merit praise

USAGE SUMMARY

'merit praise' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing approval or admiration for someone's efforts or accomplishments. Example: He studied hard for the exam and his efforts merit praise.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

And I know the newspapers think they merit praise, not blame, for disseminating socially useful messages.

The New York Times - Magazine

He identifies virtues with affects, and says that only these merit praise and blame (Repastinatio, 74); however, he also writes that the virtues, as affects, cannot be called good or bad in themselves, but that these judgments apply only to the will, that is, to the will's choice.

SEP

That is, most have thought that if an agent were to genuinely merit praise or blame for something, then he would need to exercise a special form of control over that thing (e.g., the ability at the time of action to both perform or not perform the action) that is incompatible with one's being causally determined.

SEP

That doesn't mean they don't merit praise and encouragement.

Huffington Post

Douglas Perry's unctuous, vocally pert Goro as well as Roberto Gomez's incisive Prince Yamadori merit praise, although David Downing projects weakly from the back of the stage as a glowering Bonze perched in front of a giant, dour Buddha.

Los Angeles Times

Byck and crew merit praise for many reasons, but lets start with their (partial) interview list (and, not listed on the page, the much longer 'consulted'/talked with list which goes on for a long time at the end of the film).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Benteke's part in the opening goal also merited praise.

The Guardian - Sport

All the same, there is a persistence to Arsenal that merits praise.

The Guardian - Sport

The only discernible difference of emphasis concerned whether or not Britain's prime minister merited praise.

The Guardian

The tenor Paul Agnew merits praise if only for surviving Vivaldi's aria "Dominus a dextris tuis".

The New York Times

Mindful of those circumstances, the former Sunderland defender merited praise for his nerveless execution.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "merit praise" when you want to emphasize that something truly deserves commendation due to its quality or significance. For example, "The team's dedication and innovative approach merit praise."

Common error

Avoid using "merit praise" in very casual conversations. It can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler phrases like "deserves credit" or "is worth appreciating" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merit praise" functions as a verb phrase, where "merit" acts as a transitive verb indicating that something deserves or warrants the noun "praise". This is supported by Ludwig, which indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "merit praise" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, which is used to express that something deserves commendation. While not overly common, it's most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts, implying a neutral formality level. It's crucial to use it appropriately, avoiding overuse in casual settings, where simpler expressions might be more suitable. Alternatives like "deserve recognition" or "warrant commendation" can be used for similar meanings. Ultimately, understanding the nuances of "merit praise" helps writers effectively convey appreciation in a variety of situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merit recognition

Similar to deserve recognition, but uses a slightly more formal tone.

be deserving of praise

Adds emphasis to the act of deserving the praise.

deserve recognition

Focuses on the act of acknowledging someone's worth.

warrant commendation

Implies a formal approval or endorsement.

be worthy of acclaim

Highlights the quality of deserving enthusiastic approval.

earn accolades

Stresses achieving a high level of distinction and reward.

justify admiration

Emphasizes the actions or qualities that make someone worthy of admiration.

be laudable

Refers to the quality of being worthy of high praise and commendation.

invite commendation

Suggests an action or quality that naturally leads to praise.

call for applause

Highlights the need for a public display of approval.

FAQs

How can I use "merit praise" in a sentence?

Use "merit praise" to indicate that something deserves commendation. For example, "His innovative solutions merit praise from the entire team."

What are some alternatives to saying "merit praise"?

You can use alternatives like "deserve recognition", "warrant commendation", or "be worthy of acclaim" depending on the context.

Is it more common to say "merits praise" or "merited praise"?

"Merits praise" is used in the present tense to describe something that currently deserves praise. "Merited praise" is used in the past tense to describe something that deserved praise in the past.

What's the difference between "merit praise" and "deserve praise"?

"Merit praise" is more formal and emphasizes that something has earned praise through its quality or significance. "Deserve praise" is a more general and common way to express that something is worthy of praise.