it is great fun

USAGE SUMMARY

"it is great fun" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express your enthusiasm or excitement about doing something. For example, "Visiting the art museum was great fun - I saw some really interesting pieces that I'd never seen before!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Alison Carr's comedy may be daffy, but it is great fun, and it makes a virtue of its stuck-in-a-lift scenario.

The Guardian

But it is great fun.

The Guardian - Tech

It is great fun, too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Well, let's not be precious – it is great fun.

The Guardian

I heard it is great fun with music and dancing in the aisles.

The New York Times

And it is great fun to play English major with her.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

It was a party--it was great fun.

Huffington Post

And it was great fun".

Independent

Sadly, it's great fun.

Independent

But it's great fun".

Independent

"It was great fun having him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is great fun" to describe activities or experiences that you genuinely find enjoyable and entertaining. Be mindful of your audience; while appropriate for informal settings, consider more professional language in formal contexts.

Common error

While "it is great fun" is a perfectly acceptable expression, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "it's a blast" or "it's delightful" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is great fun" functions as a subjective commentary, expressing the speaker's positive sentiment towards something. It serves to convey enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure, as supported by Ludwig and its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

15%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is great fun" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express enjoyment or recommend something as enjoyable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, especially in news and media, though perhaps less so in formal academic or business settings. To avoid repetition, consider using synonyms like "it's a blast" or "it's delightful". While versatile, remember to tailor your language to your audience and the specific communication scenario. The phrase functions as subjective commentary, with the communicative purpose to express personal enjoyment. Ludwig's analysis reveals that the register is generally neutral, and authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times frequently employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is super fun

Replaces "great" with "super", indicating a slightly more informal and enthusiastic tone.

it is fantastic fun

Substitutes "great" with "fantastic", adding a sense of excitement and enjoyment.

it is enormous fun

Replaces "great" with "enormous", emphasizing the large degree of enjoyment.

it is excellent fun

Substitutes "great" with "excellent", implying a high quality of enjoyment.

it is terrific fun

Replaces "great" with "terrific", conveying a feeling of intense pleasure and satisfaction.

it is tremendous fun

Substitutes "great" with "tremendous", suggesting a large amount of amusement.

it's a blast

Uses a more colloquial expression to mean the activity is very enjoyable and exciting.

it's a joy

Replaces "fun" with "joy", shifting the focus to a deeper sense of pleasure and happiness.

it's a delight

Substitutes "fun" with "delight", implying a refined and pleasing experience.

it's a hoot

Employs a more dated and informal term to mean the activity is amusing and entertaining.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it is great fun" to sound more sophisticated?

Consider alternatives like "it's a delightful experience", "it provides considerable amusement", or "it's an exceptionally enjoyable activity" to convey a similar sentiment with enhanced formality.

Are there any situations where using "it is great fun" would be inappropriate?

While versatile, "it is great fun" might be too informal for academic papers or formal business communications. In such contexts, opt for expressions that better suit the register, such as "it is highly engaging" or "it provides significant value".

What's the difference between saying "it is great fun" and "it was great fun"?

"It is great fun" describes an activity that is currently enjoyable or generally known to be enjoyable. "It was great fun" refers to a specific past experience that was enjoyable.

What are some other ways to express enthusiasm besides saying "it is great fun"?

You can use phrases like "I thoroughly enjoyed it", "it was a blast", or "I found it to be incredibly entertaining". Other options are "it is super fun", "it is fantastic fun", or "it is terrific fun" depending on the context.