Heavyweight disinterested has featherweight uninterested on the ropes if you want a disinterested, or unbiased opinion, dont ask your exboyfriend if you can ask his brother out. On the other hand, disinterested means without personal involvement. Dec 26, 2016 traditionally, the words disinterested and uninterested have different meanings. She has an uninterested look when i showed her the latest computer. A video summary here is a short video summarizing the difference between disinterested and uninterested. Uninterested is now not interested and disinterested is now unbiased. That was a handy thing, because then we had a distinction between disinterested and uninterested not interested. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above.
Which and that are common words, but they are important. Disinterested, as we use it today, was first used in the 1650s. Lifetips is the place to go when you need to know about. The sticklers insist that disinterested can only mean impartial, unbiased. Conor mcgregor uninterested in facing undefeated khabib nurmagomedov fansided biden uninterested in serving in clinton administration dhaka tribune in the traditional context, a disinterested person is someone who is impartial or unbiased in a particular issue or case while an uninterested person is someone who is unconcerned or. As another example, if youre on trial, you want a disinterested judge.
Robin took to wandering again, to intermittent travel from which she came back hours, days later, disinterested. Disinterested can mean the same thing, and can be used in the same sentence. But there is a difference, and to avoid confusion, you should be aware of what that difference is. To most language mavens, this amounts to high treason.
It is usually used to describe a person with no personal benefit at stake. Disinterested and uninterested are two entirely different words, with entirely different meanings and are not replaceable by each other. An uninterested person would be unconcerned with our linguistic error. This sense became outmoded in the 18th century, when disinterested was taken to mean impartial or objective. Grammar girl explains the difference between disinterested and uninterested. Here are two sentences from which help to clarify the difference between uninterested vs. We recently heard from a reader who defended using disinterested to mean uninterested. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller. Uninterested definition, having or showing no feeling of interest. Do not confuse this word with the much rarer disinterested, which means objective, neutral. Uninterested and disinterested easily confused words. Uninterested and disinterested easily confused words youtube. Jul 18, 2017 what is the difference between uninterested and disinterested.
Nov 18, 2014 the dont dis disinterested blog provides some excellent examples of why for me the word disinterested means lost interest in something previously interested in e. This book, like all of grammar girls prior books and podcasts, is well written with easytounderstand examples. Disinterested definition is not having the mind or feelings engaged. Grammar girls 101 misused words youll never confuse again is a gentle. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades.
To be disinterested means to be impartial, free from bias, or indifferent. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to reallife, entertaining examples. Uninterested means not wanting to learn more about something or become involved in something, as in this example. If you are trying to win over a girl who has turned you down or who just doesnt seem to notice you exist, there are several things you can do. Since disinterested and dog each begin with the letter d, this should be an easy image to remember. I often do both ill be aloof and tease the girl a lot, but then ill also be escalating and i might give her a sexual compliment later on that basically says. Uninterested describes someone who doesnt pay attention or care. Interestingly, when these words were first introduced their meanings were the reverse, with disinterested originally meaning lacking interest, and. Ontario training network word choice disinterested. At first she seemed interested in me as she would initiate conversations asking if i was going to a concert she was, show body language giving me. In modern english, disinterested primarily means impartial or free from bias, while uninterested simply means.
Ontario training network word choice disinterested versus. In the second sentence, good describes hockey player, which is a noun. Interested in the difference between disinterested and. Disinterested meaning in the cambridge english dictionary.
You want the referee of your game to be disinterested. Heavyweight disinterested has featherweight uninterested on the ropes. An explanation of the difference between disinterested and uninterested. While cautious writers still observe this distinction in formal writing, other people use these two terms in the same manner nowadays.
In todays usage, disinterested most often means not biased, whereas uninterested simply means not interested. Here are but a few madeup words we and our readers have singled. If you are uninterested in something or someone, you do not want to know any more about. We have a lot of similar interests and are similar people in general. Grammar girls 101 misused words youll never confuse again by. These two words have been duking it out, but the battle may be over for uninterested. Oct 05, 2006 disinterested once meant not interested, back in the 17th century. Uninterested definition and meaning collins english. Mignon fogarty is the founder of the quick and dirty tips network and creator of grammar girl, which has been named one of writers digests 101 best websites for writers multiple times. To be uninterested means having no interest in something.
