English Language & Usage Asked on October 28, 2020
Which is correct?
Please submit your ideas in text form.
Please submit your ideas in text format.
Format looks like it’s derived from form, so what is the difference between these two words?
I consulted a dictionary, but the definitions look somewhat similar to me — both seem to refer to the way things are organised / configured / presented.
I’m not asking for writing advice or suggestions to rephrase or substitute words, I’m simply curious about the difference between the two words.
'Form' has a general reference than 'format.' That said, I should add that format means the extension, ie: Pdf, ogg, MP4, doc, exe, etc. But 'form' constitutes the whole part of the file being presented in a particular manner. Form is the difference between a spreadsheet and a word document, but they both can have the same 'format:' pdf. It's commonsense.
Answered by Chinedu Ibeneme on October 28, 2020
In my opinion format is a part/mode of presentation of a form. For example the application 'forms' for different entrance exams and job applications contains descriptions in word format and information regarding schooling details or qualifications etc. are in a specific table 'format'.
Answered by user384556 on October 28, 2020
Both form and format have a wide range of meanings, some, but not all, having uses specific to computer files and documents.
Something in writing is not necessarily in “text” format. It may be handwritten (perhaps even cursive!). It may be in plain text or HTML, or MS Word. It matters if you have to put together contributions from several people.
One specific use of format is a file extension that indicates how a computer file is structured and therefore what applications will be able to view and, perhaps even more important, edit it.
Form, as another answer says, is more general. “The female body has a pleasing form”—-but no format that I know of.
Here’s Macmillan’s short list of “format” definitions:
noun
▸the arrangement, design, or organization of something
▸the size, shape, and appearance of a book, magazine, or newspaper
▸the form that a movie, television program, music recording, etc. is produced in
▸the structure and design of a written document, especially a computer file, for example the size and type of the letters and the width of the written area of the page
▸the way that information is arranged and organized on a computer disk
verb
▸to prepare a computer disk so that information can be stored on it
▸to arrange written material into a particular format, especially in a computer file
Provided by Macmillan Dictionary
Answered by Xanne on October 28, 2020
Get help from others!
Recent Answers
Recent Questions
© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP