was gracious enough to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was gracious enough to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express appreciation for someone's kindness or willingness to do something for you. Example: "She was gracious enough to offer her assistance when I needed help with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He was gracious enough to let mine win.

The New York Times

Hussey was gracious enough to get out, caught on the boundary, two balls later.

The Guardian - Sport

McCullum was gracious enough to admit that New Zealand's lack of calm was far from self-inflicted.

Independent

LeUyen Pham was gracious enough to share with me her preliminary sketches for "The Boy Who Loved Math".

The New York Times

"I said a couple of nice things about her, and she was gracious enough to call me".

The New Yorker

Alex was gracious enough to drop me a note a little while ago, and I recently wrote him back.

The New York Times

After Mays was gracious enough to field questions for 15 minutes, he asked if I had ever seen him play.

The New York Times - Sports

He took issue with a point that I had made about Adorno but was gracious enough to admit that maybe he was underestimating Timberlake's skills as a songwriter.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

He had been gracious enough to autograph it for her.

The New Yorker

She's gracious enough to take the question seriously.

The Guardian - Music

Your hosts may have been distracted, but they were gracious enough to invite you over.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was gracious enough to" when you want to express sincere gratitude for a specific action someone took. Ensure the context reflects genuine appreciation.

Common error

Avoid using "was gracious enough to" sarcastically or in situations where the person's action was expected or obligatory. Sarcastic overtones can completely alter its intended meaning and seem rude.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was gracious enough to" functions as an adjective phrase combined with an infinitive, expressing gratitude or appreciation for someone's action. Ludwig AI shows it is frequently used in news and media to acknowledge acts of kindness or assistance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was gracious enough to" serves as an expression of gratitude, commonly found in journalistic and formal contexts, and according to Ludwig AI is considered grammatically correct. While alternatives like "was kind enough to" or "was generous enough to" exist, careful consideration of tone and context is crucial to maintain authenticity. Its effectiveness lies in genuinely conveying appreciation for someone's actions, and avoiding misuse in sarcastic or inappropriate scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was kind enough to

Replaces "gracious" with "kind", emphasizing the person's benevolent nature.

was generous enough to

Substitutes "gracious" with "generous", focusing on the act of giving or sharing.

was good enough to

Uses "good" instead of "gracious", highlighting the person's moral uprightness.

was obliging enough to

Replaces "gracious" with "obliging", stressing their willingness to help.

was so thoughtful as to

Changes the structure to emphasize the person's consideration.

was considerate enough to

Highlights the thoughtfulness behind the action.

was obliging enough to

Uses the term "obliging" to indicate willingness to accommodate.

took the trouble to

Focuses on the effort the person made.

went to the extent of

Highlights the degree to which the person went to do something.

condescended to

Implies a superior position of the acting person. Not always appropriate, conveys that the acting person considered himself higher or better than the receiver, therefore had to lower himself to assist.

FAQs

How can I use "was gracious enough to" in a sentence?

Use "was gracious enough to" to express gratitude for someone's action. For example, "She "was gracious enough to" offer me a ride home after the meeting."

What are some alternatives to "was gracious enough to"?

Alternatives include "was kind enough to", "was generous enough to", or "was good enough to", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "was gracious enough to" in formal writing?

Yes, "was gracious enough to" is suitable for formal writing as it conveys respect and appreciation in a polite manner. However, consider the tone and context to ensure it aligns with the overall style.

Can "was gracious enough to" be used sarcastically?

While "was gracious enough to" is typically used sincerely, it can be employed sarcastically to express displeasure or irony. Be mindful of your tone and the context to avoid misinterpretation.