awfully great

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awfully great" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is surprisingly or paradoxically good, often in a humorous or ironic way. Example: "The movie was awfully great, exceeding all my expectations despite the low budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Because as much as change excites me, it would be awfully great to plan ahead, at least a little bit, for 43.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Great to see Harper gone, but another majority is an awfully big blank cheque," wrote Michael Rennie, a freshwater ecologist at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, on Twitter.

Science Magazine

This is great, because it puts a spirit back into realism -- it can get awfully heavy, full and grim.

Huffington Post

It felt awfully heavy.

The New Yorker

The power of belief is awfully big and awfully important".

The New York Times - Sports

It's awfully big.

The New York Times

For a literary culture that fears it is on the brink of total annihilation, we are awfully cavalier about the Great Male Novelists of the last century.

The New York Times - Books

This looking back is reminiscent of the baby boomer's 1960's fixation and that awfully smug term, "The Greatest Generation" to describe the children of the Depression.

Huffington Post

But their basic Mezcal Rey Campero Espadin, the only agave they make that doesn't come from wild agave, is awfully good drinking and a great buy for $60.

Los Angeles Times

An awfully green one.

The New York Times - Sports

Batters must "guess," from the depths of their study and experience, before a pitcher launches his offering; and a bad conjecture can make even the greatest hitters look awfully foolish, as when Pedro Martinez throws his change-up with the exact same arm motion as his fastball, and the batter, guessing heat, has already completed his swing before the ball ever lollygags across the plate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully great" when you want to express surprise or mild irony about something being better than expected. It works well in informal contexts to add a touch of humor.

Common error

Avoid using "awfully great" in formal writing or professional settings. The phrase is too informal and may detract from the seriousness of your message. Opt for more direct and formal alternatives like "surprisingly excellent" or "remarkably impressive".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully great" functions as an intensifier (awfully) modifying an adjective (great). Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct, it is used to express a surprisingly positive sentiment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "awfully great" is a grammatically correct but relatively rare phrase used to express surprise or mild irony about something being unexpectedly good. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to intensify a positive adjective. It's best suited for informal contexts, particularly in news and media, and should be avoided in more formal or professional settings where alternatives like "surprisingly good" or "remarkably impressive" would be more appropriate. While it might add a touch of humor, its overuse could detract from the message's seriousness in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly good

Replaces "awfully" with "surprisingly", focusing on the unexpected nature of the goodness.

surprisingly fantastic

Similar to "surprisingly good" but uses a more enthusiastic adjective.

unexpectedly excellent

Emphasizes the unexpected nature and elevates the degree of quality.

remarkably impressive

Highlights the notable and attention-worthy quality.

incredibly positive

Shifts focus to the intensity of the positive aspect.

exceptionally fine

Stresses the superior quality, indicating a rare and high standard.

particularly wonderful

Indicates a specific and notable instance of being wonderful.

uncommonly superb

Highlights the rarity and high degree of excellence.

unforeseenly magnificent

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation and the grandeur of the quality.

impressively adequate

Highlights the adequacy of something in a way that inspires admiration or praise.

FAQs

How can I use "awfully great" in a sentence?

You can use "awfully great" to describe something surprisingly good or better than expected. For example, "The movie was "awfully great", I didn't expect it to be so enjoyable."

What are some alternatives to "awfully great"?

Alternatives include "surprisingly good", "unexpectedly excellent", or "remarkably impressive", depending on the context and the level of formality you desire.

Is "awfully great" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "awfully great" is generally too informal for formal writing. It's better suited for casual conversations or informal content. Consider using more formal alternatives such as "exceptionally fine" or "particularly wonderful" in formal contexts.

What does "awfully" emphasize in the phrase "awfully great"?

In the phrase "awfully great", "awfully" emphasizes the surprising or unexpected nature of how good something is. It adds a layer of mild irony or humor, suggesting that something is better than one might have initially thought.