looks surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears unexpected or astonishing upon observation. Example: "The results of the experiment looks surprising, as they contradict our initial hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Even so, their relatively sanguine response to the Macondo disaster looks surprising.

The New York Times

The high performance of the program for the logD7.4 prediction looks surprising, because this property also depends on ionization constants pKa.

Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

"The only thing to me which looks surprising is they have not considered [summer heat] at the moment of the vote".

BBC

Power Lace's enterprising creator is already on the second generation of his self-tightening shoes and it looks surprising similar to Nike's just-granted patent — complete with heel sensor.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Who look surprising.

Huffington Post

And more than that, we should exercise our right to look surprising.

Huffington Post

New Zealand 146 all out Well, a decision by Ganguly that looked surprising at the start of play has been totally vindicated.

The Guardian - Sport

Given the fact that projects of the field sample consisted of complex, largely high-technology projects, it might look surprising that a relatively large number of project evaluations are based on either primarily quantitative or qualitative methods.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

The positive β for Survivors' ACS loss, meaning that survivors tend to die faster after high levels of disturbance, may look surprising because this goes against the growth result.

Forest Ecosystems

Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist at Public Citizen, said this might look surprising at first glance.

Huffington Post

While the comments might seem surprising, looking at Cameron's resume tells you they aren't.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looks surprising" to describe situations or observations that deviate from expectations. It's particularly effective when describing initial impressions or reactions to unexpected outcomes.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary adverbs like 'very' or 'really' before "looks surprising". While grammatically correct, it can dilute the impact. Let the surprising nature speak for itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks surprising" functions as a descriptive expression, combining a linking verb ("looks") with an adjective ("surprising"). It predicates a quality about the subject, indicating that the subject's appearance evokes surprise. Ludwig AI confirms its common and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looks surprising" is a grammatically sound and readily understood expression used to describe something that appears unexpected or astonishing. Ludwig AI indicates that it's correct and usable in English. While "looks surprising" isn't overly formal, it's appropriate for various contexts, appearing in news outlets and scientific publications alike. Consider alternatives like "seems astonishing" or "appears unexpected" to adjust the emphasis. Remember to avoid excessive adverbs to preserve the phrase's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

looks unexpected

Replaces 'surprising' with 'unexpected', maintaining a similar level of formality.

appears unexpected

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation in the observation.

seems astonishing

Focuses more on the degree of amazement rather than the visual aspect.

appears astonishing

Similar to "seems astonishing", but with a focus on the visual impression.

seems out of the ordinary

This phrase emphasizes the deviation from the normal or usual.

seems remarkable

Highlights the noteworthiness or exceptional nature of the observation.

looks astounding

Implies a higher degree of amazement than "looks surprising".

appears to be startling

This alternative conveys a sense of sudden shock or alarm, which is more intense.

seems like a shock

Emphasizes the feeling of shock or disbelief that the observation causes.

appears peculiar

Highlights the strangeness or oddity of the observation.

FAQs

What does "looks surprising" mean?

The phrase "looks surprising" suggests that something appears unexpected or astonishing upon initial observation. It implies a visual assessment leading to a feeling of surprise.

How can I use "looks surprising" in a sentence?

You can use "looks surprising" to describe something that seems unexpected based on its appearance. For example, "The outcome of the experiment "looks surprising", given our initial hypothesis."

What are some alternatives to "looks surprising"?

Alternatives include "seems astonishing", "appears unexpected", or "seems remarkable" depending on the context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "looks surprising" formal or informal?

"Looks surprising" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The context of the surrounding text usually determines the overall tone.