strange looking

USAGE SUMMARY

"strange looking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something appears to be unusual or unexpected. For example, "The clouds in the sky were strangely shaped and had a strange looking hue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Who's gnarly, thin and slightly strange looking?

The Guardian - Music

But it grew dated (and strange looking) in recent years.

The New York Times

Wishing to apologize, Donald followed her and came upon a strange looking cabin.

The New Yorker

One of the key takeaways she offered was that strange looking districts are not necessarily bad.

University of California, Berkeley

Just then, another strange looking triangle illuminates up in the room.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Got a strange looking rash?

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

And bottom line: They're strange-looking.

Forbes

However, beware of overdoing the shading, as this can lead to a strange-looking drawing.

WikiHow

The television was on, showing some strange-looking boy with a big, fat head looking miserable.

HuffPost

You'll see a strange-looking blue man sitting against the stump where the Skull Kid was.

WikiHow

He is "strange-looking" and they share a joke about his "good looks".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "strange looking", be specific about what makes it appear that way. Instead of just saying "a strange looking car", describe its unique features: "a strange looking car with fins and mismatched tires".

Common error

While acceptable, "strange looking" can sound informal in academic or professional contexts. Opt for more precise and sophisticated synonyms like "unconventional", "peculiar", or "atypical" to enhance the tone and credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strange looking" primarily functions as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun to describe its appearance as unusual, odd, or unfamiliar. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strange looking" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something with an unusual or odd appearance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and general writing. While its register is generally neutral, consider opting for more formal synonyms in academic or professional settings to maintain a sophisticated tone. Understanding the nuances of its usage, as well as exploring alternative phrases like "odd looking" or "unusual looking", can enhance your writing and allow for more precise expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

odd looking

Replaces "strange" with "odd", indicating something unusual or peculiar in appearance.

unusual looking

Substitutes "strange" with "unusual", highlighting the uncommon or exceptional nature of the appearance.

peculiar looking

Employs "peculiar" instead of "strange", suggesting a distinct and perhaps slightly eccentric appearance.

weird looking

Uses "weird" as a more informal and colloquial synonym for "strange".

bizarre looking

Replaces "strange" with "bizarre", implying a strikingly unconventional and outlandish appearance.

funny looking

Changes "strange" to "funny", suggesting an amusing or comical oddity in appearance.

curious looking

Substitutes "strange" with "curious", focusing on the intriguing or attention-grabbing nature of the appearance.

remarkable looking

Employs "remarkable" instead of "strange", emphasizing the noteworthy or exceptional quality of the appearance.

alien looking

Uses "alien" to replace "strange", implying the appearance is foreign or otherworldly.

extraordinary looking

Changes "strange" to "extraordinary", suggesting the appearance is beyond the ordinary or expected.

FAQs

How can I use "strange looking" in a sentence?

You can use "strange looking" to describe something that appears unusual or odd. For example, "The scientist discovered a "strange looking" artifact in the ruins."

What can I say instead of "strange looking"?

Alternatives to "strange looking" include "odd looking", "unusual looking", or "peculiar looking", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "strange looking" or "strangely looking"?

"Strange looking" is the correct phrase. "Strangely looking" is grammatically incorrect because "strange" functions as an adjective modifying "looking". "Strangely" is an adverb, which doesn't fit in this context.

What's the difference between "strange looking" and "unfamiliar looking"?

"Strange looking" implies something is odd or unusual in its appearance, while "unfamiliar looking" suggests it's simply not something one has seen before. For example, a creature could be "strange looking" because it has unusual features, or "unfamiliar looking" because it's from a distant land.