When you want to congratulate someone, knowing whether to use congratulations on or congratulations for can make your message sound more natural and proficient. In American English, the phrase “congratulations on” is far more common and typically applies to specific events, achievements, or milestones like a promotion, graduation, marathon, wedding, or baby.
For example, you would say, “Congratulations on your Ph.D.” or “Congratulations on getting the job.” Here, the preposition “on” is followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing verb), and it aligns with grammar rules taught in Oxford Dictionaries Online and other trusted sources.
Using this form shows awareness, knowledge, and respect for the recipient, whether in a card, email, social media post, or speech.
In contrast, congratulations for is less idiomatic and often used when highlighting the actions, behavior, or qualities that led to a success, rather than the event itself. You might say, “Congratulations for your hard work and dedication” to a team, colleague, or employee.
This usage emphasizes praise for effort, skills, and perseverance, and it works well in formal or informal settings. As someone who frequently writes letters, cards, and emails for different occasions, I’ve noticed that using “on” for events and “for” for actions keeps your message clear, personalized, and free from common mistakes like congradulations, or clunky wording.
Whether you are acknowledging accomplishments, celebrating milestones, or giving heartfelt encouragement, selecting the correct preposition shows proficiency and attention to nuance, and makes your congratulations feel sincere and well-crafted.
What Does “Congratulations On” Mean?
“Congratulations on” is a phrase used to praise someone for achieving or completing something specific. It often focuses on an event, milestone, or accomplishment. Think of it as acknowledging an action, result, or news.
For example:
- Congratulations on your graduation! (or graduación in Spanish)
- Congratulations on the new baby! (bebé)
- Congratulations on passing your gymnastics competition!
This phrase is common in English, Spanish (Felicidades, Enhorabuena), and French (Félicitations). It is often used in cards, emails, social media messages, and even casual conversations.
Key point: Use “on” when referring to specific achievements, events, or milestones.
What Does “Congratulations For” Mean?
“Congratulations for” is less common and sometimes considered less formal or slightly awkward in traditional English, but it is occasionally used to praise someone for a specific action or effort rather than a completed achievement.
For example:
- Congratulations for helping organize the fundraising event.
- Congratulations for dedicating so much time to mastering your skills.
While grammatically correct in some contexts, native speakers typically prefer “congratulations on”. Using “for” might sound unnatural in formal writing, but it is acceptable in casual speech or friendly emails.
Tip: If you’re unsure, stick with “on”, as it’s more common and widely accepted.
Key Grammar Rules: On vs. For
Here’s a simple guide to understanding the difference:
| Preposition | Usage | Example |
| On | Refers to specific achievements, milestones, events, or results | Congratulations on your graduation / winning the contest |
| For | Refers to effort, actions, or behavior | Congratulations for helping the team / finishing your project |
Additional rules:
- Use “on” with nouns representing events or milestones: graduation, wedding anniversary, new home, baby.
- Use “for” with gerunds (-ing forms) representing actions: helping, working, mastering.
- Avoid mixing them randomly, as it can make your sentence sound confused or unnatural.
Correct vs. Incorrect Usage Examples
Correct:
- Congratulations on your wedding anniversary!
- Congratulations on the new home.
- Congratulations on winning the lottery.
- Congratulations for being so thoughtful.
- Congratulations for reaching your fundraising goal.
Incorrect:
- Congratulations for your graduation. ❌
- Congratulations for the new baby. ❌
- Congratulations on helping organize the gig. ❌
Tip: Always check whether your focus is on the result (use “on”) or the action (use “for”).
Real-Life Situations: When to Use Each
1. Academic Achievements
- “Congratulations on your graduation!” (graduación)
- “Congratulations on completing the lesson series in Daily Dose English.”
2. Family & Personal Milestones
- “Congratulations on your new baby!” (bebé)
- “Congratulations on your wedding ring purchase / wedding anniversary!”
3. Competitions and Awards
- “Congratulations on winning the gymnastics competition!”
- “Congratulations on getting the gold badge in your photography contest!”
4. Professional & Business Achievements
- “Congratulations on starting your new business.”
- “Congratulations for working toward achieving the company goal.”
5. Everyday Actions & Thoughtful Efforts
- “Congratulations for dedicating time to help others.”
- “Congratulations for putting your skill to good use in the espresso products launch.”
Common Mistakes Learners Make
Many ESL learners confuse “on” and “for”, often because in their native languages the same preposition is used for both.
Examples of frequent mistakes:
- Saying “Congratulations for your graduation” instead of “Congratulations on your graduation.”
- Saying “Congratulations on helping” instead of “Congratulations for helping.”
- Mixing languages awkwardly: “Felicidades on your new home” (avoid mixing English and Spanish mid-sentence).
Helpful tip: Remember: focus on the result → on, focus on the action → for.
Usage Types and Sentence Structures
1. Simple sentence:
- “Congratulations on your new job!”
2. Compound sentence:
- “Congratulations on your promotion, and good luck in your new role.”
3. With gerunds (action-focused):
- “Congratulations for finishing the interactive lesson series in Daily Dose.”
