The pros and cons of something are its advantages and disadvantages which you consider carefully so that you can make a sensible decision.
The pros and cons of something are considerations that make a decision to do something desirable and undesirable.
Pros and Cons in In Plural Noun
The various arguments in favor of and against a motion, course of action etc
Read More:
Pros and Cons in Verb
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of pro and con.
Pros and Cons Stand For
Pros and cons are Latin words stand for
Pro (for, on behalf of)
Pro means ‘to be for something (favorable)’
For Example
Pro-Life, Pro-Peace
Contra (against)
Con means ‘to against something (unfavorable)’
For Example
Poor Design, Bad Support
Where the pros are the plus point and cons are the negative ones.
It has been use in abbreviated form since the 16 century, according to Oxford English Dictionary.
Pros and cons are well established standard usage. The much longer alternative is the phrase ‘argument for and against’. The word ‘advantage and disadvantage’ is also used instead of pros and cons.
They are not generally considered as abbreviations in most uses they are prefixes.
Examples of Pros and Cons
- Without considering pros and cons of this project, if you move ahead, there may be some problems.
- The commander in chief weighted the pros and cons, and he decided against the combination of war in such lines.
- We finally decided the pro out weighted the cons, and I should make the call.
Origin of Pros and Cons
The phrase ‘Pros and Cons’ has a connotation of weighing something on the bases of for and against, merits and demerits, advantages and disadvantages. The word ‘Pros’ has its origin from Greek from pro, prep, from where, it passed into English. And it is adopted in the English language. The word ‘Pros’ is a noun, and it is also prefix.
The word ‘Cons’ is also noun, and it is also verb and adverb. The word cons has its origin from Latin. It was adopted in the English language in the late sixteenth century. The word ‘cons’ also denotes the ‘A reason against.’
For Example
A judge is often very good and very fair at weighing the pros and cons of every case that is bought before the court.
The borrowers have to weigh up the Pros and Cons of each mortgage offer.
Full word for Pros and Cons:
In popular usage there are not any “Pro” means “for” or “supporting”.
“Con” means “against” or ‘opposing”.
So sometimes when we have to make a difficult decision about what we can do? We can make the pro and cons list which is the list of two columns. One for reason that why should we say “yes” for decision and other is that why we say “no” for it.
For Example
Should I get a puppy?
Pro
- Companionship.
- Fun.
- Unconditional Love.
- Less likely to spend my evening at the bar.
Con
- I will pee on the floor until it’s house trained.
- Cost of food.
- Cost of veterinarian and flea prevention.
- I will have to pay for its care and I leave for entire day or more.
Is con actually a negative word?
While theoretically “con” can be used as a short form of any word that begins with “c-o-n”. While the interpretation given you strains credulity. Either that or the person arguing for the interpretation is in fact, attempting the “con” you into conceding your argument.
The most common uses of term “con” in the U.S. are as the shortened form of the noun convict. The negative meaning in term of “pro” (for) and the “con” (against).
And the “con” meaning to fool or take advantage of another person or the act of doing so.
Either the person arguing that “con” means to convey or conversation doesn’t means the same thing and are not even the same part of speech.
The verb “con” means to swindle or trick. The related noun “con” is short for confidence man.
Difference between Pros and Cons
Pro
- Denotes the advantage or the positive side.
- Denotes the argument that is in favor.
- It stands for positive perspectives.
For Example
The pros of nuclear power is that it generates great energy.
Cons
- Denotes the disadvantage and unfavorable side.
- Denotes the argument that is not in favor.
- It stands for negative perspectives.
For Example
The cons of using nuclear power that it is very harmful for the environment in case of any accident.
Are Pros Positive or Negative?
Pros and cons, by and large, are the two opposite assessments that you make when you are weighing up (for instance) business proposition.
Pro has a direct link to Latin origin meaning “on behalf of” whereas Cons signifies “converse” or simply “against”.
Synonyms of Pros and Cons
- Advantages and Disadvantages
For Example
- The advantage and disadvantage of home versus hospital confinement.
- Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of organic versus inorganic produce.
- Assets and liabilities
For Example
- Run down the assets and liabilities of each for me.
- The suggested assets and liabilities are, therefore, similar.
- For and against
For Example
- Best thing to do for and against the list
- Against and for of responsibilities.
- Gain or losses
For Example
- There are many gain and losses of this topic
- There are many gain and losses of this job.
- Opportunities and obstacles
For Example
- There are opportunities and obstacles for each.
- There are a lot of opportunities and obstacles to consider.
- Strength and weakness
For Example
- Everyone has its strength and weakness
- Always consider the strength and weakness of the work.
- Positive and negative
For Example
- Always look at the positive and negative sides of the products that you are buying.
