# Creating award certificates need better words. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 12, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319 "2018-04-12T22:44:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/1 "2018-04-12T22:44:46Z")
I need to create 3 award certificates for an archery related event. One of the awards will be an achievement award for meeting a certain criteria instead of a winners certificate. I just need better words than I seem to be coming up with ``` I will write it in my words and please feel free to make suggestions. Excellence Award??? ``` This is to certify that John Jones has achieved a craftsman’s level of excellence in the Broadhead challenge by surpassing the 190 yard required goal.??? Date\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Distance\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Bow\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Official\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/2 "2018-04-12T22:56:48Z")
Moved to IMHO from General Questions. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/3 "2018-04-12T23:08:48Z")
What about, at the top, just “Award” instead of Excellence Award? I’m no archer, but I don’t think just getting past a distance qualifies for excellence. Otherwise, there’s no room left for more excellent excellence. (Excellence necessarily always means performance superior to everyone else’s, never just “Good Job”.) Similarly, remove the “of excellence” in the smaller text. Is there anything wrong with the rest of what you have? I don’t think there is. Certificates with simple wording are usually better. They’re for admiring, not for spending time reading. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/4 "2018-04-12T23:09:33Z")
John Jones done shot arrow far. Thumbs up! More seriously how about: John Jones is hereby certified as a craftsman of the broadhead challenge by surpassing 190 yards ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/5 "2018-04-12T23:14:46Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > John Jones done shot arrow far. Thumbs up! > > More seriously how about: > > John Jones is hereby certified as a craftsman of the broadhead challenge by surpassing 190 yards Would proficiency award be better than excellence. I want something slightly stronger than profiency but don’t really care for the word excellence here. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/6 "2018-04-12T23:18:11Z")
How about mastery? ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/7 "2018-04-12T23:18:44Z")
I was wrong. Excellence can also be beyond the standard, beyond expectations. Three bull’s eyes in a row is excellence even if no one else is around. But “making the grade” is never excellence - they live on opposite sides of the fence. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/8 "2018-04-12T23:26:54Z")
Make sure that everyone who deserves this certificate receives it. (Like, those who get a winner’s certificate and also successfully shot that distance should get this certificate in addition, unless they had already surpassed the distance at an earlier tournament or whatever.) Otherwise it looks like a booby prize for those who didn’t win anything else. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/9 "2018-04-12T23:32:19Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Make sure that everyone who deserves this certificate receives it. (Like, those who get a winner’s certificate and also successfully shot that distance should get this certificate in addition, unless they had already surpassed the distance at an earlier tournament or whatever.) Otherwise it looks like a booby prize for those who didn’t win anything else. I expect a lot of the guys will be getting this award but it still takes a very well made bow to achieve this. 20 years ago it would have been a world record. I would equate it with running the 100 yard dash in under 11 seconds, or bowling a 200 game, golfing a 6 over par. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/10 "2018-04-13T01:09:26Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I expect a lot of the guys will be getting this award but it still takes a very well made bow to achieve this. 20 years ago it would have been a world record. I would equate it with running the 100 yard dash in under 11 seconds, or bowling a 200 game, golfing a 6 over par. Oh it’s bow making! Well then please throw out my ignorant comments. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/11 "2018-04-13T02:00:50Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Oh it’s bow making! Well then please throw out my ignorant comments. i thought your comments were fine. It steered me in the right direction anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/12 "2018-04-13T02:16:58Z")
craftsman’s level of expertise. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/13 "2018-04-13T03:05:05Z")
“Award of merit” “for Outstanding Achievement” “for reaching the level of …” “for surpassing the level of …” ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/14 "2018-04-13T05:21:44Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > “Award of merit” > > “for Outstanding Achievement” > > “for reaching the level of …” > “for surpassing the level of …” That does sound better than what I have, I like the word achievement in there. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/15 "2018-04-13T06:23:25Z")
Certificate Of Achievement Participant John Jones has reached the level of Craftsman in the Broadhead challenge for surpassing the 190 yard required goal ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/16 "2018-04-13T17:35:50Z")
Excellence Award Be it known to all that John Jones attained the level of “Excellence in Craftsmanship” by exceeding 190 yard flight distance in the Broadhead Challenge at the 134th annual HoneyBadger Archery Challenge. This 13th day of April, 2018 _In hac atre sagittariorum_ (rough Latin translation of “Excellence in archery” as a nod to the history of the craft) ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/17 "2018-04-13T20:28:37Z")
All of these are much better suggestions than the certificate I was issued 5 years back by my childrens’ school district after I completed an online sexual predator & inappropriate behavior reporting requirement course before I was allowed to volunteer in the school. I just looked up the wording to make sure I had it correct (punctuation and capitalization are as in the document/certificate): ################ Award of Excellence Presented to: Disheavel McDisheavel For completing ADULT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: The School Community’s Role in Prevention and Response. Date: February 23, 2014 Disheavelton Public Schools ################### I immediately reached out to the school district about adding a word or two (perhaps EDUCATION)- and they were amused primarily because no one had commented in the previous 3 years!!! Sorry to add my anecdote other than to make sure that your awards have better word usage than mine. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/18 "2018-04-13T21:01:39Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > All of these are much better suggestions than the certificate I was issued 5 years back by my childrens’ school district after I completed an online sexual predator & inappropriate behavior reporting requirement course before I was allowed to volunteer in the school. I just looked up the wording to make sure I had it correct (punctuation and capitalization are as in the document/certificate): > ################ > Award of Excellence > > Presented to: Disheavel McDisheavel > For completing ADULT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: > The School Community’s Role in Prevention and Response. > > Date: > February 23, 2014 Disheavelton Public Schools > > ################### > > I immediately reached out to the school district about adding a word or two (perhaps EDUCATION)- and they were amused primarily because no one had commented in the previous 3 years!!! > Sorry to add my anecdote other than to make sure that your awards have better word usage than mine. You make a good point. I want to make the award as meaningful as possible and understandable. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/19 "2018-04-13T23:02:41Z")
I hope it helps if I list the ascending levels of crafting skill in the LOTRO (Lord of the Rings Online) game, especially as they are based on medieval guilds: - Apprentice - Journeyman - Expert - Artisan - Master - Supreme ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319/20 "2018-04-16T23:37:33Z")
Everything in Blue, below, should be centered horizonally… Certificate of Achievement Witnesseth Hereto that NAME hath demonstrated a * * * level of bowyer’s skills by crafting a bow which was entered in the \*\*Broadhead Challenge \*\* and launched a **broadhead-tipped arrow** at least \_\_\_\_\_ yards (\_\_\_\_ meters) on this \_\_\_\_ Day of \_\_\_\_\_ in the year \_\_\_\_\_\_ at the EVENT NAME * * * HoneybadgerDC - Event Official –G! [Note, it’s not an award - given at the whim of a celebrity or authority. It’s a certificate - it commemorates an earned achievement, a publicized/standardized goal that has been met by certain individuals.] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-award-certificates-need-better-words/812319.md?page=2)