kind of startling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of startling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat surprising or unexpected. Example: "The sudden change in weather was kind of startling, catching everyone off guard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

This kind of startling moment-by-moment clarity is part of what "Agon" is about.

The New York Times - Arts

"These kind of startling admissions around job creation highlight the deceptive behaviour of mining companies in pumping up the reported benefits of a project.

The Guardian

The vision of a pregnant woman beating a man until he's bloody is hard to shake, and it's the kind of startling, punctuating image that speaks to Ms. Mahoney's strengths in this film.

The New York Times

Should the pattern hold when the final test results are released this month, Sousa's changes will qualify as the kind of startling turnaround reformers are seeking in troubled schools across the country.

The Washington Post

Ploughmen often talk about cleanliness – a clean base to the furrow, a clean seam where the furrows meet – and good ploughing has a kind of startling purity, as though nature has finally been disciplined into straight lines.

The Guardian

Though the steel members are necessarily large -- essentially free-standing, these walls had to be built to resist enormous wind loads -- they lack the kind of startling delicacy in the detail that one expects of high-tech connectors and finishes.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

White boys and immigrants — "hunkies" — were the chumps who went for this kind of woman, a startling rebuttal to Estelle's reverence for the "elevated" and discriminating white mind.

The New Yorker

White boys and immigrants—"hunkies"—were the chumps who went for this kind of woman, a startling rebuttal to Estelle's reverence for the "elevated" and discriminating white mind.

The New Yorker

Bliss of this kind is startling from a group of countries that are frozen half the year, subsist substantially on preserved fish, and charge among the highest tax rates in the modern world.

The New Yorker

"That kind of difference was really startling to me," Dr. Hedges said.

The New York Times

"And they fall kind of loudly at night, startling me sometimes". The price, he said, is small.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of startling" when you want to express mild surprise or unexpectedness, without being overly dramatic. It's suitable for everyday conversation and informal writing.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "kind of startling", as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "somewhat surprising" or "slightly astonishing" to add nuance and interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of startling" functions as an adjective modifier, softening the impact of the adjective "startling". It indicates a mild or moderate degree of surprise or unexpectedness. According to Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kind of startling" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a moderate degree of surprise or unexpectedness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile and appropriate for various writing contexts. While "kind of startling" is acceptable, remember to vary your vocabulary by using alternatives like "somewhat surprising" or "slightly astonishing" for more engaging writing. The phrase is widely used in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sort of startling

Replaces "kind of" with "sort of", maintaining the same level of informality and meaning.

somewhat surprising

Substitutes "startling" with "surprising" and "kind of" with "somewhat", resulting in a slightly more neutral tone.

rather unexpected

Replaces "startling" with "unexpected" and "kind of" with "rather", conveying a slightly more formal tone.

slightly astonishing

Substitutes "startling" with "astonishing" and "kind of" with "slightly", suggesting a greater degree of surprise.

a bit shocking

Replaces "startling" with "shocking" and "kind of" with "a bit", intensifying the sense of surprise and potential negativity.

mildly alarming

Substitutes "startling" with "alarming" and "kind of" with "mildly", implying a slight sense of concern or unease.

moderately surprising

Replaces "startling" with "surprising" and "kind of" with "moderately", resulting in a more formal and measured tone.

a little surprising

Replaces "startling" with "surprising" and "kind of" with "a little", maintaining the informal tone but softening the impact.

fairly astonishing

Substitutes "startling" with "astonishing" and "kind of" with "fairly", increasing the degree of surprise.

pretty unexpected

Replaces "startling" with "unexpected" and "kind of" with "pretty", retaining the informal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "kind of startling" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of startling" to describe something unexpected or mildly surprising, like, "The sudden noise was "kind of startling"." It expresses a lesser degree of surprise than "very startling".

What can I say instead of "kind of startling"?

You can use alternatives like ""somewhat surprising"", "a little unexpected", or ""slightly astonishing"" depending on the context and the degree of surprise you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "kind of startling"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in informal contexts. However, in formal writing, you might prefer more precise language such as "rather unexpected" or "somewhat surprising".

What's the difference between "kind of startling" and "very startling"?

"Kind of startling" expresses a mild or moderate level of surprise, while "very startling" indicates a much stronger and more significant level of surprise. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the intensity of the unexpectedness.