dekstop: weblog

While writing another bug report for Apple's OS X feedback page I used the dictionary popup to look up the word "noticeable" (I always forget if it is written with or without an "e"), and found not only that I had gotten it right this time, but also that Apple has added a very nice description of when to use this term and when others are more appropriate.

I use the dictionary popup all the time, but I've never seen this type of content: an introduction to better English language usage. Very nice!

Here's the text:

noticeable
adjective

easily seen or noticed; clear or apparent

• noteworthy

THE RIGHT WORD conspicuous, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, striking

A scratch on someone's face might be noticeable, while a scar that runs from cheekbone to chin would be conspicuous. When it comes to describing the things that attract our attention, noticeable means readily noticed or unlikely to escape observation (: a noticeable facial tic; a noticeable aversion to cocktail parties), while conspicuous implies that the eye (or mind) cannot miss it ( | her absence was conspicuous).

Use prominent when you want to describe something that literally or figuratively stands out from its background (: a prominent nose; a prominent position on the committee). It can also apply to persons or things that stand out so clearly they are generally known or recognized ( | a prominent citizen).

Someone or something that is outstanding rises above or beyond others and is usually superior to them (: an outstanding student).

Remarkable applies to anything that is noticeable because it is extraordinary or exceptional (: remarkable blue eyes).

Striking is an even stronger word, used to describe something so out of the ordinary that it makes a deep and powerful impression on the observer's mind or vision (: a striking young woman over six feet tall).