What is the difference between relevant and important

I should have made clear that I was referring to the type of context given by renetta. Last edited: Jan 28, Thanks, that's clearer now! Loob said:. Click to expand John suggested that his findings were relevant to the composition classroom , as they offered a model for second language writers to imitate.

The concept of genre is extremely relevant to the present work, as it informed my choice of texts. Thank you! I agree with Loob's explanation since I myself, though not being a native-speaker, would give "pertinent" as a synonym. However, it does not matter here, I just wanted to add something. Also, sometimes, In my opinion, "relevant" is synonymous of "necessary","required": Example: Do not forget to take relevant documents.

As people have previously stated they are very different words. Here is an example: While giving a talk on truffles, the speaker made a revelant point about truffle pigs and what they are fed. This point may not be important to the talk but it had something to do with the topic that he was speaking about revelant.

I hope this helps. But I have done some research and hope it could help you. I assume,and please correct me if I am wrong, that "relevant" is "close to the topic, or in the field of one topic", which means so you can put two relevant objects without making meaningless mistake, for example, in discussion about "How to evaluate the rise of mobile phone", you can talk any factors such as technology, economy, which are relevant, but if you say" Apples are not bananas", or you talk about the decline of the mobile phone, it's irrelevant to the topic.

Whereas pertinent refer to the connotation meaning of two objects, like causality, like A is the cause of B, or B can derive from A, A and B have reasonable connection. For example, "The job title is not pertinent to your salary level".

Germane is something has substantial connection, close relation, and central to the issue. For example," this paper material is very germane to the case, it could define whether she was suicide or murdered".

Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. Is there a semantic difference between relevance and pertinence? Ask Question. Asked 10 years, 10 months ago. Active 7 years, 3 months ago.

Viewed 20k times. The dictionary defines relevant as being Closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand whilst pertinent is defined as Relevant or applicable to a particular matter.

Does anyone else feel that there is a difference between the two? Update So, we're agreed that there is a difference, but I'm still not definitely clear on what that difference is. Update 2 I've accepted Ghoppe's answer, because I think that one sums up what I'm feeling the best.

Improve this question. Daniel Andy F Andy F 4, 8 8 gold badges 29 29 silver badges 44 44 bronze badges. No, there's really no difference at all. They mean precisely the same things in modern English. Noldorin: I respectfully disagree. The words are synonyms, granted, but I think and it would appear others agree that there is a subtle distinction in their meanings which is reflected in their usage.

Fair enough. I do however think that difference would go amiss in almost every case in conversation or writing Noldorin: I absolutely agree; and I expect no one would be pedantic enough to correct such a minuscule difference.

The question was asked out of interest only, I thankfully don't have a situation which requires I choose between the two : — Andy F. F: Ok, I'll give you that. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. For me, something pertinent would be immediately something of interest, compared to something relevant. Good point about aptness as well. People also use information to confirm or verify something that they know, to predict what may happen, and to develop or maintain personal relationships.

Answer: Books will often give you a greater amount and more in-depth information on a topic than encyclopedias and websites. They are a reliable source of information, having been written by authors selected for their expertise by publishers.

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Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Essay What is the difference between relevant and irrelevant information? Ben Davis May 2, What is the difference between relevant and irrelevant information? What are irrelevant details? What is the relevant information?