Award vs I didn't do them for accolades

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

Award

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun

I didn't do them for accolades

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Award
 AwardI didn't do them for accolades
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈwɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈwɔːrd/"]/🇬🇧 //aˈkælədeɪz//🇺🇸 //ˈækəˌleɪdz//
MeaningA prize or honor given to someone for their achievements.I didn't do them for praise or awards.
ExampleShe received an award for her outstanding performance in the competition.I didn't do them for accolades; I just wanted to help.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsannual, 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, grantdo something for accolades, seek accolades, receive accolades, win accolades, not do for accolades
Antonymspenalty, punishment-
Common mistakesConfusing '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 'do them for rewards' meaning something different., Using 'accolades' in inappropriate contexts where simpler words like 'praise' are better., Mix-up with the phrase 'I do them for accolades', which changes the meaning.
Usage notesUse 'award' in formal contexts when discussing honors in competitions, ceremonies, or achievements. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless referring to a specific event.Used in contexts where actions are motivated by reasons other than seeking recognition. Appropriate in informal conversations or reflections.

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Award
I didn't do them for accolades

Frequently asked questions: Award vs I didn't do them for accolades

What's the difference between Award and I didn't do them for accolades?

Award: A prize or honor given to someone for their achievements. I didn't do them for accolades: I didn't do them for praise or awards.

Which is more common: Award and I didn't do them for accolades?

Award is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Award: She received an award for her outstanding performance in the competition. I didn't do them for accolades: I didn't do them for accolades; I just wanted to help.

Can I use Award and I didn't do them for accolades interchangeably?

Not always. Award and I didn't do them for accolades 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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