I highly recommend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I highly recommend" is correct and can be used in written English
You can use it to express that you have a strongly positive opinion of something or someone. For example, you can say: "I highly recommend this restaurant; their food is delicious!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I highly recommend both.

The Guardian - Books

"And I highly recommend it".

The New York Times

"I highly recommend marriage," Sharansky said, dryly.

The New Yorker

I highly recommend it for elementary classrooms.

The New York Times

"I highly recommend it," he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

I highly recommend checking it out.

The New Yorker

I highly recommend it to you.

The Guardian

I highly recommend their gumbos, bisques and fried shrimp.

The New York Times - Travel

I highly recommend Hovenweep National Monument in southwest Colorado.

The Guardian - Travel

I highly recommend this Carnegie-prize winning book.

The Guardian

"I highly recommend Dylan's Bootleg Tapes," she says.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I highly recommend" to clearly and confidently express your positive opinion or endorsement of something. Make sure your recommendation is genuine and based on experience or knowledge.

Common error

Avoid repeating "I highly recommend" excessively in a single piece of writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "I strongly suggest", "I wholeheartedly endorse", or "I can't recommend it enough" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I highly recommend" functions as a performative utterance, expressing a strong positive assessment and actively endorsing a product, service, or action. Ludwig shows the expression being used to emphatically suggest something to the audience.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I highly recommend" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey strong endorsement. According to Ludwig, this phrase is widely accepted and used in various contexts, predominantly in news media and business communications. To avoid redundancy, consider using alternatives like "I strongly suggest" or "I wholeheartedly endorse". The phrase's directness makes it suitable for expressing confidence in a recommendation, though awareness of the audience and context is important to maintain the appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I strongly suggest

Replaces "highly recommend" with "strongly suggest", altering the intensity of the recommendation slightly.

I can't recommend it enough

Emphasizes the strength of the recommendation by stating its limitlessness.

I give it my highest recommendation

Rephrases the recommendation as a direct statement of endorsement.

I wholeheartedly endorse

Uses a more formal and emphatic verb, "endorse", to convey strong support.

I advocate for

Implies active support and promotion of the recommended item or action.

I vouch for

Indicates personal assurance of the quality or reliability of something.

I urge you to consider

Shifts the focus to urging the listener or reader to take the recommendation seriously.

I advise you to

Offers the recommendation as advice, suggesting a beneficial course of action.

I'm a big fan of

Expresses enthusiasm and personal liking, implying a strong recommendation.

I'm convinced that you'll love it

Communicates a high degree of confidence that the recipient will appreciate the recommendation.

FAQs

How can I use "I highly recommend" in a sentence?

Use "I highly recommend" to express strong approval or endorsement. For example, "I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history" or "I highly recommend trying the seafood at that restaurant".

What are some alternatives to "I highly recommend"?

You can use alternatives like "I strongly suggest", "I wholeheartedly endorse", or "I can't recommend it enough" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "I highly recommend" in formal writing?

Yes, "I highly recommend" is generally appropriate in formal writing, especially in recommendation letters or reports. However, consider the audience and choose the most suitable alternative if a more formal tone is required.

What's the difference between "I recommend" and "I highly recommend"?

"I recommend" is a general endorsement, while "I highly recommend" expresses a stronger level of approval. The addition of "highly" emphasizes the positive opinion and encourages the recipient to take the recommendation more seriously.