was courteous enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was courteous enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has shown politeness or consideration in a particular situation. Example: "She was courteous enough to hold the door open for the elderly man."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

At terminal velocity in a sprint finish he was simply left with too much to do to overhaul Sagan, who said afterwards that he was fortunate that Nizzolo was courteous enough not to shut the door on him by moving right.

The Guardian - Sport

Navteq Maps was courteous enough to throw maps of 37 countries on there for you, too…countries from Europe of course.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Two trainers were interested, but they were courteous enough to ask if I wanted to see the horse claimed or not.

The New York Times

The room-monitor handset is courteous enough to shut off its ringer, too, on the assumption that it's in a sleeping baby's room.

The New York Times - Tech

Hopefully, the fact that this is still a pretty costly service means that most of these calls will be brief, however, and that most users will be courteous enough to just use text messages instead of making voice calls.

TechCrunch

For example, that brown bag the other two subsets are courteous enough to hold is nonexistent here.

Huffington Post

Yes, he knew of the honor beforehand, but everyone nominated is a professional and should be courteous enough to take the time to plan and not steal precious moments from those later on.

Huffington Post

If they don't charge a fee outright to perform the ceremony, be courteous enough to pay a generous gratuity for their time.

WikiHow

Some airports are courteous enough to provide plastic bags for you, but if yours is not one of those, bring them yourself.

WikiHow

"He was courteous.

The New York Times

He listened, he was courteous".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was courteous enough" when you want to highlight that someone not only acted politely but also went a bit further than what was strictly required.

Common error

Avoid using "was courteous enough" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your text sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "was kind enough" or "was gracious enough" where appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was courteous enough" functions as a descriptor highlighting someone's politeness or consideration in a specific instance. It's generally used to express that the person went above and beyond expected behavior. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was courteous enough" is a descriptor used to commend someone for acting politely, often exceeding basic expectations. While grammatically correct according to Ludwig AI, its frequency is rare, primarily appearing in news and media outlets. When using this phrase, remember that it highlights politeness that goes beyond what is strictly necessary. For variety, synonyms like "was polite enough" or "was gracious enough" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was polite enough

Replaces "courteous" with "polite", a synonym with a slightly different nuance.

was kind enough

Substitutes "courteous" with "kind", emphasizing the benevolence of the action.

was gracious enough

Replaces "courteous" with "gracious", suggesting elegance and generosity in the act.

was considerate enough

Substitutes "courteous" with "considerate", highlighting thoughtfulness towards others.

was good enough to

A more general phrasing that implies someone went above and beyond without specifically using a politeness-related adjective.

took the time to be courteous

Emphasizes the effort involved in being courteous.

showed the courtesy to

Turns the phrase into an action, focusing on the act of showing courtesy.

was obliging enough

Replaces "courteous" with "obliging", focusing on willingness to help or comply.

was civil enough

Substitutes "courteous" with "civil", emphasizing adherence to social norms.

was respectful enough

Replaces "courteous" with "respectful", focusing on showing honor and esteem.

FAQs

What does "was courteous enough" mean?

The phrase "was courteous enough" means that someone acted politely and considerately, often going beyond what was strictly necessary or expected in a particular situation.

What can I say instead of "was courteous enough"?

You can use alternatives like "was polite enough", "was gracious enough", or "was kind enough" depending on the context.

How do I use "was courteous enough" in a sentence?

You can use "was courteous enough" to describe someone's polite action, for example: "She was courteous enough to offer me her seat on the bus" or "He was courteous enough to help me carry my groceries".

What's the difference between "was courteous enough" and "was simply courteous"?

"Was courteous enough" implies a level of politeness that exceeds expectations, suggesting the person went above and beyond. "Was simply courteous" means the person acted politely but without necessarily exceeding basic expectations.