Discreet/ discrete. Which one ?

Is the proofreader a real person or online?

They have entirely different meanings.

From my big fat Oxford dictionary: (much of what it says)

Discreet - careful and circumspect in one’s words or actions, e.g. some discreet enquiries

Discrete - individually separate and distinct.

This is not meant unkindly MrsKen, but it's not a good idea to use a word if you don't know how to spell it or what it means. Easy enough to check.

welbeck

discreet in more likely to be correct, as it is a much more used word, more everyday.
so maybe when in doubt, use that.
discrete is more used in specialist writing, technical or scientific.

Sorry Welbeck - different words, different meanings
Threw/through
Strait/straight
Stare/stair
Plain/plane
And so on....

discrete is not an alternative form of discreet, headlong into the realms of ect,
reigns, malapropisms, weak spelling, poor grammar, split infinitives, on and on, where are the English language teachers of yore, how lucky we were
to achieve one of these !!!

Your proof reader sounds useless. How did you employ her?

MrsKen33

So is it ‘They sat at a discrete distance’ and ‘ He told her his problem as he knew she would be discreet.’ ?

Have I got it right ?

You wouldn't say a discrete distance. Discrete has the meaning of being individual, unjoined, distinctive or unique, it is not about the physical distance from something or someone else, but about individuality.

Discreet is about being careful of what you do or say, for instance about facts or news that are not for everyone's ears, or which you have been told in confidence. Or, in your example, they could be sitting at a discrEEt distance, presumably so that there would be no wrong assumptions made about the relationship, but not a discrete distance.

Discrete means ‘separate’. As in ‘two discrete areas’. Discreet means ‘confidential’. As a pedant it really irritates me to see either word misused. Therefore I can’t agree with you welbeck. Use the correct word or neither.

discreet in more likely to be correct, as it is a much more used word, more everyday.
so maybe when in doubt, use that.
discrete is more used in specialist writing, technical or scientific.

Discreet/discrete - as a clue, the two Es are separate in the word discrEtE- just as separate things are discrEtE.

If you are discrEEt with two Es together you kEEp things to yourself with both lips together, and don't shout about them to everyone.

No I’m not in America ……SW Wales

that sounds american anyway.
or are you in america, perhaps ?
i would say laundrette, or if being whimsical, washateria.
but she/he does not seem to recognise the existence of a commercial laundry, to which items were sent.
maybe laundry to her/him is just the items to be washed.
or it is an inanimate online proof-reader ?
all these people who boast on here about their grammar school education. and those who do not, could do a better job OP.

Yes it is. She also crossed out ‘laundry’ and substituted it with ‘ laundromat’. In 1950s Wales? I don’t think so.

MrsKen33

Exactly *Callistemon *

Is this the same proof reader you were having problems with earlier?

I'm sure any one of us pedants would do a better job

Yammy

MaizieD

Yammy

MaizieD

I'd suggest that if you aren't sure about a word you consult a dictionary.

lixy is correct.

Rather than getting the rather sharp reply on gransnet, just type the meaning of one into your computer and then the other. Computers are far more compassionate than some grans netters are getting these days. Unfortunately, it comes to us all.

There are even dictionaries on line, Yammy.

Or do people have to be really, really spoonfed these days?

Well, you don't say what a revelation. Though it is easier if you are not that aufait with a computer to type the meaning in of one and them and then the other.
I think as we get older a lot of us need a bit of help call it spoon-fed if you like.

You don't have to type in the meanings, just the words

e.g discrete definition

discreet definition

The computer will give you lots and lots of correct definitions.

If you tried via the 'meaning' you'd probably get a whole thesaurus...

Exactly Callistemon

MaizieD

Yammy

MaizieD

I'd suggest that if you aren't sure about a word you consult a dictionary.

lixy is correct.

Rather than getting the rather sharp reply on gransnet, just type the meaning of one into your computer and then the other. Computers are far more compassionate than some grans netters are getting these days. Unfortunately, it comes to us all.

There are even dictionaries on line, Yammy.

Or do people have to be really, really spoonfed these days?

Well, you don't say what a revelation. Though it is easier if you are not that aufait with a computer to type the meaning in of one and them and then the other.
I think as we get older a lot of us need a bit of help call it spoon-fed if you like.

Never trust a proof reader^!

Someone who doesn't know the difference between discreet and discrete shouldn't be working as a proof reader!

As Lixy and Riverwalk say - NB these words do not mean the same thing.

Never trust a proof reader! In the medical sense, we talk about a discrete lump, meaning it is sufficiently defined that you can feel its edges.

If you don't want someone to pass on your secrets, choose someone who is discreet!

Reason I asked is that my proofreader seems to have no idea of grammar, and I need to be sure I am right. She seems also to be unable to grasp capitals for proper nouns etc. hey ho!

Yammy

MaizieD

I'd suggest that if you aren't sure about a word you consult a dictionary.

lixy is correct.

Rather than getting the rather sharp reply on gransnet, just type the meaning of one into your computer and then the other. Computers are far more compassionate than some grans netters are getting these days. Unfortunately, it comes to us all.

There are even dictionaries on line, Yammy.

Or do people have to be really, really spoonfed these days?

MaizieD

I'd suggest that if you aren't sure about a word you consult a dictionary.

lixy is correct.

Rather than getting the rather sharp reply on gransnet, just type the meaning of one into your computer and then the other. Computers are far more compassionate than some grans netters are getting these days. Unfortunately, it comes to us all.

I know that DD uses discrete a lot as a scientific term, whereas discreet just means low profile.

They sat at a discreet distance - meaning showing restraint or respect.

He told her his problem as he knew she would be discreet - meaning she would keep the problem to herself.

For the second sentence you need to use another phrase, such as he knew she wouldn't betray his secret, or he knew he could trust her not to gossip.

The two words sound the same but have completely different meanings, so best not used in the same paragraph.