express their delight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "express their delight" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to show or communicate happiness or great pleasure. Example: The children expressed their delight as they unwrapped their Christmas presents.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The Smiths express their delight and amazement.

The New York Times

No one over the age of five should ever use this word to express their delight.

The Guardian

Racing and bookmakers reacted warmly to David Cameron's success in the General Election, with bookies in particular queueing up to express their delight.

The Guardian - Sport

PHISH The reigning godfather of jam bands (a crown it inherited from the Grateful Dead), Phish plays wobbly, improvisational guitar jams that have earned it scads of dedicated followers (they often express their delight via wiggly, carefree dancing).

The New York Times - Arts

Amongst the blare of car horns, skirl of bagpipes and popping of champagne corks in Andy Murray's home town of Dunblane on Sunday the residents of this small Scottish town managed to express their delight at his historic triumph.

Independent

It was picketed by a group of Ukip supporters from the north-east, who had travelled down by minibus to express their delight that Nigel Farage's insurgent party is on course to win its first parliamentary election.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Larry Kramer and Yale both expressed their delight.

The New York Times

But while Makelele and Zidane expressed their delight, the Juventus centre-back was less expansive about his return.

The Guardian - Sport

Among the musical, literary and even academic communities, respected figures expressed their delight at Dylan's Nobel prize.

The Guardian - Books

Roma expressed their delight on their website, saying the 23-year-old is widely regarded as "the best Egyptian player in the world right now".

The Guardian - Sport

Martin was en route to Florida for this week's Honda Classic and was unavailable for comment, but his representatives expressed their delight with the decision.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, specify how they "express their delight" (e.g., "They expressed their delight through social media posts" or "They expressed their delight with a celebratory parade").

Common error

Avoid using "express their delight" repeatedly in the same piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound monotonous. Instead, try to show how they are delighted (e.g., "They cheered and applauded") and use specific action verbs to illustrate their emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "express their delight" functions as a verbal phrase, where "express" is the verb and "their delight" is the object. It describes the action of communicating or showing happiness and satisfaction. Examples on Ludwig illustrate its use in various reporting contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

16%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "express their delight" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the action of showing or communicating happiness and pleasure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it follows standard grammar rules. Its common occurrence in news and media sources makes it a versatile choice for reporting on positive reactions. While perfectly acceptable, varying your wording with synonyms like "show their joy" or "convey their happiness" can enhance the clarity and appeal of your writing. Remember to provide context on how delight is expressed to provide a more compelling narrative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

show their joy

Focuses on the outward display of joy, rather than verbal expression.

communicate their joy

Focuses on communicating happiness. Slightly more formal than 'show'.

voice their pleasure

Emphasizes the act of verbally communicating pleasure.

convey their happiness

Highlights the transmission of a feeling of happiness.

exhibit their elation

Suggests a more demonstrative and exuberant display of delight.

demonstrate their satisfaction

Emphasizes the act of showing satisfaction.

register their satisfaction

Implies a more formal or official expression of delight.

articulate their glee

Focuses on the clear and expressive communication of intense joy.

broadcast their happiness

Implies a widespread and public declaration of happiness.

reveal their amusement

Suggests a subtler, less overt expression of delight.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "express their delight"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "convey their satisfaction" or "register their approval", depending on the specific context.

How can I show, rather than tell, that someone "express their delight"?

Instead of stating that someone "express their delight", describe their actions: "They jumped for joy", "They broke into applause", or "They smiled broadly and embraced each other".

What's the difference between "express their delight" and "express their gratitude"?

"Express their delight" indicates happiness or pleasure, while "express their gratitude" indicates thankfulness. Use "express their delight" when conveying joy, and "express their gratitude" when conveying appreciation.

Is it correct to say "expressed their delight" or should I use a different tense?

The past tense "expressed their delight" is perfectly correct and commonly used, especially when reporting on past events. The tense should be chosen based on the time frame you're writing about.