benefits

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'benefits' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a noun, meaning something that provides an advantage or helps people make more profit, or as a verb, meaning to give something to someone in order to help them. Example sentence: The company offered their employees many benefits, such as health insurance and discounted products.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Greek voters are equally certain that it's unfair for them to suffer years of slim government budgets and high unemployment in order to repay foreign banks and richer northern neighbors, which have reaped outsized benefits from closer European integration.

The New York Times

"Austerity, poverty and exclusion risk robbing an entire generation of healthy, productive lives across a continent that undervalues the benefits of universal healthcare.

The Guardian

The rules do allow, however, for former employees collecting retirement benefits to serve as independent directors.

The New York Times

The need to introduce residence permits to restrict access to public services and welfare benefits for new migrants stems from the simple fact that despite the Home Office's £800m "e-borders" project nobody's passport is stamped with the date they entered Britain.

The Guardian

The proposal does not go as far as banning EU migrants access to income-related benefits entirely for the first year in the UK, as had previously been suggested.

The Guardian

Charities and the non-government sector welcomed elements of Bishop's proposals, such as the focus on female involvement and performance benchmarks, but raised concern over the need to ensure benefits from "aid for trade" flowed to the people in greatest need and reduced poverty.

The Guardian

The political rhetoric over immigration will further intensify on Monday as David Cameron promises to ban all EU nationals from claiming most benefits after six months in the UK unless they can prove they have been continuously looking for work over that period.

The Guardian

Keep up with the latest on Guardian Students: follow us on Twitter at @GdnStudents – and become a member to receive exclusive benefits and our weekly newsletter.

The Guardian

In retail banking, they haven't capitalized on the benefits of size (like lower borrowing costs) to cut prices for their customers, the way big retailers like Wal-Mart do.

The Economist

It is also, of course, a universal rather than a means-tested benefit in an age when universal benefits are increasingly questioned.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is designed to ensure that the 50,000 young people "most at risk of starting a life on benefits" find that their first contact with the benefits system is a requirement to undertake community work and search for jobs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the positive impacts of a policy or action, use "benefits" to highlight the advantages gained by specific groups or entities.

Common error

Avoid using "benefits" in overly general or vague statements. Instead, specify the particular advantages or positive outcomes being discussed. Provide concrete examples to support claims about "benefits".

Linguistic Context

The word "benefits" primarily functions as a noun, referring to advantages, positive outcomes, or payments/services provided. According to Ludwig, it's also used as a verb meaning to help someone or to receive something good.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

13%

Science

18%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "benefits" functions primarily as a noun, indicating advantages or positive outcomes. According to Ludwig, it can also be used as a verb to mean to help someone or to receive something good. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral to professional register. It is crucial to use "benefits" with specific details rather than in general statements to enhance clarity. Related terms include "advantages", "gains", and "profits". Considering Ludwig's analysis, the term is grammatically correct and very common, making it a versatile and valuable addition to one's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advantages

Replaces "benefits" with a synonym emphasizing positive aspects or superior position.

advantages

Similar to "benefits", but often used to describe strategic or competitive edges.

gains

Focuses on what is acquired or obtained as a result of something.

profits

Highlights the financial or material advantages gained.

positive aspects

Emphasizes the favorable or good features of something.

positive outcomes

Focuses on the favorable results or consequences.

merits

Highlights the qualities that deserve praise or recognition.

upsides

An informal synonym for "advantages" or "positive aspects".

rewards

Emphasizes the compensation or return for effort or action.

perks

Often refers to extra advantages or privileges received.

FAQs

How to use "benefits" in a sentence?

You can use "benefits" to refer to advantages gained from something, such as "The "benefits of exercise" include improved health and increased energy", or to payments or services provided, such as "employees receive health and retirement benefits".

What can I say instead of "benefits"?

You can use alternatives like "advantages", "gains", "profits", or "positive outcomes" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "benefits" or "advantages"?

Both "benefits" and "advantages" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Benefits" often refers to specific, measurable gains, while "advantages" can be more general and encompass strategic or competitive edges.

What's the difference between "benefits" and "perks"?

"Benefits" typically refer to essential provisions like health insurance or retirement plans, while "perks" are additional, often non-essential, advantages such as free meals or gym memberships.