Reward-Award | Commonly Confused Words
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Master confusing words with ease

Reward vs. Award

Reward

/rɪˈwɔːd/
Something given in return for good behavior or work

Examples:

He got a reward for helping.The reward for hard work is success.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Award

/əˈwɔːd/
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:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • 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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