accepting an award

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accepting an award" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the act of receiving recognition or a prize for an achievement. Example: "During the ceremony, she was honored for her contributions to the community by accepting an award for her outstanding service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A couple of years later, he again appeared via video link at the Comedy Awards, accepting an award by shrugging that to go in person would be "beneath me, to be honest.

The Guardian - Film

Accepting an award at the 2005 Q Awards, Ono mentioned that Lennon had once felt insecure about his songwriting.

Wikipedia

She twerked with Robin Thicke to "Blurred Lines" at the MTV Video Music Awards in August, smoked a joint on-stage while accepting an award in Amsterdam and let a black latex-clad dwarf spank her.

Independent

"I said, 'I'm accepting an award right now,' " Daniels recalled.

The New York Times - Magazine

She had been in Boston accepting an award from a regional business organization.

The New York Times

It can also be worth accepting an award ticket to a city near your destination.

The New York Times - Travel

In the first, in 2002, Cher used an obscenity while accepting an award.

The New York Times

And then I am asked to participate in the celebrations by accepting an award.

The Guardian - Opinion

Accepting an award for Comedian of the Year the actor first feigned tears before turning to address Mourinho.

Independent

Accepting an award he said: "At the risk of sounding grandiloquent, I would like to thank you, the American industry.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The comedian and filmmaker Eugenio Derbez tapped into this feeling while accepting an award in Los Angeles.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine it with an adverb to add descriptive flair, such as "accepting an award gracefully" or "accepting an award tearfully".

Common error

Never confuse "accepting" (receiving) with "excepting" (excluding). Writing "excepting an award" suggests the person is being left out of the honors, which is the opposite of the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accepting an award" functions as a gerund phrase or a present participle phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently used as an adverbial clause to set the scene (e.g., "While accepting an award...") or as a subject/object in a sentence describing the act of recognition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Academic

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accepting an award" is a quintessential part of English reporting on culture, sports, and professional achievements. As shown in the extensive data from Ludwig, it is primarily used in journalistic contexts to describe the specific moment of ceremony and speech-giving. It is grammatically sound and universally recognized. When writing, ensure you maintain the distinction between the active act of "accepting" and the achievement of "winning". Alternatives like "receiving an award" or "honored with an award" can be used to vary the tone, but "accepting an award" remains the most direct and common choice for describing the physical reception of an honor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

receiving an award

more passive and general in tone compared to the active act of accepting

winning an award

focuses on the achievement itself rather than the ceremony of reception

collecting a prize

often used in British English or for physical competitions rather than industry recognition

picking up an award

much more informal and conversational style

taking home an award

emphasizes the outcome and the fact that the winner now possesses the trophy

being honored with an award

shifts the focus to the prestige and respect granted to the recipient

accepting a trophy

replaces the general term with a specific physical object

clinching an award

highlights the moment of securing or winning the honor

granted an award

implies a formal decision by a committee or governing body

obtaining an award

more clinical and less celebratory than standard usage

FAQs

How to use "accepting an award" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an action in progress, for example: "While "accepting an award", the actor thanked his parents and mentors."

What can I say instead of "accepting an award"?

Depending on the tone, you can use "receiving an award" for a general statement or "picking up an award" for a more casual description.

Is it "accepting an award" or "excepting an award"?

The correct term for receiving a prize is "accepting an award". Use "excepting" only when you mean excluding someone from a group.

What is the difference between "accepting an award" and "winning an award"?

The phrase "winning an award" refers to the competitive success, whereas "accepting an award" refers specifically to the physical act or formal ceremony of receiving it.