remarkably dull

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "remarkably dull" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is surprisingly or notably uninteresting or boring. Example: "The lecture was remarkably dull, leaving many students struggling to stay awake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

So far this election campaign has been uninspiring at best, and remarkably dull at worst.

Independent

But this week sees a career dip in the remarkably dull Child 44, a thriller about a child killer in Stalin's Soviet Union.

The Guardian - Film

When he led Verdi's "Don Carlo" at the Met, Mr. Nordlinger wrote, "long stretches of this impassioned opera were remarkably dull".

The New York Times - Arts

In his essay, "Many Doctors, Many Tests, No Rhyme or Reason" (March 11), Dr. Sandeep Jauhar dissects American health economics with a remarkably dull instrument.

The New York Times

Consequently, the street life is remarkably dull, lunch options are usually whittled down to two or three options (all chains), and vendors almost exclusively sell pretzels and hot dogs.

The Washington Post

And so in a remarkably dull moment for pop, with smooth men ruling the roost, Ms. Cyrus has sensed the vacuum and is keen to fill it, emerging as a polarizing figure, if not quite a transformative one.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The color of VEGF became remarkably yellow and dull from the appearance.

Environmental Systems Research

About 50 million Americans will tune in this evening to a piece of political theatre that will probably end up looking remarkably familiar, if not actually dull.

Independent

Four decades of stability and remarkably low credit losses had dulled the fear of making bad loans.

Harvard Business Review

Few of these finer points matter in Lazarus, which finds Newton, now played by Michael C Hall (who can sound remarkably like Bowie when he wishes), wearing taupe pyjamas and dulling the pain of his exile with gin and Twinkies.

The Guardian

Indeed, even as the dull-witted leviathan sinks, many nimble companies have shown remarkably resiliency.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remarkably dull" when you want to express a surprising or notable lack of interest, ensuring that the context warrants the emphasis on how unexpectedly boring something is.

Common error

Avoid using "remarkably dull" in highly formal or professional writing where a more nuanced or objective description is required. Opt for terms like "uninspired" or "lacking in dynamism" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remarkably dull" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "remarkably" modifies the adjective "dull", intensifying its meaning. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is grammatically correct and emphasizes the surprising degree of lack of interest.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "remarkably dull" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is surprisingly uninteresting. Ludwig AI confirms that this expression is correct and appropriate for general use. While it appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, its usage should be carefully considered in more formal settings. For such contexts, alternatives like "exceptionally uninteresting" or "noticeably tedious" may be more suitable, ensuring a professional tone. Remember to leverage "remarkably dull" to emphasize the unexpected lack of interest in something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally uninteresting

Emphasizes the extreme degree of lack of interest.

noticeably tedious

Highlights the quality of being wearisome and prolonged to a noticeable extent.

strikingly uninspired

Focuses on the absence of creativity or originality in a conspicuous manner.

particularly monotonous

Stresses the unchanging and repetitive nature, making it stand out.

unusually boring

Highlights the atypical level of boredom induced.

surprisingly humdrum

Emphasizes the unexpected ordinariness and lack of excitement.

plainly unexciting

Points out the obvious absence of anything stimulating or thrilling.

manifestly lackluster

Indicates a clear and evident lack of vitality or brilliance.

distinctly unstimulating

Focuses on the marked absence of anything that can rouse enthusiasm or interest.

singularly uninteresting

Highlights the unique and notable lack of interest.

FAQs

How can I use "remarkably dull" in a sentence?

You can use "remarkably dull" to describe something surprisingly uninteresting. For example, "The presentation was remarkably dull, and many attendees struggled to stay awake."

What are some alternatives to "remarkably dull"?

Alternatives include "exceptionally uninteresting", "noticeably tedious", or "strikingly uninspired" depending on the context.

Is "remarkably dull" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "remarkably dull" might be too informal for some formal contexts. Consider using more professional alternatives like "uninspired" or "lacking in dynamism".

What makes "remarkably dull" different from simply saying "dull"?

The word "remarkably" emphasizes the unexpected or surprising degree of dullness. It suggests that something is not just dull, but notably so.