cause for delight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause for delight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a reason or justification for feeling happy or pleased about something. Example: "The unexpected news of her promotion was a cause for delight among her colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Ms. Fridman's unflagging brio was cause for delight.

The New York Times

But happily, this was sufficient cause for delight.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. Sigalova's unflagging brio was cause for delight.

The New York Times - Arts

(Could it be all the chocolate sundaes on offer?) In three new picture books, grandparents' eccentricities, while occasionally sources of discomfort, are also  —  and ultimately  —  cause for delight.

The New York Times - Books

To an extent, Davies follows Sewall's lead, giving the heroine a friend*,* Vryling Buffam (Catherine Bailey), whose effervescent heresy gives Emily cause for delight.

The New Yorker

On Tuesday night, Doyle said the sale had netted $743,000; a mere doggy tidbit at an Old Master's sale, but a cause for delight for a group of paintings that included a lot of brown hounds, some dachshunds ripping apart an accordion, and a portrait of "Lady Yule's Favorite Poodle, Fifi," which sold for $3,737.50.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

That the game had 151 monsters was a cause for synergistic delight -- the more characters, the more toys.

The New York Times

You might think this would be cause for some delight on the part of the movie studios.

TechCrunch

There are few duplications in the compilations; there is cause for wonder, pondering, delight and bemusement and there are some very nice pictures.

The Guardian

But, if the NSA wanted to get folks out there excited about code breaking, and potentially working for it, it'd want a tool that would drive attention and cause delight.

TechCrunch

Their walk-off caused much delight for the usually po-faced fashion crowd.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause for delight", ensure the context clearly indicates what is prompting the feeling of joy. For instance, specify the event or situation that is the "cause for delight" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "cause for delight" is acceptable in many situations, overusing it, especially in very formal or academic writing, can make your prose sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "reason for joy" or "source of happiness" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause for delight" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific reason or source that elicits feelings of happiness and pleasure. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Arts

20%

Books

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cause for delight" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that expresses positive sentiment and identifies a reason for joy. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not exceedingly common, it appears mainly in News & Media, Arts, and Books contexts, indicating a neutral to slightly formal register. Related phrases include "reason for joy" and "source of happiness". It's important to use the phrase appropriately, ensuring the context clearly defines the source of delight and avoiding overuse in overly formal writing. When using "cause for delight", clarity and context are key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason for joy

This alternative directly replaces "delight" with "joy", maintaining a very close semantic equivalence.

source of happiness

This phrase uses "happiness" instead of "delight", emphasizing the feeling of joy.

occasion for rejoicing

This alternative conveys a more celebratory and communal sense of delight.

reason to celebrate

This phrase focuses on the act of celebration as a response to a positive event.

source of pleasure

This alternative uses "pleasure" to describe the positive feeling, which is a slightly broader term than delight.

reason for elation

This phrase uses a stronger emotion, "elation", indicating a higher degree of joy.

something to be happy about

This is a more descriptive and less direct way of expressing that something is a "cause for delight".

justification for joy

This alternative uses a more formal term, "justification", implying a reasoned basis for happiness.

basis for cheerfulness

This phrase highlights the underlying reason for a generally positive mood.

inducement to cheer

This alternative is more formal and suggests something that encourages cheerfulness.

FAQs

How can I use "cause for delight" in a sentence?

You can use "cause for delight" to indicate something that brings happiness or joy. For example, "The team's victory was a "cause for delight" for the entire city."

What are some synonyms for "cause for delight"?

Alternatives to "cause for delight" include "reason for joy", "source of happiness", or "reason to celebrate". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "cause for delight" formal or informal?

"Cause for delight" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider using a more sophisticated synonym like "justification for joy" or "basis for cheerfulness".

What's the difference between "cause for delight" and "reason for delight"?

"Cause for delight" and "reason for delight" are largely interchangeable. "Cause" emphasizes the instigating factor, while "reason" emphasizes the justification for the feeling, but in practice, they convey similar meanings.