surprisingly fast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surprisingly fast" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unusually or unexpectedly speedy. For example, "I finished the project surprisingly fast."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The snow fell surprisingly fast.

The New Yorker

Prices have been rising surprisingly fast.

The Economist

Unemployment might then rise surprisingly fast.

The Economist

He's surprisingly fast on his feet.

The Guardian - Books

"There were some guys riding surprisingly fast," Evans said.

The New York Times - Sports

The movie world now is moving surprisingly fast.

The Guardian - Film

When all factors are optimal, snakes grow surprisingly fast.

Encyclopedia Britannica

BTA-templated protein complex formation was also found to be surprisingly fast, reaching equilibrium within minutes.

Nature

Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's grip on power weakened surprisingly fast as rebels marched into the city.

The New York Times

And, despite these lean economic times, they are selling surprisingly fast.

The New York Times

The Al Rekayyat is surprisingly fast for such a large ship.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surprisingly fast" to add emphasis when describing an action or event that exceeds typical speed expectations. It effectively conveys both the rapidity and the unexpected nature of the speed.

Common error

Avoid using "surprisingly fast" repeatedly within a short span of text. Vary your descriptions with synonyms like "unexpectedly rapid" or "remarkably quick" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surprisingly fast" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, enhancing adjectives or verbs to describe the manner in which something occurs. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it indicates that an action or process happens with unexpected rapidity. Examples show it modifying verbs like 'fell' or adjectives like 'drop'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "surprisingly fast" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that happens more quickly than expected. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an adverbial modifier, adding emphasis and a sense of unexpectedness to the speed of an action or event. It's versatile, fitting into various contexts, particularly news, science, and general descriptions. While widely used, it's important to vary your language with synonyms like "unexpectedly rapid" or "remarkably quick" to avoid repetition. Keep in mind to always use "surprisingly fast" to add emphasis to the speed that you are talking about.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpectedly rapid

Replaces "fast" with "rapid" and "surprisingly" with "unexpectedly", both emphasizing quickness and the element of surprise.

remarkably quick

Substitutes "surprisingly" with "remarkably" and "fast" with "quick", highlighting the notable speed.

astonishingly swift

Replaces "surprisingly" with "astonishingly" and "fast" with "swift", adding a stronger sense of amazement at the speed.

unusually speedy

Replaces "surprisingly" with "unusually" and "fast" with "speedy", focusing on the uncommon nature of the speed.

incredibly accelerated

Emphasizes the increased rate of speed by using "accelerated", adding "incredibly" to enhance the unexpected nature.

impressively rapid

Highlights the admirable nature of the speed, using "impressively" instead of "surprisingly".

surprisingly quickened

Changes "fast" to the verb form "quickened", focusing on the process of becoming faster, while maintaining the element of surprise.

unexpectedly accelerated

Combines the unexpected element with the idea of acceleration, stressing the unforeseen increase in speed.

noticeably faster

Shifts the focus to the noticeable difference in speed, while retaining the core meaning.

unanticipated speed

This is a noun phrase that focuses on the unexpected nature of the speed, shifting from an adverb-adjective construction.

FAQs

How can I use "surprisingly fast" in a sentence?

You can use "surprisingly fast" to describe any action or event that happens quicker than expected. For example, "The project was completed "surprisingly fast"" or "The company's growth was "surprisingly fast"".

What can I say instead of "surprisingly fast"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpectedly rapid", "remarkably quick", or "astonishingly swift" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "surprisingly fast" or "unexpectedly fast"?

Both ""surprisingly fast"" and "unexpectedly fast" are correct and usable. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific shade of meaning you want to express. "Surprisingly" emphasizes the element of astonishment, while "unexpectedly" focuses on the lack of anticipation.

In what contexts is "surprisingly fast" most commonly used?

"Surprisingly fast" is versatile and can be used in various contexts, but it is often found in news reports, scientific articles, and general descriptions where there is a need to highlight an action or event that occurred with unexpected speed.