Word Choice Discrete vs. Discreet

Word Choice Discrete vs. Discreet Word Choice: Discrete vs. Discreet You know those times when your friend has a massive zit on their face but you don’t say anything because you don’t want to embarrass them? That’s called â€Å"being discreet.† Or should that be â€Å"discrete†? No, it shouldn’t. But many people confuse these terms due to the fact that they sound  identical when spoken. It’s therefore worth taking a minute to run through what these words mean and how to use them correctly in your work. Discreet (Careful or Prudent) As suggested above, the correct term to use when describing something which has been done to avoid embarrassment, or to keep something confidential, is â€Å"discreet†: When I went to the clinic, the nurses were very discreet. Until you left. Then they laughed about your genitals. [Photo: OnCall team/Vlastimil]It can also be used to describe something designed to be subtle, or not attract attention: The pattern on the lapels is complemented by discreet stitching on the collar. â€Å"Discreet† is related to the quality of â€Å"discretion†, although â€Å"discretion† can also mean â€Å"freedom to make decisions† and â€Å"discreet† is not used in this sense. Discrete (Separate or Distinct) When something is â€Å"discrete†, it is separate or distinct from other similar things: Wagner’s Ring Cycle is divided into four discrete parts, played in series. The valkyries were anything but discreet. â€Å"Discrete† also has some specific, technical meanings, though these tend to be related to the idea of being â€Å"distinct† or â€Å"separate.† Discrete mathematics, for instance, is a field of math that focuses on discontinuous structures (e.g., integers, graphs and logical statements). Discreet or Discrete? As you can see, these terms have very distinct meanings (you might even say that they’re â€Å"discrete†). As such, you should take care to use them correctly in your work. When describing a situation in which someone is being secretive or careful not to cause offense, the correct term is â€Å"discreet† (e.g., â€Å"You can tell me your secret. I’m very discreet.†) When you’re describing something which is separate from other similar things, the term to use is â€Å"discrete† (e.g., â€Å"Any machine can be broken down into its discrete components.†) Remember: Discreet = Careful/subtle Discrete = Distinct/separate

Catholic Art verse Protestant Art essays

Catholic Art verse Protestant Art essays In this essay I am going to show the differences and similarities between Catholic and Protestant art works. I am first going to give a brief background into the history of the time. I am going to explain how the Protestant movement started and how it effected the art works of the relevant countries. I am going to show that the conflict between the two religions created war and social unrest between countries. I am then going to show the differences and similarities between the two. I will then use examples of art works from Vermeer, Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Rubens to show the differences and similarities. At the beginning of the 16th Century, there was a group of people who broke away from the Catholic Church. They were led by Martin Luther, and the group which broke away was called the Protestants. The Protestant group challenged the workings of the Catholic Church - they believed that if a person wanted to speak to God, they did not have to go and speak to a priest, to have what they wanted said to God. The Protestants believed that the Catholic Church had been taking an unfair advantage of the people. The Catholic Church at this point in time was losing members to the Protestant movement. They were not pleased with this. They tried in all their power to get people back to the church. One of the main ways that they tried to get people back was through the art. They had work that was bold and striking, it caught the imagination of the viewer. It awed them, tried to get them to belong to the Catholic Church. During this time in history, the Kings and Queens of countries where very religious. They were either Catholic or Protestant in faith. In these specific countries the art work of the chosen faith was supported and even promoted. Hence, the Catholic faith was based around the countries of Spain and Italy. The Protestant faith was based around the Netherlands and Germany. Due to...