Difference between certain, specific and particular
While browsing an online dictionary I found many translation for the same word in German. Those are certain, specific and particular.
In my opinion are all three synonyms and can be used interchangeably. Or are there slight differences in the use, especially in different contexts?
synonyms usage
asked Jun 12 '15 at 12:36
user3147268
128114
add a comment |
While browsing an online dictionary I found many translation for the same word in German. Those are certain, specific and particular.
In my opinion are all three synonyms and can be used interchangeably. Or are there slight differences in the use, especially in different contexts?
synonyms usage
asked Jun 12 '15 at 12:36
user3147268
128114
In some contexts these words bear overlapping meanings and can be substituted for each other; in other contexts they bear quite different meanings. So if you provide a "specific" context in which your German word is used we can tell you which word reflects the meaning you are looking for; but detailing all the different contexts in which they coincide or differ is really beyond our scope. You might find it helpful to browse around on Linguee, to see the variety of uses.
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:13
For example: 'Search at www.exaple.com if you need a certain icon.' For the above sentence I looked in the dictionary to double-check the usage (which should be okay). But I was just wondering. In my experience, all three should be fine.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:19
In this case either specific or particular would work, but certain would be at best marginal. Certain in this sense is usually used to mean "I have a specific one in mind, but for the moment I'm not going to tell you which one it is."
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:28
@StoneyB: Absolutely. I don't know if it's a universally understood meaning, but I've always interpreted a woman of a certain age as referring to a menopausal (or feasibly "not-long-post-menopausal") woman. But a woman of a specific/particular age has no specific/particular implications to me - it just means a woman whose age can be or has been exactly specified.
– FumbleFingers
Jun 12 '15 at 15:22
add a comment |
While browsing an online dictionary I found many translation for the same word in German. Those are certain, specific and particular.
In my opinion are all three synonyms and can be used interchangeably. Or are there slight differences in the use, especially in different contexts?
synonyms usage
asked Jun 12 '15 at 12:36
user3147268
128114
While browsing an online dictionary I found many translation for the same word in German. Those are certain, specific and particular.
In my opinion are all three synonyms and can be used interchangeably. Or are there slight differences in the use, especially in different contexts?
synonyms usage
synonyms usage
asked Jun 12 '15 at 12:36
user3147268
128114
asked Jun 12 '15 at 12:36
user3147268
128114
asked Jun 12 '15 at 12:36
user3147268
128114
asked Jun 12 '15 at 12:36
user3147268
128114
asked Jun 12 '15 at 12:36
user3147268
128114
128114
In some contexts these words bear overlapping meanings and can be substituted for each other; in other contexts they bear quite different meanings. So if you provide a "specific" context in which your German word is used we can tell you which word reflects the meaning you are looking for; but detailing all the different contexts in which they coincide or differ is really beyond our scope. You might find it helpful to browse around on Linguee, to see the variety of uses.
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:13
For example: 'Search at www.exaple.com if you need a certain icon.' For the above sentence I looked in the dictionary to double-check the usage (which should be okay). But I was just wondering. In my experience, all three should be fine.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:19
In this case either specific or particular would work, but certain would be at best marginal. Certain in this sense is usually used to mean "I have a specific one in mind, but for the moment I'm not going to tell you which one it is."
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:28
@StoneyB: Absolutely. I don't know if it's a universally understood meaning, but I've always interpreted a woman of a certain age as referring to a menopausal (or feasibly "not-long-post-menopausal") woman. But a woman of a specific/particular age has no specific/particular implications to me - it just means a woman whose age can be or has been exactly specified.
– FumbleFingers
Jun 12 '15 at 15:22
add a comment |
In some contexts these words bear overlapping meanings and can be substituted for each other; in other contexts they bear quite different meanings. So if you provide a "specific" context in which your German word is used we can tell you which word reflects the meaning you are looking for; but detailing all the different contexts in which they coincide or differ is really beyond our scope. You might find it helpful to browse around on Linguee, to see the variety of uses.
