Master confusing words with ease
Preventative vs. Preventive
Preventative
/prɪˈventətɪv/Examples:
Regular exercise is a crucial preventative measure.The vaccine acts as a preventative against the flu.Reading before bed is a preventative for insomnia.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Preventive
/prɪˈventɪv/Examples:
Vaccinations are a key part of preventive healthcare.The company deployed preventive measures against cyber threats.Preventive actions can mitigate risks in project management.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Both preventive and preventative carry the same meaning and can be used interchangeably, but preventive is the more commonly used form.
- Remember, preventive is one letter shorter and follows the more typical -ive suffix pattern for adjectives.
- Think of preventive as being simpler and more direct, reflecting its popularity over preventative.
- The additional a in preventative does not change its meaning but can help differentiate in spelling.
- Using preventive might help convey your point more succinctly and align with what most audiences expect.
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