discover unexpectedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discover unexpectedly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to finding something surprising or unforeseen during a search or exploration. Example: "While hiking in the mountains, I discovered unexpectedly a hidden waterfall that took my breath away."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Many people ended up enrolled without knowing how or why, only to discover unexpectedly they actually had an account," said CFPB Director Richard Cordray.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Discovering unexpectedly that you're pregnant can be very scary.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We have discovered, unexpectedly, that some types of organizations seem to be natural habitats for love.

Harvard Business Review

We discovered, unexpectedly, that bNAbs did not block primary virus capture, although they inhibited the capture of pseudoviruses/IMCs and production of progeny viruses at 48 h.

Virology

We discovered, unexpectedly, that a hydrophobic or nonpolar amino acid next to Walker B motif is essential for motor function, probably for efficient generation of OH− nucleophile.

Virology

Pohl has already expressed exasperation with the CIA after discovering unexpectedly in 2013 that the agency had installed a device in his courtroom to remotely mute proceedings.

The Guardian

Clinically, it may present as an incidental lesion, discovered unexpectedly after surgery for benign thyroid disease, or non-incidentally, detected before surgery due to lymph node metastases, distant metastases and/or fineneedle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid, whether guided by ultrasonography or not.

Endocrinología y Nutrición

We successfully resected pulmonary nodules discovered unexpectedly just after VAL-MAP.

Surgical Case Reports

This is not the first time smallpox vials have been discovered unexpectedly in a laboratory.

Science Magazine

In our experience, out of 64 patients with FMD, more than half of the cervico-encephalic artery dissections were discovered unexpectedly (unpublished data).

Insights into Imaging

Blue Devil, the first aye-aye to be born in captivity in North America, was discovered unexpectedly in his mother's nest in April 1992.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "discover unexpectedly" to emphasize the surprise element of a finding, especially when the discovery deviates from expectations or planned outcomes. For example, "The researchers discovered unexpectedly a new property of the material during the experiment."

Common error

Avoid using additional adverbs that also indicate surprise, as this can create redundancy. For example, instead of "discover unexpectedly surprisingly", use either "discover unexpectedly" or "discover surprisingly" to maintain clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discover unexpectedly" functions as a verb phrase, where "discover" is the main verb and "unexpectedly" is an adverb modifying the verb. It indicates the manner in which the discovery occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

42%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "discover unexpectedly" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to highlight the surprising nature of a finding. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is primarily used in scientific, news, and academic contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid redundancy with other adverbs of surprise. Alternatives like "find surprisingly", "stumble upon unexpectedly", and "come across unexpectedly" can be used to add nuance to the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

find surprisingly

Replaces "unexpectedly" with "surprisingly", maintaining a similar level of formality and emphasis on the element of surprise.

stumble upon unexpectedly

Adds the nuance of a chance encounter or accidental finding, implying less deliberate searching.

unearth surprisingly

Implies digging up or revealing something previously hidden, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the revelation.

reveal surprisingly

Shifts focus to the act of something becoming known, maintaining the element of surprise in the revelation.

chance upon unexpectedly

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the discovery, suggesting it happened by pure luck or chance.

ascertain surprisingly

"Ascertain" means to find something out for certain, maintaining the element of surprise.

notice suddenly

Focuses on the sudden realization or awareness of something, highlighting the unexpected nature of the observation.

realize surprisingly

Indicates an unexpected shift in understanding or awareness, emphasizing the mental aspect of the discovery.

detect surprisingly

Implies using the senses or instruments to find something unexpected.

come across unexpectedly

Similar to "stumble upon", it highlights that the discovery was unplanned or coincidental.

FAQs

What does "discover unexpectedly" mean?

The phrase "discover unexpectedly" means to find something that was not predicted or anticipated. It highlights the surprise element of the discovery.

What are some alternatives to "discover unexpectedly"?

You can use alternatives such as "find surprisingly", "stumble upon unexpectedly", or "come across unexpectedly" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to use "discover unexpectedly"?

While not strictly redundant, it's important to ensure the context doesn't already imply surprise. If the surprise is already clear, consider using just "discover".

How can I use "discover unexpectedly" in a sentence?

You can use "discover unexpectedly" to describe a surprising finding, such as "During the experiment, the scientists discovered unexpectedly a new chemical compound".