Question
Updated on
18 March
- Arabic
-
English (US)
-
Spanish (Spain)
Question about English (US)
can I use "earn" to talk about having manners and traits from living with others people or under certain circumstances?
"for instance he earned his honesty from dealing with good people"
or should I use "gain"?
"he gained his honesty from dealing with good people"
or both of them wrong?
can I use "earn" to talk about having manners and traits from living with others people or under certain circumstances?
"for instance he earned his honesty from dealing with good people"
or should I use "gain"?
"he gained his honesty from dealing with good people"
or both of them wrong?
"for instance he earned his honesty from dealing with good people"
or should I use "gain"?
"he gained his honesty from dealing with good people"
or both of them wrong?
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18 March
Featured answer
- English (US)
I agree that "earned" is a little unnatural.
I'm not crazy about "gained" either, although it's kind of ok.
I would probably use "got." However, I think writers would be more likely to use "acquired."
Another good option is "picked up."
Of all these options, I think "acquired" is probably best.
Highly-rated answerer
Read more comments
- English (US)
- Arabic
- English (US)
- Arabic
- English (US)
- English (US)
I agree that "earned" is a little unnatural.
I'm not crazy about "gained" either, although it's kind of ok.
I would probably use "got." However, I think writers would be more likely to use "acquired."
Another good option is "picked up."
Of all these options, I think "acquired" is probably best.
Highly-rated answerer
- Arabic
- English (US)
@allears "obtained" is ok I guess, but it sounds slightly unnatural to me, regarding honesty. I think the word "obtain" has a nuance of intention, of getting something on purpose. If a son gets honesty from his dad, I don't think of it as something that the son decides to do.
:)
Highly-rated answerer
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