praisealso

Praisealso is a term used in discussions of online communication to describe a practice in which expressions of praise are coupled with acknowledgment of related contributors or factors. The aim is to broaden recognition beyond a single recipient and to reinforce a collective or systemic view of achievement. The word blends “praise” with “also” and is used in theoretical analyses as well as in design recommendations for feedback systems.

Characteristics commonly associated with praisealso include simultaneous praise and credit, explicit links to related works or individuals, and a normative cue that recognition should extend to co-contributors, mentors, or supporting roles. It often involves mentioning how different elements—such as teamwork, infrastructure, or prior research—contributed to a successful outcome, rather than attributing success to a single person.

Origins and usage in practice: the concept has appeared in online community management literature as part of broader discussions about constructive feedback and credit attribution. Some platforms consider implementing praisealso as a feature to encourage a more holistic view of achievement, for example by prompting users to acknowledge contributing teams or prior work when praising a result.

Applications: praisealso can be applied in forums, project management tools, open-source communities, and educational environments to cultivate inclusive recognition. It may be supported by guidelines, templates, or automated prompts that remind users to mention related contributors.

Benefits and criticisms: proponents argue that praisealso strengthens social capital, reduces credit fragmentation, and encourages collaboration. Critics warn that the practice could become performative if praise is insincere or overgeneralized, and may require careful moderation to avoid superficial or inflated acknowledgments.

See also: acknowledgment, attribution, social recognition.