always startling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "always startling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that consistently causes surprise or shock. Example: "The magician's tricks are always startling, leaving the audience in awe after each performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Good scientific theories are always startling, too.

The New Yorker

Being upside-down in a kayak is always startling, especially when it's February.

The New York Times

It's always startling to see how starkly this little slice of class warfare plays out.

The New York Times

For me, it is always startling to rediscover how many Manhattan-bound cars carry no one but the driver.

The New York Times

It has an epic and messy scope – at times it puts you in mind of DeLillo in full stride – but it is always startling in its particulars.

The Guardian - Books

It is always startling to see the statue from the back in ungainly surroundings, and Mr. Mitchel doesn't spare us that vantage point.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

There was always a startling array of characters passing through the lobby.

The Guardian

The treatment won't be identical (the more sugar, the quicker the browning), but it will be similar, and the results will almost always be startling and good.

The New York Times - Magazine

The chorus is often in movement, standing up by ones and twos, moving this way and that, always to startling effect.

Huffington Post

The New York Times' Jon Pareles rated Aphex's show best of the night, praising his "dense, ferocious assemblages," and adding that "even when Aphex Twin moved closer to the standard techno, there was always a startling syncopation or a dissonant sound sawmill accidents, squealing tires, evil robotic ducks to give his music an edge".

Vice

The Onion's strength has always been its startling consistency, born out of old-fashioned, stringent editing.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "always startling" to describe phenomena or events that consistently evoke surprise or amazement. Ensure the subject of the phrase is something that genuinely has the capacity to startle.

Common error

Avoid using "always startling" too frequently in your writing, as it can lose its impact. Vary your language with synonyms like "consistently surprising" or "invariably shocking" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "always startling" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun to describe something that consistently evokes surprise or shock. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in various contexts to emphasize the recurring nature of this startling effect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Arts

20%

Books

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "always startling" is a grammatically correct adverb-adjective combination used to describe something that consistently evokes surprise or shock. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from authoritative sources. While not overly common, the phrase is most frequently found in news, arts, and book contexts. To maintain writing variety, consider using synonyms like "consistently surprising" or "invariably shocking". Be mindful of overuse to preserve its impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consistently surprising

Focuses on the continuous nature of the surprise.

unfailingly surprising

Emphasizes the certainty of the surprise.

invariably shocking

Highlights the shock value as a constant attribute.

uniformly startling

Highlights the consistent startling nature.

perpetually astonishing

Emphasizes the ongoing and amazing nature.

customarily startling

Suggests the startling nature is a usual custom or practice.

habitually unexpected

Suggests that being unexpected is a regular habit or occurrence.

without fail, astonishing

Highlights the guaranteed nature of the astonishment caused.

predictably surprising

Highlights the irony of something being predictably surprising.

reliably astonishing

Focuses on the dependability of the astonishment.

FAQs

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

You can use "always startling" to describe something that consistently causes surprise or shock. For example: "The magician's tricks are "always startling", leaving the audience in awe after each performance."

What are some alternatives to "always startling"?

You can use alternatives like "consistently surprising", "invariably shocking", or "perpetually astonishing" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "always" with "startling"?

While "startling" implies a sudden surprise, "always startling" emphasizes the consistency of this surprise. It's not strictly redundant if you want to highlight the recurring nature of the surprise.

What kind of things can be described as "always startling"?

You can describe events, revelations, or even artistic styles as "always startling" if they consistently evoke a sense of surprise or amazement. The key is that the subject must have the capacity to startle.