how surprising!

USAGE SUMMARY

'how surprising!' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that something is unexpected, and it often expresses surprise or astonishment. Example: "I can't believe he got the job—how surprising!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But how surprising?

The New York Times

How surprising was Stewart's blast?

The New York Times - Sports

How surprising is it?

The New York Times

How surprising is that?

The New York Times - Sports

"How surprising," Glauber had said.

The New Yorker

How surprising was the Yankees' outburst off Zito?

The New York Times - Sports

How surprising are recent troubles in light of Italy's political past?

The New York Times

How surprising it was to see Lagerfeld, entering in front of blinding flash bulbs, in a jacket that was … white.

The New York Times

So how surprising to learn he is the trustee of a charity dedicated to promoting, er, human rights!

Independent

"But I don't know how surprising that is given what we've seen in semiconductors and tech recently".

The New York Times - Tech

To understand just how surprising Pope Benedict XVI's decision to surrender his post is, you can look to numbers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how surprising!" to punctuate a statement that defies expectation, adding a touch of irony or genuine amazement. Ensure the context clearly establishes the prior expectation to maximize the impact of the exclamation.

Common error

While effective in conversational and news contexts, avoid overusing "how surprising!" in formal academic or business writing. Opt for more nuanced phrasing to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

Exclamatory Phrase: "How surprising!" functions as an exclamation, expressing surprise or astonishment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it punctuates unexpected events or outcomes. Examples from Ludwig show it used across various contexts, emphasizing the unexpected nature of situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how surprising!" is a commonly used exclamatory phrase to express astonishment or disbelief at an unexpected event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. As illustrated by numerous examples on Ludwig, this phrase appears frequently in News & Media, fitting comfortably in neutral registers. While effective for emphasizing the unexpected, overuse should be avoided in more formal academic writing. Consider alternatives like "what a surprise!" or "surprisingly enough!" to add nuance and avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what a surprise!

Expresses simple surprise; less emphasis on the degree of unexpectedness.

surprisingly enough!

Highlights the unexpected nature of the situation.

who would have thought!

Indicates disbelief or astonishment at an unexpected turn of events.

fancy that!

An exclamation of mild surprise, often used in British English.

would you believe it!

An expression of incredulity at an unexpected occurrence.

it's astonishing!

Emphasizes the extreme level of surprise or amazement.

that's unexpected!

A straightforward statement of surprise.

i'm taken aback!

Focuses on the speaker's reaction of surprise and slight shock.

how very unexpected!

Adds emphasis to the unexpected nature of the event.

of all things!

Expresses surprise and often disbelief or frustration.

FAQs

How can I use "how surprising!" in a sentence?

Use "how surprising!" as an interjection to express your astonishment or disbelief at an unexpected event. For example: "He actually won the lottery—how surprising!"

What are some alternatives to "how surprising!"?

You can use alternatives like "what a surprise!", "surprisingly enough!", or "who would have thought!" to express similar sentiments.

Is "how surprising!" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "how surprising!" is generally more suited to informal or journalistic contexts. Formal writing often requires more nuanced and less exclamatory language.

What does "how surprising!" imply?

"How surprising!" implies that a particular outcome or event was unexpected and often contrary to prior beliefs or assumptions. It can convey a range of emotions from mild amusement to genuine shock.