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Commonly Confused Words
Amateur/Novice
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Amateur vs. Novice
Amateur
/ˈamətə/
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
A person who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons.
Examples:
'Not the least need for
amateurs
to come butting in.
'No need for
amateurs
.'
I fear you must be an
amateur
.'
Synonyms:
nonprofessional
hobbyist
novice
beginner
dilettante
Antonyms:
professional
expert
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
Novice
/ˈnɒvəs/
A person who is new to a particular activity or field and lacks experience
Examples:
As a
novice
, he eagerly attended every workshop.
Her
novice
status meant she had much to learn.
Inexperienced yet determined, the
novice
surmised.
Synonyms:
beginner
rookie
trainee
Antonyms:
expert
professional
Ways to tell them apart:
Novice
generally refers to someone who is new to a particular activity or field, emphasizing their inexperience.
Amateur
refers to someone who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than as a profession, not necessarily implying a lack of skill.
A novice can become an amateur once they gain some experience and continue doing the activity.
Think of a
novice
as a newcomer or beginner, while an
amateur
might imply someone with passion but who is not a professional.
Remember,
novice
is often about the level of experience, whereas
amateur
can suggest non-professional status.
When to use amateur:
When to use novice:
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