credit
noun
Credit — the recognition owed to someone for a praiseworthy deed
Definition
Used in the phrase `to your credit' in order to indicate an achievement deserving praise; "she already had several performances to her credit"
In depth
Used in the phrase 'to your credit,' this sense of credit indicates an achievement or action that deserves praise or recognition, the acknowledgment owed when someone has done something commendable. The word ties achievement explicitly to reputation and recognition, the social currency earned by deserving conduct.
Origin
The word descends from Latin credere, to believe or trust, the same root behind 'credible' and 'creed.' Its financial sense, naming borrowed trust extended as money, developed alongside this older sense of earned trust or belief, both reflecting the same underlying idea: credit, in any form, is something granted because one has proven worthy of belief.
Usage examples
"To her credit, she admitted the mistake immediately, rather than letting it fester unspoken."
"It was, to his credit, the first time he had ever apologized without being asked."
"Whatever else might be said about the project's failures, its early ambition deserved real credit."
How to use it
This sense of credit is common in evaluative, journalistic, and conversational prose, often used to acknowledge a redeeming quality within an otherwise critical assessment. The phrase 'to one's credit' is a particularly useful hedge, allowing praise and criticism to coexist gracefully in the same sentence.
Related concepts
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