which shocked me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which shocked me" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong emotional reaction to something surprising or unexpected that has been mentioned previously. Example: "The news of the sudden resignation of the CEO was unexpected, which shocked me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

He was crying, which shocked me.

University of California, Berkeley

There was a mirror above the bed, which shocked me further".

Independent

Certain friends, including Heath, had come to regard him as a phoney, which shocked me.

The Guardian - Books

"My pastor called me at almost midnight, which shocked me," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

David said to me he wanted to make hits, which shocked me, as he hadn't had platinum singles.

Independent

Auster is 70 in 2017, which shocked me rather – I still think of him as a sprightly iconoclast.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"And anyway, I've heard that in the architecture field, our company actually pays generously compared with lots of other companies, which shocks me a bit.

The Guardian

It is written in Jamaican patois, which is in keeping with the author's daring use of vernacular – his last novel, The Book of Night Women, which shocked and thrilled me in equal measure to this when I read and reviewed it in 2009 – was told in the patois of an 18th century Jamaican slave girl.

Independent

It was a very good film that we gave the Palme d'Or to but it wasn't unanimous, which shocked and surprised me.

BBC

Most of the luxury brands have a 4,000% mark up – which really shocked me.

The Guardian

I found that what helped me the most which totally shocked me, the Dr. asked me how much dairy I was using, at the time I used between 14 and 16 pounds of butter each month.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase "which shocked me" introduces a relative clause that provides additional information. Ensure that it follows a main clause that provides the context for what caused the shock. For instance, "The sudden announcement of the company's bankruptcy, which shocked me, left many employees in disbelief."

Common error

Avoid placing a comma before "which" when it introduces essential information. If the "which" clause is necessary to the meaning of the sentence, don't set it off with commas. Otherwise, it could confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which shocked me" functions as a nonrestrictive relative clause, providing additional information about a preceding noun or clause. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which shocked me" is a relative clause used to express surprise or disbelief, as validated by Ludwig. It's grammatically correct and most commonly found in News & Media contexts, with neutral formality. To enhance your writing, ensure the context is clear and the connection to the preceding clause is well-defined. While there are numerous alternatives to convey similar meanings, consider the specific nuance you want to express, such as sudden surprise ("that startled me") or great astonishment ("it astonished me").

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this came as a shock

Uses "shock" as a noun, emphasizing the impact of the surprise.

that startled me

Uses "startled" to emphasize a sudden surprise.

it took me aback

Indicates a feeling of being caught off guard.

it astonished me

Employs "astonished" to convey a feeling of great surprise and wonder.

I was taken by surprise

Focuses on the action of being surprised, rather than the feeling.

this surprised me greatly

Adds "greatly" to intensify the feeling of surprise.

I found that surprising

Uses a more detached and evaluative tone.

it left me speechless

Emphasizes the inability to speak due to surprise.

that was a revelation

Highlights the revealing or enlightening aspect of the surprise.

that blew my mind

An informal expression of being overwhelmed by surprise.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "which shocked me" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, you can use phrases like "that astonished me", "which caused considerable surprise", or "that came as a considerable shock" for a more elevated tone.

Is it always necessary to use a comma before "which shocked me"?

A comma is typically used before "which" when it introduces a nonrestrictive clause—one that adds extra information but isn't essential to the sentence's meaning. If the clause is essential, the comma should be omitted.

What are some less formal alternatives to "which shocked me"?

For less formal situations, consider using phrases like "that blew my mind", "that really surprised me", or "that floored me". These convey surprise in a more casual way.

How does the meaning change if I use "that shocked me" instead of "which shocked me"?

Using "that shocked me" implies that the information following "that" is essential to understanding what you're referring to. "Which shocked me", on the other hand, suggests the information is additional and not crucial. Although, it is generally considered non-standard.