Revelation vs Some surprise

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Revelation

Top 2,000 (common)C1noun

Some surprise

Top 2,000 (common)
 RevelationSome surprise
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌrevəˈleɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌrevəˈleɪʃn/"]/🇬🇧 //sʌm səˈpraɪz//🇺🇸 //sʌm səˈpraɪz//
MeaningA surprising idea or piece of information that you learn.A sudden and unexpected event or feeling.
ExampleThe scientist's discovery was a complete revelation that changed the field of genetics.I received some surprise gifts for my birthday!
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsamazing, astonishing, embarrassing, come as, prove, come, revelation about, revelation concerning, revelation for, amazing, astonishing, embarrassing, come as, prove, come, revelation about, revelation concerning, revelation forcreate some surprise, contain some surprise, experience some surprise
Antonymsconcealment, misunderstanding, obscurity-
Common mistakesConfused with 'revel' which means to enjoy something greatly., Using in informal contexts where a different word would be better, like 'surprise'.Confused with 'some surprises' for multiple events., Used when the surprise is negative; it's generally positive., Misused in overly formal contexts.
Usage notesUsed when discussing important discoveries or insights, often in religious and philosophical contexts. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing a significant realization.Use 'some surprise' in casual conversations to express mild astonishment. It is suitable for informal contexts but can be used in neutral settings.

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Revelation
Some surprise

Frequently asked questions: Revelation vs Some surprise

What's the difference between Revelation and Some surprise?

Revelation: A surprising idea or piece of information that you learn. Some surprise: A sudden and unexpected event or feeling.

Can you show an example of each?

Revelation: The scientist's discovery was a complete revelation that changed the field of genetics. Some surprise: I received some surprise gifts for my birthday!

Can I use Revelation and Some surprise interchangeably?

Not always. Revelation and Some surprise are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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