Let's be honest. You've probably used the word "interestingly" three times in your last email or blog post, and now it just looks... wrong. It’s a linguistic crutch. We use it when we’re trying to signal to the reader that a fact is worth their time, but often, it does the exact opposite. It’s filler. It’s the "um" of the written world.
If you are hunting for another word for interestingly, you’re likely hitting a wall where your prose feels flat. You want flavor. You want that specific zing that makes a reader lean in rather than scroll past. The reality is that "interestingly" is often a lazy way of saying, "I don't know how to transition this, so here is a signpost."
Stop using it. Well, mostly.
The English language is packed with nuanced alternatives that actually tell the reader why something matters, rather than just telling them that it should matter. Whether you're writing a technical report, a spicy Twitter thread, or a heartfelt letter, your choice of adverbs—or better yet, your choice to delete them—defines your voice.
The Problem with "Interestingly enough..."
Most people lead with "interestingly enough" because they feel a sudden burst of excitement about a data point. But here’s the catch: if the fact is actually interesting, you shouldn't have to announce it.
Think about the way we talk. You wouldn't walk up to a friend and say, "Interestingly, I saw a UFO." You’d just say, "You won't believe the weird light I saw in the sky!" Or maybe, "Oddly, the sky turned neon green for five seconds."
When we write, we get stiff. We lean on these formal adverbs that suck the life out of the room. Using another word for interestingly isn't just about swapping one word for another; it's about shifting the energy of your sentence.
When You Want to Highlight a Contradiction
Sometimes, we use "interestingly" when we actually mean that something is surprising or goes against the grain. In these cases, you want words that lean into the conflict.
Paradoxically is a heavy hitter. It’s great for when two things that shouldn't be true at the same time actually are. For example, "Paradoxically, the more choices we have, the less satisfied we become with our final decision." This is much stronger than saying "interestingly." It sets an intellectual tone. It promises a deep dive into human psychology.
Then there’s counterintuitively. This is the darling of the tech and science world. Use it when the result of an experiment or a business strategy is the opposite of what common sense would dictate. "Counterintuitively, lowering the price of the luxury watch actually decreased sales because it lost its status appeal."
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Ironically gets misused a lot (thanks, Alanis Morissette), but when used correctly, it’s a killer substitute. It implies a sense of fate or a reversal of expectations. If a fire station burns down, that’s ironic. It isn't just "interesting."
Words for the "Wait, What?" Moments
If you’re trying to capture that feeling of genuine surprise, you need words that have a bit more teeth.
- Remarkably: Use this when the sheer scale of something is impressive. "Remarkably, the team finished the three-month project in just six days."
- Curiously: This one is softer. It’s a bit more Sherlock Holmes. It suggests that there’s a mystery to be solved. "Curiously, the cat always hides exactly ten minutes before the mail arrives."
- Unusually: Simple. Effective. It marks a departure from the norm without being overly dramatic.
- Startlingly: This is for the big reveals. If a statistic is going to make someone drop their coffee, this is your word.
The Academic Trap: Formal Alternatives
If you are writing a thesis or a formal report, you might feel like "interestingly" is too casual. You're right. In these settings, you want to bridge the gap between "I found this in a book" and "This changes our entire hypothesis."
Notably is the gold standard here. It points a finger at a specific detail without adding too much emotional baggage. Significantly is even better if you have the data to back it up. In a scientific context, "significantly" usually implies statistical significance, so be careful with that one if you're just writing a casual essay.
Of particular interest is a phrase you’ll see in a lot of peer-reviewed journals. It’s a bit wordy, but it works when you need to slow the reader down and make them focus on a specific variable.
Honestly, though? Sometimes you just need to say observe. Instead of "Interestingly, the cells reacted to the light," try "We observed a rapid reaction in the cells when exposed to light." It's more direct. It's more professional. It gets out of the way.
Why Tone Matters More Than Your Thesaurus
You've probably noticed that some of these words feel "smarter" than others. That’s intentional. Your choice of another word for interestingly tells the reader who you are.
