surprisingly late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surprisingly late" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone arriving or happening later than expected, often in a way that is unexpected or noteworthy. Example: "She arrived surprisingly late to the meeting, catching everyone off guard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

He came to their story surprisingly late.

The Guardian - Books

Kyle Cornforth, director of Edible Schoolyard Berkeley, says that environmental groups have been surprisingly late in joining forces with edible educators.

The New York Times

Mr. Horton, who is in his late 30's, has just made his first album, a surprisingly late start for a jazz musician.

The New York Times - Arts

Bess appears surprisingly late in the novel, emerging out of the shadows like a visitor from the dark side, which is the way Catfish Row views her.

The New York Times - Arts

He did not turn wholeheartedly to books until he had absorbed the implications of the American crime thriller, which he discovered surprisingly late.

The Guardian - Books

I put it to Burakowski that in view of its dependency on snow, the ski industry has woken up surprisingly late to climate change.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Surprisingly, late-stage parasites exposed to 40 °C for 24 h exhibited mitochondrial hyperpolarisation, that was less prominent the following day.

Cell Death and Disease

Surprisingly, late-stage parasites exposed to the same stress exhibited insignificant DNA fragmentation at 24 h, despite a significant decrease in parasitaemia.

Cell Death and Disease

The cabinet surprisingly agreed, late in 2011, to let foreigners like Walmart and Tesco invest in Indian retailing an opening-up that carried a lot of symbolic freight.

The Economist

Bionics or biomimetics is an old field (historical survey in Ref. [11]), but functional surfaces came surprisingly very late to bionic applications.

Nano-Micro Letters

Not surprisingly, the latest polls show more Americans opposing Mr. Ashcroft's appointment than supporting it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surprisingly late" when you want to emphasize that something happened or arrived later than expected, often creating a sense of mild astonishment or irony.

Common error

Avoid using "surprisingly late" when the lateness is entirely predictable or expected given the circumstances. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound less precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surprisingly late" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the timing of an event or action. It indicates that something occurred at a time later than anticipated, adding an element of unexpectedness. As Ludwig AI points out, it follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "surprisingly late" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that an event or arrival occurred later than anticipated. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. It finds frequent use in news and media and scientific contexts. When writing, use "surprisingly late" to convey a sense of unexpectedness or mild astonishment regarding timing. Avoid overusing it when lateness is predictable to maintain its impact. Alternatives include "unexpectedly delayed" and "unusually tardy".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly behind schedule

Adds emphasis on the element of surprise in the context of being behind schedule.

unexpectedly delayed

Focuses on the delay being unanticipated.

unusually tardy

Highlights the atypical nature of the lateness.

unusually delayed

Highlights the atypical nature of the delay.

remarkably behind schedule

Emphasizes the significant deviation from the expected timeline.

astonishingly delayed

Underscores the surprise caused by the delay.

belatedly and unexpectedly

Combines both the lateness and its unforeseen nature.

later than anticipated

A straightforward expression of arriving after the expected time.

unforeseen delay

Focuses on the fact that the delay was not predicted.

unexpectedly behind time

Emphasizes the unpredicted state of being behind schedule.

FAQs

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

The phrase "surprisingly late" is used to indicate that something happened or arrived later than anticipated. For example, "He arrived "surprisingly late" to the meeting, which caused some concern."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "surprisingly late"?

You can use alternatives such as "unexpectedly delayed", "unusually tardy", or "later than anticipated" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "surprisingly late" formal or informal?

The phrase "surprisingly late" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it tends to be more common in neutral or informal settings. Its appropriateness depends on the specific tone and audience.

What does it mean when something is described as "surprisingly late"?

When something is described as "surprisingly late", it means that its occurrence or arrival was not only delayed but also unexpected, often adding a layer of mild surprise or perhaps even mild inconvenience.