unexpectedly rapid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unexpectedly rapid" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs at a faster pace than anticipated. Example: "The project's progress was unexpectedly rapid, allowing us to meet our deadlines ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

In contrast to our progress northward, modern humanity's progress eastward was unexpectedly rapid.

The Guardian

The unexpectedly rapid success of the war in Afghanistan has probably boosted confidence as well.

The New York Times

I don't think it was suspiciously rapid, but I do think it was unusually and unexpectedly rapid.

The Guardian

And it said it had unexpectedly rapid growth in its service that sells used books, in competition with eBay's Half.com.

The New York Times

French producer prices rose by an unexpectedly rapid 0.4% in March, to give a 12-month growth rate of 2.5%.

The Economist

Deloitte said the unexpectedly rapid growth rate for offshore outsourcing showed no signs of abating, despite negative publicity about job losses.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Unexpectedly, the rapid reversal and increase in coral cover did not involve settlement and recruitment of coral larvae.

Plosone

Unexpectedly, this rapid reversal did not involve reestablishment of corals by recruitment of coral larvae, as often assumed, but depended on several ecological mechanisms previously underestimated.

Plosone

Emergency care situations come up in people's lives unexpectedly, demanding rapid, objective and effective action.

Critical Care

On its third swing past Mercury, NASA's Mercury Messenger spacecraft discovered an unexpectedly young lava plain, rapid rufflings of the planet's weak magnetic field and an unanticipated dance of elements in the thin atmosphere.

The New York Times - Science

"The truth is that the rapid growth unexpectedly provided us more resources, and we could spend more [on social welfare schemes].

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to determine if a synonym like "surprisingly quick" or "astonishingly fast" might be more appropriate for the tone and audience.

Common error

While "unexpectedly rapid" is generally acceptable, overuse in formal or scientific writing can diminish its impact. Vary your language by using more precise terms related to the specific type of speed or change you are describing. Try to use more objective language and remove the adverb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unexpectedly rapid" primarily functions as an adverb-adjective modifier. It modifies a noun to describe the speed of an action or event and emphasizes that the speed was not anticipated. Ludwig examples confirm its use in modifying nouns like 'growth', 'collapse', 'recovery', 'response', and 'warming'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unexpectedly rapid" is a valid and useful expression for describing something that happens faster than anticipated. Ludwig AI analysis shows that the phrase is common in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, and Ludwig confirms it's grammatically correct. However, remember that you might want to use a more objective language for formal context, and to use more precise vocabulary depending on context. Alternatives such as "surprisingly quick" or "astonishingly fast" may offer slight variations in tone or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surprisingly quick

Replaces "rapid" with "quick", offering a slightly less formal tone.

surprisingly accelerated

Changes "rapid" to its verb form "accelerated", keeping "surprisingly" to indicate the unexpected nature.

astonishingly fast

Emphasizes the degree of speed with "astonishingly" and uses "fast" instead of "rapid".

remarkably swift

Combines a sense of being noteworthy with quickness, replacing "unexpectedly" with "remarkably" and "rapid" with "swift".

expedited unexpectedly

Uses the verb form "expedited" to convey the speed and "unexpectedly" to maintain the surprise element.

unforeseen acceleration

Uses a noun phrase instead of an adverb-adjective combination, focusing on the act of speeding up.

swiftly unforeseen

Inverts the structure, emphasizing the swiftness while maintaining the unexpected aspect.

sudden surge

Emphasizes the abruptness and intensity of the increase in speed.

unanticipated burst

Highlights a short, intense period of increased speed that was not predicted.

accelerated without warning

Focuses on the lack of warning before the increase in speed.

FAQs

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

You can use "unexpectedly rapid" to describe a process or event that happens much faster than anticipated. For example, "The city experienced an "unexpectedly rapid" increase in population after the new tech company moved in."

What's a good alternative to "unexpectedly rapid"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "surprisingly quick", "astonishingly fast", or "remarkably swift".

Is "unexpectedly rapid" too informal for academic writing?

While "unexpectedly rapid" isn't strictly informal, it might be more impactful to use objective language in academic writing. Consider replacing it with a more precise description of the speed or change that occurred.

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

The phrases are largely interchangeable. However, "unexpectedly rapid" emphasizes the lack of anticipation, while "surprisingly rapid" emphasizes the feeling of wonder or disbelief at the speed.