curiously being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "curiously being" is not a correct structure in English.
It is an incomplete phrase, as it does not contain a verb. If you are looking for a way to express curiosity or wonder, you might use the phrase "curiously wondered" instead. For example: He curiously wondered what she would say next.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

AS ITALIAN magistrates continued to amass evidence against Parmalat executives this week, most of the big news was, curiously, being made in America.

The Economist

webOS, which is curiously being licensed off to other OEMs, is down 0.4 points from last quarter.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The answer, curiously, was no.

The New York Times - Tech

Tate, curiously, was unavailable for the role herself.

Independent

The earlier book, curiously, is a joyful, dynamic one.

The New Yorker

Rezaian was convicted last year, but his sentence, curiously, was never announced.

The New Yorker

That, curiously, was not for the painstaking Mrs Cameron but for some splashy painter called Jackson Pollock.

The Economist

The commonest fault, curiously, was a failure to indicate that SEMANTRA is a plural form.

The Guardian

Ms. McDonald, curiously, was at her least moving in slow, intimate music, her thoughtful restructuring notwithstanding.

The New York Times

The second, more curiously, is of Saramago the venerable Portuguese man of letters himself.

The Guardian - Books

Its flight number, curiously, was 1103.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "curiously being" with stronger verbs or adverbs to enhance clarity and impact. For instance, use "being investigated" or "being scrutinized" for a more formal tone.

Common error

Avoid using "being" passively when a more active verb form would be more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "curiously being considered", use "curiously considered".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "curiously being" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a present participle, aiming to describe the manner in which an action is occurring. However, according to Ludwig AI, this structure is often considered grammatically incomplete, potentially requiring a rephrasing for improved clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "curiously being" is used to express an action happening in a strange or unusual way. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase might be considered grammatically incorrect and uncommon. While examples exist primarily in news and media contexts, its usage can be ambiguous, and rephrasing is often recommended for clarity. Consider alternatives such as "being strangely" or restructuring the sentence for improved grammatical accuracy and impact. Due to such a low grammatical status, other alternatives could better transmit the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being oddly

Replaces "curiously" with "oddly", offering a different nuance of surprise or unusualness while maintaining a similar grammatical structure.

being strangely

Substitutes "curiously" with "strangely", providing an alternative way to indicate something is peculiar or unexpected in the process of occurring.

being peculiarly

Replace "curiously" with "peculiarly" as an alternative adverb.

being curiously

Reverses the order of words. This changes the emphasis, but can still express the same general idea with a slightly altered tone.

being inquisitively

Replace "curiously" with "inquisitively" as an alternative adverb.

being unusually

Replace "curiously" with "unusually" as an alternative adverb.

being surprisingly

Uses "surprisingly" instead of "curiously", shifting the focus to the unexpected nature of the ongoing action or state.

acting curiously

This alternative describes a subject performing an action in a curious manner, changing the part of speech associated with "curiously".

curiously done

Shifts the focus from an ongoing state to a completed action, using "curiously" to modify the verb "done".

seeming curious

Switches from "being" to "seeming", focusing on the appearance of curiosity rather than an ongoing process, also altering the grammatical structure slightly.

FAQs

What does "curiously" mean?

The word "curiously" means in a strange or unusual way.

Is it correct to say "curiously being"?

While grammatically questionable, "curiously being" may appear in certain contexts. However, it's often better to rephrase for clarity. Consider alternatives like "being strangely" or "oddly being" if you intend to modify a continuous action.

How can I rephrase sentences that use "curiously being" for better clarity?

Try using a stronger verb or a different adverb. For example, instead of "curiously being examined", you might say "being thoroughly examined" or "being suspiciously scrutinized".

What are some synonyms for "curiously"?

Synonyms for "curiously" include "strangely", "oddly", "peculiarly", and "unusually". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.