What is the Difference Between Award and Reward?

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The main difference between an award and a reward lies in their purpose and the context in which they are given. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

  • Award: An award is an honor given to a person for achieving something noteworthy or for their extraordinary achievement. Awards are typically bestowed in public, in front of an audience, and are often given in the form of medals, trophies, certificates, and prizes. They serve as a mark of excellence and recognition for a person's accomplishments.
  • Reward: A reward is a form of acknowledgment, appreciation, or motivation given to someone who completes a task successfully or for their efforts and contributions. Rewards can be monetary or non-monetary in nature and may or may not be given publicly. They are often used to encourage specific behaviors or actions and can be given for various reasons, such as participating in an event, making a reasonable effort, or demonstrating honesty, hard work, determination, or empathy.

In summary, an award is given to recognize and honor a person's achievement, while a reward is given to someone who completes a task successfully or for their efforts and contributions. Awards are often publicly bestowed and serve as a mark of excellence, while rewards can be given privately and are more focused on appreciation, gratitude, or motivation.

Comparative Table: Award vs Reward

The main difference between an award and a reward lies in their purpose and the context in which they are given. Here is a table comparing the two:

Feature Award Reward
Purpose Recognizes and honors a person's achievements or outstanding performance Appreciation, gratitude, or motivation for specific behavior or actions
Context Often given in public, in front of an audience May or may not be publicly given out
Nature Formal recognition based on merit, decided by a committee or experts Acknowledgment for a specific behavior or achievement, often used as a motivational tool
Examples Olympic Medal, MVP award in sports, Employee of the Year award Gift for achieving a sales goal, incentive for living a healthy lifestyle, recognition for an employee's dedication

An award is typically given to recognize and honor someone's achievements or outstanding performance, often in a public setting, and is usually associated with a competition or a merit-based selection process. In contrast, a reward is an acknowledgment, appreciation, or an incentive for a specific behavior or action, and it can be given privately or publicly, depending on the context.