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Ludwig provides contextual example sentences from reliable sources like The New York Times, BBC, and academic publications, helping you understand how words and phrases are used in real-world contexts. This improves both writing fluency and comprehension skills.

Ludwig is trusted by students, teachers, researchers, and professionals worldwide. It's used by top universities including MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford, as well as professionals in tech companies like Adobe.

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Ludwig focuses on providing real example sentences from authoritative sources, not just grammar checking. This contextual approach helps users understand not just what's correct, but how language is actually used by native speakers and professional writers.

Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

A special thanks to
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a special thanks to' is correct and usable in written English
You can use it to give recognition or gratitude to someone for a special achievement or assistance. For example, "I would like to offer a special thanks to my mentor, who has been an invaluable source of guidance and support throughout my academic endeavors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And a special thanks to a great ambassador: @NLAmbCairo !

News & Media

The New York Times

So, a special thanks to Floyd Landis for throwing us another one.

News & Media

The New York Times

"A special thanks to our gestational surrogate who made this possible for us," he wrote.

News & Media

The New York Times

The Family extends a special thanks to cousin Shelby and William Modell.

News & Media

The New York Times

She also offered "a special thanks to the President of the United States".

News & Media

The New Yorker

A special thanks to Ms. Vowell for a most eloquent and meaningful column for Democrats everywhere.

News & Media

The New York Times

A special thanks to Ascention Hospice for all of their help.

News & Media

The New York Times

A special thanks to David Bragdon '62 and Dominick Reuter for the wonderful photos.

Academia

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A special thanks to all the dads who have participated in the study so far!

Academia

Yale University

A special thanks to Dr. David Hradil, RNDr.

Science

Heritage Science

I want to give a special thanks to Mark Zuckerberg.

News & Media

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

Consider the audience and context when deciding whether to use "a special thanks to" or a more formal/informal alternative. For instance, in academic papers or business reports, opting for phrases such as "sincere appreciation" or "deepest gratitude" may prove more suitable.

⚠ Common error

While appropriate in many situations, avoid overusing "a special thanks to" in very formal contexts. Substituting with phrases like "the author gratefully acknowledges" or "sincere appreciation is extended to" can improve the tone of a formal document.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a special thanks to" serves as an expression of gratitude, typically used in acknowledgements or when recognizing someone's contribution. This is supported by the diverse examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

✓ Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

27%

Academia

15%

⚠ Less common in

Wiki

Formal & Business

Social Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a special thanks to" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to express gratitude, as validated by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in science, news media, and academic contexts. While its usage is generally neutral, it can be adapted for both formal and informal settings. When using this phrase, ensure that the reason for gratitude is clear and consider whether a more formal alternative might be more appropriate for certain audiences. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating the correct usage of this common expression.

Alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with special thanks to

Adds the preposition "with" for slightly different emphasis.

heartfelt thanks to

Replaces "special" with "heartfelt" to emphasize sincerity.

deepest gratitude to

Emphasizes the depth of gratitude.

sincere appreciation to

Replaces "thanks" with "appreciation" for a more formal tone.

I extend my sincere thanks to

Replaces "special" with "sincere" and rewords the opening.

I want to express my gratitude to

Shifts to a first-person perspective and uses "gratitude".

More alternative expressions(5)

a special thank to

a special gratitude to

a special appreciation to

a special thank you to

particularly thanks to

FAQs

How can I use "a special thanks to" in a sentence?

You can use "a special thanks to" to acknowledge someone's help or contribution. For example, "A special thanks to the research team for their hard work".

What are some alternatives to "a special thanks to"?

You can use alternatives like "sincere appreciation to", "heartfelt thanks to", or "deepest gratitude to" to express thanks in a similar way.

When is it appropriate to use "a special thanks to"?

"A special thanks to" is appropriate when you want to specifically highlight someone's contribution or assistance. It is suitable for acknowledgements in reports, presentations, or personal correspondence.

Is "a special thank you to" the same as "a special thanks to"?

Yes, "a special thank you to" is very similar in meaning to "a special thanks to". Both phrases are used to express gratitude, but "a special thank you to" is often considered slightly more informal.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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A special thanks toGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

A special thanks to
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples