how shocking

USAGE SUMMARY

"how shocking" can be used in written English.
This is an exclamatory phrase that is often used to express disbelief and outrage. For example, "How shocking that the company would lay off so many workers during this pandemic!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I am shocked at how shocking good service has become.

HuffPost

"We talked about how this would be a real shock to people, and how shocking it was to us," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

How disgusting, how shocking.

The Guardian

That's how shocking I am.

The Guardian - Books

How shocking is The Wasp Factory?

The Guardian - Books

"You can't overstate how shocking it is".

The New York Times

"[But] how shocking is [his] dystopia?

The Guardian

How shocking is anything that's enshrined in the Smithsonian?

The Washington Post

"That is how shocking this was," Dr. Livio said.

The New York Times - Science

"I can't tell you how shocking it was," he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

Aside from, you know, how "shocking" it will be.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "how shocking" with specific details to clarify the subject of your surprise. For example, "How shocking it is that funding for arts programs is being cut!"

Common error

Avoid using "how shocking" excessively in formal or academic writing. While effective for conveying emotion, it can be perceived as overly dramatic or lacking objectivity. Opt for more neutral phrasing like "it is surprising that" or "it is concerning that" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how shocking" functions primarily as an exclamatory expression to convey a strong sense of surprise, disbelief, or outrage. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common way to react to unexpected or appalling news.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"How shocking" is an exclamatory phrase used to express surprise, disbelief, or moral outrage, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and very common, especially in news and media contexts. While effective in conveying emotion, it's best to avoid overuse in formal writing, opting for more neutral alternatives. Consider related phrases like "how surprising" or "how outrageous" to vary your language. The phrase functions as an exclamation, serving to express and often elicit a strong emotional reaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how surprising

Replaces "shocking" with a more general term for unexpectedness.

how unbelievable

Emphasizes the difficulty in accepting something as true.

how appalling

Conveys a stronger sense of moral outrage and disgust.

how outrageous

Highlights the unacceptability or offensiveness of a situation.

how dreadful

Focuses on the negative and unpleasant aspects of a situation.

how astonishing

Emphasizes the great surprise and wonder associated with an event.

how disturbing

Focuses on the unsettling and worrisome nature of something.

how alarming

Highlights the potential danger or threat posed by a situation.

how unexpected

Simply emphasizes that something was not anticipated.

how unforeseen

Highlights that something could not have been predicted.

FAQs

How can I use "how shocking" in a sentence?

You can use "how shocking" to express surprise or disbelief, as in "How shocking that the price of gas has doubled!" or "How shocking the news of the scandal was!"

What phrases are similar to "how shocking"?

Alternatives include "how surprising", "how unbelievable", or "how outrageous" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "how shocking"?

"How shocking" is suitable when you want to express a strong emotional reaction to something unexpected or appalling. It's common in news reporting, opinion pieces, and everyday conversations.

Is "how shocking" too informal for academic writing?

While not strictly incorrect, "how shocking" can sound informal. Consider more neutral alternatives like "it is surprising that" or "it is concerning that" for academic contexts.