deserves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deserves" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that someone or something is worthy of a particular treatment, reward, or outcome. Example: "She deserves recognition for her hard work and dedication to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The public deserves to know how the governing jurisprudence is developing.

The Guardian - Tech

Labour's future depends on winning more in the south, where 43% now think it deserves another spell in power.

The Guardian

As much as the member deserves some credit for this very long bow, he is defying your ruling, says Albanese.

The Guardian

For keeping at climate change in 2012 while others get tired or distracted, he deserves to be crowned person of the year.

The Guardian

But Snowden has also identified the fastening of those programmes on the global population as a problematic act, which deserves a form of moral and ethical analysis that goes beyond mere raison d'état.

The Guardian - Tech

Some Nurse Jackie viewers might be surprised that it is considered more comedy than drama, but Wever provides remarkable comic relief as Zoey Barkow and deserves an award for her services to animal scrubs alone.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I might argue that renewable energy deserves a subsidy.

The Guardian - Opinion

While the first Conservative instinct was simply to welcome Pfizer, Ed Miliband deserves some credit for his insistence that Britain could do better, even though the intervention exposed how sketchy Labour's industrial thinking remains.

The Guardian - Opinion

Carlos Alberto sits in a quiet corner of a futuristic congress centre in Doha, explaining why Qatar deserves the 2022 World Cup and a leading Premier League club should snap up Brazil's teenage striker Neymar before he blossoms into the world's best player.

The Guardian - Sport

"I think that nobody deserves what she went through," he replied.

The Guardian - Tech

I've already made one of them, and that's at least three more jokes about Ed Miliband's willy than humanity deserves.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deserves", ensure the subject and verb agree in number. For example, "he deserves" (singular) versus "they deserve" (plural).

Common error

Avoid using "deserves" with inanimate or abstract subjects that cannot logically possess the quality of deserving something. Instead, rephrase to focus on the actor or entity that determines the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "deserves" is to act as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. It expresses that a subject is worthy of or entitled to something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deserves" is a versatile verb used to express that someone or something is worthy of a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. It appears primarily in News & Media contexts. Use it to clearly indicate entitlement or justification, ensuring subject-verb agreement. Remember that people or entities logically possess the quality of deserving something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is worthy of

Emphasizes the quality of being good enough to merit something.

merits

Implies that someone or something has earned or is entitled to something.

is entitled to

Suggests a legal or moral right to receive something.

is deserving of

Highlights the quality of being worthy of a particular treatment.

warrants

Indicates that something justifies or necessitates a particular action or outcome.

is justified in receiving

Implies that there are valid reasons for someone to get something.

has earned

Stresses that something has been gained through effort or action.

is qualified for

Focuses on meeting the necessary criteria for something.

is fit for

Highlights suitability or appropriateness for something.

is appropriate for

Suggests that something is suitable or fitting for a specific situation.

FAQs

How can I use "deserves" in a sentence?

Use "deserves" to indicate that someone or something is worthy of a particular treatment or outcome. For example, "She "deserves" recognition for her hard work".

What are some alternatives to using "deserves"?

You can use alternatives like "is worthy of", "merits", or "is entitled to" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say 'deserves of'?

While not strictly incorrect, it's more common and grammatically smoother to say "deserves" without the "of". For example, "She "deserves" praise" is preferable to "She deserves of praise".

How does "deserves" differ from "needs"?

"Deserves" implies that someone has earned or is worthy of something, while "needs" indicates a requirement or necessity. Someone who "deserves" a reward has likely earned it, while someone who "needs" help requires it regardless of merit.