Pronunciation: [ʃˈɒkɪŋ] (IPA) 
The word "shocking" is spelled with a combination of sounds, represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /ʃ/ for the "sh" sound, /ɒ/ for the short "o" sound, /k/ for the "k" sound, and /ɪŋ/ for the "-ing" ending. This word is often used to describe something that is surprising, appalling, or disturbing in some way. It is important to spell the word correctly in order to avoid confusion or misunderstandings when communicating in writing.
Shocking is an adjective that describes something that causes a strong feeling of surprise, disbelief, or outrage. It refers to an action, event, or situation that is so unexpected, unusual, or disturbing that it elicits a profound emotional response. This form of reaction may include astonishment, horror, or disgust.
When something is described as shocking, it implies that it exceeds the bounds of what is considered normal, appropriate, or morally acceptable. It typically involves an element of violation, either of social conventions, personal boundaries, ethical principles, or fundamental expectations. The degree of shock factor can vary from person to person, as different individuals have diverse sensibilities and thresholds for what they find shocking.
The term "shocking" can be applied to a wide range of situations, such as a sudden revelation, an unsettling disclosure, a disturbing act of violence, an unexpected turn of events, an outrageous statement, or an offensive behavior. It can refer to incidents on a personal level, within a community, or within the broader societal context.
The purpose of using "shocking" in describing such situations is to convey the intensity of the impact they have on individuals' sensibilities or the general public's perceptions. It reflects an extreme and often negative impression that disrupts one's mental or emotional equilibrium.
Overall, "shocking" characterizes events or actions that elicit an intense and often negative emotional response due to their unexpected, unconventional, or deeply disturbing nature.
Causing surprise or offence; striking, as with horror; highly offensive; appalling; terrible.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "shocking" originated from the Middle English term "shokken", which meant to strike or to collide with force. This Middle English term can be traced back to the Old English word "sceoccan", which had a similar meaning. The word eventually evolved to convey the sense of causing a sudden, intense, or unexpected reaction, particularly in terms of being offensive, scandalous, or morally unacceptable.
