How wonderful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "How wonderful" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express admiration or delight about something. Example: "How wonderful it is to see everyone gathered here today!" Alternative expressions include "What a delight" and "How amazing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

How wonderful.

The New York Times

"How wonderful," Stoppard said.

The New Yorker

How wonderful, I also thought.

The New York Times - Arts

How wonderful for the Syrians.

The New Yorker

How wonderful is that?

The New York Times

How wonderful for you.

The New Yorker

How wonderful that would be".

The New York Times

How wonderful that will be.

The Guardian - Books

How wonderful, wonderful is that?

The Guardian - Travel

How wonderful it will be!

The Guardian - Books

"How wonderful!" said the matron.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with a specific detail (e.g., "How wonderful to see you again") to make the sentiment feel more personalized and less like a cliché.

Common error

Avoid using "How wonderful" in purely objective or data-driven reports. While it is acceptable in narrative journalism, it can come across as biased or unprofessional in scientific abstracts or legal documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "How wonderful" primarily functions as an exclamatory adjective phrase. It is used to express an intense positive emotion or reaction to a stimulus. According to Ludwig, it often appears as an interjection in dialogue or as a reflective comment in narrative prose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "How wonderful" is a robust and highly effective phrase for expressing sincere admiration. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across major publications, highlighting its role as a key social lubricant in English conversation. While it is universally understood and grammatically flawless, writers should use it strategically to ensure its emotive power is not diluted by overuse. It is best reserved for moments of genuine enthusiasm or as a polite, affirmative response in high-quality prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

How marvelous

Adds a slightly more sophisticated or traditional tone to the exclamation.

What a delight

Focuses more on the personal sense of pleasure derived from a situation.

How splendid

Carries a British or old-fashioned elegance in its expression of approval.

How lovely

Often used for aesthetic appreciation or social pleasantries.

That is fantastic

Uses a standard subject-verb structure for a more direct statement.

What a joy

Specifically highlights the happiness caused by the event or person.

How truly great

Adds an intensifying adverb to reinforce the sincerity of the feeling.

How extraordinary

Implies that the situation is not just good but also rare or unusual.

Simply amazing

Emphasizes the sheer scale of the positive quality being observed.

How pleasant

A more understated version of the phrase, suitable for milder news.

FAQs

How do I use "How wonderful" in a sentence?

You can use it as a standalone exclamation to react to news, or as part of a larger sentence such as "how wonderful it is to have you here."

What can I say instead of "How wonderful"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "how marvelous", "what a delight", or "how fantastic".

Is "How wonderful" considered formal English?

It is grammatically correct for all levels of English, but it is most frequently used in Neutral or Informal registers. It is common in polite social correspondence and literature.

What is the difference between "How wonderful" and "How nice"?

"How wonderful" expresses a stronger, more enthusiastic degree of admiration compared to "how nice", which is often seen as a polite but more casual acknowledgement.