Writing Helper: Idea vs. Ideal
This is part of the series:
- Grammar Helper
- Grammar Helper: Ensure, Assure, Insure
- Grammar Helper: There, Their, They're
- Grammar Helper: Appraise vs. Apprise
- Grammar Helper: Idea vs. Ideal
- Grammar Helper: Commas in a series
- Grammar Helper: Who and Whom (simple version)
- Grammar Helper: I vs. Me
- Writing Help: Who's vs. Whose
- Writing Helper: Just Thinking to Myself
- Writing Helper: Poor and Pour, Then and Than
- Grammar Helper: Its vs It's
- Writing Helper: Breath vs. Breathe, Bath vs. Bathe
- Cite, sight and site
- Writing Helper: Stationary vs. Stationery
- Writing Helper: Lose vs. Loose
- Avoiding the Passive Voice
- Possessive vs. Plural: Getting it Right
- Writing Helper: A lot
- Writing Helper: Bath vs Bathe
- Writing Helper: Choose vs Chose
- Writing Helper: Idea vs. Ideal
I think people get these two words mixed up simply because they sound and look alike. In reality, their meanings are quite different.
Idea is a though or inspiration.
- I have a great idea.
- Hey, what’s the idea!
Ideal means perfect (adjective).
- This is not an ideal situation.
- Janet is holding out for her ideal job offer.
Ideal can also be a noun, but it retains the concept of perfection.
- John Kennedy was Bob’s ideal.
Ideal can also refer to something to strive for.
- Many politicians are much too willing to compromise their ideals.
In my experience, people usually say ideal when the mean idea. For instance, “I have a great ideal!” Remember, that’s incorrect, and you’ll drive people like me batty if you do it!
Check out some of my other grammar articles on my Writer Helper page.
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July 3rd, 2008 at 5:50 am
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July 3rd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
great article, i definitely have a hard time defining the two sometimes.