be entitled to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be entitled to" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used when describing someone's rights or privileges. Example: I am entitled to two weeks of vacation every year. OR Employees who work over 40 hours in a week are entitled to overtime pay.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Anyone will be entitled to sell newspapers.

The Economist

You may be entitled to condensation".

Independent

Should their heirs be entitled to royalties on such sales?

The Economist

"You may be entitled to compensation," the commercial told me.

Independent

They should be entitled to get coverage also".

Independent

Most likely, neither side will be entitled to its shrillness.

The New Yorker

"We should be entitled to our representation in government".

The New Yorker

Everyone should be entitled to their own facts.

The New York Times

"She would be entitled to something," Mr. Donnelly said.

The New York Times - Tech

The Prince "should be entitled to have a private exchange of views with ministers".

The Guardian

People should be entitled to proper policing, not paramilitary policing,' he added.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be entitled to" when referring to a specific right, benefit, or privilege that someone possesses due to a rule, law, or agreement. Avoid using it in situations where you simply mean someone is likely to receive something without a formal basis.

Common error

Avoid using "be entitled to" in casual conversations where you mean someone is simply expected to receive something nice. This can sound overly formal or even arrogant. For example, instead of saying "You're entitled to a reward for that", consider saying "You deserve a reward for that".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be entitled to" functions as a verb phrase expressing a right, claim, or privilege. It indicates that someone has a legitimate basis for receiving something, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be entitled to" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to denote rights, privileges, or eligibility. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and widespread presence across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business domains, this phrase often appears in legal, contractual, and general assertions of rights. To avoid misinterpretations, it's advisable to reserve "be entitled to" for situations involving formal or legitimate claims, rather than informal expectations. Alternatives such as "have a right to" or "be eligible for" offer nuanced ways to express similar concepts depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a right to

This alternative directly states the existence of a right, implying a stronger sense of entitlement than the original phrase.

be eligible for

Focuses on meeting the requirements for something, often benefits or services.

qualify for

Similar to "be eligible for", but implies a more formal assessment or screening process.

be permitted to

Highlights permission or authorization, rather than inherent right.

have authorization for

Like "be permitted to", emphasizes formal approval or consent.

be authorized to

Similar to 'have authorization for', but is more formal and suggests a legal or official permission.

be sanctioned to

Suggests official approval or endorsement, often in a legal or regulatory context.

be privileged to

Conveys that something is a special advantage or opportunity, not necessarily a right.

be empowered to

Implies that one has been given power or authority to do something.

be vested with

Suggests a formal conferral of power, authority, or rights.

FAQs

How to use "be entitled to" in a sentence?

The phrase "be entitled to" indicates that someone has a right or legitimate claim to something. For example, "Employees are entitled to vacation days" or "Citizens are entitled to freedom of speech".

What can I say instead of "be entitled to"?

You can use alternatives like "have a right to", "be eligible for", or "qualify for depending on the context".

Which is correct, "be entitled to" or "is entitled to"?

"Be entitled to" is used in general statements or conditional clauses, while "is entitled to" is used when referring to a specific subject. For example, "All employees should be entitled to fair treatment", but "She is entitled to a refund".

What's the difference between "be entitled to" and "deserve"?

"Be entitled to" refers to a legal or contractual right, while "deserve" implies that someone has earned something through their actions or qualities. For example, "He is entitled to overtime pay according to his contract", but "She deserves recognition for her hard work".