thankfully so

USAGE SUMMARY

"thankfully so" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to express relief. For example, "I had been so worried, but thankfully so, everything worked out okay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

No clash this time, thankfully, so far.

The Guardian

Low budgets are ubiquitous, but thankfully so is access to eBay, Google and charity shops.

The Guardian

These shows helped abolish the idea of cynicism as a comedic holy grail, and thankfully so.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I haven't been to sleep yet and, thankfully, so far it hasn't rained.

The Guardian - Music

When the tables turned, he enjoyed it, thankfully so, but sometimes he went a little overboard.

The Guardian - Music

And thankfully so, because one of the two "small plates" that followed was, excusing the oxymoron, an original classic.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

I'm traveling rather extensively this week - the last week of travel I have for quite some time, thankfully - so here are several brief items worthy of note: (1) As the Guardian was the first to report, the physicist Stephen Hawking withdrew from "a conference hosted by Israeli president Shimon Peres in Jerusalem as a protest at Israel's treatment of Palestinians".

The Guardian - Opinion

But it's still pretty reasonable — though thankfully less so than in the past — to worry about crime.

The New York Times

It's not a truly old-fashioned novel; it's not (thankfully) anything so crass as a postmodern "subversion" of traditional fiction either.

The New York Times - Books

Our baby has been thankfully healthy, so some aspects of the PBA never came up in our testing.

TechCrunch

But, thankfully, like so many other women, her story had a beautiful ending.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thankfully so" to succinctly convey relief or gratitude about a situation, especially when contrasting it with a potentially negative outcome.

Common error

While "thankfully so" is widely acceptable, be mindful of overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated vocabulary to maintain a professional tone, such as "fortunately" or "happily as a result".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thankfully so" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a preceding clause to express a sense of relief or gratitude regarding the situation described. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's frequently used to add a positive sentiment to a preceding statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "thankfully so" is a common and correct expression used to convey relief or gratitude. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use, particularly in News & Media contexts. While versatile, it's best used in neutral settings, avoiding overuse in highly formal or academic writing where more sophisticated vocabulary might be more appropriate. Related phrases, like "fortunately then" or "gratefully as a result", offer alternatives depending on the specific nuance you wish to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gratefully as a result

More clearly emphasizes gratitude as the primary sentiment, framing the positive outcome as a reason for thankfulness.

that's a relief then

Directly expresses a feeling of relief, often in response to a situation that could have been problematic.

fortunately then

Emphasizes the role of fortune in the positive outcome, shifting focus slightly from gratitude to luck.

luckily in such a way

Directly attributes the positive outcome to luck, often implying a degree of chance or unexpectedness.

happily therefore

A more formal expression indicating a positive consequence or result arising from a fortunate circumstance.

conveniently as things turned out

Focuses on the convenience or ease of the positive resolution, often implying a lack of significant effort or difficulty.

mercifully in that case

Highlights the alleviation of potential suffering or hardship, stressing a sense of divine or compassionate intervention.

providentially thus

Suggests divine foresight or intervention led to the favorable result, adding a religious or spiritual connotation.

it's a blessing then

Expresses gratitude and relief with religious undertones, viewing the situation as a divine gift.

auspiciously hence

Indicates that the situation developed favorably because of promising circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "thankfully so" in a sentence?

Use "thankfully so" to express relief or gratitude regarding a particular situation. For example, "The rain stopped just before the event, thankfully so, and we were able to proceed as planned."

What does "thankfully so" actually mean?

"Thankfully so" is an expression used to convey a sense of relief or gratitude that something turned out well or as desired.

Are there any synonyms for "thankfully so"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "fortunately then", "gratefully as a result", or "that's a relief then" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "thankfully so" formal or informal?

"Thankfully so" is generally considered neutral in tone and suitable for various contexts, though it may be less appropriate in highly formal or academic writing. In those settings, consider using "happily therefore" or a similar phrase.