Grammar girl, for example, is in no doubt about this. No one who works for me is an uncreative robot uninterested in science. In other words, not having a personal interest at stake. If youre uninterested in touring old homes and shopping for antiques, you might. Many would interpret the judge was disinterested to mean that the judge didnt care. We need to find a disinterested person to select the winner. In the first sentence, good describes girl, which is a noun. Disinterested also has its origins in meaning unbiased, however, using the word to mean not interested is acceptable and considered the primary definition. A may grammarbook newsletter article cited english as having as many. Unless youre a lawyer, the word youre generally looking for is uninterested, but a quick news search shows that disinterested is frequently misused by the media. By identifying your clauses as defining or nondefining, you can easily remember when to use which and when to use that.
Grammar girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing. Can this word be used as a synonym for uninterested. Its a book about the experience of war that is uninterested in the issues of war. But the sentence actually means that the judge was unbiased. He seemed uninterested in our problems, so we stopped asking him for help. You dont want the referee to have a bet on the game. The farlex grammar book english spelling and pronunciation common mistakes and commonly confused words disinterested vs. According to merriamwebster, uninterested was the word that initially meant impartial, but sometime in the 18th century, uninterested took on the new meaning of not interested. Oct 28, 2015 welcome to the real vocabulary series. But there is a difference, and to avoid confusion, you should be aware of what that difference is what does disinterested mean when someone doesnt have a vested interest in a matter, or doesnt have a horse in that race, we can say that this person is disinterested. Covering the grammar rules and word choice guidelines that can confound even the best writers, grammar girl makes complex grammar questions simple with memory tricks to help you recall and apply those troublesome grammar rules. Disinterested means impartial, unbiased, able to judge something fairly because the person is not concerned with gaining any personal advantage from it. The gop is uninterested in major new spending programs, and moreover, they have public opinion on their side.
Uninterested if a new movie stars an actor you cant stand, are you disinterested or uninterested in paying to go see it on opening night. When i delivered the manuscript of the book murder your darlings to my. If youre uninterested in touring old homes and shopping for antiques, you might be bored on vacation with your aunt and her friends. The words disinterested and uninterested are sometimes used as if they have the same meaning. Uninterested adjective showing no interest not concerned example. Buy our book smashing grammar 2019 written by the founder of grammar monster, smashing grammar includes a glossary of grammar essentials from apostrophes to zeugma and a chapter on easily confused words from affecteffect to whetherif. Dec 12, 2011 according to merriamwebster, uninterested was the word that initially meant impartial, but sometime in the 18th century, uninterested took on the new meaning of not interested.
Uninterested meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Traditionally, the words disinterested and uninterested have different meanings. We are struggling to identify twelve disinterested people for the jury. Interestingly, when these words were first introduced their meanings were the reverse, with disinterested originally meaning lacking interest, and uninterested meaning unbiased. Trevelyan said, disinterested intellectual curiosity is the life blood of real civilization. He said that when doug millett presented him with the idea, he was initially. At school, sayle was unacademic, uninterested and usually in trouble. While many writers still follow the traditional use of disinterested, it is not uncommon to see the word being used in place of uninterested nowadays.
Disinterested and uninterested the words disinterested and uninterested do not mean the same thing. Disinterested disinterested means not taking sides or impartial. He seemed disinterested in our problems, so we stopped asking him for help. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. In this book, ive highlighted 101 troublesome words that people often. If you want a disinterested, or unbiased opinion, dont ask your exboyfriend if you can ask his brother out. About 40 years before that, however, disinterested had a second meaning, a meaning that has since been transferred to uninterested, which means unconcerned or having no interest in a situation. The fairest decision often comes from disinterested parties, but they might be uninterested in helping to resolve the issue. A disinterested person has no stake in the outcome. What is the difference between uninterested and disinterested.
These two words are often used interchangeably, but not by grammarians in the know. Putting out the patrol for madeup words grammar and punctuation. Ok so theres this girl in two of my classes that ive talked to a few times. Sep 28, 2008 grammar uninterested vs disinterested if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. An uninterested person is bored, unconcerned, or indifferent. Disinterested once meant not interested, back in the 17th century. According to the arakanese chronicles, he is said to be utterly please select select option disinterested uninterested in governing the country, except for his annual elephant hunting trips to the. Mnemonic device the is in disinterested show you are unbiased. Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Alongside these usage notes will be fun tidbits including. The grammar girl podcast has also won best education podcast multiple times in the podcast awards, and mignon is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame.