In this installment of Word Knots and the next we’ll focus on two words that are often confused (and in one case are somewhat related).

Our source for this installment is The Dictionary of Disagreeable English by Robert Hartwell Fiske (Chicago: Writer’s Digest Books). This is a great book to browse: I highly recommend it.

From Fiske:

childish

Misused for childlike.

As Fiske writes (excerpted):

Childish means immature; infantile. Childlike means naïve; innocent; guileless.

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Let’s look at the most relevant Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary definitions (excerpted):

childish

adjective

1   : of, relating to, or suitable for a child or childhood

2a : marked by or suggestive of immaturity and lack of poise

childlike

adjective

: resembling, suggesting, or appropriate to a child or childhood especially : marked by innocence, trust, and ingenuousness

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This pair of words can be confused because the characteristics of someone who is childish can at times resemble someone who is childlike. Severe cognitive decline can manifest itself in childish behavior that may appear to childlike.

So while the definitions are clearly different, the interpretations can be similar. The easiest way to distinguish between the two is to, in the most general terms, consider childish to be a negative and consider childlike to be more of a positive.

Let’s look at example of each used correctly.

He was kept after school due to his tantrums and overall childish behavior.

The art teacher marveled at her work, which expressed childlike innocence and wonder.

The differences are clear, but one must be careful with both of these words: word choice matters.

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