Master confusing words with ease
De facto vs. De jure
De facto
/ˌdeɪ ˈfæktəʊ/Examples:
The city became the de facto capital during the war.He was the de facto leader though not officially appointed.Internet platforms have become de facto public squares.
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This word has no antonymsDe jure
/deɪ ˈdʒʊr.i/Examples:
The committee was the de jure authority on the matter.Despite the de facto situation, she was de jure in charge.His de jure title didn't match his real responsibilities.
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Ways to tell them apart:
- De facto refers to what exists in reality, even if not legally recognized, while de jure refers to what is legally acknowledged, whether or not it exists in reality.
- Remember that de facto involves the fact of the situation, where things happen in practice.
- De jure has the element of jury like legal judgment, emphasizing legal rights.
- In simple terms, de facto is what happens by fact, while de jure is what should happen by law.
- Think of de facto as how things simply are, and de jure as how things ought to be according to law.
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