What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
specificative
Example
The specificative phrase 'in the red dress' helps identify which woman you are talking about. [specificative: adjective]
Example
The specificative 'American' in 'American football' distinguishes it from other types of football. [specificative: noun]
specifying
Example
Can you please specify what time the meeting will start? [specify: verb]
Example
The report needs more specifying to make it clearer. [specifying: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Specifying is more commonly used than specificative in everyday language. Specifying is versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts. Specificative, on the other hand, is more limited in scope and is typically used in formal or technical writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between specificative and specifying?
While specificative is typically associated with a formal or technical tone, specifying is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
