somewhat surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a mild level of surprise about a situation or outcome that is unexpected but not entirely shocking. Example: "The results of the experiment were somewhat surprising, as we had anticipated a different outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(This is somewhat surprising).

The New Yorker

The results are somewhat surprising.

Independent

This might be somewhat surprising.

The New Yorker

Johnson's release was somewhat surprising.

The New York Times - Sports

That may be somewhat surprising.

The New York Times

The researchers' findings were somewhat surprising.

The New Yorker

The latest delay is somewhat surprising.

The New York Times

And the results are somewhat surprising.

The New York Times - Magazine

Which makes her retirement from the saddle somewhat surprising.

Independent

But the way they decided to expand was somewhat surprising.

The New York Times

Sykora's consistency and durability are somewhat surprising, Daneyko added.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat surprising" to convey a measured sense of surprise, indicating something is unexpected but not drastically shocking. This allows you to introduce nuances and subtleties into your writing and express the specific degree of unexpectedness.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat surprising" when the situation warrants a stronger expression of surprise, like "completely unexpected" or "utterly shocking". Using "somewhat surprising" in the wrong context can undermine the weight or relevance of the surprise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat surprising" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifically describing a noun or a situation. It indicates that something is unexpected to a degree, but not entirely shocking, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somewhat surprising" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys a mild sense of unexpectedness. According to Ludwig, it functions as an adjective phrase. It finds common usage across diverse contexts such as News & Media and Scientific domains. Ludwig AI affirms its proper usage in English writing. Alternatives like "rather unexpected" or "mildly astonishing" can be employed to achieve a similar effect, with subtle differences in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure that the level of surprise matches the situation at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather unexpected

This alternative focuses on the unexpected nature of something, implying a deviation from what was anticipated.

slightly unexpected

This alternative is more succinct and simply emphasizes the deviation from the expected.

moderately unexpected

This alternative highlights the deviation from expectation to a moderate degree.

mildly astonishing

This option, just like "somewhat surprising", suggests a limited degree of surprise.

somewhat astonishing

This alternative expresses a stronger feeling of surprise than the original phrase.

somewhat astonishing

Expresses a higher level of amazement than "surprising", suggesting something nearly unbelievable.

fairly astonishing

This alternative suggests a higher degree of surprise, bordering on amazement.

kind of astonishing

This alternative has a more casual tone and implies that something is impressive or amazing.

slightly startling

This alternative implies a sudden, minor shock or surprise.

a bit of a shock

This alternative is more informal and emphasizes the element of surprise as a sudden impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "somewhat surprising" to describe outcomes, findings, or events that are unexpected but not entirely shocking. For example: "The results of the survey were "somewhat surprising", given the previous research on the topic."

What can I say instead of "somewhat surprising"?

You can use alternatives like "rather unexpected", "mildly astonishing", or "slightly startling" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a little surprising" instead of "somewhat surprising"?

Yes, "a little surprising" is a valid alternative, although it might convey a slightly less formal tone than ""somewhat surprising"". Both phrases indicate a mild level of surprise.

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

"Somewhat surprising" indicates a mild to moderate level of surprise, while "very surprising" expresses a strong sense of surprise. The choice depends on the degree of unexpectedness you want to convey.