'Good to Hear' or 'Glad to Hear': Which is Correct?

Should you tell someone their news is ‘good to hear’ or ‘glad to hear?' We tackle that, plus how to use the correct phrase in a sentence.

Not in the mood to skim? Here’s the quick answer:

Both ‘good to hear’ and ‘glad to hear’ are correct, as long as they’re used appropriately in a sentence.

‘Good to Hear’ Versus ‘Glad to Hear’ – Difference Explained

So, you already learned that it’s okay to use both phrases. However, most commonly, the former is used most commonly.

You might hear the phrase ‘glad to hear’ in the middle of a sentence, such as:

• I was glad to hear Tim survived that horrible accident.
• I’m glad to hear you’re doing so well and you’re back at the office.

Is the Sentence ‘Good to Hear’ Correct?

The phrase ‘good to hear’ is technically not a sentence, but it is correct to say that something is ‘good to hear.’

Before we dive into how to use ‘good to hear’ in a sentence, let’s quickly discuss what it means.

What is the Difference Between ‘Good to Hear’ and ‘Glad to Hear’

There’s only a slight difference between ‘good to hear’ and ‘glad to hear.’ The same is true for phrases like ‘relate to/relate with’ and ‘in the summer/in summer.’

Although the words within those phrases aren’t homophones, they still sound similar and mean similar things.

Let’s quickly define ‘good’ and ‘glad’ so you can see the difference.

Definition and Meaning

The Merriam-Webster definition of ‘good’ is “something useful or beneficial,” “well,” “of favorable character or tendency,” “bountiful, fertile,” “handsome, attractive,” “suitable, fit,” “free from injury or disease,” “not depreciated,” “commercially sound, “that can be relied on,” and “profitable, advantageous.”

It can also mean “of a noticeably large size or quantity: considerable,” “used as a word that gives force or emphasis to a statement,” “well-founded, cogent,” “deserving of respect,” “adequate, satisfactory,” “conforming to a standard,” “containing less fat and being less tender than higher grades > used of meat and especially of beef,” and “having everything desired or required: content and not wanting or needing to do anything further.”

The word ‘glad’ can be defined as “experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight: made happy,” “marked by, expressive of, or caused by happiness and joy,” “full of brightness and cheerfulness,” and “having a cheerful or happy disposition by nature.”

Synonyms for glad include:

• Blissful
• Gratified
• Joyous
• Thankful
• Happy
• Pleased
• Tickled
• Delighted
• Joyful
• Satisfied

How to Use Both Correctly in a Sentence

Since you know that the terms are similar, let’s look at how best to use each phrase correctly.

Here are some examples of how to use ‘good to hear’ in a sentence:

• It’s good to hear that that infamous serial killer was caught.
• It’s good to hear that Dawn got through that family crisis in one piece.

Now, let’s see some examples of how to use ‘glad to hear’ in a sentence:

• I was glad to hear that caught that the octopuses won’t go extinct any time soon.
• I was glad to hear they caught the buffaloes that escaped from the zoo.
• On a side note, I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better.

Final Thoughts on Using 'Good to Hear' and 'Glad to Hear'

Though the terms sound similar, they mean slightly different things. It wouldn’t be appropriate to swap one term out for another, even though they’re expressing similar sentiments.

So, keep the above examples in mind as you navigate the rocky waters of the English language.

Just in case, you might want to check out our library of confusing words and bookmark the page for future reference. You never know when you might need a refresher.