This word confusion is a pip: indeterminable vs indeterminate. Both are adjectives meaning cannot be defined with determine as their root word.
Indeterminable means something that is not possible to define or establish.
However, indeterminate means something that cannot be defined or is not established.
My neighbor and I are all about the indeterminate tomatoes for our gardens. We want a continuous supply.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Indeterminable | Indeterminate |
|---|---|
I am Asking You Putin WHY by Mike Finn is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via Flickr. — Putin’s actions are indeterminable! |
Australian Snake of Indeterminate Species by Daniel Burka is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Flickr. — No one has established what kind of snake this is. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Adjective | Adjective |
Not able to be definitely ascertained, calculated, or identified
Impossible to fix or measure Boringly protracted
|
Not exactly known, established, or defined
|
| Examples: | |
| It is indeterminable when the next group of meteors will bombard the earth with such destructive power.
She was a woman of indeterminable age. Indeterminable questions were raised. Indeterminable traces of poison were present. Jones and Trump both have indeterminable assets. There was all that interminable whining. |
Indeterminate number of meteors hit the earth recently.
The date of manufacture is indeterminate. Indeterminate sentences are typically imposed for felony convictions (as opposed to misdemeanors) that involve a state prison sentence. An indeterminate form 0/0 occurs when the ratio of two functions approach zero in the limit. The doctor is calling it indeterminate colitis. Plant parts, i.e., stems and roots, exhibit indeterminate growth by continuing to grow throughout the plant’s life (Ha). Indeterminate tomatoes produce a steady harvest throughout the growing season. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adverb: indeterminably Noun: indeterminableness |
Adverb: indeterminately Noun: indeterminacy, indeterminateness |
| History of the Word: | |
| Late 15th century, in the sense unable to be limited, is from the late Latin indeterminabilis, from in- (not) + determinabilis. | Early 17th century, from the late Latin indeterminatus, from in- (not) + the Latin determinatus (limited, determined). |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Indeterminable versus Indeterminate
Apple Dictionary.com
The Free Dictionary: indeterminable
“Indeterminate vs Indeterminable.” Grammarist.com. n.d. Web. 12 Dec 2022. <https://grammarist.com/usage/indeterminate-vs-indeterminable/>.
“Indeterminate vs Indeterminable.” Terms Compared. 20 May 2021. Web. 12 Dec 2022. <https://www.termscompared.com/indeterminate-vs-indeterminable/>.
Ha, Melissa Ha, Maria Morrow, and Kammy Algiers. “18.5: Shoot Development.” Yuba College, College of the Redwoods. Ventura College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative. Last updated 4 May 2022. Web. 12 Dec 2022. <https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Botany/Botany_(Ha_Morrow_and_Algiers)/Unit_3%3A_Plant_Physiology_and_Regulation/18%3A_Development/18.05%3A_Shoot_Development>.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Protect Trans Kids in Texas by Ted Eytan, Washington, DC, is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Action Network.org.
