Differences: features, advantages and benefits

Today’s English
July 27th, 2017

When a salesman in a car showroom describes the “characteristics” of a particular car you want to know about, he is actually explaining the “features” of the car.  If he talks about certain “special features” relating the usefulness of having such a car “based on his assumptions” of your requirements, he is telling you about the “advantages” of having that car “in comparison to" having some other car. How much the car really fulfills your need and "saves your time and money" and the “special offers/discounts” for that car are the “benefits" you have from the car.

Features versus advantages

Features are facts, information, specifications and characteristics of a product that may be an advantage to you or not. For example, a mobile phone may feature 16 MP camera but you may be concerned with internet facilities rather than taking a selfie, then it’s not at all an advantage or benefit to you. You use “advantage” while comparing with other products or person.

1. iPhone 8 is featured with eye+ finger print scanner.
2. This is an advantage that you cannot have in other models.
3. Being a senior citizen is an added advantage to you.

Advantages versus benefits

An advantage is the usefulness of a product from the speaker’s point of view. But benefit in the broadest sense refers to the fulfilment of your requirements, saving money, saving time and special concessions, gifts and offers. An advantage is something that helps you be better than others in some way. The word advantage has no verb form to be used in different tenses and no other noun form to refer to one who gets the advantage but the term benefit (noun) is also a verb and the other noun form beneficiary refers to one who is benefited.  “Take advantage of" has the negative sense but the word benefit is not having such an usage.

1. Being tall gave him the advantage of scoring more in the basketball game.
2. Many people like government jobs for the job security, leave benefits and pension benefits rather than as a service to others.
3. You should not take advantage of our friendship in the official matters.
4. Your free training programme will be of a great benefit to all our students .

Just for fun!

Sales manager: Can you explain the features to the customer?

Saleswoman: yes sir.

Sales manager: You should not take advantage of meeting the customer in person at their home.

Saleswoman: Sure sir.

Sales manager: you should assure yourself that the customer is benefited by your service more.

Saleswoman: certainly sir.

Sales manager: tell me how you will face the customer.

Saleswoman: I’ll describe my features well and I will strictly tell him not to take an advantage of my meeting at his home.  I’ll assure him of the benefits he will have from us, sir.

Sales manager: ……………….?!