won award

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "won award" is not correct as it is missing an article.
It should be "won an award" or "won the award." You can use it when referring to someone or something that has received recognition or a prize in a specific context. Example: "She won an award for her outstanding performance in the film."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Shamwari has not only won award after award for its conservation efforts and impeccable hospitality record, it has somehow even managed to keep the hordes of the online review community happy.

The Guardian - Travel

"If we didn't do it, I don't think we'd be giving the movie its due," Richard Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, said of the decision to promote "Wall-E" for the top prize, even if that complicates the movie's simultaneous bid for the more easily won award as best animated feature.

The New York Times

It has won award after award and now it's finally available here in the states, the final piece in Ford's most impressive car lineup ever.

TechCrunch

Fernando Valenzuela (1980-90; won award in 1981).

Los Angeles Times

Build + Imagine: Build + Imagine has won award after award for good reason.

Huffington Post

In 2010 his project Quest for Identity won award in personal category at Photo District News annual contest.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

I know it's happening under the brilliant Michael Grandage, I know he won award-nominations as a young thesp, I know he's a decent age for the part - but still my heart thuds instinctively to the floor.

The Guardian

won awards?

The New York Times

"She's won awards.

The New York Times

It has won awards.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"They won awards.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use an article ("a", "an", or "the") before "award" when using the phrase. For example, "won an award" or "won the award".

Common error

A common mistake is to omit the article before "award". Ensure you use "a", "an", or "the" depending on the context to maintain grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won award" functions as a verb phrase complemented by a noun. However, it's grammatically incomplete, typically requiring an article (a, an, or the) before "award". Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "won award" is grammatically incorrect without an article. Always use "won an award" or "won the award" to ensure proper grammar. As Ludwig AI explains, the absence of an article is a common error. While the phrase itself is used in various contexts, including news, media, and scientific publications, remember to include the necessary article to maintain grammatical accuracy. Alternatives like "received an award" or "earned an award" can also be used to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received an award

Replaces the verb "won" with "received" and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

earned an award

Substitutes "won" with "earned", implying the award was gained through effort and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

obtained an award

Replaces "won" with "obtained", suggesting a formal acquisition of the award and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

was given an award

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the act of being awarded and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

was presented with an award

More formal passive construction, highlighting the presentation aspect of receiving an award and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

came away with an award

Informal alternative, suggesting a successful outcome resulting in receiving an award and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

carried off an award

Informal and slightly more emphatic, implying a triumphant win and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

landed an award

Informal term that indicates successfully obtaining an award and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

walked away with an award

Suggests a casual yet successful attainment of an award and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

was the recipient of an award

Formal and precise phrasing to express the act of receiving an award and adds the article "an" for grammatical correctness.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "won award" in a sentence?

The phrase "won award" is incomplete and needs an article. Use "won an award" when referring to a non-specific award, or "won the award" when referring to a specific, previously mentioned award. For example: "She "won an award" for her novel."

What are some alternatives to "won award"?

Instead of "won award", you can say "received an award", "earned an award", or "obtained an award". All of these alternatives are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning.

Is it ever correct to say "won award" without an article?

In standard English, it is generally not correct to say "won award" without an article. The absence of "a", "an", or "the" makes the phrase grammatically incorrect. Always include an article for clarity and correctness.

What's the difference between "won an award" and "won the award"?

"Won an award" refers to winning any unspecified award. "Won the award" refers to winning a specific award that has already been mentioned or is otherwise known to the speaker and listener. For example: "She won an award for her community service. It was the highest honor."