I am not a cantankerous person. While I strive to be precise, I am generally tolerant of common levels of error and imprecision. But when a mistake seems to be entering the vernacular, when it might have once been a spelling error and is fast becoming an error of thought, I must speak.
- discreet
- 1. Marked by, exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect.
- 2. Free from ostentation or pretension; modest.
- discrete
- 1. Constituting a separate thing. Distinct.
- 2. Consisting of unconnected distinct parts.
All too often I have witnessed otherwise right-thinking individuals claiming that their [inanimate object | piece of code | well-defined concept | thing of some sort ] is somehow discreet, which would be admirable if that item really did have the capacity to be appropriately, carefully quiet. While you can’t hear the difference, in print this mistake sings a song of silliness as loud as the eye can see.
