Category: Word Confusions

Word Confusion: Effigy vs Sculpture vs Statue

Word Confusion: Effigy vs Sculpture vs Statue

This word confusion of effigy vs sculpture vs statue arose out of a professional discussion with a client as to the best word to describe an image. We went round and round until I decided I needed to clear up this word confusion for myself. While all three are considered statues which can be sculpted, molded, carved, or cast in both three dimensions or in relief, the difference is in: The ultimate use of an effigy is in memory of a dead person or to vilify someone A sculpture can be humongous or small. It may be of a person, an animal, or part of a person or animal or a representation of something more abstract. A statue usually represents a person, an animal, or part of a person or animal and can also be large or small (a statuette or figurine) Return to top Exploring Later . . . You may want to explore “Statue versus Statute“. Return to top 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. […]