You can giveadvice to someone, or you can advise someone.
Please advise or kindly advise are requests for information. Some people don’t mind these phrases, while others consider them abrupt or passive aggressive.
Please be advised is a phrase used to share information with a formal tone.
Do you advice someone, or do you advise them? Do you receive advise or advice? Although the English language makes a distinction between advise and advice, it is not always easy to tell the difference because they are both commonly used in everyday conversations. However, understanding the difference between advice vs. advise is the key to knowing how each word should be used. In this post, we’ll cover the difference between these two words plus when and how you should use them.
I’dadviceyou not to give me anymoreadviseabout proper English!
I’dadviseyou not to give me anymoreadviceabout proper English!
Tom gave meadviseduring the quiz.
We seekadvicewhen we don’t know what to do.
I’m not sure which address to use. Please advise.
Please be advised that the meeting time has changed from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Advise with an ‘s’ is a verb and is used when recommending something. On the other hand, advice with a ‘c’ is a noun and refers to the suggestion or recommendation itself.
What’s the Difference Between Advice and Advise?
On the surface, advice and advise sound the same, but they are actually different in meaning. Besides their difference in spelling and pronunciation, they also answer different questions. Advice (c pronounced as s) is a noun. It refers to the opinion or suggestion that you give or receive from someone. Advise (s pronounced as z), on the other hand, is a verb. It refers to the actual act of giving information and guidance to someone.
Uncle Charlieadvicedus to take the scenic route.
Aunt Sueadvisedthat we follow the satnav.
Marthaadvisesthat we meet on top of the hill.
My doctor’s advise was to take vitamins and drink lots of water.
Thank you for theadviceyou gave me years ago.
“Please be advised that all trains are currently running with a thirty-minute delay,” boomed the station loudspeaker.
Do You Advise or Advice?
You can advise (with an ‘s‘) because advise is a verb. You can’t advice (with a ‘c‘) because this word is a noun. In other words, advice is a noun — it’s a thing.Advise is a transitive or an intransitive verb — it’s a “doing word.” You can’t chair someone, but you can give them a chair. Similarly, you can’t advice someone, but you can give them advice.
Iadviseyou not to comment on my spelling or my test results.
Myadvicewould be to practice your grammar and continue revising for your English test.
I understand you’re the person to ask foradvise.
Please share someadviceabout college degrees.
The used car salesman sauntered over toadviceus.
Advice vs. Advise Pronunciation Guide
These two words look alike, but they sound different when spoken aloud.
👀 On one hand, the ‘s‘ in advise is almost pronounced like a ‘z‘ (add-VYZ). If it rhymes with the word “eyes,” you know you’re pronouncing advise correctly.
🧊 On the other hand, the ‘c‘ in advice is pronounced like an ‘s‘ (add-VICE). If it rhymes with the word “ice,” you know you’re pronouncing advice correctly.
How Do You Use Advice and Advise in a Sentence?
Here are the best examples of how to use advice and advise in a sentence:
You asked for my opinion, and Iadvisedyou not to park on the grass.
I’d like you to give meadviceabout certain words in English, including pronouns.
Pleaseadviceme how to use my spell checker.
I’m no longer confused aboutadvise vs. advice.
Myadvice? Use a grammar checker.
The author gives questionableadviceabout principles.
Mark’s fatheradvisedhim to budget properly.
You can’t advice someone, but you can ‘give them advice.’
Is Please Advise Rude?
The phrase “please advise” is a succinct request for information or guidance, and isn’t necessarily rude. However, it depends on the context as well as the speaker’s tone, intention, and style. For instance, some may take it as too short, blunt, demanding, or even passive aggressive. Moreover, some consider it redundant and would prefer a direct question. On the other hand, it can also stand in for “let me know” (Should you have any questions, please advise).
Let’s look at a few examples of “please advise” in action:
If you have any questions about American English,please advise.
Please adviseme when you intend to pay your share of the overdue electricity bill.
In the first instance, “please advise” comes across as benign and a little dry, but not rude. In the second instance, the reader knows they’re in trouble. Tone can be hard to read via email, so if you’re in doubt, use a different phrase.
What is Another Word for Advice?
