Sunday, March 1, 2020
Word Choice Deprecate vs. Depreciate
Word Choice Deprecate vs. Depreciate Word Choice: Deprecate vs. Depreciate When something loses value, has it ââ¬Å"deprecatedâ⬠or ââ¬Å"depreciatedâ⬠? Many use these terms interchangeably, but theyââ¬â¢re actually importantly distinct. And since you donââ¬â¢t want to make mistakes in your written work, itââ¬â¢s a good idea to know the difference! In this post, we clarify the meanings of ââ¬Å"deprecateâ⬠and ââ¬Å"depreciate,â⬠then set out how (and when) they should be used. Deprecate (To Express Disapproval) To ââ¬Å"deprecateâ⬠something is to express disapproval of it, or to belittle something: Although popular, reality TV shows are often deprecated by professional critics. This is also why we say someone making a joke at their own expense is being ââ¬Å"self-deprecating.â⬠Another old-fashioned use of ââ¬Å"deprecateâ⬠is to ââ¬Å"pray awayâ⬠(such as praying for protection against an evil). Itââ¬â¢s rarely used like this now though, so youre not likely to encounter it other than in old religious texts. Depreciate (To Reduce in Value) The main meaning of ââ¬Å"depreciateâ⬠is to ââ¬Å"reduce or underestimate in value.â⬠Most commonly, it refers to something having lost monetary value: If not properly maintained, properties will depreciate over time. This use is reflected in the notion of ââ¬Å"depreciation,â⬠a financial term for a method used by businesses to account for the declining value of assets: Before investing in infrastructure, you should calculate the expected rate of depreciation. Confusion with ââ¬Å"deprecateâ⬠arises because ââ¬Å"depreciateâ⬠can sometimes mean ââ¬Å"belittle,â⬠but to ââ¬Å"depreciateâ⬠something in this sense is specifically to describe it has having little value. Deprecate or Depreciate? These terms are particularly tricky since theyââ¬â¢re similarly spelled as well as fairly close in meaning. However, since ââ¬Å"depreciateâ⬠has a very specific financial sense, you donââ¬â¢t want to confuse them. As a general rule, if youââ¬â¢re discussing the value of something or finances in general, the term to use will be ââ¬Å"depreciate.â⬠However, if youââ¬â¢re referring to something being belittled ââ¬â without necessarily impacting upon its perceived value ââ¬â the correct word is ââ¬Å"deprecate.â⬠Similarly, if someone is self-mocking, they are ââ¬Å"self-deprecatingâ⬠. Remember: Deprecate = Belittle Depreciate = Lose value
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