we are stunned that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we are stunned that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise or disbelief about a particular situation or event. Example: "We are stunned that the team managed to win the championship against all odds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We are stunned that they are stunned.

The New York Times

"We are stunned that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would honor a regime that consistently ignores both him and the world body he heads in ways that threaten regional and global security".

The New York Times

"As survivors of the Nazi era, we are stunned that the Hofburg, which belongs to the republic, is still opening its doors to representatives of extreme-right organisations from Austria and Europe," it said.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

All the rejection was disheartening; "we were stunned that we weren't chosen," Ms. Leavitt said.

The New York Times

"We were stunned that our maps were very, very similar," Dr. Vespignani said.

The New York Times - Health

We were stunned that a supposedly first world democracy would operate that way.

The Guardian

"We were stunned that it could happen to someone in our world".

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Flanagan's lawyer, Bruce Barket, said, "We're stunned that essentially what has occurred here is the exercise of police discretion has been criminalized by an indictment".

The New York Times

"We're stunned that the president would say one week that he's going to veto any provision that includes Keystone, and then cave the next week," said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, an environmental group opposed to the pipeline.

The New York Times

So we're stunned that they've announced a massive profits increase of 9.6% after losing 370,000 customers in the past year," said Jonathan Senior, head of research at collective switching and low energy campaign, ThisIsTheBigDeal.com.

The Guardian - Business

And as my family and I held our collective breath to see if Walters would throw softball questions to the notoriously verbally dexterous jefe, we were stunned that the contrary occurred.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we are stunned that" when you want to express a strong sense of surprise or disbelief, often in response to unexpected news or events. Ensure the context aligns with the intensity of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "we are stunned that" in contexts that require a more neutral or less emphatic expression of surprise. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we are stunned that" functions as an expression of surprise or disbelief. It typically introduces a clause explaining the cause of the speaker's astonishment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we are stunned that" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to convey surprise or disbelief. Although relatively rare in frequency, as indicated by Ludwig, it is primarily found in News & Media contexts. It is important to reserve this phrase for situations genuinely warranting a strong emotional response, and to be mindful of the potential for overuse. Consider alternatives like ""we are astonished that"" or ""we are surprised that"" to fit the specific context and desired level of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are astonished that

Stronger emphasis on surprise and amazement.

we are amazed that

Focuses on wonder and admiration mixed with surprise.

we are shocked that

Implies a more negative or disturbing surprise.

we are taken aback that

Indicates a sudden and unexpected surprise.

we are surprised that

A more general expression of unexpectedness.

it surprises us that

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the surprising nature of the event.

it dumbfounds us that

Highlights the bewilderment caused by the unexpected event.

we find it astounding that

Emphasizes the incredibility of the event.

we didn't expect that

A simpler expression of lack of anticipation.

we never anticipated that

Emphasizes the complete lack of expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "we are stunned that" in a sentence?

You can use "we are stunned that" to express a strong sense of surprise or disbelief. For example, "We are stunned that the team managed to win the championship after such a difficult season."

What can I say instead of "we are stunned that"?

You can use alternatives like "we are astonished that", "we are amazed that", or "we are surprised that" depending on the context.

Is "we are stunned that" formal or informal?

"We are stunned that" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more appropriate for situations where a strong emotional response is expected. More neutral phrasing may be better suited for strictly formal writing.

What's the difference between "we are stunned that" and "we are surprised that"?

"We are stunned that" implies a stronger emotional reaction and a greater degree of disbelief than "we are surprised that". Stunned suggests a temporary state of shock or bewilderment, while surprised simply indicates something unexpected occurred.