we are much obliged

USAGE SUMMARY

"we are much obliged" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to express gratitude or thankfulness in a formal or polite manner. You can use it in situations where someone has done something kind or helpful for you. Example: "Thank you for your assistance with our project, we are much obliged."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

While walking away, one defiant Tiger called over his shoulder, "We are much obliged, sor, but Wheat's Battalion kin clean up the whole damn Twenty-first Georgia any time".

The New York Times

We are much obliged to Northern Territory Herbarium (DNA) in Palmerston (Australia) for sending us fruits of A. gregorii.

Botanical Studies

Also, we are much obliged to the experts who critically reviewed the framework and the measurement instrument.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The author are much obliged to Mrs. Lisa Monner (conservator-restaurator) and Mr. Thor-Aage Heiberg (Head, Buildings and Preservation Division), both with Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum, Trondheim, Norway, for kind support with in situ investigations and sample collection.

Heritage Science

Co-directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan are much obliged to demonstrate.

Vice

Co-directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan are much obliged to demonstrate. .

Vice

~ If anyone wants to send us a crate of the new Yuengling "Harry Potter" ice cream flavor, Butterbeer, we'd be much obliged.

HuffPost

And if that's the case, we'd be much obliged if you'd stop puffing blue smoke, telling us what you intend to do and simply step aside.

Huffington Post

If so, I'd be much obliged if we could save on the expensive clinic sessions and work through a couple of my biggest travel bugbears together.

Independent

No doubt her husband Nick Laird is much obliged.

Independent

That should be 1933, My Lord, and I am much obliged.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this phrase when a service or favor has been performed that places the speaker in a position of social or professional debt.

Common error

Avoid using "we are much obliged" in casual text messages or relaxed social settings. In such contexts, the phrase can sound archaic, overly stiff or unintentionally sarcastic because it carries a weight of traditional etiquette that modern informal speech lacks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we are much obliged" functions as a formulaic expression of gratitude. It uses the passive participle "obliged" to indicate that the subjects are bound by a sense of duty or debt to the recipient. Ludwig shows that it frequently appears in acknowledgments of professional or scientific collaboration.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

Academia

25%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI, "we are much obliged" is a grammatically correct and sophisticated expression of gratitude. While its overall frequency is categorized as Rare in general conversation, it holds a strong and consistent presence in Formal and Scientific writing. It is an ideal choice for acknowledging peer reviewers in academic papers or expressing professional thanks in business correspondence. Users should be mindful of its formal weight to avoid sounding archaic in casual settings. Ultimately, it remains a powerful tool for conveying a high degree of respect and professional acknowledgment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are very grateful

More common in modern standard English while remaining professional.

we are much indebted

Heightens the level of obligation to the recipient.

we are most appreciative

Focuses more on the feeling of appreciation than the social obligation.

we owe you a debt of gratitude

An idiomatic expression for deep or significant assistance.

we appreciate your help

A more direct and slightly less formal active construction.

we extend our thanks

More ceremonial and often used in official announcements.

we are thankful

A simpler and more personal expression of gratitude.

we are truly thankful

Adds an adverb for emotional emphasis.

much appreciated

A shortened, semi-formal version suitable for quick acknowledgments.

many thanks

Less formal and much more common in everyday email communication.

FAQs

How to use "we are much obliged" in a sentence?

You can use it at the end of a request or acknowledgment, such as: "If you could provide the data by Friday, "we are much obliged"."

What can I say instead of "we are much obliged"?

You can use alternatives like "we are most grateful", "we are very grateful" or "we are much indebted" depending on the required level of formality.

Is "we are much obliged" still commonly used?

While it is considered a legacy expression, Ludwig indicates it remains common in specific formal sectors like legal, academic and high-level diplomatic writing.

What is the difference between "we are much obliged" and "thank you"?

While both express gratitude, "we are much obliged" specifically suggests that the speaker feels a sense of duty or debt as a result of the help received, whereas "thank you" is a general expression of appreciation.