sensible of you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sensible of you" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "sensible of you to..." which is used to acknowledge someone's wise or thoughtful action or decision. Example: "It was very sensible of you to bring an umbrella, considering the weather forecast."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mariella replies That's very wise and also sensible of you.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was so stupid of me to sign all those émigré contracts, and so sensible of you to steer clear of them.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

On the back of the bag of sensible food that you're not afraid to touch, you will usually find information regarding a cat's age, size, and other pertinent things.

WikiHow

The Allroad looks like the kind of sensible car you could pick up the kids in, but thanks to a pneumatic suspension that lets the driver raise the car to a ground clearance of 8.2 inches, the Allroad is as competent off road as it is on the Interstate.

Forbes

OP No … people have been asking me: 'Do you think it is sensible?' Of course it is sensible because it will put people's minds at rest.

The Guardian - Sport

She anchors whatever production she's in with a kind of reasonableness that most actors shrink from — what's the point of acting sensible when you want to shine and sparkle?

The New Yorker

To take up our earlier example, when the astronomer speaks of planets and their laws of motion, he is speaking objectively of scientific phenomena, as opposed to the subjective appearance of sensible phenomena to you or me.

SEP

Implement any sensible measures you can think of to make the effort of getting into your house not worth the stuff they can get in there.

WikiHow

Thirty years ago, a person who did not have five good GCSEs could earn enough to pay the rent on a nice home for their family, maybe run a car, have a few holidays (nothing fancy) and send their children to school safe in the knowledge that life was good and getting better, and that doing what society asked of you was sensible.

The Guardian

Very sensible of her.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Osborne was the oldest and most sensible of four brothers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sensible of you", ensure it's followed by an infinitive phrase to complete the grammatical structure. For example, "It was very sensible of you to consider all options before making a decision."

Common error

Avoid using "sensible of you" in isolation. Always complete the phrase with an infinitive phrase like "to do something". Otherwise, consider using alternatives such as "wise of you" or "thoughtful of you".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sensible of you" functions as an adjective phrase that expresses acknowledgement or approval of someone's action. However, Ludwig AI indicates it is often grammatically incomplete without a following infinitive phrase. In essence, it's used to commend someone's sound judgment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sensible of you" expresses approval of someone's wise or thoughtful action. However, it's crucial to ensure grammatical correctness by following it with an infinitive phrase. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered incorrect without this completion. Alternatives like "wise of you" or "thoughtful of you" may offer safer, clearer options. While found in sources like The Guardian and The New Yorker, its infrequent usage suggests caution in choosing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Wise of you

Substitutes "sensible" with "wise", emphasizing wisdom and good judgement.

Thoughtful of you

Replaces "sensible" with "thoughtful", highlighting consideration and care.

Smart of you

Uses "smart" instead of "sensible", indicating intelligence and cleverness.

Prudent of you

Replaces "sensible" with "prudent", suggesting caution and foresight.

Astute of you

Uses "astute" to highlight sharpness and intelligence in the action.

Good of you

Shifts the focus to the positive nature and moral goodness of the action.

Kind of you

Emphasizes the benevolence and kindness associated with the action.

Considerate of you

Focuses on the thoughtfulness and awareness of others in the action.

Reasonable of you

Indicates that the action was fair and logical, using "reasonable" instead of "sensible".

That was a sensible thing to do

Rephrases to focus on the sensibility of the action itself, rather than directly addressing the person.

FAQs

How can I properly use "sensible of you" in a sentence?

To use "sensible of you" correctly, follow it with an infinitive phrase, such as "It was very "sensible of you to" consider all the factors before deciding."

What's a good alternative to "sensible of you" that conveys a similar meaning?

Alternatives to "sensible of you" include "wise of you", "thoughtful of you", or "smart of you", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say just "sensible of you" without adding anything else?

According to Ludwig AI, using only "sensible of you" without completing the phrase with an infinitive or other clause is generally considered grammatically "incorrect". It's better to say "That was "sensible of you"" or "Sensible of you to think of that".

How does "sensible of you" differ in meaning from "kind of you"?

"Sensible of you" implies that someone has shown good judgement or made a wise decision, while "kind of you" suggests that someone has been benevolent, compassionate, or generous. They emphasize different aspects of the person's action.