beyond belief

USAGE SUMMARY

"beyond belief" is a perfectly acceptable idiom and can be used in written English.
For example, "The kindness of the community was beyond belief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Here, it's beyond belief.

The New York Times - Sports

It's beyond belief.

The Guardian - Sport

What happened is beyond belief".

The New York Times - Sports

This is really beyond belief.

TechCrunch

Chalica: Parenting Beyond Belief.

Huffington Post

Stressed Out Beyond Belief.

Huffington Post

Frustrating beyond belief.

The Guardian - Tech

Viruses beyond belief.

The New Yorker

She was beyond belief.

The New Yorker

It was beyond belief.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Both the Foundation Beyond Belief and S.H.A.R.E.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "beyond belief" to express genuine surprise or disbelief, rather than mild amusement. It carries a strong emotional weight and should be reserved for situations that warrant it.

Common error

Avoid using "beyond belief" to describe minor inconveniences or everyday occurrences. This diminishes the phrase's impact and can make your writing sound hyperbolic and insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beyond belief" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun to express the extreme degree to which something is unbelievable or astonishing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beyond belief" functions as an adjective phrase used to express a strong sense of incredulity or astonishment. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It is commonly found in news and media, as well as in formal business contexts. While its register is generally neutral, it leans towards the informal, making it suitable for a broad range of writing styles. For alternatives, consider "unimaginable", "incredible", or "unfathomable". Be mindful of overuse in trivial contexts to maintain the phrase's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unimaginable

Single word alternative; focuses on the inability to conceive the extent or nature of something.

incredible

Single word alternative; emphasizes the extraordinary and hard-to-believe nature of something.

unfathomable

Single word alternative; highlights the difficulty in understanding or comprehending something.

past comprehension

Rephrases the idea, focusing on the inability to fully understand something.

hard to swallow

Idiomatic alternative; suggests something is difficult to accept or believe.

beggars description

Idiomatic alternative; indicates that something is so extraordinary it cannot be adequately described.

defies explanation

Rephrases the idea, emphasizing the lack of a logical or reasonable explanation.

too much to take in

Highlights the overwhelming nature of something, making it hard to process or believe.

simply astonishing

Alternative that uses a different adjective to describe a surprising scenario.

mind-boggling

Informal alternative; expresses being overwhelmed by something complex or unbelievable.

FAQs

How can I use "beyond belief" in a sentence?

You can use "beyond belief" to describe something that is unbelievable or extraordinary, such as "The generosity of the donors was "beyond belief"".

What does "beyond belief" mean?

"Beyond belief" means something is so remarkable or extreme that it is difficult to believe or comprehend. It expresses astonishment or disbelief.

What are some alternatives to using "beyond belief"?

Alternatives to "beyond belief" include "unimaginable", "incredible", or "unfathomable" depending on the specific context.

Is "beyond belief" formal or informal?

"Beyond belief" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's essential to consider the tone and audience. It generally fits well in news articles and general writing.