Here are other names and synonyms for the noun advice:
Guidance
A recommendation/some recommendations
Input
An opinion/your opinion
Some help
A suggestion/some suggestions
A tip/some tips
A word of wisdom
Some pearls of wisdom
Advise vs. Advice Recap
Is it advice or advise?Advise and advice are two words that frequently cause authors confusion. Notwithstanding, advise and advice play slightly different roles: they’re similar — but they’re not the same. For instance, you can advise someone, or you can give them advice.
When to Use Advice (with a ‘c’):
When you need a noun, use advice.
Advice is a noun, or an object, like a cupcake. You give someone advice; you give someone a cupcake.
When to Use Advise (with an ‘s’):
When you need a verb, use advise.
To advise is a verb that means to give advice.
You advise someone; you direct someone.
Feeling clearer about advise vs. advice? Test your grammar knowledge with our quick quiz below.
Advice and Advice Question #1
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is FALSE. Although "advice" and "advise" sound similar, they're not the same.
Advise or Advice Question #2
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is B. "Advise" functions in a sentence as a verb.
Advice or Advise Question #3
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is B. "Advise" means to give a recommendation.
Advice vs Advise Question #4
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is B. The “s” in “advise” is almost pronounced like a “z.”
Advice and Advise Question #5
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is A. "Advice" refers to the suggestion or a recommendation itself.
Advise vs Advice Question #6
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is FALSE. "Please advise" is a concise request for information.
Notwithstanding means despite, nevertheless, however, or although.
You can use this word as a preposition, as a conjunction, or as an adverb.
A common legal phrase is “notwithstandinganything to the contrary.”
Antonyms include because of, given, consequently, and accordingly.
Notwithstanding is a complex word. If you’re not sure what it means or when to use it, you’re not alone. In this guide, you’ll get a detailed notwithstandingdefinition as well as plenty of synonyms and antonyms. You’ll also see how and when to apply the word so you look (and sound) like a Pro.
Notwithstandinghis broken heart, Victor continued writing idiom-laced articles about love.
Her teacher’s reactionnotwithstanding, Sarah decided to give her first recital.
She didn’t apologize,notwithstandinghe’d waited for two hours.
Not and Withstanding stumble into a bar and flop dramatically over the counter. The barman says, “Is this some kind of dangling preposition?”
Notwithstanding was derived from two Middle English words: not and withstonding. In modern English, it’s commonly used as a preposition.
What Does it Mean to Say Notwithstanding?
Notwithstanding means despite, nevertheless, however, or although. In modern English, this term is used most commonly as a preposition (“His sprained anklenotwithstanding, Marcus hobbled over the finish line“). You can also use notwithstanding as a conjunction (“Nobody noticed the ancient book,notwithstandingits previous place in the museum display”) and as an adverb (“Bert hates the logo and the audio sequence, but we will press onnotwithstanding“).
(Preposition): Notwithstandingthe hairpin bend, Jane got her dirt bike to the end of the learner’s obstacle course in one piece.
(Conjunction) He managed to make all 50 cupcakes, notwithstanding the lack of eggs on hand.
(Adverb) Bert hates the logo and the audio sequence, but we will press onnotwithstanding.
To understand and define notwithstanding properly, we need to pull it apart a little.
Many might expect that notwithstanding is made of three words: not, with, and standing.
In fact, it has its origins in twoMiddle English words: not and withstonding (from withstonden, meaning to withstand). A solid preposition in the 14th century, notwithstonding/notwithstanding slipped into common use as an adverb and a conjunction in the 15th century.
What Does Notwithstanding Mean in Legal Terms?
Notwithstanding generally means nevertheless, although, despite, or in spite of in legal writing. Its meaning in legal documents doesn’t change — it’s still just another word for nevertheless. “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,” for example, means that a clause overrides anything that might later contradict it. This and other multisyllabic connectors like inasmuch are common in legal writing like contracts, official reports, judgments, and other legal documents.
Examples of the word notwithstanding in legal documents might include:
Notwithstandinganything to the contrary, company dividends will be paid by the end of the calendar year.
Notwithstandingthe foregoing events, my client wishes to plead innocent.
Her previous statementnotwithstanding, my client now views the situation differently and wants to pay the fine.
NotwithstandingSection 8 of the contract, former employees must refrain from forming new usage partnerships in a similar field for 12 months.
The respondent has not come to court this morning, but we will log his absence and continue the proceedingsnotwithstanding.
Notwithstanding is commonly used as a preposition. However, it can also function as an adverb.
How Do You Use Notwithstanding in a Sentence?
