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Understanding the difference between commonly confused words will help you avoid making errors in English usage. Let’s examine the difference between the following:
discrete
Discrete means things that are separate and distinct.
The large desk unit was shipped as three discrete parts that had to be assembled on-site.
discreet
Discreet means circumspect, tactful, prudent, showing self-restraint in speech and behavior, and careful not to divulge secrets or to cause offense to others. It also carries the meaning of being unobtrusive or unostentatious. Discreet is related to the word discretion.
We can count on Kevin to be discreet about this sensitive matter.
☛ Here’s a trick to help you remember how to spell each of these words: in the same way that discreet can mean unobtrusive and discrete means separate, discreet tucks its ee unobtrusively between the r and the t, while discrete keeps its e’s separate from each other.
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