pleasantly received

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pleasantly received" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a positive reaction or reception to something, such as feedback, news, or an event. Example: "The proposal was pleasantly received by the committee, leading to further discussions on its implementation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

However, while vertical mergers are pleasantly received, horizontal ones are usually considered harmful for consumers and society.6 Thus our second purpose in the paper is to provide some analysis that might be useful for competition authorities to better understand the effects of horizontal mergers in composite good industries.

SERIEs

However, Obama's interpretation of diplomatic success is not pleasantly received in the U.S. Congress.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He received them pleasantly but conceded nothing.

The New York Times - Magazine

When we tried it, Romain was pleasantly surprised that he received a French access number while the rest of us received U.S. numbers.

TechCrunch

A while back, I wrote about how I was pleasantly surprised to receive a free coffee at a bagel shop drive-through, during "Random Acts of Kindness" week.

The New York Times

One of the respondents was pleasantly surprised to receive an email the day before their visit giving lots of practical information such as weather forecasts and travel news.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

6. (S) When the businessman arrived to meet Prince Khalid he was pleasantly surprised to receive a painting by each of the princes, as gifts.

The Guardian

Hales was pleasantly surprised to receive them, and said his goal for now is just to get mail he'll take things a day at a time after that.

Vice

Hales was pleasantly surprised to receive them and said his goal for now is just to get mail he'll take things a day at a time after that.

Vice

Mr. King, the Alabama man who traded in his Tahoe for a Volt, said he was pleasantly surprised by how much he received for the trade-in.

The New York Times

WHEN John and Colleen Riley of Lindenhurst attended a wine sale at Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue in January, they were pleasantly surprised by the greeting they received.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of the context; while appropriate in many situations, "well received" might be preferred in very formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "pleasantly received" in contexts that demand strict formality. Opt for alternatives like "favorably regarded" or "warmly welcomed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pleasantly received" functions as a descriptive expression, modifying a noun to indicate the manner in which something was accepted. It's typically used to describe a positive reception that was, to some extent, unexpected or gratifying. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pleasantly received" denotes a positive acceptance, often tinged with a sense of agreeable surprise. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and usable in written English. While "well received" is a general expression of positive acceptance, "pleasantly received" subtly implies that the acceptance was more positive than anticipated. It is most commonly found in news and science contexts. Remember to reserve "pleasantly received" for situations where you want to highlight the unexpected nature of a positive reception; otherwise, consider simpler alternatives like "well received".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well received

A more common and general way to express a positive reception.

warmly welcomed

Emphasizes the enthusiasm and friendliness of the reception.

favorably regarded

Focuses on the positive opinion or judgment associated with the reception.

met with approval

Highlights the explicit agreement or endorsement accompanying the reception.

greeted with enthusiasm

Stresses the excitement and eagerness of the reception.

accepted with pleasure

Emphasizes the positive emotion and willingness in the acceptance.

graciously accepted

Highlights the politeness and elegance of the acceptance.

embraced wholeheartedly

Suggests a complete and enthusiastic adoption or acceptance.

cheerfully acknowledged

Focuses on the positive and happy recognition.

lauded enthusiastically

Emphasizes praise and strong positive sentiment.

FAQs

What does "pleasantly received" mean?

The phrase "pleasantly received" means that something was met with a positive or favorable reaction, often implying that the positive reception was somewhat surprising or unexpected.

What are some alternatives to "pleasantly received"?

You can use alternatives like "well received", "warmly welcomed", or "favorably regarded", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How formal is the phrase "pleasantly received"?

The phrase "pleasantly received" is generally suitable for most contexts, but it's slightly less formal than phrases like "formally approved". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when choosing the most appropriate phrase.

Is it better to say "well received" or "pleasantly received"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they carry slightly different connotations. "Well received" is a more general term for a positive reception, while "pleasantly received" implies a degree of surprise or unexpected satisfaction with the reception.