not too surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not too surprised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a mild level of surprise or when indicating that something was somewhat expected. Example: "When I heard the news about the merger, I was not too surprised given the recent market trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Hugh Dames, who runs the forest school in Mayow park in Lewisham, was not too surprised by the findings.

The Guardian

Mr. La Russa, the defense minister, said that Italian officials "were not too surprised by this terrorist action" given the situation in Lebanon.

The New York Times

When Ms. Zuckerman was told the earliest she would be getting a site for her school was 2012, her supporters were furious, but not too surprised.

The New York Times

Some were not too surprised because a book came out last year asserting that Mr. Bondeson had acted alone out of revenge.

The New York Times

When it was over, Hicks said he knew he had surprised people, but he hoped his best friends were not too surprised that he had played well.

The New York Times - Sports

"A lot of people may be surprised at how this thing turned out, but we're not too surprised at where we're sitting now".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

She probably wasn't too surprised.

The Guardian - Film

I wasn't too surprised this past week when another friend asked me which term was the right one.

Harvard University

Savile we always suspected was weird and dark, Clifford you weren't too surprised by.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms. Faltin said: "I kind of saw it coming, so I wasn't too surprised.

The New York Times - Style

I guess I wasn't too surprised when he said he wanted to play guitar".

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not too surprised" to convey a measured reaction, indicating that while something might be unexpected, it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility. It's a good way to express mild acceptance or resignation.

Common error

Avoid using "not too surprised" excessively, especially when a stronger expression of surprise or emotion might be more appropriate. Understatement can lose its impact if used too frequently.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not too surprised" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a subject and expressing a state of mind. As Ludwig AI shows, it tempers surprise with an element of anticipation or expectation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

12%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not too surprised" functions as an adjectival phrase to express a mild level of expectation or lack of shock, as determined by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and frequently used in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While "not surprised" implies a complete lack of surprise, "not too surprised" softens the statement to indicate some level of anticipation. Remember that alternatives like "slightly expected" or "somewhat predictable" may be more suitable depending on the specific context. Use it to convey a measured reaction, but avoid overusing it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not entirely unexpected

Emphasizes the lack of complete surprise, similar in tone to the original phrase.

Hardly shocked

Directly addresses the lack of shock, indicating mild expectation.

Not really astonished

Focuses on the absence of astonishment, conveying a sense of familiarity.

Slightly expected

Replaces the negation and degree with a direct statement of expectation.

Anticipated to some degree

Formally states that there was some level of anticipation involved.

Kind of anticipated

Uses a more informal tone to suggest a degree of anticipation.

Mildly foreseen

Highlights the act of seeing something beforehand, albeit mildly.

Somewhat predictable

Focuses on the predictability of the event, rather than the surprise.

Partly reckoned with

Suggests that the possibility was considered, lessening the surprise.

Barely fazed

Suggests a lack of emotional reaction, implying little surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "not too surprised" in a sentence?

You can use "not too surprised" to express a mild level of expectation or lack of shock. For example, "I was "not too surprised" when I heard the company was downsizing, given the recent financial reports".

What are some alternatives to "not too surprised"?

Alternatives include "slightly expected", "somewhat predictable", or "not entirely unexpected". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I wasn't too surprised"?

Yes, "I wasn't too surprised" is grammatically correct. It's simply the past tense form of "I am not too surprised" and is used to describe a past event.

What's the difference between "not surprised" and "not too surprised"?

"Not surprised" implies a complete lack of surprise, while "not too surprised" suggests a milder reaction, indicating some level of expectation or reduced shock. The addition of "too" softens the statement.