Praises vs. Praise – Which is Correct?
Both praise and praises are correct English words, but they serve different grammatical roles. Praise usually names approval or expresses admiration in a general sense, while praises is the plural noun or third-person singular verb. Use praise for general approval and praises for multiple compliments or actions performed by someone.
Spelling distinctions matter too, and Pronunciation vs. Pronounciation addresses a commonly confused word pair.
Praises or Praise – Which is Correct?
Praise and praises are both correct, but they are not always interchangeable. Praise can be an uncountable noun meaning approval or admiration, or a verb meaning to express approval. Praises can be the plural form of the noun, meaning multiple expressions of approval, or the third-person singular form of the verb.
Use praise when discussing approval generally: “The manager gave the employee praise.” Use praises when referring to several compliments: “The review includes praises from customers.” As a verb, use praises with a singular subject: “The teacher praises careful work.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the singular-subject test: if one person or thing performs the action, the verb usually ends in -s, as in “She praises the team.” If you are talking about approval in general, use praise, as in “She received praise.” For multiple compliments, use the plural noun praises.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| praise | Noun or verb | Approval, admiration, or the act of expressing approval | The author received praise for the novel. |
| praises | Plural noun or verb | Multiple compliments, or expresses approval for a singular subject | The critic praises the film’s acting. |
How to Use Praises
Praises has two main uses. As a plural noun, it refers to multiple expressions of approval or admiration. This use is grammatically possible, although praise is often more natural when approval is treated as a general or uncountable idea. As a verb, praises is the third-person singular present-tense form of praise.
When praises is a verb, it follows a singular subject such as he, she, it, or a singular noun. When it is a noun, it usually refers to distinct compliments, commendations, or expressions of admiration.
Example 1: The coach praises every player who demonstrates persistence.
Example 2: The product received praises from several industry reviewers.
Example 3: The biography contains praises of the leader’s courage and generosity.
What are the different forms of Praises?
As a verb, praises is the third-person singular present form of praise. The base form is praise, the present participle is praising, the simple past is praised, and the past participle is also praised. As a noun, praises is the regular plural of praise when separate expressions of approval are being counted.
Etymology of the word Praises
Praises comes from the Middle English verb and noun preisen, which developed from Old French preisier, meaning “to value” or “to appraise.” Its final -s is the standard English ending for either a third-person singular present-tense verb or a regular plural noun.
How to Use Praise
Praise is commonly used as an uncountable noun for approval, admiration, or favorable comments. It can also function as a verb meaning to express approval of someone or something. The word works in casual, professional, academic, literary, and religious contexts, although its tone depends on the subject and setting.
As a noun, praise is often used with verbs such as receive, earn, give, and deserve. As a verb, it can take a person, achievement, quality, or action as its object.
Example 1: The scientist earned praise for explaining the discovery clearly.
Example 2: The supervisor praised the team for meeting the deadline.
Example 3: Excessive praise can sometimes make a compliment sound insincere.
What are the different forms of Praise?
As a noun, praise is usually uncountable when it means approval in general. It can also have the plural form praises when referring to separate compliments or formal expressions of admiration. As a regular verb, its forms are praise, praises, praised, and praising.
Etymology of the word Praise
Praise entered English through Middle English preisen and Old French preisier, meaning “to value,” “esteem,” or “appraise.” It is related to the idea of assigning high worth or expressing approval. Over time, it developed into both a noun and a verb.
Related Concepts
Understanding countable nouns and subject–verb agreement makes the difference between praise and praises easier to identify.
- Countable and uncountable nouns: Praise is often uncountable when it means approval generally. The plural praises is used when referring to separate compliments or expressions of admiration.
- Subject–verb agreement: The verb praises agrees with a singular third-person subject, as in “The editor praises the article.” With I, you, we, or they, use the base form praise.
- Regular verb forms: Praise follows the regular conjugation pattern: praises, praised, and praising.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples demonstrate how praise and praises appear in real-world writing and storytelling:
- Book reviews: A reviewer may write that a novel “earned widespread praise” for its vivid characters.
- Film coverage: An entertainment article may say that critics praise an actor’s performance.
- News reports: A report may explain that emergency workers received praise for their quick response.
- Biographies: A biography may include the praises of colleagues who admired a public figure’s leadership.
- Literary dialogue: A character may say, “I do not seek praise,” using the uncountable noun to mean general approval.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- The director ______ the cast for its professionalism.
- The athlete received widespread ______ after breaking the record.
- The article includes ______ from several respected experts.
- Teachers often ______ students who show consistent effort.
- She did not expect so much ______ for her volunteer work.
Answer Key
- praises — The singular subject “the director” takes the third-person singular verb form.
- praise — The sentence refers to approval in general.
- praises — The sentence refers to multiple expressions of approval.
- praise — The plural subject “teachers” takes the base verb form.
- praise — The word describes general approval and functions as an uncountable noun.
Praises Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Compliments | Expressions of admiration or approval |
| Commendations | Formal statements of approval or recognition |
| Accolades | Awards, honors, or enthusiastic expressions of approval |
| Tributes | Expressions of respect, admiration, or gratitude |
Praise Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Approval | A favorable opinion or acceptance |
| Admiration | Respect or warm approval |
| Recognition | Acknowledgment of an achievement or quality |
| Applause | Public approval or enthusiastic appreciation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “praises” a correct word?
Yes. Praises is correct as the plural noun meaning multiple expressions of approval or as the third-person singular present-tense form of the verb praise.
Question 2: Should I say “much praise” or “many praises”?
Use much praise when referring to approval generally. Use many praises only when emphasizing separate compliments or distinct expressions of admiration.
Question 3: Is “praise” singular or plural?
Praise is usually an uncountable noun, so it does not normally take a plural ending. However, praises is possible when referring to individual compliments or commendations.
Question 4: What is the difference between “praise” and “praises” as verbs?
Use praise with I, you, we, and they, as in “They praise her work.” Use praises with a singular third-person subject, as in “He praises her work.”
Conclusion
Praise and praises are both valid words. Choose praise for general approval or with plural subjects as a verb, and choose praises for multiple compliments or with a singular third-person subject as a verb. Pro Tip: Accurate word choice in professional writing strengthens your credibility and reputation.
