legitimately deserve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legitimately deserve" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that someone has earned or is entitled to in a valid or justifiable manner. Example: "After years of hard work and dedication, she legitimately deserves the recognition she is receiving."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

What if we instead looked at them as people with voices that legitimately deserve to be heard?

The Guardian - Music

Israeli philosopher Moshe Halbertal offers a clue why this is so in his book "On Sacrifice," in which he argues that because good causes legitimately deserve sacrifice, we are hard-wired to assume that sacrifice in and of itself can justify or even ennoble a cause.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

They seem convinced that Goldsteins never win -- perhaps because Amy, the only Goldstein who they believe legitimately deserved to win, didn't.

The New York Times - Magazine

I usually don't like to judge performances I haven't seen in person, so I want to qualify and say there is a chance I would think Miller is so good that she legitimately deserves to beat Carmello.

Huffington Post

But the outcome, the net result, was one that few can legitimately argue was not deserved.

The Guardian - Sport

Music fans clearly deserve legal clarity in this area as well as the freedom to enjoy any music they have legitimately obtained.

TechCrunch

Those who legitimately need the help won't get all they should, while some could end up with more than they deserve.

Huffington Post

These problems deserve study.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

But the proceedings before Judge Hellerstein suggest ways to make sure that those who legitimately are injured receive the help they need without unnecessary delay, while making it more difficult for people to grab money they may not deserve.

Huffington Post

If ever a movie about punk deserved to be called legitimately sweet and life-affirming, it's the documentary "A Band Called Death".

Los Angeles Times

(Democrats take note!) All to the good from a partisan perspective, but still a disservice both to the questions D'Souza has legitimately raised and to the film itself, which deserved better at the hands of its one and only begetter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "legitimately deserve" to emphasize that someone's worthiness is not just apparent but also justifiable based on valid reasons or actions.

Common error

Avoid using "legitimately deserve" when "deserve" alone is sufficient. The word "legitimately" should add a specific nuance of justification, not just act as an intensifier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "legitimately deserve" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that someone or something is worthy of a particular outcome in a justified or rightful manner. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts relating to sacrifices and rewards.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "legitimately deserve" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to assert a justified claim of worthiness. Ludwig's analysis indicates that while grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare. Primarily found in News & Media and Science contexts, the phrase emphasizes that a particular outcome is not only deserved but also justifiable. When writing, be sure to avoid redundancy and use it in contexts where the "legitimately" adds specific value and nuance to the sentence. In this case, Ludwig confirms that the usage is valid and appropriate in several contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rightfully merit

Emphasizes the right to receive something due to actions or qualities.

justifiably warrant

Highlights the justification for being worthy of something.

genuinely warrant

Focuses on the authenticity of the worthiness.

fairly earn

Stresses the aspect of earning something through just means.

truly warrant

Highlights the genuineness of warranting something.

honestly be worthy of

Emphasizes the honesty and integrity in being worthy.

be fully entitled to

Indicates a complete and rightful entitlement.

have a valid claim to

Focuses on having a legitimate basis for a claim.

be rightly due

Highlights that something is properly owed to someone.

authentically merit

Emphasizes the real and genuine nature of deserving something.

FAQs

What does "legitimately deserve" mean?

The phrase "legitimately deserve" means to be worthy of something in a way that is justified, rightful, and in accordance with established rules or principles.

When is it appropriate to use "legitimately deserve" in a sentence?

Use "legitimately deserve" when you want to emphasize that someone's worthiness is not just apparent but based on valid and justifiable reasons. For example, "After years of dedicated service, she "rightfully merits" the promotion".

What are some alternatives to "legitimately deserve"?

Alternatives include "rightfully deserve", "justifiably warrant", or "genuinely warrant". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "deserve" and "legitimately deserve"?

While "deserve" implies a general worthiness, "legitimately deserve" adds emphasis that the worthiness is based on a valid and justifiable foundation. The addition of "legitimately" strengthens the claim.