If you are among those
who are interested in learning correct English grammar, you must have come
across different English articles proposing that you don't say
"congratulations for" but "congratulations on". I could
remember supporting such claim in one my articles titled, the DOs
and DONTs for great English presentation. However, it seems language
has, once again, proven to be dynamic. In other words, the long-time claim that
"congratulations" only collocates with "on" no longer
holds water as all modern English dictionaries and usage guides now say "congratulations"
collocates with both "on" and "for" depending on the
meaning you want to convey. This validates the popular biblical axiom, "...old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). So when is it proper to use either of these expressions?
When and How To Use "Congratulations on" and "Congratulations for"
You use "congratulations on" when you want to send good wishes
or expressions of joy to someone on the occasion of an important event in the
life of that person. It could be marriage, convocation, birthday,
promotion at work, birth of a child etc.
Examples
1. Congratulations on your marriage!
2. Congratulations on your convocation!
1. Congratulations on your marriage!
2. Congratulations on your convocation!
On the other hand, you use "congratulations for" when you want
to acknowledge an achievement or praise someone for a great effort.
Examples
1. Congratulations for paying workers’ salaries promptly!
2. Congratulations for leading the children to safety!
1. Congratulations for paying workers’ salaries promptly!
2. Congratulations for leading the children to safety!
"Congratulations" can also be used with the preposition
"to" when it is offered to someone. In this case, the verb,
"offered", immediately precedes the word,
"congratulations", as in:
The CEO of Tammys English Blog offered congratulations to all his blog readers.
Lest I forget, it is important to state that "congratulations"
can be used by itself. This is a very common practice as
people always use "congratulations" without attaching any of the
aforementioned prepositions to it, e.g., congratulations!
In sum, the use of "congratulations for" or
"congratulations on" solely depends on the context or the meaning the
speaker wants to convey. There is nothing wrong in saying "congratulations
for" if used in the right context.