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:13
For example: 'Search at www.exaple.com if you need a certain icon.' For the above sentence I looked in the dictionary to double-check the usage (which should be okay). But I was just wondering. In my experience, all three should be fine.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:19
In this case either specific or particular would work, but certain would be at best marginal. Certain in this sense is usually used to mean "I have a specific one in mind, but for the moment I'm not going to tell you which one it is."
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:28
@StoneyB: Absolutely. I don't know if it's a universally understood meaning, but I've always interpreted a woman of a certain age as referring to a menopausal (or feasibly "not-long-post-menopausal") woman. But a woman of a specific/particular age has no specific/particular implications to me - it just means a woman whose age can be or has been exactly specified.
– FumbleFingers
Jun 12 '15 at 15:22
In some contexts these words bear overlapping meanings and can be substituted for each other; in other contexts they bear quite different meanings. So if you provide a "specific" context in which your German word is used we can tell you which word reflects the meaning you are looking for; but detailing all the different contexts in which they coincide or differ is really beyond our scope. You might find it helpful to browse around on Linguee, to see the variety of uses.
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:13
In some contexts these words bear overlapping meanings and can be substituted for each other; in other contexts they bear quite different meanings. So if you provide a "specific" context in which your German word is used we can tell you which word reflects the meaning you are looking for; but detailing all the different contexts in which they coincide or differ is really beyond our scope. You might find it helpful to browse around on Linguee, to see the variety of uses.
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:13
For example: 'Search at www.exaple.com if you need a certain icon.' For the above sentence I looked in the dictionary to double-check the usage (which should be okay). But I was just wondering. In my experience, all three should be fine.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:19
For example: 'Search at www.exaple.com if you need a certain icon.' For the above sentence I looked in the dictionary to double-check the usage (which should be okay). But I was just wondering. In my experience, all three should be fine.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:19
In this case either specific or particular would work, but certain would be at best marginal. Certain in this sense is usually used to mean "I have a specific one in mind, but for the moment I'm not going to tell you which one it is."
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:28
In this case either specific or particular would work, but certain would be at best marginal. Certain in this sense is usually used to mean "I have a specific one in mind, but for the moment I'm not going to tell you which one it is."
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:28
@StoneyB: Absolutely. I don't know if it's a universally understood meaning, but I've always interpreted a woman of a certain age as referring to a menopausal (or feasibly "not-long-post-menopausal") woman. But a woman of a specific/particular age has no specific/particular implications to me - it just means a woman whose age can be or has been exactly specified.
– FumbleFingers
Jun 12 '15 at 15:22
@StoneyB: Absolutely. I don't know if it's a universally understood meaning, but I've always interpreted a woman of a certain age as referring to a menopausal (or feasibly "not-long-post-menopausal") woman. But a woman of a specific/particular age has no specific/particular implications to me - it just means a woman whose age can be or has been exactly specified.
– FumbleFingers
Jun 12 '15 at 15:22
add a comment |
2 Answers
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All three words obviously have multiple meanings, but in the context you're taking about, specific and particular are completely interchangeable in every case I can think of.
Certain is slightly more nuanced. It can (but doesn't always) carry a sense of deliberate ambiguity. For example, I'm here looking for a certain person could mean:
- (neutrally) I'm here looking for a specific person
- (enigmaticaly) I'm here looking for a specific person, but I'm not going to say who because it's a secret
- (ironically or humorously) I'm here looking for a specific person, and you know who that is, but I'm not going to mention their name (for example because they and I recently had an argument).
Context and tone would make clear which of these was intended.
Personally, for that reason, I would avoid using certain in the context you're describing. A dictionary will tell you it's correct, but it doesn't feel quite as natural or idiomatic as specific or particular.
answered Jun 12 '15 at 13:38
Morton
1,192517
Thanks for this response. The examples provide a explanation for the usage in the mentioned contexts.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:41
Source, please?
