with surprising speed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with surprising speed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action or event that occurs faster than expected. Example: "The project was completed with surprising speed, impressing all the stakeholders involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That was all upended with surprising speed.

The New York Times

She moved awkwardly but with surprising speed.

The New Yorker

It did so with surprising speed.

The New York Times

It is a market that has blossomed with surprising speed.

The New York Times

"The Constant Gardener" was published with surprising speed.

The New York Times - Books

The final cow, apparently reluctant to leave her transport, finally comes out with surprising speed.

The Guardian

Often with surprising speed, charity groups are organizing and making decisions on their own.

The New York Times

But beyond the talk, the relationship is already changing with surprising speed.

The New York Times

The artist whipped around with surprising speed, and bit the child on the wrist.

The Guardian - Arts

In fact, relations did normalise with surprising speed after Turkey apologised for the incident.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Islamist fighters have taken control of northern Mali with surprising speed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with surprising speed" to emphasize that an action or development occurred faster than anticipated, often highlighting an unexpected or impressive outcome. For instance, "The company adapted to the new market conditions with surprising speed, gaining a competitive advantage."

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing where more precise language might be preferred. Consider stronger alternatives like "expeditiously" or "rapidly" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with surprising speed" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to describe the manner in which an action is performed. It emphasizes that the action occurs at a pace that is unexpected or remarkable. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "with surprising speed" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize that an action or event occurred more quickly than anticipated. Grammatically sound and widely accepted, as Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly found in news, media, and even academic contexts. When writing, remember to use it to highlight the unexpected nature of speed and consider stronger synonyms like "expeditiously" or "rapidly" in formal settings. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, you can effectively convey both speed and surprise in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpectedly fast

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the speed, simplifying the original phrase.

at an unexpected pace

Replaces "speed" with "pace", emphasizing the rate of progress rather than sheer velocity.

with remarkable quickness

Substitutes "surprising" with "remarkable" and "speed" with "quickness", highlighting the noteworthiness of the rapidity.

at a startling rate

Emphasizes the alarming or astonishing nature of the speed.

with unforeseen velocity

Uses more formal language ("unforeseen", "velocity") to convey unexpected speed.

more quickly than anticipated

Directly contrasts the actual speed with what was expected.

to rapid surprise

Inverts the structure to place emphasis on the surprise element linked to the rapidity.

expeditiously and unexpectedly

Combines the notions of efficiency and unexpectedness in the manner of execution.

in surprisingly little time

Highlights that the duration was shorter than expected, implying speed.

swiftly beyond expectation

Focuses on the swiftness exceeding what was anticipated.

FAQs

How can I use "with surprising speed" in a sentence?

You can use "with surprising speed" to describe an action or event that happens faster than expected. For example, "The construction of the bridge was completed "with surprising speed", much to the delight of the local community."

What phrases are similar to "with surprising speed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "unexpectedly fast", "at an unexpected pace", or "with remarkable quickness", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "with surprising speed" or "surprisingly fast"?

Both "with surprising speed" and "surprisingly fast" are grammatically correct, but they function differently in a sentence. "With surprising speed" is a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, while "surprisingly fast" is an adverbial phrase that can modify a verb or adjective. The best choice depends on the sentence structure and emphasis you want to create.

What's the difference between "with surprising speed" and "with great speed"?

"With great speed" simply indicates that something happened very quickly. "With surprising speed", on the other hand, emphasizes that the speed was unexpected or remarkable. The latter carries an element of astonishment or disbelief that the former lacks.