Cool MateAward vs Grant
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Award
Grant
| Award | Grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈwɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈwɔːrd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡrɑːnt/","/ɡrɑːnts/","/ˈɡrɑːntɪd/","/ˈɡrɑːntɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡrænt/","/ɡrænts/","/ˈɡræntɪd/","/ˈɡræntɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A prize or honor given to someone for their achievements. | To give something, especially officially. |
| Example | She received an award for her outstanding performance in the competition. | The teacher decided to grant the students extra time for their assignment. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | annual, national, coveted, announce, bestow, give somebody, go to somebody, awards banquet, awards ceremony, awards dinner, award for, award from, compensatory, discretionary, pay, get, receive, grant, compensatory, discretionary, pay, get, receive, grant | expressly, specifically, automatically, agree to, decide to, refuse to, expressly, specifically, automatically, agree to, decide to, refuse to |
| Antonyms | penalty, punishment | revoke, withhold |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'award' with 'reward' - an award is usually formal and public, while a reward can be personal and informal., Using 'awards' without specifying what kind, confusing listeners., Saying 'give award' instead of 'give an award' or 'award' directly. | Confused with 'granted' which is the past tense., Using 'grant' without an object., Mixing up 'grant' with 'gift', thinking they are interchangeable. |
| Usage notes | Use 'award' in formal contexts when discussing honors in competitions, ceremonies, or achievements. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless referring to a specific event. | Typically used in formal contexts such as legal or educational settings. Avoid in casual conversations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Award vs Grant
What's the difference between Award and Grant?
Award: A prize or honor given to someone for their achievements. Grant: To give something, especially officially.
Which is more formal: Award and Grant?
Grant is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Award and Grant?
Award is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Award and Grant?
Grant is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Award and Grant the same CEFR level?
Award: A2, Grant: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Award and Grant?
Award: noun, Grant: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Award: She received an award for her outstanding performance in the competition. Grant: The teacher decided to grant the students extra time for their assignment.
Can I use Award and Grant interchangeably?
Not always. Award and Grant 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.