we were fortunate enough

USAGE SUMMARY

'we were fortunate enough' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing gratitude for a blessing or advantage that has been bestowed upon you. For example, "We were fortunate enough to be able to go on a vacation to a beautiful tropical island."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were fortunate enough to build a working board, however.

Cornell University

"We were fortunate enough not to have to compromise anything".

The New York Times

We were fortunate enough to get an apartment.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We were fortunate enough to get him taken out of net".

The New York Times - Sports

We were fortunate enough to travel with a student who was originally from the country.

The Economist

We were fortunate enough to stay once with Lindiwe's family, all 30 or so of them.

The New York Times

After a very rocky hospital stay, we were fortunate enough to bring her home.

The New York Times

We were fortunate enough to work with Burden on several occasions.

The Guardian - Arts

When the crisis came to Iceland we were fortunate enough to do what was necessary.

The Guardian

"His thing is he's retired, but we were fortunate enough to hire him as a consultant," Coach Rex Ryan said.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were fortunate enough to get a couple of transfers to help us balance our classes out".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were fortunate enough" to express gratitude or acknowledge a positive outcome that wasn't guaranteed. This phrase adds a touch of humility and appreciation to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "we were fortunate enough" when describing negative or undesirable situations. The phrase implies a positive outcome, so it would be inappropriate and potentially confusing in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "we were fortunate enough" is to express gratitude or acknowledge a positive outcome that resulted from a combination of luck and favorable circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in expressing gratitude.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were fortunate enough" is a versatile phrase used to express gratitude or acknowledge a positive outcome influenced by luck and favorable circumstances. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and academic writing. While alternatives like "we were lucky enough" exist, "we were fortunate enough" often implies a blend of effort and luck. Remember to use it to give the reader gratitude, and be careful not to use it in undesirable situations. The phrase is very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were lucky enough

Replaces "fortunate" with "lucky", a more common and slightly less formal synonym.

we were so lucky that

Adds emphasis to the feeling of luck.

we had the good fortune to

More formal and emphasizes the positive nature of the event.

we were privileged to

Highlights the special opportunity or honor received.

we had the advantage of

Highlights the beneficial aspect of a situation, less about luck more about advantages.

we were in the lucky position to

Focuses on the advantageous situation that allowed something to happen.

we were given the opportunity to

Focuses on the chance or occasion presented, rather than luck.

we were blessed to

Implies divine favor or a higher power's influence.

we chanced to

Indicates that something happened by chance, with a slightly different nuance than "fortunate".

it was our luck that

Shifts the focus to luck as the primary cause of the positive outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "we were fortunate enough" in a sentence?

Use "we were fortunate enough" to express gratitude for a positive outcome, as in, "We were fortunate enough to secure funding for our project".

What are some alternatives to "we were fortunate enough"?

You can use alternatives like "we were lucky enough", "we had the good fortune to", or "we were privileged to" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "we were fortunate enough"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms that "we were fortunate enough" is usable in written English when expressing gratitude.

What's the difference between "we were fortunate enough" and "we were lucky enough"?

While similar, "we were fortunate enough" often suggests a combination of luck and effort, whereas "we were lucky enough" emphasizes chance or good luck alone.