I humbly accept

USAGE SUMMARY

"I humbly accept" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are accepting something in a respectful or submissive manner. For example, "I humbly accept your invitation to the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I humbly accept this award".

The Guardian - Film

"I humbly accept the voting result," Mr. Oh said.

The New York Times

Ms. Na acknowledged her defeat: "I humbly accept the citizens' will reflected in the poll".

The New York Times

"By electing me to preside over this august body, with full knowledge of the onerous responsibility that lies ahead, I humbly accept your collective decision," Mugabe told the AU summit in Addis Ababa.

The Guardian

"I humbly accept it," he told the media arm of the Nobel Foundation in a telephone interview today.

Science Magazine

"As the mayor of Florida's capital city, I humbly accept the Democratic nomination".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Most of them are very understanding and willing to help out (once, a female care-aid even offered to give me a hand job, which I humbly accepted), but I understand that everyone has different morals and personal boundaries and would never ask a care-aid to do anything he or she isn't comfortable with.

Vice

I very humbly accept the invitation.

Huffington Post

And no, I'm not being endorsed by the Glasgow Tourist Board but, FYI, if anyone does want to spot me a lifetime membership to the National Trust, I will humbly accept.

Vice

Our wager: Should the Suns prevail, we will humbly accept ownership of "American's Toughest Sheriff," Joe Arpaio, Sheriff of Maricopa County.

The New York Times

"We humbly accept the advice that has been offered to us and we will make efforts to ensure that we do not have another scandal like this".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I humbly accept" when you want to express acceptance with a sense of respect, gratitude, and acknowledgement of the honor or responsibility involved. It's particularly effective in formal speeches, acceptance letters, and situations where humility is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "I humbly accept" in casual conversations or informal emails. Its formality can sound overly stiff or insincere in relaxed settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "Thanks, I'll take it" or "Sounds good" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I humbly accept" functions as a performative utterance, meaning that the act of saying it performs the action of acceptance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and examples show it commonly used when formally acknowledging an honor, responsibility, or decision.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

23%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I humbly accept" is a grammatically correct expression used to formally and respectfully convey acceptance, often with a sense of gratitude and responsibility. According to Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for various contexts, though most frequently found in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. It's best practice to reserve this phrase for formal occasions and avoid overusing it in casual settings where simpler alternatives would be more appropriate. When employed correctly, "I humbly accept" effectively communicates deference and acknowledgement, aligning with its intended purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I gratefully accept

Emphasizes gratitude in accepting.

I respectfully accept

Highlights respect in accepting.

I gladly accept

Indicates enthusiasm in accepting.

I willingly accept

Stresses willingness in accepting.

I gratefully receive

Focuses on the act of receiving with gratitude.

I acknowledge and accept

Emphasizes acknowledgement before acceptance.

I concede and accept

Suggests acceptance after some deliberation or disagreement.

I take it with gratitude

Expresses acceptance by focusing on taking with gratitude.

I embrace this with humility

Uses a more figurative language to convey acceptance with humility.

I submit to this decision

Highlights submission and acceptance of a decision.

FAQs

How can I use "I humbly accept" in a sentence?

You can use "I humbly accept" to express your acceptance of an award, nomination, responsibility, or invitation with a sense of respect and gratitude. For example, "As mayor of this city, "I humbly accept" the responsibility to lead our community forward."

What are some alternatives to "I humbly accept"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "I gratefully accept", "I gladly accept", or "I respectfully accept" to convey acceptance with varying degrees of enthusiasm or formality.

In what situations is it most appropriate to use "I humbly accept"?

"I humbly accept" is best suited for formal occasions, such as award ceremonies, official announcements, or when acknowledging a significant honor or responsibility. It conveys a sense of deference and appreciation.

Is "I humbly accept" always necessary, or are there times when a simpler expression is better?

While "I humbly accept" can be appropriate in formal settings, a simpler expression like "Thank you, I accept" or "I accept with gratitude" may be more suitable for less formal situations. Using "I humbly accept" in everyday conversations could sound unnatural or insincere.