What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ideogrammic
Example
Chinese is an ideogrammic language, where each character represents a concept or idea. [ideogrammic: adjective]
Example
The ancient Egyptians used ideogrammic writing to record their history and beliefs. [ideogrammic: adjective]
pictographic
Example
Cave paintings are an example of pictographic writing, where images were used to tell stories. [pictographic: adjective]
Example
The Aztecs used pictographic symbols to record their history and communicate with other tribes. [pictographic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pictographic is a more commonly used term than ideogrammic in everyday language. This is likely due to the fact that pictographic writing has been used by a wider range of cultures throughout history, while ideogrammic writing is primarily associated with East Asian languages.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ideogrammic and pictographic?
Both ideogrammic and pictographic are formal terms that are typically used in academic or historical contexts.
