shockingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shockingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that causes surprise or disbelief, often in a negative context. Example: "The results of the experiment were shockingly different from what we had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Shockingly, in parts of west Africa, people are still born into slavery.

The Guardian - Opinion

Of course, EastEnders had an opportunity with their storyline about cot death to get some good messages across, but they damaged that chance by creating a completely inappropriate and shockingly insensitive storyline.

The Guardian - Opinion

Why has it been so hard for the Co-op, despite commercial woes (especially on the supermarket side) that have been shockingly obvious, to change its ways?

The Guardian - Business

"Given the amount of money being spent on preparations for the World Cup in Qatar it is utterly deplorable that no one is taking responsibility for the gross exploitation of the workforce including shockingly low pay," he said.

The Guardian

Osborne – who revealed that next year's budget would take place on 23 March – said the government had put in place "a number of tools" to ensure Whitehall departments delivered the scale of efficiencies required, including improving the "shockingly weak" finance performance data in Whitehall.

The Guardian

But out of Bachelor Pad's ashes (and strange, American Gladiator-type competitions) rises a show shockingly simple in its premise.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"The extraordinarily unprofessional and humiliating treatment of one of our community members is shockingly disappointing," the Northwestern University president, Morton Schapiro, said in an official statement released on Monday.

The Guardian

It ended shockingly, as Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny had a simultaneous brain freeze to gift Birmingham the Capital One Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

A favourite with the judges from the start, Hudson was shockingly voted out in week six, a move which Elton John, a mentor on the show that year, referred to as "incredibly racist".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

After 30 years as an influential business and political reporter in Fleet Street, and eight as the BBC's business editor, reporting on the biggest financial story in half a century and breaking scoops so significant that he was at times accused of singlehandedly shifting the markets, he moved to become the broadcaster's economics editor, and to a suddenly, shockingly, quieter life.

The Guardian

Masipa also erred in overemphasising the purpose of rehabilitation and reformation at the cost of retribution, the prosecutors contend".We will argue that the sentence is inappropriate and shockingly light for someone that killed an innocent person with gross negligence where his conduct bordered on dolus eventualis".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "shockingly", ensure that the context clearly indicates the reason for the surprise. This provides clarity and prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "shockingly" in situations where the surprise is mild or neutral. Overusing it can diminish its impact and make your writing sound overly dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "shockingly" functions primarily to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, intensifying the sense of surprise or disbelief associated with the action or quality being described. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "shockingly" is a powerful tool for expressing strong surprise or disbelief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media to highlight unexpected or negative situations. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Alternatives such as "surprisingly", "astonishingly", and "unbelievably" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances. By using "shockingly" judiciously, writers can effectively emphasize unexpected outcomes and engage their audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly

Emphasizes unexpectedness but might not convey the same level of intensity as "shockingly".

astonishingly

Highlights the amazement caused by something, similar to "shockingly" but with a focus on wonder.

unbelievably

Stresses the difficulty in believing something, often used when something seems improbable or hard to accept.

incredibly

Similar to "unbelievably", but can also convey a sense of something being remarkably good or large.

appallingly

Indicates something is deeply disturbing or horrifying, emphasizing the negative aspect of "shockingly".

outrageously

Highlights the unacceptable or offensive nature of something, focusing on moral indignation.

scandalously

Implies a violation of moral or legal standards, often related to public knowledge or gossip.

disgracefully

Emphasizes the shamefulness or dishonorable nature of an action or situation.

remarkably

Focuses on the unusual or noteworthy nature of something, often used for positive or neutral surprises.

exceptionally

Highlights something that deviates from the norm, stressing its unusual quality.

FAQs

How can I use "shockingly" in a sentence?

"Shockingly" is typically used as an adverb to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, expressing surprise or disbelief. For example, "The results were "shockingly" low" or "He behaved "shockingly" during the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "shockingly"?

Alternatives to "shockingly" include "surprisingly", "astonishingly", "unbelievably", and "incredibly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "shockingly" in formal writing?

While "shockingly" can be used in formal writing, consider the tone and context. In highly formal or academic contexts, alternatives such as "remarkably" or "surprisingly" may be more suitable to maintain a neutral tone.

What's the difference between "shockingly" and "surprisingly"?

"Shockingly" implies a greater degree of surprise and often carries a negative connotation, while "surprisingly" simply indicates something unexpected. "Shockingly" suggests a more intense emotional response.