told happily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "told happily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the manner in which someone conveyed information, indicating that they did so with happiness or joy. Example: "She told happily that she had received the promotion she had been hoping for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I'm told (happily, I wasn't there) that the press screening at the Venice film festival was somewhat raucously received.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Georgia is the new sunshine state," Dooley told me happily.

The New Yorker

"The beauty is that trash doesn't cost anything," Sayyid once told me, happily.

The New Yorker

"This case sums up everything I've been saying about these companies for years," he told me happily.

The New Yorker

"If I fell off the twig tomorrow," he told me happily, "it would still look as if I was very busy".

The New York Times

"Thank you for your support, because now I am not just a senator, I'm Senate majority leader," Mr. Espada told them happily.

The New York Times

'We were shocked by how much we were judged' harshly and told off' Happily married for five years this couple (the man is Catholic and the wife Muslim) struggled to find support While we came from different faiths, we approached them in similar ways.

Independent

"The opening is imminent," he tells Pandora happily.

Independent

Get ready, you tell yourself happily, for a tail-kicking night of tearing down the house.

The New York Times

"They sent this card and forgot to sign it," he pictures them telling themselves happily.

The New Yorker

"We're definitely a band now," Cassie tells them happily, as they sit by the waterside.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "told happily" to clearly convey not just the information, but also the positive emotion associated with its communication. This can add depth and nuance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on adverbs like "happily". While "told happily" is valid, consider if a stronger verb or rephrasing the sentence could convey the same meaning more effectively and concisely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told happily" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing how something was told. It adds information about the manner of communication, indicating a positive emotional state during the act of conveying information. Ludwig shows numerous examples where this construction is used to enhance descriptions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "told happily" is a grammatically sound and common way to describe the act of conveying information with a sense of joy or pleasure. Ludwig's analysis reveals that it frequently appears in News & Media contexts, emphasizing not only the information but also the positive emotion behind it. While effective, writers should be mindful of potential overuse of adverbs and consider stronger verbs or rephrasing for conciseness. The high source quality and clear emotional conveyance contribute to its positive expert rating.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

related with glee

Replaces "told" with "related" and "happily" with "glee", focusing on a high level of joy in the telling.

shared with delight

Uses "shared" instead of "told" and "delight" to emphasize the pleasure in communicating the information.

announced joyfully

Employs "announced" to suggest a more formal communication and "joyfully" to describe the manner.

reported gleefully

Uses "reported" to give a sense of relaying information and "gleefully" to show happiness.

divulged with pleasure

Replaces "told" with "divulged", implying a reveal, and "happily" with "pleasure", indicating enjoyment.

communicated cheerfully

Uses "communicated" for a broader sense of conveying information and "cheerfully" for a lighter, more positive tone.

recounted with joy

Substitutes "told" with "recounted", implying a narration, and "happily" with "joy", focusing on happiness.

expressed with happiness

Emphasizes the expression of information and the feeling of happiness accompanying it.

narrated with satisfaction

Suggests a storytelling style and replaces "happily" with "satisfaction", focusing on contentment in the telling.

revealed with enthusiasm

Highlights the revealing aspect and replaces "happily" with "enthusiasm", adding excitement to the communication.

FAQs

How can I use "told happily" in a sentence?

You can use "told happily" to describe someone conveying information with joy or pleasure. For example: "She "told happily" about her promotion."

What are some alternatives to "told happily"?

You can use alternatives like "shared with delight", "announced joyfully", or "reported gleefully" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "told happily"?

While the effectiveness depends on context, using "told happily" is not inherently redundant. It explicitly conveys both the act of telling and the emotional state, providing a more nuanced description than simply "told".

When is it better to use a synonym for "happily" in the phrase "told happily"?

Consider using a synonym like "told cheerfully" or "told gleefully" when you want to emphasize a specific type of happiness or excitement associated with the act of telling.