great surprise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "great surprise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a significant or unexpected feeling of astonishment or amazement. Example: "To my great surprise, I found out that I had won the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No great surprise, perhaps.

The Economist

No great surprise there.

The New York Times

This is no great surprise.

The New Yorker

Then, great surprise.

The New York Times - Tech

Perhaps no great surprise.

The Guardian - Books

The conclusion is no great surprise.

The New York Times

This isn't a great surprise.

The Guardian - Sport

To my great surprise, they worked.

The New Yorker

It was no great surprise.

The Guardian - Sport

That is no great surprise.

The New York Times

That was a great surprise!

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "great surprise" to emphasize a significant level of unexpectedness or astonishment. It's suitable when you want to convey a strong emotional reaction to an event or piece of news.

Common error

While acceptable, overuse of "great surprise" can make your writing sound less sophisticated. In formal contexts, consider using more nuanced alternatives like "considerable astonishment" or "profound amazement".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great surprise" functions as a noun phrase where "great" modifies the noun "surprise", intensifying its meaning. Ludwig examples show it often introduces clauses expressing unexpected outcomes. It's used to describe a significant level of astonishment or unexpectedness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "great surprise" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a significant feeling of astonishment or unexpectedness. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, consider more nuanced alternatives in formal writing to avoid sounding repetitive. The phrase effectively communicates a strong emotional reaction to unforeseen events, making it a valuable tool in both narrative and descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tremendous surprise

Replaces "great" with "tremendous", indicating a larger degree of surprise.

immense surprise

Substitutes "great" with "immense", emphasizing the magnitude of the surprise.

huge surprise

Uses "huge" instead of "great" to denote the size of the surprise.

major surprise

Replaces "great" with "major", suggesting a significant level of unexpectedness.

wonderful surprise

Employs "wonderful" to indicate a pleasant and unexpected event.

unexpected delight

Shifts the focus to the positive feeling associated with the surprise.

complete shock

Uses "shock" instead of "surprise", emphasizing the abrupt and startling nature of the event.

startling discovery

Highlights the aspect of finding something unexpected and perhaps previously unknown.

astonishing revelation

Focuses on the unveiling of something previously hidden or unknown, causing surprise.

out-of-the-blue event

Indicates that the event happened without any warning or anticipation.

FAQs

What does "great surprise" mean?

The phrase "great surprise" refers to a feeling of significant astonishment or unexpectedness regarding something that has happened.

What are some synonyms for "great surprise"?

You can use alternatives like "tremendous surprise", "immense surprise", or "huge surprise" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "a great surprise to me"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase is often used in the pattern "To my great surprise..." to introduce an unexpected event or revelation.

When should I use "great surprise" in writing?

Use "great surprise" when you want to emphasize the intensity of your astonishment or the unexpected nature of an event. It works well in both personal narratives and descriptive writing.