English usage and grammar

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Difference among "specific", "particular", "certain", and similar words? (mander.xyz)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Sometimes it's necessary to make clear that an item is singled out for some reason, for instance if it's been specially chosen. I often use the words specific and particular for that. Example:

"She is going to buy a specific book"

Omitting specific, the sentence could otherwise suggest that she just wants to buy any book; she'll decide which after browsing some at the book store.

I was wondering if there are any differences that I should be aware about among specific, particular, certain, and similar words in this context.

Giving your opinion about their usage is OK, but I'd also like to have some references if possible.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Reviewed the definitions on Merriam-Webster, mostly confirms my usual usage:

Certain:

2: of a specific but unspecified character, quantity, or degree: the house has a certain charm

Means you want to qualify something or somethings based on a characteristic, but it's vague or unknown to you.

Particular:

1: of, relating to, or being a single person or thing: the particular person I had in mind

3a: distinctive among other examples or cases of the same general category : notably unusual: suffered from measles of particular severity, This computer program will be of particular interest to teachers.

b: being one unit or element among others: particular incidents in a story

So 3b is the generic interchangeable definition, but the distinct definition of particular is when you want to single something out, or highlight it for being notable.

Specific:

1a: constituting or falling into a specifiable category

b: sharing or being those properties of something that allow it to be referred to a particular category

2a: restricted to a particular individual, situation, relation, or effect: a disease specific to horses

b: exerting a distinctive influence (as on a body part or a disease): specific antibodies

3: free from ambiguity : ACCURATE: a specific statement of faith

When you are grouping something into a defined category, or when something is made for a purpose or effect unique to itself, then it's specific.

Hopefully this helps clarify some things. And my opinion on language is that it's all based on how people use it, so there's no wrong answer so long as the speaker or writer's intended meaning gets through.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Very valuable! In particular meanings 1 and 3a of particular. Thank you so much for your time and analysis!

Completely agree with you on your final comment. Indeed my question came from wondering whether people could attach attach other meanings, which I had not thought about, to those words.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

This is probably more about 'specifically' and 'particularly' as used to expand on the concreteness of a preceding statement. 'Specifically' is more about clarifying the statement with concrete examples in an effort to eliminate misunderstanding. 'Particularly' is to stress the level/degree of applicability of the statement to some exemplary cases.

'certain' can also be used to speak about something that is otherwise considered inappropriate under the circumstance. Couple that with an eye wink to send a stronger signal.