that was quick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was quick" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise or appreciation for the speed of an action or response. Example: "I just sent the email, and within minutes, I received a reply. That was quick!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Wow, that was quick.

The Guardian - Sport

"At least that was quick," he said.

The New York Times

Christ, Weller's gone already, that was quick.

The Guardian - Music

With the well now capped, and the waters open again to fishermen — my, that was quick!

The New York Times

But this, the last of this lot (God that was quick), is clearly the one.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

When I saw the story last week about Keith Olbermann and Current TV lawyering up, I couldn't help thinking, My, that was quick.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

It stood for prose that was quick-footed and full of word play: the style his novels Kalooki Nights and Zoo Time made familiar.

The Guardian - Books

And then the sex you had with yourself, that was quicker, too.

The New Yorker

Author of a decade of killing, Bin Laden had endpages that were quick and sharp.

The New York Times

"From a policy perspective, people want something that's quick and clean, to assess risk.

The New Yorker

"It's just something that's quick, it's easy to make and I like it a lot," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that was quick" to express genuine surprise or appreciation for the speed of an action. It's best used in informal settings or when reacting to something unexpected.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "that was quick" in highly formal or professional communications. Opt for more measured phrases like "the response was prompt" or "the turnaround was efficient" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was quick" primarily functions as an exclamatory remark. It expresses surprise or acknowledgement regarding the speed of an action or event. Examples in Ludwig confirm its role as a reaction to unexpected promptness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that was quick" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey surprise or acknowledgement about the speed of an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently found in news and media sources but is suitable for informal contexts. While versatile, be mindful of its casual tone and consider more formal alternatives, like "the response was prompt", in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was fast

Simple synonym, directly replacing "quick" with "fast" maintaining the same meaning.

that was speedy

Replaces "quick" with "speedy", adding a slightly more emphatic tone.

that was rapid

Uses "rapid" instead of "quick", indicating a slightly more formal tone.

that was swift

Substituting "quick" with "swift" suggests efficiency and promptness.

that happened quickly

Expresses the same sentiment by rephrasing the sentence to focus on the speed of the event.

that was sooner than expected

Highlights the unexpected speed of an event.

that didn't take long

Conveys the brevity of the action, implying a similar meaning.

well, that escalated quickly

Adds a layer of intensity, implying not just speed but also a rapid increase in intensity or complexity.

that was unexpectedly fast

Emphasizes surprise at the speed of the action.

that's what I call efficiency

Shifts focus to the positive aspect of speed, praising the efficiency.

FAQs

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

Use "that was quick" to express surprise or acknowledgement when something happens faster than expected. For example, if someone replies to your email almost instantly, you could say, "Wow, "that was quick"!"

What's a more formal alternative to "that was quick"?

In formal settings, you might prefer phrases such as "the response was prompt", "the action was efficient", or "the turnaround was surprisingly fast" instead of "that was quick".

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

"That was quick" is generally appropriate in informal settings among friends, family, or colleagues with whom you have a relaxed relationship. It's suitable when you want to acknowledge the speed of an action in a casual manner.

What's the difference between "that was quick" and "that was fast"?

While "that was quick" and "that was fast" are very similar, "that was quick" often carries a slightly stronger sense of surprise or appreciation, while "that was fast" is a more straightforward observation of speed.