unexpected timing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unexpected timing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that occurs at a time that is not anticipated or foreseen. Example: "The unexpected timing of the announcement caught everyone off guard during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In part because of this unexpected timing, it felt like even more of a treat; Christmas in spring, a birthday you'd forgotten was looming.

The Guardian - Film

Given juror B37's unexpected timing and desire for public exposure with a lengthy public interviews with CNN's Anderson Cooper as well as the refutation of her statements by four other jurors, it is also proper to consider her role in shaping the ultimate not guilty verdict.

Huffington Post

First, the unexpected timing of the poultry market closure shortened the preintervention baseline period and the enhanced surveillance period during which we could obtain samples from LPMs.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For more than 11 minutes Ms. Eisenberg carefully controls her stoic tone, using unexpected comic timing to stave off maudlin sentiment.

The New York Times - Arts

New Orleans Saints re-sign Marques Colston Re-signing Colston was somewhat unexpected because of the timing.

The Guardian - Sport

THE NEWS The CBS dramatic series "The Good Wife" caught an unexpected break with the timing of its highly anticipated second-season finale on Tuesday.

The New York Times

By the time Alistair Darling, the chancellor, announced on February 17th that Northern Rock was to be nationalised, only the Sunday timing was unexpected.

The Economist

Alexander Blostein, a research analyst who covers Bank of New York Mellon for Goldman Sachs, said, "The announcement of Mr. Kelly's resignation and its timing were unexpected, which introduces new uncertainty to the stock, in our view".

The New York Times

While her support for the no camp is not unexpected, the size and timing of the donation delighted senior figures in the no campaign, coming to light five days after the US president, Barack Obama, whose election victories have inspired the yes campaign, indicated that he opposed independence.

The Guardian - Books

The news that Louise Mensch is to stand down, causing a by-election in her marginal seat of Corby, was not totally unexpected - but the timing was a shock.

BBC

While the timing seemed unexpected, just nine months after he took over as CEO, Henderson's departure wasn't at all surprising.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unexpected timing" when you want to emphasize that something happened at a time that was not anticipated or planned for, often creating surprise or disruption.

Common error

While "unexpected" and "surprising" can be similar, "unexpected timing" emphasizes the lack of anticipation, while "surprising timing" focuses more on the feeling of astonishment. Choose "unexpected" when you want to highlight the lack of foresight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unexpected timing" functions as a noun phrase, where "unexpected" modifies the noun "timing". It describes a specific quality or characteristic of the timing of an event or action. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unexpected timing" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe situations where something occurs at an unanticipated time. While relatively rare in occurrence, it is found across news, media, and scientific sources. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Alternative phrases like "surprising timing" or "unforeseen timing" can be used to express similar ideas, depending on the nuance you wish to convey. The most important thing to remember is that unexpected timing specifically underlines the absence of anticipation, something that is useful when describing for example how a plan could have been disrupted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprising timing

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

unforeseen timing

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

unanticipated timing

Uses "unanticipated" instead of "unexpected", focusing on the lack of prior planning.

inopportune moment

Shifts from timing to the suitability of the moment, implying it was badly timed.

untimely occurrence

Emphasizes the inappropriateness of the timing, often with negative connotations.

sudden instance

Focuses on the abruptness of the event's commencement.

surprise event

Highlights the unforeseen nature of the occurrence, shifting from timing to the event itself.

out-of-the-blue scheduling

More informal; emphasizes lack of warning or predictability in scheduling.

impromptu start

Highlights the sudden, unplanned nature of something beginning.

haphazard hour

Implies a lack of planning and randomness in the timing.

FAQs

What does "unexpected timing" mean?

The phrase "unexpected timing" refers to an event or action that occurs at a time that was not predicted or anticipated, often causing surprise or inconvenience.

What can I say instead of "unexpected timing"?

You can use alternatives like "surprising timing", "unforeseen timing", or "unanticipated timing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "unexpected timing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "unexpected timing" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written and spoken English.

How does the connotation of "unexpected timing" differ from that of "untimely moment"?

"Unexpected timing" simply means the timing was not anticipated. "Untimely moment" /s/untimely+moment implies the timing was inappropriate or unfortunate, often with negative consequences.