Advantage vs That privilege cost me

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Advantage

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun

That privilege cost me

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Advantage
 AdvantageThat privilege cost me
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈvæntɪdʒ/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæt ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ kɒst miː//🇺🇸 //ðæt ˈprɪvəlɪdʒ kɔst mi//
MeaningA benefit or a positive aspect of something.Something special that you have but others don't, which you had to pay for.
ExampleHaving a strong educational background is often an advantage in the job market.That privilege cost me years of hard work and dedication.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsbig, considerable, enormous, have, gain, get, to somebody’s advantage, advantage in, advantage over, to good advantage, to somebody/​something’s best advantage, big, considerable, enormous, have, gain, get, to somebody’s advantage, advantage in, advantage over, to good advantage, to somebody/​something’s best advantagepay the cost for privilege, enjoy the privilege, lose the privilege, grant a privilege, afford the privilege
Antonymsdisadvantage, drawback, hindrance-
Common mistakesConfusing 'advantage' with 'advantaged', which implies someone is privileged., Using 'advantage' as a verb, when it's only a noun., Confusing the phrase 'take advantage' with 'take advantage of'—the latter is correct.Confusing 'privilege' with 'right'; privilege is earned, right is inherent., Using 'cost' without indicating the expense involved., Omitting context that clarifies what the privilege is.
Usage notesUse this word when discussing benefits or positive features. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, such as business discussions or everyday conversations.Use in contexts referring to something you gained that required a significant effort or expense. Common in discussions about social status or benefits. Less appropriate for informal casual chats.

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Advantage
That privilege cost me

Frequently asked questions: Advantage vs That privilege cost me

What's the difference between Advantage and That privilege cost me?

Advantage: A benefit or a positive aspect of something. That privilege cost me: Something special that you have but others don't, which you had to pay for.

Which is more common: Advantage and That privilege cost me?

Advantage is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Advantage: Having a strong educational background is often an advantage in the job market. That privilege cost me: That privilege cost me years of hard work and dedication.

Can I use Advantage and That privilege cost me interchangeably?

Not always. Advantage and That privilege cost me are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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