Both myself and Claire have been involved with people and projects lately that seems to have elicited a fair amount of criticism (or as we like to say — critique) from both of us. Fortunately, we both have expressed that criticism/critique only to each other — I hope.
Anyhow, that got me to wondering about criticism and critique — what’s the difference in the two, or are they the same? Seems like this just begs for some extensive research so here’s what I found….
The bottom line, it turns out, is there is no difference. The base meaning is to “pass judgement on,” but in reality the usual use of both words has come to mean “pass negative judgement on.”
I was always of the opinion that when something is critiqued, one is expressing s view — by stating what you like, and why as well as what you don’t like, and why. Criticism is just the negatives. When something is criticized, there are no positives — only the “bad” things are mentioned.
During my extensive research, I ran across an article that attempted to explain the difference between the two words. I thought it was pretty good, but probably doesn’t reflect reality in the way both terms are used today….
Criticism finds fault/critique looks at structure
Criticism looks for what’s lacking/critique finds what’s working
Criticism condemns what it doesn’t understand/critique asks for clarification
Criticism is negative/critique is positive
Criticism is vague and general/critique is concrete and specific
It’s too bad these distinctions have sort of morphed into one.
Since criticism is so easy to dish out, we should all learn how to deal with it. Norman Vincent Peal said, “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
I guess it’s true that the only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing and be nothing.
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