Meaning & use
partial credit
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
A score that is less than full marks, given for an answer that is partly correct.
Grammar: No plural: give partial credit, not give a partial credit.
Patterns
- give partial credit
- receive partial credit
- get partial credit for something
The teacher gave partial credit for the correct method even though the final answer was wrong.
You will receive partial credit if you show your work.
Students often get partial credit for incomplete sentences.
noununcountablebusinessfinance
In finance, a small reduction in a credit rating or a partial payment, rather than a full one.
Grammar: Used in business contexts: The agency assigned partial credit to the bond.
Patterns
- assign partial credit
- partial credit rating
The agency gave the company partial credit for its improved cash flow.
Investors were relieved to see partial credit rather than a full downgrade.
Common combinations
- give partial credit
- The examiner will give partial credit for a clear diagram.
- receive partial credit
- You can receive partial credit even if your spelling is imperfect.
- partial credit for something
- She got partial credit for the first half of the proof.
Synonyms and how they differ
- part marks
- Common in British English; it means the same as partial credit but is less formal.
- half credit
- This specifically means 50% of the marks, while partial credit can be any amount less than full.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: partial credit or partiality?
partial credit vs partiality
Partiality means a preference or bias for one side; it is not related to scoring.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'partial credit' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Partial credit' is uncountable, so it takes no article and no plural. 'A partial credit' and 'partial credits' are both wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “partial credit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.