are not surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are not surprised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a lack of surprise regarding a situation or event. Example: "Given the recent events, we are not surprised by the outcome of the investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We are not surprised".

The New York Times

"They are not surprised.

The New York Times

"So we are not surprised".

The New York Times

But they are not surprised.

The Economist

But we are not surprised.

The Guardian - Opinion

Stockbroking analysts are not surprised.

The Guardian

Yet Americans are not surprised.

The New York Times

"We are not surprised," he said.

The New York Times

His former employers, however, are not surprised.

The New York Times - Sports

"We are not surprised by his success".

The New York Times

Human rights officials are not surprised.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are not surprised" when you want to express that an outcome or event was expected and did not cause astonishment. It indicates a degree of familiarity with the situation.

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessive use of passive constructions like "are not surprised" can make writing sound less direct. Consider active alternatives where appropriate to improve clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not surprised" functions as a declarative expression indicating a lack of astonishment or unexpectedness regarding a particular event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and common occurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are not surprised" is a versatile expression used to convey a lack of astonishment regarding an event or outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and frequently used across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Scientific sources. Alternatives like "are not astonished" or "expected it" can be used for variety, but the core meaning remains consistent. When using this phrase, remember to choose the correct tense ("are" vs "were") and consider whether an active voice alternative might enhance clarity. Overall, "are not surprised" is a reliable and readily understood way to indicate that something was anticipated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not astonished

Uses a more formal synonym for "surprised", indicating a lack of amazement.

are not amazed

Replaces "surprised" with "amazed", suggesting a lack of wonder or awe.

are not shocked

Substitutes "surprised" with "shocked", implying a lack of strong negative reaction.

find it unsurprising

A more formal and direct way of saying something does not cause surprise.

are not startled

Replaces "surprised" with "startled", indicating a lack of being suddenly alarmed.

are not taken aback

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey a lack of surprise or being caught off guard.

expected it

A shorter, more direct way of saying something was not surprising because it was anticipated.

saw it coming

An informal way to express that something was predictable and therefore not surprising.

it was anticipated

Focuses on the anticipation of the event, implying a lack of surprise.

it was predictable

Highlights the predictability of the event, making the lack of surprise a logical consequence.

FAQs

What does "are not surprised" mean?

The phrase "are not surprised" means that something that happened was expected or anticipated, and therefore didn't cause any astonishment or shock.

What can I say instead of "are not surprised"?

You can use alternatives like "are not astonished", "expected it", or "saw it coming" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "are not surprised" or "were not surprised"?

The choice between "are not surprised" and "were not surprised" depends on the subject and the tense. Use "are" for present tense and plural subjects (e.g., "we are not surprised"), and "were" for past tense and plural subjects (e.g., "they were not surprised").

What's the difference between "are not surprised" and "should not be surprised"?

"Are not surprised" indicates a current state of not feeling astonishment. "Should not be surprised" suggests that astonishment would be inappropriate or illogical given the circumstances.