invective.

The New York Times - Magazine

It is a truly startling image, carried through with real virtuosity, to an ending in which: "The world's sick sweetness hooks your throat,/ and all our songs and lamentations coalesce – / a hornet's nest that will not let you sleep".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The Bernard Lewis school has come to look at the matter in a revisionist way that seeks to laud the Christian West and demonize Arab-Islam in a manner that is truly startling.

Huffington Post

In this context, the recent rejection in a federal district court by Judge John Kane of a plea bargain deal between a defendant and federal prosecutors is truly startling.

The New York Times

But it would be truly startling if Morales went to a pro-affirmative action event and declared her support for the policy.

Huffington Post

Tables- 1 4 reveal truly startling results where they show a consistent trend (barring all-α proteins) of higher magnitude of HFD entries (Table-2) with respect to the corresponding MFD entries (Table-1).

Plosone

HUANG YONG PING A founder of China's Xiamen Dada group presents truly startling sculptures; read no further if you like your adrenaline kicks undiluted.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a truly startling" to introduce elements of surprise or unexpected revelations in your writing to capture the reader's attention immediately.

Common error

Avoid using "a truly startling" to describe events that are expected to be surprising. Save it for genuine, unexpected shocks to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a truly startling" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to emphasize the unexpected and surprising nature of something. Ludwig confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a truly startling" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to emphasize the unexpected or shocking nature of something. According to Ludwig, it's deemed correct and is versatile across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While not exceedingly common, it is appropriate for adding emphasis to surprising elements in writing. When using the phrase, ensure it aligns with genuine surprises to maintain its impact, and consider its slightly formal tone relative to context. By being aware of its usage, you can leverage "a truly startling" to captivate your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a genuinely surprising

Replaces "startling" with "surprising" and "truly" with "genuinely", softening the impact slightly.

a remarkably unexpected

Substitutes "startling" with "unexpected" and "truly" with "remarkably", focusing on the unforeseen nature of the event.

an exceptionally astonishing

Emphasizes the high degree of surprise, replacing "startling" with "astonishing" and "truly" with "exceptionally".

a strikingly unusual

Highlights the atypical nature of something, swapping "startling" for "unusual" and "truly" for "strikingly".

a profoundly shocking

Focuses on the intense emotional impact, replacing "startling" with "shocking" and "truly" with "profoundly".

a surprisingly dramatic

Suggests an unexpected level of drama or intensity, replacing "startling" with "dramatic" and "truly" with "surprisingly".

a notably stunning

Replaces "startling" with "stunning" and "truly" with "notably", emphasizing impressiveness in addition to surprise.

a completely unforeseen

Underlines the lack of anticipation, replacing "startling" with "unforeseen" and "truly" with "completely".

a really eye-opening

Uses a more informal expression to convey surprise, replacing "startling" with "eye-opening" and "truly" with "really".

an absolutely flabbergasting

Emphasizes the extreme astonishment, replacing "startling" with "flabbergasting" and "truly" with "absolutely".

FAQs

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

Use "a truly startling" to describe something unexpectedly surprising or shocking, such as, "The discovery was "a truly startling" revelation."

What are some alternatives to "a truly startling"?

You can use phrases such as "a genuinely surprising", "a remarkably unexpected", or "an exceptionally astonishing" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a truly startling" in writing?

It is appropriate when describing something genuinely unexpected or shocking. Avoid using it for events that are typically surprising or predictable.

Is "a truly startling" formal or informal?

"A truly startling" is suitable for neutral to slightly formal contexts. For very informal situations, consider alternatives like "really surprising" or "totally shocking".