• 2-minute read
• 30th April 2013

Word Choice: Deprecate vs. Depreciate

It can be easy to misuse some terms in writing, since many words sound and look similar, such as ‘deprecate’ and ‘depreciate’. However, since these terms differ in meaning, incorrect word choice can affect the clarity of your work.

In this blog post, we explain when you should use ‘deprecate’ in your writing, and when ‘depreciate’ should be used instead.

Deprecate (Express Disapproval)

‘Deprecate’ is a verb meaning ‘express disapproval’ or ‘belittle’. For example, ‘self-deprecating’ humour refers to jokes made at one’s own expense.

An older meaning of this word was ‘pray against’ (e.g. praying for protection from evil). But this is rarely used these days.

Depreciate (Reduce in Value)

‘Depreciate’ is also a verb. However, it refers to reducing the value of something. For example, when stock in a company loses value it ‘depreciates’.

Even if you understand when deprecate and depreciate should be used, it can be easy to mix them up because they look quite similar, and it is easy to overlook typos in your own work.

As such, it is a good idea to submit your work to Proofread My Essay. Our professional proofreaders make sure the word choice in your document is correct. We can also help with spelling, grammar, punctuation, referencing and formatting. So, if you want to make sure that your writing is as good as it can be, get a 500-word sample of your work proofread for free today.