astonished at how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "astonished at how" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing surprise or amazement regarding a particular situation or outcome. Example: "I was astonished at how quickly the team completed the project ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The cutters sliced the fabric with astonishing ease and exactitude, but I was a little more astonished at how they sliced my finger, three times, without my noticing.

The New York Times

And astonished at how much I cared about the dog.

The New York Times

"I've been frankly astonished at how quiet it's been.

The New York Times

Julie, Kirill and Phil were all equally astonished at how easily and effortlessly the system worked.

The New York Times

We laced our fingers, and I was astonished at how bony his hand felt.

The New Yorker

Now, returning after nearly a decade away, I am astonished at how much Berlin has developed.

The New York Times

She was astonished at how quickly security forces materialized to beat demonstrators senseless.

The New York Times

You will be astonished at how many people try to get in for free.

The Guardian

"I was astonished at how receptive the clientele in Las Vegas has been," he said.

The New York Times - Food

You'd be astonished at how many people take up fencing because of sibling rivalry.

The Guardian - Sport

I was astonished at how much I missed the 'below the line' banter".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "astonished at how", ensure the context clearly establishes what caused the astonishment. Provide specific details or examples to amplify the impact on the reader.

Common error

Avoid pairing "astonished at how" with weak or generic verbs. Using stronger, more descriptive verbs will enhance the sentence's impact and vividly portray the astonishment. For example, instead of "I was astonished at how he acted", try "I was astonished at how he recoiled".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "astonished at how" functions primarily as an adjective phrase expressing surprise or amazement, modifying a subject and introducing a clause that explains the cause of the astonishment. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "astonished at how" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey surprise or amazement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is found most frequently in news and media contexts, serving to highlight a speaker's reaction to unexpected events. While generally neutral in register, variations in related phrases can allow for adjustments in formality and intensity. Remember to pair it with strong verbs and provide context to maximize impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amazed at how

This alternative maintains a similar level of formality and directly replaces "astonished" with a synonym conveying strong surprise.

astounded at how

This alternative maintains a similar level of formality and directly replaces "astonished" with a synonym conveying strong surprise.

surprised by how

This option is slightly less intense than "astonished" but still indicates an unexpected outcome or situation.

flabbergasted at how

This alternative suggests a stronger sense of bewilderment or speechlessness due to surprise.

stunned at how

This implies a more shocked or bewildered state than "astonished", often suggesting a temporary inability to react.

taken aback by how

This phrase indicates a sudden surprise, almost a slight shock, at the manner something occurred.

startled by how

This option express sudden surprise. It's less intense and implies a momentary surprise.

incredulous at how

This suggests disbelief or skepticism about the manner something occurred, stemming from surprise.

blown away by how

This is a more informal expression indicating extreme surprise or excitement.

couldn't believe how

This expresses the surprise as an inability to accept how something happened

FAQs

What can I say instead of "astonished at how"?

You can use alternatives like "amazed at how", "surprised by how", or "flabbergasted at how" depending on the context.

How to use "astonished at how" in a sentence?

The phrase "astonished at how" is followed by a clause that describes the reason or manner of the astonishment. For example, "I was astonished at how quickly the flowers bloomed".

Is "astonished at how" formal or informal?

"Astonished at how" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although alternatives like "blown away by how" are more informal.

What's the difference between "astonished at how" and "surprised at how"?

"Astonished at how" suggests a greater level of amazement or disbelief compared to "surprised at how". Astonishment implies a stronger emotional reaction.