bizarrely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bizarrely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is strange or unusual in a surprising way. Example: "The cat behaved bizarrely, jumping from one piece of furniture to another without any apparent reason."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have, bizarrely, chosen this moment to converge in support of the kind of neoliberalism that has caused this crisis in the first place.

The Guardian

This gripping and bizarrely tragic tale of a billionaire who took it upon himself to bankroll and train the US Olympic wrestling team for the 1988 Seoul games is quite extraordinary.

The Guardian - Film

(Bizarrely, it was once voted the favourite novel of students at Yale, in 1906).

The Guardian - Books

The peaceful atmosphere and, bizarrely, the large number of cows aimlessly wandering around, seemed at odds with the gruesome past of the site.

The Guardian - Travel

MTV's Video Music Awards are an annual test of how far show producers can push pop music stars to behave bizarrely in front of a live television audience.

The Guardian

For something trying so hard to sound alive, it's bizarrely bland.

The Guardian - Music

Julianne Moore is going to be a big player this year, with nominations for Maps to the Stars (a horrifyingly brutal satire that bizarrely comes into the comedy/musical section) and as a support in Still Alice.

The Guardian - Film

It is the natural extension of the bizarrely dominant idea that if you include a person saying something sensible in any debate, you must also include the polar opposite, even if inflammatory and illogical, "for balance".

The Guardian - Opinion

Too dark, too bitter, too negative; the reaction, both from label executives and, bizarrely, from critics who seemed to run with their line, was telling.

The Guardian - Music

Donald Horne captures the contradiction nicely: "The America's Cup becomes not only a celebration of wealth in a millionaire's sport: bizarrely, it also becomes a symbol of 'free enterprise' so … we can dream again of pioneers and battlers and little men in corner stores".

The Guardian - Opinion

Related: Yola: the city where people fleeing Boko Haram outnumber 400,000 locals None of them want to dwell on their abduction, which took place on a night when the students, bizarrely, were left alone on the school grounds.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bizarrely", ensure the context clearly establishes what is considered normal or expected, so the deviation is apparent to the reader.

Common error

While "bizarrely" can be effective, overuse dilutes its impact. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "oddly", "strangely", or "curiously" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "bizarrely" is as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to describe the manner in which an action is performed or a state exists. Ludwig AI shows examples where it modifies verbs like "behave" and adjectives like "bland".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bizarrely" functions as an adverb to express something strange, odd, or unexpected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various domains, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, overuse should be avoided by incorporating synonyms like "oddly" or "strangely" to maintain writing impact. Overall, "bizarrely" effectively conveys surprise or disbelief when describing unconventional situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Strangely enough

Emphasizes the odd or peculiar nature of something, focusing on its divergence from the norm.

Oddly enough

Highlights the unusual or curious aspect of a situation, suggesting a deviation from expectation.

Curiously

Draws attention to something that piques interest due to its peculiarity or unexpectedness.

Peculiarly

Underscores the distinctiveness of something, marking it as out of the ordinary.

Unaccountably

Indicates that something is difficult to explain or understand, adding a layer of mystery.

Inexplicably

Emphasizes the lack of a clear reason or justification for something, suggesting it's beyond understanding.

Anomalously

Highlights the irregularity of something, positioning it as an exception to the rule.

Counterintuitively

Suggests that something goes against what one would expect based on intuition or common sense.

Unconventionally

Indicates a departure from established norms or customs, highlighting the unique approach taken.

Paradoxically

Points out the contradictory or self-opposing nature of something, adding a layer of complexity.

FAQs

How can I use "bizarrely" in a sentence?

Use "bizarrely" to describe something that happens in a strange or unexpected way. For example, "He "bizarrely started to sing" in the middle of the meeting".

What can I say instead of "bizarrely"?

You can use alternatives like "strangely", "oddly", or "curiously" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "bizarrely enough"?

Yes, "bizarrely enough" is a common and acceptable phrase used to introduce something surprising or unexpected, similar to "strangely enough" or "oddly enough".

What's the difference between "bizarrely" and "ironically"?

"Bizarrely" describes something that is strange or odd, while "ironically" describes a situation that is the opposite of what is expected. It's "bizarrely ironic" when it rains on a day forecast to be sunny.