hardly surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly surprising" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It typically means that something is not surprising or is expected. Example: After months of hard work and dedication, it was hardly surprising that she received the promotion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hardly surprising.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Sadly, that's hardly surprising.

The New Yorker

That is hardly surprising.

The Economist

It's hardly surprising.

The Economist

That's hardly surprising.

The New York Times

And it's hardly surprising.

The Guardian

It was hardly surprising.

The New Yorker

This was hardly surprising.

The Guardian - Film

But it's hardly surprising.

The New York Times - Magazine

Which is hardly surprising.

Independent

That was hardly surprising.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly surprising" to express that an outcome or situation aligns with prior expectations, avoiding stronger terms when a mild lack of surprise is intended.

Common error

While "hardly surprising" is widely applicable, consider more formal alternatives like "unsurprising" or "entirely expected" in academic or professional writing to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly surprising" functions as an adverbial modifier describing an adjective. Ludwig AI indicates that it expresses a lack of astonishment or expectation regarding a situation or event, implying that it aligns with what was anticipated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly surprising" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a lack of surprise or expectation, often in neutral contexts such as news and media. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a way of indicating that something aligns with prior predictions or understanding. While versatile, it's essential to consider the formality of the context, opting for alternatives in academic or professional settings to maintain an appropriate tone. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and widespread usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not at all surprising

Emphasizes the absence of surprise more directly.

hardly unexpected

Uses a double negative to express that something was anticipated.

to be expected

Indicates that something was anticipated.

not in the least surprising

Emphasizes the lack of surprise.

unsurprising result

A more formal way of saying that the result wasn't surprising.

no great surprise

Underlines that something does not provoke any particular amazement.

entirely expected

Focuses on the expectation of the event rather than the lack of surprise.

predictable outcome

Highlights that the result was foreseeable.

foreseeable event

Highlights the ability to predict the event beforehand.

it figures

An informal way to express that something is not surprising, often with a negative connotation.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly surprising" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly surprising" to indicate that something is not unexpected, such as: "Given his track record, it was "hardly surprising" that he won the award."

What can I say instead of "hardly surprising"?

You can use alternatives like "not at all surprising", "entirely expected", or "unsurprising result" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hardly surprising" or "not surprising"?

"Hardly surprising" and "not surprising" are both correct, but ""hardly surprising"" implies a slightly stronger sense of expectation or inevitability.

What's the difference between "hardly surprising" and "unexpected"?

"Hardly surprising" means something was anticipated, while "unexpected" means something was not foreseen or predicted. They are antonyms.