If you use intriguingly, you sound like a storyteller. It’s a word that lives in mystery novels and long-form journalism. It creates a sense of allure. It says, "I have a secret, and I'm about to let you in on it."
If you use peculiarly, you sound a bit more eccentric. It’s a great word for describing human behavior or strange coincidences that don't quite make sense.
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But what if you want to sound like a friend giving advice?
"Funny enough" or "The weird thing is" are perfectly acceptable in blog posts or emails. They break the "fourth wall" of writing. They make you feel human.
The Best Secret: Delete the Word Entirely
This is the expert move.
Most of the time, the word "interestingly" is a placeholder for a better sentence structure.
Original: "Interestingly, the city of Rome has more fountains than any other city in the world."
Revision: "Rome boasts more fountains than any other city on the planet."
See the difference? The second sentence is punchy. It doesn't tell you to be interested; it presents the fact with such confidence that you become interested. By removing the adverb, you force your verbs to do the heavy lifting. Strong verbs are the secret sauce of high-quality writing.
Specific Scenarios and What to Use
Let’s look at some real-world situations where you might be tempted to use "interestingly" and what you should actually type.
In a Business Meeting or Memo
You’re presenting a quarterly report. You see a dip in sales that actually led to higher profit margins.
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- Avoid: "Interestingly, our margins went up even though sales dropped."
- Try: "Crucially, we've seen a shift in our margins..." or "Tellingly, the data suggests..."
In a Travel Blog
You’re writing about a hidden alleyway in Kyoto.
- Avoid: "Interestingly, there’s a tiny shrine here that most tourists miss."
- Try: "Hidden away from the main thoroughfare lies a shrine..." or "Unexpectedly, the path opens up into a quiet courtyard..."
In a Personal Reflection
You’re writing about a realization you had during a long walk.
- Avoid: "Interestingly, I realized I don't actually like my job."
- Try: "It dawned on me..." or "A strange thought took root..."
A Note on "Fascinatingly"
Be careful with this one. "Fascinatingly" is "interestingly" on steroids. It’s a very high-energy word. If you use it to describe something that is only mildly interesting, you’ll lose your reader’s trust.
Reserve "fascinatingly" for things that are truly mind-blowing. The way octopuses use tools? Fascinating. The way a specific fungus can control the brains of ants? Fascinating. The fact that your neighbor bought a new lawnmower? Probably just "notably" or "unusually."
Why We Get Stuck on These Words
We are taught in school to use transition words. "First," "Second," "In conclusion," "Interestingly." These are like training wheels for kids learning to ride a bike. They help you stay upright while you're learning to balance a narrative.
But once you’re an expert writer, those training wheels just slow you down. They create friction between your idea and the reader’s brain.
When you find yourself reaching for another word for interestingly, take a second to ask: Why is this interesting?
- Is it because it’s a secret? (Use covertly or hidden away)
- Is it because it’s a lie? (Use deceptively)
- Is it because it’s lucky? (Use providentially or fortuitously)
- Is it because it’s weird? (Use bizarrely or eccentrically)
Actionable Steps to Improve Your Prose
Don't just read this and go back to your old habits. If you want to actually level up your writing and stop being "that person" who uses the same three adverbs, try this:
- Search and Destroy: Open your latest draft. Use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) and search for "interestingly."
- Evaluate the Fact: Look at the sentence. If the fact after the word is boring, delete the whole thing. If the fact is good, try to rewrite the sentence without the adverb.
- Choose a "Vibe": If you absolutely need a transition, pick a word that matches the tone. Use notably for facts, curiously for mysteries, and ironically for contradictions.
- Read Aloud: If you trip over the word while reading, your reader will too. If it sounds like you’re trying too hard to be an "author," cut it.
The goal of great writing isn't to show off your vocabulary. It's to communicate an idea as clearly and impactfully as possible. Sometimes that means using a better word. Most of the time, it means letting the facts speak for themselves.
The next time you’re about to type "interestingly," pause. Think about the energy you want to convey. Then, pick the word—or the silence—that fits.