very recommended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very recommended" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "recommended" already implies a strong suggestion, and adding "very" is redundant. Example: "This restaurant is highly recommended for its excellent service and delicious food."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

SIGNIFICANT: TechCrunch Disrupt SF, San Francisco, California, TBA – Very Recommended (September 7-11, 2013).

TechCrunch

Week 5 The Crunchies – The Annual TechCrunch Awards, January 31 – Very recommended!

TechCrunch

Week 7. SIGNIFICANT: The Crunchies – San Francisco, California, February 10, The Annual TechCrunch Awards – Very recommended!

TechCrunch

Week 37 TechCrunch Disrupt SF, San Francisco, Dates TBA – Very Recommended Pirate Summit, Cologne – Fun, disruptive tech startup event, junkyard atmosphere, good vibe.

TechCrunch

A heuristic in EDS is a function that gives a score to an AF, ranging from 0 (forbidden) to 10 (very recommended).

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Week 4 Hyberlin, Berlin, 18TH-19th Jan, 2013 DLD, Munich, January 20-23 – Invited / Ticketed – Recommended WEF / Davos, January 23-27 – Invite Only (increasingly full of tech companies) The Europas, Berlin, January 22 – The European Tech Startup Awards – Very recommended.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"Aaron knows Scott very well and comes very highly recommended as a coach," Cockerill told the club website.

BBC

"He had been exposed to different coaches and people that I have respect for and he came very highly recommended".

The New York Times

Like the work, the performance has its occasional flaws, but it is hugely entertaining and comes very highly recommended indeed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What saved his life was a letter found in his pocket: "The bearer Mr Thomas Pain is very well recommended to me as an ingenious worthy young man".

The New Yorker

As Dominic West and his onscreen wife, played by Maura Tierney, prepare to divorce, she says of their mediator: "He's very highly recommended.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "very recommended" in formal writing. Instead, opt for stronger alternatives like "highly recommended" or "strongly recommended" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Don't use "very" with words that already imply a high degree. "Recommended" already means something is highly favored; adding "very" creates redundancy. Focus on varying your vocabulary to enhance impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very recommended" functions as an adjective phrase aiming to intensify the verb. However, Ludwig indicates that it is not standard English because it is considered grammatically redundant.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

34%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "very recommended" is a common but grammatically questionable way to express strong endorsement. While it appears across various contexts like News & Media, Wiki, and Science, authoritative sources typically favor alternatives such as "highly recommended" or "strongly recommended". Ludwig flags "very recommended" as incorrect, citing redundancy since "recommended" already implies a high degree of endorsement. Therefore, while the intent is clear, opting for grammatically sound alternatives enhances clarity and credibility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly recommended

Uses 'highly' as a more grammatically sound intensifier.

strongly recommended

Emphasizes the force of the recommendation.

unreservedly recommended

Implies a full and complete endorsement without hesitation.

earnestly recommended

Suggests a sincere and heartfelt recommendation.

definitely recommended

Adds a sense of certainty and assurance to the recommendation.

enthusiastically endorsed

Highlights the positive feeling behind the recommendation.

warmly endorsed

Indicates a friendly and positive recommendation.

highly suggested

Offers 'suggested' as a slightly less formal alternative to 'recommended', intensified by 'highly'.

universally acclaimed

Indicates widespread approval and recommendation by many.

widely praised

Shows broad positive feedback, implying strong recommendation.

FAQs

Is "very recommended" grammatically correct?

No, "very recommended" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. "Recommended" already implies a strong endorsement, so adding "very" is redundant. It's better to use alternatives like "highly recommended" or "strongly recommended".

What can I say instead of "very recommended"?

You can use alternatives such as "highly recommended", "strongly recommended", or "earnestly recommended" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "very recommended" or "highly recommended"?

Highly recommended is the correct and more widely accepted phrase. "Very recommended" is redundant because "recommended" already implies a high degree of endorsement.

What's the difference between "very recommended" and "highly recommended"?

The main difference is grammatical correctness. "Very recommended" is considered redundant and grammatically incorrect. Highly recommended is the standard and grammatically sound alternative.