run into unexpectedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "run into unexpectedly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where you encounter someone or something by surprise or without prior planning. Example: "I was walking through the park when I ran into unexpectedly an old friend from high school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

There are still three other, smaller rightwing parties Netanyahu could call on to join him, although he has run into unexpectedly sharp policy differences, particularly over religious issues, such as conversion to Judaism and civil marriages.

The Guardian

It is heartening to see that the Republicans who had hoped to score political points today by holding a Senate vote on adding a ban on same-sex marriage to the Constitution have run into unexpectedly broad resistance across the ideological spectrum.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Though he comes across as charming and agreeable, there are still traces of the awkward boy he says he once was, a hint of discomfort in the smile he gives a student he runs into unexpectedly, a longstanding dread of parties ("unless they like psychology or magic tricks, in which case I'd come alive," he said).

The New York Times - Magazine

When you run into one unexpectedly out on the ice, your major emotion is fear--at least until you are far enough away to safely appreciate its beauty.

Huffington Post

It's every newly single person's nightmare: You've just gotten past the "Netflix and cry while in sweatpants" stage and you run into your ex unexpectedly.

Huffington Post

But that's part of the allure — running into people unexpectedly.

The New York Times - Travel

But the best social events are those that occur spontaneously – those moments when you unexpectedly run into a friend and decide to have lunch, or family happen to be passing and you knock something up from what's in the fridge.

The Guardian

The way you might feel your heart thumping when you unexpectedly run into your crush on the street?

Forbes

"Accidentally" run into you crush.

WikiHow

"Unless the economy unexpectedly moves quickly into high gear, any credit tightening will, as usual, run into considerable political opposition.

The New York Times

Physically run into me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "run into unexpectedly" to emphasize the surprise element of an encounter, whether with a person, object, or situation. This phrase works well in narratives and descriptive writing where conveying the unexpected nature of an event is important.

Common error

Avoid using "run into unexpectedly" when the context already implies the unexpected nature of the encounter. Overusing adverbs like "unexpectedly" can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider if "run into" alone is sufficient to convey the meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "run into unexpectedly" functions as a verb phrase, specifically describing the action of encountering someone or something in an unplanned manner. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "run into unexpectedly" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a chance encounter, emphasizing the surprise element. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression, typically found in news and general narratives. While effective in conveying the unexpected nature of an event, be mindful of potential redundancy. Alternatives like "stumble upon unexpectedly" or "come across unexpectedly" can be used depending on the specific context. The phrase has a neutral register making it appropriate for a variety of writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Come across unexpectedly

Similar to "run into", but uses "come across" to convey a sense of accidental discovery.

Bump into unexpectedly

Informal alternative to "run into", implying a quick and unplanned meeting.

Stumble upon unexpectedly

Replaces "run into" with "stumble upon", suggesting a more accidental encounter.

Chance upon unexpectedly

Synonymous to "come across", but the word "chance" emphasizes more randomness.

Encounter by chance

Uses "encounter" to replace "run into", emphasizing the unplanned nature of the meeting.

Meet incidentally

Replaces "run into" with "meet incidentally", highlighting the casual and unplanned nature of the meeting.

Cross paths unexpectedly

Emphasizes that the encounter happens during different trajectories.

Find unexpectedly

Focuses on the discovery aspect of the encounter, applicable when encountering objects or information.

Discover by accident

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the discovery or encounter.

Meet up spontaneously

Implies a more active meeting rather than a mere accidental encounter.

FAQs

What does "run into unexpectedly" mean?

The phrase "run into unexpectedly" means to encounter someone or something by chance, without prior planning or anticipation. It implies a surprise meeting or discovery.

What can I say instead of "run into unexpectedly"?

You can use alternatives like "stumble upon unexpectedly", "come across unexpectedly", or "encounter by chance" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "run into unexpectedly"?

While "run into" often implies an unexpected encounter, adding "unexpectedly" can emphasize the surprise element. However, be mindful of potential redundancy and ensure the context warrants the additional emphasis. If the surprise is already clear, "run into" alone might suffice.

How to use "run into unexpectedly" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase like this: "I was walking through the park when I "ran into unexpectedly" an old friend from high school." It describes an unplanned meeting.