express congratulations

USAGE SUMMARY

"express congratulations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express congratulations to someone in response to good news or an accomplishment. For example: "When I heard about your promotion, I wanted to take the time to express congratulations!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The thing to keep in mind is that the purpose of a handshake at work is to greet someone or say good-bye or express congratulations or to signal agreement on a deal.

Forbes

I would like to express congratulations on the launch of the Huffington Post Japan.

Huffington Post

At the turn of the 20th century, Americans used the swastikas on postcards to express congratulations, said Kaenzig.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A.A.U.W. has previously expressed congratulations to the president for appointing women to high-ranking cabinet posts, policy positions and the federal judiciary.

The New York Times

Mr. Franks said many of his callers had expressed congratulations that he did even better than George W. Bush, who won 40percentt of the vote in New Jersey compared with 56percentt for Al Gore.

The New York Times

-Ray Lori: That's how Ray expresses congratulations.

Huffington Post

The other, was "from all of us" -- a bunch of goofy-looking dogs -- and expressed congratulations for an unspecified achievement.

Huffington Post

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters at a daily briefing on Thursday that China had "expressed congratulations" to North Korea on the occasion.

Huffington Post

If you're expressing congratulations in a professional setting, especially to your boss or manager, it's fine to be a bit more private after you've expressed congratulations.

WikiHow

Congressman Charles Dent of Pennsylvania said: "I too just wanted to express my congratulations to all of you and collective gratitude on behalf of this committee, and from the American people".

The Guardian

Not only that, but when the minaret of this mosque was completed, the abbot and monks of Kumbum monastery attended the inauguration ceremony, bringing precious gifts to express their congratulations.

International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "express congratulations" in professional settings, follow up with specific details about the achievement or milestone to show genuine interest and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "express congratulations" in casual or informal settings; opt for simpler phrases like "congrats" or "well done" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "express congratulations" functions as a performative utterance, explicitly conveying the act of congratulating someone. As Ludwig AI notes, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The phrase directly states the action being performed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "express congratulations" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for formally conveying felicitations, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. While examples of its usage are relatively rare, its primary function lies in acknowledging achievements or positive events in a respectful and structured manner. Typically found in formal and professional registers, particularly within news and media contexts, "express congratulations" serves as a performative utterance designed to convey respect and approval. For more informal contexts, consider alternatives like "congrats" or "well done". The phrase's formality makes it particularly suitable for written communications, speeches, or professional correspondence where a more elaborate expression of goodwill is warranted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extend congratulations

Employs a different verb to introduce the act of congratulating.

voice congratulations

Focuses on the verbal expression of congratulations.

pass on congratulations

Indicates the act of relaying congratulations from oneself or others.

convey felicitations

Replaces "congratulations" with a more formal synonym and alters the verb.

offer commendation

Formally recognizes and praises an accomplishment.

offer best wishes

Uses a different set of terms to communicate positive sentiments.

express delight

Focuses on communicating one's own happiness at another's success.

give accolades

Highlights recognition and praise for an achievement.

send regards

Offers a more general expression of goodwill, suitable when a direct congratulation is not necessary.

share joy

Expresses happiness and celebration of someone else's success.

FAQs

How can I use "express congratulations" in a sentence?

You can use "express congratulations" to formally convey your positive sentiments regarding an achievement or event. For example, "I would like to "express congratulations" on your recent promotion".

What are some alternatives to "express congratulations"?

Alternatives include phrases like "extend congratulations", "offer best wishes", or "convey felicitations", which can add variety to your expressions of goodwill.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to "express congratulations"?

"Express congratulations" is suitable for formal or professional settings. For informal contexts, simpler terms like "congrats" or "well done" are more appropriate.

How does "express congratulations" differ from simply saying "congratulations"?

"Express congratulations" is a more elaborate and formal way of offering congratulations. Simply saying "congratulations" is more direct and commonly used in most situations.