looking shock

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking shock" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect form of "looking shocked," which can be used to describe someone's facial expression or demeanor when they are surprised or in disbelief. Example: "When she heard the news, she was looking shocked and couldn't find the words to respond."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Did I really say that?" he says, looking shocked.

The Guardian - Music

My friend slipped off to the loo as we were winding down, and returned looking shocked.

Independent

Good looking, shock-resistant, though at $160 for a terabyte, a little bit pricey.

TechCrunch

Those who had voted against stood in silence looking shocked.

Vice

Footage of Beyoncé in the audience looking shocked was then shown.

Wikipedia

"He looked shock and horrified.

The Guardian

Mrs. Coors looked shocked.

The New Yorker

He looked shocked.

The New York Times

Logan looks shocked.

The New Yorker

Olive looks shocked.

Independent

Ariela looks shocked.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past participle form "shocked" when describing someone's appearance of surprise. For example, say "He was "looking shocked"" not "He was "looking shock"".

Common error

Avoid using the noun "shock" directly as an adjective to describe someone's appearance. Instead, use the past participle "shocked" or other appropriate adjectives like "surprised" or "astonished".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking shock" is grammatically incorrect. The word looking functions as a linking verb, requiring an adjective to describe the subject's state. Shock is a noun, not an adjective. As Ludwig AI suggests, the correct form is "looking shocked".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looking shock" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, the correct and commonly used expression is ""looking shocked"". This phrase, or alternatives such as "looking surprised" or "appearing astonished", should be used to accurately describe someone's appearance of surprise or disbelief. Remember to use "shocked", the past participle form, functioning as an adjective, for grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

looking shocked

Corrects the grammatical error by using the past participle "shocked" as an adjective.

looking surprised

Replaces "shock" with a synonym that describes a similar emotional state.

appearing astonished

Uses a more formal synonym to convey a sense of great surprise.

seeming stunned

Describes someone who appears to be temporarily overwhelmed or dazed by surprise.

seeming taken aback

Indicates that someone appears to be surprised and slightly disconcerted.

appearing bewildered

Highlights the confusion and surprise in someone's expression.

looking aghast

Conveys a sense of horror or shock, suggesting a stronger negative reaction.

appearing dumbfounded

Describes someone who appears speechless with astonishment.

looking incredulous

Indicates disbelief or skepticism, often accompanied by surprise.

seeming amazed

Focuses on the feeling of wonder and astonishment.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say someone is surprised?

The correct way to describe someone as surprised is to say they are ""looking shocked"", "looking surprised", or "looking astonished". The phrase "looking shock" is grammatically incorrect.

What are some synonyms for "looking shocked"?

Synonyms for "looking shocked" include "appearing stunned", "seeming aghast", and "appearing dumbfounded", each conveying a slightly different nuance of surprise or disbelief.

How can I use "shocked" in a sentence?

You can use "shocked" in a sentence by saying, "She "looked shocked" when she heard the news" or "He was "shocked by" the sudden turn of events".

Is it ever correct to use "shock" as an adjective?

"Shock" is generally not used as an adjective to describe appearance. It's more common to use adjectives like "shocking" to describe a surprising or disturbing event, or "shocked" to describe a person's reaction.