a truly surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a truly surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extent of the surprise in a statement or observation. Example: "The results of the experiment were a truly surprising revelation for the entire team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It has been suggested that he actually completed it in his first year at Trinity, when he was no more than 17, in which case it is a truly surprising document.

The Guardian - Books

Nevertheless, it is a "truly surprising discovery" that could hold valuable clues for drug development, says neurologist Dennis Choi of the Washington University School of Medicine in St . Louis

Science Magazine

The rich foie gras melts into the crunchy granola to provide a truly surprising blend of flavors.

Huffington Post

Rendition gets this to a truly surprising degree, and for that reason alone it is a minor miracle.

Huffington Post

The nominations have been announced and this year there has been a truly surprising diversity of shows, actors, and films that both stand out and have been recognized.

Huffington Post

Touring with the Grateful Dead, releasing a charity Christmas album, DJing a popular radio show, becoming his own keyboard player, joining up with other legends for a short lived supergroup, taking musical left turns on a regular basis, he's a truly surprising guy, and we never know what he's going to come up with next.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

As it is easy to imagine that a diminished degree of proton delivery may result in the release of partially reduced products, such a finding is truly surprising, as all residues considered here have been implicated in required proton delivery, through computational analyses.

Biochemistry

Within this sameness, however, hides a diversity of actual beliefs and practices that run the gamut from intriguing to truly surprising --including a dog named 'Satan' and seances in the White House.

Huffington Post

Yet there is enough happening by the third episode that I will definitely watch the fourth, just to see what might or might not happen, what herrings might be red, and what surprises might be truly surprising.

Los Angeles Times

In today's scandal-a-minute age, it's difficult to produce truly surprising news in sports, the kind that makes you rub your eyes and ask everyone within earshot whether you could possibly be reading it right.

The New York Times - Sports

De Blasio has made a late charge, but what's truly surprising to me is how De Blasio is getting to 40%.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a truly surprising" to preface revelations or plot twists in storytelling to heighten reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "a truly surprising" to describe everyday occurrences; reserve it for events that genuinely deviate from expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a truly surprising" acts as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the descriptive impact of the adjective "surprising". According to Ludwig, it emphasizes the unexpected nature of the noun it modifies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a truly surprising" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to emphasize the unexpected nature of an event, discovery, or piece of information. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, particularly in news, media, science, and formal business settings. Alternatives like "genuinely astonishing" or "utterly unexpected" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight nuances. While versatile, the phrase is best reserved for situations that genuinely warrant a sense of surprise to avoid overuse and maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely astonishing

Focuses more on the level of astonishment.

utterly unexpected

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation.

completely unforeseen

Highlights the inability to predict the event.

remarkably astonishing

Highlights the extraordinariness of the event.

decidedly startling

Emphasizes abruptness or shock.

absolutely unanticipated

Focuses on the complete absence of anticipation.

exceptionally surprising

Highlights the uncommon degree of surprise.

unusually unexpected

Emphasizes the atypical nature of the event.

very astonishing

Direct synonym but with slightly different emphasis.

indeed unexpected

Adds a touch of formality.

FAQs

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

You can use "a truly surprising" to describe something unexpected or astonishing, as in "The ending of the movie was "a truly surprising" twist."

What are some alternatives to "a truly surprising"?

Alternatives include "utterly unexpected", "genuinely astonishing", or "completely unforeseen", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

It's suitable when describing an event or outcome that significantly deviates from what was anticipated. For instance, "It was "a truly surprising" discovery that the old house was still standing after all those years."

Is "a truly surprising" formal or informal?

"A truly surprising" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it's more common in written or spoken narratives to add emphasis.