award for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "award for" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a prize or recognition that a person or thing receives. For example: "The singer won an award for her contribution to music."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A Humanitarian Award, for instance.

The New Yorker

It's another award for Betis.

The Guardian - Sport

Award for best musical theater.

The New York Times

It won the award for best oil.

The New York Times

Each won an award for rising talent.

The New York Times

WHO won the award for best director?

The New York Times

(Tony Award for best play).

The New York Times

He won an ESPY award for Best Comeback.

The New York Times - Sports

Special Award for Lifetime Achievement: Stephen Sondheim.

The New York Times

We give Whitlock the award for bluntness.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Moonlight wins Academy-award for Best Picture.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "award for" to clearly indicate the reason or purpose for which an award is given. For instance, "She received an award for her outstanding contributions to the field."

Common error

Avoid using "award of" when specifying the reason. It's more precise to say "award for best performance" than "award of best performance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "award for" functions as a prepositional phrase that specifies the reason or purpose for which an award is given. As Ludwig highlights, it connects recognition with the specific achievement or quality being honored.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "award for" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to specify the reason an award is given. As confirmed by Ludwig, its function is to connect recognition with the achievement being honored. Predominantly found in news and media, but also used in academia, "award for" serves to clarify the basis for an honor. When using this phrase, remember that "award for" is better when specifying a purpose, but in general it's important to remember than "prize for", "recognition for", and "honor for" are excellent alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prize for

Replaces "award" with "prize", a synonym that also denotes recognition of achievement.

recognition for

Focuses on the act of recognizing merit, instead of the tangible award.

accolade for

Uses a more formal synonym for "award", indicating high praise or distinction.

honor for

Emphasizes the respect and esteem conferred by the award.

reward for

Highlights the beneficial aspect of receiving the award.

grant for

Refers to financial assistance given to support a specific project or cause.

scholarship for

Specifically denotes financial aid awarded to students.

tribute to

Focuses on expressing admiration or gratitude rather than a formal prize.

inducement for

Highlights the incentivizing aspect of the award or recognition.

premium for

Refers to a bonus or extra compensation, which can be a form of award.

FAQs

How is "award for" used in a sentence?

The phrase "award for" connects the recognition to the reason or achievement. For example, "He received an "award for best actor"" shows the specific category of the award.

What's a good substitute for "award for"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "prize for", "recognition for", or "honor for". These phrases all convey the idea of receiving something in recognition of merit.

Is it correct to say "award of" instead of "award for"?

While "award of" might be used in certain contexts to describe the act of awarding something, "award for" is generally preferred when specifying the reason or achievement being recognized. For example, the phrase "award for excellence" is preferrable than "award of excellence".

What is the difference between "award for" and "reward for"?

"Award for" typically denotes formal recognition of achievement, while "reward for" implies a benefit or compensation given in return for a service or action. A soldier may get an "award for" bravery and a "reward for" capturing the enemy.