spoke highly of

USAGE SUMMARY

"spoke highly of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone's words were favorable or praising of someone or something. For example, "The professor spoke highly of the student's performance on the essay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Both men spoke highly of Beltagy.

The New York Times - Magazine

Program members spoke highly of Mr. Smith.

The New York Times

He also spoke highly of the host city.

The New York Times

Turning quiet, Mr. Buffett spoke highly of Sequoia's history.

The New York Times

Indeed, Roosevelt spoke highly of immigrants who became naturalized citizens.

The New York Times

Graduates of that program spoke highly of the knowledge and networking opportunities they gained.

The New York Times

In interviews, professors from some of the nation's leading universities spoke highly of Dr. Hut's work.

The New York Times

Griffin is repelled by big-money politics, so I asked why he spoke highly of Trump.

The New Yorker

His parents confirmed it, but they also spoke highly of Protestantism.

The New Yorker

Mr. Shapiro spoke highly of Mr. Wald, saying he had the ideal qualifications for the job.

The New York Times

In Japan, many commentators spoke highly of Mr. Bush's foreign policy team.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "spoke highly of", ensure that the context clearly indicates who is giving the praise and who or what is being praised for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "spoke highly of" when the praise was mild or lukewarm. The phrase implies a significant level of approval or admiration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spoke highly of" functions as a verb phrase expressing approval or admiration. It indicates that someone has voiced a favorable opinion about a person, object, or idea. As Ludwig indicates, it is considered grammatically correct and widely usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spoke highly of" is a common and grammatically sound way to express approval or admiration, as confirmed by Ludwig. Predominantly used in News & Media, it conveys positive feedback and endorsement. While alternatives such as "praised" or "commended" can be used, it's crucial to ensure the context matches the degree of praise. For best practices, ensure clear attribution of praise. Avoid using the phrase for lukewarm opinions, reserving it for substantial approval. Ludwig's examples highlight its frequent use in professional and journalistic contexts, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thought highly of

Similar in meaning but emphasizes the internal opinion.

spoke favorably about

Uses a slightly different construction to convey a positive sentiment.

praised

A more concise and direct way to express approval.

expressed admiration for

Emphasizes the feeling of admiration in addition to verbal praise.

commended

Suggests a more formal and official expression of praise.

lauded

Implies enthusiastic and public praise.

gave a glowing review of

Highlights the positive nature of the assessment or feedback.

held in high esteem

Focuses on the respect and regard someone is held in.

extolled the virtues of

Emphasizes the positive qualities or merits being praised.

approved of

Indicates agreement or satisfaction.

FAQs

What does "spoke highly of" mean?

The phrase "spoke highly of" means to praise someone or something, expressing a favorable opinion about them.

How can I use "spoke highly of" in a sentence?

You can use "spoke highly of" in a sentence like: "The manager "spoke highly of" the team's performance during the project."

What are some alternatives to "spoke highly of"?

Some alternatives to "spoke highly of" include "praised", "commended", or "expressed admiration for".

Is it better to say "spoke highly of" or "thought highly of"?

"Spoke highly of" implies that the person voiced their positive opinion, while "thought highly of" suggests they held a positive opinion internally. The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the expression of the opinion or just the opinion itself.