quite surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite surprising" is correct and is often used in written English.
It can be used to add emphasis to an unexpected or unexpected outcome or statement. For example: "It was quite surprising to hear that the study concluded the exact opposite of what we expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It's quite surprising," she added.

The New Yorker

This in itself is quite surprising.

Independent

But it is actually quite surprising.

The Economist

"All quite surprising," Mr. Mutsaers said.

The New York Times

It's quite surprising in that way.

The Guardian

Some of the answers we get are quite surprising.

The New York Times

Corina Chen agreed, saying: "Yeah, it's quite surprising.

The New York Times

"It's quite surprising it's limited to these two traits".

The New York Times

"From a European perspective, that is quite surprising".

The New York Times

It's quite surprising the diversity of solutions we get".

The New York Times

All of which is quite surprising to Mrs. Maurer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite surprising" to express a moderate level of unexpectedness. Reserve stronger terms like "utterly astonishing" for truly exceptional surprises.

Common error

Avoid using "quite surprising" too frequently in your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "somewhat astonishing" or "rather unexpected" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite surprising" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something unexpected. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, providing numerous examples where the phrase adds emphasis to an unanticipated event or outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "quite surprising" is a commonly used and grammatically sound adjectival phrase that expresses a moderate level of surprise or unexpectedness. Ludwig AI provides ample evidence of its usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Scientific publications. While versatile, it's important to be mindful of overusing the phrase and to consider using synonyms like "rather unexpected" or "somewhat astonishing" for variety. The phrase holds a neutral register, making it appropriate for both formal and informal communication, though more precise language may be warranted in highly formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely unexpected

Emphasizes the authenticity of the unexpectedness, making the phrase slightly more formal.

utterly astonishing

Intensifies the surprise by using "utterly" instead of "quite" and "astonishing" instead of "surprising".

wholly unanticipated

Substitutes "surprising" with "unanticipated" and "quite" with "wholly", enhancing the sense of complete unexpectedness.

completely unforeseen

Replaces "surprising" with "unforeseen" and "quite" with "completely", emphasizing the total lack of anticipation.

rather unexpected

Replaces "surprising" with "unexpected" and "quite" with "rather", slightly altering the emphasis.

somewhat astonishing

Substitutes "surprising" with "astonishing" and "quite" with "somewhat", resulting in a slightly more intense expression.

mildly startling

Replaces "surprising" with "startling" and "quite" with "mildly", decreasing the intensity of the surprise.

slightly unforeseen

Replaces "surprising" with "unforeseen" and "quite" with "slightly", making the unexpectedness more subtle.

a bit of a shock

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey surprise, differing in structure from the original phrase.

fairly remarkable

Replaces "surprising" with "remarkable" and "quite" with "fairly", shifting the focus to the noteworthy nature of the event.

FAQs

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

You can use "quite surprising" to describe something unexpected. For example, "It was "quite surprising" to see him at the party."

What are some alternatives to "quite surprising"?

Alternatives include "rather unexpected", "somewhat astonishing", or "mildly startling" depending on the degree of surprise you want to convey.

Is "quite surprising" formal or informal?

"Quite surprising" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, consider using a more precise synonym.

What's the difference between "quite surprising" and "very surprising"?

"Quite surprising" and "very surprising" are similar, but "very surprising" suggests a higher degree of surprise. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.