Informational and informative can be easily confused with each other. They sound and look so similar, but how similar are they when compared to each other? What is the difference between the two and how can you tell which one you need to use?
To get a better understanding, let’s take a look at what each word means and how each word is used.
Informational is referring to or characterized by facts about something in a way that provides information. For example, a brochure is considered informational. Nonfiction texts like a history book or autobiographies are also considered informational.
Informational text has a primary purpose of informing about something in the natural or social world. There are a few ways that you can determine whether or not something is informational.
First, check the accuracy. Is the information accurate, direct, and timely with the ability to enhance a young child’s knowledge? Next, check the authority of the author. What credentials and qualifications does the author have on the topic?
Some of the features to look for in a text that is considered informational are a table of contents, a glossary, an index, bold words, headings, pictures with captions, and labeled diagrams.
Some topics considered informational are:
Stress
Addiction
A college campus brochure
Censorship
Cost of college
Example Sentences
A family binder contains all of the informational details for each member.
The brochure for the college contained information data on the courses available.
In the mailbox, there were informational flyers and pamphlets about nearby activities.
Along with a map, you will also get an informational page about the exhibit you are visiting in the museum.
Informative
Informative is providing information that is useful or interesting. For example, reading an article on a subject is considered informative. A lecture that teaches you a lot of information is also considered to be informative.
Text can also be considered informative when in the form of an essay. The purpose of an informative essay is educating others on a topic. An informative essay will usually answer the questions of who, what, when, where, and why.
An informative essay will never contain an opinion or try to convince others to take action. The structure will have a beginning, middle, and end in the form of an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Some topics that are considered informative are:
How to open up a new bank account
Poverty in the world
The effects of procrastination
Pollution of the air and water
Recycling
Example Sentences
The lecture was very informative and well worth the trip.
When writing an informative article, avoid negative words.
I read a very informative article about diabetes the other day.
Debates are usually highly informative and bring attention to different arguments.
What is the Difference?
The terms are very similar to each other and it can be really difficult to determine which one you are supposed to use and when. The main difference between the two words is that informative is providing you information that is specifically useful or interesting and informational is more geared towards making information known with or without specifics.
Informative also has a positive meaning like “I learned something today” For example, you could hear it after attending a lecture.
That lecture on first aid was very informative.
Informational has more of a neutral meaning, the text has information but it is more functional information like where the fire escapes are.
The informational brochures about the school can be found at reception.
Can They Be Used in Place of Each Other?
Informational and informative can absolutely be used in place of each other. They are synonyms(both adjectives) for each other, meaning that the definitions are similar enough to each other that they can be used interchangeably. The definitions of the two words are so close to each other that it will not cause any kind of confusion with the statement. A text that is informational can also be referred to as informative.
- Author
- Recent Posts
Conor is the main writer here at One Minute English and was an English teacher for 10 years. He is interested in helping people with their English skills and learning about using A.I tools at work.
-
#1
When should one use
informational
? What’s its difference with
informative
?
-
#2
Informative is the word that people use on a regular basis. Informational is an awkward construction that is used by people who are trying to sound educated.
-
#3
Thank you for shedding light on this, envie de voyager.
Cagey
post mod (English Only / Latin)
-
#4
Hello, Janaelah.
People also use informational to describe what something is for ~ an informational meeting is held for the purpose giving you information about something. It might, in fact, not be very informative, if you already knew everything that was said there.
Informative is used to describe what something accomplishes ~ an informative book has taught you things you didn’t know before.
Specific examples of sentences in which you would like to use the words will help us decide whether they are interchangeable in those particular contexts.
Context is required when you ask questions in the forum, and it helps us give you better answers.
Please read: Context and Background
-
#5
When I first replied to Janaelah, I wasn’t quite sure if informational was even a real word. So I looked it up on the word reference dictionary, and it wasn’t listed.
Cagey
post mod (English Only / Latin)
-
#6
In most dictionaries, informational is given as the adjectival form of information, which isn’t much help in knowing how it is used, of course.
Q: I use “informational” to describe something that’s intended to provide information and “informative” to describe something that actually provides information. I suppose that means an informational program may or may not be informative, depending on how effective it is. Am I just making this up? Am I splitting hairs?
A: No, you’re not making it up, but you may be making too much of it. As for splitting hairs, we’ll let you decide.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “informational” this way: “Of, relating to, or involving information; conveying information, informative.”
Some of the OED citations refer to something merely “involving information” while others refer to something actually “conveying information.”
But the treatment of “informational” and “informative” by the six standard dictionaries we’ve checked suggests that you may be on the right track.
All the dictionaries define “informative” as providing information, especially useful information. But most of them don’t have separate entries for “informational,” and simply list it, without a definition, under the noun “information” as an adjectival form.
The Cambridge Dictionaries Online was the only standard dictionary we found with entries for both “informational” and “informative.”
In American English, the dictionary says, “informational” means relating to or providing information, while “informative” means providing useful information.
That seems to support you a bit. The dictionary’s British definitions seem to support you a bit more: “informational” means containing information while “informative” means providing a lot of useful information.
We’ll end with the etymologies of these two words, which are ultimately derived from the Latin verb informare (to shape, form an idea, mold someone’s mind).
