In my last post, I focused on words that are considered synonyms even though they have slightly different meanings. Subtle but potentially important differences were noted between recall, remember, and recollect as well as between jealousy and envy. In this post, we’ll focus on three more sets of synonyms where the words don’t quite have the same meaning.

Forerunner and Precursor

Both words refer to a thing, person, or event that connects to another thing, person, or event that appears later. Interestingly enough, the word “forerunner” came into the English language as the translation of the Latin praecursor. But the words don’t mean quite the same thing. A forerunner simply refers to something that comes before another thing that is similar to the original. Precursor is a stronger word, meaning something that facilitates or paves the way for something that follows.

When I was in graduate school, I read a book titled Forerunners of Black Power (Ernest Bormann, Prentice-Hall, 1971). It focused on speeches and printed material presented by 19th century American abolitionists, and argued that the persuasive content of these materials mirrored the persuasive content in the spoken and printed messages of 20th Century civil rights leaders. As well as I can remember, however, the book did not contend that the 19th Century abolitionists opened the door for people like Martin Luther King, Jr. or Malcolm X.

In contrast, another book I read, OSS: The Secret History of America’s First Central Intelligence Agency (R. Harris Smith, University of California Press, 1972) made it clear that the World War II era Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the precursor to the post-war Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In other words, the earlier OSS was essential, if not necessary, to the creation of the later CIA.

Sick and Ill

Both “sick” and “ill” refer to a deterioration in one’s health or well-being. “Ill”,” however, is a formal term that is typically used to describe a more-serious and long-term health problem. It is also more commonly used to refer to enduring mental and emotional problems as well as physical ones. Thus, we often hear references to “mental illness” rather than to “mental sickness.” Because it is more formal, “illness” is more likely to be used by medical professionals when discussing the problems afflicting their patients.

For its part, “sick” is a broader and less-formal term that is used to describe temporary ailments or feelings of nausea. Accordingly, we often hear someone say they are “sick to their stomach” rather than “ill to their stomach.” The word “sick” can also be used informally to describe intense but temporary emotional states such as “feeling of childish adults” or “sick with grief.”

Happiness and Joy

Both words refer to positive feelings that give an individual a pleasing sense of security, hope, enrichment, and/or self-worth. Although these words can sometimes be used interchangeably, https://mindsetpositivity.com/ (and other online sources) notes that they differ in at least four respects.

Purpose: Joy is often associated with a sense of meaning and/or a connection to something greater than oneself. Happiness tends to be more focused on personal fulfillment, and accordingly, is more limited in its impact on the individual’s life.

Duration: Joy is usually considered a more-enduring emotion while happiness is typically short term.

Source: Joy is intrinsic, arising from within the individual, while happiness is often dependent on external circumstances or events.

Nature: Joy is a deeper, more-profound feeling that can exist in spite of stress and adversity, while happiness is linked to specific events or outcomes, and accordingly, can disappear if those outcomes change.

The lesson here from these examples and from those in the previous post is clear. Even if your thesaurus identifies two or more words as synonyms, look as those words carefully and don’t assume they necessarily mean exactly the same thing. Picking the word or words that most closely fit the meaning you want to convey will bring you both happiness and joy,