What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
deserve
Example
She deserves a promotion for all her hard work. [deserves: verb]
Example
He got what he deserved for breaking the rules. [deserved: past tense]
Example
The students deserve a break after studying so hard. [deserve: present tense]
justify
Example
He tried to justify his actions, but no one believed him. [justify: verb]
Example
Can you justify your answer with some examples? [justifying: gerund or present participle]
Example
The high price of the product is justified by its quality and features. [justified: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deserve is more commonly used than justify in everyday language. Deserve is a common word used to express opinions or beliefs about what someone has earned or merited. Justify is less common and is typically used in more formal or academic contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between deserve and justify?
Justify is generally considered more formal than deserve. It is often used in academic writing or professional settings to provide evidence or reasoning to support a claim or argument. Deserve, on the other hand, is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
