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Belated congratulations
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"belated congratulations" is a correct and usable phrase in written English
It is usually used to express congratulations to someone after the time when the event or accomplishment warranted congratulatory messages. For example, "We heard about your successful business launch last month and wanted to send our belated congratulations!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

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

6 human-written examples

I hope you will join me in proffering belated congratulations.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

I am a lifelong fan of The Times and am proud to see an accomplished woman at the helm, so a belated congratulations.

News & Media

The New York Times

So, Tater Tots, please accept my belated congratulations.

News & Media

Huffington Post

She opened with "Dear Mr. Zezima," and wrote, in part, "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked me to send you their warmest thanks together with their belated congratulations to Lauren and Guillaume".

News & Media

Huffington Post

Three correct answers: Belated congratulations on your Gentleman's B at Harvard.

News & Media

The New York Times

Belated congratulations to Wiebe.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

A belated congratulation is in order to longtime contest player Rhoda Feng, who was the lone respondent (and a correct respondent at that) to the December 30th contest.

News & Media

The New Yorker

A much-belated congratulations on your Emmy win.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Herzlichen Glückwunsch nachträglich means "heartfelt congratulations belated".

Wiki

WikiHow

This belated conclusion to the hostilities is cause for relief, but not self-congratulation, on both sides.

News & Media

The New York Times

Happy (belated) Limerick Day!

News & Media

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

When using "belated congratulations", briefly acknowledge the reason for the delay to show sincerity and consideration.

⚠ Common error

Avoid using "belated congratulations" when the event is still recent enough for regular congratulations; it's best when there's a noticeable delay.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "belated congratulations" functions as an expression of goodwill or praise offered after a lapse of time since the event or accomplishment. It acknowledges that the congratulations are not timely but still conveys positive sentiment. Ludwig AI confirms it is a proper and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

✓ Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

⚠ Less common in

Science

Academia

Reference

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "belated congratulations" is a grammatically correct and accepted way to offer congratulations after a significant delay. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for expressing goodwill even when the opportunity has passed. It is most commonly found in news and media, with a neutral register that makes it appropriate for various contexts. When using this phrase, it's helpful to acknowledge the reason for the delay to enhance sincerity. Alternatives include "late congratulations" and "better late than never congratulations". While the phrase is useful, avoid using it when the event is still recent enough for regular congratulations.

Alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

late congratulations

This is a more concise and direct alternative. It's slightly less formal.

better-late-than-never congratulations

This alternative emphasizes the idea that it's preferable to congratulate someone late rather than not at all. It is more verbose.

belated felicitations

This substitutes "congratulations" with the more formal "felicitations".

tardy congratulations

This replaces "belated" with "tardy", another synonym indicating lateness.

delayed congratulations

This uses "delayed" instead of "belated", suggesting the congratulations were held back.

retrospective congratulations

This option frames the congratulations as looking back on a past achievement.

More alternative expressions(6)

belated acknowledgments

belated honors

belated congrats

belated accolades

belated returns

belated thanks

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "belated congratulations"?

Use "belated congratulations" when you are offering congratulations significantly after the event or achievement occurred. This acknowledges the delay while still conveying your good wishes.

What are some alternatives to saying "belated congratulations"?

You can use phrases like "late congratulations", "better late than never congratulations", or "offering my congratulations after the fact" depending on the context and level of formality.

How do I make "belated congratulations" sound more sincere?

To enhance sincerity when offering "belated congratulations", briefly explain the reason for your delay. This personalizes the message and shows you haven't forgotten the achievement.

Is "belated congratulations" appropriate for formal communication?

Yes, "belated congratulations" can be used in formal communication, but consider the context. A more formal alternative like "belated felicitations" might be suitable depending on the audience.

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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

92%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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Belated congratulationsGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

Belated congratulations
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples