top awards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "top awards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the highest or most prestigious awards in a particular field or category. Example: "The film received several top awards at the international festival, including Best Picture and Best Director."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Legrand won three Academy Awards, five Grammys and two top awards at the Cannes Film Festival, among other honors.

Los Angeles Times

Innovative artists from USA, Finland, Australia and Canada win top awards in Category 24 of the 2017 AMERICAN ART AWARDS.

HuffPost

"Fantasy" was performed at the 23rd Annual American Music Awards, where Carey won two of the top awards.

Wikipedia

Sam Smith was the biggest winner of the night, taking home four top awards.

Independent

Drake's "Started at the Bottom" won Video of the Year, one of the night's top awards.

Independent

Country and rap also failed to make the cut for the top awards this year.

The New York Times - Arts

Also, the Hollywood liberals gave top awards to a French movie and an Iranian one.

The New Yorker

Ann Leckie's stunning debut novel, Ancillary Justice, deservedly won all the genre's top awards.

The Guardian - Books

Sportblog BBC Sports Personality of the Year: who should win five top awards?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

His most successful cob was Tewgoed Rosebud, which won several top awards including three Dutch championships.

BBC

BBC Sports Personality of the Year: who should win five top awards?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "top awards" when you want to emphasize the importance and prestige of the awards being discussed. It's suitable for highlighting significant achievements in various fields.

Common error

Avoid using "top awards" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler phrases like "best prizes" or "major accolades" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "top awards" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig examples show it often appears after verbs like "won", "received", or "garnered", indicating the reception of these prestigious recognitions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "top awards" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe the most prestigious recognitions in various fields. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. It is most commonly found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, with a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, remember that while it's broadly applicable, it's best suited for situations where emphasizing the importance and prestige of the awards is desired. For more informal settings, consider alternatives like "best prizes" or "major accolades".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most prestigious awards

Adds the adjective "prestigious" to highlight the high status of the awards.

highest accolades

Replaces "awards" with a more formal term, "accolades".

premier awards

Substitutes "top" with "premier", emphasizing the exclusivity and prestige of the awards.

grand prizes

Uses the word "grand" to emphasize the importance of the prizes.

leading prizes

Uses "prizes" instead of "awards", and "leading" instead of "top".

elite honors

Highlights the exclusivity and selectiveness of the awards.

major honors

Replaces both "top" and "awards" with synonyms, offering a more general expression of recognition.

chief recognitions

Uses "chief" instead of "top" and "recognitions" instead of "awards", slightly more formal.

principal distinctions

Employs "principal" and "distinctions" for a more sophisticated and less common phrasing.

supreme commendations

Replaces "awards" with a stronger, more laudatory term: "commendations".

FAQs

How can I use "top awards" in a sentence?

You can use "top awards" to refer to the most prestigious recognitions in a particular field, for example: "The film received several "top awards" at the film festival."

What are some alternatives to using "top awards"?

Alternatives include "highest accolades", "premier awards", or "most prestigious awards", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "the top award" or "a top award"?

Both are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the context. "The top award" refers to a specific, singular, highest honor. "A top award" refers to one among several high-ranking awards.

Which is more formal, "top awards" or "highest honors"?

Highest honors tends to be more formal than "top awards". "Top awards" is generally suitable for news and general writing, while "highest honors" might be preferred in academic or very formal contexts.