unexpectedly good

USAGE SUMMARY

"unexpectedly good" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is surprisingly better than expected. For example, "The food at the restaurant was unexpectedly good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is quite unexpectedly good.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The finished meals were unexpectedly good.

The Washington Post

The special, broadcast in November, got unexpectedly good ratings.

The New York Times

Sheep are turning out to be unexpectedly good value theatrically.

The Guardian

Overall, however, they provided Labour with some unexpectedly good news.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the past few weeks several big media companies have reported unexpectedly good earnings.

The Economist

IN RECENT months much of Britain's economic news has been unexpectedly good.

The Economist

This coalition government may prove unexpectedly good at presiding over austerity.

The Economist

I'm scything along roads threaded between Tenerife's volcanic mountains, and I'm having an unexpectedly good time.

Independent

When pressing on, its low-mounted mass results in unexpectedly good ride and handling, too.

Independent

It was an unexpectedly good week for the (prospective) state regulation of business.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unexpectedly good" to convey a positive surprise, especially when initial expectations were low or uncertain. For instance, "The budget airline's service was unexpectedly good."

Common error

Avoid overusing "unexpectedly good" when a simple "good" suffices. Over-emphasis can dilute the impact and suggest undue skepticism beforehand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unexpectedly good" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier that intensifies the adjective "good." It indicates that the quality being described is not just positive, but surprisingly so. Ludwig confirms this usage, showcasing the phrase in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unexpectedly good" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe something that surpasses expectations. Ludwig AI validates this, marking it as standard English. It functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "good" and expressing surprise and satisfaction. It is most frequently found in news and media, and to a lesser extent, in scientific and business contexts, indicating a generally neutral to informal register. When using this phrase, aim to highlight genuine surprise and avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Remember, the food can be "unexpectedly good".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly positive

Focuses on the positive nature of the surprise, rather than the unexpected aspect.

pleasantly surprising

Highlights the agreeable and delightful nature of the surprise.

better than expected

Emphasizes the fulfillment of exceeding initial expectations.

surprisingly effective

Shifts the focus to the successful outcome, with the surprise stemming from disbelief in the result.

unexpectedly effective

Highlights the surprising nature of the effectiveness.

surprisingly well

Focuses on the unexpectedly high level of performance or success.

exceeding expectations

A more formal way to express that something has surpassed what was anticipated.

a welcome surprise

Highlights the positive and agreeable nature of the unexpected event.

fortuitously successful

Implies success achieved by chance or good fortune.

to my surprise, quite good

Directly states the speaker's surprise at the quality, adding a personal touch.

FAQs

How can I use "unexpectedly good" in a sentence?

You can use "unexpectedly good" to describe something that surpasses initial expectations. For example, "The small town restaurant had "surprisingly good" food".

What are some alternatives to saying "unexpectedly good"?

Alternatives include "surprisingly positive", "better than expected", or "pleasantly surprising" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "unexpectedly good"?

Yes, "unexpectedly good" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express surprise at something positive. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

What's the difference between "unexpectedly good" and "surprisingly good"?

While both convey a sense of surprise, "unexpectedly good" might suggest even lower initial expectations compared to "surprisingly good". The nuance depends on context.