how startling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how startling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise or shock about a particular situation or event. Example: "The news of the sudden storm was how startling, leaving everyone unprepared."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

How startling then that five years on, Southampton are now hurtling towards doom.

The Guardian - Sport

But if the books don't show kids how startling a story on the page can be, who will?

The New York Times - Books

How startling, how awe-­inspiring, how necessary it is that the ­story van Niekerk assembles here is relayed by a woman who cannot speak.

The New York Times - Books

How startling it was to learn that AN Wilson, the most punctiliously Home Counties, southern-gentlemanly, plummy-voiced of British writers, hails from the Potteries.

Independent

Given all that uncertainty and elusiveness, perhaps we should just look at the pictures – no matter how startling – and find him there.

The Guardian

How startling — now that all the architects of the once world-conquering British Beautyy" tradition are dead — to see their work recaptured in Boston.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

A brand-new lipstick, Deep Purple, which her mother knew nothing about, because Lisette, like her girlfriends, wore lipstick only away from home, and it was startling how different they all looked within seconds — how mature and how sexy.

The New Yorker

For a visitor from the United States used to different kinds of exhibitions, it is startling how different the effect of the displays is here, how crisp certain contrasts seem and how brightly illuminated some familiar controversies become.

The New York Times - Arts

It's startling how very little happens in "Selective Memory," and how slowly.

The New York Times - Arts

It's startling how quickly that has dissipated".

The New Yorker

It's startling how many forest scenes abound in 19th-century ballets.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how startling" to introduce a surprising or unexpected fact or event. It adds emphasis and can create a sense of wonder or disbelief.

Common error

While "how startling" is acceptable in many contexts, be mindful of overuse in highly formal or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "surprisingly" or "unexpectedly" for a more neutral tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how startling" functions as an exclamatory expression or relative clause emphasizing the surprising or unexpected nature of a statement or observation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how startling" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey surprise or emphasize the unexpectedness of an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usability is sound. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it functions as an exclamatory expression. While generally neutral in tone, it's advisable to use alternatives like "surprisingly" or "unexpectedly" in strictly formal settings. Usage examples from Ludwig highlight its versatility in introducing surprising facts and observations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how surprising

Replaces "startling" with a more common synonym, maintaining the same structure.

how astonishing

Uses a stronger synonym for "startling", suggesting a greater degree of surprise.

how unexpected

Focuses on the lack of anticipation rather than the intensity of the surprise.

how remarkable

Emphasizes the noteworthy nature of the event, implying surprise.

how amazing

Expresses a positive sense of wonder and surprise.

how shocking

Implies a negative surprise, often associated with disturbing events.

to what extent is it startling

Rephrases the question to focus on the degree of unexpectedness.

the extent of the surprise

Shifts the focus to the magnitude of the unexpected event.

what a surprise it is

Changes the structure to an exclamatory statement.

the unexpected nature of

Highlights the unforeseen quality of something.

FAQs

What does "how startling" mean?

"How startling" expresses a sense of surprise, amazement, or shock about something. It emphasizes the unexpected or remarkable nature of a situation.

What can I say instead of "how startling"?

You can use alternatives like "how surprising", "how unexpected", or "how astonishing" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "how startling"?

Yes, "how startling" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express surprise or amazement.

How do I use "how startling" in a sentence?

You can use "how startling" to introduce a surprising fact or observation, for example: "How startling it was to learn about the discovery."