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:39
@Kris Unfortunately, as I alluded to in the final paragraph, I don't have a source for this. I was somewhat emboldened by the fact StoneyB said the same thing, in a briefer form, in a comment on the original post. I thought it would be helpful to the original poster to provide examples based on experience. If you have advice on a better way to proceed in such circumstances, I would certainly be grateful to receive it.
– Morton
Jun 12 '15 at 14:51
So there's a good reason why StoneyB posted a comment, rather than an answer :) I don't know of any specific bar on giving educated opinion as an answer anyways.
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:54
add a comment |
Good answers... and here's another nuanced difference between "Certain" and the two words "particular" or "specific."
Certain can contain a nuance of "assurance." For example... "I am certain that this is the right answer."
I could not replace "certain" with "specific" or "particular" and it have the same meaning.
answered 5 hours ago
Frank
1
New contributor
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Interesting observation and example. Could you show a little research so that someone could follow up if they were interested? Why is this a difference?
– TaliesinMerlin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
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2 Answers
2
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All three words obviously have multiple meanings, but in the context you're taking about, specific and particular are completely interchangeable in every case I can think of.
Certain is slightly more nuanced. It can (but doesn't always) carry a sense of deliberate ambiguity. For example, I'm here looking for a certain person could mean:
- (neutrally) I'm here looking for a specific person
- (enigmaticaly) I'm here looking for a specific person, but I'm not going to say who because it's a secret
- (ironically or humorously) I'm here looking for a specific person, and you know who that is, but I'm not going to mention their name (for example because they and I recently had an argument).
Context and tone would make clear which of these was intended.
Personally, for that reason, I would avoid using certain in the context you're describing. A dictionary will tell you it's correct, but it doesn't feel quite as natural or idiomatic as specific or particular.
answered Jun 12 '15 at 13:38
Morton
1,192517
Thanks for this response. The examples provide a explanation for the usage in the mentioned contexts.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:41
Source, please?
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:39
@Kris Unfortunately, as I alluded to in the final paragraph, I don't have a source for this. I was somewhat emboldened by the fact StoneyB said the same thing, in a briefer form, in a comment on the original post. I thought it would be helpful to the original poster to provide examples based on experience. If you have advice on a better way to proceed in such circumstances, I would certainly be grateful to receive it.
– Morton
Jun 12 '15 at 14:51
So there's a good reason why StoneyB posted a comment, rather than an answer :) I don't know of any specific bar on giving educated opinion as an answer anyways.
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:54
add a comment |
All three words obviously have multiple meanings, but in the context you're taking about, specific and particular are completely interchangeable in every case I can think of.
Certain is slightly more nuanced. It can (but doesn't always) carry a sense of deliberate ambiguity. For example, I'm here looking for a certain person could mean:
- (neutrally) I'm here looking for a specific person
- (enigmaticaly) I'm here looking for a specific person, but I'm not going to say who because it's a secret
- (ironically or humorously) I'm here looking for a specific person, and you know who that is, but I'm not going to mention their name (for example because they and I recently had an argument).
Context and tone would make clear which of these was intended.
Personally, for that reason, I would avoid using certain in the context you're describing. A dictionary will tell you it's correct, but it doesn't feel quite as natural or idiomatic as specific or particular.
answered Jun 12 '15 at 13:38
Morton
1,192517
Thanks for this response. The examples provide a explanation for the usage in the mentioned contexts.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:41
Source, please?
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:39
@Kris Unfortunately, as I alluded to in the final paragraph, I don't have a source for this. I was somewhat emboldened by the fact StoneyB said the same thing, in a briefer form, in a comment on the original post. I thought it would be helpful to the original poster to provide examples based on experience. If you have advice on a better way to proceed in such circumstances, I would certainly be grateful to receive it.
– Morton
Jun 12 '15 at 14:51
So there's a good reason why StoneyB posted a comment, rather than an answer :) I don't know of any specific bar on giving educated opinion as an answer anyways.
