an astonishing example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an astonishing example" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to highlight something that is remarkably impressive or surprising in a specific context. Example: "The scientist presented an astonishing example of how climate change is affecting polar bear populations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Valentino had earned the right to take it easy for the next 600 years; instead, he sets an astonishing example of resilience, compassion and charity.

The New York Times

It was an astonishing example of a musician playing way out of his skin – and one who had never been in Ellington's front rank of star soloists.

The Guardian - Music

At OkCupid.com, however, it is left up to members to suggest dating criteria, and the result is an astonishing example of the need by some to quantify the ideal mate.

The New York Times

Yet the story, which was first reported by a Hong Kong tabloid and then picked up in the western press, apparently originated with a satirical post on a Chinese social media network, turning a thinly-sourced horror story into an astonishing example of the media echo chamber gone awry.

The Guardian

Written in dozens of miniature books, these manuscripts – with curious, secretive titles such as A Peep into a Picture Book, The Spell, A Leaf from an Unopened Volume – are not only an astonishing example of craftsmanship, but contain extraordinary, uncensored content.

The Guardian - Books

"Trick question or an astonishing example of a BBC correspondent who doesn't know a basic fact about the EU?" Neither.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

To reporters, this was a particularly astonishing example of an already controlling White House run amok.

The New York Times

Two days ago, Martin Fletcher, a former foreign and associate editor of the Times, emailed me with a truly astonishing example of Mail Online misbehaviour.

The Guardian

The occurrence of RER in BLG while avoiding the violation of the momentum conservation rule represents a conceptually simple yet astonishing example highlighting one major difference between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics.

Nature

The most astonishing example was a woman who quit her job, gave birth to two children, found another job, and finished the Morning MBA programme with the rest of the cohort.

The Economist

This corporeal, material tradition leads to object-oriented ontology and digital humanities (and Morgan has discovered an astonishing early example of digital humanities, a computer discourse analysis from 1901).

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an astonishing example" to introduce something truly remarkable or unexpected to capture your audience's attention and highlight its significance.

Common error

Avoid using "an astonishing example" too frequently, as it can diminish the impact. Reserve it for instances that genuinely warrant such strong emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an astonishing example" functions as a noun phrase, where 'astonishing' modifies 'example'. It serves to highlight the remarkable nature of the instance being described. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and used to emphasize impressiveness or surprise.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

20%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an astonishing example" is a grammatically sound and usable expression employed to spotlight instances of remarkable impressiveness or surprise. While not exceedingly common, it finds usage across various domains like news, academia, and general media. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and serves to emphasize the unique quality of the instance. When aiming to avoid repetition, consider alternatives such as "a remarkable illustration" or "a striking demonstration". It's most effective when genuinely emphasizing an exceptional occurrence. Keep in mind to avoid overuse in order to maintain the emphasis and not diminush the impact on your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a remarkable illustration

Replaces 'astonishing' with 'remarkable' and 'example' with 'illustration', emphasizing the noteworthiness of the instance.

an astounding instance

Substitutes 'astonishing' with 'astounding', which has a similar meaning, and 'example' with 'instance', a more general term.

a striking demonstration

Replaces 'astonishing' with 'striking', highlighting the impressiveness of the example, and 'example' with 'demonstration', suggesting proof or evidence.

an exceptional case

Changes 'astonishing' to 'exceptional', focusing on the rarity of the case, and 'example' to 'case', a more direct term.

an extraordinary occurrence

Replaces 'astonishing' with 'extraordinary', emphasizing the unusual nature of the occurrence, and 'example' with 'occurrence', highlighting that it happened.

a phenomenal display

Substitutes 'astonishing' with 'phenomenal', which conveys greatness, and 'example' with 'display', indicating a visual representation.

an impressive exhibition

Replaces 'astonishing' with 'impressive' to show admiration, and 'example' with 'exhibition', implying a public showing.

a wondrous specimen

Changes 'astonishing' to 'wondrous', suggesting awe and amazement, and 'example' to 'specimen', referring to a sample or individual.

a noteworthy instance

Replaces 'astonishing' with 'noteworthy', focusing on the importance of the instance, and 'example' with 'instance', a common alternative.

an unforgettable precedent

Substitutes 'astonishing' with 'unforgettable', emphasizing lasting impact, and 'example' with 'precedent', referring to a guiding example.

FAQs

How can I use "an astonishing example" in a sentence?

You can use "an astonishing example" to introduce a situation, case, or instance that is surprisingly impressive or remarkable. For instance, "The athlete's comeback was "an astonishing example" of perseverance".

What are some alternatives to "an astonishing example"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a remarkable illustration", "an astounding instance", or "a striking demonstration", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "an astonishing example" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider the tone of your writing. In highly formal contexts, a more subdued phrase like "a noteworthy instance" might be preferable, unless the astonishment is truly warranted.

What makes something qualify as "an astonishing example"?

To be considered "an astonishing example", the instance should be significantly beyond the norm, eliciting surprise, admiration, or disbelief due to its exceptional nature or impact.