Benefit vs That privilege cost me

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

Benefit

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun

That privilege cost me

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Benefit
 BenefitThat privilege cost me
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈbenɪfɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbenɪfɪt/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæt ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ kɒst miː//🇺🇸 //ðæt ˈprɪvəlɪdʒ kɔst mi//
MeaningSomething good that helps you or makes your life better.Something special that you have but others don't, which you had to pay for.
ExampleRegular exercise has many health benefits.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
Collocationsconsiderable, enormous, great, enjoy, experience, have, accrue, arise from something, result from something, for somebody’s benefit, of benefit to, to somebody’s benefit, welfare, state, insurance, amount, level, be eligible for, be entitled to, qualify for, be paid, benefits agency, office, payment, on benefit, fringe, tax, employee, give, receive, extend, plan, benefits packagepay the cost for privilege, enjoy the privilege, lose the privilege, grant a privilege, afford the privilege
Antonymsdisadvantage, harm, loss-
Common mistakesConfused with 'beneficial' which is an adjective., Using 'benefit' incorrectly in conjunction, e.g., 'benefit to' instead of 'benefit from'.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 'benefit' when discussing advantages or positive outcomes. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly casual 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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Benefit
That privilege cost me

Frequently asked questions: Benefit vs That privilege cost me

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

Benefit: Something good that helps you or makes your life better. That privilege cost me: Something special that you have but others don't, which you had to pay for.

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

Benefit is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Benefit: Regular exercise has many health benefits. That privilege cost me: That privilege cost me years of hard work and dedication.

Can I use Benefit and That privilege cost me interchangeably?

Not always. Benefit 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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