- Do you ever struggle to find the perfect word to describe a success or a completed goal?
- Are you unsure whether to say ‘make an accomplishment’ or ‘achieve an accomplishment’?
- Do you want to sound more natural and fluent when discussing your achievements in English?
Mastering English collocations is a game-changer for fluency. Collocations are simply words that naturally go together, forming partnerships that sound right to native speakers. Learning them helps you avoid awkward phrasing, reduces ‘language anxiety,’ and allows you to express yourself with precision and confidence, making your English sound significantly more natural and professional. Let’s dive into the common and essential collocations for the word “accomplishment.”
Essential Collocations using ACCOMPLISHMENT as a Noun
The word “accomplishment” is a noun, referring to something that has been achieved successfully, often requiring effort or skill. The collocations below describe actions taken to achieve an accomplishment, its qualities, or the feelings associated with it.
Verbs for Achieving or Making Accomplishments
These verbs describe the act of bringing an accomplishment into being or successfully completing something.
- achieve an accomplishment (Most common and natural way to express reaching a goal)
Example: After years of hard work, she finally achieved her greatest accomplishment: completing her Ph.D.
- realize an accomplishment (To make an accomplishment actual or complete it)
Example: Through sheer determination, he was able to realize the accomplishment of building his own business from scratch.
- complete an accomplishment (To finish an accomplishment; often implies a specific task)
Example: The team worked tirelessly to complete the accomplishment of the challenging project ahead of schedule.
- attain an accomplishment (To reach or achieve an accomplishment, often one that is high or difficult)
Example: Winning the national championship was an extraordinary accomplishment attained by the underdog team.
- make an accomplishment (While understandable, this is less natural than ‘achieve’ or ‘realize’. See the ‘Common Mistakes’ section for more.)
Example: (Less natural) He hoped to make an important accomplishment during his tenure. (More natural: He hoped to achieve an important accomplishment…)
Verbs for Recognizing or Celebrating Accomplishments
These verbs describe how accomplishments are acknowledged, appreciated, or marked.
- recognize an accomplishment (To formally or informally acknowledge that something has been achieved)
Example: The company decided to recognize the accomplishment of its top sales representative with a special award.
- celebrate an accomplishment (To mark a success with a party or other festive event)
Example: After the successful launch, the entire department gathered to celebrate their accomplishment.
- acknowledge an accomplishment (To admit or accept the truth or existence of an accomplishment)
Example: It’s important to acknowledge the accomplishments of all team members, not just the leader.
- mark an accomplishment (To signify or observe an accomplishment, often with a ceremony or special event)
Example: A new plaque was installed to mark the accomplishment of the historic building’s restoration.
Verbs and Phrases for Deriving Feeling or Benefit from Accomplishments
These phrases focus on the personal impact or emotional response to an accomplishment.
- derive satisfaction from an accomplishment (To gain pleasure or contentment from achieving something)
Example: She always derives great satisfaction from an accomplishment that helps others.
- take pride in an accomplishment (To feel pleased and satisfied with an accomplishment)
Example: He encouraged his students to take pride in every accomplishment, no matter how small.
- feel a sense of accomplishment (To experience a feeling of satisfaction from successfully completing a task or goal)
Example: Finishing the marathon, despite the exhaustion, left her with an incredible sense of accomplishment.
Adjective Collocations Describing Accomplishments
These adjectives help to specify the nature, scale, or impact of an accomplishment.
- major accomplishment (An extremely important or significant achievement)
Example: Curing the disease would be a major accomplishment for medical science.
- great accomplishment (Similar to major, emphasizing importance and positive impact)
Example: Winning the Nobel Prize is undoubtedly a great accomplishment for any scientist.
- significant accomplishment (An accomplishment that has considerable importance or effect)
Example: Completing the complex merger was a significant accomplishment for the corporate team.
- remarkable accomplishment (An accomplishment that is particularly noteworthy or impressive)
Example: Her consistent dedication led to a truly remarkable accomplishment in her field.
- impressive accomplishment (An accomplishment that elicits admiration or respect)
Example: Despite his youth, managing such a large team was an impressive accomplishment.
- notable accomplishment (An accomplishment that is worthy of attention or notice)
Example: The discovery of the new species was a notable accomplishment for the research expedition.
- proud accomplishment (An accomplishment that instills a feeling of satisfaction or self-respect)
Example: Raising a family while running a successful business was her most proud accomplishment.
- personal accomplishment (An accomplishment that is unique to an individual’s goals or efforts)
Example: Learning a new language was a challenging but rewarding personal accomplishment.
