Award vs. Title — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
An award is a recognition given for an achievement, while a title is a name indicating position or achievement.
Difference Between Award and Title
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An award is a prize or a mark of recognition given to a person typically as a result of excellence in a certain field or for a particular achievement. Awards can come in various forms, such as trophies, titles, certificates, medals, or even monetary gifts. In contrast, a title is a designated name that reflects a person’s position, status, role, or accomplishment. Titles can be formal, such as those given to royalty, professionals, or winners of certain awards.
Awards are often the result of a competition or selection process where the recipient has distinguished themselves from others. They are symbols of honor and appreciation for someone's hard work, talent, or contribution. Titles, on the other hand, often recognize a person’s authority or professional standing and are used as a form of address or description. Titles may be associated with positions held, professional qualifications, academic achievements, or nobility.
The significance of an award lies in the prestige it grants the recipient, often serving as a milestone in their career or life. Awards can be presented by organizations, institutions, or peer groups and usually signify a high standard of achievement. Titles, in the realm of achievement, are acknowledgments of one’s role or excellence in a profession or activity, such as "Doctor" for a physician or "Champion" for a sports victor, and they can be permanent or temporary.
Awards can be given posthumously or to entities other than individuals, such as teams, organizations, or entire nations. They serve as a public acknowledgment of merit and can be listed as honors in one’s biography. Titles, especially those that are hereditary or lifelong, can define a person’s identity in society and may come with certain responsibilities or privileges.
An award is often something one wins or earns through effort and skill, while a title can be something one inherits, earns, is appointed to, or assumes based on their role or position. For example, an "Employee of the Year" award is earned through outstanding work performance, while the title "CEO" designates the role of the chief executive officer in an organization.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Recognition for achievements.
Designation of position or status.
Permanence
Often a one-time recognition.
Can be lifelong or hereditary.
Examples
Trophies, medals, certificates.
Mr., Dr., Professor, Lord.
Given by
Organizations, competitions.
Professional bodies, societies, monarchies.
Purpose
To honor and celebrate achievements.
To indicate authority, role, or qualification.
Compare with Definitions
Award
An accolade presented to an acclaimed actor.
The film festival concluded with the grand award ceremony.
Title
The official title of "Mayor" was bestowed upon her.
He assumed the title of director after the retirement of his predecessor.
Award
A grant given to an innovative start-up.
The small business received an award from the tech giant for sustainability.
Title
The title of "Knight" carries great honor.
She published her first novel under the title Whispers of the Past.
Award
A scholarship granted for academic excellence.
The award covered all his university tuition fees.
Title
Hereditary titles are passed down through generations.
With his doctoral thesis complete, he could finally use the title Doctor.
Award
A trophy given to the best performer.
She received an award for her groundbreaking research.
Title
A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification.
Award
An award, sometimes called a distinction, is something given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token is a medal, ribbon or other item designed for wearing, it is known as a decoration.
Title
The name of a book, composition, or other artistic work
The author and title of the book
Award
To grant as merited or due
Awarded prizes to the winners.
Title
A name that describes someone's position or job
Leese assumed the title of director general
Award
To grant an amount or other benefit legally due
Awarded damages to the plaintiff.
Title
The position of being the champion of a major sports competition
Davis won the world title for the first time in 1981
Award
Something awarded or granted, as for merit.
Title
A right or claim to the ownership of property or to a rank or throne
The buyer acquires a good title to the goods
A grocery family had title to the property
Award
An amount or other benefit granted as legally due.
Title
(in church use) a fixed sphere of work and source of income as a condition for ordination.
Award
(legal) A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
Title
Give a name to (a book, composition, or other work)
A report titled The Lost Land
Award
(legal) The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
Title
An identifying name given to a book, play, film, musical composition, or other work.
Award
A trophy or medal; something that denotes an accomplishment, especially in a competition. A prize or honor based on merit.
Title
A general or descriptive heading, as of a book chapter.
Award
A negotiated minimum wage that is set for a particular trade or industry; an industrial award.
Title
A written work that is published or about to be published
The titles in the publisher's fall catalog.
Award
(intransitive) To determine; to make or grant an award.
Title
A division of a legal code, generally consisting of multiple related statutes.
Award
(transitive) To give (an award).
Four or five of these medals are awarded every year.
Title
Often titles Written material to be read by viewers that is included in a film or television show, typically presenting credits, narration, or dialogue.
Award
(transitive) To give (a person) an award.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Title
A written piece of translated dialogue superimposed at the bottom of the frame during a film; a subtitle.
Award
To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case.
The arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant
Title
A formal appellation attached to the name of a person as a sign of office, rank, profession, or hereditary privilege.
Award
To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case; to adjudge; as, the arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant.
To reviewThe wrongful sentence, and award a new.
Title
A descriptive name; an epithet
The dubious title of the worst bowler in the league.
Award
To determine; to make an award.
Title
A right or claim, or the basis of a right or claim
"The weight of a fish is commonly its only title to fame" (Henry David Thoreau).
Award
A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
An award had been given against.
Title
A form of ownership free of valid claims by other parties.
Award
The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
Title
The aggregate evidence that gives rise to a legal right of possession or control.
