We’ve already discussed some of the reasons why you need good grammar. While it is certainly nice if you are able to add a dash of style and flair to your writing, those don’t mean very much if the writing is riddled with all sorts of basic grammatical errors.
For many of these Grammar 101 posts, I’ve focused on the confusion between a pair of seemingly similar words, like compliment and complement. Today, we’re doing that again by discussing the difference between discrete and discreet. In terms of spelling, the only difference is that the final two letters are transposed. In terms of meaning, the words are worlds apart.
Discrete is defined as being a separate entity or part. A discrete element is distinctly separated from the other elements. The American flag is composed of three discrete colors: red, white, and blue. These three colors are completely separate and independent. The colors of the rainbow, by contrast, are not quite discrete, because they blend into one another. They are not distinctly independent and separated from one another.
Discreet, by contrast, refers to a respect for privacy or secrecy. Some definitions will say that it also refers to modesty or prudence, but more widespread usage refers to keeping something private. If you are telling your friend to keep a secret, you are telling him to keep that piece of information discreet. Alternatively, you could think of something as being “discreet” if it is meant to not draw too much attention. It lurks in the shadows or blends into the background. Dennis Rodman, for instance, is anything but discreet.
A great way to remember the difference between discrete and discreet? With the former, the two Es are separated from one another by the T. The two Es are discrete and distinctly separate from one another. With discreet, the T is pushed to the end of the word, as if it is a secret lurking in the shadows.
Don’t be discreet with your good grammar. Be discretely better.
I would not use discrete in any writing or conversation just because there are better words that I could use to describe what I want to convey to someone. to me it is one of those words that is not needed in the English language.
Michael, please enlighten me on where I would use discrete in place of another viable alternative.
I agree with Ray! However, if it were not for his comment, I would have written the following:
Good one! I’m not even exactly sure that I realized that discrete and discreet were two separate words before this. I also wonder how many times I have used the wrong form in writing in the past although the only one that I can think of ever having intended to use would be “discreet”
I probably wouldn’t use it in casual conversation, but it could come up in, say, a business context. You could say that accounting and marketing are two discrete departments, for example.
I feel that it is too obscure a word in it’s use in the English vocabulary. Its meaning is not well known in my opinion, making the sentence confusing. If you did a poll, I believe you would find that at least 75% of the responders would not know the proper definition of discrete as it is spelled.
I would use separate or distinct in place of discrete. I feel that it is better understood by a majority of people that way.