There are some words in English that even native speakers get confused, such as ‘afflict’ and ‘inflict’. This is easy enough to do, as both come from the same root (the Latin word flictus, meaning ‘to strike’). But ‘afflict’ and ‘inflict’ differ in meaning, so it’s important to know which to use in any given situation.
This is especially true in academic writing, where clarity and accuracy are paramount. Mixing up your words when writing an essay can make the difference between scraping a pass and really impressing your reader.
But even in day-to-day life, such as when e-mailing friends or putting a CV together, word choice is important for clear communication. So we’ve prepared this helpful guide about how to use ‘afflict’ and ‘inflict’.
The verb ‘afflict’ means ‘to cause pain or trouble’. It is most often used when describing injury or illness:
Gout has traditionally been a disease that afflicts the wealthy.
However, it can also be used figuratively to describe a misfortune or dilemma:
Henry was late for class, afflicted once more by a failure to set his alarm.
In addition to this, the noun ‘affliction’ can refer to either the cause of pain/harm (‘she suffered from a terrible affliction which affected her mobility’) or a state of pain/distress (‘the accident left him in great affliction’).
The word ‘inflict’ also means to cause pain or suffering, but it differs importantly from ‘afflict’ in that it implies the pain being forced upon someone:
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
Diana enjoyed nothing more than inflicting suffering on others.
The difference here is that to ‘inflict’ involves actively hurting or attacking something, thereby emphasising the person/thing causing pain, while ‘afflict’ usually refers to a more passive process (such as falling ill, where the emphasis is typically on the person afflicted).
Thus we refer to situations in which we’ve brought misfortune upon ourselves as ‘self-inflicted’:
David’s failure was entirely self-inflicted: he forgot to leave enough time before the deadline.
Sometimes ‘inflict’ is also used to describe something unwanted being imposed upon someone or something (such as an unwilling audience):
Sara couldn’t sing, but every day she inflicted her rendition of ‘Good Morning, Good Morning’ upon her house mates.
The best way to remember which word to use in any situation is to ask, ‘Who is being emphasised here?’
Hopefully this post has helped clarify a few things about how to use ‘afflict’ and ‘inflict’, so don’t forget to check out the other handy tips on our academic blog for more advice.
Δ
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...
5-minute read
Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...