- Always look at your both positive and negative sides to improve yourself.
- Benefits and disbenefits
For Example
- Every topic has its benefits and disbenefits.
- Every opportunity has its benefits and disbenefits.
- Benefits and detriments
For Example
- Discuss the benefits and detriments of going along.
- Look into the benefits and disbenefits of the various methods.
Conclusion
Above mentioned information of pros and cons not only tells what is there meaning but also there examples, synonyms, the difference between pros and cons and many more.
Hope you like it.
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Pros and cons are part of life. Anything—from the most abstract concept to the tiniest little action—has its upsides, downsides, advantages, and disadvantages.
Over time, words have evolved to take on two forms, known as the positive and negative connotations of words. The dictionary is what makes this possible.
The words “pros” and “cons” are commonly used to describe the positive and negative features or aspects.
For example, the pros of reading may be the enjoyment one gets from it and the opportunity to gain knowledge. The cons may include finding a quiet place to read.
“The pros of living in Japan include the beautiful scenery, great food, and friendly people,” while the cons are the negative (e.g., “the cons of living in Tokyo are the high prices, loud traffic, and endless rain”).
But there is more to them. It is common to over-emphasize the positive aspects of something or someone while under-emphasizing the negative side. This leads us to believe that a product has no flaws or fewer than it does.
Many people assume that positive and negative things are opposites. If you consider something like electricity, it makes sense that the positive represents one half of the source, while the negative is the other half.
However, these concepts are not so cut-and-dry when applied to many situations in life. Some may assume that poverty and wealth have an inverse relationship, but that isn’t true in numerous instances.
You may also consider ethics to be a sort of dichotomy: black or white; right or wrong; good or bad, but this too isn’t always the case.
When it comes to pros and cons, there is no “better” or “worse” side here—only different advantages and disadvantages to consider and weigh.
Contents
- 1 “Pros” and “Cons” Meaning
- 1.1 What are “advantages” and “disadvantages”?
- 1.2 What is the meaning of “good” or “bad”?
- 1.2.1 “Good” or “bad” synonyms
- 1.2.2 Is there a difference between “good” and “bad”?
- 2 What are examples of “pros and cons”?
- 3 Conclusion
“Pros” and “Cons” Meaning
Many people use the words “pros” and “cons” interchangeably. And while they are closely associated with one another, they have different meanings.
What does “pros and cons” mean?
- A pro is something that helps your cause, or in other words, it is beneficial to you.
- As the case may be, a con works against you in some way.
- The word “pros” means the positive side of a topic.
- The word “cons” means the negative side of a topic.
If you’re reading this phrase for the first time, you can read more about it here. The word was derived from the Latin expression “pro et contra,” as “pro” means for or on the side, and “con” means against.
- Usage Example: “I wanted to buy an electric car, but after weighing up the pros and cons, I decided to stick with petrol.”
By considering the advantages and disadvantages of a particular thing, we can predict its impact on the future. So, its usage is more practical than theoretical.
This phrase presents both sides of an argument or discussion in one short phrase.
What are “advantages” and “disadvantages”?
The advantages and disadvantages of something are its positive and negative aspects of the good and bad things.
For example:
- “Advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city.”
- “Many people consider the advantages of a university education to be outweighed by the disadvantages.”
What is the meaning of “good” or “bad”?
If someone asks you whether something is good or bad, that is an open question because we all have our own opinions and can consider something good for us and bad for others.
For example:
‘Is chocolate good or bad?’. So, I think the good/bad word is more like a judgment word, which means it’s subjective.
- The word “good” has many meanings depending on what you’re talking about. If you’re talking about a person, it can mean they are kind or helpful. If you’re talking about a food item, it can mean it tastes delicious or hasn’t gone bad.
- The word “bad” is the opposite of “good” and describes something that is not right. For example, if a friend hurts your feelings, their behavior would be considered bad because they did something not nice. You would describe a food item as “bad” if it were spoiled or rotten.
However, one thing that, I think, would apply in most cases is understanding who decides whether something is good or bad.
For example:
- If you’re making your own decisions about what’s good or bad, then nothing you do can be terrible because you’ve chosen to do it.
- If you’re being directed by someone else, then the only way something can be bad is if it doesn’t meet their expectations (which may or may not be reasonable).
“Good” or “bad” synonyms
“Good” has two meanings, depending on the context. The first is “perfect” or “on-point”, usually said after a performance. The second is “very well” or “thoroughly.”
Synonyms for good:
1. agreeable, pleasant, nice,
2. capable and knowledgeable,
3. satisfactory, adequate, fair,
4. content, fortunate, and prosperous,
5. virtuous, righteous, and deserving.
