surprisingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'surprisingly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is more than what was expected or anticipated. Example sentence: "Surprisingly, he knew all the answers to the final exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Scandals that aren't out of tune with a celebrity's image are often surprisingly easy to bounce back from: after images of Kate Moss snorting coke surfaced, her bookings fell, but, over time, they went up.

The Economist

Suddenly and surprisingly, at what many thought was the end of a long career at the heart of EU politics, Juncker has become the most divisive figure in Europe.

The Guardian

The median length of a marriage is about 11 years which, they point out, fits "surprisingly well" with the Pleistocene 15.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He is one of a dozen new players and although the money raises expectations, they have actually brought a new team together surprisingly quickly: Nuno is a charismatic manager with talented players and the results have been impressive.

The Guardian - Sport

Available across all the price ranges (beginning at £15) there is a surprisingly large swathe of games back on the market, including both quarter-finals at the Millennium Stadium, England v Uruguay, New Zealand v Argentina, France v Ireland, South Africa v Scotland and France v Italy.

The Guardian - Sport

There are, of course, Basque cultural organisations in the city, such as Harrobia Bilbao, a performing arts group established in a former church in the Otxarkoaga area in 2011, but their presence feels surprisingly marginal in a city that is supposed to be at the heart of Basque culture.

The Guardian

Most ardent fan: George Martinez, surprisingly, is a massive Bronson fan.

The Guardian - Music

Social media users have been surprisingly vocal about the weather across much of the east coast.

The Guardian

Not surprisingly, the Russians nevertheless believe that they were misled: imagine our reaction if the position were reversed.

The Guardian

Perhaps surprisingly, this temple to a key pastime of students and the hungover has been launched by a physiotherapist, Bryan Robertson.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A surprisingly tense and nervous Mr Blair has stressed time and again that he believed Saddam should be removed "if there was any possibility" that he had WMD.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surprisingly" to introduce an element of unexpectedness or contrast to what might be commonly believed or anticipated. This adds depth and intrigue to your writing.

Common error

Avoid overuse. Overusing "surprisingly" can dilute its impact. Use it judiciously to highlight truly unexpected elements, not just minor deviations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "surprisingly" is as an adverb. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to express that something happened in an unexpected manner. As supported by Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surprisingly" functions as an adverb used to introduce an unexpected element in a sentence. As supported by Ludwig, its usage is grammatically correct and primarily found in news and media contexts. While it is a very common term, judicious use is recommended to maximize impact. Consider alternatives such as "unexpectedly" or "astonishingly" for nuanced expression. Remember to place emphasis correctly, and avoid overuse to keep your writing clear and compelling.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpectedly

Direct synonym, focusing on the lack of anticipation.

astonishingly

Highlights the degree of amazement or disbelief.

remarkably

Emphasizes the noteworthy or exceptional nature of the event.

unusually

Indicates a deviation from the norm or common expectation.

to my surprise

Shifts focus to the speaker's personal reaction of being surprised.

contrary to expectations

Explicitly points out the opposition to what was predicted.

against all odds

Suggests that the event happened despite significant challenges.

who would have thought

Rhetorical question expressing disbelief or unexpectedness.

it's hard to believe

Highlights the difficulty in accepting the reality of the event.

in an unexpected turn of events

Emphasizes the sudden and unpredictable nature of the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "surprisingly" in a sentence?

Use "surprisingly" to indicate something unexpected happened. For example: "Surprisingly, the sun came out after a day of heavy rain."

What can I say instead of "surprisingly"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpectedly", "astonishingly", or "remarkably" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "surprisingly" or "unsurprisingly"?

"Surprisingly" indicates something unexpected, while "unsurprisingly" indicates something expected. Choose the word that aligns with the actual level of expectation in the situation.

What is the difference between "surprisingly" and "ironically"?

"Surprisingly" denotes something unexpected, while "ironically" suggests a contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs, often with a humorous or sardonic tone. They aren't interchangeable, so think about what you intend to communicate.