it has been startling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has been startling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express surprise or shock about something that has occurred in the past and continues to have an impact. Example: "Since the announcement of the new policy, it has been startling to see how quickly opinions have changed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But it has been startling to see leading scientists employ science itself in arguments for believing in a kind of supernatural: Jürgen Schmidhuber, a prominent researcher in artificial intelligence, calls for what he has dubbed "computational theology," while Baylor College of Medicine neuroscientist David Eagleman has proposed a kind of religious perspective that he calls "Possibilianism".

The New Yorker

It has been startling for me to look in the corner of the room during class and see unfamiliar faces.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It had been startling and disappointing to me to find out that storybooks had been written by people, that books were not natural wonders, coming up of themselves like grass," she wrote.

The New York Times

The decline has been startling.

The Economist

Her ascent has been startling.

The New York Times - Sports

Taobao's success has been startling.

The Economist

Nevertheless, his rise has been startling.

The Guardian

"The response has been startling," Mr. Kruger said.

The New York Times

Swindon's lowly position has been startling.

The Guardian - Sport

Everything she has done has been startling and sometimes implausible.

The Guardian

Yet the change over the past twenty years has been startling.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has been startling" to introduce an event or change that has caused a significant level of surprise or mild shock. It's particularly effective when highlighting unexpected outcomes or shifts in trends.

Common error

Avoid using "it has been startling" in highly formal or academic writing where a more neutral tone is expected. Instead, opt for alternatives like "it has been noteworthy" or "it has been significant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has been startling" functions as a commentary expression, typically introducing an observation about a situation or event that has caused surprise. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it has been startling" is a valid and useful expression for conveying surprise or unexpectedness. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and most frequently used in news and media contexts. While versatile, consider the formality of your writing; alternatives like "it has been significant" may be more suitable for academic or formal settings. Remember that the use of present perfect tense suggests the surprising effect continues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has been surprising

Replaces "startling" with a more general term for unexpectedness, reducing the sense of shock or alarm.

it has been shocking

Emphasizes the element of surprise to the point of causing emotional distress or moral offense.

it has been astonishing

Conveys a strong sense of wonder and disbelief, suggesting something nearly unbelievable has occurred.

it has been remarkable

Highlights the exceptional nature of what has happened, focusing on its noteworthiness rather than its unexpectedness.

it has been stunning

Implies a sudden and overwhelming impact, often in a positive or aesthetically pleasing way.

it has been eye-opening

Focuses on the aspect of gaining new insights or awareness as a result of the surprising event.

it has been unexpected

A more neutral way of saying something wasn't anticipated, lacking the emotional impact of "startling".

it has been unforeseen

Indicates something was not predicted or anticipated, often implying a lack of preparation.

it has been unforeseen

Indicates that something was unpredicted, often used in a more formal context than "startling".

it has been breathtaking

Suggests something that causes awe or amazement.

FAQs

How can I use "it has been startling" in a sentence?

You can use "it has been startling" to describe an unexpected change or outcome. For instance, "It has been startling to see the rapid increase in remote work adoption".

What are some alternatives to "it has been startling"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "it has been surprising", "it has been remarkable", or "it has been unexpected".

Is "it has been startling" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "it has been startling" might be perceived as slightly informal for some academic or highly formal contexts. Consider using alternatives like "it has been significant" or "it has been noteworthy" in those situations.

What's the difference between "it has been startling" and "it was startling"?

"It has been startling" implies the surprising effect continues to the present, while "it was startling" refers to a surprising event in the past that may or may not have ongoing effects.