bonus

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "bonus" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to an extra benefit or reward, often in a financial context. For example, "The company offered a bonus to employees who exceeded their sales targets." Alternative expressions include "extra reward," "incentive," and "additional benefit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

And there is a bonus in being alone in the lab.

Science Magazine

He received $4.1 million in salary and bonus in 2006 and $4.56 million in 2005.

The New York Times

After receiving his enormous bonus in 2008, he lost money in 2009.

The New Yorker

Made $550 million in salary and bonus in 1987.

Forbes

Earned $550 million in salary and bonus in 1986.

Forbes

Scrushy took no bonus in 2000 or 1999, before accepting $6.5 million in 2001.

Forbes

A small percentage increase in price, can bring a large bonus in comfort.

WikiHow

Ringing in the election with this movie will be a bonus in itself.

Huffington Post

He took no bonus in 2008.

The New York Times

No executives received a bonus in 2012.

The Guardian - Business

But fate had a bonus in store.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In non-financial contexts, pair it with adjectives like 'added' or 'unexpected' to emphasize a pleasant surprise or benefit.

Common error

Avoid the redundant phrase 'extra bonus' unless the bonus itself is additional to a previous one, as a "bonus" is by definition something extra. Additionally, remember that you receive a bonus 'for' an achievement but receive it 'in' a specific pay cycle.

Linguistic Context

The word "bonus" primarily functions as a count noun. According to Ludwig AI, it is consistently used to denote a specific instance of an extra benefit or payment. It can also function as an attributive noun, modifying other nouns to indicate they are extra or promotional.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "bonus" is an essential and versatile noun in the English language. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and highly usable term across a wide range of professional and casual settings. Most frequently found in financial reporting and news, it serves as the standard way to describe extra compensation or an unexpected benefit. Whether you are discussing a "signing bonus" in a contract or an "added bonus" in a daily situation, the word carries a positive connotation of merit and surplus. For more specific meanings, consider alternatives like "<a href="/s/incentive" target="_blank" rel="alternative">incentive" for motivation or "<a href="/s/perk" target="_blank" rel="alternative">perk" for non-monetary advantages.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incentive

Emphasizes the motivational purpose of the extra payment or benefit.

reward

Focuses on the recognition of effort or success.

perk

Refers to non-monetary benefits or casual advantages associated with a position.

premium

Implies a higher quality or an additional sum paid above the standard rate.

dividend

Often used in a technical financial sense or to describe a long-term benefit.

windfall

Describes an unexpected or sudden financial gain.

extra

A more generic and informal way to describe something additional.

bounty

Often associated with specific rewards for tasks or specific achievements.

plus

Used informally to denote a simple added advantage.

gratuity

Specifically refers to a tip or a gift given for a service performed.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "bonus" in a professional context?

You can use terms like "<a href="/s/incentive" target="_blank" rel="alternative">incentive", "<a href="/s/remuneration" target="_blank" rel="alternative">remuneration" or "<a href="/s/dividend" target="_blank" rel="alternative">dividend" depending on the specific financial structure.

How do I use "bonus" as an adjective?

It is frequently used as an attributive noun acting like an adjective, such as in "<a href="/s/bonus+round" target="_blank" rel="alternative">bonus round", "<a href="/s/bonus+track" target="_blank" rel="alternative">bonus track" or "<a href="/s/bonus+points" target="_blank" rel="alternative">bonus points".

What is the difference between a "bonus" and a "perk"?

A "bonus" is usually a cash payment based on performance, whereas a "<a href="/s/perk" target="_blank" rel="alternative">perk" is a non-cash benefit such as a company car or gym membership.

Is it correct to say "added bonus"?

While common in casual speech, "<a href="/s/added+benefit" target="_blank" rel="alternative">added benefit" is often preferred in formal writing to avoid the mild redundancy of "added bonus".