earned

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "earned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean "to have deserved or gained something" or "to have worked hard for something." For example, "She earned her promotion through hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Money

Film

Books

Higher Education

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Galloway says that he earned £265,350 – almost four times his parliamentary salary – in outside earnings.

The Guardian

It has to be earned.

The New York Times

They have earned it.

The Economist

"They've earned it".

The New York Times

It was a stupendous piece of skill, but it only earned him par for the hole.

The Guardian - Sport

Jones stifled Ryan Giggs and launched a couple of forward raids of his own during an outstanding debut that earned him the man of the match award.

The Guardian - Sport

Everywhere you look in the stats, the chasm is dramatic: Williams has earned more than $4m this year alone; Safarova – whose ambition is to own a coffee shop and bake her own cakes – has earned $6.4m in her whole 12-year career.

The Guardian - Sport

Only a few months later, the Morningside Foundation, led by Hong Kong venture capitalists Ronnie and Gerald Chan, topped that with a $350m donation to the school of public health, where Gerald earned his master's and doctorate degrees.

The Guardian - Business

"You've earned this for trying to deny women their right to choice.

The Guardian

Help us to celebrate women's literary achievements by adding your favourite books written by women in the comments below – as well as the story of how it earned a place on your shelves.

The Guardian - Books

Maike Currie, associate investment director at Fidelity Personal Investing, said that while removing the income tax on interest earned on cash "makes for a great headline", it would do little for cash savers who had to contend with paltry rates.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earned" to emphasize that something was gained through effort, skill, or deserving qualities. It adds a sense of legitimacy and rightfulness to the achievement.

Common error

Avoid using "earned" when describing something passively received without direct effort. For example, say "He received an inheritance" instead of "He earned an inheritance", unless he actively worked for it.

Linguistic Context

The word "earned" primarily functions as a verb, typically in the past tense or past participle form. It describes the action of gaining something as a result of effort, merit, or deserving qualities, as demonstrated in many of Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

15%

Business

10%

Less common in

Books

8%

Money

7%

Film

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earned" is a versatile verb that signifies gaining something through effort, merit, or deserving qualities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. Its usage is particularly common in news, sports, and business, where emphasizing achievement and legitimacy is important. While "earned" can be used in various registers, it's crucial to reserve it for situations where direct effort or deservingness is evident, avoiding passive scenarios. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, writers can effectively convey the significance of achievements and rightfully acquired gains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gained

Focuses on the acquisition of something, often implying effort or work.

acquired

Highlights the process of obtaining something, often through learning or development.

merited

Emphasizes the deserving nature of receiving something, highlighting fairness or justice.

deserved

Implies that something was rightfully gained or received due to one's actions or qualities.

obtained

Stresses the act of getting or securing something, often through a specific action or process.

achieved

Highlights the successful completion of a goal or task, often implying significant effort.

attained

Focuses on reaching a certain level or status, often after a period of striving or development.

reaped

Implies receiving the benefits or consequences of one's actions, often in a metaphorical sense.

garnered

Suggests gathering or collecting something, often in a gradual or incremental manner.

procured

Emphasizes the act of acquiring something, often through careful planning or effort.

FAQs

How to use "earned" in a sentence?

You can use "earned" to describe gaining something through effort, such as "She "earned" the promotion through hard work" or "He "earned" their respect with his honesty."

What can I say instead of "earned"?

You can use alternatives like "gained", "deserved", or "achieved" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "earned respect" or "gained respect"?

Both "earned respect" and "gained respect" are correct, but "earned respect" emphasizes the effort and deserving nature, while "gained respect" simply means it was acquired.

What's the difference between "earned" and "deserved"?

"Earned" implies effort or work contributed to receive something, while "deserved" suggests that something was rightfully obtained based on one's qualities or actions, regardless of direct effort.