unexpected action

USAGE SUMMARY

'unexpected action' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone does something that was not expected or anticipated. For example: "The Prime Minister's unexpected action of resigning caused shockwaves throughout the political world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Investors were not fazed by the Federal Reserve's unusual and unexpected action.

The New York Times

Then a man came on with a microphone for more unexpected action.

The Guardian - Music

Several times the musical and psychological action of Wagner's epic are underscored by unexpected action in the video.

The New York Times - Arts

Nevertheless, Representative Tom Davis, the ranking Republican on the committee, said there would be some unexpected action at Tuesday's hearing.

The New York Times - Sports

But the authorities had made only incremental moves to deal with the Kabul Bank fallout until this week's unexpected action by Mr. Karzai.

The New York Times

Here's a very brisk reminder of the main events, after a fast-moving afternoon dominated by unexpected action by the central bankers.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The aunties are up to something really sinister, however, and the book's unexpected action-thriller denouement is both wildly over the top and satisfying.

The Guardian - Books

Like a traditional war game, they are chock-full of specifics about available troops and weapons, and with specific challenges to account for the tyranny of time, distance, weather and unexpected actions by the adversary.

The New York Times

The point, though, isn't to build another Guggenheim; it's to create an artist-run museum, activated "by the unexpected actions of the small group congregating in it, and the rumors they provoked".

The New York Times - Arts

"I'm worried that the unexpected actions of a few could trigger emotions and possibly lead to an uncontrollable situation," said Baek Seung Hyun, a political science professor at Kyung Hee University.

The New York Times

"Applications ask for very broad permissions". Anderson notes that these permissions include the functions users expect, but might also cover unexpected actions from third-party code, such as monitoring used by advertisers.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unexpected action", ensure the context clearly establishes whose expectations were defied. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "unexpected action" in situations where any action would naturally be surprising. For instance, describing a plot twist in a thriller as an "unexpected action" is redundant; the unexpected is inherent to the genre.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unexpected action" functions as a noun phrase, where "unexpected" is an adjective modifying the noun "action". Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unexpected action" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that effectively describes an action that was not anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use across various domains, including news, science, and academia. While versatile, writers should aim to ensure the context clearly indicates whose expectations were defied and avoid using the phrase in inherently surprising situations. Alternatives such as "surprising action" or "unforeseen action" can be used to provide subtle variations in meaning. Ultimately, "unexpected action" serves as a valuable tool for highlighting the element of surprise or unpredictability in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprising action

Replaces "unexpected" with "surprising", emphasizing the element of surprise.

unforeseen action

Substitutes "unexpected" with "unforeseen", highlighting the lack of anticipation.

unanticipated action

Replaces "unexpected" with "unanticipated", focusing on the lack of prior expectation.

unpredicted action

Similar to 'unforeseen action' but explicitly states that the action was not predicted.

sudden action

Emphasizes the abruptness of the action, rather than its unpredictability.

abrupt action

Highlights the suddenness and possible unexpectedness of the action.

unplanned action

Highlights that the action was not part of a prior arrangement or strategy.

impulsive action

Focuses on the spontaneous nature of the action, implying a lack of forethought.

spur-of-the-moment action

Emphasizes the immediacy and lack of planning behind the action.

chance action

Implies that the action occurred by accident or coincidence.

FAQs

How can I use "unexpected action" in a sentence?

You can use "unexpected action" to describe a surprising or unforeseen event. For example, "The CEO's sudden resignation was an "unexpected action" that shocked the company."

What's the difference between "unexpected action" and "unforeseen action"?

"Unexpected action" implies something that was not anticipated, while "unforeseen action" suggests something that could not have been predicted.

What are some alternatives to saying "unexpected action"?

Alternatives to "unexpected action" include "surprising action", "unpredicted action", or "sudden action", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "unexpected action" formal or informal?

"Unexpected action" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the communication.