as a startling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a startling" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe something that is surprising or shocking, but it lacks proper context and structure. Example: "The news was delivered as a startling revelation that changed everything."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Books

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Yet she also welcomed the film as a startling formal experiment.

The New Yorker

IF you are going to charge four figures for shoes, as a startling number of designers are doing these days, it behooves you to frame them as artwork.

The New York Times

The cancellation registers as a startling flip-flop from last weekend, when the agency hosted "snow day" activities at city parks in each borough amid the mild flurries.

The New York Times

This phenomenon of Jewish-Asian intermarriage comes as a startling change for two immigrant groups that in the past had often made light of their differences.

The New York Times

Mixing respected scholarship with dubious theories, the author, Shlomo Sand, a professor at Tel Aviv University, frames the narrative as a startling exposure of suppressed historical facts.

The New York Times - Books

Yet, in his congressional testimony, Comey described what he heard in his briefing that Thursday morning as a startling new development.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

All of the women, including Mrs. Aguirre, are nurses -- as are a startling number of their compatriots in this country, and particularly in New York.

The New York Times

Last year, 17percentt of New York State's work force -- 1.4 million people -- was without health insurance, as was a startling 50percentt of workers earning less than $20,000.

The New York Times

Very occasionally, as in a startling passage that offers a real-life analogy to the socially ambitious Crawfords of "Mansfield Park," a sentence leaps free of Deresiewicz's selective recollections.

The New York Times

Thrown into something he can't immediately comprehend, Hook is lost in more ways than one, such as in a startling sequence in which he is led to safety by a young boy.

Los Angeles Times

The college's archivist has described the chancel as containing "a startling assemblage" of panels, "patched together in jigsaw fashion" and "heavily varnished".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider restructuring the phrase. For example, instead of "seen as a startling development", opt for "seen as a startling development" or "viewed in a startling manner".

Common error

Avoid using "as a startling" in formal writing where precision and clarity are paramount. In formal settings, rephrase the sentence to ensure grammatical correctness and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a startling" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, attempting to modify a verb or adjective by describing the manner in which something occurs or is perceived. However, according to Ludwig AI, its grammatical structure is questionable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Books

8%

Arts

7%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as a startling" is commonly employed to highlight the surprising nature of events or observations, predominantly within news and media contexts. However, according to Ludwig AI, its grammatical structure is questionable, suggesting that writers should exercise caution and consider alternative phrasing for clarity and correctness, especially in formal settings. Alternatives such as "in a startling manner" or ""like a startling"" may provide better precision. Despite its frequency, grammatical scrutiny advises careful usage to maintain writing integrity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a surprising

Replaces "startling" with "surprising", offering a less intense synonym while keeping the structure intact.

as an unexpected

Replaces "startling" with "unexpected", shifting the focus to the element of surprise.

as an astonishing

Uses "astonishing" for "startling", amplifying the sense of wonder.

in a startling manner

Replaces "as a" with "in a manner" while retaining the core meaning of something being surprisingly done.

as a remarkable

Substitutes "startling" with "remarkable", emphasizing the noteworthiness of the subject.

like a startling

Substitutes "as a" with "like a", emphasizing the comparative aspect of the phrase.

in a shocking

Uses "shocking" instead of "startling", intensifying the emotional impact while changing the structure slightly.

in a stunning

Changes the structure and uses "stunning" to convey something impressive and surprising.

functioning as a startling

Adds "functioning as" to provide a more explanatory context, specifying the role of the startling element.

in an alarming

Alters the structure and word to “alarming” to indicate a worrying surprise

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "The news came as a startling revelation"?

You can rephrase it as "The news was "a startling revelation"" or "The news came "as a shock"".

Is "as a startling" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "as a startling" is not grammatically sound. Consider alternatives that provide better clarity and correctness, such as "in a startling manner".

What are some alternatives to "as a startling" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "like a startling", "as a surprising", or "in a startling manner".

How does the formality of the text affect the use of "as a startling"?

In formal writing, it's best to avoid "as a startling" due to its questionable grammatical structure. Opt for more precise and grammatically correct alternatives to maintain professionalism.