MEPX
Chapter 4 of 11All chapters
  1. 1How to learn a word
  2. 2Roots and affixes
  3. 3Time and presence
  4. 4Attitude and stance
  5. 5Care and precision
  6. 6Honesty and openness
  7. 7Surplus and shortage
  8. 8Change and stability
  9. 9Importance and scale
  10. 10Pairs people mix up
  11. 11Register and tone

Chapter 4 of 11

Attitude and stance

Pragmatic, ambivalent, indifferent.

The words

Pragmatic means focused on what works in practice, with idealistic as the opposite pole rather than unrealistic. Ambivalent means holding two opposing feelings at once.

  • A pragmatic choice can still be principled. It is about method, not ethics.
  • Someone ambivalent about a job wants it and does not want it at the same time.

The common mistake

Ambivalent is not indifferent. Indifference is having no feeling; ambivalence is having two, which is why it is uncomfortable and indifference is not.