Notwithstanding is considered a formal term in the English language. Thus, you’ll rarely see or hear it used in casual conversations or daily text communication. However, if you’re wondering how you can use notwithstanding correctly in a sentence, here’s a quick tip. You can use notwithstanding in place of in spite of, nevertheless, regardless, and despite.
Here are some examples of how you can use notwithstanding in a sentence:
Regardless of the fact that Joy was grounded, she still went to the party.
Notwithstanding the fact that Joy was grounded, she still went to the party.
Jake was a good sport, despite his awful loss.
Jake was a good sport, notwithstanding his awful loss.
We went to church in spite of the weather.
We went to church notwithstanding the weather.
What is Another Word for Notwithstanding?
There are plenty of synonyms for notwithstanding in the thesaurus, and they include nevertheless, despite, regardless of, however, nonetheless, even so, whereas, albeit, and many more. The substitute word or phrase will depend on whether you’re using notwithstanding as a conjunction, an adverb, or a preposition.
The Best Notwithstanding Synonyms:
At any rate
However
After all
For all that
Regardless of
In any event
At any rate
In any case
All the same
Regardless
Still
Despite
In spite of
To the contrary
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
Even
But
Although
Yet
Howbeit
Though
In the following examples, we replaced the word notwithstanding with one of its synonyms, which you’ll see in bold:
Regardless ofhis headache, Rich decided to brainstorm his book title.
In spite ofher father’s skepticism, Cindy Lou Who insisted that the Grinch was a good person.
A ghost suddenly appeared in the entry;nonetheless, Wednesday Addams felt unmoved and continued her game of noughts and crosses.
He couldn’t remember her face,althoughshe’d been living next door for months.
Even so, Bridget thought Carl Harper had a right to take part in the quiz.
How Do You End a Sentence with Notwithstanding?
You can end a sentence with notwithstanding. Where this word appears in a sentence often depends on which part of speech it is. For example, when at the beginning of a sentence, it’s usually acting as a preposition (“Notwithstanding her lack of sleep, she gave a great performance”). When in the middle of a sentence, it’s usually a conjunction (“They hiked all morning, notwithstanding the rainy weather”). When you end a sentence with notwithstanding, it’s usually an adverb that helps add nuance to your statement (“He didn’t have time to review her resume. He hired her, notwithstanding”).
Notwithstanding means in spite of, regardless of, or without being opposed by.
What Is the Opposite of Notwithstanding?
Antonyms of notwithstanding are a little harder to define, but they include: because of, thanks to, given, owing to, and in the wake of. Consequently, therefore, accordingly, and subsequently are also antonyms. Since notwithstanding means “regardless of,” the opposite is “because of.”
Here are some examples of opposites of notwithstanding in a sentence:
Giventhe current situation, we think it’s best to delay the Blues vs. Greens football game.
Markconsequentlyturned and ran out of the language class.
The onions continued to grow,owing toan application of seaweed fertilizer.
Subsequently, Pete made arrangements to leave the country.
People fostered a first-rate sense of communitybecause ofthe Great Depression.
If you replace any of the antonyms above with the word notwithstanding, you’ll flip the sentence meaning. Go on — try it.
Wrapping Up
Some words are hard to grasp at first, but they’re genuinely useful when you get to know them. Notwithstanding your first impressions of notwithstanding, we hope you’ll make this versatile word part of your lexicon.
A Quick Notwithstanding Quiz to Help you Master it
Notwithstanding Question #1
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is C. “Consequently” is an antonym for “notwithstanding”.
Notwithstanding Question #2
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is D. You can use “notwithstanding” as a preposition, as a conjunction, or as an adverb.
Define Notwithstanding Question #3
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is TRUE. “Notwithstanding” slipped into everyday use as an adverb and conjunction in the 15th century.
Notwithstanding Meaning Question #4
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is B. In legal documents, “notwithstanding” is still another word for “nevertheless”.
Notwithstanding Question #5
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is D. This phrase means the opposite of “notwithstanding”.
Some people mistakenly assume copacetic isn’t a real word, but it’s an adjective that means everything is fine. We’ll dig into a clear copaceticdefinition plus easy examples using this unusual word.
Things arecopaceticwith my coworker because I dislike him.
“I guess things arecopaceticbetween us now,” Jen said after arguing with her best friend.
Copacetic is an adjective, which means “in excellent order.” It’s considered by North Americans as an informal term or slang.
