surprising to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surprising to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that something causes surprise or astonishment to someone or a group. Example: "It was surprising to see how quickly the team adapted to the new software."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My being surprised by this is surprising to me.

The New York Times

"That was very surprising to us".

The New York Times - Health

Surprising to many, this is already happening.

The Guardian

The changes were surprising to some outsiders.

The New York Times

It's really surprising to me.

The New York Times - Food

What is surprising to you?

The New York Times

"That's incredibly surprising to me.

The New York Times

It's not surprising to me".

The New York Times

It was surprising to me.

The New Yorker

That's not surprising to me at all".

The New York Times - Sports

Even more surprising, to a woman".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surprising to", ensure clarity about who is experiencing the surprise. This helps avoid ambiguity and makes your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid placing "surprising to" too far from the person or thing experiencing the surprise, as this can lead to confusion. Keep it close to the subject for clarity.

Linguistic Context

"Surprising to" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something that causes surprise or astonishment. It often precedes the person or group experiencing the surprise. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "surprising to" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to convey that something causes surprise or astonishment. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts but also appears in scientific and formal business writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by placing it near the person experiencing the surprise. Consider alternatives like "unexpected by" or "astonishing for" to add variety to your writing. Remember to keep the context and audience in mind to use the phrase appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpected by

Focuses on the lack of anticipation rather than the feeling of surprise.

astonishing for

Emphasizes the degree of amazement caused.

unforeseen by

Highlights the inability to predict something.

came as a shock to

Indicates a sudden and unsettling surprise.

caught off guard by

Suggests a lack of preparedness for something.

took aback by

Implies a momentary state of bewilderment.

startling for

Focuses on the abrupt and alarming nature of the surprise.

unbelievable to

Emphasizes the difficulty in accepting something as true.

remarkable to

Highlights the noteworthy or exceptional nature of the surprise.

unpredicted by

Stresses the failure to anticipate an event.

FAQs

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

You can use "surprising to" to indicate that something causes surprise or astonishment to someone. For example, "It was "surprising to" see how quickly the team adapted to the new software."

What are some alternatives to "surprising to"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpected by", "astonishing for", or "came as a shock to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "surprising to me" or "I am surprised by"?

Both are correct, but "surprising to me" emphasizes the cause of the surprise, while "I am "surprised by"" focuses on the personal reaction. The best choice depends on your intended emphasis.

What does "surprising to" imply about expectations?

"Surprising to" suggests that something happened that was not anticipated or expected. It implies a deviation from what was considered normal or likely.