by surprise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'by surprise' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when someone does something unexpectedly or in a sudden, surprising manner. For example: I was taken by surprise when my friend showed up at my house unannounced.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By surprise.

The Guardian

What took you by surprise?

The New York Times

That took me by surprise.

The New Yorker

"You caught me by surprise.

The New York Times

It caught us by surprise.

The New York Times

It caught everybody by surprise.

The Economist

Tokyo took me by surprise.

Independent

It caught Allen by surprise.

The New York Times - Sports

It took me by surprise.

The New Yorker

SHE took me by surprise.

The New York Times

Yau was caught by surprise.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by surprise" to clearly indicate that an event or action was unexpected, catching someone off guard. This phrase works well to add emphasis and a sense of immediacy to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions in place of "by" (e.g., "with surprise"). While seemingly similar, these alternatives don't convey the same meaning of something occurring unexpectedly.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "by surprise" is to act as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI shows, it often describes how someone or something is affected unexpectedly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by surprise" is a versatile and common prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action or event was unexpected. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently found in news and media sources. While alternatives like "unexpectedly" or "unawares" exist, "by surprise" offers a direct and easily understood way to convey a sense of immediacy and being caught off guard. Remember to use "by" as the preposition to maintain idiomatic correctness. Its frequent occurrence and authoritative sourcing make it a reliable choice for various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a surprising manner

This alternative is a more descriptive and literal way of expressing the same idea.

without warning

This phrase highlights the absence of any prior indication or alert.

unexpectedly

This adverb focuses on the lack of anticipation for an event or action.

abruptly

This emphasizes the suddenness and often unexpected nature of an event.

unanticipatedly

Focuses on the lack of anticipation, similar to "unexpectedly" but less common.

unawares

This single-word alternative emphasizes the state of not being aware or prepared for something.

all of a sudden

Similar to "out of the blue", this indicates a rapid and unanticipated occurrence.

out of the blue

This idiom suggests something happening suddenly and without warning.

like a bolt from the blue

An alternative idiom emphasizing the unexpected and shocking nature of an event.

on the spur of the moment

This suggests a decision or action taken impulsively and without planning.

FAQs

How can I use "by surprise" in a sentence?

You can use "by surprise" to indicate that someone was caught off guard or that something happened unexpectedly. For example, "The announcement took everyone "by surprise"".

What are some alternatives to "by surprise"?

Alternatives include "unexpectedly", "unawares", or "out of the blue", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "with surprise" instead of "by surprise"?

While "with surprise" is understandable, "by surprise" is the more idiomatic and grammatically standard way to express that something happened unexpectedly.

What's the difference between "surprised by" and "by surprise"?

"Surprised by" indicates a feeling or emotion resulting from something unexpected (e.g., "I was surprised by the news"). "By surprise" indicates the manner in which something happened (e.g., "The attack took the enemy "by surprise"").