extend an invitation

USAGE SUMMARY

“extend an invitation” is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are offering someone a social invitation. For example, “We would like to extend an invitation to you to join us at a party on Saturday night.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The United Kingdom agreed to France's request to extend an invitation to the Soviet Union, but blocked France's attempt to invite a representative from Republican Spain.

Wikipedia

Previously, the Tour of Italy refused to extend an invitation to Astana for this year's race.

The New York Times - Sports

But we extend an invitation for next year.' And, of course, next year never came".

The New York Times - Style

He wanted to come to New York for a visit, and the Yankees would not even extend an invitation.

The New York Times - Sports

But getting Mr. Dimitrov to extend an invitation to someone new took a personal introduction or well-worded note.

The New York Times

MIKE had someone call to extend an invitation to drop by and talk politics for a while.

The New York Times

"We extend an invitation, continued as before, to other political forces to come together in one coalition under one banner.

The Guardian

While the truth about our parks is available for anyone to see here, we would like to extend an invitation to him to visit SeaWorld as our guest.

Independent

If things go well in the coming months, Ms Park might even extend an invitation to Japan's emperor, Akihito.China's dispute with Japan seems less tractable.

The Economist

Argentina's ambassador to London declined an invitation to attend, after Downing Street failed to extend an invitation to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Independent

Nigel Farage would fit very well into this new group, and I would herewith like to extend an invitation to him".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "extend an invitation", ensure the context clearly indicates what the invitation is for. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "extend an invitation" in casual conversations. Simpler verbs like "invite" often sound more natural and less stiff.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extend an invitation" functions as a performative verb phrase. It signifies the act of formally offering an invitation. Ludwig's examples show its usage in news, business, and academic contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extend an invitation" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for formally inviting someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is acceptable for use in written English, particularly in professional and formal settings. Its prevalence across reputable sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and academic journals underscores its reliability. While versatile, remember to adjust the register according to context, opting for simpler alternatives like "invite" in casual conversations. Therefore, when precision and formality are required, "extend an invitation" is an excellent choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer an invitation

Replaces "extend" with "offer", implying a presentation of an invitation.

issue an invitation

Replaces "extend" with "issue", suggesting a formal announcement of an invitation.

send an invitation

Focuses on the act of delivering the invitation, rather than the act of offering it.

offer an invite

Uses the shortened form "invite" instead of "invitation".

invite

Simply uses the verb "invite" to convey the act of extending an invitation.

propose an invitation

Suggests putting forward an invitation for consideration.

grant an invitation

Implies bestowing or allowing someone to have an invitation.

present an invitation

Focuses on the act of formally giving the invitation.

convey an invitation

Highlights the act of communicating the invitation.

put forward an invitation

Suggests a more tentative or preliminary offering of an invitation.

FAQs

How can I use "extend an invitation" in a sentence?

You can use "extend an invitation" to formally invite someone to an event or opportunity. For example, "We would like to extend an invitation to you to attend our gala."

What's a more casual alternative to "extend an invitation"?

For more informal situations, you can simply "invite" someone. It's less formal and more suitable for everyday conversations.

Is it better to say "extend an invitation" or "offer an invitation"?

Both "extend an invitation" and "offer an invitation" are correct, but "extend" often implies a more formal or ceremonial gesture.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "extend an invitation"?

The phrase "extend an invitation" is appropriate when you want to convey a sense of formality, respect, or tradition, especially in business or official contexts.