astonishingly enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "astonishingly enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a surprising or unexpected fact or situation. Example: "Astonishingly enough, the small town managed to win the national championship against all odds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

And yet, astonishingly enough, Mr. McCarthy has.

The New York Times

It was, astonishingly enough, his first try in 66 matches, since the autumn of 2006.

The Guardian - Sport

The Rangers take the lead, astonishingly enough, and, predictably enough, the Capitals answer.

The Guardian - Sport

Astonishingly enough, the business of books has intersected with the making of literature and both have prospered.

The New York Times

I also saw designs for one of Graham Hawkes' new vehicles, to be called Deep Flight, which will — astonishingly enough — be the equivalent of an underwater airplane.

The New Yorker

Astonishingly enough, some of the more craven presidential contenders, like Mitt Romney, endorsed the idea of a so-called "personhood" amendment.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The lower part of the ziggurat, built by Ur-Nammu, the founder of the dynasty, was astonishingly well preserved; enough of the upper part survived to make the restoration certain.

Britannica

The images of the moon's surface coming down from the orbiters were of astonishingly high resolution, good enough to blow up to 40ftx54ft pictures.

The Guardian - Opinion

Astonishingly, that was not good enough for the Ministry of Defence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Astonishingly, this ludicrous argument was enough to convince both the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan to cancel their screenings of the film.

HuffPost

For instance, he said: "What Americans can rally around is that this totally corrupt system brought about this financial crisis -- and now, astonishingly, it's bought Congress enough that Congress couldn't even respond to the crisis.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "astonishingly enough" to introduce a fact that sharply contrasts with what is generally known or expected. It adds emphasis to the surprising nature of the information.

Common error

Avoid using "astonishingly enough" excessively in formal academic or business writing, as it can sometimes sound informal or conversational. Consider using a more neutral phrasing like "surprisingly" or "unexpectedly" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "astonishingly enough" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the entire sentence or clause that follows. It serves to express the speaker's surprise or disbelief regarding the information being presented, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Astonishingly enough" is an adverbial phrase used to express surprise or unexpectedness. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in news and media contexts. While its use is generally acceptable, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives in academic or highly professional writing. Related phrases like "surprisingly enough" or "remarkably enough" can be used to convey a similar meaning with slightly different emphasis. Remember to use this phrase to highlight information that contrasts with expectations to add emphasis to the surprising nature of the information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly enough

This alternative is a direct synonym, replacing "astonishingly" with "surprisingly" to express a similar level of unexpectedness.

remarkably enough

This alternative uses "remarkably" instead of "astonishingly", suggesting something is notable or outstanding in a surprising way.

incredibly enough

This alternative replaces "astonishingly" with "incredibly", emphasizing the unbelievable nature of the situation.

unbelievably enough

This option highlights the difficult-to-believe aspect of the statement, making it very similar in meaning.

unexpectedly

This version omits "enough", presenting a slightly more direct and less emphatic expression of surprise.

to my surprise

This phrase personalizes the surprise, indicating it's the speaker's personal reaction to an unexpected event.

it's a surprise

Focuses on the fact that something is indeed a surprise.

who would have thought

This alternative conveys surprise through a rhetorical question, implying the unexpectedness of the situation.

against all odds

This highlights that something happened despite facing very unlikely success.

defying expectations

Emphasizes that an outcome countered what was generally predicted or anticipated.

FAQs

How can I use "astonishingly enough" in a sentence?

"Astonishingly enough" is used to introduce a surprising or unexpected fact. For example, "Astonishingly enough, the small town managed to win the national championship against all odds."

What phrases are similar to "astonishingly enough"?

Similar phrases include "surprisingly enough", "remarkably enough", or "incredibly enough". Each conveys a sense of surprise, though with slightly different emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "astonishingly enough" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "astonishingly enough" might sound informal in highly formal contexts. Consider alternatives like "unexpectedly" or "surprisingly" for a more neutral tone.

What's the difference between "astonishingly enough" and "surprisingly enough"?

The difference is subtle. "Astonishingly enough" might suggest a higher degree of surprise or disbelief compared to "surprisingly enough", but they are often interchangeable.