Congratulation
Bette
Is this grammatically correct? I just received a letter that read, “Congratulation on your acceptance to the master’s program.”
Matt
Certainly. We normally wish multiple congratulations to people, but there’s no reason why you cannot wish a single congratulation.
Bette
It sounds wrong, though.
Matt
That’s just because you always hear the plural. I think that a long time ago the singular was probably used more often, but over the years it evolved to the point of multiple congratulations being the standard. If you ask me, we’re probably wasting congratulations.
Bette
So if somebody got married, you would say “Congratulation” to them?
Matt
No, that would warrant more than one congratulation.
Bette
How about getting a new job?
Matt
Generally at least two congratulations, although I suppose it depends on the person and the job.
I’m really talking about something like finding five dollars on the sidewalk. “Hey, I just found a five dollar bill!”
Bette
“Congratulation!”
Matt
Yeah, that sounds right.
I may start specifically enumerating how many congratulations I give out. I wonder if it’s okay to give out fractional congratulations.
Bette
…
Matt
I really hope that your letter wasn’t meant to be sarcastic.
Bette
Me, too.
Tags: congratulations, grammar
June 4th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
By the way, Bette, I wish you a billion congratulations on your acceptance to the master’s program. I’m really excited for you. I’m sure you’ll get your graduate degree a long time before I get mine.
June 4th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
How many classes are you taking? I’ve found that one a semester is plenty if you also have a full time job. Night school is very much like moonlighting a part time job.
June 4th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
It’s one class every five weeks for 18 months. We’ll see how it goes.