Surprised vs Surprising: When To Use Each One In Writing

Are you often confused about when to use surprised vs surprising? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. These two words can be tricky to differentiate, but fear not, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between the two words and provide examples of when to use each one.

We should clarify which of the two is the proper word. Both surprised and surprising are correct words to use, but they have different meanings.

Surprised is an adjective that describes the feeling of astonishment or disbelief caused by something unexpected. For example, “I was surprised to receive a gift from my ex-boyfriend.”

Surprising, on the other hand, is the present participle of the verb surprise. It describes something that causes surprise or amazement. For example, “The magician’s trick was surprising.”

Now that we’ve established the difference between the two words, let’s dive into when to use each one.

Define Surprised

Surprised is an adjective that describes the feeling of being taken aback or caught off guard by something unexpected. It is a state of being astonished or shocked by an event, action, or statement that was not anticipated. The feeling of surprise can be positive or negative, depending on the context in which it occurs. For example, someone might feel pleasantly surprised by a thoughtful gesture, while feeling negatively surprised by a sudden change in plans.

Define Surprising

Surprising is an adjective that describes something that causes surprise or is unexpected. It is a state of being astonished or amazed by something that was not anticipated. The feeling of surprise can be positive or negative, depending on the context in which it occurs. For example, a surprising discovery might be exciting and positive, while a surprising event might be unsettling or even frightening.

Surprising can also be used as a verb, meaning to cause someone to feel surprised or astonished. For example, a magician might surprise his audience with a trick, or a friend might surprise another with a thoughtful gift.

How To Properly Use The Words In A Sentence

When it comes to writing, using the right words in the right context can make all the difference. The words “surprised” and “surprising” are often used interchangeably, but they actually have different meanings. In this section, we’ll go over how to properly use these words in a sentence.

How To Use “Surprised” In A Sentence

The word “surprised” is an adjective that describes the feeling of being taken aback or caught off guard. It is often used to describe a person’s emotional state after experiencing something unexpected.

Here are some examples of how to use “surprised” in a sentence:

• “I was surprised to see my old friend at the party.”
• “She was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful gift.”
• “The team was surprised by the sudden change in the game’s rules.”

As you can see from these examples, “surprised” is typically used to describe a person’s emotional response to something unexpected.

How To Use “Surprising” In A Sentence

The word “surprising” is an adjective that describes something that is unexpected or causes surprise. It is often used to describe an event or situation rather than a person’s emotional state.

Here are some examples of how to use “surprising” in a sentence:

• “It was surprising to see how quickly the team adapted to the new strategy.”
• “The survey revealed some surprising results.”
• “The movie had a surprising twist ending.”

As you can see from these examples, “surprising” is typically used to describe something that is unexpected or causes surprise.

More Examples Of Surprised & Surprising Used In Sentences

In this section, we will explore more examples of how to use “surprised” and “surprising” in a sentence. These examples will help you to understand the context in which these words are used and how they can be effectively incorporated into your writing.

Examples Of Using “Surprised” In A Sentence

• I was surprised to see him at the party last night.
• She was surprised by the sudden change in weather.
• He was surprised that he had won the competition.
• They were surprised to find out that the restaurant had closed down.
• She was surprised when he proposed to her on the beach.
• He was surprised that his boss had given him a promotion.
• The children were surprised by the magician’s tricks.
• She was surprised to learn that her favorite band was coming to town.
• He was surprised when he found out that he had been accepted into the university.
• They were surprised by the amount of traffic on the highway.

As you can see from the examples above, “surprised” is used to describe an unexpected event or occurrence that catches someone off guard. It is often used to convey a sense of shock or disbelief.

Examples Of Using “Surprising” In A Sentence

• It was surprising to see how much the company had grown in just a year.
• She found it surprising that he had never traveled outside of the country.
• The results of the study were surprising to the researchers.
• It was surprising to learn that the new restaurant had already received a Michelin star.
• He found it surprising that his son had become interested in classical music.
• The sudden surge in sales was surprising to everyone in the company.
• She found it surprising that her favorite book had been turned into a movie.
• The level of support from the community was surprising to the organizers of the event.
• He found it surprising that his old high school friend had become a successful entrepreneur.
• The amount of money raised for the charity was surprising to everyone involved.

“Surprising” is used to describe something that is unexpected or goes against what is commonly believed. It is often used to convey a sense of intrigue or fascination.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When it comes to using the words “surprised” and “surprising,” many people tend to interchange them without realizing that they have different meanings. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Using “Surprised” Instead Of “Surprising”

One common mistake is using “surprised” when you actually mean “surprising.” For example, saying “I was surprised to find out that it was raining” when you actually mean “It was surprising to find out that it was raining.” The former implies that you were caught off guard by the fact that it was raining, while the latter suggests that the fact itself was unexpected.

Using “Surprising” Instead Of “Surprised”

Conversely, another mistake is using “surprising” instead of “surprised.” For instance, saying “I was surprising to find out that it was raining” when you actually mean “It was surprising to find out that it was raining.” The former implies that you were the one doing the surprising, while the latter suggests that the fact itself was unexpected.

Using “Surprised” Or “Surprising” As Adverbs

Another common mistake is using “surprised” or “surprising” as adverbs instead of using the correct forms, which are “surprisedly” and “surprisingly.” For example, saying “He looked surprised at the news” when you actually mean “He looked surprisedly at the news.” Or saying “The results were surprising good” when you actually mean “The results were surprisingly good.”

Tips To Avoid These Mistakes

• Take the time to think about what you really mean before using “surprised” or “surprising.”
• Consider using synonyms or alternative phrasing to convey your intended meaning more accurately.
• Double-check your writing for errors before submitting or publishing it.

Context Matters

When it comes to choosing between the words “surprised” and “surprising,” context is key. Depending on the situation, one word may be more appropriate than the other. Here are some examples of different contexts and how the choice between “surprised” and “surprising” might change:

1. Personal Experience

When describing a personal experience, “surprised” is often the better choice. For example:

• “I was surprised to find out that my favorite band was playing in town.”
• “She was surprised when her boyfriend proposed.”

In these cases, the focus is on the individual’s reaction to the situation. They were caught off guard and didn’t expect the outcome.

2. Objective Observation

When making an objective observation, “surprising” is often the better choice. For example:

• “It’s surprising that the company hasn’t made any profits in the last quarter.”
• “The sudden change in weather was surprising.”

In these cases, the focus is on the situation itself, rather than the individual’s reaction to it. The outcome is unexpected or unusual.

3. Tone And Emphasis

The choice between “surprised” and “surprising” can also depend on the tone and emphasis of the sentence. For example:

• “I was surprised to hear that she got the job.”
• “It’s surprising that they haven’t fixed the problem yet.”

In the first sentence, the emphasis is on the individual’s reaction and the tone is more neutral. In the second sentence, the emphasis is on the situation and the tone is more critical or judgmental.

Overall, it’s important to consider the context in which these words are used in order to convey the intended meaning and tone.

Exceptions To The Rules

While the rules for using “surprised” and “surprising” are generally straightforward, there are some exceptions to keep in mind. Below are some cases where these rules might not apply:

1. Idiomatic Expressions

There are certain idiomatic expressions where “surprised” and “surprising” are used in a non-literal way. In these cases, the words might not follow the usual rules of grammar. Here are some examples:

Idiomatic Expression	Usage
Take someone by surprise	“Take” here is used as a phrasal verb, and “surprise” is a noun. The phrase means to catch someone off guard.
Surprise, surprise	This is a sarcastic expression used to indicate that something is not surprising at all.
Surprise attack	The word “surprise” in this phrase is used to describe the nature of the attack, not the reaction of the target.

2. Emphasis

Sometimes, writers might use “surprised” or “surprising” for emphasis, even if the usual rules don’t apply. For example:

• “I was surprised surprised when I heard the news.”
• “The most surprising surprising thing happened on my way to work.”

In these cases, the repetition of the word adds emphasis and intensity to the sentence.

3. Context

Finally, it’s important to remember that context plays a big role in determining whether to use “surprised” or “surprising.” Depending on the situation, either word might be appropriate. For example:

• “I was surprised to hear that he got the job.”
• “It’s not surprising that he got the job, given his qualifications.”

In the first sentence, “surprised” is used because the speaker didn’t expect the person to get the job. In the second sentence, “surprising” is used because the speaker is commenting on the person’s qualifications, not their own reaction.

Practice Exercises

One of the best ways to improve your understanding and use of surprised and surprising is through practice exercises. Here are some exercises to help you master the use of these words:

Exercise 1: Choose The Correct Word

Sentence	Correct Word
John was ___________ to see his old friend at the party.	surprised
The magician’s ___________ performance left the audience in awe.	surprising
The ___________ news of the day was the sudden resignation of the CEO.	surprising
The ___________ thing about the movie was the unexpected plot twist.	surprising
She was ___________ to find a diamond ring in the sand at the beach.	surprised

Answer Key:

• John was surprised to see his old friend at the party.
• The magician’s surprising performance left the audience in awe.
• The surprising news of the day was the sudden resignation of the CEO.
• The surprising thing about the movie was the unexpected plot twist.
• She was surprised to find a diamond ring in the sand at the beach.

Exercise 2: Write A Sentence Using Surprised

Write a sentence using the word surprised. Then, explain why you chose to use that word in your sentence.

Example: I was surprised to hear that my favorite band was coming to town next month. I chose to use the word surprised because it conveys my unexpected reaction to the news.

Exercise 3: Write A Sentence Using Surprising

Write a sentence using the word surprising. Then, explain why you chose to use that word in your sentence.

Example: It was surprising to learn that the new employee had already been promoted after only two months on the job. I chose to use the word surprising because it highlights the unexpected nature of the employee’s promotion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the difference between “surprised” and “surprising” is crucial for effective communication in the English language. Here are the key takeaways from this article:

Surprised

• “Surprised” is an adjective that describes the feeling of being caught off guard or taken aback.
• It is used to describe a person’s emotional state or reaction to a situation.
• It is often followed by the preposition “by” or “at”.
• Example: “I was surprised by the news.”

Surprising

• “Surprising” is an adjective that describes something that causes surprise or astonishment.
• It is used to describe the thing or situation that elicits a surprised reaction.
• It is often followed by the preposition “to” or “for”.
• Example: “The sudden rainstorm was surprising to everyone.”

By using “surprised” and “surprising” correctly, you can avoid confusion and convey your intended meaning clearly. Remember to pay attention to the context and use the appropriate word accordingly.

As with any aspect of language use, there is always more to learn. Keep exploring the nuances of grammar and vocabulary to improve your communication skills and express yourself more effectively.