blessing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "blessing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, often to refer to a benefit, approval, or something that brings happiness or good fortune. Example: "Receiving the scholarship was a true blessing for her education and future career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For many, that is not an unmitigated blessing.

The Guardian

Cannes didn't make sex, lies and videotape (the film had already won the audience award at Sundance), but in giving the Palme d'Or to Soderbergh, Wim Wenders' jury gave the new indie cinema the old school's blessing.

The Guardian - Film

There was similar symbolism – the passing of the torch – when in early 2008 Barack Obama won the endorsement of Kennedy's brother, Teddy, and daughter, Caroline: once he had their blessing, Obama looked unbeatable.

The Guardian

Noticing the cramps and moans of my peers, my absent period appeared to be a blessing of genetics.

The Guardian

McCain's backing is a mixed blessing for Romney, however.

The Guardian

The Islamic republic's state news agency, Irna, quoted Mohammad-Ali Sabour, the head of Iran's national triathlon federation, saying that Gerami had secured an official blessing and was nominated after the International Triathlon Union (ITU) agreed to set up a tent where she could change into her cycling and running clothes after swimming.

The Guardian

"The message in the dressing room after was that it might be a blessing in disguise and keep us grounded going into the final five games.

The Guardian - Sport

£50m has been spent on restoring the Grace II* listed building to its Edwardian splendour, adapted to the 21st century, with the blessing of the theatre heritage watchdog The Theatres Trust and English Heritage.

The Guardian

The blessing of De la Renta, who this year marks his 50th anniversary designing clothes in New York, has given Galliano a foothold into a world from which his infamous antisemitic drunken rant in a Paris bar had cut him adrift.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The school isn't just smaller than the average, it's also extremely popular among the north London middle classes, which is a mixed blessing.

The Guardian

If I were to be able to live until I'm actually 30 that would be a huge blessing in itself.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "blessing" to denote something positive, beneficial, or divinely granted. Ensure the context aligns with the intended meaning, whether it's good fortune, approval, or divine aid.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the term "blessing" in purely secular contexts where a more neutral term like "advantage" or "benefit" would be more appropriate. Retain "blessing" for situations where the positive outcome is particularly significant or carries a sense of gratitude or divine favor.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "blessing" is as a noun. It denotes something positive, beneficial, or divinely granted. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s commonly used to express gratitude, approval, or good fortune.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

26%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "blessing" functions primarily as a noun, denoting something positive, beneficial, or divinely granted. It's commonly used to express gratitude, approval, or acknowledge good fortune. As Ludwig AI verifies, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in varied contexts, especially in News & Media. When choosing to use "blessing", consider whether the context requires a formal or religious tone, and avoid overusing it in purely secular situations where more neutral alternatives may be appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

good fortune

A general term for positive outcomes or luck.

godsend

An unexpected event or thing that is particularly welcome or valuable.

divine favor

Implies a more religious or spiritual connotation than "blessing".

divine gift

Emphasizes the origin of the "blessing" as being from a higher power.

act of grace

Highlights the unearned and generous nature of the benefit.

boon

An archaic term for a benefit or blessing.

stroke of luck

Focuses on the aspect of good fortune being accidental or unexpected, unlike "blessing" which can also be earned.

fortunate event

A more neutral and less emotive way of expressing a positive occurrence.

favorable outcome

A more formal and objective way to describe a positive result.

advantage

Focuses on the benefit provided, often in a competitive context.

FAQs

How to use "blessing" in a sentence?

You can use "blessing" to refer to good fortune, divine favor, or something beneficial. For example, "Her recovery was a true blessing" or "The team received the coach's blessing before the game".

What can I say instead of "blessing"?

You can use alternatives like "good fortune", "advantage", "benefit", or "godsend" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a blessing" or "the blessing"?

"A blessing" refers to a general instance of good fortune or favor, while "the blessing" refers to a specific instance or type of blessing. The choice depends on whether you're speaking generally or about something specific.

What's the difference between "blessing" and "curse"?

"Blessing" refers to something positive or beneficial, bringing happiness or good fortune, while "curse" refers to something negative or harmful, bringing misfortune or adversity.