congratulate that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "congratulate that" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically incorrect because "congratulate" requires a direct object, usually a person or a group, rather than a clause or a pronoun like "that." Example: "I want to congratulate you on your promotion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

5.17pm GMT UK Earlier, Labour MP David Winnick urged David Cameron to congratulate the Guardian for publishing revelations from Snowden: With the orchestrated campaign and witch-hunting against the Guardian newspaper, would this not be an appropriate time to congratulate that newspaper for publishing the details of how the mobile phone of the German chancellor had been monitored?

The Guardian

Tons of people came up to congratulate that day and afterwards but seemed strangely insistent on reminding me that "it is a lot easier to get in when you are a girl because they get so many fewer female applicants".

Huffington Post

If your coworker did a great job or won an achievement award, congratulate that person with a smile.

WikiHow

You can, as well, text something sweet and honest because you are giving yourself the gift of congratulate that person from a place of non resistance.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In this regard, De La Rosa and colleagues should be congratulated that the question whether tight glycaemic control truly works in a mixed ICU population resulted in a randomised controlled study design.

Critical Care

For example: someone at work gets a big promotion; instead of congratulating that person, the narcissist has to turn the spotlight back onto themselves, by talking about why they should have gotten the promotion instead, or simply about something really good that happened to them.[1].

WikiHow

I suppose Downing Street would emphasise that in democracy sometimes you don't win but that means that you have to congratulate those that have - and you have to work with them.

BBC

"I want to congratulate everybody that's worked so hard.

Huffington Post

Bank regulators congratulate themselves that in this downturn the banks have (so far) proved well-capitalised.

The Economist

He can congratulate himself that his first film as a director is a fine achievement.

The Guardian - Film

Mr. Giuliani called Mr. Mukasey to congratulate him that day, a campaign aide said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "congratulate that". Instead, directly address the person or group you are congratulating. For example, say "congratulate you" or "congratulate the team".

Common error

The verb "congratulate" requires a direct object, typically a person or group being congratulated. Using "congratulate that" is grammatically incorrect. Always specify who you are congratulating.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "congratulate that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect as it lacks a direct object following the verb "congratulate". The verb requires a person or entity to be the recipient of the congratulation. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "congratulate that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It is more appropriate to use phrases like ""congratulate you on that"" or "offer congratulations on that" to convey the intended meaning. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase doesn't follow standard grammatical rules. While some examples exist in diverse sources, its use is infrequent and should be avoided in formal writing. Always ensure "congratulate" is followed by a direct object.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

congratulate you on that

This alternative directly addresses the person being congratulated, making it more grammatically sound and personal.

offer congratulations on that

This phrase uses a more formal structure, replacing the verb 'congratulate' with a noun phrase.

express my appreciation for that

This shifts the focus from congratulating to expressing appreciation, suitable when acknowledging effort rather than achievement.

commend them for that

Uses 'commend' instead of 'congratulate', implying formal approval or praise for a specific action.

applaud them for that

Replaces 'congratulate' with 'applaud', suggesting enthusiastic approval or admiration.

acknowledge that accomplishment

Focuses on acknowledging the achievement itself, rather than directly congratulating someone.

recognize their achievement

Similar to acknowledging, this highlights the recognition of a specific accomplishment.

praise them for their efforts

Shifts the focus to praising effort, which is useful when the outcome is less important than the attempt.

celebrate that success

Emphasizes celebrating a positive outcome, rather than directly congratulating an individual.

give kudos for that

This alternative offers an informal way to give praise or recognition.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the verb "congratulate"?

Always follow "congratulate" with a direct object (the person or group) and, if necessary, use "on" to specify what you are congratulating them for. For example, "I want to "congratulate you" on your achievement."

What's wrong with saying "congratulate that"?

The phrase "congratulate that" is grammatically incorrect because "congratulate" needs a direct object – the person or people you are addressing. "That" is not a suitable direct object in this context.

Are there formal alternatives to "congratulate" someone?

Yes, you can use phrases like "offer congratulations" or "express admiration" for a more formal tone. However, ensure these phrases are followed by the appropriate preposition and object.

Is "congratulate for that" correct?

While closer to being correct than "congratulate that", it's better to use "congratulate on that". For instance, say "I "congratulate you on that"", not "I congratulate you for that".