happy to concede

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "happy to concede" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you are willing to admit or acknowledge a point made by someone else, often in a discussion or debate. Example: "After considering your arguments, I am happy to concede that you have a valid point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

It was an equality that Wadsworth was happy to concede.

The New Yorker

But I'm happy to concede the world has changed.

The Guardian - Business

That's wonderful — I'm happy to concede that my fears are most likely baseless.

The New York Times

I'm happy to concede that the president and team called this one right.

The New York Times

However, Moeen was happy to concede that he has much to learn.

The Guardian - Sport

"I am perfectly happy to concede that one is entitled to be pessimistic.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Garde looked to build on the solidity of that draw, his intention clear in the early stages with Villa happy to to concede possession and keep men behind the ball.

BBC

Once Johnston shows up in those classic Joe The Plumber type roles, I'll be happy to both concede the point and decry the foolishness of it.

Huffington Post

After the game Zoff insisted he was happy to have conceded.

The Guardian - Sport

Brazil's goalkeeper, Júlio César, even tried to make a virtue of conceding late on, saying: "I'm not happy about the goal, nobody likes to concede.

The Guardian - Sport

However, Bentham will have to concede that the very happy oyster that lives a very long time could, in principle, have a better life than a normal human.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "happy to concede" when you want to express that you are not only acknowledging a point made by someone else, but also doing so with a positive or agreeable attitude. This can help to create a more collaborative and less confrontational tone in discussions.

Common error

While "happy to concede" is a useful phrase, overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive or insincere. Vary your language by using alternatives like "willing to admit" or "ready to acknowledge" to maintain a natural and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "happy to concede" functions as a declarative expression, indicating a speaker's willingness to acknowledge or admit a point, often in a discussion or debate. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, showcasing its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Sport

14%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "happy to concede" is a versatile phrase used to express willingness to acknowledge a point, often in a positive and agreeable manner. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it enjoys very common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Sport. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, being mindful of overuse and employing alternatives such as "willing to admit" or "ready to acknowledge" can improve your writing's style and clarity. The high expert rating and source quality underscore the phrase's reliability and acceptability in standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

willing to admit

Replaces "happy" with "willing", indicating a readiness to acknowledge a point.

glad to acknowledge

Similar to "willing to admit" but uses "glad" to suggest a positive feeling about the concession.

ready to acknowledge

Substitutes both "happy" and "concede" with synonyms that convey acceptance.

open to accepting

Suggests a willingness to consider and accept a different viewpoint.

prepared to grant

Focuses on the act of granting or allowing a point, rather than conceding.

content to accept

Indicates satisfaction with accepting a particular point or outcome.

agreeable to recognize

Emphasizes the agreement aspect and the recognition of a fact or argument.

inclined to concur

A more formal way of expressing agreement or concession.

not opposed to admitting

Uses a double negative to express a willingness to concede.

find no objection to conceding

A more elaborate way of saying that one is willing to concede.

FAQs

What does "happy to concede" mean?

It means you are willing to acknowledge or admit something, often a point in an argument or discussion, and you are doing so with a positive or agreeable attitude.

When is it appropriate to use "happy to concede"?

It's suitable when you want to show that you're open-minded and willing to accept valid points from others, fostering a collaborative and respectful environment.

What can I say instead of "happy to concede"?

You can use alternatives like "willing to admit", "ready to acknowledge", or "glad to acknowledge", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "happy to concede" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "inclined to concur" may be preferred in certain situations.