Award vs. Reward – Which is Correct?

While often used interchangeably, an award is typically a formal recognition of merit or achievement, often symbolic and publicly presented. A reward, conversely, is something given in return for service, effort, or good behavior, often tangible and transactional. Both words are correct in American English, but their contexts differ significantly.

Award or Reward – Which is Correct?

Both “award” and “reward” are correct words in American English, but they carry distinct meanings and are used in different contexts. The core difference lies in their purpose and nature. An award is a formal recognition, usually for excellence, achievement, or distinction, and it often comes with a prize, medal, or certificate. It signifies honor and public acknowledgment. A reward, on the other hand, is something given in return for a service, effort, or good deed. It’s often a form of compensation, incentive, or a consequence for an action, and can be tangible (money, gifts) or intangible (satisfaction).

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of the “A” in Award as standing for Achievement or Acknowledgement. Awards celebrate public recognition for exceptional performance. Think of the “R” in Reward as standing for Return or Recompense. Rewards are given in return for effort, service, or a desired outcome. If it’s a formal ceremony for outstanding work, it’s an award. If it’s something you get back for doing something, it’s a reward.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Award	Noun, Verb	(N) A prize or distinction for merit; (V) To grant or bestow a prize for merit.	She received an award for her bravery. The committee will award scholarships next month.
Reward	Noun, Verb	(N) A thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement; (V) To give something in return for service or merit.	The police offered a reward for information. His hard work was rewarded with a promotion.

How to Use Award

“Award” is primarily used to denote a formal recognition of excellence, achievement, or distinction. As a noun, it refers to the prize itself (a trophy, medal, certificate, or monetary sum) given in a formal setting. As a verb, it means to grant or bestow such a prize. The tone associated with “award” is typically formal and celebratory, emphasizing public recognition and merit.

Example 1: The Nobel Peace Prize is a highly prestigious award given for significant contributions to peace.

Example 2: The university decided to award an honorary doctorate to the esteemed scientist.

Example 3: Receiving the Employee of the Month award boosted her morale significantly.

What are the different forms of Award?

As a noun, “award” has a regular plural form: awards.
As a verb, “award” follows regular conjugation rules:

• Base form: award (e.g., They award the prize annually.)
• Present participle: awarding (e.g., The academy is awarding new talent.)
• Past tense: awarded (e.g., She was awarded the contract last week.)
• Past participle: awarded (e.g., The medal has been awarded.)
• Third-person singular present: awards (e.g., The foundation awards grants.)

Etymology of the word Award

The word “award” originates from Old French eswarder, meaning “to look at, consider, judge.” This evolved from es- (intensive prefix) + warder (“to guard, watch”). By the late 14th century, it took on the sense of “to adjudge, grant, give by judicial decision,” particularly in legal contexts, and later extended to prizes and honors.

How to Use Reward

“Reward” signifies something given in return for a service, effort, or good behavior. It can be an incentive to perform an action or a consequence for an action already performed. As a noun, it can be monetary, a gift, or even an intangible benefit like satisfaction. As a verb, it means to compensate someone for their efforts or services. The tone can range from formal (e.g., a bonus) to informal (e.g., a treat for good behavior).

Example 1: The company offered a generous financial reward to anyone who could identify the cybersecurity threat.

Example 2: Parents often reward their children with extra screen time for completing chores.

Example 3: The deep satisfaction of helping others is its own reward.

What are the different forms of Reward?

As a noun, “reward” has a regular plural form: rewards.
As a verb, “reward” follows regular conjugation rules:

• Base form: reward (e.g., We reward hard work.)
• Present participle: rewarding (e.g., The job is rewarding.)
• Past tense: rewarded (e.g., He was rewarded for his loyalty.)
• Past participle: rewarded (e.g., Her efforts have been rewarded.)
• Third-person singular present: rewards (e.g., Life rewards perseverance.)

Etymology of the word Reward

The word “reward” comes from Old French reguard, meaning “a regard, a consideration, recompense.” It is derived from re- (again, back) + guarder (to watch, observe). By the early 14th century, it was used to mean “recompense for service or good conduct,” emphasizing the idea of getting something back in return for an action.

Related Concepts

Understanding broader grammatical and semantic concepts can help clarify the nuances between “award” and “reward.”

• Nouns of Recognition vs. Nouns of Compensation: “Award” functions as a noun of recognition, signifying honor and public acknowledgment for achievement. “Reward” functions as a noun of compensation or incentive, often transactional or a direct consequence of an action.
• Verbs of Bestowal vs. Verbs of Reciprocity: As verbs, “award” means to formally bestow something based on merit. “Reward” means to give something in return for a service, effort, or behavior, implying a reciprocal action.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “The Academy Award for Best Picture went to ‘Oppenheimer’ at the 96th annual ceremony in March 2024.” (News headline)
• “In ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,’ the winner of the Triwizard Tournament receives the Triwizard Cup and a thousand-galleon reward.” (J.K. Rowling, *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*)
• “Every person, every place, and every thing has a story to tell. All you have to do is listen. And the reward is great.” (C.S. Lewis, *The Chronicles of Narnia*)
• “The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• “Sometimes, the greatest reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do more.” (Attributed to unknown)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. The city council decided to ______ the contract to the lowest bidder.
2. Her dedication to the project was ______ with a significant bonus.
3. The prestigious literary ______ is announced in the fall.
4. He believes that hard work will eventually ______ him.
5. There’s a substantial ______ for any information leading to the recovery of the stolen artwork.

Answer Key

1. award
2. rewarded
3. award
4. reward
5. reward

Award Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Prize	Something given as a token of victory or superiority in a contest or competition.
Trophy	A cup or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or success.
Honor	High respect; great esteem. Often used for honorary awards.
Decoration	A medal, ribbon, or other insignia conferred as an honor.
Stipend (as a verb)	To pay a stipend to; often implies a grant or fixed payment.

Reward Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Bonus	An extra payment or gift, typically as an incentive or as a return for good performance.
Incentive	A thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.
Compensation	Something, typically money, awarded to someone in recompense for loss, injury, or effort.
Recompense	Compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered, or for effort made.
Gratuity	A small payment, especially one given to a person who has provided a service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can a reward also be an award?
Sometimes. A monetary prize given as an award (e.g., a cash prize for winning a competition) can also function as a reward in the sense of compensation. However, not all awards are rewards (e.g., a purely symbolic medal), and not all rewards are awards (e.g., a bonus for reaching a sales target).

Question 2: Which word implies greater prestige?
“Award” generally implies greater prestige and public recognition. Awards are typically given for exceptional achievement and often involve a formal ceremony, signifying honor. Rewards can be informal or transactional and don’t necessarily carry the same level of public honor.

Question 3: Is it correct to say “award a reward”?
Yes, it is grammatically correct to “award a reward.” For example, “The committee decided to award a significant financial reward to the whistleblower.” Here, “award” functions as the verb meaning to grant or bestow, and “reward” is the noun referring to the compensation being given.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between “award” and “reward” is crucial for precise communication. While both involve giving something of value, an award typically celebrates achievement and public recognition, often in a formal setting. A reward, conversely, is usually given in return for effort, service, or a specific outcome, functioning as compensation or an incentive. Mastering these nuances enhances clarity in both spoken and written English. Pro Tip: Using the correct term reflects a strong command of the language, which is invaluable in professional and academic contexts.