happy to extend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "happy to extend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing willingness or pleasure in offering something, such as an invitation or an opportunity. Example: "We are happy to extend our invitation to you for the upcoming event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"I'm happy to extend my winning streak," Berdych said.

The New York Times

Tusk confirms the EU would be happy to extend the Brexit transition period.

The Guardian

On Monday, the former Manchester City player suggested he would be happy to extend that stay.

The Guardian - Sport

Their agents or bankers have been only too happy to extend them credit.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We're happy to extend the hand of friendship to Malcolm Turnbull.

The Guardian

A Conservative spokeswoman said her party was very happy to extend the format to other senior figures.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Such qualms were rarer in the silent era, when audiences were happier to extend their sympathy towards the screen.

The Guardian - Film

His marauding runs forward and stout defending had seen him earmarked as a potential replacement for Bacary Sagna at Arsenal but Coleman could not be happier to extend his stay with the blue half of Merseyside.

The Guardian - Sport

Discussing the effects of happiness is not new to WomenMedia, but I've been asked to add to 9 Small Steps That Will Make You Happier to extend them specifically to the workplace.

Forbes

Cal Adventures is happy to offer afternoon extended care for all ATDP students from 4 30pm to 5 30pm, including Wednesdays.

University of California, Berkeley

For now, Hefner said he was just happy to help extend the Mets' winning streak.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "happy to extend", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being extended, such as a contract, an invitation, or a deadline. This avoids ambiguity and ensures your message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "happy to extend" in situations where genuine enthusiasm is lacking. If the extension is merely a procedural requirement or lacks any real benefit to the recipient, consider using more neutral language like "We are able to extend" to avoid conveying insincerity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "happy to extend" functions as an adjectival phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying an implied subject (e.g., "We are happy to extend"). As shown in Ludwig, this construction expresses a positive disposition towards performing the action indicated by the infinitive.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "happy to extend" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a positive attitude towards offering an extension or further opportunity. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academic settings. While its register is generally neutral, it's important to ensure sincerity when using it. Alternatives such as "pleased to offer" or "willing to continue" may be more appropriate in certain formal or neutral scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pleased to prolong

Replaces "happy" with "pleased" and "extend" with "prolong", offering a more formal tone while retaining the same meaning.

willing to continue

Emphasizes willingness and continuation, shifting the focus slightly from the emotion to the action.

glad to expand

Substitutes "happy" with "glad" and "extend" with "expand", suggesting a broadening of scope or opportunity.

delighted to offer further

Uses "delighted" to convey stronger positive emotion and "offer further" to specify the act of providing something more.

content to increase

Replaces "happy" with "content" and "extend" with "increase", implying satisfaction with growing or enlarging something.

agreeable to broaden

Highlights agreement to make something wider or more extensive, focusing on the consensus aspect.

prepared to lengthen

Indicates readiness to make something longer, such as a deadline or a contract.

amenable to continue

Shows openness to continuing something, with a focus on being receptive to the idea.

inclined to augment

Suggests a tendency to add to or enhance something, emphasizing the augmentation aspect.

eager to perpetuate

Conveys enthusiasm for continuing something indefinitely, focusing on the idea of making it last.

FAQs

What does "happy to extend" mean?

The phrase "happy to extend" means expressing a willingness or pleasure in offering something further, such as an invitation, a contract, or a deadline. It conveys a positive sentiment regarding the act of extending.

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

You can use alternatives like "pleased to offer", "glad to provide", or "willing to continue" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "happy to extend"?

"Happy to extend" is generally considered appropriate for both professional and informal communication. However, in very formal contexts, alternatives such as "pleased to prolong" might be more suitable.

Is there a difference between "happy to extend" and "willing to extend"?

While both convey a willingness to extend something, "happy to extend" carries a stronger positive connotation. "Willing to extend" is more neutral, simply indicating a lack of objection. Using "happy" indicates a genuine positive sentiment towards the extension.