thanked them for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thanked them for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing gratitude towards someone for a specific action or favor they have done. Example: "She thanked them for their support during the difficult times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

He thanked them for coming, too.

The Economist

I thanked them for indulging me.

The New York Times

People on the ski slopes thanked them for their sacrifices.

The New York Times

"I thanked them for the honor," Geddert said.

The New York Times

"That's what you thanked them for?" "Yeah," he said.

The New Yorker

In a brief speech, Mara thanked them for the season.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Meyer thanked them for their efforts at WB.

The New York Times

She then thanked them for "being there for me every single day when I was away".

The New York Times - Arts

He thanked them for their service and reminded them to stay vigilant on their final mission.

Independent

"I just thanked them for the opportunity to be a starter.

The New York Times - Sports

The man effusively thanked them for performing, as he said, a "social service.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance the impact of your message, follow up the phrase "thanked them for" with a description of the positive outcome or benefit resulting from their actions.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences that obscure who is doing the thanking. For instance, instead of writing 'They were thanked for their efforts', opt for 'He/She/They thanked them for their efforts' to maintain clarity and directness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thanked them for" functions as a verb phrase expressing gratitude. It typically connects a subject who is expressing thanks to an object (the people being thanked) and a specific reason for the gratitude. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thanked them for" is a common and grammatically correct way to express gratitude, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's versatile and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it holds a neutral register, more formal alternatives like "expressed gratitude to them for" exist for specific professional contexts. Remember to clearly specify the reason for gratitude to maximize the impact of your message. The abundance of examples identified by Ludwig showcase the pervasiveness of the expression in diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expressed gratitude to them for

This alternative is a more formal way of saying "thanked them for", replacing the verb "thanked" with a more elaborate phrase.

conveyed appreciation to them for

This option uses a more formal vocabulary to express gratitude, similar to "expressed gratitude to them for".

showed their gratitude toward them for

This alternative uses "showed their gratitude" emphasizing the demonstration of thankfulness.

were grateful to them for

This phrase expresses gratitude as a state of being, rather than an action of thanking.

acknowledged their efforts regarding

This alternative focuses on recognizing the effort someone put in, which implies thankfulness.

recognized their contribution concerning

Similar to 'acknowledged their efforts regarding', this highlights the recognition of a specific contribution.

gave them credit for

This emphasizes giving acknowledgement and recognition to someone for their achievement.

extended thanks to them on account of

A formal alternative emphasizing the act of extending thanks for a particular reason.

expressed thanks to them in light of

Similar to "extended thanks to them on account of", but uses "in light of" to introduce the reason.

praised them because of

This shifts the focus to praising someone, which implies thankfulness due to their actions.

FAQs

How can I use "thanked them for" in a sentence?

The phrase "thanked them for" is used to express gratitude for a specific action or contribution. For example, "She "thanked them for" their assistance with the project".

What are some alternatives to saying "thanked them for"?

Alternatives include "expressed gratitude to them for", "conveyed appreciation to them for", or "showed their gratitude toward them for". These options offer varying degrees of formality and emphasis.

Is there a difference between "thanked them for" and "thanked them because of"?

"Thanked them for" is generally used to express gratitude for a specific action or contribution, while "thanked them because of" is used to express gratitude based on a particular reason or circumstance. The former is more direct, while the latter provides more context for the gratitude.

Can I use "thanked them for" in formal writing?

Yes, "thanked them for" is suitable for formal writing, although more elaborate phrases like "expressed gratitude to them for" might be preferred in certain contexts. The appropriateness depends on the overall tone and formality of the writing.