Is Copacetic a Real Word?
Yes, copacetic is a real word. It’s an adjective that means something is very satisfactory or in good order. Although the origin of the term is unclear, it’s believed that copacetic’s been around for at least a century. The first written occurrence of copacetic was in a novel published in the early 1900s.
Some North Americans consider copacetic as a slang word. For this reason, it’s mostly used in informal conversations or situations. What’s more, the most common spelling places a ‘c‘ between the ‘a‘ and ‘e.’ However, some sources consider copasetic with an ‘s‘ acceptable as well.
Two other spellings are available, but they aren’t common or recognized by every dictionary.
Merriam-Webster lists copesetic as an alternative spelling, and The Collins English Dictionary okays copesettic.
What is the Meaning of Copacetic?
Copacetic is an adjective. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “very satisfactory.” On the other hand, other dictionaries, like the Oxford English Dictionary, define copacetic as “fine, excellent, going, and just right.”
You can use copacetic where you would use the phrase “all good” or synonyms like “hunky-dory” and “cool.” Most often, people use this slang word to describe relationships. For example, you may say that things are copacetic between you and a partner. Meaning, everything’s just right or fine in your relationship. Situations, moods, and actions can also be described as copacetic.
My mother was feeling copacetic after her successful surgery.
The doctor said Jake’s health would be copacetic after the treatment.
We have not missed any of our flights, so our trip’s been copacetic so far.
When using copacetic as slang, the term can also reference staying calm. If you’re frustrated with someone, a friend may warn you to “keep it copacetic.” This means should you keep your emotions in check and avoid lashing out.
How Do You Pronounce Copacetic?
Pronounce copacetic like koh-puh-SEH-tik. There are four total syllables but the emphasis goes on the third (“SEH“). It’s tempting to say the beginning like “cop”, but “cope” is correct. When in doubt, remember that the correct pronunciation should rhyme with the word aesthetic (in this way, you could pronounce copacetic like “cope-aesthetic“).
koh-puh-SEH-tik
cop-uh-seh-tik
koh-puh-see-tik
Copacetic is a real word. Some people use this slang to describe the status of their relationships, situations, moods, and actions.
How Do You Use Copacetic in a Sentence?
Here are examples of how to use copacetic in a sentence:
“I love this piece. I’m mesmerized by thecopaceticharmonies you’ve created,” Jan raved.
Scott and Kayla were fighting all month, but now things arecopacetic.
The lease terms appearedcopacetic, so, Shannon said she’d take the apartment.
“Please don’t say things arecopaceticwhen you aren’t okay,” the therapist pleaded.
The situation seemscopaceticfor now, but that may change over time.
How Do You Use the Word Copacetic?
Use copacetic to describe moods, situations, relationships, terms, or artistic works. This word is an adjective, and you can’t turn it into an adverb by adding -ly. When using copacetic in a sentence, make sure it describes something, such as a relationship or situation.
1. Describe a Mood
When someone feels fine rather than depressed or angry, we can say they are copacetic.
2. Reference a Situation
A situation is copacetic if it’s agreeable, okay, or very satisfactory. Sometimes the media dubs current events copacetic, though the world may not agree.
3. Classify a Relationship
Describe your relationship with someone as copacetic if things are going well. You can use the term for platonic, romantic, family, or business relationships.
4. Explain That Legal Terms are Agreeable
This adjective can describe a legal agreement or similar document. When presented with papers from opposing counsel, a lawyer may say the terms appear copacetic.
5. Describe Music or Other Artistic Works
A beautiful melody may have a copacetic blend of musical notes. You can also describe the colors or textures from a painting as copacetic.
What is the Origin of the Word Copacetic?
Experts can’t agree where copacetic originated. However, it first appeared in the Oxford English dictionary in 1919 and has been in regular use for about a century. Some believe the word originated from southern African-American culture in the 19th century. Others claim the word is a fusion of Italian and African-American slang born in Harlem. Finally, others cite a Cajun-French origin.
When someone says “keep it copacetic,” that person wants things to be in order.
What’s Another Word for Copacetic?
Similar words and synonyms for copacetic include other adjectives like nice, amiable, fine, okay, and agreeable. You could also use phrases like “no worries” and “all good.”
