this was great

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was great" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a positive opinion or satisfaction about an experience, event, or item that has already occurred. Example: "After attending the concert last night, I can confidently say that this was great."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Music

TV & Radio

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This was great television.

The New York Times

This was great.

The New Yorker

"This was great for racing.

The New York Times - Sports

I thought this was great".

The New York Times

This was great, right?

The New York Times - Magazine

But this was great.

The Guardian

This was great, for a short while.

The New York Times - Arts

This was great to see".

The New York Times - Sports

He said courtside: "This was great.

The Guardian - Sport

So this was great for the singer".

The Guardian - Music

"I thought this was great, yeah.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this was great" to succinctly convey satisfaction or approval about a past event or experience. It is suitable for both informal and moderately formal contexts.

Common error

While "this was great" is versatile, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "this proved exceptionally beneficial" or "this demonstrated significant value" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was great" functions primarily as a declarative statement expressing a positive assessment of a completed event, action, or object. According to Ludwig AI, this expression is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

15%

Music

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

TV & Radio

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was great" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express satisfaction or approval regarding a past event or experience. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and versatility. While suitable for various contexts, including news, sports, and music reporting, it should be used judiciously in highly formal settings where more sophisticated language might be preferred. Alternatives such as "that was excellent" or "it was truly wonderful" can provide similar meaning with different stylistic nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was excellent

Replaces "great" with a stronger adjective indicating high quality.

that was fantastic

Substitutes "great" with another enthusiastic adjective, implying delight.

it was truly wonderful

Adds emphasis with "truly", making the statement more heartfelt.

that was remarkably good

Uses a more formal tone with "remarkably good", suitable for professional contexts.

it exceeded my expectations

Expresses that something surpassed what was anticipated.

i was very impressed by that

Shifts the focus to personal feelings of being impressed.

i couldn't have asked for better

Expresses complete satisfaction, implying nothing could have improved the experience.

that proved to be exceptional

Conveys that something has shown itself to be far above average.

it left a lasting positive impression

Indicates that the event or experience will be remembered fondly.

i have nothing but praise for that

Highlights that only positive feedback is warranted.

FAQs

How can I use "this was great" in a sentence?

You can use "this was great" to express satisfaction about a past experience. For example, "After the presentation, I thought "this was great"."

What can I say instead of "this was great"?

You can use alternatives such as "that was excellent", "that was fantastic", or "it was truly wonderful" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "this was great" in a formal setting?

While generally acceptable, in very formal settings, consider using phrases that convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone, such as "this proved to be exceptionally beneficial".

What's the difference between "this was great" and "this is great"?

"This was great" refers to something that happened in the past, expressing satisfaction after the event. "This is great" expresses current satisfaction, indicating enjoyment or approval in the present moment.