Some words are so similar that it can be difficult to know when they are being used correctly and when you’ve just been mishearing things. Is it “feedback is welcome” or “feedback is welcomed?” Or, could it be either one in the right context?
In this post, we’ll cover both phrases, as well as what they mean and when, if ever, they would be appropriate to use.
Feedback Is Welcome or Feedback Is Welcomed?
Both “feedback is welcome” and “feedback is welcomed” are correct. They mean the same thing, but get the message across in slightly different ways. “Feedback is welcome” is stating that feedback is appreciated, while “feedback is welcomed” states that feedback is accepted by the speaker.
This is one of those vague situations in English where the existence of a single letter technically alters the message being sent, but not in any meaningful way. Ultimately, these are two phrases that mean roughly the same thing, to the extent that most would see them as interchangeable.
Still, they do technically have slightly different connotations, so we’ll talk about both phrases in detail, as well as why it really doesn’t matter that much which one you use.
Feedback Is Welcome
Did you know that “welcome” is actually often used as an adjective? It is mostly used to describe something as being appreciated or acknowledged. So when you say “feedback is welcome,” you’re telling people what feedback is: appreciated or acknowledged.
That being said, you aren’t directly inviting people to provide feedback when you say “feedback is welcome.” But it is implied that you would like to get some, otherwise you would not have let people know that it’s welcome.
It would be kind of like saying “a drink sure would be nice” to a friend. You aren’t actually telling them to give you a drink, but by letting them know you would appreciate having one, you are effectively implying that you would like them to get you one.
Here are some examples of how you could use “feedback is welcome:”
- Now that we have finished our skit, any feedback is welcome.
- The interview is over; any feedback is welcome and appreciated.
- Since we are looking to improve the game, any feedback is welcome.
- Feedback is welcome if you have any to offer.
- Whether it is good or bad, feedback is welcome.
Note that saying “feedback is welcome and appreciated” is a tad unnecessary. By saying that feedback is welcome, you are effectively implying that it is appreciated, so this phrase is basically saying that feedback is appreciated twice. Still, it’s not uncommon to hear, and most people won’t think twice of it.
Feedback Is Welcomed
Unlike “welcome” being used as an adjective, “welcomed” is used as a verb. Saying “feedback is welcomed” is a passive construction, with an implied “by us/me” included. “What you’re really saying is “feedback is welcomed (by us/me).”
Used this way, you are actively inviting or encouraging someone to provide feedback, not just implying that feedback would be nice to have and hoping they pick up on the not-so-subtle hint.
“Feedback is welcomed” is like saying “I would appreciate it if you got me a drink” instead of “I would appreciate having a drink.” One is a call to action, the other is an implication. But at the end of the day, both “feedback is welcome and “feedback is welcomed” mean the same thing: you want feedback.
So really, you could use the two phrases almost interchangeably. However, most people would find “feedback is welcome” to be the option that sounds more natural. Here are some examples of “feedback is welcomed” in a sentence, which can sound slightly more awkward:
- If you have anything to say about the class, feedback is welcomed.
- Feedback is welcomed if you want to share your thoughts.
- Don’t hesitate to tell me what you think of the film; feedback is welcomed.
- In our group, feedback is welcomed, so feel free to speak your mind.
- Feedback is welcomed by the committee, as we aim to please everyone.
Which Is Used the Most?
This graph from Google’s Ngram Viewer shows us that “feedback is welcome” is a much more common saying than “feedback is welcomed.” The difference in frequency of use is significant (roughly 4-5 times from 2015 onward), but “feedback is welcomed” is still common enough.
In other words, you could easily use either phrase and everyone would still know what you meant, but most people would feel that “feedback is welcome” is more natural than “feedback is welcomed.”
Final Thoughts
Both “feedback is welcome” and “feedback is welcomed” are correct and mean the same thing. However, “feedback is welcome” is more common and would be considered more natural than “feedback is welcomed” by most people. Otherwise, they are effectively interchangeable.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
