What Does “Confer sb with sth” Mean?
The phrase “confer sb with sth” is often misunderstood. In standard English, the correct structure is usually:
- Confer sth on/upon sb – to officially give someone a title, honor, right, or privilege.
While you might occasionally see “confer sb with sth” in informal contexts or non-native writing, it’s generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal English.
Correct Usage & Structure
The verb confer typically follows this pattern:
- confer + [something] + on/upon + [someone]
The university conferred an honorary degree on the scientist.
The king conferred knighthood upon the brave soldier.
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: They conferred him with a medal.
✅ Correct: They conferred a medal on him.
Although “confer sb with sth” appears in some dialects or older texts, modern standard English prefers the “confer sth on sb” form.
Real-Life Examples
- In 2020, the President conferred the National Medal of Arts on several influential artists.
- The committee decided to confer full membership upon her after years of dedicated service.
- Oxford University has conferred honorary doctorates on global leaders for decades.
Tips for English Learners
- Use “confer sth on/upon sb” in formal writing and speech.
- Remember: the thing given comes first, then the recipient.
- “Confer” is often used in academic, legal, or ceremonial contexts.