unawares

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unawares" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone being caught off guard or unaware of something happening around them. Example: "He walked into the room unawares, completely oblivious to the surprise party that awaited him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Straw claimed he was caught unawares at a UN meeting in a "dark corner".

The Guardian

It is just appalling to find out that this information was in the system and went unawares".

The Guardian

Once in a while, the reader is taken unawares by the author's reverting to standard English, especially in the lyrical "stream of consciousness" passages that describe the coming of summer and its sensual and sensory beauties.

The Guardian - Books

The crisis – a delayed impact from the banking and financial collapse of 2008 – crept up and took EU leaders unawares, starting in the Greek government's confession late last year that its predecessor had been cooking the books for years and that its public debt and budget deficit were careering out of control.

The Guardian - Business

Indeed, the move caught him and his office so unawares that they had arranged press briefings for the following day.

The Guardian

The group were caught unawares by Harding's resignation, which was forced by Murdoch, with Pennant-Rea believed to be particularly unhappy about his ousting.

The Guardian

The symbolism of the moment caught him unawares.

The Guardian - Film

Digitalisation, he says, is "like global warming", in that it's caught us unawares and much faster than anticipated.

The Economist

Over recent years, saltwater crocodiles have proliferated along Guadalcanal's coasts and in the wet season, they swim up the rivers to places like this, occasionally catching people unawares.

The Economist

Saffron hopes The Swat test Poll position A fatal round Taken unawares In need of a miracle Sharpening the koala's claws A watched frog never boils Correction Johns Hopkins University ReprintsAndd so the old guard tabled a no-confidence motion, forcing an extraordinary general meeting.

The Economist

After careful analysis the Americans concluded that this family was Mr bin Laden's.In this section They got him A messy business ReprintsPakistan's government, bracing itself for public anger and revenge attacks, grimly declared that it was caught unawares by the raid.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unawares" to add a touch of formality when describing someone being caught by surprise; it's particularly effective in narrative or descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "unawares" as an adjective; it functions as an adverb. Instead of saying "an unawares person", say "a person caught unawares".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "unawares" primarily functions to modify verbs, indicating that an action occurred unexpectedly or without prior knowledge. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes how someone is caught off guard. The examples showcase its use in various sentence structures to add detail about the manner in which an event happened.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unawares" is a grammatically correct adverb that means unexpectedly or without knowledge. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples of its use. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While versatile, it's important to use it as an adverb and avoid misusing it as an adjective. Consider alternatives like "unexpectedly" or "by surprise" for different shades of meaning. By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate "unawares" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpectedly

This emphasizes the suddenness of the event.

by surprise

This highlights the element of astonishment.

off guard

Focuses on being unprepared or vulnerable.

caught by surprise

Highlights the act of being surprised.

unprepared

Indicates a lack of readiness.

without warning

Emphasizes the absence of prior notification.

inadvertently

Highlights the accidental nature of the action.

unintentionally

Similar to 'inadvertently', but more explicit.

without realizing

Focuses on the lack of awareness.

without knowing

Similar to 'without realizing', but simpler.

FAQs

How can I use "unawares" in a sentence?

"Unawares" is typically used to describe someone being caught by surprise or acting without awareness. For example: 'The crisis crept up and took EU leaders "unawares".'

What's a more formal synonym for "unawares"?

A more formal synonym for "unawares" is "inadvertently", which emphasizes the unintentional nature of the action.

Is it correct to say 'he was unawares of the danger'?

While understandable, it's more grammatically sound to say 'he was caught "unawares" by the danger' or 'he was unaware of the danger'. "Unawares" functions as an adverb, not an adjective.

What are some alternatives to "caught unawares"?

Alternatives include "caught "by surprise"", "taken "off guard"", or "surprised "unexpectedly"".