surprisingly well

USAGE SUMMARY

"surprisingly well" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is done better than expected ("surprisingly" suggests that it was unexpectedly good). For example: "My 7-year-old daughter handled the tough situation surprisingly well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Surprisingly well.

The New York Times - Sports

"Triangulation" worked surprisingly well.

The Economist

He looked surprisingly well.

The New York Times - Sports

He started surprisingly well.

The Economist

This worked surprisingly well).

The New York Times - Arts

Allthecooks worked surprisingly well.

MIT Technology Review

He says surprisingly well.

The Guardian - Sport

You seem surprisingly well adjusted.

The New York Times - Magazine

And it went surprisingly well.

The New Yorker

The visit went surprisingly well.

The New York Times

The fundraiser went surprisingly well.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surprisingly well" to convey that something has performed better than anticipated, adding an element of unexpected success to your writing.

Common error

While versatile, avoid overusing "surprisingly well" in strictly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise language that highlights specific aspects of the positive outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surprisingly well" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically modifying a verb or adjective to indicate the manner in which an action is performed or a quality is exhibited. It expresses that something happened to a degree that was not expected, which Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surprisingly well" is a common and versatile phrase used to express that something has performed better than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While suitable for general use, it's important to consider the context and opt for more formal language in academic or professional settings. Alternatives like "unexpectedly good", "better than expected", and "remarkably effectively" can provide similar meaning with varying degrees of formality and emphasis. Ultimately, understanding the nuances of "surprisingly well" allows for more effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpectedly good

This alternative replaces "surprisingly" with "unexpectedly" and "well" with "good", keeping the core meaning intact while using different words.

surprisingly effective

This emphasizes the effectiveness while still acknowledging the unexpected nature.

remarkably effectively

This phrase uses "remarkably" instead of "surprisingly" to highlight the unexpected nature and replaces "well" with "effectively" focusing on the positive result.

better than expected

This alternative is more explicit, directly stating that the outcome surpassed initial expectations.

exceeded expectations

This phrase emphasizes that the performance or outcome was superior to what was anticipated.

performed beyond expectations

Similar to "exceeded expectations", this highlights the idea of outperforming predictions.

unusually successful

This alternative emphasizes the success aspect, suggesting an outcome that is not typical.

unforeseen success

This alternative focuses on the unexpected nature of the success.

against all odds

This highlights the unexpected nature of a positive outcome despite unfavorable circumstances.

contrary to expectations

This phrase directly contrasts the outcome with initial predictions.

FAQs

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

Use "surprisingly well" to indicate that something performed or developed better than expected. For example, "The new strategy worked "surprisingly well"".

What are some alternatives to "surprisingly well"?

Alternatives include "unexpectedly good", "better than expected", or "remarkably effectively" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "surprisingly well" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "surprisingly well" may be considered informal for certain academic or professional contexts. Consider using more specific and descriptive alternatives to maintain a formal tone.

What does "surprisingly well" imply?

"Surprisingly well" suggests an element of unexpected success or effectiveness, indicating that the outcome was better than initially anticipated.