The older English word, “informative,” showed up in the late 14th century, when it referred to the forming or shaping of something, especially a child in the womb, according to the OED.
In the late 16th century, Oxford says, lawyers began using the term “informative process” to describe a complaint or accusation.
By the mid-17th century, the adjective took on a more general sense: “Having the quality of imparting knowledge or communicating information; instructive.”
When “informational” showed up in the early 19th century, it referred to something that involves information or provides it.
As you can see, these two words overlap a lot. So what do we think?
Well, we use “informative” when we mean providing useful information, and “informational” when we mean providing information that may or may not be useful.
We hope you’ve found this useful.
Check out our books about the English language
Dana Manciagli is President of Job Search Master Class®, the world’s leading online course for job seekers and the veteran community, too.
Getty
The word «informational» is overused and overrated. In the job search context, it’s a cute, made-up word that translates to «I want your time, but I don’t have an agenda.» As a master job search coach and ex-corporate hiring manager, I don’t recommend using the term «informational» when requesting a meeting with someone. I recommend that candidates raise the bar and ask for precisely what type of meeting they would like and on exactly which topic(s).
What are informationals to a company hiring manager?
Informationals are a way for a hiring manager to cull the list of applicants down to a few interview candidates. If there are 12 «maybes» in a virtual pile, all 12 will not be granted interviews. Two things happen:
1. A highly interested applicant will contact the hiring manager or recruiter to request an information-gathering meeting after applying through the online system.
2. The hiring manager or recruiter will call some applicants and ask each for a 30-minute meeting.
Don’t be fooled. Both of the above scenarios are interviews, and applicants should prepare fully. In both scenarios, the purpose is to assess whether a candidate will move to the interview stage.
Your solution:
• Send a formally written email to ask for time with the hiring manager or recruiter. Reference the specific job you want to learn about. Use the title and position number, and include the hyperlink to the job posting on their company career page.
• Be clear about the amount of time you are asking for, and indicate you will lead the meeting with specific questions.
• Make this request in an email and not in a LinkedIn InMail or LinkedIn message. For example, «Ms. Smith, I would like to ask for 15 minutes of your time to learn about two questions I have about the <title> position, #1234. I have applied online. I can send you a calendar invitation for a phone or web-based call, and I will be prepared with questions.»
• Attach your credentials, including the same cover letter and résumé that you used to apply.
• Follow up in one week by forwarding the original email request. If you do not hear back, try two more times, spread one week apart.
Once you secure a meeting, be prepared to ask questions, and leave time for their questions of you. Then close the session with a request. For example, «I hope I have your support to move into the interview stage for this role.»
What are informationals to a company employee or network connection who is not on the hiring team?
The word «informational» may mean nothing to them. You will shine if you call it an «information-gathering call,» a «meeting» or a «brief conversation to gain your insights.» Never call it a “chat,” and never say, “I want to pick your brain.”
Put yourself in their shoes:
• They are busy doing their day job. With the pandemic, employees have to do more with less, so their networking time may be limited.
• They will be selective based on the quality of the request.
• They don’t know you. If you do not connect in the first sentence, or anywhere, your odds drop.
• They may be in a completely different department than your interests.
Expert tip: The more specific you are about the meeting type, the higher the odds of acceptance.
Your solution:
• Always have a specific position in mind after finding one on the company’s career site.
• Do not say, “I’d like to introduce myself and then ask you which positions would be the best fit at your company.” That is your job to figure out by reading posted job descriptions.
• If you would like their support on a specific position, state that clearly. Provide the title and job posting number, along with a hyperlink to the job posting on their company site.
• Start the request with relevance. Do not assume the person remembers anything you told them on LinkedIn. If you are a military veteran or military spouse and they are, too, say that. If you were referred to them by somebody, share that. Same for alumni, etc.
• Again, be clear on the amount of time you need, and show that you are going to lead the meeting with specific questions. Have a purpose.
• Make this request in an email and not in a LinkedIn InMail or message. Once you connect with them on LinkedIn and they are a first connection, click on the blue «contact info» at the top of their LinkedIn profile, and use that email address, even if it is a personal email. For example, «Mr. Jones, I am a fellow <University> alumna, and I thank you for connecting with me on LinkedIn.
«I would like 15 minutes of your time to ask three questions I have about <your role/Company/a specific open position/the overall hiring process at Company/etc.>. I can send you a calendar invitation for a phone or web-based call, and I will be prepared with the questions.
«Please reply with a yes, and then I’ll send the calendar invitation that you can move to a convenient time. Mr. Jones, thank you in advance for your time.»
Sign off with your full name, phone, email, hyperlinked LinkedIn URL and attached credentials.
• Follow up in one week by forwarding the original email request. If you do not hear back, try two more times, spread one week apart.
Naturally, you will send an immediate thank-you email and keep them posted on your job search journey, concluding with another huge thank you when you land a job. Candidates, raise the bar on your networking for job interviews by being prepared, organized, direct and accountable for every step.
Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
|
informative | informational | Related terms | Informational is a related term of informative.As adjectives the difference between informative and informationalis that informative is providing information; especially, providing useful or interesting information while informational is designed to or able to impart information.
|