not very surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not very surprised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a mild level of surprise or to indicate that you expected a certain outcome. Example: "When I heard the news about the merger, I was not very surprised given the recent market trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

"Clearly, I'm not very surprised by this downgrade," Mr. Ryan said.

The New York Times

An American today would be right to be horrified — and not very surprised.

The New York Times

Which isn't reassuring at all.I'm actually not very surprised by this, and I'm not particularly un-reassured.

The Economist

We are not very surprised when this woman later tells us, "I wish the baby would go to sleep and my husband would not come home for dinner".

The New Yorker

"I'm not very surprised this campaign appears to have fallen rather flat here and there's been some suitably creative defiance from a brilliantly vibrant and inclusive city".

The Guardian

Having gone through a very similar election scenario in Egypt in 2012 where both candidates were hated, I was not very surprised by the outcome.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

I wasn't very surprised when the people I questioned shook their heads and said they'd never heard of the Orchard House and its four-bit feasts.

The New York Times - Travel

Choi says he wasn't very surprised by the recall.

Forbes

I have to say, I wasn't very surprised at the verdict, unfortunately.

Huffington Post

This morning, the crew wasn't very surprised by my announcement.

Huffington Post

That is why I wasn't very surprised when only a couple of weeks ago FAZ published Mr. Döpfner's powerful open letter to Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman and former CEO of Google.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not very surprised" when you want to express a mild lack of surprise, indicating that something was somewhat expected. It's suitable in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "not very surprised" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound monotonous. Vary your language by using synonyms like "somewhat expected" or "hardly shocked" to add nuance and keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very surprised" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a subject to express a diminished level of surprise. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically acceptable way to indicate an event was somewhat anticipated.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not very surprised" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a mild level of expectation or a diminished sense of surprise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered correct and can be employed in various contexts, particularly within news and media, and is deemed a neutral register that is appropriate for formal writing. While a useful phrase, it's essential to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "slightly unsurprised" or "somewhat expected" to enrich your writing. Remember, varying your language enhances engagement and prevents monotony.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not entirely unexpected

Highlights that the outcome was foreseen to a certain extent, indicating preparedness.

slightly unsurprised

Emphasizes a minimal lack of surprise, reducing the degree of expectation.

somewhat expected

Shifts focus to the anticipation of the event, implying less emotional reaction.

not a huge shock

Substitutes 'surprise' with 'shock', lessening the emotional intensity.

hardly shocked

Replaces surprise with shock, stressing the absence of strong emotional impact.

not particularly astonished

Swaps 'surprised' for 'astonished', indicating a lesser degree of wonder.

could see it coming

An idiomatic expression emphasizing foresight, minimizing the element of surprise.

was anticipating it

Focuses on the proactive anticipation of an event, reducing the sense of unforeseen impact.

quite predictable

Highlights the predictability of the outcome, downplaying emotional reaction.

knew it would happen

Emphasizes prior knowledge and certainty, eliminating surprise.

FAQs

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

You can use "not very surprised" to express a mild lack of surprise about an event. For instance, "I was "not very surprised" when I heard the news, as the company had been struggling for months."

What are some alternatives to saying "not very surprised"?

Alternatives include "slightly unsurprised", "somewhat expected", or "not entirely unexpected". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not very surprised"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase combines an adverb of degree ("very") with an adjective ("surprised") to indicate a moderate level of expectation or lack of surprise.

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

"Not surprised" implies a complete absence of surprise, while "not very surprised" suggests a mild level of surprise or that the outcome was somewhat anticipated.