did not expect

USAGE SUMMARY

'did not expect' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to express that something happened unexpectedly, or was not anticipated. Example: I did not expect the exam to be so difficult.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We did not expect it.

The Economist

This I did not expect.

The New York Times

He did not expect what he saw.

The New York Times - Sports

But they did not expect this.

The New York Times

Of course they did not expect that.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr Yanukovich did not expect this.

The Economist

"It is something I did not expect".

The New York Times - Tech

Teachers did not expect great things.

The New York Times

I did not expect him to be.

The New Yorker

He did not expect to win.

The New York Times - Sports

That I did not expect.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When conveying stronger surprise, consider using synonyms like "never imagined" or "came as a complete shock".

Common error

Avoid using "did not expect" in highly formal documents where a more sophisticated vocabulary might be preferred. Alternatives like "had no anticipation of" or "did not foresee" may be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not expect" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a lack of anticipation or surprise at a particular outcome. It indicates that the subject had no prior belief or prediction that something would occur. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "did not expect" is a versatile phrase used to express a lack of anticipation or surprise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely accepted. While suitable for most contexts, more formal alternatives exist for academic or professional writing. Its high frequency in news and media underscores its general applicability. Consider stronger synonyms to express more intense surprise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was unexpected

Highlights the unanticipated nature of the event.

didn't foresee

Focuses on the inability to predict the event.

was not anticipating

Highlights the lack of proactive expectation.

was taken by surprise

Stresses the element of sudden shock or astonishment.

was unprepared for

Underscores the lack of readiness for the event.

had no expectation

Emphasizes the complete absence of anticipation.

came as a complete shock

Emphasizes the profound surprise and disbelief experienced.

never imagined

Implies a stronger sense of disbelief or impossibility.

never thought it would happen

Expresses disbelief and a sense of unlikelihood.

it never occurred to me

Implies the event was not even considered as a possibility.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "did not expect"?

In formal writing, you can use phrases like "did not foresee", "had no anticipation of", or "was unprepared for".

How can I use "did not expect" in a sentence?

You can use "did not expect" to express surprise or lack of anticipation about something: "I "did not expect" the movie to be so good."

What can I say instead of "I "did not expect" this outcome" to show stronger surprise?

To show stronger surprise, consider using phrases like "it came as a complete shock", or "never imagined".

Is "did not expect" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "did not expect" might be too informal for some academic contexts. Using alternatives like "did not anticipate" or "had no expectation" could be more appropriate.