that was excellent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was excellent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express approval or praise for something that has just been done or presented, such as a performance, a piece of writing, or a meal. Example: "After watching the presentation, I turned to my colleague and said, 'That was excellent!'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Oscar L. Richard, 72 years old, gave an exhibition that was excellent.

The New Yorker

For the majority of Americans who don't own any stocks, that was excellent (and long overdue) news.

The New Yorker

Freiburg gave it their all and put in a performance that was excellent in all relevant criteria (tactics, spirit, work-rate) apart from scoring goals.

The Guardian - Sport

Long-continued work, principally by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, finally resulted in a material that was excellent for guns of all types and sizes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(In January, hourly wages rose at an annual rate of 2.9percentnt). For the majority of Americans who don't own any stocks, that was excellent (and long overdue) news.

The New Yorker

"What has happened," he said, "is that a drug that was excellent for secondary prevention -- that is, in people who suffer from heart disease -- has been moved to primary prevention," and is much less effective in that role.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Huffington Post

Do what God has commanded and... think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Huffington Post

Gardner directs the GoodWork Project -- a study of work that is excellent, engaging, and ethical.

Huffington Post

There are plenty of black men that are EXCELLENT FATHERS, not "baby daddies"!!! pic.twitter.com/Q9OWRpBl0M.

Huffington Post

"That is excellent for us".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that was excellent", consider the context and audience to ensure it aligns with the level of formality and the specific qualities you wish to highlight.

Common error

Avoid using "that was excellent" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "superb" or "outstanding" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was excellent" functions as a positive evaluative statement. It's used to express approval, admiration, or satisfaction with a past action, performance, or event. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates that something has met or exceeded expectations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that was excellent" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express positive evaluation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. While suitable for general use, more formal situations might benefit from synonyms such as "superb" or "outstanding". The phrase sees frequent use in News & Media, Academia, and Science as confirmed by the analysis of authoritative sources. Remember to consider the audience and the specific qualities you want to highlight when using "that was excellent".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was superb

Replaces "excellent" with a synonym implying a very high quality.

that was outstanding

Uses a different adjective to convey exceptional merit.

that was remarkable

Emphasizes the noteworthy or unusual nature of the achievement.

that was exceptional

Highlights the deviation from the norm in a positive way.

that was first-rate

Employs an informal idiom to indicate top quality.

that was top-notch

Similar to "first-rate", but with a slightly more modern feel.

that was impressive

Focuses on the impact the action or performance had on the observer.

that was commendable

Highlights the praiseworthy nature of the action or performance.

that was admirable

Emphasizes the worthiness of respect or approval.

that was exemplary

Indicates that the action or performance serves as a model or example.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "that was excellent"?

You can use alternatives like "that was superb", "that was outstanding", or "that was remarkable" depending on the context.

Is "that was excellent" formal or informal?

The phrase "that was excellent" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal situations might benefit from stronger synonyms.

How can I use "that was excellent" in a sentence?

You can use "that was excellent" to express approval of something that happened in the past, such as, "The presentation was well-prepared; that was excellent."

When is it appropriate to use "that was excellent"?

It's appropriate to use "that was excellent" when you want to convey that something met or exceeded your expectations in terms of quality or performance.