grateful

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "grateful" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used when expressing appreciation or thanks. For example, "I am grateful for your kind words."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Opinion

Lifestyle

Music

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.

The Guardian

While many athletes are genuinely grateful to the companies that fund their training bills, there's always something unnerving about watching people sing for their supper when they're supposed to be speaking from the heart.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's been such an honor to work at the White House and I will always be grateful for this incredible opportunity".

The Guardian

"I am just so grateful to everyone in the Liberal and National parties who have supported my campaign, to Tony Abbott, I repeat my overwhelming thanks for his selfless generosity and mentorship".

The Guardian

"We should be grateful to Germany for the structural changes we've seen in Europe," wrote Lorenzo Iorio.

The Guardian

It takes a deflection and skids up off the surface and Poland are grateful to see it fly straight into the hands of Tyton.

The Guardian - Sport

"I'm very grateful, I'm very grateful to my legal team," she said.

The Guardian

And while I have no desire to negotiate the motorway system ever again, I am very grateful to all the people who gave me lifts over the years, for the transport, but even more for the memories.

The Guardian - Opinion

"In that sense the injury came at a great time, but I was still grateful that Carl Jenkinson facetimed me from the Wembley celebrations.

The Guardian - Sport

Hegarty says that he now feels grateful for being transgender: "Expressively, emotionally, as an artist, as a singer".

The Guardian - Music

"I would be grateful if your agency would accept the responsibility for investigating this matter with a view to identification and, if appropriate, prosecution of the persons responsible".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing gratitude, be specific about what you are "grateful" for. This makes your expression more genuine and meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "grateful" in passive constructions where the subject is unclear or absent. For instance, instead of saying "It is grateful," specify who is feeling the gratitude: "I am grateful."

Linguistic Context

The word "grateful" functions primarily as an adjective, describing a state of thankfulness or appreciation. Ludwig highlights its use in diverse contexts, confirming its grammatical correctness and broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Lifestyle

15%

Less common in

Sport

10%

Music

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "grateful" is a versatile term used to express thankfulness and appreciation across a multitude of contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, "grateful" is grammatically sound and widely accepted, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. Its frequent appearance in news, business, and lifestyle content underscores its relevance in modern discourse. When using "grateful", specificity enhances its impact, while avoiding passive constructions ensures clarity. Alternatives like "thankful" and "appreciative" offer nuanced variations for expressing gratitude.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thankful

Synonymous with "grateful", but can sometimes imply a more general sense of gratitude.

appreciative

Implies a recognition of value or quality, in addition to being thankful.

obliged

More formal and implies a sense of duty or indebtedness.

indebted

Stronger than "grateful", suggesting a significant debt of gratitude.

beholding

Archaic, less common, but conveys a strong sense of obligation.

in gratitude

Expresses the feeling of gratitude in a more formal or emphatic way.

full of thanks

Highlights the abundance of thankfulness.

with appreciation

Focuses on the act of appreciating something, not just feeling thankful.

heartfelt thanks

Emphasizes the sincerity and depth of gratitude.

much obliged

An idiom expressing politeness and thankfulness, often used informally.

FAQs

How do I use "grateful" in a sentence?

You can use "grateful" to express thankfulness for something. For example, "I am "grateful" for your help" or "She is "grateful" to have such supportive friends".

What can I say instead of "grateful"?

You can use alternatives like "thankful", "appreciative", or "obliged" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I am grateful for you"?

While grammatically correct, it's more common and natural to say "I am "grateful" to you" or "I am "grateful" for your help/support".

What is the difference between "grateful" and "thankful"?

While often interchangeable, ""grateful"" can sometimes imply a deeper sense of appreciation, while "thankful" is a more general expression of gratitude.