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:54
add a comment |
All three words obviously have multiple meanings, but in the context you're taking about, specific and particular are completely interchangeable in every case I can think of.
Certain is slightly more nuanced. It can (but doesn't always) carry a sense of deliberate ambiguity. For example, I'm here looking for a certain person could mean:
- (neutrally) I'm here looking for a specific person
- (enigmaticaly) I'm here looking for a specific person, but I'm not going to say who because it's a secret
- (ironically or humorously) I'm here looking for a specific person, and you know who that is, but I'm not going to mention their name (for example because they and I recently had an argument).
Context and tone would make clear which of these was intended.
Personally, for that reason, I would avoid using certain in the context you're describing. A dictionary will tell you it's correct, but it doesn't feel quite as natural or idiomatic as specific or particular.
answered Jun 12 '15 at 13:38
Morton
1,192517
All three words obviously have multiple meanings, but in the context you're taking about, specific and particular are completely interchangeable in every case I can think of.
Certain is slightly more nuanced. It can (but doesn't always) carry a sense of deliberate ambiguity. For example, I'm here looking for a certain person could mean:
- (neutrally) I'm here looking for a specific person
- (enigmaticaly) I'm here looking for a specific person, but I'm not going to say who because it's a secret
- (ironically or humorously) I'm here looking for a specific person, and you know who that is, but I'm not going to mention their name (for example because they and I recently had an argument).
Context and tone would make clear which of these was intended.
Personally, for that reason, I would avoid using certain in the context you're describing. A dictionary will tell you it's correct, but it doesn't feel quite as natural or idiomatic as specific or particular.
answered Jun 12 '15 at 13:38
Morton
1,192517
answered Jun 12 '15 at 13:38
Morton
1,192517
answered Jun 12 '15 at 13:38
Morton
1,192517
answered Jun 12 '15 at 13:38
Morton
1,192517
1,192517
Thanks for this response. The examples provide a explanation for the usage in the mentioned contexts.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:41
Source, please?
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:39
@Kris Unfortunately, as I alluded to in the final paragraph, I don't have a source for this. I was somewhat emboldened by the fact StoneyB said the same thing, in a briefer form, in a comment on the original post. I thought it would be helpful to the original poster to provide examples based on experience. If you have advice on a better way to proceed in such circumstances, I would certainly be grateful to receive it.
– Morton
Jun 12 '15 at 14:51
So there's a good reason why StoneyB posted a comment, rather than an answer :) I don't know of any specific bar on giving educated opinion as an answer anyways.
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:54
add a comment |
Thanks for this response. The examples provide a explanation for the usage in the mentioned contexts.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:41
Source, please?
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:39
@Kris Unfortunately, as I alluded to in the final paragraph, I don't have a source for this. I was somewhat emboldened by the fact StoneyB said the same thing, in a briefer form, in a comment on the original post. I thought it would be helpful to the original poster to provide examples based on experience. If you have advice on a better way to proceed in such circumstances, I would certainly be grateful to receive it.
– Morton
Jun 12 '15 at 14:51
So there's a good reason why StoneyB posted a comment, rather than an answer :) I don't know of any specific bar on giving educated opinion as an answer anyways.
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:54
Thanks for this response. The examples provide a explanation for the usage in the mentioned contexts.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:41
Thanks for this response. The examples provide a explanation for the usage in the mentioned contexts.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:41
Source, please?
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:39
Source, please?
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:39
@Kris Unfortunately, as I alluded to in the final paragraph, I don't have a source for this. I was somewhat emboldened by the fact StoneyB said the same thing, in a briefer form, in a comment on the original post. I thought it would be helpful to the original poster to provide examples based on experience. If you have advice on a better way to proceed in such circumstances, I would certainly be grateful to receive it.
