utterly delighted in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utterly delighted in" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to express a strong sense of joy or pleasure about something, but the preposition "in" is not appropriate here. Example: "She was utterly delighted by the surprise party her friends organized for her."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Quote: "I'm entirely amazed and utterly delighted in equal measure".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I absolutely delighted in writing the Hannah books.

Huffington Post

Given a moment's thought, of course, there are plenty of people from Commonwealth countries who'd be utterly delighted to live in peaceful stable Britain, and, in fact, there are plenty who move here all the time.

The Guardian

"Tim Minchin is without doubt one of the most multi-talented performers in the world and we are utterly delighted he's fallen in love with Jon Brown's rather brilliant script," said Allen.

The Guardian

"I'm completely and utterly delighted with what the Guardian has done in terms of raising the issue, which is phenomenal," he said.

The Guardian

Naipaul, who became Sir Vidia in the 1990 honours list, said in a brief statement: "I am utterly delighted.

The Guardian

"As a mother, a priest and a pastor, I am utterly delighted by your company's focus on millions of American families in your most recent "This is wholesome" commercial.

Huffington Post

Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the highest-ranking judicial official in Britain, visited the Midtown Community Court yesterday and pronounced himself "utterly delighted".

The New York Times

Mr. Gutenbrunner was utterly delighted.

The New York Times

He looks utterly delighted to be here.

The Guardian - Film

She never stops seeming utterly delighted.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the preposition "in" after "utterly delighted". Instead, use prepositions like "with" or "by", or consider omitting the preposition altogether. For example, prefer "utterly delighted by the news" or "utterly delighted with the results" or simply "utterly delighted".

Common error

A common mistake is to follow "utterly delighted" with the incorrect preposition "in". This construction is grammatically awkward. Always double-check the preposition used to ensure it fits the context; "by" or "with" are generally better choices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly delighted in" functions as a descriptive phrase, aiming to convey a strong feeling of happiness or pleasure. However, according to Ludwig AI, the preposition usage is questionable, making it less grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "utterly delighted in" seeks to express a strong sense of joy or pleasure. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to the inappropriate use of the preposition "in". While some examples can be found, primarily in news and media sources, it is advisable to use "utterly delighted by", "utterly delighted with", or simply "utterly delighted" for better grammatical correctness. Consider alternatives such as "absolutely thrilled by" or "completely overjoyed with" for clearer and more accepted expressions of happiness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly thrilled

Removes the preposition, using only "utterly thrilled" for a direct expression of joy. Grammatically better.

absolutely thrilled by

Replaces "utterly delighted" with "absolutely thrilled" to emphasize the strong emotion and uses "by" instead of "in" for better grammatical flow.

elated by

A concise alternative, replacing "utterly delighted" with the single word "elated" and using "by" as preposition.

completely overjoyed with

Substitutes "utterly delighted" with "completely overjoyed", offering a more common expression of extreme happiness and maintaining the preposition "with".

extremely pleased with

Uses "extremely pleased" as a replacement for "utterly delighted", providing a slightly more formal tone and using the correct preposition "with".

highly gratified by

Offers a more formal alternative, replacing "utterly delighted" with "highly gratified", and using "by" instead of "in" for correct preposition usage.

incredibly happy about

Replaces "utterly delighted" with "incredibly happy", providing a simpler and more direct expression of joy and using "about" as preposition.

deeply appreciative of

Changes the focus slightly to appreciation, using "deeply appreciative" instead of "utterly delighted" and using "of" as preposition.

thoroughly satisfied with

Shifts the meaning to satisfaction, using "thoroughly satisfied" instead of "utterly delighted" and maintaining correct preposition usage with "with".

delighted

Simplifies the phrase, using only "delighted" to express happiness. Lacks the intensity of the original.

FAQs

How can I use "utterly delighted" correctly in a sentence?

Use "utterly delighted" followed by "by" or "with", depending on the context. For example, "She was utterly delighted by the gift" or "He was utterly delighted with the performance". Alternatively, use it without a preposition as in "I am utterly delighted".

What prepositions can follow "utterly delighted"?

The most suitable prepositions are "by" and "with". "By" is typically used to indicate the cause of delight, while "with" indicates what one is delighted to have or experience. Avoid using "in".

What can I say instead of "utterly delighted in"?

Consider using alternatives like "absolutely thrilled by", "completely overjoyed with", or "extremely pleased with". These phrases offer similar meanings with better grammatical structure.

Is "utterly delighted in" grammatically correct?

No, "utterly delighted in" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use "utterly delighted by" or "utterly delighted with", or just simply "utterly delighted".