Critique vs Criticism
In the English language, there are many pairs of words that can be confusing for learners, one of which is the pair consisting of critic and critique. People often consider them as synonyms and use them interchangeably due to the common perception that critique involves finding fault with a written piece, just like criticism. However, there are subtle differences between critique and criticism that will be discussed in this article.
Critique
A critique is a detailed analysis or evaluation of something. When new writers seek feedback from an authority on a subject, they may ask the authority to formally critique their work. In this sense, the word is used as a verb. People mistakenly view critique as a way of passing a negative judgment about something, which it is not. The word “critique” originates from the French language and has roots in the Greek word “Kritikos,” which means to judge or pass judgment.
Criticism
Criticism refers to the act of pointing out or highlighting the shortcomings in a work, person, attitude, belief, project, policy, or anything else. However, criticism is not always negative, as it can be evaluative and judgmental in nature. In the English language, criticism has traditionally been associated with finding fault in something or someone. Critics have always been polite and have made a deliberate effort to keep their evaluation within limits, not allowing themselves to go overboard.
Key Takeaways
- While criticism is an old English word commonly used for the evaluation or judgment of a written work, person, or thing, critique became popular during the 70s and 80s as a more balanced assessment of a work.
- Critique is a noun that is also used as a verb and in place of criticism. People tend to view criticism as primarily fault-finding, while critique is perceived as an objective assessment that includes both positive and negative comments.
- Generally, a critique is impersonal and aims to improve something, whereas criticism can sometimes be personal and may be taken as an offense by the recipient.
