who would expect

USAGE SUMMARY

"who would expect" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to introduce an unexpected or surprising event or situation. For example: "Who would expect to find a beach in the middle of the desert?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Who would expect the Embassy of Cambodia?

The Guardian - Books

Who would expect anything else from her?

The Guardian - Film

During an election campaign, who would expect anything else?

The New Yorker

Who would expect to find that wine here?

The New York Times - Style

By Zadie Smith Who would expect the Embassy of Cambodia?

The New Yorker

Who would expect a solipsistic memoirist to bother?

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

There's nobody in my life who'd expect me to wait until you're married to have sex.

Vice

It was in the fifties, however, that many middle-class women who'd expected to live out their lives as wives and mothers found these expectations radically changed.

The New Yorker

But the people who'd expected him to fulfill all his promise still have plenty of reason to be disappointed.

The New Yorker

Retail sale volumes fell by 0.7% in October, surprising analysts who'd expected that sales would have been flat compared with September.

The Guardian - Business

A lot of Americans who'd expected to be worth $5 million are no closer to it in 2011 than they were in 2001.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "who would expect" to introduce a statement that contrasts with common assumptions or prior beliefs, creating emphasis on the surprising nature of an event or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "who would expect" when referring to something that is generally considered normal or predictable within a specific context. The phrase is most effective when highlighting genuine surprise or deviation from the norm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "who would expect" functions as an interrogative expression used rhetorically to introduce an element of surprise or disbelief. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "who would expect" is a versatile interrogative expression employed to highlight unexpected or surprising events. Grammatically sound and common across various sources, particularly news and media, it effectively emphasizes the improbable nature of situations, inviting shared surprise. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. When using this phrase, remember to align it with genuinely surprising contexts and consider alternatives to better suit the tone and perspective of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who could anticipate

Replaces "expect" with "anticipate", suggesting a slightly more proactive consideration of possibilities.

who might foresee

Substitutes "expect" with "foresee", emphasizing the ability to predict future events.

who could have predicted

Shifts the focus to past prediction, implying that the event was essentially unpredictable.

who would have imagined

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the event, highlighting the lack of prior anticipation.

what could one anticipate

Uses a more formal tone and broadens the perspective to anyone.

what could anyone foresee

Emphasizes the unforeseen nature of an event from a broader perspective.

who would have thought

A more informal way of expressing surprise at an unexpected outcome.

what's imaginable

Alternative that questions the limits of imagination regarding an event.

who amongst us would assume

Suggests that no one would naturally assume something given the circumstances.

what is conceivable

Alternative that wonders what is possible to believe or imagine.

FAQs

How can I use "who would expect" in a sentence?

Use "who would expect" to introduce something surprising or unexpected, for example, "Who would expect such a rich wine list in a bistro?".

What are some alternatives to "who would expect"?

You can use alternatives such as "who could anticipate", "who might foresee", or "who could have predicted" depending on the context.

Is "who would expect" a formal or informal phrase?

"Who would expect" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more commonly found in news articles, opinion pieces, and general discussions.

What's the difference between "who would expect" and "what could one anticipate"?

"Who would expect" generally implies surprise from a personal or collective viewpoint, while "what could one anticipate" suggests a broader, more analytical perspective on foreseeability.