we are happy for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we are happy for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express joy or support for someone else's achievements or circumstances. Example: "We are happy for your promotion and wish you continued success in your career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"We are happy for Jane and for this wonderful book.

Independent

Steve moved on and we are happy for him.

The New York Times

We are happy for him and the team.

The Guardian - Sport

We are happy for them to stand on our shoulders".

The Guardian - Business

We are happy for him and we hope he does well.

The New York Times

And however we both do we are happy for each other".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

We're happy for Joe.

The New York Times

"We're happy for you.

The New York Times

We're happy for them to decide.

The Guardian

We're happy for you, we really are.

The New York Times

"We're happy for the consumers," Mr. Maloney said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing support for someone's achievement, follow "we are happy for" with a specific detail to personalize the message. For example, "We are happy for your graduation and excited to see what you do next."

Common error

Avoid replacing "for" with "with" in the phrase. "We are happy with" expresses satisfaction with something, whereas "we are happy for" expresses joy on behalf of someone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we are happy for" functions as an expression of joy or support directed towards someone else's success, fortune, or positive situation. Ludwig confirms its role in conveying positive sentiment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Formal & Business

19%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Science

12%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we are happy for" is a common and grammatically correct expression of joy or support for someone else's positive circumstances, according to Ludwig. It's versatile, fitting well in news reports, business correspondence, and casual chats. While it's suitable for a range of contexts, it's essential to ensure you use "for" to convey the correct meaning, differentiating it from "we are happy with". Ludwig shows that in formal situations, you might opt for synonyms like "we are pleased for" or "we commend". The phrase is clearly a go-to way to share good vibes with others!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are delighted for

Replaces "happy" with "delighted", indicating a higher degree of pleasure.

we are pleased for

Substitutes "happy" with "pleased", suggesting a sense of satisfaction.

we are overjoyed for

Replaces "happy" with "overjoyed", expressing an overwhelming feeling of happiness.

we are thrilled for

Replaces "happy" with "thrilled", indicating a strong feeling of excitement and joy.

we celebrate with

Shifts the focus from feeling to actively celebrating an achievement.

we rejoice with

Emphasizes sharing in someone else's joy and good fortune.

we congratulate

Offers direct congratulations, emphasizing the achievement.

we commend

Uses a more formal tone to praise and approve of an action or achievement.

our congratulations to

Expresses congratulations in a slightly more formal and indirect way.

we applaud

Implies approval and admiration, often for a performance or specific action.

FAQs

How do I use "we are happy for" in a sentence?

Use "we are happy for" to express joy or support for someone else's achievement or good fortune. For example, "We are happy for your new job" or "We are happy for their success".

What can I say instead of "we are happy for"?

You can use alternatives like "we are pleased for", "we are delighted for", or "we congratulate" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we are happy with you" instead of "we are happy for you"?

While both are grammatically correct, they have different meanings. "We are happy with you" expresses satisfaction with someone's actions or qualities, while "we are happy for you" expresses joy or support for their good fortune or achievement.

When is it appropriate to use "we are happy for" in a formal setting?

It is appropriate to use "we are happy for" in formal settings when expressing sincere support for someone's accomplishments. However, consider using more formal alternatives like "we commend" or "our congratulations to" for highly formal contexts.