Synonyms for Copacetic:
Agreeable
Acceptable
Okay
Cool
Satisfactory
Good
Fine
Okay
Palatable
Hunky-dory
What is the Opposite of Copacetic?
The opposite of copacetic is unsatisfactory. Other copacetic antonyms include disagreeable, lousy, unpleasant, and deficient.
What Songs Use the Word Copacetic?
Copacetic makes an appearance in “Bound for the Floor,”“My Stoney Baby,” “West L.A. Fadeaway,” and “Perfection.” However, “Bound for the Floor” often gets the most recognition. This Local H hit was the only song featuring the word copacetic that ever landed on the charts.
Empathy and sympathy are similar but mean different things.
Both words come from the Greek root “pathos,” meaning feeling or suffering. The difference between these words is how a person feels or suffers.
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes. This allows you to understand the feelings of others as if they were yours.
Sympathy indicates feeling bad for someone even if you can’t understand what they’re going through. This allows you to recognize the feelings of others but not understand them as if they were yours.
Empathy is a stronger, deeper emotion vs. sympathy.
There are three types of empathy: cognitive, emotional, and compassionate.
Some people tend to use sympathy and empathy interchangeably. But, do these two words mean the same thing? Are they synonymous with each other? In this post, we will define what empathy and sympathy are, plus give you some helpful tips on how to use them properly.
Alana is nuts if she doesn’t get her daily dose of caffeine. As a coffee lover, I can sympathize.
Alana is nuts if she doesn’t get her daily dose of caffeine. As a coffee lover, I can empathize.
Everyone loved Donna’s wife, and many people reached out after the memorial with messages of sympathy.
While often used interchangeably, empathy and sympathy don’t mean the same thing.
What is Sympathy?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines sympathy as an “affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other”. In layman’s terms, sympathy is the sorrow that you feel for someone when something unfortunate has happened to them. During this situation, we tend to say sympathetic words like the following:
Give your family my sympathy.
I really feel for the victims of the calamity.
What is Empathy?
Empathy, on the other hand, is defined as “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner”. Simply put, empathy refers to your ability to relate to someone else’s suffering as if you’ve experienced it yourself. Here are some examples of empathic statements:
I would feel bad too in that situation.
If I understand it correctly, you’re upset because you forgot your wallet?
You’re right. We shouldn’t rush things.
I’m sorry that you have to deal with this mess right now.
How Empathy is Different From Sympathy?
The difference between sympathy and empathy is a slight but important one. Both sympathy and empathy come from the Greek word “pathos,” which means suffering or feeling. As such, both refer to being able to take part in another’s feelings. With sympathy, the relationship between your feelings and another’s isn’t equal. You might feel sorrow for someone, but you don’t personally understanding their feelings or haven’t had the same experience. However, with empathy, the relationship is equal. You understand another’s feelings as if they were yours.
It was easy for me to feel empathy for Mrs. Dell since I’d been in the exact same situation.
My daughter has the worst acne. I didn’t have the same issue as a teenager and it’s hard to empathize.
I’m sorry for your loss. You have my sympathy.
Benito heard that his friend’s grandmother had Alzheimer’s and immediately felt a pang of sympathy.
It’s important to note that sympathy is almost exclusively associated with negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, fear, and disappointment.
Empathy involves all those bummer feelings too, but there is also a thing called positive empathy. This concept is newer and largely undefined but can mean understanding and sharing in more positive emotions like joy and happiness.
Phrases That Show You Empathize With Someone:
I’ve felt that way before
I know exactly what you mean
I totally get you
I’ve been there
I know exactly how you feel
I know from experience
The same thing happened to me
I had a similar experience
I know what you’re going through
I feel you
Phrases That Show You Sympathize With Someone:
I’m so sorry
I’m sorry for your loss
I can’t imagine what you must be going through
That’s so terrible
I’m sorry this happened to you
I’m sorry that you feel this way
I really feel bad for you
I’m sorry for you
You have my sympathy
Quick Recap:
Empathy means you understand what someone else is going through, often feeling it like your own experience.
Sympathy means you feel bad for what someone else is feeling, but you can’t personally identify with the experience.
Sympathy vs. Empathy: How to Remember the Difference
Here are three easy ways to help you remember the difference between sympathy and empathy:
Trick #1: Look at the Prefix
On one hand, the prefix em– means “to cause” or “to put into.” In this way, you can think of empathy as causing you to put yourself into someone else’s shoes.
