totally surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the unexpectedness of a situation or event. Example: "The ending of the movie was totally surprising; I never saw it coming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Arts

Health

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is not totally surprising.

The Washington Post

How totally surprising and disappointing.

The New York Times

This pitfall is not totally surprising.

The New York Times - Sports

So it's not totally surprising what's unfolding".

The New York Times - Sports

The testimony is not totally surprising.

The Washington Post

That's not a totally surprising conclusion.

The Washington Post

"But, to us, it wasn't totally surprising.

The New York Times

Still, perhaps it should not be totally surprising.

The New York Times - Health

It was a stunning turnaround, but not totally surprising.

The New York Times - Sports

"In one sense it's not totally surprising as it's happened before," he said.

Independent

"We can see some totally surprising correlations with this data," says Yankovich.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing reactions, pair "totally surprising" with vivid adjectives to convey the depth of the emotion, such as "totally surprising and delightful" or "totally surprising and unsettling".

Common error

While "totally surprising" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it excessively in formal writing or academic papers. Opt for more sophisticated vocabulary to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally surprising" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It intensifies the unexpectedness of something. Ludwig AI supports this use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Totally surprising" is a common and grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to emphasize the unexpectedness of an event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent appearance across diverse sources like news media, scientific publications, and business communications. While generally neutral in register, consider more formal synonyms in academic contexts. Its purpose is to highlight the astonishment or unexpected nature of something. When aiming for greater impact or formality, alternatives such as "completely unexpected" or "utterly astonishing" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely unexpected

Emphasizes the lack of anticipation; stronger than "totally surprising".

utterly astonishing

Conveys a greater degree of amazement and disbelief.

entirely unforeseen

Focuses on the inability to predict the event.

wholly unanticipated

Similar to 'entirely unforeseen', but with a more formal tone.

quite remarkable

Highlights the exceptional nature of the surprising event.

absolutely flabbergasting

Indicates a high level of shock and bewilderment.

genuinely startling

Emphasizes the suddenness and shock of the surprise.

altogether out of the blue

Implies the event happened without any warning.

downright dumbfounding

Suggests the event left one speechless and confused.

incredibly stunning

Highlights the beauty or impressiveness of the surprising event.

FAQs

How can I use "totally surprising" in a sentence?

You can use "totally surprising" to describe an unexpected event or outcome. For example, "The plot twist was "totally surprising", I didn't see it coming."

What can I say instead of "totally surprising"?

You can use alternatives like "completely unexpected", "utterly astonishing", or "entirely unforeseen" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "totally surprising" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "totally surprising" might sound informal in some contexts. Consider using more sophisticated synonyms like "wholly unanticipated" or "quite remarkable" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "totally surprising" and "slightly surprising"?

"Totally surprising" indicates a high degree of unexpectedness, while "slightly surprising" suggests something that was only somewhat unexpected. The former implies a greater level of astonishment than the latter.