that's surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

"That's surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something has happened or been said that is unexpected or not what you anticipated. For example, "I ran into my old friend from high school on the bus and she had a baby – that's surprising."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Or as one developer put it, commenting (via Facebook) on Snapcapture's removal: "Wow that's surprising they pulled that on you.

TechCrunch

Two times yes, that's surprising.

The New Yorker

Perhaps that's surprising.

The Guardian - Books

Two times — yes, that's surprising.

The New Yorker

I don't know if that's surprising.

The New York Times

Sadly, the judge dismissed the countersuit, though that's surprising.

TechCrunch

But in contrast with Gorman's best material, little that's surprising or significant is revealed.

The Guardian

The thing that's surprising is that I've begun writing about history.

The New York Times - Science

Sand tables have been replaced by worksheets to a degree that's surprising even by the standards of a decade ago.

The New York Times

The crackling gives you a texture that's surprising, like intense shards of flavor — bacon gives some idea of what it's like, but only an idea.

The New York Times - Travel

And the play was about how the sudden introduction of a homoerotic presence, in a way that's surprising and unexpected, can totally change that.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that's surprising" to express genuine astonishment or mild disbelief at an unexpected piece of information or event. Ensure the context makes it clear what you find surprising.

Common error

Avoid using "that's surprising" in response to expected or routine events, as it can sound insincere or sarcastic. Reserve it for situations that genuinely deviate from the norm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that's surprising" functions as an interjection or a commentary expression. It introduces a reaction to a piece of information, indicating the speaker's unexpectedness or mild shock. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that's surprising" is a versatile phrase used to express mild astonishment or unexpectedness, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, though best reserved for situations that genuinely deviate from expectations. While found across many source types, it's particularly common in News & Media. Alternatives such as "that's unexpected" or "that's astonishing" can provide nuanced variations. Be mindful of context to avoid sounding insincere. Remember: using "that's surprising" effectively involves genuine astonishment or mild disbelief, in response to unexpected information or events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's unexpected

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation for the event or information.

that's astonishing

Highlights the degree of amazement or disbelief.

that's remarkable

Focuses on the exceptional or noteworthy nature of the surprise.

that's curious

Suggests the surprising element is also intriguing or peculiar.

that's strange

Implies the surprising thing deviates from the norm.

that's perplexing

Highlights the confusing or puzzling aspect of the surprising thing.

that's astounding

Similar to astonishing, but may convey a higher degree of amazement.

that's startling

Focuses on the sudden or abrupt nature of the surprise.

that's incredible

Emphasizes disbelief and amazement at the surprising fact.

that's noteworthy

Highlights the importance of the unexpected piece of information.

FAQs

How can I use "that's surprising" in a sentence?

You can use "that's surprising" to express mild astonishment at something unexpected. For example, "I didn't know she was a doctor, "that's surprising"!"

What can I say instead of "that's surprising"?

You can use alternatives like "that's unexpected", "that's astonishing", or "that's remarkable" depending on the level of surprise you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "that is surprising" instead of "that's surprising"?

Yes, "that is surprising" is grammatically correct and more formal. "That's surprising" is a contraction and is suitable for informal contexts.

What's the difference between "that's surprising" and "that's unexpected"?

While both express a lack of anticipation, ""that's surprising"" implies a degree of astonishment or mild disbelief, while "that's unexpected" simply means something wasn't anticipated but doesn't necessarily evoke strong emotion.