that was surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express your reaction to an unexpected event or information. Example: "When I heard the news about the sudden change in plans, I thought to myself, that was surprising."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"When we became clear in May that was surprising.

The Guardian

To me, that was surprising.

Huffington Post

It was how things played out, and who emerged as an unexpected power player, that was surprising.

Huffington Post

"It was really fun for me to curate, working with all these different artists, and seeing how they interpreted the songs," Stipe told NME. "The thing that was surprising is how much they interlockingly work, like an album".

Huffington Post

That was surprising.

The New Yorker

Now, that was surprising.

The New York Times

I don't care, but that was surprising.

Huffington Post

"He made himself highly visible in a way that was surprising," Magleby said.

The New Yorker

"Ah," he said appreciatively in a low voice that was surprising in its softness.

The New York Times

Yes, he admitted, that was surprising; but so men became as you went farther east.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Or rather, he talked, launching naturally into teacher mode, explaining it wasn't the presence of water on Mars that was surprising there was already evidence of ancient rivers and deltas —the surprise was finding water in its liquid form oozing out of a crater wall.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that was surprising" to express a mild to moderate level of surprise. For stronger reactions, consider alternatives like "that was astonishing" or "that was shocking".

Common error

Avoid using "that was surprising" excessively in your writing. Vary your language by incorporating other expressions of surprise to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was surprising" functions as a comment or reaction to a past event or piece of information. It expresses the speaker's feeling of surprise or unexpectedness. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is both grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that was surprising" is a common and grammatically correct way to express mild to moderate surprise about a past event. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, supported by numerous examples from diverse sources, including news media, scientific publications, and formal writing. While versatile, varying your language to incorporate other expressions of surprise will make your writing more engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that came as a surprise

Emphasizes the event or information as the source of the surprise.

that was unexpected

Focuses on the lack of anticipation or predictability.

that took me by surprise

Emphasizes the personal impact and feeling of being caught off guard.

that's astonishing

Conveys a stronger sense of disbelief or amazement.

that's unforeseen

Highlights that the event was not predicted or anticipated.

that's remarkable

Highlights the unusual or noteworthy nature of the situation.

that's quite a shock

Indicates a sudden and unsettling surprise.

that's startling

Suggests a sudden and potentially alarming surprise.

that's baffling

Implies confusion and a lack of understanding about the surprising event.

that's noteworthy

Highlights that an event or piece of information is worthy of attention due to its surprising nature.

FAQs

How can I use "that was surprising" in a sentence?

You can use "that was surprising" to express your reaction to something unexpected. For example, "I didn't expect to see her there; "that was surprising"."

What can I say instead of "that was surprising"?

You can use alternatives like "that was unexpected", "that came as a surprise", or "that was astonishing" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "that is surprising" is correct and refers to a present or ongoing situation, whereas ""that was surprising"" refers to something that happened in the past.

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

While both phrases express a lack of anticipation, ""that was surprising"" emphasizes the emotional reaction of surprise, while "that was unexpected" focuses on the lack of prior expectation.