What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ideographic
Example
Chinese is an ideographic language that uses characters to represent words and concepts. [ideographic: adjective]
Example
The ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics, an ideographic writing system, to record their history and beliefs. [ideographic: noun]
pictographic
Example
Cave paintings are an example of pictographic communication used by early humans. [pictographic: adjective]
Example
Emoji are modern-day pictograms that convey emotions and ideas through images. [pictographic: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ideographic symbols are more commonly used in Asian languages, such as Chinese and Japanese, while pictographic symbols are more prevalent in Western cultures. However, both are used in various contexts and have a significant impact on visual communication.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ideographic and pictographic?
Neither ideographic nor pictographic is inherently more formal than the other. The formality level depends on the context in which they are used. For example, ideographic symbols may be more formal when used in writing systems, while pictographic symbols may be more informal when used in social media or messaging apps.
