congratulate to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'congratulate to' is not correct and usable in written English.
The correct phrase is 'congratulate.' For example, "I would like to congratulate you on your success."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Definitely I should say there was a lot of cheating, and we want to congratulate to Mr. Karzai on the election that he is winning as a result of a large-scale fraud and cheating," Dr. Yassa, a representative of the Shia Hazara leader Muhammad Mohaqeq, said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times

"Definitely I should say there was a lot of cheating, and we want to congratulate to Mr. Karzai on the election that he is winning as a result of a large-scale fraud and cheating," Dr. Yassa, representative of the Shia Hazara leader Muhammad Mohaqeq, said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was nice to be able to congratulate them afterwards.

BBC

"We have to congratulate Bayern.

Independent

"We have to congratulate them.

The New York Times - Sports

Manchester called to congratulate McWhorter.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I want to congratulate you".

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Romney likes to congratulate people.

The New Yorker

Firstly I'd like to congratulate Roger.

Independent

A little crowd gathered to congratulate her.

The New Yorker

"I want to congratulate all the professionals".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "congratulate" followed by the person or group being congratulated, without the preposition "to". For example, "I want to congratulate the team" is correct.

Common error

Avoid using "to" after "congratulate". The correct usage is to directly follow "congratulate" with the person or entity being congratulated. Saying "congratulate to" is a common error that should be avoided.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "congratulate to" is grammatically incorrect and does not function properly in English. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "congratulate" followed directly by the recipient of the congratulations. Thus, this phrase fails to serve its intended purpose.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

News & Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "congratulate to" is grammatically incorrect in English. Ludwig AI confirms this, stating that the correct form is simply "congratulate", followed by the person or entity being congratulated. Although some examples of the incorrect usage appear in sources like The New York Times, it's crucial to avoid this phrasing. Instead, use alternatives such as "offer congratulations to" or directly address the recipient with "congratulate" followed by their name or title. Therefore, always remember that correct usage ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer congratulations to

Replaces "congratulate" with a more formal expression.

extend congratulations to

Similar to "offer congratulations to", using a different verb for a formal tone.

convey my congratulations to

Emphasizes the act of communicating congratulations.

pass on my congratulations to

Implies relaying congratulations from someone else or oneself.

send my best wishes to

A more general expression of goodwill and congratulations.

applaud

Expressing approval and admiration, a form of congratulations

commend

To praise formally or officially. It's a formal way to congratulate someone

salute

Acknowledge someone's achievements with respect. It's often used in formal settings or to praise military

give accolades to

Focuses on giving praise or recognition for an achievement.

pay tribute to

Highlights honoring someone's accomplishments.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the word "congratulate"?

The correct way to use "congratulate" is to follow it directly with the person or entity being congratulated, without using the preposition "to". For example, say "I want to congratulate you" instead of "I want to congratulate to you".

What can I say instead of "congratulate to"?

Since "congratulate to" is incorrect, you should use phrases like "offer congratulations to" or simply "congratulate" followed by the recipient.

Is it grammatically correct to say "congratulate to someone"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "congratulate someone".

Which is correct: "congratulate someone on something" or "congratulate to someone for something"?

The correct phrase is "congratulate someone on something". The preposition "to" is not used after "congratulate". For instance, "I congratulate you on your success".