Master confusing words with ease
Reward vs. Award
Reward
/rɪˈwɔːd/Examples:
You will be satisfied - rewarded too by me.The human brain evolved to prioritize immediate rewards over delayed rewards.I'll kill him and I'll get the reward.
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Award
/əˈwɔːd/Examples:
He was awarded significant contracts, and he always bid.As always he had planned conservatively, not counting on the award.That stinking award.
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Ways to tell them apart:
- Remember that award usually involves a formal process, while reward can be informal and personal.
- An award is often a tangible item like a trophy or certificate, while reward can be something intangible like praise or satisfaction.
- You might receive an award at a ceremony, but you could give yourself a reward for a job well done.
- Think of award as something given by others in recognition, while reward is often more of a result of ones own or others actions.
- The word award is more structured in its ceremony and recipients, whereas reward can be spontaneous and self-driven.
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