The Meaning of OFFICIAL vs The Meaning of OFFICIOUS
The Meaning of OFFICIAL vs The Meaning of OFFICIOUS
The words OFFICIAL and OFFICIOUS sound similar, but there is a main difference in meaning.
The video uses 7 pictures and sentence examples to show the difference between OFFICIAL and OFFICIOUS.
By associating an image with a sentence example, a strong connection is made in the mind and you will see clearly how to use each of these words.
Here is a transcript of the video: What’s the difference between OFFICIAL and OFFICIOUS?
Slide 2:
Let’s look at the first word OFFICIAL It’s an adjective. Definition: authorized by a recognized authority, relating to an office or post of authority. When it’s a noun it refers to a person holding a public office or having an official duty.
The clip art shows a logo from the UK government website.
Slide 3:
A quick reminder: Continually improve your English. Click the subscribe button now. Now let’s look at some examples of the word OFFICIAL. First, the adjective.
Slide 4:
The picture shows a group of fire officers standing to attention in front of their fire engine.
Sentence example: This is an official pass out photograph from the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service in the UK.
In other words, this photograph was authorized and made public by the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Footnote: pass out is British English for completing a course of training in the military or other service.
Slide 5:
Next: the artwork shows the logos of various states in the United States of America.
Sentence example: A dot gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Footnote: “The United States is the only country that has a government specific top top-level domain in addition to its country code top-level domain. This is because the internet originated as a U.S. federal government-sponsored research network.” Quote from Wikipedia article under.gov
Slide 6:
Next, in the picture we see an old faded telegram.
Sentence example: This telegram dated 14th November 1948 to the Governor General of New Zealand, contained an official statement from Buckingham Palace announcing the birth of Prince Charles.
Now let’s look at an example where the word OFFICIAL is used as a noun, referring to a person holding an official duty or position.
Slide 7:
The picture shows a smartly dressed woman speaking at a conference.
The sentence reads: U.S. State Department official Morgan Ortegas participates in the Halifax International Security Forum held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Slide 8:
So again, our question: What’s the difference between OFFICIAL and OFFICIOUS? OFFICIOUS, an adjective, means using authority in a domineering way, especially over matters of minor importance or overly eager to offer unwanted advice or help.
Slide 9:
In the picture we see a building inspector talking to two homeowners.
Sentence example: The officious building inspector noticed that a small detail had been overlooked and told them the job would have to be done again.
Slide 10:
Next, the picture shows dirty dishes in a kitchen sink.
Sentence example: When her flatmate told her not to leave dirty dishes in the sink, all she could say was: “Don’t be so officious!”
Slide 11:
Finally, the picture shows an inset with a secretary holding her head in irritation while her boss lectures her about her mistakes.
Sentence example: Her boss was so officious and domineering she kept thinking, “I can’t take this anymore.”
Slide 12:
So remember, the difference between official and officious -OFFICIAL the adjective means authorized by a recognized authority relating to an office or post of authority.
As a noun, it’s a person holding a public office or having an official duty, but OFFICIOUS means using authority in a domineering way, especially over matters of minor importance, or overly eager to offer unwanted advice or help.
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If you are interested in the meaning of OFFICIAL vs the meaning of OFFICIOUS, be sure to check another video that explains the difference between two easily confused words:
What is the Difference Between CONSCIOUS and CONSCIENCE?
Image Credits
Slide 4 – pass out photograph
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/2fHKYvi
Slide 5 – logos
Fair Use
Slide 6 – telegram
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/ff8fEL
Slides 1,7 – State Dept. official
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/2hQgVjc
Slide 9 – building inspector
Royalty Free
Courtesy of pakorn sungkapukdee
Free Stock photos by Vecteezy
https://www.vecteezy.com/
Slide 10 – dirty dishes
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/4fks4L
Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:
Creative Commons Attribution Licence
Others are allowed to copy, distribute, display, and perform copyrighted work – and derivative works based upon it if they give credit to the creator or source.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Fair Use
Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use.
https://copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html
Royalty Free
The image may be used for almost any business, personal, educational or charitable purpose as long as a credit is published to the creator of the image.
