and rather surprisingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "and rather surprisingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce an unexpected or surprising element in a statement or narrative. Example: "The results of the experiment were, and rather surprisingly, contrary to our initial hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The defender bundles him over without really getting the ball and rather surprisingly, not one soul within the ground calls for a penalty.

The Guardian - Sport

By Sunday, the sense of bonhomie is palpable and rather surprisingly the sense of body odour is not: these are clearly quite hygienic people.

The Guardian - Tech

But it's so widely copied that some major new ingredient is needed fast and, rather surprisingly, Mrs Henderson suggests nudes in Parisian style.

The Guardian - Film

Tomas Rosicky, Yossi Benayoun and Gervinho were replaced by Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and, rather surprisingly, the out-of-sorts and increasingly unpopular Andrey Arshavin.

Independent

The ruin problem of insurance risk theory is closely related to the problem of gambler's ruin described earlier and, rather surprisingly, to the single-server queue as well.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It does brisket, pork and, rather surprisingly, lamb riblets, but people really come for one thing – a large portion of baby backs (under $19 with sides), coated in the secret Memphis Dry Shake blend, like a blanket of paprika snow.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

This is in accord with other studies [ 41, 42] and, perhaps rather surprisingly, suggests that the difference between the AN and HC groups is due to the maintenance of GMV in the women with AN, that is, the long term use of cognitive strategies to inhibit appetite may be associated with increased neural growth.

BMC Psychiatry

But, on the whole, she says, she likes the Times: 'They don't rattle my cage and I don't rattle theirs.' I ask who her current enemies are and - rather surprisingly, because she can usually reel off a long list, starting with Tony Parsons - she says, 'I don't think I've got any.

The Guardian - Books

She is well liked within the notoriously bitchy fashion world and has, rather surprisingly, become a role model for young American girls.

The Guardian

Then a promotional film showing what a wonderful place Egypt is and then, rather surprisingly, a discussion about high-level corruption.

The Guardian - Opinion

The former BBC journalist is adored by the London cycling lobby ("a man who needs no introduction!") and defended, rather surprisingly, by members of every political party represented at City Hall.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "and rather surprisingly" to smoothly introduce unexpected turns or outcomes within a narrative. It helps to maintain a conversational tone while highlighting the element of surprise.

Common error

Avoid using "and rather surprisingly" too frequently, as it can become repetitive and dilute its impact. Vary your language to introduce unexpected elements for a more engaging writing style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "and rather surprisingly" functions as an adverbial connector, adding a sense of unexpectedness to the statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and suitable for written English. It modifies the clause that follows, indicating that the information is unexpected.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "and rather surprisingly" serves as an adverbial connector, introducing an element of unexpectedness into a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is most commonly found in news, scientific and encyclopedia sources, indicating a neutral to slightly formal register. While grammatically sound, overusing the phrase can diminish its impact, so varying your language is recommended. Alternatives include phrases like ""and unexpectedly"" or ""surprisingly enough"". Its purpose is to emphasize that the following information is not what one would typically anticipate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

and surprisingly enough

Indicates that the surprising event is more notable or remarkable.

and unexpectedly

A more concise way to indicate that something was not anticipated.

and quite unexpectedly

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation or preparation for the event.

and much to my surprise

Similar to "to my astonishment", but slightly less intense.

and contrary to expectations

Highlights the contrast between what happened and what was predicted.

and to my astonishment

Highlights personal surprise or disbelief.

and beyond all expectations

Emphasizes that the surprising event greatly exceeded anticipation.

and against all odds

Suggests that the surprising event was highly improbable.

and out of the blue

Highlights the sudden and unexpected nature of the event.

and who would have thought

A rhetorical way of expressing surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "and rather surprisingly" in a sentence?

Use "and rather surprisingly" to introduce an unexpected element or outcome within a sentence. For example, "The team won the game, and rather surprisingly, they achieved a record score".

What are some alternatives to "and rather surprisingly"?

You can use alternatives like "and unexpectedly", "surprisingly enough", or "and to my surprise" depending on the context.

Is "and rather surprisingly" formal or informal?

"And rather surprisingly" is generally considered neutral in formality. While not overly formal, it is suitable for a range of writing contexts, including news articles and academic papers.

When should I avoid using "and rather surprisingly"?

Avoid using "and rather surprisingly" if the element of surprise is already strongly implied or obvious from the context. In such cases, a simpler conjunction might be more effective.