Auszuzeichnende

Auszuzeichnende is a German noun used to refer to persons or entities that are to be rewarded or distinguished in a formal process. The term is commonly employed in guidelines, nomination procedures, and award programs to designate the pool of candidates eligible for recognition. Depending on context, Auszuzeichnende can denote either the collective group of potential awardees (die Auszuzeichnenden) or, in a substantive sense, the object to be awarded (das Auszuzeichnende). The plural form is die Auszuzeichnenden; the singular neuter das Auszuzeichnende is used mainly in technical phrases.

In practice, an award procedure specifies criteria, nominates individuals or entities, and has a jury or panel decide which Auszuzeichnende receive the prize. In everyday administrative language, the term helps distinguish those judged worthy of distinction from the award itself (Auszeichnung) or from the act of awarding (auszeichnen).

Etymology and grammar: the term is formed from the verb auszeichnen (to award or to distinguish) with the participial suffix -ende and the nominal ending, yielding Auszuzeichnende as a substantive. The form adapts to number and gender by die Auszuzeichnenden (plural) or das Auszuzeichnende (singular neuter).

See also: Auszeichnung, Auszeichnungsverfahren, Nominierung, Preisverleihung.