Write Review
2,073,206 Total Reviews 3,945 New Reviews
9,025 Users Online

TER General Board

The Difference between Discreet & Discrete
Jezebella_Witz See my TER Reviews 1141 reads
posted

Discrete- individually separate and distinct.

Discreet-careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage. " careful, circumspect, cautious, wary, chary, guarded;"

Most common grammar error in general not just with this but also in other aspects have I seen "discrete" being used for "discreet". From all walks of life, the first time I saw it in used incorrectly was when I was an intern for a PR firm. I started to question myself like have I been using the wrong term it was worded along the lines as " The company we will be representing has made it clear we must be discrete". I must have looked at the email over and over like did they mean "discreet" but this is a common mistake with this as well

mrfisher242 reads

on account of how its spelling affects how we might choose the wrong word. (Why not "discreetion"?)  English has so many pitfalls like that that I can excuse non-grammarians for the error.

Note my first sentence has two other common pitfalls:  "Its" is the possessive form of "it", on account of the fact that we already had to reserve "it's" for the contraction of "it is", a concession in order to get double duty from the beleaguered apostrophe.  Also "affect" is the verb that causes the "effect", a noun, though same is also a verb having a similar but nuanced meaning as affect.

The upside to English is that it is much easier to learn than other languages on account of not having very many gender distinctions and a simple alphabet.  It also has the largest by far host of words to choose from.

In any case, I appreciate you bringing this up

ReplyQuoteReport
Jezebella_Witz209 reads

"Affect" & "effect are also two other words that are commonly misused, you're very correct about how we "choose the wrong word". Thank you:)

ReplyQuoteReport
tommygunn151 reads

Still, here's what kills me...

In the early 80's, San Fernando Valley Girls introduced us all to the word 'Like'.  It was such a silly saying that Hollywood made a b-movie about the Valley Girl and we all laughed at it.  Now, almost 40 years later that WORD has infected the speech of old and young!

Like, I think I am going to, like,  catch crap for this post.  

-- Modified on 5/3/2016 10:27:25 AM

ReplyQuoteReport
wholewheelofchz155 reads

Yes, yes, a million times yes.

And you guys haven't even mentioned my biggest pet peeve, the grievous error that tells me in an instant whether I can respect you or not.  

As the meme famously points out: "It's the difference between knowing your shit and knowing you're shit"

ReplyQuoteReport
GaGambler188 reads

I'll give you a hint, there is no difference.

but while we are at it, even TER themselves have a pretty good one of their own. If your session times out, they ask you to "re-login again" talk about butchering the English language.

ReplyQuoteReport
daddio15422164 reads

Posted By: GaGambler
I'll give you a hint, there is no difference.  
   
 but while we are at it, even TER themselves have a pretty good one of their own. If your session times out, they ask you to "re-login again" talk about butchering the English language.
I've always been bothered by the command to re-log in again. I've sent messages to TER's department of redundancy department, to no avail.

ReplyQuoteReport
mrfisher138 reads

Related Link: a hat trick of "ins"

ReplyQuoteReport
Valida164 reads

ReplyQuoteReport
wholewheelofchz164 reads

ReplyQuoteReport
ThePeopleRule131 reads

....and I don't wonder if a lady can correctly spell "ohhhhhhhh"....."ahhhhhhhh"....
"write there"..... "oh Gawd".........as I am practicing being cunning.

That is most definAtely true.

Signed,
She Must Have Learned The King's English

ReplyQuoteReport
BeautifulLover121 reads

ReplyQuoteReport
Fancy8888218 reads

Posted By: Jezebella_Witz
Discrete- individually separate and distinct.  
   
 Discreet-careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage. " careful, circumspect, cautious, wary, chary, guarded;"  
   
 Most common grammar error in general not just with this but also in other aspects have I seen "discrete" being used for "discreet". From all walks of life, the first time I saw it in used incorrectly was when I was an intern for a PR firm. I started to question myself like have I been using the wrong term it was worded along the lines as " The company we will be representing has made it clear we must be discrete". I must have looked at the email over and over like did they mean "discreet" but this is a common mistake with this as well.  
 
All levels escorts promoting business...Illegal business for all.

-- Modified on 5/3/2016 1:18:36 PM

ReplyQuoteReport
mrblond68146 reads

I think we worry TO much about proper grammar, BTW. TWO often it is a sign of bad spell check rather than poor education. TOO make a point of it, some people become overly cautious. ITMT some people just shake THERE heads, shrug and figure it out.

ReplyQuoteReport
wholewheelofchz132 reads

ReplyQuoteReport
Post Reply Back To Forum
Register Now!