not suspecting that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not suspecting that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a lack of suspicion or awareness about something that is happening or about to happen. Example: "She walked into the room, not suspecting that a surprise party was waiting for her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But others stop in for ham sandwiches, not suspecting that what they are getting is actually prosciutto cotto ($8.50 per pound), the imported Italian version.

The New York Times

East won and could have defeated the contract by shifting to a low diamond, but he exited with a spade to the ace, not suspecting that South had a five-card suit.

The New York Times - Arts

Not suspecting that a show based on the book would be a hit, Mr. Braden sold the rights to ABC for $1,000, another daughter, Joan Braden, who lives in Denver, told The Denver Post.

The New York Times - Arts

Bill Clinton allegedly ended that part of their relationship in May 1997; Lewinsky had been telling a friend, Linda Tripp, about their relationship, not suspecting that Tripp was taping their conversations.

The Guardian

"Just as real as if some giant had hewn a great lump out of the earth and put it under a glass case, with all its inhabitants going about their daily business, and not suspecting that they were made a show of".

The New Yorker

Santee is sent to prison after recovering in a prison hospital, but escapes during transfer and takes a female hostage named Rita Marrick (Alfonso) at a gas station, not suspecting that she's a cop.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Several of my friends love bulldogs, so I don't suspect that would be a problem.

The New York Times

I wouldn't suspect that Mike Dean, from the Wirral, has refereed many games for Liverpool over the years".

The Guardian - Sport

But I don't suspect that FM's path is to acquire the blogs we work with.

TechCrunch

(I would take that job in a heartbeat if I didn't suspect that would mean living on the wrong side of the poverty line).

Vice

However, we don't suspect that recall bias is a weakness of this study.

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not suspecting that" to add a layer of dramatic irony or surprise to your writing, revealing a character's lack of awareness about an impending event or hidden truth.

Common error

Avoid using the incorrect tense after "not suspecting that". Ensure the verb tense aligns with the timeline of the event being described. For example, use past perfect if referring to something that happened before the lack of suspicion: "She walked into the room, not suspecting that he had already left."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not suspecting that" functions as a connector introducing a subordinate clause that reveals a lack of awareness or anticipation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is often used to add dramatic irony or surprise to a narrative. Examples show how it sets up unexpected outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

21%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not suspecting that" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a lack of awareness or anticipation. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for adding dramatic irony or surprise in writing. While it appears across different source types, it's most frequently found in news and media. Alternatives such as "unaware that" or "without realizing that" can be used to achieve a similar effect, though "not suspecting that" specifically emphasizes a lack of prior expectation. When using this phrase, ensure the verb tense aligns with the context to maintain clarity. The examples from Ludwig highlight its versatility in setting up unexpected outcomes, making it a useful tool for narrative and informative writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unaware that

Focuses on a general lack of awareness.

without realizing that

Highlights the lack of realization at the time of the action.

not anticipating that

Highlights the absence of prior expectation or planning.

oblivious to the fact that

Emphasizes a complete lack of awareness, often implying a missed opportunity or danger.

unbeknownst to them

Implies that the information was deliberately hidden or inaccessible.

little did they know

Adds a sense of dramatic irony or foreshadowing.

never imagining that

Focuses on the lack of anticipation or expectation.

without a clue that

Emphasizes a complete lack of understanding or information.

failing to recognize that

Emphasizes a missed opportunity to understand or perceive something.

blind to the reality that

Suggests a deliberate or unintentional avoidance of the truth.

FAQs

What does "not suspecting that" mean?

The phrase "not suspecting that" means being unaware or without any anticipation of something that is happening or is about to happen.

How can I use "not suspecting that" in a sentence?

You can use "not suspecting that" to introduce a situation where someone is unaware of a hidden or unexpected fact. For example, "He opened the door, "not suspecting that" a surprise party was waiting for him."

Are there alternatives to using "not suspecting that"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "unaware that", "without realizing that", or "little did they know" as alternatives to "not suspecting that", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "not suspecting that" and "unaware that"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of knowledge, "not suspecting that" implies a lack of anticipation or expectation, whereas "unaware that" simply indicates a lack of knowledge or consciousness about something. You could also use phrases like "oblivious to the fact that".