earn honors

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "earn honors" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are speaking about someone or something that has achieved recognition or respect because of their accomplishments. For example: "Albert was a hard-working student who made the Dean's List and earned honors in his major every semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Addington went to Georgetown University, graduating summa cum laude, in 1978, from the school of foreign service; he went on to earn honors at Duke Law School.

The New Yorker

In putting a cap on the number of students permitted to earn honors, they fretted, they might discourage students from taking intellectual risks like writing a senior thesis or taking a challenging course.

The New York Times

Alexander can take a measure of comfort in this year's win by 26-year-old jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, who lost out in the jazz vocal category in her first nomination in 2014 but came back to earn honors this year for her lauded album "For One to Love".

Los Angeles Times

It may sound strange to think about this from Day One, but the truth is, if you ask your teachers and counselors early what you can do to earn honors for graduation, you will be better able to work toward them.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Elk hunting is a place to earn honor through effort.

The New York Times

In fact, rigor is one of his favorite words, along with earn, honor and luck.

The New York Times

The purpose of these contests was to "earn honor for the country".

The New York Times - Magazine

A letter from the 25-year-old Mozart to his father reads: "My desire and hope is to earn honor, fame and money".

The New York Times - Travel

But he did not act to earn honor.

Huffington Post

Some wolf packs will say that wolves earn honor by killing these abominations, and will promote you to second in charge if you do so.

WikiHow

But when she returned a semester later, she earned honors in all her courses.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "earn honors", ensure the context clearly indicates the actions or qualities that led to receiving the honors. For example, specify the academic achievements or contributions that warranted the recognition.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that someone "earned honors" without specifying the field or type of achievement. Providing context, such as "earned honors in mathematics" or "earned graduation honors", adds clarity and significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earn honors" functions as a verb phrase where "earn" is the verb, and "honors" is the direct object. It signifies the action of achieving or being worthy of recognition and distinction. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earn honors" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of achieving recognition for accomplishments, particularly in academic or professional settings. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in written English. While synonyms like "achieve honors" or "win honors" exist, "earn honors" emphasizes the effort and merit behind the achievement. The phrase carries a neutral to formal tone and is frequently used in news media, wiki articles, and science publications. To use the expression effectively, it is beneficial to specify the context in which the honors were "earned". This will result in more clarity for the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve honors

Replaces "earn" with "achieve", focusing on the accomplishment of receiving honors.

win honors

Substitutes "earn" with "win", suggesting a competitive aspect to gaining honors.

receive honors

Replaces "earn" with "receive", highlighting the act of being given honors.

garner honors

Uses "garner" instead of "earn", implying a gradual accumulation of honors.

attain honors

Substitutes "earn" with "attain", emphasizing the effort required to reach honors.

be awarded honors

Changes the structure to passive voice, focusing on the awarding of honors.

be recognized with honors

Expands the phrase to include the concept of recognition for the honors.

secure honors

Replaces "earn" with "secure", suggesting a deliberate effort to obtain honors.

merit honors

Shifts the focus to deserving honors based on qualities or actions.

qualify for honors

Highlights meeting the requirements to be considered for honors.

FAQs

How can I use "earn honors" in a sentence?

You can use "earn honors" to describe someone who has achieved a level of distinction or recognition due to their efforts or achievements. For example: "She worked diligently and "earned honors" in her field."

What are some synonyms for "earn honors"?

Some synonyms for "earn honors" include "achieve honors", "win honors", and "receive honors". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "earn honors" or "receive honors"?

Both "earn honors" and "receive honors" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Earn honors" emphasizes the effort and merit involved, while "receive honors" focuses on the act of being awarded. Therefore, "earn honors" is preferable if you want to highlight the effort done to obtain the recognition.

What does it mean to "earn honors" at graduation?

To "earn honors" at graduation typically means that a student has achieved a high grade point average (GPA) or met other academic requirements set by the educational institution. This recognition is often noted on the student's diploma or transcript.