somewhat expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat expected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is not fully expected but still somewhat expected. For example, "The exam results were somewhat expected; I had been studying, but not as much as I should have."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The firing was somewhat expected, though.

The New York Times - Sports

Unlike Verlander's performance, this was somewhat expected.

The New York Times - Sports

Ms. Glenn said the ABC announcement was somewhat expected.

The New York Times

"It was somewhat expected, the new stadium coming, the nice young nucleus they have," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

The change at Opel was somewhat expected given the troubles G.M. is experiencing in Europe.

The New York Times

A pullback was somewhat expected after a two-day surge pushed stocks to their highest level in months, analysts said.

The New York Times

"Frankly, I somewhat expected people to come in and be worried about their turf, their agency, their organization," he said.

The New York Times

Tiffany Brewer, whose sister was killed by one of the men, said she had somewhat expected this decision.

The New York Times

"This is somewhat expected," said Frank Song, director of the Center for China Financial Research at the University of Hong Kong.

The New York Times

Unlike that day in 2009 in which we were catapulted from oft-forgot MLS expansion team to MLS Cup victors, this time, we're somewhat expected to fare well.

The Guardian - Sport

Other analysts stressed that a slowdown was somewhat expected because economic growth in the first half of the year filled the void of the slowdown of last year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of the context. While generally applicable, alternatives like "kind of predictable" might be more appropriate for informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat expected" when the outcome was almost certain. Instead, opt for phrases like "largely anticipated" or "widely predicted" to accurately reflect the level of predictability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat expected" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that was anticipated to a certain degree. It indicates a level of expectation that is less than certain but more than surprising, as demonstrated by the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somewhat expected" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate a moderate level of anticipation or a lack of complete surprise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and formal communications. While there are alternatives like ""partly anticipated"" or ""not entirely surprising"", it's crucial to consider the specific context to select the most appropriate term. Avoid overstating the level of expectation and accurately reflect the degree to which an outcome was foreseen.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not entirely surprising

Highlights the lack of complete surprise, suggesting a mild expectation.

Not wholly unexpected

Similar to "not entirely surprising", but with a slightly more formal tone.

More or less anticipated

Suggests a general level of expectation without precise detail.

Partly anticipated

Emphasizes that the event was only partially foreseen or predicted.

Somewhat foreseen

Highlights the act of seeing or knowing beforehand to a certain extent.

Kind of predictable

Indicates a lower level of formality and a more casual tone.

To some extent predictable

Underscores that predictability was limited or partial.

Moderately predicted

Implies a conscious prediction that was not strongly asserted.

Reasonably foreseeable

Implies a logical basis for the expectation, often used in formal contexts.

Slightly foreseen

Indicates a weak or faint anticipation of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat expected" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat expected" to describe an event or outcome that wasn't a complete surprise. For example, "The decline in sales was "somewhat expected" due to the seasonal nature of the business."

What are some alternatives to "somewhat expected"?

Alternatives include "not entirely surprising", "partly anticipated", or "kind of predictable", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "somewhat expected" or "completely expected"?

The choice depends on the actual level of expectation. "Somewhat expected" implies a moderate level of anticipation, while "completely expected" suggests certainty. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

What's the difference between "somewhat expected" and "hardly expected"?

"Somewhat expected" means there was some anticipation, while "hardly expected" suggests the opposite – that the event was largely unanticipated or surprising.