I was luckily able

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was luckily able" is not standard in written English; it would be more appropriate to say "I was able to" or "I was fortunate to be able to." You can use it when you want to express that you were fortunate to have the ability to do something, but it is better to rephrase it for clarity.
Example: "I was luckily able to find a last-minute ticket to the concert."

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He added: "I was luckily able to keep going, but it was too late to save my race and any chance of points.

BBC

Sadly, a turbulent winter ocean and swift currents rendered Forvik off limits, but I was luckily able to meet "Acting First Minister" Hill the following morning at a sparsely-populated community center café in Lerwick.

Vice

Sadly, a turbulent winter ocean and swift currents rendered Forvik off limits, but I was luckily able to meet "Acting First Minister" Hill the following morning at a sparsely-populated community centre café in Lerwick.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Luckily, I was still able to make it out.

The New York Times

"Luckily I was just able to make that putt at the end when I needed it".

The Guardian - Sport

Luckily, I was always able to find some here and there.

The Washington Post

She had to scramble to keep up, an experience she likens to her character's predicament: "When Claire gets thrown back, she's completely clueless and it's all brand new for her, so luckily I was just able to discover things as I went along".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Luckily I was recently able to chat with RJ Mitte, who plays Walter's son Walt Jr., about what to expect from the final season and what his six years on this show has been like for him.

Huffington Post

Luckily, I was able to make some big putts".

The New York Times - Sports

Luckily I was able to escape what is often, tragically, inescapable.

The New Yorker

Luckily I was able to get back to Aberdeen that night.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For greater clarity and conciseness, consider using "I was able to" or "Fortunately, I was able to" instead of "I was luckily able".

Common error

Avoid using both "luckily" and "able" together, as "able" already implies the capacity to do something. Choose one or the other for a more streamlined sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was luckily able" functions as an introductory adverbial phrase followed by a verb phrase. It modifies the action, indicating that the ability to perform the action was, to some extent, due to luck. As Ludwig /s/aiResponseStatus indicates, it's a redundant expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "I was luckily able" is a less common and somewhat redundant expression. Ludwig AI /s/aiResponseStatus and usage examples suggest that alternatives such as "I was able to" or "Fortunately, I was able to" are often clearer and more concise. The phrase appears infrequently across various source types, including news and academic contexts. Therefore, consider these alternative phrasings for improved stylistic effectiveness. Always check the tone that you are trying to convey, there might be better choices that will lead to better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was able to

A more direct and concise way of expressing the ability to do something.

Fortunately, I could

Shifts the emphasis to the fortunate circumstance rather than the ability itself.

I was fortunate enough to be able to

Adds emphasis on being fortunate, suggesting an element of chance or good luck.

It was lucky that I could

Highlights the element of luck and possibility.

I had the good fortune to be able to

Similar to 'fortunate enough', but slightly more formal and emphatic about the luck involved.

As luck would have it, I was able to

Explicitly attributes the ability to luck or chance.

I was in a position to

Focuses on having the right circumstances or conditions to do something.

I had the opportunity to

Highlights the presence of an opportunity to perform an action.

I managed to

Emphasizes the successful completion of an action, often overcoming some difficulty.

I was successful in

Highlights the success aspect of completing an action.

FAQs

What's a more concise way to say "I was luckily able"?

You can use the shorter and more common phrase "I was able to" or "Fortunately, I was able to". For example, instead of "I was luckily able to find a ticket", say "I was able to find a ticket".

Is "I was luckily able" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "I was luckily able" is considered less stylistically refined. Ludwig /s/aiResponseStatus indicates that it is more common to say "I was able to" or rephrase for better clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "I was luckily able"?

You can use "I was luckily able" when you want to emphasize the role of luck in your ability to do something. However, consider whether simply saying "I was able to" or "Fortunately, /s/I+was+able to" would be more effective.

What are some alternatives to "I was luckily able"?

Consider alternatives such as "I was fortunate enough to be able to", "I had the opportunity to", or "/s/Fortunately+I+could depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.