Ask HN: 'Systemic' vs. 'Systematic': which is the correct one?

Posted by samburrowsryde on Monday November 18, 2019 @12:29AM
from the ask-hn dept.

Systemic describes something that happens or exists throughout a whole system. It is the newer word; it entered English in the early 1800s.

  "He has a systemic infection."

  "The new police chief had to address systemic corruption."

Systematic describes something that was thorough and intentional, methodical, or implemented according to a plan. It is the older word, having entered English around 1670.

  "Doctors began a systematic treatment plan."

  "Ending systematic discrimination was his first goal."

( 2 comments | 3 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: 'Systemic' vs. 'Systematic': which is the correct... by BLKNSLVR on Monday November 18, 2019 @10:31PM (#21570429)

They're two different words with two different uses, neither can be called "correct" without providing the context into which it is going to be used.

"The Doctors began a systematic treatment plan to treat the patient's systemic infection."

"Systemic corruption was found to be the root cause of systematic discrimination throughout the department"

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: 'Systemic' vs. 'Systematic': which is the correct... by lynsfiend on Monday November 18, 2019 @05:13PM (#21568676)

They could potentially both be right, depending on the subject matter they address describing.

[ Parent | on HN ]