Imaginary vs. Imaginative - Daily Writing Tips

imaginary (adjective): Existing only in imagination or fancy; having no real existence; not real or actual. Example: Lilliput is an imaginary country ... Imaginaryvs.Imaginative ByMaeveMaddox ReadingthatachildinTexaswassuspendedforbringing“animaginaryring”toschool,Imarveledthattheschoolofficialswereabletodetectthering’spresence. Here’stheheadline: TexasSchoolSuspends9-Year-OldforTerrorism BecauseHeBroughtImaginaryHobbitRingToSchool Infact,thechildbroughtarealringtoschool,presumablyareplicaoftheringcarriedbyBilboBagginsinthePeterJacksonmovieTheHobbit. Theringwasreal,butitsmagicalpowerswereimaginary. TheEnglishwordimagederivesfromLatinimago.Onemeaningofimageis“mentalpicture.”Somethingimaginaryorimaginedexistsinthemind. Hereisareviewofimagewordswithdefinitionsandexamples: imagination(noun):Thepowerorcapacitytoforminternalimagesorideasofobjectsandsituationsnotactuallypresenttothesenses.Example:Itisbecauseofthe developmentoftheimagination duringchildhoodthatadultsareabletodomanyofthetasksthatdailylifedemands.  imaginary(adjective):Existingonlyinimaginationorfancy;havingnorealexistence;notrealoractual.Example:LilliputisanimaginarycountryvisitedbyGulliver. imaginative(adjective):relatingto,orconcernedintheexerciseofimaginationasamentalfaculty.Example:ImaginativeArtistsFindNewWaystoDealWiththeWesternLandscapeTradition imagine(verb):conceiveinthemind.Example:Theuniverseisnotonlystrangerthan we imagine,itisstrangerthan wecanimagine. imagined(pastparticiple):invented,createdintheimagination.Example:Thesecondbasicaxiomconcerningpoweristhatthepowerfulalwaystrytocreate anoutsideenemy,realorimagined,tobindthefollowerstotheleaders.  Errorsalsooccurwiththepairsimaginary/imaginedandimaginary/imaginative: Incorrect:Itiseasyto perceive acountryasan imaginaryenemy. Correct:Itiseasyto perceive acountryasan imaginedenemy. Thecountryactuallyexists,soitcan’tbeimaginary.Itcan,however,be“animaginedenemy.” Incorrect:Childrenlearnfromexperience:fromwhathappensaroundthem,fromwhattheysee,hear,smell,tasteandtouch. Toabsorbthoseexperiencesandmakesenseoftheworld,theyneedtobeengagedinimaginaryplay. Correct:Childrenlearnfromexperience:fromwhathappensaroundthem,fromwhattheysee,hear,smell,tasteandtouch. Toabsorbthoseexperiencesandmakesenseoftheworld,theyneedtobeengagedinimaginativeplay. Theplayisnotimaginary;itisreal.Becausethechildisexercisingimagination,theplayisimaginative. WanttoimproveyourEnglishinfiveminutesaday?Getasubscriptionandstartreceivingourwritingtipsandexercisesdaily! Keeplearning!BrowsetheMisusedWordscategory,checkourpopularposts,orchoosearelatedpostbelow:85Synonymsfor“Help”LatinWordsandExpressions:AllYouNeedtoKnowAppropriatevs.Aproposvs.Apt Stopmakingthoseembarrassingmistakes!SubscribetoDailyWritingTipstoday! YouwillimproveyourEnglishinonly5minutesperday,guaranteed! Subscribersgetaccesstoourarchiveswith800+interactiveexercises! You'llalsogetthreebonusebookscompletelyfree! TryItFreeNow 2Responsesto“Imaginaryvs.Imaginative” MikeRoseonFebruary17,20158:25pm Igathereveryoneissimplytoostunnedtocomment. venqaxonFebruary18,20151:55pm Ihaveanimaginarycomment.Soit’snotreallyhere. Leaveacomment:Cancelcomment Name(required): Emailaddress(required): WebsiteURL: Speakyourmind: Categories BusinessWriting BookReviews Mistakes Expressions FictionWriting FreelanceWriting General Grammar Grammar101 MisusedWords Punctuation Spelling Style Vocabulary WritingBasics UsageReview WritingQuizzes