conferring honours

USAGE SUMMARY

"conferring honors" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the action of bestowing an award or title. For example, "The college president was responsible for conferring honors upon outstanding students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In the United Kingdom there are prerogative powers of the crown, nearly all of which are now exercised by ministers and which concern such matters as making treaties, declaring war and peace, pardoning criminals, issuing passports, and conferring honours.

Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Buckingham Palace has plans to confer honours on virtual subjects - and the Queen will not need to confer with her prime minister.

The Guardian

Under the royal prerogative which dates back centuries, the powers of the Crown exercised by the prime minister, without consultation of cabinet or parliament, include the rights to declare war or make peace, sign or ratify treaties, confer honours, make appointments, establish commissions, and grant pardons.

The Guardian - Opinion

Several state governments, including that of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh have conferred honours on him.

Wikipedia

His wartime work would have earned him a Presidential Medal of Freedom with Gold Palm, but the Australian government vetoed this honour, as it was not government policy at the time to confer honours on civilians.

Wikipedia

How much more significant would a state conferred honour be if it were concommitant on the probity and moral upstanding of the recipient?

The Guardian

Conferring the honour of Dame Commander of the British Empire on Mantel on Friday, the prince revealed that he was enjoying the drama depicting the life of Henry VIII's adviser Thomas Cromwell.

The Guardian

On his teachers in general, moreover, he conferred great honours, for he even kept golden statues of them in his chapel,24 and made it a custom to show respect for their tombs by personal visits and by offerings of sacrifices and flowers.

University of Chicago

On 31 May 2006, HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred two honours on the Polish forces who fought at the battle.

Wikipedia

Militarism is not the soldiers' faith that war can be conducted honourably, but the polemicist's belief that war confers honour.

BBC

Prime minister Tony Abbott announced the move on Tuesday afternoon and immediately conferred the honour on the governor general, Quentin Bryce, and her successor, Peter Cosgrove.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain consistency by following "conferring honours" with a clear indication of who is conferring the honors and upon whom they are being conferred.

Common error

Avoid using "conferring honours" in informal contexts. Opt for more casual alternatives like "giving awards" or "recognizing achievements" in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conferring honours" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun modifier. It typically describes the action of formally bestowing recognition or awards. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Academia

14%

Science & Research

12%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conferring honours" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the formal act of bestowing awards or recognition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for formal contexts, such as news reports, academic articles, and official announcements. While "conferring honors" is the American English spelling, "conferring honours" is the British English spelling. When writing, remember to clarify who is "conferring honours" and upon whom the honours are being conferred to maintain clarity. Consider using alternatives like "bestowing honors" or "granting awards" to suit different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bestowing honors

Replaces "conferring" with "bestowing", offering a more formal tone while maintaining the core meaning.

conferring recognition

Emphasizes the act of acknowledging someone's merit or achievements.

granting awards

Shifts the focus from "honours" to "awards", emphasizing the tangible recognition given.

awarding prizes

Similar to "granting awards", but specifically uses "prizes" to suggest competitive achievement.

awarding commendations

Highlights formal praise and official acknowledgement of services.

presenting accolades

Introduces a more celebratory tone, highlighting the public acknowledgment of merit.

giving citations

Focuses on the formal written acknowledgement of achievements.

bestowing titles

Focuses specifically on the act of granting official titles as a form of honor.

presenting decorations

Specifically refers to awarding medals or symbols of honor.

administering honors

Focuses on the procedural or administrative aspect of granting honors.

FAQs

What does "conferring honours" mean?

Conferring honours refers to the act of formally bestowing awards, titles, or other forms of recognition upon individuals or groups, often for outstanding achievements or service.

How to use "conferring honours" in a sentence?

You can use "conferring honours" in a sentence like: "The university president had the privilege of "conferring honours" on the graduating students."

What are some alternatives to "conferring honours"?

Some alternatives to "conferring honours" include "bestowing honors", "granting awards", or "presenting accolades depending on the context".

Which is correct, "conferring honors" or "conferring honours"?

"Conferring honors" is the American English spelling, while "conferring honours" is the British English spelling. Both are correct depending on the regional context.