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Discreet/ discrete. Which one ?

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MrsKen33 Fri 06-Jan-23 15:53:47

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 ?

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LadyHonoriaDedlock Fri 06-Jan-23 15:06:44

If you keep quiet about something you know in order to avoid a scandal, you are being discreet.

If you are blown into small pieces by an explosion you are discrete (it's the opposite of concrete as adjective).

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MaizieD Fri 06-Jan-23 15:00:36

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

lixy is correct.

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lixy Fri 06-Jan-23 14:37:20

Discreet describes someone you can trust with a confidence.

Discrete is as Riverwalk says, separate items.

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Riverwalk Fri 06-Jan-23 14:32:59

Discrete is used for separate pieces, detached, individual.

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Allsorts Fri 06-Jan-23 14:30:38

Discreet

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BlueBelle Fri 06-Jan-23 14:30:14

Only ever used discreet

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MrsKen33 Fri 06-Jan-23 14:28:45

I am doing some writing and I can’t decide which of these to use. Is there a rule, and if so what might it be.

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