When you’re trying to express appreciation, should you use greatful or grateful? “Grateful” is the correct spelling, and “greatful” is a common misspelling of the word. To learn more about why “grateful” is correct, as well as how you can use this word, keep reading the rest of this article.
Related:
- Ninty or Ninety: What’s the Correct Spelling?
- Donut vs Doughnut: What’s the Correct Spelling?
- Omelet or Omelette: What Is the Correct Spelling?
What is Grateful?
Grateful, an adjective, is a common descriptive word used to represent a feeling of appreciation.
The word “grateful” has an interesting etymology. It comes from the Latin word “gratus” which means “thankful” or “pleasing.”
The adjective “grateful” goes hand in hand with the noun “gratitude.” So, when you feel or express gratitude for good things that happen in your life, you are being grateful.
Examples:
- My mother was very grateful for the gift you sent her.
- I felt grateful when you complimented my outfit.
- Let’s all go around the table and say what we’re grateful for.
- I’m grateful for all of the blessings that came into my life this year!
- She was grateful that the teacher decided to give her extra credit.
- John did not feel very grateful for his coach’s constant criticism.
- I am so grateful that I’ve gotten to know you better!
- What are you grateful for this Christmas?
- You should write down ten things you are grateful for each morning.
- He was grateful for the thoughtful gesture.
How to Use Grateful?
You should use the word “grateful” when you are trying to communicate about feelings of being thankful for something.
You might feel grateful when:
- Someone does something nice for you
- You experience some good luck
- You realize that there are many people in your life that you love.
Ultimately, you can say that you are grateful in any context where you realize that you are happy to have the things, people, or experiences that are in your life.
On the other hand, someone who does not appreciate the good things that they have is “ungrateful.”
Greatful or Grateful: Which Spelling is Correct?
Many people think that “grateful” makes sense; however, as we’ve mentioned earlier, “grateful” is a misspelling. “Great” is often used as an adjective to describe something that is large and remarkable. So, it doesn’t make sense to use “greatful” when you are being thankful.
Trick to Remembering the Correct Spelling
Recall that “grateful” comes from the word “gratitude.” So, the next time you are trying to choose the correct spelling of “grateful,” just think about the base word “gratitude,” and you will see that you need to use “grate” instead of “great.” After all, “grateful” literally means “full of gratitude.” Hopefully, this tip can help you remember which word to use if you get confused.
Alternatively, remember verb “grate” (which means to cut cheese into small pieces with a grater) and then add the suffix -ful.
But if you’re in dire need of an easier way to remember “grateful,”don’t forget that it is always okay to use synonyms or other words that mean the same thing as “grateful.” For example, you can use words like “thankful” and “appreciative” to mean that you are grateful.
Final Thoughts
Next time you are trying to choose between greatful or grateful, remember the tips in this article and choose the correct word. Although grateful and grateful sound alike (particularly their first syllable), “greatful” is a misspelling. As we’ve explained, “grateful” is the correct word to use when you’re thankful.
