express their gratitude

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "express their gratitude" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone shows or communicates their thanks or appreciation for something. Example: The students gathered to express their gratitude to the teachers for their hard work and support throughout the school year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The surviving members decided that they would still compete in Barcelona to express their gratitude.

The New York Times

But even while the sons express their gratitude, they cling to their separatist ideas.

The New York Times

Many of those will be queuing up today to express their gratitude for his influence.

The Guardian - Sport

It is not lip service when the England players express their gratitude for the raucous support.

The Guardian - Sport

Invariably, they express their gratitude for learning how to speak in spontaneous situations.

Stanford University

Josh Miller, a point guard, was among seven seniors who went to Crews to express their gratitude for his efforts.

The New York Times - Sports

At these services, those who exercise the privilege of dissection express their gratitude and appreciation to donors and their families.

The New York Times

The family wishes to express their gratitude to his longtime office manager Pam Lindberg, assistant Bonnie Gonzales, and Samantha Duff.

The New York Times

The authors express their gratitude to Profs.

Earth, Planets and Space

Saturday Live listeners express their gratitude for good deeds done.

BBC

The authors would like to express their gratitude for the unit's contributions.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider using synonyms like "express their appreciation" or "convey their thankfulness" for variety.

Common error

Avoid using "express" when a simpler word like "show" or "give" would suffice. Overusing "express" can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "express their gratitude" functions as a verb phrase, where "express" is the verb and "their gratitude" is the object. It describes the action of conveying thankfulness or appreciation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

28%

News & Media

35%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "express their gratitude" is a common and grammatically correct way to convey thankfulness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely used across various contexts, from formal scientific publications to news articles. While suitable for many situations, considering synonyms like "show their appreciation" or "extend their thanks" can add variety to your writing. Remember to use "express" judiciously to maintain clarity and avoid sounding stilted. This expression, while versatile, is best employed when a sincere and clear conveyance of thankfulness is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

express their appreciation

Replaces "gratitude" with "appreciation", maintaining the same meaning but with a slight variation in word choice.

extend their thanks

Uses "extend" instead of "express" and "thanks" instead of "gratitude", offering a more concise way to convey appreciation.

convey their thankfulness

Substitutes "express" with "convey" and "gratitude" with "thankfulness", providing a slightly more formal tone.

show their gratefulness

Replaces "express" with "show" and "gratitude" with "gratefulness", shifting the emphasis to demonstrating appreciation.

voice their appreciation

Uses "voice" instead of "express", emphasizing the verbal communication of gratitude.

register their thankfulness

Replaces "express" with "register", suggesting a formal or official declaration of gratitude.

acknowledge their gratitude

Employs "acknowledge" instead of "express", highlighting the recognition and acceptance of something deserving of thanks.

offer their thanks

Substitutes "express" with "offer", presenting gratitude as a gift or gesture.

demonstrate their appreciation

Replaces "express" with "demonstrate", focusing on the outward actions that show thankfulness.

reciprocate with gratitude

Shifts the focus to a reciprocal act of gratitude, implying a return of favor or kindness.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "express their gratitude"?

You can use alternatives like "express their appreciation", "extend their thanks", or "convey their thankfulness depending on the context".

Is "express their gratitude" formal or informal?

The phrase "express their gratitude" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for highly formal situations, consider using alternatives such as "convey their thankfulness".

How to use "express their gratitude" in a sentence?

You can use "express their gratitude" in sentences like, "The team wanted to express their gratitude for the support they received" or "The community came together to express their gratitude to the firefighters".

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

While both phrases convey a sense of thankfulness, "express their gratitude" focuses more on verbally or explicitly stating thanks, while "show their appreciation" implies demonstrating thanks through actions or gestures.