Is there a difference between "magnitude" and "extent?" Is it about formality?

Rebecca

There is a slight difference, but it's not to do with formality! The difference is that "magnitude" is usually about the size, importance, and impact of something, and "extent" is usually about range. Here, for instance, magnitude means size or range as well as importance. So using only "extent" would be limited in meaning. Ex: The extent of our influence only reaches a certain point. Ex: The magnitude of the policy change is huge.