be completely unexpected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be completely unexpected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs without any prior indication or anticipation. Example: "The sudden announcement of the merger was completely unexpected for the employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Cool Entertainment It's said that you can find anything in New York, so a little winter in July might not be completely unexpected.

The New York Times - Arts

Todd Haimes, the artistic director of the company, said that the possible move was a precautionary measure to assure that the show opens by the Tony deadline, which is May 3. A shift would not be completely unexpected; the company has delayed the opening once.

The New York Times

Some human impacts on the marine realm can also be completely unexpected.

BBC

Noting that the show received "overwhelming emotional response from the LGBTQ community" when Mac came out as gay in an episode that aired last year, McElhenney said, "I took it seriously and I felt it would be completely unexpected to have this much more emotionally resonant end to the season". .

Huffington Post

Although these results may seem surprising at first glance, they may not be completely unexpected.

European Radiology

Therefore, negative phenotypic effects would be completely unexpected in an accurate model.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It's completely unexpected".

The New York Times

It was completely unexpected.

The Guardian - Sport

This was completely unexpected.

The New York Times - Arts

"These findings were completely unexpected".

The New York Times - Science

It's been completely unexpected.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be completely unexpected" to emphasize a genuine lack of anticipation, where the event or outcome couldn't have reasonably been predicted based on available information.

Common error

Avoid using "be completely unexpected" when a degree of surprise is implied but not absolute. Consider alternatives like "somewhat surprising" or "rather unexpected" for situations where some anticipation was possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be completely unexpected" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a subject's state of being surprising or unforeseen. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

27%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be completely unexpected" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a total lack of anticipation or surprise regarding an event or outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media, and scientific writing. When writing, use this phrase to emphasize a genuine absence of prediction and consider alternatives like "be entirely unforeseen" or "come as a complete surprise" to add variety to your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be entirely unforeseen

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation or prediction.

be totally surprising

Highlights the element of surprise.

come as a complete surprise

Focuses on the arrival or occurrence being unexpected.

be utterly unanticipated

Stresses that something was not anticipated at all.

be quite startling

Indicates a surprising and somewhat alarming event.

take everyone by surprise

Highlights the effect on others, indicating a widespread lack of anticipation.

be out of the blue

Emphasizes suddenness and lack of warning.

catch someone off guard

Focuses on the unpreparedness of individuals.

be a bolt from the blue

Highlights the sudden and unexpected nature of an event.

defy expectations

Suggests the event contradicts what was anticipated.

FAQs

How can I use "be completely unexpected" in a sentence?

You can use "be completely unexpected" to describe events or outcomes that could not have been predicted. For example, "The results of the experiment were completely unexpected".

What can I say instead of "be completely unexpected"?

You can use alternatives like "be entirely unforeseen", "come as a complete surprise", or "be totally surprising" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "completely" with "unexpected"?

No, "unexpected" can stand alone. Using "completely" intensifies the sense of surprise. Whether to include it depends on the degree of emphasis you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "be completely unexpected" and "be rather surprising"?

"Be completely unexpected" indicates a total lack of anticipation, while "be rather surprising" implies some level of surprise, but not necessarily a total lack of anticipation.