Rigorous vs. vigorous
Monday, May 17th, 2010I’ve been doing a fair amount of freelance copywriting lately and, while doing some much-needed research, ran across this little gem of grammatical confusion: What’s the difference between rigorous and vigorous?
Michael Jackson undeniably danced with vigor, while his rehearsals were both rigorous and vigorous (photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21462523@N07/2329507744/)
Rigorous — According to Merriam-Webster, rigorous has to do with something very strict (e.g., The auto industry needs more-rigorous testing). Rigorous often refers to strictly following rules and procedures. It can also mean that something’s “scrupulously accurate” or “marked by extremes of temperature or climate.”
Vigorous — Merriam-Webster’s definition of vigor implies physical or mental strength or active force (e.g., the benefit of vigorous activity over moderate activity) or the act of carrying something out with force or energy.
Just goes to show: You learn something new every day. I do, anyway.
Happy trails!
SAK
