earn high marks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'earn high marks' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to a student's academic performance. For example, "Sally worked hard in her classes and was able to earn high marks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Its workers earn high marks from foreign employers -- and not just for the low pay.

The New York Times

In the State Legislature, where he served for 16 years, this scion of the state's leading political family did not earn high marks from the business lobby.

The New York Times

If Microsoft really wants to earn high marks from the public, it might want to consider earning them the old-fashioned way: By creating products people love.

The New York Times - Tech

"She was really a fantastic eccentric," Silvagni says, adding that she's wary of most decorators, although Jacques Grange's and Tony Duquette's interiors earn high marks, as do "eclectic" English houses.

The New York Times

I judged this as on the wrong side of familiarity to earn high marks, my guess being that it would fail to pass as acceptable by crossword editors in other papers.

The Guardian

Grades Are Likely to Be A, B, C and I" (March 1): Rewarding doctors who earn high marks on their report cards with bonuses is fine, but even more important is allowing patients access to these ratings.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Mr. Parisotto also earned high marks among musicians and critics.

The New York Times

He attended Catholic school and initially earned high marks.

The New Yorker

The Ivorian government has not earned high marks for openness.

The Economist

Another appetizer that earned high marks was the burikama, a whole fish broiled in teriyaki sauce.

The New York Times

After Wyoming, the other states earning high marks for "wealth friendliness" for families were Tennessee, Nevada, Alaska and Washington.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earn high marks" when you want to indicate that someone has achieved a good result or received positive recognition for their efforts in a particular area. For example, “The team earned high marks for their innovative marketing strategy.”

Common error

While both phrases are related, "earn high marks" emphasizes the effort and work put in to achieve the result, whereas "receive high marks" simply states the outcome. Use "earn" when you want to highlight the process and effort involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earn high marks" functions as a verb phrase, where "earn" acts as the main verb, "high" modifies the noun "marks", indicating the level of achievement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and used to describe positive outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

24%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

12%

Wiki

6%

Reference

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earn high marks" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express success and positive evaluation achieved through effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely accepted and frequently found in news, formal business contexts and encyclopedias. While suitable for diverse scenarios, "earn high marks" particularly emphasizes the effort invested in achieving a favorable outcome. Consider alternatives like "achieve top grades" or "garner praise" to refine your message based on context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve top grades

Focuses specifically on academic achievement, using "grades" instead of the more general "marks".

receive excellent scores

Replaces "marks" with "scores" and uses the adjective "excellent" to emphasize the high level of achievement.

get good grades

A more informal alternative, suitable for casual contexts, using "good" instead of "high".

score highly

A more concise option, focusing on the act of scoring well without specifying the type of assessment.

garner praise

Shifts the focus from numerical scores to positive feedback and approval.

win accolades

Implies a higher level of recognition and achievement, often in a more formal setting.

impress greatly

Focuses on the impact and positive impression made, rather than the specific outcome.

excel

A single-word alternative that conveys outstanding performance.

stand out

Highlights exceptional performance compared to others.

shine

A more figurative way to express exceptional performance and success.

FAQs

How can I use "earn high marks" in a sentence?

You can use "earn high marks" to describe achieving good results through effort. For example, "She studied diligently and "earned high marks" in all her subjects."

What's a more formal alternative to "earn high marks"?

For more formal situations, consider using "achieve top grades" or "receive excellent scores". These phrases are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

Is it better to say "earn high marks" or "get high marks"?

"Earn high marks" and "get high marks" are both acceptable. "Earn high marks" emphasizes the effort involved. While "get high marks" is more neutral.

What does it mean to "earn high marks"?

To "earn high marks" means to achieve positive recognition or a good grade in a particular area through effort and hard work. It implies that the result was achieved through dedication and skill.