truly strange

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "truly strange" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the unusual or bizarre nature of something. Example: "The abandoned house had a truly strange atmosphere that sent chills down my spine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Sometimes the process is truly strange.

The New York Times

This charge is both novel and truly strange.

The Economist

But Tyler Cowen has come up with something truly strange.

The New York Times

Then he died, and things got truly strange.

The Guardian

But those rules shouldn't apply if there's a truly strange and unelectable person on the ballot.

The New York Times

The majority's interpretation of it, Justice Alito wrote, "produces truly strange results".

The New York Times

But now comes the truly strange part, and the point where things lapse into the unjustifiable.

The Guardian - Opinion

What is truly strange, however, is the brevity of Germany's collective memory.

The Guardian - Opinion

As seen by Mr. Jacopetti, the world was a truly strange and frightening place.

The New York Times

What is truly strange and disturbing is that MPs seem set on extending the Bozza revolution.

The Guardian - Opinion

Both books cite some truly strange British reactions to the case.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "truly strange" to emphasize the surprising or unexpected nature of something. It works well when you want to convey a sense of wonder or disbelief.

Common error

While "truly strange" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or sophisticated language may be appropriate. Consider alternatives like "remarkably peculiar" or "distinctly anomalous" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "truly strange" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. The adverb "truly" modifies and emphasizes the adjective "strange", indicating a high degree of oddness or peculiarity. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "truly strange" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that is highly unusual or bizarre. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, this adjective phrase intensifies the sense of oddity, expressing surprise or fascination. While versatile, remember to consider the formality of your writing context, opting for alternatives like "genuinely odd" or "remarkably peculiar" in more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely odd

Replaces "truly" with "genuinely", emphasizing authenticity of the strangeness.

remarkably peculiar

Substitutes "strange" with "peculiar" and "truly" with "remarkably", intensifying the unusual nature.

utterly bizarre

Uses "utterly" instead of "truly" and "bizarre" instead of "strange", highlighting the extreme oddness.

exceptionally weird

Replaces "strange" with "weird" and "truly" with "exceptionally", stressing unconventionality.

incredibly unusual

Substitutes "strange" with "unusual" and "truly" with "incredibly", denoting rarity and uncommonness.

distinctly curious

Uses "distinctly" instead of "truly" and "curious" instead of "strange", emphasizing its capacity to piques one's interest.

strikingly atypical

Replaces "strange" with "atypical" and "truly" with "strikingly", highlighting deviation from the norm.

singularly odd

Substitutes "strange" with "odd" and "truly" with "singularly", stressing its uniqueness.

uncommonly queer

Uses "uncommonly" instead of "truly" and "queer" instead of "strange", indicating eccentricity or deviation.

awfully strange

Replaces "truly" with "awfully", which, depending on context, can either intensify or soften the strangeness. It is usually stronger in the context of the query.

FAQs

How can I use "truly strange" in a sentence?

You can use "truly strange" to describe something that is very unusual or bizarre. For example, "The abandoned house had a "truly strange" atmosphere."

What can I say instead of "truly strange"?

You can use alternatives like "genuinely odd", "remarkably peculiar", or "utterly bizarre" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "truly strange" in formal writing?

While acceptable, it might be better to opt for more formal alternatives like "distinctly anomalous" or "remarkably peculiar" in very formal or academic contexts.

What makes something "truly strange"?

The phrase implies that something deviates significantly from the norm or expectations, creating a sense of surprise or bewilderment. It suggests a higher degree of oddity than simply "strange".