On the other hand, the prefix sym- comes from the ancient Greek word for “together”. In this way, you can think of sympathy as feeling something together, but without putting yourself into the person’s shoes.
Empathy refers to your ability to understand someone else’s feelings like you’re experiencing them, too. On the other hand, sympathy is when you feel bad for someone even if you don’t understand what that person is experiencing.
Trick #2: Look at Which Letter Comes First in the Alphabet
The letter ‘e’ comes before the letter ‘s’ in the English language alphabet.
For this reason, assign the number 1 to the word empathy. Similarly, assign the number 2 to sympathy.
Remember that empathizing with someone is like sharing an experience with them. In this way, your feelings and the other person’s feelings are one and the same.
On the other hand, you can remember that sympathizing with someone is not a shared experience. There is a sense of togetherness in that you recognize another’s feelings, but there is a division between your feelings and the other person’s. In this way, your feelings are two separate experiences.
Trick #3: Equality Test
Associate Sympathy With an Unequal Relationship
When you sympathize with someone, you recognize that the person feels a certain way, but you don’t truly understand what they are going through.
For example, you may hurt for someone who has lost their child, but because you’ve never experienced that loss you can’t truly understand the pain.
As a result, sympathy isn’t a shared experience. You feel an emotion about the way someone else feels instead of sharing in the same emotion. Therefore, sympathy creates an unequal relationship
Associate Empathy With an Equal Relationship
When you empathize with someone, you do more than just recognize an emotion in someone else; you feel that emotion as if it were your own.
For instance, if your friend fails the same exam you failed last semester, you might be empathetic.
Therefore, empathy is a shared experience. Quite often, empathetic bonds like friendship are born out of shared experiences. Think of it as having the same experience as someone else but at a different time.
What is a Good Example of Empathy?
A good example of empathy is to imagine that you’re seated on a packed bus and you see a stranger board. The stranger has a broken leg and crutches. You feel sorry for the stranger’s pain and hardship, so you sympathize. But, you don’t stop there. The stranger reminds you of breaking your leg as a kid. You remember how difficult it was to take the bus with your belongings and crutches, so you also empathize with this stranger. You offer your seat to the hurt stranger and help him get situated. These are choices born out of empathy.
Sympathy and empathy don’t always go hand and hand. Meaning, you can feel empathy without feeling any sympathy for someone, and vice versa.
There are so many wonderful examples of empathy in the world. Though they may stem from loss, sadness, anger, or depression, empathetic acts and feelings are what makes the world go round.
History of Empathy and Sympathy
Part of the confusion stems from the shared root. Sympathy showed up in our shared lexicon first, likely in the 1500s. Back then, it meant to agree or be in harmony with other things or people. Obviously, the definition of sympathy has evolved a bit, but more on that in a second.
Empathy is much newer, first appearing in the late 1800s. At that time, it was primarily a psychological term. People who empathized were projecting their own feelings onto someone or something else. Again, not the same definition we use today.
Today, empathy is used to describe our ability to understand other’s feelings like we were experiencing them ourselves. Usually, this means we’ve experienced the same feelings or situation before. The second party identifies with and feels similar to the first.
With sympathy, you feel bad for someone else without necessarily understanding what they’re going through.
What are the 3 Types of Empathy?
According to experts, there are three types of empathy. Cognitive empathy deals with understanding how someone else may be thinking. Cognitive empathy is useful in everyday interpersonal communication but may be especially powerful in professional scenarios. Emotional empathy is all about feelings. If someone is grieving and you can almost physically feel their sorrow, that’s emotional empathy. Finally, there is compassionate empathy. This type of empathy, also known as empathic concern, is so moving it can drive someone to action. Not only do compassionate empathizers understand others’ feelings, but they also want to help.
3 Types of Empathy:
Cognitive: How is someone else thinking?
Emotional: How is someone else feeling?
Compassionate: How can I help someone else?
Is Empathy or Sympathy Better?
Empathy is a stronger emotion, but that doesn’t automatically make it better than sympathy. The question is really which is better for a given situation. Sympathy recognizes another person’s suffering, but it stops there. Empathy goes further by sharing in another’s experience. The ability to feel someone’s pain, disappointment, and fear is intense. Sympathy is just as important even though it’s less intense.
Empaths are people so hypersensitive to the emotions of others that they even take on strangers’ pain and feel it as their own.