Award
A grant made by a law court;
He criticized the awarding of compensation by the court
Title
The instrument, such as a deed, that constitutes this evidence.
Award
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Title
Sports & Games A championship
Which boxer won the heavyweight title?.
Award
Something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery;
The prize was a free trip to Europe
Title
A source of income or area of work required of a candidate for ordination in the Church of England.
Award
Give, especially as a reward;
Bestow honors and prizes at graduation
Title
A Roman Catholic church in or near Rome having a cardinal for its nominal head.
Award
Give on the basis of merit;
Funds are granted to qualified researchers
Title
To give a name or title to.
Award
Bestow an honor upon
Title
An appellation given to a person or family to signify either veneration, official position, social rank, the possession of assets or properties, or a professional or academic qualification. See also :Category:Titles
Award
A medal awarded to the brave soldier.
He wore his award with pride on Veterans Day.
Title
(property law) Legal right to ownership of a property; a deed or other certificate proving this.
A good title to an estate, or an imperfect title
Title
In canon law, that by which a beneficiary holds a benefice.
Title
A church to which a priest was ordained, and where he was to reside.
Title
The name of a book, film, musical piece, painting, or other work of art.
I know the singer's name, but not the title of the song.
Title
A publication.
The retailer carries thousands of titles.
Buyers of the new video game console can choose from three bundled titles.
Title
A section or division of a subject, as of a law or a book.
Title
A written title, credit, or caption shown with a film, video, or performance.
The titles scrolled by too quickly to read.
Title
(bookbinding) The panel for the name, between the bands of the back of a book.
Title
The subject of a writing; a short phrase that summarizes the entire topic.
Title
A division of an act of law
Title II of the USA PATRIOT Act
Title
(sports) The recognition given to the winner of a championship in sports.
Title
A long title.
Title
A short title.
Title
(transitive) To assign a title to; to entitle.
Title
An inscription put over or upon anything as a name by which it is known.
Title
The inscription in the beginning of a book, usually containing the subject of the work, the author's and publisher's names, the date, etc.
Title
The panel for the name, between the bands of the back of a book.
Title
A section or division of a subject, as of a law, a book, specif. (Roman & Canon Laws), a chapter or division of a law book.
Title
An appellation of dignity, distinction, or preëminence (hereditary or acquired), given to persons, as duke marquis, honorable, esquire, etc.
With his former title greet Macbeth.
Title
A name; an appellation; a designation.
Title
That which constitutes a just cause of exclusive possession; that which is the foundation of ownership of property, real or personal; a right; as, a good title to an estate, or an imperfect title.
Title
A church to which a priest was ordained, and where he was to reside.
Title
To call by a title; to name; to entitle.
Hadrian, having quieted the island, took it for honor to be titled on his coin, "The Restorer of Britain."
Title
A heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with;
Title 8 provided federal help for schools
Title
The name of a work of art or literary composition etc.;
He looked for books with the word `jazz' in the title
He refused to give titles to his paintings
I can never remember movie titles
Title
A general or descriptive heading for a section of a written work;
The novel had chapter titles
Title
The status of being a champion;
He held the title for two years
Title
A legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it;
He signed the deed
He kept the title to his car in the glove compartment
Title
An identifying appellation signifying status or function: e.g. Mr. or General;
The professor didn't like his friends to use his formal title
Title
An established or recognized right;
A strong legal claim to the property
He had no documents confirming his title to his father's estate
He staked his claim
Title
(usually plural) written material introduced into a movie or TV show to give credits or represent dialogue or explain an action;
The titles go by faster than I can read
Title
An appellation signifying nobility;
`your majesty' is the appropriate title to use in addressing a king
Title
An informal right to something;
His claim on her attentions
His title to fame
Title
Give a title to
Title
Designate by an identifying term;
They styled their nation `The Confederate States'
Title
The book's title was instantly intriguing.
The boxer earned the title of heavyweight champion.
Title
The project's title should be captivating.
The film won several awards under its provocative title.
Common Curiosities
Can a title also be an award?
Yes, sometimes a title, like "Employee of the Month," is given as a form of award.
Is an award always physical?
Not necessarily; an award can be a title, certificate, medal, cash, or any form of recognition.
Can a title be considered an award?
Sometimes, a title can be awarded as a form of recognition.
Are awards always given for achievements?
Generally, yes; awards are given in recognition of someone's achievements or excellence.
Is 'title' used in legal contexts?
Yes, 'title' can refer to legal ownership, as in the title to a property or vehicle.
Do awards need to be accepted?
Yes, typically an award must be accepted, but it's possible for someone to decline an award.
Are awards always physical objects?
No, awards can also be titles, privileges, or monetary.
Can titles be used before a person’s name?
Yes, titles like Mr., Dr., or Sir are often used as formal address before a person's name.
Do titles always signify an achievement?
Titles can signify roles, positions, achievements, or honorifics, not just achievements.
Can both an award and a title be inherited?
Awards cannot be inherited as they are personal achievements, but some titles, especially in nobility, can be.
Is an award always prestigious?
While awards generally carry prestige, the level can vary widely depending on the awarding body and context.
Can titles be academic?
Yes, academic titles include degrees and positions like Professor or Doctor.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
