Guide 160 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “praise”
Five register-aware ways to say "praise."
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Praise" can sound sycophantic. "Commend" is neutral recognition; "recognise" is formal acknowledgement of merit; "applaud" is public and warm; "credit" names the person; "laud" is literary.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Commend formal
neutral recognition
Commend the team on the clean cutover.
- 02Recognise neutral
acknowledge merit
Recognise individual contributions at the all-hands.
- 03Applaud neutral
warm public approval
Applaud the initiative in the newsletter.
- 04Credit neutral
name the person responsible
Credit the research team for the finding.
- 05Laud formal
literary, slightly elevated
The report is lauded for its clarity.