is surprisingly better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is surprisingly better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is unexpectedly of a higher quality or performance than anticipated. Example: "The new restaurant in town is surprisingly better than the one we used to frequent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This year's model is surprisingly better than usual.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Despite this, survival of ovarian cancer seems to be surprisingly better in these women than in sporadic ones [7], for unknown reasons.

Insights into Imaging

We tried out six of the top models in a very crowded, look-alike field, and found the LapGear XL Executive LapDesk to be surprisingly better than the competition for at-home wanderlust.

TechCrunch

Urban bees are especially crucial for facilitating growth in the city's community gardens and parks, and are surprisingly better off than suburban colonies that face the threat of lawn pesticides and a too-narrow selection of fruits and flowers.

Huffington Post

The coverage of NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells on the substrate modified by the linker containing both cyclic (–RGDfK–) and linear KKK is, surprisingly, significantly better than the summation using one of them, which reveals the strong cooperativity of specific and non-specific cell adhesions.

Biomaterials

There's been a lot of news popping up lately about algae as a source of biofuel and rightly so, the idea is surprisingly old and what better use for this slimy sludge for than fueling the clean energy revolution is there?

Huffington Post

Even better: It is surprisingly lightweight (about 15 lbs)., and comes with built-in wheels and a removable handle, making the box so easily portable you may want to keep a case of wine with you at all times.

Forbes

Enflux makes motion capture clothing that, for better or worse, is surprisingly slimming.

TechCrunch

Neither show is groundbreaking, or especially clever or suspenseful, but both are surprisingly appealing — better than the sum of their parts, and their promos, because they don't try too hard.

The New York Times - Arts

This is similar to when I saw him six years ago, but he's surprisingly gotten better, he's not as soft as he was in 2006.

Vice

The results are, surprisingly, even better than, close to normal, diabetes type 1 eyes (Table 1), especially considering the difficulty of segmenting such varied cases.

Biomedical Optics Express

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is surprisingly better" when you want to convey that something has exceeded your initial expectations in a positive way. For example, you might say, "The sequel is surprisingly better than the original."

Common error

Avoid using "is surprisingly better" with weak adjectives that don't provide a strong contrast. For example, instead of saying "The weather is surprisingly better today", use a stronger adjective or a more specific comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is surprisingly better" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It expresses a comparison, highlighting that something has exceeded expectations in a positive way. Ludwig provides examples from various contexts showcasing its descriptive usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is surprisingly better" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has exceeded expectations in a positive light. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's frequently used in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts. The phrase maintains a neutral to slightly informal tone. When aiming for more formal or technical writing, consider alternatives such as "is unexpectedly superior". Ludwig's AI confirms the phrase's validity and common usage, making it a reliable choice for conveying unexpected improvements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unexpectedly superior

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the improvement, focusing more on the elevated quality.

is remarkably better

Highlights the notable extent of the improvement, suggesting a significant positive difference.

is surprisingly superior

Similar in meaning but replaces "better" with a more formal and emphatic term.

is unexpectedly improved

Shifts the focus to the action of improving, rather than a comparison of quality.

exceeds expectations

Conveys the idea of surpassing what was anticipated, but without explicitly mentioning a comparison.

is better than anticipated

Directly states that the item surpasses previous anticipations or expectations.

is a pleasant surprise

Expresses the unexpected improvement as a positive experience, rather than a direct comparison.

is more impressive than expected

Highlights the impressive quality of the item or situation, focusing on admiration and value.

is surprisingly effective

Focuses on the effectiveness of something, and it does so surprisingly.

is surprisingly positive

Highlights the presence of a positive characteristic in a surprising way.

FAQs

How can I use "is surprisingly better" in a sentence?

You can use "is surprisingly better" to express that something has unexpectedly improved or exceeded expectations. For example: "This year's model "is surprisingly better" than usual."

What can I say instead of "is surprisingly better"?

You can use alternatives like "is unexpectedly superior", "is remarkably better", or "exceeds expectations depending on the context".

Is it always necessary to specify what something is better than when using "is surprisingly better"?

While it's not grammatically required, specifying what something "is surprisingly better" than can provide clarity and context, making your statement more impactful and understandable. Omitting the comparison can sometimes leave the reader wondering what the point of reference is.

Can "is surprisingly better" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "is surprisingly better" can be used in formal writing, but consider your audience and the overall tone. In some cases, a more formal alternative like "is unexpectedly superior" might be more appropriate.