unexpectedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "unexpectedly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that happened in a way that you were not expecting. Example sentence: "Unexpectedly, we encountered a snowstorm in the middle of summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most unexpectedly, the outstanding Nitrous morphs from a lament to a laughing-gas seller into an unlikely folk deconstruction of Olive's 90s pop-dance hit You're Not Alone.

The Guardian - Music

This week's talks, both with Tasoulas and prime minister Antonis Samaras on Wednesday, were meant to have taken place in early September but were postponed when it was unexpectedly announced that Alamuddin and George Clooney, the world's most sought after bachelor, were to be married.

The Guardian - Arts

Unexpectedly, one morning found us ushered into Carrot Bay's Seventh Day Adventist Church service, having stopped, en route to the beach in shorts, to watch the islanders arrive in their finery.

The Guardian - Travel

The candidate regarded as the frontrunner to lead the Ulster Unionist party has unexpectedly pulled out of the contest.

The Guardian

Growth in the UK halved unexpectedly to 0.3% in the first three months of the year, while the US economy came to a virtual standstill, scraping growth of just 0.1%.

The Guardian - Business

Tracks such as Drops feature unexpectedly creaking doors and Smoking Pixels is a noir bagatelle, whistled in".

The Guardian - Music

The other 208 Fifa members did all tune in against their better judgment, however, and they were unexpectedly rewarded with a very fine game that might be described as a pretty good advert for German club football.

The Guardian - Sport

She also said consumers should be aware that new Ofcom rules "ensure consumers can leave contracts during their minimum-term contract if the price changes unexpectedly".

The Guardian

They also involved several deteriorating patients – including a child – who received "sub-optimal care" before they died; an unexplained "patient accident outside A&E where a wheelchair collided with a van causing patient injury"; several unexpected deaths; medication errors; two newborns dying unexpectedly; and a failure to properly safeguard a vulnerable child and an adult.

The Guardian

The quest to realise this tribute proved unexpectedly difficult.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The authoritative study also identifies four hospital trusts where an unexpectedly high number of patients died after developing complications following routine operations.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unexpectedly" to add emphasis when describing events that deviate from expectations. For example, instead of "the meeting started late", try "unexpectedly, the meeting started late".

Common error

Avoid overuse of "unexpectedly" in formal or scientific writing. Opt for more precise and analytical terms like "surprisingly" or "unpredictably" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unexpectedly" is as an adverb. It modifies a verb, adjective, or even a whole clause to indicate that something happened in an unforeseen or unanticipated manner. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unexpectedly" functions as an adverb used to highlight the surprising nature of an event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Primarily found in news and media contexts, it adds emphasis and informs the reader of deviations from expected outcomes. While versatile, writers should consider the context and opt for more precise alternatives in formal settings. By understanding its function and usage patterns, you can effectively use "unexpectedly" to enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpredictably

Highlights the inability to foresee the event.

unforeseenly

Focuses more on the lack of foresight involved.

all of a sudden

Emphasizes the abruptness of the occurrence.

by surprise

Emphasizes the element of astonishment.

out of the blue

Highlights the sudden and unpredictable nature of the event.

without warning

Emphasizes the lack of advance notice.

to one's surprise

Highlights the personal feeling of astonishment.

in an unforeseen manner

More formal and emphasizes the manner in which it happened.

on the spur of the moment

Suggests a spontaneous and unplanned action.

by a fluke

Implies the event happened due to chance or luck.

FAQs

How can I use "unexpectedly" in a sentence?

You can use "unexpectedly" to describe an event that happened in a way that was not predicted or anticipated. For example, "Unexpectedly, the sun came out".

What are some alternatives to saying "unexpectedly"?

You can use alternatives like "surprisingly", "unpredictably", or "out of the blue" depending on the context.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "unexpectedly"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "unexpectedly". It functions as an adverb modifying the entire sentence that follows.

What is the difference between "unexpectedly" and "suddenly"?

"Unexpectedly" implies a lack of anticipation, while "suddenly" emphasizes the quickness of an event. You might say "unexpectedly, the market crashed" if no one saw it coming, but "suddenly, the music stopped" focuses on the abruptness.