Many people find the English language confusing, especially when it comes to pairs of words that seem similar. Candor and candid are two such words. Candor, or candour in British English, is an older word referring to honesty or straightforwardness in speech and attitude. On the other hand, candid is a more recent word that is an adjective describing a person’s quality of being bold and frank. Despite their similarities, there are subtle differences between the two words.
Key Takeaways
- Candor is a noun, while candid is an adjective.
- Both words describe qualities of a person, but they are not interchangeable.
- Candor can be replaced with candidness, but candid should not be used in place of candor.
Candor has roots in both French and Latin, and in both languages, it refers to a quality of being open and honest. Frankness is the closest synonym to candor. Although candor is a noun, it does not mean that you can call a person candor. A person displaying candor possesses qualities such as honesty, impartiality, frankness, outspokenness, straightforwardness, directness, sincerity, and forthrightness.
For example, if you just had a haircut and want an honest assessment of your appearance, you would ask your friends to be candid in their opinions, not diplomatic. You desire the absolute truth because it is crucial for you to know how you look in the haircut. A candid person speaks their mind without hesitation, and their words come straight from the heart. The term “candid” is also commonly used in photography to describe a photo that is honest in its expression, not attempting to hide or conceal anything and reflecting the truth in its entirety.
The confusion between candor and candid arises due to the existence of the word “candidness,” which has the same meaning as candor. A person can be candid, but they possess candidness or candor. This distinction helps clarify how to use these two words correctly. Therefore, candor can be replaced with candidness, but one should not use candid in place of candor.
Consider the following sentences to illustrate the difference between candor and candid:
1. John was candid about his dislike of poverty and did not try to be diplomatic about his aversion.
2. The jury was impressed by the candor of the convict, as he did not show any remorse for his act.
In summary, the primary differences between candor and candid are:
• Candor is a noun, while candid is an adjective.
• Both words describe similar qualities of a person, but they are not interchangeable.
• Candor can be replaced with candidness, but candid should not be used in place of candor.
