awards

When we talk about awards, we are usually discussing a moment of celebration. Whether it is a gold medal at the Olympics or a simple 'Student of the Month' certificate, an award serves as a tangible symbol of excellence and hard work.

As a noun, it refers to the prize itself. Think of the Oscars or the Nobel Prize; these are high-profile examples that recognize significant contributions to arts or science. However, awards aren't always physical. Sometimes, an award is a promotion, a scholarship, or even a public acknowledgment of a job well done.

As a verb, 'to award' means the act of giving that prize. For example, a judge might award damages to a plaintiff in a legal case, or a committee might award a grant to a researcher. It implies a formal decision-making process where someone is chosen to receive something valuable.

The word award has a fascinating history rooted in Old North French. It comes from the word eswarder, which meant 'to decide' or 'to judge.' This is why, in legal contexts, we still use the term to mean a formal decision or judgment.

Over time, the word evolved from the act of 'judging' to the act of 'giving' the result of that judgment. By the 14th century, it was being used in English to describe the act of granting something by judicial decree. It wasn't until later that it became the common term for prizes given for general achievements.

Interestingly, the word is distantly related to the word 'ward,' as in 'to guard.' In early usage, it implied a careful watching or consideration of a case before a decision was rendered. It is a great example of how a word can shift from a strictly legal or administrative process to something we associate with joy, celebration, and public recognition today.

In daily life, we use awards in many different contexts. You might hear about 'industry awards' in business, 'academic awards' at school, or 'literary awards' for writers. The word is highly versatile and fits into both formal and casual registers.

Common collocations include winning an award, receiving an award, or presenting an award. If you are writing a resume, you might have a section titled 'Awards and Honors.' This is a standard way to showcase your achievements to potential employers.

When using it as a verb, remember that it often requires an object. You award someone something, or you award something to someone. For instance, 'The committee awarded her the prize' is a very standard construction. It is a professional word that carries weight, so use it when you want to highlight a formal or significant accomplishment.

While 'award' itself isn't the core of many idioms, it appears in several fixed expressions.

• Award-winning: Used to describe something of high quality (e.g., 'An award-winning restaurant').
• To be in the running for an award: To be a candidate who has a chance of winning.
• To sweep the awards: To win almost all the prizes in a specific category or event.
• A lifetime achievement award: A special honor given to someone for their long-term contributions to a field.
• To be showered with awards: To receive many honors in a short period.

These phrases help you sound more natural when discussing competitions or professional recognitions. They are very common in journalism and casual conversation about movies, books, and sports.

The word awards is the plural form of the noun 'award' and the third-person singular form of the verb 'to award.' As a noun, it is countable, so you can have 'one award' or 'many awards.'

Pronunciation is straightforward: /əˈwɔːrdz/ in both British and American English. The 'aw' sound is a long, open vowel, and the 'z' at the end is voiced. It rhymes with words like boards, hoards, and cords.

When using it as a verb, follow the pattern: 'He/She/It awards.' For example, 'The school awards a scholarship every year.' Note that 'award' is often followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating the recipient, as in 'The trophy was awarded to the winner.' Keep this structure in mind to ensure your sentences are clear and grammatically correct.