– Morton
Jun 12 '15 at 14:51
@Kris Unfortunately, as I alluded to in the final paragraph, I don't have a source for this. I was somewhat emboldened by the fact StoneyB said the same thing, in a briefer form, in a comment on the original post. I thought it would be helpful to the original poster to provide examples based on experience. If you have advice on a better way to proceed in such circumstances, I would certainly be grateful to receive it.
– Morton
Jun 12 '15 at 14:51
So there's a good reason why StoneyB posted a comment, rather than an answer :) I don't know of any specific bar on giving educated opinion as an answer anyways.
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:54
So there's a good reason why StoneyB posted a comment, rather than an answer :) I don't know of any specific bar on giving educated opinion as an answer anyways.
– Kris
Jun 12 '15 at 14:54
add a comment |
Good answers... and here's another nuanced difference between "Certain" and the two words "particular" or "specific."
Certain can contain a nuance of "assurance." For example... "I am certain that this is the right answer."
I could not replace "certain" with "specific" or "particular" and it have the same meaning.
answered 5 hours ago
Frank
1
New contributor
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Interesting observation and example. Could you show a little research so that someone could follow up if they were interested? Why is this a difference?
– TaliesinMerlin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Good answers... and here's another nuanced difference between "Certain" and the two words "particular" or "specific."
Certain can contain a nuance of "assurance." For example... "I am certain that this is the right answer."
I could not replace "certain" with "specific" or "particular" and it have the same meaning.
answered 5 hours ago
Frank
1
New contributor
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Interesting observation and example. Could you show a little research so that someone could follow up if they were interested? Why is this a difference?
– TaliesinMerlin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Good answers... and here's another nuanced difference between "Certain" and the two words "particular" or "specific."
Certain can contain a nuance of "assurance." For example... "I am certain that this is the right answer."
I could not replace "certain" with "specific" or "particular" and it have the same meaning.
answered 5 hours ago
Frank
1
New contributor
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Good answers... and here's another nuanced difference between "Certain" and the two words "particular" or "specific."
Certain can contain a nuance of "assurance." For example... "I am certain that this is the right answer."
I could not replace "certain" with "specific" or "particular" and it have the same meaning.
answered 5 hours ago
Frank
1
New contributor
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
Frank
1
New contributor
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
Frank
1
answered 5 hours ago
Frank
1
1
New contributor
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Frank is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Interesting observation and example. Could you show a little research so that someone could follow up if they were interested? Why is this a difference?
– TaliesinMerlin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Interesting observation and example. Could you show a little research so that someone could follow up if they were interested? Why is this a difference?
– TaliesinMerlin
3 hours ago
Interesting observation and example. Could you show a little research so that someone could follow up if they were interested? Why is this a difference?
– TaliesinMerlin
3 hours ago
Interesting observation and example. Could you show a little research so that someone could follow up if they were interested? Why is this a difference?
– TaliesinMerlin
3 hours ago
add a comment |
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In some contexts these words bear overlapping meanings and can be substituted for each other; in other contexts they bear quite different meanings. So if you provide a "specific" context in which your German word is used we can tell you which word reflects the meaning you are looking for; but detailing all the different contexts in which they coincide or differ is really beyond our scope. You might find it helpful to browse around on Linguee, to see the variety of uses.
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:13
For example: 'Search at www.exaple.com if you need a certain icon.' For the above sentence I looked in the dictionary to double-check the usage (which should be okay). But I was just wondering. In my experience, all three should be fine.
– user3147268
Jun 12 '15 at 13:19
In this case either specific or particular would work, but certain would be at best marginal. Certain in this sense is usually used to mean "I have a specific one in mind, but for the moment I'm not going to tell you which one it is."
– StoneyB
Jun 12 '15 at 13:28
@StoneyB: Absolutely. I don't know if it's a universally understood meaning, but I've always interpreted a woman of a certain age as referring to a menopausal (or feasibly "not-long-post-menopausal") woman. But a woman of a specific/particular age has no specific/particular implications to me - it just means a woman whose age can be or has been exactly specified.
– FumbleFingers
Jun 12 '15 at 15:22