confer an advantage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'confer an advantage' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when someone provides, or grants, an advantage or benefit to another. For example, "The applicant's impressive academic record conferred an advantage when considering her for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Spatial abilities might confer an advantage in mate location, enhanced motor control could be advantageous during physical contests or displays, and if cognitive ability can be accurately assessed then it could become a sexually selected trait [34], [35].

Plosone

Does aggression always confer an advantage?

The Guardian

"The Luxembourgish authorities confer an advantage on Amazon.

The Guardian - Tech

Moreover, new drugs often confer an advantage over older ones in reducing mortality.

The Guardian - Opinion

Instead, the question of whether prosthetic limbs confer an advantage over able-bodied runners remains shrouded in confusion.

The New York Times - Sports

Although this may sound plausible, it is inconsistent with data showing that, in fact, newer drugs confer an advantage over older ones in reducing mortality.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the short run, protecting a new experiment or theory may confer an advantage -- a published paper, a patent, a scientific prize.

The New York Times - Science

At the same time ever shorter product cycles confer an advantage on factories located close to the people who consume their goods.

The Economist

The resistance gene will confer an advantage to plants that carry it, allowing individuals to survive and pass on their genotype to future generations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A preliminary investigation in 2014 into tax rulings made by Ireland between 1991 and 2007 concluded that Dublin had helped to "confer an advantage" on Apple which was "granted in a selective manner".

Independent

c Driver gene mutations can confer an advantage in the founder clone and promote subsequent expansion.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "confer an advantage", ensure that the subject clearly identifies who or what is providing the benefit, and the object specifies who or what is receiving it for maximum clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "confer an advantage" loosely. Ensure the advantage is tangible and directly related to the context, rather than implying a vague or indirect benefit. The advantage must be clearly defined and easily understandable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confer an advantage" functions as a verb phrase where "confer" is the transitive verb and "an advantage" is the direct object. It indicates the act of bestowing or granting a benefit. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "confer an advantage" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that signifies the act of granting a benefit or superior position. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears predominantly in scientific and news contexts, reflecting its use in describing advantages in various fields. While the phrase maintains a neutral to formal tone, several alternatives such as "provide an advantage" or "offer an advantage" can be used to achieve similar meanings. When using the phrase, it's important to define the source and recipient of the advantage for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide an advantage

Uses 'provide' instead of 'confer', focusing on the act of supplying the advantage.

offer an advantage

Employs 'offer', suggesting the availability of an advantage.

bestow an advantage

Replaces 'confer' with 'bestow', implying a formal or gracious granting of the advantage.

grant an advantage

Substitutes 'confer' with 'grant', indicating a formal permission or allowance of the advantage.

lend an advantage

Uses 'lend', suggesting a temporary provision of the advantage.

give an advantage

Replaces 'confer' with 'give', a more general term for providing the advantage.

afford an advantage

Uses 'afford', suggesting that something has the capacity to provide an advantage.

convey an advantage

Substitutes 'confer' with 'convey', suggesting that the advantage is transmitted or communicated.

bring an advantage

Uses 'bring' instead of 'confer', focusing on the action of delivering the advantage.

impart an advantage

Replaces 'confer' with 'impart', suggesting the communication of the advantage.

FAQs

What does "confer an advantage" mean?

The phrase "confer an advantage" means to grant or bestow a benefit, privilege, or edge to someone or something. It suggests that the advantage is given or provided by something else.

How can I use "confer an advantage" in a sentence?

You can use "confer an advantage" in sentences like: "The new technology "provides an advantage" to our company", or "Having a strong network can "give an advantage" in the job market."

What are some alternatives to "confer an advantage"?

Alternatives to "confer an advantage" include "provide an advantage", "offer an advantage", "grant an advantage", or "bestow an advantage". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "confer an advantage on" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "confer an advantage on" someone or something. For example, "The new policy will confer an advantage on small businesses."