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surprisingly humble

Well, it does make one think of that, but, actually, surprisingly humble means nothing more than the fact that he is a humble person, a fact that's amazing to us, given his scholarly background.
Being a well-known scientist, he is .




I'd like to make sure if "surprisingly" here refers to "extremely." Thanks.

Not really.
.
.........surprisingly humble--He surprises us because..........
..........extremely humble--He's very humble...........
Being a well-known scientist, he is .




I'd like to make sure if "surprisingly" here refers to "extremely." Thanks.

Your sentence suggests that all well-known scientists are surprisingly humble, Quiet One. I'm not certain that's what you are meaning to say.

For a well-known scientist, he is surprisingly humble would make more sense - and that suggests that one wouldn't expect a well-known scientist to be humble. Changing surprisingly to extremely doesn't stop one being surprised, though it does accentuate his humility.
Your sentence suggests that all well-known scientists are surprisingly humble, Quiet One. I'm not certain that's what you are meaning to say.

For a well-known scientist, he is surprisingly humble would make more sense - and that suggests that one wouldn't expect a well-known scientist to be humble. Changing surprisingly to extremely doesn't stop one being surprised, though it does accentuate his humility.

But I suppose if this is a sentence in the middle of an article about a particular scientist, we won't have this confusion anymore.
But I suppose if this is a sentence in the middle of an article about a particular scientist, we won't have this confusion anymore.
Nichec, your post is so subtle it's got me confused, even knowing you as I do.


Being a well-known scientist, he is .

implies that well-known scientists are surprisingly humble.

Just as:

Being a frog, he has webbed feet

implies that frogs have webbed feet.

I must have missed a point somewhere, again.
Being a well-known scientist, he is .

implies that well-known scientists are surprisingly humble.

I missed that last time... I feel ashamed. I understand what you're saying and you're completely right.
Nichec, your post is so subtle it's got me confused, even knowing you as I do.


Being a well-known scientist, he is .

implies that well-known scientists are surprisingly humble.

Just as:

Being a frog, he has webbed feet

implies that frogs have webbed feet.

I must have missed a point somewhere, again.

I understand your point, TT.

But imagine that we are reading an article about a certain famous scientist:

--The interview took place in his house........He kindly prepared hot tea and........What I admire most about him is that being a well-known scientists, he's surprisingly humble.

I suppose in this case, we won't read it as a trait of all famous scientists, but rather a virtue he possesses.
I understand your point, TT.

But imagine that we are reading an article about a certain famous scientist:

--The interview took place in his house........He kindly prepared hot tea and........What I admire most about him is that being a well-known scientists, he's surprisingly humble.

I suppose in this case, we won't read it as a trait of all famous scientists, but rather a virtue he possesses.

Nichec, your suggestion makes perfect sense, if only you add something to it to make the contrast. Otherwise, it's the same as before.

What I admire most about him is that despite being a well-known scientist, he's surprisingly humble.
Nichec, your suggestion makes perfect sense, if only you add something to it to make the contrast. Otherwise, it's the same as before.

What I admire most about him is that despite being a well-known scientist, he's surprisingly humble.

Okay, I am not trying to be fussy here, but what about:

--.........He's surprisingly humble, being a well-known scientist as he is.

The effect is still there?
Okay, I am not trying to be fussy here, but what about:

--.........He's surprisingly humble, being a well-known scientist as he is.

The effect is still there?
We've gone full circle. To me the normal way of saying this in BE is:

For a well-known scientist, he is surprisingly humble.
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