eslHQ Home
User Name Password
Lost Password? | Join eslHQ.com, it's FREE!
View today's posts
Search Extras Help   

Reply
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Unread Nov 19th, 2006, 05:17 pm
eslHQ superstar!
 
Join Date: Mar 27th, 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 1,693
mesmark is on a distinguished road
Default appropriate vs. suitable

Another usage-meaning question. One of my students asked what's the difference in meaning and usage between 'appropriate' and 'suitable'?

I said 'appropriate' means fitting or correct where 'suitable' means it will do or is acceptable. I think I was a little more elaborate with some examples but I can't remember exactly what I said.

What do you think?
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Unread Nov 19th, 2006, 08:02 pm
Whistleblower's Avatar
English Teacher/Examiner
 
Join Date: Oct 30th, 2006
Location: Eastbourne, UK
Posts: 178
Whistleblower is on a distinguished road
Default Re: appropriate vs. suitable

Definition of suitable and appropriate with "Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary":

Suitable: right or appropriate for a purpose or an occasion.

Appropriate: suitable, acceptable or correct in the circumstances.

I believe these are synonyms and the difference is only slight as you can see that suitable is correct for the occassion (short period of time) and appropriate is correct for the circumstances (prolonged period of time).
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Unread Nov 20th, 2006, 06:06 pm
eslHQ Addict
 
Join Date: Jun 12th, 2006
Location: Maple Ridge B.C. Canada
Posts: 151
musica is on a distinguished road
Default Re: appropriate vs. suitable

Appropriate has really become overused in Canada in reference to behaviour. Even kids say, "That's not appropriate" I never heard that when I was growing up!
Suitable does not seem to be used in that situation.
__________________
http://www.pamseslclassroom.com FREE 17 song CD. Buy Pams CDs. ESL rhymes, action songs and singing games. Engage your younger students.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Unread Nov 25th, 2006, 01:16 pm
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: appropriate vs. suitable

I looked it up in the CoBuild dictionary, which I usually trust, and found them explained as synonyms : suitable was defined as "right or appropriate" and appropriate as "correct or suitable". But some of the examples given showed clearly that they're not always synonymous : He was just not suitable for the job; It takes years to turn suitable young men into fighter pilots; ...the appropriate leaflet. In none of these cases can you substitute the other word.
What are we missing?
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Unread Oct 18th, 2010, 07:34 am
eslHQ Member
 
Join Date: Oct 18th, 2010
Posts: 1
etagllothserf@gmail.com is on a distinguished road
Default Re: appropriate vs. suitable

In my opinion, "appropriate" has attached to it a "correctness", a "rightness", that isn't found when using suitable. The following sentence points this out:
"That high-skirt is suitable for the dance video, but inappropriate for you to wear". Here, you can't really say that the dress is unsuitable for her/him to wear because its suitability is relative to the occasion, and this occasion demands that sort of clothing. However, regardless of the occasion, it is inappropriate to wear the skirt in the sense that there would be a loss of "correctness", a depreciation in respectable value almost.
This is my attempt at lucidly explaining Whistleblower's post, though adding perhaps a bit extra.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads Replies
What games are suitable for adults? 18

Find the Best TEFL, TESL, TESOL & CELTA Certification Courses - User Submitted Ratings & Reviews for Online, Distance & Abroad TEFL Courses. Over 3,500 reviews of 100+ TEFL schools!

Teach English in Thailand - Onsite and Combined TEFL certification courses in Phuket, Thailand.


Free ESL Flashcards


Similar Threads Replies
What games are suitable for adults? 18


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:05 am.

All materials from this website are for classroom-use only. Digital redistribution of materials, in part or in whole, is strictly forbidden!

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2