It is with great pleasure that

You usually put this phrase at the very beginning of a sentence. It is almost always followed by a clause starting with I or we. For example: It is with great pleasure that I introduce our guest. You can also use a slightly different version: It gives me great pleasure to... Both work the same way. Just remember to keep the rest of your sentence formal too. You wouldn't say It is with great pleasure that I tell you this pizza is lit. That would sound very silly!

This phrase belongs in 'big' moments. Use it when writing a formal letter of recommendation. It is perfect for wedding invitations or graduation speeches. In a business meeting, use it to announce a new partnership or a promotion. It works well when you want to show deep respect for the person you are talking about. If you are the host of a party, use it to welcome everyone.

Do not use this while grabbing a coffee with a close friend. It will make you sound like a robot or a 19th-century butler. Avoid it in casual texts or when the news is small. If you say It is with great pleasure that I tell you I found my lost sock, your friends might think you are being sarcastic. Also, never use it for bad news. It would be very rude to say It is with great pleasure that I tell you the meeting is canceled.

This expression comes from a long history of British and American formal etiquette. In the past, people used very long, flowery language to show they were well-educated. Today, we have simplified English a lot. However, we kept this phrase for special ceremonies. It shows that even in our fast-paced world, we still value tradition and high-level politeness during life's milestones.

You might hear people say It is a distinct pleasure to... or I take great pleasure in... These are all cousins of our main phrase. If you want to sound slightly less formal but still very polite, you can say I am delighted to... If you are feeling extra fancy, you can even say It is with the utmost pleasure. But be careful—that one is very high-level!