we didn't expect that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we didn't expect that" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it to express surprise or disbelief about an outcome or situation that was unforeseen. Example: "When the team won the championship, we didn't expect that at all."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

"We didn't expect that," Ferguson said.

The New York Times - Sports

Outlook Well, we didn't expect that diagnosis.

Independent

But we didn't expect that performance".

The Guardian - Sport

"We didn't expect that at all, especially from him.

The New York Times - Sports

We didn't expect that, but we're going to enjoy this, I tell you.

The Guardian - Sport

"We didn't expect that run to happen," Paxton said of the Super Bowl.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Mr. Iger said of EchoStar's fervent response, "We did not expect that".

The New York Times

"It's a big big performance, we did not expect that," said Bauge.

BBC

"Definitely us patrons we did not expect that, everyone ran away".

Huffington Post

31 32 We did not expect that Koch-like reactions would be common in this age group.

British Medical Journal

We don't expect that phenomenon to end abruptly or soon.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we didn't expect that" to express genuine surprise or a deviation from anticipated outcomes. It's effective in both formal and informal contexts to convey a sense of unexpectedness.

Common error

While versatile, relying too heavily on "we didn't expect that" in formal writing can sound less sophisticated. Opt for alternatives like "this was unforeseen" or "the outcome diverged from our projections" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we didn't expect that" functions as a declarative statement expressing surprise or lack of anticipation regarding a particular event or outcome. Ludwig examples confirm its use in diverse contexts to convey unexpectedness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we didn't expect that" is a common and grammatically sound way to express surprise or a lack of anticipation. As indicated by Ludwig, it is versatile and used across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and sports. While appropriate for both formal and informal settings, more sophisticated alternatives may be preferred in highly formal writing. Common errors involve overuse in professional writing, where other phrases may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we hadn't anticipated that

Emphasizes a failure to foresee or predict something.

that was unexpected

A more concise way to express surprise.

we were surprised by that

Highlights the feeling of surprise experienced.

we didn't foresee that

Focuses on the inability to see or predict the outcome.

that took us by surprise

Implies being caught off guard by an event.

we hadn't bargained for that

Suggests the outcome was more than anticipated or desired.

it was beyond our expectations

Indicates the result surpassed what was initially thought possible.

we were not prepared for that

Emphasizes a lack of readiness for a situation.

we were caught unawares

Highlights the sudden and unexpected nature of an event.

it never crossed our minds

Indicates a complete lack of consideration or anticipation.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "we didn't expect that"?

In formal contexts, you can use phrases like "this was unforeseen", "the outcome was unanticipated", or "the results diverged from our initial projections".

How can I use "we didn't expect that" in a sentence?

You can use "we didn't expect that" to express surprise or lack of anticipation about something. For example: "We didn't expect that the project would be completed so quickly".

Is "we didn't expect that" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we didn't expect that" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure and is widely used in both spoken and written language.

What can I say instead of "we didn't expect that" to emphasize surprise?

To emphasize surprise, you can use phrases like "that took us by surprise", "we were utterly astonished", or "that was completely unexpected".