a point of congratulating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a point of congratulating" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers. Example: "At this moment, we have reached a point of congratulating our team for their hard work and dedication."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Mourinho made a point of congratulating Schürrle's contribution.

The Guardian - Sport

Good managers periodically remind the team of what they stand to gain from the accomplishment, hold meetings to give feedback and to stimulate pride in the project, and make a point of congratulating each staff member individually.

Harvard Business Review

After their rescue, Mr. Bush made a point of congratulating them in person -- and Michael Novak, writing in National Review Online, declared Somerset, Pa., the "conservative capital of the world".

The New York Times

Well behaved is not generally a description that fits McEnroe, but he did avoid international incident, created no scenes here with linesmen or umpires and made a point of congratulating the Spanish players after every depressing match.

The New York Times - Sports

"I have tremendous respect for him as a personality and as a player," Schweinsteiger told the Guardian last October, noting that the now former Chelsea stalwart had made a point of congratulating him for winning the 2013 Champions League at Wembley.

The Guardian - Sport

It was therefore not surprising that on his arrival in East Timor on Sunday, Major-General Peter Cosgove, the Australian commander of the UN force, made a point of congratulating the Indonesian military for its 'first class' assistance and offered reassurances that his job was not to 'disarm the militias'.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Limbaugh made a point of not congratulating Obama for his own bold act of leadership.

HuffPost

That said, Chris Paul and the entire team showed class in the end by making a point of going up to Houston players and congratulating them.

Los Angeles Times

When I declined, he congratulated me and made a point of sending me two opening-night tickets to all of the shows I had in production.

The New York Times

And within an hour of the victory, some of the army's most senior officers had congratulated her, and Stanning had made a point of thanking the troops who have been supporting her from Camp Bastion in Helmand.

The Guardian - Sport

But in congratulating Mr. Fletcher, Ed Gillespie, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, made a point of recognizing Republican superiority, saying the victory "brought together the winning combination of a great candidate, an excellent ground game and a positive message".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing the phrase "a point of congratulating" with clearer alternatives such as "a moment to congratulate" or "an opportunity to congratulate" for improved clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a point of congratulating" in formal writing. It sounds unnatural. Instead, opt for smoother and more conventional phrasing to ensure your message is well-received.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a point of congratulating" functions as a noun phrase, attempting to identify a specific moment or reason for offering congratulations. However, it is an unusual and somewhat awkward construction, as noted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a point of congratulating" is technically understandable, Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect in standard written English. More direct and common alternatives such as "a moment to congratulate" or "an opportunity to congratulate" offer improved clarity and are preferred in both formal and informal contexts. Analysis of example usages indicate it is mostly used in News & Media, Wiki, and Science. Therefore, opting for more conventional expressions enhances the overall quality and impact of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A moment to congratulate

Replaces the generic 'point' with a specific 'moment', focusing on the timing of the congratulation.

An opportunity to congratulate

Substitutes 'point' with 'opportunity', emphasizing the chance to express congratulations.

Making a point to congratulate

Adds 'making', highlighting intention or deliberate action in congratulating.

Taking the time to congratulate

Replaces 'point' with 'time', stressing the effort invested in congratulating someone.

Expressing congratulations

Shifts from the 'point' concept to the direct action of 'expressing', making it more formal.

Offering congratulations

Similar to 'expressing', but with a nuance of bestowing or giving congratulations.

Extending congratulations

A more formal way of offering congratulations, implying a broader or more heartfelt sentiment.

Passing on congratulations

Suggests conveying congratulations from oneself or another party.

Sending congratulations

Emphasizes the act of transmitting congratulations, often from a distance or through a medium.

Wishes to congratulate

Formal expression indicating intention to offer congratulations.

FAQs

What does "a point of congratulating" mean?

The phrase "a point of congratulating" is an uncommon and somewhat awkward way to describe an occasion or opportunity for offering congratulations. It's better to use phrases like "a moment to congratulate" or "an opportunity to congratulate".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a point of congratulating"?

While not strictly ungrammatical, the phrasing "a point of congratulating" is not idiomatic or commonly used in English. Ludwig AI identifies it as incorrect in standard written English. More natural alternatives exist.

What are some alternatives to "a point of congratulating"?

More natural alternatives include "a time to congratulate", "an occasion to congratulate", or simply rephrasing the sentence to directly state who is congratulating whom.

How can I use "a moment to congratulate" in a sentence?

You can use "a moment to congratulate" by saying, "This is a moment to congratulate the team on their success." or "Let's take a moment to congratulate John on his promotion."