What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
conferring
Example
The committee is conferring about the new policy. [conferring: verb]
Example
The university will be conferring degrees at the graduation ceremony. [conferring: gerund or present participle]
bestow
Example
The queen bestowed a knighthood upon him for his services to the country. [bestowed: past tense]
Example
The scholarship was bestowed upon the most deserving student. [bestowed: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Bestow is less common than conferring in everyday language, but it is still widely used in formal contexts, such as ceremonies, speeches, and official documents.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between conferring and bestow?
Bestow is generally considered more formal than conferring. It is often used in formal contexts, such as ceremonies, speeches, and official documents, to convey a sense of honor or privilege associated with the thing being given.
