“A measure that benefits”: stop blaming!

The nuance is, let's face it, tenuous. However, it is better to avoid making the mistake. In a job interview or in a professional meeting, it is preferable to use the right expressions. So, can we use the formula “benefit to”?

The French Academy, as often, is of precious help. In its Saying, not saying section, it provides information on the words and turns of phrase to retain or reject. About our verb, the sages recall that it means “to take advantage or advantage of something”. This implies that the subject of the verb cannot be anything other than the “beneficiary of such measure or such advantage”.

Unlike the verb "to profit", the verb "to benefit" is never constructed with a noun introduced by the preposition à. Example: we do not say “A law that benefits everyone”. Because, specify the academicians, “the subject of the verb cannot be the measure or the advantage themselves”.

The verb "benefit" is therefore only used in the following form: "All benefit from this measure", or: "A law for the benefit of the most deprived". But never: “A law that benefits the poorest”.

Here is an article which, the editors hope, will be of benefit to you.