found unexpectedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "found unexpectedly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was discovered or encountered without prior anticipation or planning. Example: "The archaeologists were thrilled when they found unexpectedly a rare artifact buried deep in the ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

But outside the lecture rooms, they found, unexpectedly, that they were enjoying themselves.

The New York Times - Health

And many Scrantonites have followed their lead, which Karam has found unexpectedly heartening.

The Guardian

They then found "unexpectedly high" polonium-210 activity in the specimens collected during the exhumation in November 2012.

The Guardian

I knew that any itinerary I planned would have to allow for changes, depending on what buildings I found unexpectedly open or closed.

The New York Times - Travel

Investigators found unexpectedly high levels of the colorless, odorless and potentially deadly gas often gathering beneath the swimming deck of houseboats.

The New York Times

With her literary base thus broadened, McDermid won a place at Oxford, where she discovered Hammett and Chandler and found, unexpectedly, that crime fiction received tacit approval.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Bear in mind that trainees always surprise themselves with rotations they find unexpectedly enjoyable, and business needs are always going to be a factor.

The Guardian

In particular, we use the Calinski-Harabasz (CH) index [19] to compare the quality of clustering, and we find unexpectedly large differences in the performance of different algorithms.

Plosone

In the present study, we find unexpectedly that hypoxia robustly induces phosphorylation and translocation of the cytosolic MAP4 to mitochondria.

Cell Death and Disease

People who sneered at the game, accustomed to seeing only ugliness, found themselves unexpectedly swept along.

The Guardian - Sport

I found out unexpectedly that a distant cousin of mine, Emily de Saram, was on the boat.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "found unexpectedly" to add an element of surprise or serendipity to your writing. It is suitable when you want to emphasize that a discovery was not planned or anticipated.

Common error

Avoid using "found unexpectedly" when describing discoveries that were the direct result of a planned search or experiment. It is more appropriate for accidental or unforeseen findings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "found unexpectedly" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing how something was found. It adds detail to the verb, indicating the manner of discovery. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is a correct and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "found unexpectedly" serves as an adverbial modifier, adding a sense of unplanned discovery. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically sound and frequently used in both scientific and news-related contexts. It indicates that something was discovered or encountered without anticipation. Alternatives like "discovered surprisingly" or "encountered unexpectedly" can be used depending on the desired emphasis. When writing, it's best to use "found unexpectedly" when describing something genuinely surprising rather than the result of a planned search.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discovered surprisingly

Focuses on the act of discovering something in a way that causes surprise.

encountered unexpectedly

Highlights the unplanned meeting or facing of something.

stumbled upon accidentally

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the discovery.

came across surprisingly

Similar to 'encountered', but with a lighter, more casual tone.

uncovered unintentionally

Stresses that the finding was not the result of a deliberate search.

realized suddenly

Highlights the abrupt awareness of something.

detected out of the blue

Indicates that the discovery was completely unforeseen.

learned to one's surprise

Highlights the personal surprise of the individual.

unearthed unexpectedly

Implies finding something hidden or buried, both literally and figuratively.

chanced upon unexpectedly

Stresses the role of chance in the discovery.

FAQs

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

Use "found unexpectedly" to describe a situation where something was discovered or encountered without prior planning or anticipation. For example: "The researchers "found unexpectedly" high levels of a certain element in the soil".

What is an alternative to using "found unexpectedly"?

Alternatives include "discovered surprisingly", "encountered unexpectedly", or "stumbled upon accidentally". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "unexpectedly found" instead of "found unexpectedly"?

While "unexpectedly found" is grammatically correct, "found unexpectedly" is more common and generally preferred for its smoother flow. It emphasizes the manner of finding rather than modifying "found" itself.

What's the difference between "found unexpectedly" and "discovered by surprise"?

"Found unexpectedly" implies the act of locating something without prior intent, while "discovered by surprise" emphasizes the feeling of surprise associated with the finding. They are similar, but the focus differs slightly.