More effective writing employs precision of language. That’s because using the right word can make all the difference in conveying the right meaning and producing a more effective presentation. In the last post we discussed precision of language as exemplified in the correct use of the word affinity. In this post we employ a different example: the words defective and deficient.
The words defective and deficient both share the same grammatical function; they’re both adjectives. However, these words have related but different meanings. Defective means faulty, but deficient means lacking something necessary.
Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. Here the writer intends to communicate that the alloy has less of a constituent than expected. The alloy is therefore deficient (missing some ingredient) and not defective (faulty).
The words defective and deficient both share the same grammatical function; they’re both adjectives. However, these words have related but different meanings. Defective means faulty, but deficient means lacking something necessary.
Consider the example sentence in the cropped graphic above. Here the writer intends to communicate that the alloy has less of a constituent than expected. The alloy is therefore deficient (missing some ingredient) and not defective (faulty).
The alloy was deficient in vanadium; spectrographic analysis showed a vanadium content of 0.5%.
One could argue that because the alloy is deficient in an important element (vanadium is often added for desirable strength and corrosion-resistant properties), the alloy is defective. But that is not the intention of the writer here. If it were, we would see mention of some performance standard which the alloy failed to meet. Since the alloy has a lower-than-anticipated vanadium content, it very well may fail to meet some performance standard. But the example sentence contains a content standard, not a performance one.
Don’t be defective in using deficient. Use the right word to employ precision of language in your writing. You’ll produce more effective presentations of your message. And that in turn will better represent both you and your brands in the minds of your audience.
Don’t be defective in using deficient. Use the right word to employ precision of language in your writing. You’ll produce more effective presentations of your message. And that in turn will better represent both you and your brands in the minds of your audience.
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