rewarding failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rewarding failure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in discussions about the implications of recognizing or incentivizing unsuccessful attempts in various contexts, such as education or business. Example: "Some argue that rewarding failure can encourage innovation, as it allows individuals to learn from their mistakes without fear of repercussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

And the idea here is simple: Instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success.

The Guardian

One line in Thames's statement about how it will do better in future is hilarious: "In addition, senior managers will only be rewarded for reducing leakage when targets are hit". So, you were previously rewarding failure to hit targets?

The Guardian - Business

Expansion might be rewarding failure.

The New York Times

It is as if we are rewarding failure".

The New York Times

To many, this is an example of rewarding failure.

The Guardian - Business

Unless results improve dramatically it will look less like loyalty and more like rewarding failure.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Other strange ideas include getting normally happy coworkers to argue, rewarding failures, starting impractical projects, and encouraging people to defy their superiors.

Stanford University

To prevent a re-run of the awarding of a £16.9m pension pot to the former Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin, the ABI said that pensions should not pay out in full on early retirement "in a way that could commit companies to rewarding for failure".

The Guardian - Business

That's as it should be, if you ask me, as they contribute greatly and positively to the fabric of so many communities". He added that the tax credits some clubs get "could be seen as rewarding historic failure", but admitted "I don't claim to know what the right answer is".

BBC

However, hiking DHS's budget would be rewarding abject failure.

HuffPost

We have an epidemic of failing upwards and rewarding that failure in American Big Business.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing systemic issues, use "rewarding failure" to critique policies that unintentionally perpetuate negative outcomes. For instance, "The current education system is accused of "rewarding failure" by continuing to fund underperforming schools without requiring significant improvements."

Common error

Avoid using "rewarding failure" when the intent is actually to encourage risk-taking and innovation. Focus on the difference between incentivizing learning from mistakes versus perpetuating incompetence. For example, if a company provides bonuses even after unsuccessful experiments, use "incentivizing risk-taking" rather than condemning them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rewarding failure" functions as a critical descriptor, often used to express disapproval of situations where poor performance or unsuccessful outcomes are seemingly incentivized or compensated. As Ludwig AI confirms, it carries a negative connotation, frequently appearing in discussions about systemic flaws.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rewarding failure" is a commonly used expression to criticize situations where poor performance or negative outcomes seem to be incentivized or compensated. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English, highlighting its application in discussions concerning flawed systems, as evidenced by the numerous examples from news sources, business contexts, and scientific analyses. The phrase often appears in criticisms of executive compensation, government bailouts, and educational policies, carrying a generally neutral tone but conveying disapproval. When aiming to express similar ideas, alternatives like "incentivizing unsuccessful outcomes" or "recognizing unsuccessful attempts" can be considered, depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incentivizing unsuccessful outcomes

Focuses on the act of providing incentives for results that are not successful.

recognizing unsuccessful attempts

Highlights the act of acknowledging attempts that did not succeed, potentially as a learning opportunity.

compensating for shortcomings

Emphasizes providing compensation or benefits despite deficiencies or inadequacies.

subsidizing inefficiency

Focuses on providing financial support to systems or processes that are not efficient or productive.

bailing out underperformers

Highlights providing assistance to individuals or entities that are not performing well.

financing incompetence

Emphasizes the act of providing funds to support incompetence or lack of skill.

supporting inadequate performance

Highlights the act of providing support despite performance that is not adequate or satisfactory.

endorsing inadequacy

Focuses on giving approval or support to something that is inadequate or deficient.

remunerating non-achievement

Emphasizes the act of paying or compensating despite a lack of achievement or success.

honoring non-performance

Highlights the act of giving honor or recognition despite a lack of performance or accomplishment.

FAQs

How can I use "rewarding failure" in a sentence?

You can use "rewarding failure" to critique systems or policies that seem to benefit those who are not performing well. For example, "Critics argue that the bailout was "rewarding failure", as it provided financial assistance to companies without requiring significant reforms".

What's a less critical way to describe "rewarding failure"?

If you want to avoid the negative connotation of "rewarding failure", you might use phrases like "incentivizing risk-taking" or "recognizing effort", depending on the context.

What are some contexts where "rewarding failure" is often discussed?

"Rewarding failure" is often discussed in contexts such as executive compensation, government bailouts, and educational policies. In these cases, it usually implies that the existing system is flawed.

Is it always negative to "reward failure"?

Not necessarily. In some contexts, "acknowledging failure" can be seen as a way to promote learning and innovation, as long as there are mechanisms in place to address the root causes of the failure and prevent its recurrence.