it was quite unexpected

USAGE SUMMARY

This sentence is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something happened in a way that was not anticipated. For example: "It was quite unexpected when I received a promotion, I was only expecting a salary increase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

One is that it was quite unexpected.

The Economist

It was quite unexpected and surprising to think that the participating group's excitement and engagement for innovation was contagious to the nonparticipant group.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

It was quite unexpected that a majority of sRNAs were located in the minus strand of chromosome 13 and both strands of the chloroplast genome.

BMC Genomics

I had always been interested in this disease, even before I knew much about diseases caused by triplet repeats, because the underlying genetic mechanism was very interesting – at the time, it was quite unexpected genetics.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Not surprisingly the redox status of glutathione was demonstrated to be related to mortality outcome, but it was quite unexpected that the quartile with the highest ratio of GSH and total glutathione carried the highest mortality.

Clinical Science

It was quite unexpected news for the Madalbekovs and their relatives when 12 year old Dastan was selected to be the voice of Aktan in the most popular cartoon in Kyrgyzstan.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"It's quite unexpected, but it's nice to see".

The New York Times - Sports

It is quite unexpected, and because Mr Lott plans to step down in 2007--rather 2007--rather 2007--ratherear--thanstate may have to go through a complicated series of elections after Mr Barbour appoints someone.

The Economist

So it's quite unexpected when Yochay calls Esther out to say, "Esther, I don't deserve you.

Huffington Post

In this latest episode of Got No Game with Paul Mecurio, I reveal once and for all what REALLY goes on in the booth, it's quite unexpected.

Huffington Post

It's quite unexpected and really punk in a way even though it's electronic music and the sound design is cutting edge.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was quite unexpected" to express surprise or lack of anticipation, particularly when you want to emphasize the degree to which something was not foreseen.

Common error

While suitable for many contexts, avoid overusing "it was quite unexpected" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "the results defied expectations" or "this outcome was unforeseen" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was quite unexpected" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing the speaker's surprise at an event or situation. It highlights that something occurred contrary to what was anticipated. According to Ludwig, the phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

32%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was quite unexpected" is a common and grammatically sound way to express surprise or a lack of anticipation. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is used across diverse contexts, including science, news, and formal business settings. While generally neutral in tone, remember to choose more formal alternatives in academic writing. As Ludwig suggests, the phrase effectively conveys a deviation from expectations, marking an event as unforeseen and surprising. Related phrases, such as "it came as a surprise" or "it wasn't anticipated", can provide stylistic variations while retaining the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it came as a surprise

This alternative focuses on the feeling of surprise that resulted from the unexpected event, rather than directly stating the event was unexpected.

it wasn't anticipated

This alternative uses a passive construction and emphasizes the lack of prior expectation.

it took everyone by surprise

This phrase highlights the collective surprise experienced by a group, emphasizing the widespread lack of anticipation.

it defied expectations

This alternative suggests that the event not only wasn't expected, but actively contradicted what was thought to be likely.

it was unforeseen

This option emphasizes the inability to see or predict the event beforehand.

it caught us off guard

This alternative uses an idiom to convey the sense of being unprepared for the event.

it happened out of the blue

This idiomatic phrase emphasizes the sudden and unpredicted nature of the event.

it was a bolt from the blue

Similar to "it happened out of the blue", this idiom also conveys suddenness and lack of warning, suggesting something shocking or surprising.

it proved to be a surprise

This alternative indicates that the surprising nature of the event only became apparent after it occurred.

it blindsided everyone

This emphasizes the complete lack of warning and the negative impact of the unexpected event, implying it caused disruption or harm.

FAQs

What does "it was quite unexpected" mean?

The phrase "it was quite unexpected" means something happened that was not anticipated or foreseen. It expresses surprise and emphasizes the lack of prior expectation.

What can I say instead of "it was quite unexpected"?

You can use alternatives like "it came as a surprise", "it wasn't anticipated", or "it took everyone by surprise" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "it was quite unexpected"?

The phrase "it was quite unexpected" is generally considered neutral in formality. It is suitable for most everyday conversations and many writing contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or highly professional settings.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "it was quite unexpected"?

Use "it was quite unexpected" to describe any event, result, or piece of news that you did not anticipate. It's suitable when you want to express surprise or convey that something happened contrary to what was predicted or expected.