which surprised me

USAGE SUMMARY

'which surprised me' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a preceding statement or action that was unexpected. For example: I received a promotion at work, which surprised me.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She looked surprised, which surprised me.

Vice

He agreed, which surprised me.

The New Yorker

He gave up against me in Miami, which surprised me.

Independent

There was a gentleness to Ratzinger's character which surprised me.

The Guardian

This took more than an hour, which surprised me.

The New York Times

There are no voice-overs, flashbacks, or interior monologues, which surprised me at first.

The New Yorker

Which surprised me, because he wasn't talking a lot by then.

The New York Times

"I was a naysayer," he said, "but they are buying the actual devices, which surprised me".

The New York Times - Books

He said it didn't matter, which surprised me, given his homage to Yvor Winters.

The New Yorker

"He'd just gone to look at lawn furniture, which surprised me.

The New York Times

Working outdoors has given me a bigger appreciation of the rain, which surprised me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which surprised me" to add a personal reaction to a preceding statement, making your writing more engaging and relatable.

Common error

Avoid using "which surprised me" excessively in a single piece of writing. Vary your expressions to maintain reader interest and avoid sounding repetitive. Consider alternatives like "which astonished me" or "that was unexpected".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which surprised me" functions as a nonrestrictive relative clause, providing additional commentary or reaction to the main clause. It adds a personal perspective, indicating that the preceding event or statement was unexpected from the speaker's point of view, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which surprised me" is a grammatically sound and frequently used relative clause expressing personal surprise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to add a personal commentary to a statement. Its neutral tone makes it suitable across varied contexts, though most often found in news and media sources. While versatile, remember to use it judiciously to avoid repetition, opting for alternatives such as "which astonished me" or "that was unexpected" where appropriate. Given its prevalence, mastering its correct usage is beneficial for clear and engaging communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which astonished me

Emphasizes a stronger sense of wonder and disbelief than the original phrase.

which amazed me

Highlights the feeling of being greatly impressed or delighted.

which shocked me

Indicates a sudden and often unpleasant surprise.

which baffled me

Suggests a state of confusion and inability to understand.

which perplexed me

Similar to baffled, but implies a more thoughtful attempt to comprehend.

which caught me off guard

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the event, leaving one unprepared.

which took me by surprise

Highlights the sudden and unexpected nature of the event.

that was unexpected

A more direct and concise way of expressing surprise.

I didn't anticipate that

Indicates a lack of prior expectation or foresight.

that was quite a revelation

Implies the surprising event uncovered something previously unknown.

FAQs

How can I use "which surprised me" in a sentence?

Use "which surprised me" to express your reaction to something unexpected. For example: "The project was approved, "which surprised me"."

What are some alternatives to "which surprised me"?

Alternatives include "which astonished me", "which amazed me", or "that was unexpected", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "which surprised me"?

No, "which surprised me" is a relative clause and should be used to add information to a preceding clause, not to begin a sentence.

What's the difference between "which surprised me" and "that surprised me"?

"Which surprised me" is a non-restrictive clause, adding extra information. "That surprised me" is a restrictive clause, essential to the meaning of the sentence. In practice, ""which surprised me"" is far more common and often preferred for expressing personal surprise.