surprisingly young

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surprisingly young" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that appears younger than expected or is younger than what is typically assumed. Example: "Despite his extensive experience in the field, he is surprisingly young for a CEO."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The founders of Entrustet are surprisingly young.

The New York Times - Magazine

Not surprisingly, young people are most comfortable with the change.

The New York Times

Not surprisingly, young girls were the most eager to abandon cutting.

The New York Times

Grossmann, L. Saturn's rings are surprisingly young and may be from shredded moons.

Nature

As is the emotional maturity of a squad that, for all that experience, is surprisingly young.

The Guardian - Sport

Furthermore, the infected children were surprisingly young, 8 to 11, not the teenagers who were mainly affected in prior epidemics.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The Beijing lab's managing director is hearty, engaging, and surprisingly young-in his 30s.

MIT Technology Review

I won't rehash David's description of the film, except to say that it's the story of a fifteen-year-old girl, Mia, who lives in a housing project in Essex, near London, with her little sister and surprisingly young-looking, yet utterly idle mother.

The New Yorker

Not surprisingly, younger people were more amused by the sounds than older respondents.

The New York Times

Not surprisingly, younger consumers are seeing student loans crowd out most other types of loans, says Charlie Wise, vice president in Trans Unions Innovative Solutions Group.

The Washington Post

This has many wonderful implications, such as the puzzle of the twins – Tweedledum who stays at home while Tweedledee takes a high-speed gap year and returns home wiser but, surprisingly, younger than his sibling.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surprisingly young" to add an element of unexpectedness to a description, making the subject more intriguing or noteworthy. For instance, you might say, "The CEO, surprisingly young, implemented innovative strategies."

Common error

While "surprisingly young" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. In such contexts, consider more precise and nuanced alternatives to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surprisingly young" functions primarily as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun, adding an element of unexpectedness or contrast. It describes someone or something that is younger than anticipated. Ludwig shows many examples where it's used to describe people's ages or the age of objects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "surprisingly young" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone or something that is younger than expected. According to Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to scientific and formal communications. It is considered neutral in register and serves to express surprise or highlight a contrast. Alternatives like "unexpectedly youthful" or "remarkably youthful" can be used for variety. Be mindful of overuse in highly formal writing, and always ensure the comment is contextually relevant and respectful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpectedly youthful

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of being youthful.

remarkably youthful

Highlights the remarkable or noteworthy aspect of youthfulness.

youthful beyond expectations

Focuses on exceeding the anticipated level of youthfulness.

younger than anticipated

Directly states a comparison to what was expected.

surprisingly youthful appearance

Specifically refers to the appearance of being young.

unexpectedly early

Shifts focus to the earliness of an event or development rather than age.

remarkably fresh

Implies youthfulness through the concept of freshness.

younger than one would think

Highlights the contrast between appearance/context and actual age.

youthful for their age

Specifies youthfulness relative to a particular age.

unusually young

Highlights the unusual or uncommon nature of the youthfulness.

FAQs

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

You can use "surprisingly young" to describe someone or something that appears or is younger than expected. For example, "The founder of the company is "surprisingly young", only 25 years old."

What can I say instead of "surprisingly young"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpectedly youthful", "remarkably youthful", or "younger than anticipated" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to comment on someone's age using "surprisingly young"?

While generally acceptable, be mindful of the context and potential implications. Ensure your comment is relevant and doesn't perpetuate age-related stereotypes. In some situations, it may be more appropriate to focus on a person's accomplishments or qualities rather than their age.

What's the difference between "surprisingly young" and "unexpectedly early"?

"Surprisingly young" typically refers to a person's age, while "unexpectedly early" refers to the timing of an event or occurrence. For example, "He achieved success at a "surprisingly young" age," versus "The project was completed unexpectedly early".