The most important thing to remember when trying to understand how to use “good” and “well” is that “good” is an adjective, and “well” is an adverb.
“Good” Example:
The students did a good job on their tests.
The synonym for the word “bad” is “terrible”.
Bad –
1. No way or degree is good.
2. possess undesirable or negative characteristics,
3. distinguished by poverty,
4. distressing; unlucky; sad; painful; a bad accident,
5. afflicted with a digestive system disorder: upset stomach,
6. ill; sick; in poor health,
7. having a bad character; morally repugnant: bad habits,
8. of poor quality; substandard: a bad diamond; a bad spark plug.
9. inaccurate, inappropriate, or wrong: A bad guess is better than none, isn’t it?
10. invalid, unsound, or false; a bad insurance claim; bad judgment.
When it is not a good thing, it can be:
- poor,
- bad,
- inferior,
- lacking in quality,
- Second-rate,
- substandard,
- unacceptable.
Is there a difference between “good” and “bad”?
I’ve heard people say “good” and “bad” with the same tone of voice, but it doesn’t mean the same thing. The words are associated with two entirely different meanings.
- If someone says, “I want to do good,” that means they wish to go out and help others. But if someone says, “I want to do bad,” that probably means they intend to go out and break the law.
- If someone says, “That was a good thing you did,” that generally implies that it was a positive thing you did. However, if someone says, “That was a bad thing you did,” it usually means it was negative.
So, why is this? Is there really a difference between “good” and “bad” meanings? I think so. The difference has to do with how we associate those words with our lives.
Slang words can take on different meanings depending on the situation and the people using them. Slang words like “lit” and “bad” are examples of slang. They change their meaning based on who is listening and how they are used.
You shouldn’t assume you know what someone means when they say something like “bad” or “nice,” because they could be using them in a wholly different way than you expect.
There are two types of words:
- Dictionary words, i.e., words that have a meaning in a dictionary or lexicon of the target language, and
- Non-dictionary words, i.e., words that do not have a meaning in a dictionary or lexicon of the target language.
(Note that the distinction is between “words” and “meanings”, not “words” and “uses”).
The expression “pros and cons” is a short-handed way of saying “the positive and negative aspects [of something].”
In other words, pros (short for “prosperities”) refer to the positive aspects of what you’re talking about, while cons (short for “considerations”) refer to the negative aspects.
Examples:
- There are definitely pros and cons to owning a dog. (On the one hand, you’ll never be lonely because your dog will always be there to keep you company. But on the other hand, you’ll have to clean up after it and feed it every day.)
- Let me lay out the pros and cons of the proposal.
- What do you think? What are the pros and cons of this idea?
- The pros and cons of moving to another country are something to consider carefully before taking such a big step.
- “The benefits of a college education are many. There are career opportunities, personal growth, and financial stability. But with those pros come some cons, such as student loans, lost wages while attending school full time, and less time for family.”
Other samples:
- The pros and cons of buying a house during the holidays,
- The pros and cons of having a pet,
- The pros and cons of moving to a new city,
- The pros and cons of having children,
- The pros and cons of having a roommate,
- The pros and cons of dating an older man,
- The pros and cons of keeping in touch with your ex,
- The pros and cons of getting married young,
- The pros and cons of buying a house in the suburbs,
- The pros and cons of working from home,
- The pros and cons of free trade agreements,
- Pros and Cons of Exercise.
Conclusion
Pro and con are two sides of the same coin.
Learn to identify the pros and cons of a situation or a proposal, and you will have taken the first step towards a balanced, logical view.
Look up pros and cons in any dictionary, and the result will be essentially the same. To summarize, we can say that a pro is a positive feature of something, and a con is a negative. They are essential “pro” arguments for and “con” arguments against something or some situation.
The study of pros and cons will help you develop a profound understanding of the issue, whether it’s about your career, society, or the world around you.
We all know how pros and cons work. Pros are good, and cons are bad. We use them to refer to people, things, activities, and anything else that we can quantify. This article will explore some professional alternatives that you can use.
1. Strengths And Weaknesses
One of the best ways to use pros and cons (especially at work) is by using strengths and weaknesses. It applies mainly to people, as we can refer them to their character traits or the ways they carry themselves within the company.
You might find that you have good strengths that translate well to your job. For example, you could be excellent with your time management (meaning you’re never late). You could also have great leadership skills (maybe you’d make a good boss one day).
On the flip side, you might also have some glaring weaknesses. This isn’t always a bad thing. You’re only human, after all. It’s easy enough to have reasons why you’re not perfect, and it’s better that you know what your weaknesses are so that you can work on them.