Sympathy or empathy isn’t a choice, it simply depends on your experiences.
For example, if you haven’t had the same experience as someone else, you can sympathize. Conversely, if you have had the same experience or are able to put yourself in the person’s shoes, you can empathize.
Finding ways to understand the pain of others is important. Drawing on your own experiences makes those feelings even more potent. In writing, inspiring empathy in your readers strengthens your text and makes your characters and scenarios more relatable.
Can You Have Empathy Without Sympathy?
You can have empathy without sympathy, but those feelings can have some negative consequences. Ideally, empathy and sympathy go hand in hand. If you have empathy without sympathy, that could mean you understand someone’s pain but don’t particularly care that they’re suffering. A manipulative person could empathize with a friend’s loss but then use that grief for nefarious purposes. If the manipulator also had sympathy, they’d be less likely to lack compassion.
Bob lost his job last year, so he knew exactly how to take advantage of his friend’s recent layoff instead of sympathizing with his plight.
I felt empathy for her struggle with addiction, but my own drug history made me question how serious she was about getting better.
While Taron understood how her friend felt after being in a car accident, she struggled to sympathize. After all, she’d told her repeatedly to stop texting while driving.
Of course, there are exceptions this rule. Why? Feelings are complicated! Almost as complicated as grammar. ?
There are three types of empathy: cognitive, emotional, and compassionate empathy.
Can You Feel Sympathy Without Empathy?
In short: Absolutely. Sympathy and empathy don’t always coexist. If you feel sorry for someone who’s going through a rough patch but can’t fully understand their struggle, that’s sympathy. You may even want to be empathetic. But because you’re never had the same experience, you can only have sympathy. This isn’t a bad thing. It’s just the nature of the relationship between emotions and experiences. Sympathy vs. empathy isn’t always a battle.
Why is Sympathy a Bad Thing?
Whether or not sympathy is a terrible thing is up for debate. Most people who view sympathy as a negative believe that it could hurt the receiver more than the giver.
For instance, author and philosopher Criss Jami once wrote:
Like crying wolf, if you keep looking for sympathy as a justification for your actions, you will someday be left standing alone when you really need help.
Sometimes, sympathy could make someone abdicate responsibility for getting out of an unpleasant situation.
On the flip side, someone who gives too much sympathy could potentially endanger their own well-being. Spend too much time feeling bad for other people and you may find yourself acquiring a negative worldview.
Still, balance is essential. A total lack of sympathy can destroy relationships and make you seem like a very selfish person in the process.
More Sympathy vs. Empathy Examples
Here are examples of how to correctly use empathy and sympathy in a sentence:
Having broken her own leg years before, Sheila was empathetic, knowing exactly how her dad felt when he shattered his tibia while skiing.
He showed a total lack of emotion, indicating he was incapable of empathy or remorse.
Her empathy for her sister made her a very likable character.
I wanted to bond with her, but her hesitation to share her feelings made it impossible to have any empathy.
The cat was so wet and cold, it was hard not to sympathize with its plight.
The support group felt connected due to their shared experiences and mutual empathy.
I want to empathize with Joel’s plight, but he won’t take responsibility for his own actions or make any real changes.
The words empathy and sympathy are often used interchangeably. Though these terms are commonly confused, they don’t mean the same thing. That’s our deep dive into sympathy vs. empathy and how you can best express your feelings while mastering grammar. Are you confident you know the difference?
Take This Quick Test About Sympathy vs. Empathy
Sympathy and Empathy Question #1
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is FALSE. Empathy describes our ability to understand the feelings of others like we were experiencing them ourselves. Meanwhile, sympathy means feeling bad for someone else without necessarily understanding what they’re going through.
Empathy Question #2
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is C. According to experts, there are three types of empathy — cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, and compassionate empathy.
Empathy vs Sympathy Question #3
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is B. Sympathy is linked with emotions such as sadness, anxiety, fear, and disappointment.
Empathy and Sympathy Question #4
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is A. Most people agree that empathy is a stronger emotion.
Sympathy vs Empathy Question #5
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is B. Sympathy means feeling bad for someone else without necessarily understanding what they’re going through.
Sympathy or Empathy Question #6
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is A. Empathy describes our ability to understand the feelings of others like we were experiencing them ourselves.
Sympathy vs Empathy Quiz Result
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How Well do you Know the Difference Between Sympathy vs. Empathy?