4. Expressing excitement:
- “We are excitedly congratulating you on passing your gymnastics competition!”
5. Polite acknowledgment:
- “I want to acknowledge your efforts and congratulate you for dedicating so much time to learning.”
Synonyms and Alternative Phrases
| Phrase | Usage Example | Notes |
| Felicitations / Félicitations | French, formal | Use in cards or formal emails |
| Enhorabuena | Spanish, formal or casual | Great for social media posts |
| Kudos | Casual English | Often informal, used in workplace |
| Well done / Good job | Informal praise | Use for actions or skills |
| Hats off to you | Idiomatic, informal | Friendly or congratulatory tone |
| Compliment on | Alternative phrasing | Often used in professional context |
Idioms and Related Expressions
- Hats off! – A way to show respect or admiration for an achievement.
- Give a pat on the back – A casual phrase for acknowledging someone’s effort.
- Celebrate in style – Used for anniversaries, weddings, graduations, or contests.
- The icing on the cake – When a good result is made even better by additional success.
Practical Exercises to Practice Using “Congratulations On” and “Congratulations For”
Exercise 1: Choose the correct preposition
- Congratulations ___ your new home.
- Congratulations ___ helping organize the class.
- Congratulations ___ winning the gold medal.
- Congratulations ___ working toward your business goal.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences to be natural
- Congratulations for your graduation.
- Congratulations on helping organize the fundraising gig.
- Congratulations for the new baby.
Answers:
- Congratulations on your graduation.
- Congratulations for helping organize the fundraising gig.
- Congratulations on the new baby.
Cultural Notes: How Different Languages Say Congratulations
Spanish:
- Felicidades – Often used for general celebrations.
- Enhorabuena – More formal, used for achievements.
French:
- Félicitations – Standard congratulatory word for achievements and milestones.
- Fiançailles – Refers to engagements.
- Prix – Used in the context of winning an award or competition.
Other notes:
- Different cultures and languages have unique ways of showing appreciation and acknowledgment.
- In English, the tone, action, or event matters most.
Keyword Variations Comparison Table
| Keyword Variation | Frequency & Usage | Notes |
| Congratulations on | Very frequent, natural | Preferred for milestones |
| Congratulations for | Less frequent, informal | Focus on actions |
| Felicidades | Moderate | Spanish usage |
| Enhorabuena | Moderate | Formal Spanish |
| Félicitations | Moderate | French formal usage |
| Graduation / graduación | Frequent | Popular in milestone messages |
| Baby / bebé | Frequent | Personal milestones |
| Wedding anniversary | Frequent | Personal celebrations |
| Gymnastics competition / competition | Frequent | Sports-related |
| Business / starting | Common | Professional achievements |
| Good job | Frequent | Casual praise |
| Kudos | Moderate | Informal workplace |
Tips to Sound Natural and Thoughtful in Your Congratulations
- Acknowledge the action or result clearly.
- Use personal pronouns to make it sound direct and human.
- Be specific: mention the event, milestone, or effort.
- Avoid mixing “on” and “for” randomly.
- Use emojis or symbols cautiously in casual messages to convey excitement.
- Include culture-specific terms like Felicidades or Enhorabuena if you’re messaging someone familiar with the language.
Recap: Main Differences Between On and For
- Congratulations on = result, milestone, or event
- Congratulations for = effort, action, or behavior
- “On” is preferred by native speakers in most contexts.
- “For” is acceptable for actions, but less common in formal writing.
- Always focus on the context: achievement → on, action → for.
By following these simple rules and using the examples, tables, and exercises above, you can confidently write natural, thoughtful, and grammatically correct congratulatory messages in English and across cultures and languages.
FAQs
Q1: Can I say “Congratulations for your graduation”?
A1: Technically yes, but native speakers usually say “Congratulations on your graduation”. Use “for” mainly when praising someone’s action or effort.
Q2: What’s the difference between “Congratulations on” and “Congratulations for”?
A2: “On” focuses on achievements or milestones, while “for” focuses on efforts or actions.
Q3: How do I congratulate someone in Spanish and French?
A3: In Spanish: Felicidades or Enhorabuena. In French: Félicitations. Use the correct term depending on formality and context.
Q4: Is it okay to mix “Congratulations on” and “Congratulations for” in one sentence?
A4: No. Mixing them can sound confused. Stick to one preposition that matches the context.
Q5: What are some synonyms for congratulations?
A5: Common alternatives include kudos, well done, good job, hats off, compliments, felicitations, and culture-specific phrases like Felicidades or Félicitations.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between “Congratulations on” and “Congratulations for” is essential for sounding natural, thoughtful, and grammatically correct. Remember:
- On = achievements, milestones, events
- For = efforts, actions
By applying these rules, using examples, and practicing exercises, you can confidently acknowledge accomplishments and efforts in English.
Whether celebrating a graduation, new baby, wedding anniversary, or business milestone, your words will show genuine appreciation and thoughtfulness across cultures and languages.
Virginia Woolf was a pioneering modernist writer whose profound insight reshaped literature and explored the depths of human consciousness. Her words continue to inspire generations to think, feel, and question deeply.
