lessons earned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lessons earned" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be interpreted as referring to lessons that have been learned through experience, but the more common expression is "lessons learned." Example: "After reflecting on the project, I realized that the lessons earned will help us improve in the future."

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And armed with excellent Asian reviews–"His salty vignettes are as addictive as roasted peanuts, and much better for you, for they are bursting with life lessons earned in his 'no guts, no glory' way, and told with bracing verve," The (Singapore Straits Timess wrote on Jan . 21 hetells me Marshall Cavendish itself will now publish an American edition, probably hitting U.S. bookstores this spring.

Forbes

Three years of teaching music lessons earned him an invitation to move out of his parents' house (by his parents), so he went into teaching and earned his master's in elementary education, becoming a children's music specialist.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

30-minute lessons earn one academic credit; hour lessons earn two credits.

Johns Hopkins University

Stricker's putting lesson earned him a special place with Stanley, who said, "I was kind of blown away by it, actually".

The New York Times - Sports

She also took flying lessons and earned her pilot's license.

The New York Times

Marcel Rodd, who later capitalised on reggae's breakthrough on theTrojan label, was a budget-labelmaestro who learned his lessons and earned his spurs with the Saga label.

Independent

For the most part a housewife, Sunny also tutored English lessons, having earned her degree at Duke.

Wikipedia

It was a lesson hard earned.

Independent

Yet I'm still as wide-eyed as I was four years ago, because the lesson I earned in that puddle of vomit is still true: All the nasty stuff added up to one final realization.

Princeton University

But maybe those pricey golf lessons will earn your son a place on the high school team.

The New York Times

If you give lessons, you earn $100 an hour, and you make more money as a teaching pro than as the 50th-best singles tennis player in the world.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the more common phrase "lessons learned" for clarity and broader acceptance, especially in formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid implying that the "lessons" themselves were actively worked for; "earned" in this context simply means "gained" or "acquired" through experience. Ensure it's clear that the effort was in the experiences, not the lessons themselves.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessons earned" functions as a noun phrase where "lessons" is the noun and "earned" acts as a past participle modifying the noun, indicating that the lessons were acquired or gained through some experience or endeavor. Ludwig AI indicates a preference for the more common phrasing "lessons learned".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lessons earned" refers to knowledge or skills acquired through experience. However, Ludwig's analysis, including the assessment from Ludwig AI, suggests that it is less common and idiomatic than the alternative phrase "lessons learned". While grammatically sound, its relative infrequency and the availability of more standard alternatives mean that writers should carefully consider their audience and context when using it. Ludwig's examples show its usage across news media, academia, and encyclopedias, suggesting a broad applicability, but "lessons learned" remains the more conventional choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lessons learned

This alternative uses a more common and widely accepted phrasing to convey the same meaning.

insights gained

This focuses on the understanding acquired as a result of experience, rather than the lessons themselves.

experience acquired

This emphasizes the experience itself as the primary takeaway.

knowledge obtained

This emphasizes the factual or theoretical understanding that was gained.

wisdom acquired

This suggests a deeper level of understanding and judgment gained through experience.

principles assimilated

This refers to the integration of fundamental rules or guidelines through practical application.

expertise developed

This highlights the growth of skill and proficiency in a particular area.

proficiencies honed

This emphasizes the refinement and improvement of specific skills.

competencies acquired

This refers to the development of specific capabilities or qualifications.

skills mastered

This focuses on achieving a high level of proficiency in particular skills.

FAQs

What is a more common alternative to "lessons earned"?

A more common and widely accepted alternative is "lessons learned", which conveys the same meaning of acquiring knowledge or skills through experience.

How does "lessons earned" differ from "insights gained"?

"Lessons earned" emphasizes the specific lessons or knowledge acquired, while "insights gained" focuses on the deeper understanding or realizations that result from an experience.

Is "lessons earned" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "lessons earned" is less common than "lessons learned". Its usage may be perceived as slightly unusual, so consider your audience and context.

In what contexts might "lessons earned" be appropriate?

"Lessons earned" can be appropriate in contexts where you want to subtly emphasize that the lessons were the result of some effort or investment, though the distinction is often negligible. However, "lessons learned" is generally suitable for all situations.