- minor accomplishment (A small or less important achievement)
Example: Even a minor accomplishment, like organizing your desk, can boost your mood.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| achieve an accomplishment | Verb + Noun | Successfully complete something important. |
| realize an accomplishment | Verb + Noun | Bring an accomplishment into reality. |
| complete an accomplishment | Verb + Noun | Finish a task or goal. |
| recognize an accomplishment | Verb + Noun | Acknowledge or honour a success. |
| celebrate an accomplishment | Verb + Noun | Mark a success with festivities. |
| feel a sense of accomplishment | Verb + Noun Phrase | Experience satisfaction from success. |
| major accomplishment | Adjective + Noun | A very important or significant success. |
| significant accomplishment | Adjective + Noun | An achievement with considerable importance. |
| remarkable accomplishment | Adjective + Noun | A noteworthy or impressive achievement. |
| personal accomplishment | Adjective + Noun | A success unique to an individual. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common pitfalls to make your English sound more authentic.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| achieve an accomplishment / realize an accomplishment / complete an accomplishment | |
| major accomplishment / significant accomplishment / great accomplishment | |
| achieve an accomplishment / complete an accomplishment | |
| feel a sense of accomplishment / derive satisfaction from an accomplishment | |
| minor accomplishment (or simply “a small achievement”) |
“Team, I wanted to share some exciting news. Last quarter, we collectively achieved a significant accomplishment by exceeding our sales targets despite challenging market conditions. It truly was a major accomplishment for us all. I know many of you now feel a strong sense of accomplishment, and rightly so! It’s important to recognize an accomplishment of this magnitude. Let’s make sure to celebrate this remarkable accomplishment at our upcoming team dinner. This success truly demonstrates our collective effort and dedication.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Accomplishment Collocations
What’s the difference between “achievement” and “accomplishment”?
While often used interchangeably, “accomplishment” (from Old French acomplir, meaning “to complete, fulfill”) often carries a nuance of successful completion, particularly of something challenging or requiring skill, with a sense of finality. “Achievement” (from Old French achever, “to come to a head, finish”) is broader and can refer to the process or the result of achieving something, often emphasizing effort or success in competition. In modern English, “accomplishment” frequently highlights the successful completion of a goal or task, while “achievement” can describe a general success or a specific feat. Both are very similar, but “accomplishment” often implies a more deliberate, personal journey or skill.
Can I say “make an accomplishment”?
While grammatically correct and understandable, “make an accomplishment” is not the most natural or common collocation in modern English. Corpus linguistics data shows that verbs like “achieve,” “realize,” or “complete” are significantly more frequently used with “accomplishment.” Saying “achieve an accomplishment” or “realize an accomplishment” will sound much more natural to native speakers.
What prepositions commonly follow “accomplishment”?
The most common preposition following “accomplishment” is “of,” as in “the accomplishment of a goal” or “the accomplishment of the task.” You might also encounter “in,” as in “her accomplishments in science,” referring to the field of her successes. For example, “His many accomplishments in the field of sustainable energy are well-known.”
How can learning collocations help me sound more natural and fluent?
Learning collocations allows you to use words in the same natural combinations that native speakers do, moving beyond literal translations from your first language. This reduces hesitation, improves your speaking and writing flow, and makes your English sound more authentic and less “translated.” It also helps you avoid common mistakes and increases your confidence, significantly reducing ‘language anxiety’ by equipping you with ready-made, natural phrases.
Does “accomplishment” always refer to something positive?
Yes, “accomplishment” almost exclusively refers to a positive outcome or a successful completion of something. It carries a strong connotation of success, skill, or a goal achieved. You wouldn’t typically refer to a failure or a negative event as an “accomplishment.”
Are there specific contexts where “accomplishment” is more commonly used?
“Accomplishment” is frequently used in formal contexts such as professional reports, academic writing, and discussions about career achievements, personal goals, or significant projects. For example, “His career was marked by numerous scientific accomplishments.” It is also used in everyday conversation, particularly when discussing personal milestones or successes, but often with a slightly more elevated tone than simply “success” or “achievement.”
I always encourage my students to learn words in chunks, not just individually. This article perfectly demonstrates why that's so important for fluency. Great resource!
This is excellent. I'm a visual learner, so the clear examples really helped. I'd love to see a future article on collocations for 'success' too!
So, is 'make an accomplishment' considered completely wrong, or just very unnatural? I think I've heard it sometimes, but maybe it was non-native speakers?
That's a great observation, Li Na! While 'make an accomplishment' isn't technically ungrammatical, it sounds very unnatural to native speakers and is considered an incorrect collocation. You're right, it's often used by non-native speakers applying direct translation. 'Achieve an accomplishment' is always the preferred and most natural choice. Keep practicing, and you'll master these nuances!
I'm preparing for the IELTS exam, and understanding collocations like these is crucial for scoring well in speaking and writing. This article is very helpful.
A big thank you for this! It's concise and goes straight to the point. I've bookmarked this for future reference.
Could you provide more examples of the *qualities* or *feelings* associated with accomplishments? The article mentions that but focuses mostly on verbs. I'm curious about adjectives like 'notable accomplishment' or 'proud accomplishment'.
I appreciate how you link collocations to reduced 'language anxiety.' It's so true. When you know words fit together, you feel more comfortable speaking.
Does 'realize an accomplishment' also sound natural? I sometimes hear that, but I'm not sure if it's correct.
That's an insightful question, Hiroshi! While 'realize a goal' or 'realize a dream' is common, 'realize an accomplishment' is less frequently used and might sound slightly less natural than 'achieve an accomplishment.' 'Realize' often implies becoming aware of something or making it actual, whereas 'achieve' specifically denotes successfully completing something through effort. Stick with 'achieve' for maximum naturalness with 'accomplishment'!
This is great! I'm trying to improve my professional English for work, and avoiding awkward phrasing is super important. I'm going to start paying more attention to collocations now.
In my language, we might have one word that covers both 'make' and 'achieve,' so distinguishing them in English is tricky. This post made it very clear why 'achieve' is better for 'accomplishment'.