it was completely surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was completely surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something was entirely unexpected or astonishing. Example: "When she announced her sudden resignation, it was completely surprising to everyone in the office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"It was completely surprising, such a target".

The New York Times

"It was completely surprising," said Vera Kichanova, 20, a journalism student who campaigned for a seat on the Yuzhnoe Tushino district council in Moscow.

The New York Times

It was completely surprising to me.

Huffington Post

"It was completely surprising to me," said Ellen Wartella, director of Northwestern University's Center on Media and Human Development and the lead researcher on the study in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Considering many chemical structures are synthesized for novelty purposes, this may not be completely surprising.

Journal of Cheminformatics

So we're gathering a lot of information and data and what we've found is completely surprising and very good news.

Forbes

So it wasn't completely surprising that the actual draft card burnings and supposed bra burnings merged into one big memory of the '60s.

Huffington Post

Because of the apparently shaky case the US has against Kim, it wasn't completely surprising to discover after grilling him about the accusations and evidence in the indictment that Kim is not really the maniacal individual that he's been painted as.

Vice

Yunus was blind to rural women's working conditions, so it's not completely surprising he'd be blind to their domestic conditions either.

Huffington Post

Therefore it is not completely surprising to see that in flies, Robo repulsive signalling is under control of at least two different mechanisms.

Plosone

Therefore, the finding that lymph node DCs from R-EAE mice are one of the preferential targets of the major environmental regulators being increased at the level of ectopic germinal niche-like lymph node areas, it is not completely surprising.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was completely surprising" to express genuine astonishment or unexpectedness, but consider the audience and context to choose a synonym if a more formal or impactful tone is desired. When including it in text, always consider the target audience and whether a more formal or more casual variant is more appropriate.

Common error

While "it was completely surprising" is grammatically correct, overuse in formal writing can make it sound less impactful. Opt for synonyms like "it was utterly unexpected" or "it was entirely unforeseen" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was completely surprising" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a subjective reaction to an unexpected event or situation. It serves to highlight the speaker's or writer's astonishment. Ludwig confirms that is appropriate in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was completely surprising" serves as an evaluative statement to convey astonishment, often in response to an unexpected event or situation. Ludwig's AI suggests the phrase is grammatically correct and is suitable for a variety of contexts, with examples appearing in news, science, and business sources. While generally neutral, more formal synonyms like "it was utterly unexpected" may be preferred in certain writing scenarios. Its use is classified as rare, but is still usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it came as a complete surprise

Emphasizes the sudden and unexpected nature of the event.

it was utterly unexpected

Replaces "completely surprising" with a stronger adjective, "utterly", to intensify the feeling of surprise.

it was totally unexpected

Uses "totally" instead of "completely" for a slightly more informal tone.

it was entirely unforeseen

Focuses on the lack of anticipation or prediction of the event.

it was quite astonishing

Shifts the focus to the level of astonishment caused by the event.

it was remarkably startling

Highlights the startling or alarming aspect of the surprise.

it was genuinely shocking

Emphasizes the shocking or disturbing nature of the surprise.

it was a complete shock

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct and impactful statement.

it blindsided me

Uses a more figurative expression to indicate a sudden and unexpected event.

it caught me off guard

Indicates a state of unpreparedness due to the unexpected nature of the event.

FAQs

What does "it was completely surprising" mean?

The phrase "it was completely surprising" means that something was totally unexpected or astonishing. It expresses a sense of genuine surprise.

What can I say instead of "it was completely surprising"?

You can use alternatives like "it came as a complete surprise", "it was utterly unexpected", or "it was entirely unforeseen" depending on the context.

Is "it was completely surprising" formal or informal?

The phrase "it was completely surprising" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal options might exist for academic or business writing.

How can I use "it was completely surprising" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase to describe an event, outcome, or piece of information that you did not expect. For example, "When she announced her retirement, "it was completely surprising" to everyone".