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Commonly Confused Words
Reward/Award
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To/For
Reward vs. Award
Reward
/rɪˈwɔːd/
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Something given in return for good behavior or work
Examples:
He got a
reward
for helping.
The
reward
for hard work is success.
Synonyms:
prize
award
compensation
Antonyms:
punishment
penalty
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
Award
/əˈwɔːd/
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
A prize or recognition given to someone for an achievement.
Examples:
He won an
award
for his great work.
She accepted the
award
with a big smile.
Synonyms:
prize
honor
trophy
grant
Antonyms:
penalty
forfeit
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
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 one
s own or others
actions.
The word
award
is more structured in its ceremony and recipients, whereas
reward
can be spontaneous and self-driven.
When to use reward:
When to use award:
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