national book award
B2Formal, literary, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A set of annual U.S. literary awards administered by the National Book Foundation to honor the best books written by American citizens.
A prestigious American literary prize that can significantly elevate an author's career. The term is often used metonymically to refer to a book that has won the award or to an author who is a winner/nominee.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Proper noun, always capitalized. Refers specifically to the U.S. awards; other countries may have similarly named prizes (e.g., British Book Awards), which are distinct entities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily an American cultural reference. In the UK, the term is recognized within literary circles but is not a domestic institution. The British equivalent in prestige might be the Booker Prize (though it is international).
Connotations
In the US: prestige, literary merit, career-defining. In the UK: recognised as a major US award, sometimes mentioned for comparative purposes.
Frequency
High frequency in US literary, educational, and publishing contexts. Low frequency in general UK discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The AUTHOR won the National Book Award for CATEGORY with TITLE.TITLE was awarded the National Book Award.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's no National Book Award winner. (meaning: it's not of the highest literary quality)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In publishing: 'The NBA win boosted sales by 300%.'
Academic
In literary studies: 'The National Book Award has historically reflected and shaped American literary tastes.'
Everyday
In conversation: 'Have you read any of the National Book Award nominees this year?'
Technical
In library science: 'The record should include the note "National Book Award for Nonfiction, 2020".'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The novel was **National Book Awarded** last year. (Very rare, non-standard)
American English
- The committee is looking to **National Book Award** a debut author this cycle. (Very rare, jargon)
adjective
British English
- She is a **National Book Award-winning** author.
- A **National Book Award-calibre** novel.
American English
- He is a **National Book Award-nominated** poet.
- The **National Book Award-style** publicity campaign.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This book has a National Book Award sticker.
- The author received the National Book Award for her new novel.
- Being shortlisted for the National Book Award can dramatically increase a book's visibility.
- The National Book Award's shifting criteria have been the subject of considerable literary debate, reflecting broader cultural tensions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: **N**ational **B**ooks are **A**ppreciated. NBA also matches the common abbreviation.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LITERARY PRIZE IS A CROWN/TROPHY (e.g., 'She was crowned with the National Book Award').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation like '*национальная книжная премия*' without context, as it could refer to a Russian award. Specify 'американская Национальная книжная премия' or use the abbreviation 'NBA'.
- Do not confuse with the 'National Book Critics Circle Award', which is a different, though also prestigious, prize.
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase ('national book award').
- Omitting the definite article 'the' (incorrect: 'She won National Book Award'; correct: 'She won the National Book Award').
- Using it as a countable noun for multiple awards from the same foundation (correct: 'She has won two National Book Awards').
Practice
Quiz
What is the National Book Award?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The awards are for books written by American citizens and published in the United States.
The four main categories are Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature. A fifth category, Translated Literature, was added in 2018.
No, they are different awards. The Pulitzer Prize is awarded by Columbia University and has broader categories including journalism. The National Book Award is administered by the National Book Foundation and focuses solely on books.
It is commonly abbreviated as NBA. To avoid confusion with the National Basketball Association, context is key (e.g., 'NBA longlist').