that was fortunate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was fortunate" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express relief or gratitude about a positive outcome or event. Example: "I missed the traffic jam; that was fortunate." Alternative expressions include "that was lucky" and "that was a stroke of luck."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"One thing that was fortunate was that they didn't move the action to the urinals," she said.

The New York Times

So what's going on with that?" And that's been a lot of what we've been able to do, drive and effect change through an ambassador that was fortunate enough to have a big rich media following.

Forbes

You are simply the stone (or hedgehog) that was fortunate enough to roll all the way to the bottom of the mountain.

Vice

A lot of computer scientists learned to program from an early age, so it's probably not that unique, but I think I was one of the ones that was fortunate to have had a computer and could learn to start to program from a very young age.

HuffPost

That was fortunate for us".

The New York Times - Sports

Well, that was fortunate.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

His untimely passing has devastated and touched the heart of all those that were fortunate to have known him.

The New York Times

Programs that are fortunate enough to receive an MREFC award will have to plan their operational phase quite differently.

Science Magazine

"That's fortunate," I said.

The New Yorker

That's fortunate.

The New York Times - Tech

That is fortunate for the rest of us.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase at the beginning of a sentence to provide immediate commentary on the preceding event, acting as a transitional evaluation.

Common error

Do not use "that was fortunate" when the outcome was the result of careful planning or hard work rather than chance. In such cases, use phrases like "that was effective" or "that was strategic" to accurately credit the effort involved.

Linguistic Context

In the phrase "that was fortunate", the word "that" serves as a demonstrative pronoun referring to a prior event, "was" is the linking verb (copula) and "fortunate" is a subject complement adjective. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use as an evaluative statement that provides a retrospective summary of a situation's favorability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that was fortunate" is a robust and sophisticated way to acknowledge a favorable outcome driven by chance. Analysis of Ludwig data reveals that it is a favorite among professional writers and journalists for its ability to provide clear, evaluative commentary on events. Unlike the more casual "that was lucky", this phrase carries a weight of observation that fits well in both narrative and analytical writing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical accuracy and its high prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. Whether you are writing a news report or a personal essay, using "that was fortunate" allows you to convey a sense of relief and positive assessment with linguistic precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was lucky

Uses a more common and slightly more informal adjective than fortunate.

how fortunate that was

Inverts the structure for exclamatory emphasis on the level of luck.

that was a stroke of luck

Emphasizes the sudden or unexpected nature of the positive event.

that worked out well

Shifts the focus from the 'luck' itself to the successful final result.

that was opportune

Highlights that the event happened at a particularly favorable or well-timed moment.

that was providential

Adds a formal or even spiritual connotation, implying divine timing.

that was serendipitous

Specifically refers to finding something good by accident.

it was a happy coincidence

Focuses on the simultaneous occurrence of events that lead to a good result.

that was auspicious

Suggests that the event is a sign of future success, often used in formal settings.

it was a blessing

Expresses a deeper sense of gratitude and significance for the outcome.

FAQs

How to use "that was fortunate" in a sentence?

The phrase is typically used as a comment on a previous statement. For example: "The rain stopped just before the ceremony began; "that was fortunate" for the guests."

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

You can use alternatives like "that was lucky", "that was opportune", or "that was providential" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is "that was fortunate" formal?

Yes, it is considered neutral to formal. While perfectly fine in conversation, it is more commonly found in written media and literature than the simpler "that was lucky".

What is the difference between "that was fortunate" and "it was fortunate"?

The phrase "that was fortunate" usually refers back to a specific event just mentioned, while "it was fortunate" often acts as a dummy subject to introduce a new clause, such as "It was fortunate that we arrived early."