surprisingly good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surprisingly good" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is better than what you had expected. Example: The meal I cooked was surprisingly good!.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's surprisingly good.

The New York Times

Surprisingly good fun.

The Guardian - Travel

They were surprisingly good.

The New York Times - Sports

Prospects Surprisingly good.

The Guardian

Visibility out is surprisingly good.

Independent

They are surprisingly good swimmers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These pictures were surprisingly good.

Stanford University

The painting was surprisingly good.

The New York Times

A Business is surprisingly good.

The New York Times

Surprisingly good accuracy is achieved.

Structural Safety

The food was surprisingly good.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surprisingly good" when you want to express that something has exceeded your initial expectations. This phrase is effective in conveying a sense of unexpected pleasure or satisfaction.

Common error

While "surprisingly good" is a useful phrase, avoid using it repeatedly in the same piece of writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "unexpectedly positive" or "better than expected" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surprisingly good" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to express an unexpected positive attribute. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. The surprise element is crucial to its meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "surprisingly good" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has exceeded expectations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for a wide range of contexts, from news articles and reviews to casual conversations. Its neutral register makes it versatile, though more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "unexpectedly positive". When using "surprisingly good", ensure that the element of surprise is genuine and that the phrase accurately reflects the unexpected positive quality you intend to convey. By understanding its nuances and considering context, you can effectively use "surprisingly good" to communicate your unexpected satisfaction or approval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly positive

Similar to the original, but emphasizes the positive aspect more directly.

better than expected

Highlights the comparison to initial expectations.

much better than anticipated

Stronger emphasis on the degree of improvement over expectations.

unexpectedly positive

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the positivity, rather than the degree of goodness.

pleasantly surprising

Shifts the focus to the pleasantness of the surprise.

unexpectedly delightful

Conveys a higher degree of pleasure and enjoyment.

remarkably satisfactory

Uses more formal language and emphasizes satisfaction.

surprisingly effective

Focuses on the effectiveness of something rather than its overall goodness.

impressively adequate

Emphasizes adequacy in an impressive way, suitable when something just meets requirements but does so admirably.

unanticipatedly favorable

A more formal alternative, highlighting the lack of anticipation.

FAQs

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

You can use "surprisingly good" to describe something that is better than you anticipated. For example, "The restaurant's service was "surprisingly good", especially considering the low prices."

What phrases are similar to "surprisingly good"?

Alternatives include "unexpectedly positive", "better than expected", or "pleasantly surprising". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "surprisingly good" formal or informal?

"Surprisingly good" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for very formal writing, you might consider a more sophisticated alternative like "unanticipatedly favorable".

Can "surprisingly good" be used to describe a person's ability?

Yes, you can use "surprisingly good" to describe a person's ability or performance if it exceeds expectations. For example, "He's "surprisingly good" at collaborating, which is not something I initially expected."