Thumbnail Image

Clearing the fog between "Ignore" and "Ignorance"

Suja

Hey there, students!

In today’s column, we're diving into the murky waters of two tricky words: "ignore" and "ignorance". These sneaky little fellows might seem similar, but trust me, they're as different as night and day. So, grab your linguistic life jackets, because we're about to navigate these choppy seas together!

 

Let's start with "ignore". Picture this: you're at a crowded party, surrounded by chatter and laughter. Suddenly, your friend taps you on the shoulder, but you're so engrossed in conversation that you don't even notice. You're not deliberately avoiding your friend; you're just not paying attention. That, my friends, is "ignore" in action - the act of consciously or unconsciously paying no attention to something or someone.

 

Now, let's talk about its cousin, "ignorance". Imagine you're in a bustling city, surrounded by people from all walks of life. You encounter a custom or tradition that's unfamiliar to you, and instead of dismissing it, you approach it with curiosity and an open mind. You acknowledge that you don't know everything, and you're willing to learn. That, my friends, is "ignorance" - the state of not knowing or being unaware of something.

 

But here's where it gets interesting: while "ignore" is about actively tuning something out, "ignorance" is more about a lack of knowledge or understanding. They may seem similar on the surface, but understanding the difference can make a world of difference in your communication.

 

So, why does this matter? Well, think about it like this: if you confuse "ignore" with "ignorance," you might unintentionally offend someone or miss out on valuable opportunities for learning and growth. But armed with this newfound knowledge, you can navigate conversations with clarity and confidence.

 

Here's a little tip to help you remember: "ignore" is like turning down the volume on your radio, while "ignorance" is like having the radio off altogether. One is a conscious choice, while the other is simply a lack of awareness.

 

I hope this column has cleared the fog of confusion surrounding "ignore" and "ignorance." Happy Learning!

Added to Saved

This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

Comments (0)

Login to Comment Log in »
Premium ribbon

from:

in:

Lesson Categories

Language Fluency

English   Native
Malay   Proficient
Tamil   Daily conversation
Chinese   Just a few words

Suja's Most Popular Columns

  • English

    10 different ways of saying I AM HUNGRY!

    Are you hungry? How many different ways have you heard someone say ‘I am hungry’? Here ...

    Suja

    Suja

    2
    27398
    May 23, 2017
  • English

    Reading News Articles

    Reading a news article serves as an excellent learning aid to acqhire new vocabulary and see how th...

    Suja

    Suja

    0
    10506
    Jun 7, 2017
  • English

    Learning English Watching Clips

    If you're a movie-lover, an interesting and enjoyable way of picking up a language is through watch...

    Suja

    Suja

    4
    9424
    May 30, 2017
  • English

    Repeated Readings

    Repeated readings help you to familiarise yourself with words that are used frequently and recognis...

    Suja

    Suja

    0
    8435
    Jul 1, 2017
« Back to List of Tutor's Column
Got a question? Click to Chat