being startled awake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being startled awake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the experience of suddenly waking up due to a surprising or shocking event. Example: "I was being startled awake by the loud crash outside my window in the middle of the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It says that "to be bored is to be on the verge of being startled awake".

The New York Times

From afar, his response seems more akin to that of a man being startled awake to his house on fire than the result of a deliberately crafted articulation of a political position.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Somebody had repeatedly thrown rocks at the house the night before; she had been startled awake.

The New York Times - Magazine

After 8, I was startled awake by Jim tapping me on the knee.

The New York Times - Travel

I didn't even remember it at 3 a.m. when I was startled awake.

The New York Times - Magazine

He slid a bit lower in his chair, and some time later was startled awake by squawking gulls.

The New Yorker

Two months later, Mr. Splendore was startled awake in the wee hours by a "gigantic crash" overhead.

The New York Times

She fell asleep with the children in the back seat, but was startled awake by a policeman knocking on the window.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the morning, in bed, I sometimes raise my fist and cry, "Action Stations!" — as Haddock did when he was startled awake from a doze.

The New York Times - Books

Once, Busia was startled awake in the middle of the night with the horrifying realization that a strange man was in her bed.

The New Yorker

A pit bull terrier crossbreed dog lying in bed with a San Diego couple bit and killed their three-day-old son when it was startled awake.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "being startled awake" to vividly describe a sudden awakening caused by an unexpected external stimulus or internal sensation. For example: "I was being startled awake by the loud crash outside my window."

Common error

While "being startled awake" is grammatically correct, avoid overuse of the passive voice in your writing. Consider active voice alternatives like "The noise startled me awake" for a more direct and impactful sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being startled awake" functions as a verbal phrase describing a state of sudden awakening due to a startling event. Ludwig shows it frequently used in narrative contexts to convey a character's experience.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being startled awake" is a grammatically correct verbal phrase used to describe a sudden awakening, as validated by Ludwig. While it appears most frequently in the News & Media context, it maintains a generally neutral register suitable for various forms of narrative writing. Ludwig highlights that while correct, writers should consider active voice alternatives for more direct and impactful sentences. Semantically related alternatives include "woken up with a jolt" and "startled from sleep", offering writers a range of choices to fit their desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Startled from sleep

Highlights the feeling of surprise upon waking.

Jolted awake

Highlights the physical sensation of being abruptly woken.

Awakened with a start

Highlights the physical reaction of being startled.

Woken up with a jolt

Focuses on the sudden, jerky nature of awakening.

Woken up unexpectedly

Focuses on the surprise element of the awakening.

Woken abruptly

Focuses on the suddenness of the event, similar to 'suddenly awakened'.

Suddenly awakened

Emphasizes the abruptness of the awakening.

Roused suddenly from sleep

A more descriptive and formal way of saying 'startled from sleep'.

Abruptly roused from sleep

Uses a more formal tone to describe a sudden awakening.

Disturbed from slumber

Emphasizes the interruption of peaceful sleep.

FAQs

How can I use "being startled awake" in a sentence?

Use "being startled awake" to describe a sudden interruption of sleep due to an unexpected event. For example, "I remember "being startled awake" by the sound of the alarm."

What's a more concise way to say "being startled awake"?

Alternatives include "woken up suddenly", "suddenly awakened", or "startled from sleep", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "being startled awake" formal or informal?

"Being startled awake" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives exist for academic or professional writing.

Which is correct, "being startled awake" or "being startled to wake"?

"Being startled awake" is the correct and more common phrasing. "Being startled to wake" is grammatically awkward and not idiomatic.