Common weaknesses include being a know-it-all and feeling like you have to prove something to the people you work with. You might also find that some people get too invested in their work, making it hard for them to multitask if their manager gives them something else to work on.
There is a pitfall here, though. Some people joke about their weaknesses as being “too good at their job” or “too happy to please their boss.” These are not weaknesses.
If anything, the above phrases are simple ways to show potential employers that you do not know how to evaluate yourself. You can’t come up with good weaknesses, so you make up some strengths and use the word “too” to make them sound bad.
2. Assets And Liabilities
Another great professional way to write pros and cons is with assets (good) and liabilities (bad). Again, this refers mainly to people, and it’s a good way for us to show someone what we are made of.
You might find this works well in your CV. It’s not a common choice as many people just stick to strengths and weaknesses. However, it’s because it’s less common than it would make such a good choice.
Not many bosses will see “assets and liabilities” listed in a CV. They are probably far too used to strengths and weaknesses, so it would help if you could use it to standard yourself out above the rest of the people around.
Assets are always good to talk about, as it shows what would make you a good employee.
Liabilities tend to be things that make you not-so-suitable. Typically, we stick to weaknesses when we’re talking about things we know we can work on. “Liabilities” make it sound like you aren’t able to work on those weaknesses, so you should be careful using them.
3. Gains And Losses
We don’t always have to refer to people’s characteristics or traits. “Gains and losses” is a good way to list positives and negatives in other formal situations. Academic writing or business reports might utilize this one to show success and failure.
Naturally, “gains” are the positive ones. We use them to show how we might have created success in some way. For example, a company would talk about their gains as the profits they’ve made in the last financial year relative to the previous one.
On the flip side, losses are more clear. We use those to show where losses and failures might have taken place. This is something that often can’t be avoided, so it makes sense to disclose what your losses might be.
4. Positives And Negatives
This is a simple one. Many people use this formally and professionally, and it works really well. It doesn’t have the same idiomatic prowess as things like “pros and cons,” but we can still use it nonetheless.
The best part about using positives and negatives is that it makes sense without explanation. Everyone knows what to expect when they see these things written down.
They are also very general. Positives and negatives can apply to both people and things.
A positive for a person might be that they are able to work to deadlines. A positive for a company might be that they’ve hired more people than they thought they were going to.
A negative for a person might include that they don’t know how to turn someone down. A negative for a company might be that they are losing money at a steady rate and need to make changes.
5. Opportunities And Obstacles
Going back to business-based phrases, we can refer to opportunities to show where things might be gained. Obstacles are the opposite and refer to things that companies might have to overcome if they’re planning on making a big success of something.
We don’t typically use these two with people, as it doesn’t make sense. Opportunities and obstacles work best when we’re talking about objects or entities that don’t have physical characteristics or problems to talk about.
The interesting part is that obstacles can work for people, but opportunities don’t tend to work in the same way.
Someone might experience obstacles in life, which is anything that will make it much harder for them to live in the normal, expected way.
While opportunities can work for people, it is not something you typically use in formal writing.
For example, it makes sense to use this:
- My strength is that I’m talented in this field.
But we couldn’t opportunities in the same way:
- My opportunity is that I’m talented in this field.
For this reason, it’s best to keep both opportunities and obstacles for objects rather than people.
6. For And Against
We can use arguments for and against certain things in academic writing. It’s very common for people writing essays and evaluations to use these types of words.
Arguments “for” something mean that someone is supporting a situation. We use this to show that there is a positive side to things to talk about.
You might see it in the following ways:
- The arguments for the welfare of the people are compelling. We all want to feel better.
- There are many arguments for outsourcing, one of which is to save money in the long run.
- The arguments for this case are overwhelming. It makes sense to follow them.
Arguments “against” are the opposite of “for.” We use them to show how things might work against certain arguments that we’ve listed. It’s good to highlight these to show how the two sides line up.
It’s also great to include when you’re trying to make a compelling argument. Showing that you’re able to use “arguments against” and disprove them is a great argumentative tool that many people will rate you highly for.
Here’s how arguments “against” might look:
- There are a few arguments against my view, but I believe it would help to look into them so I can tell you why they’re wrong.
- The arguments against equal pay for all people are ridiculous and set us back almost a century.
- All of the arguments against my thoughts here are false. It’s not worth looking into them more than need be.
7. Advantages And Disadvantages
We can use advantages to show what we might be able to get out of something (positively). Disadvantages show the opposite. We use them to show how something might limit us in what we’re capable of doing.
Advantages and disadvantages can apply to people, but it’s not common for people to attribute them to themselves. Instead, you’re more likely to hear somebody else give advantages and disadvantages to you.
For example:
- The advantage of Dan is that he’s a quick worker. The disadvantage is that he’s always late.
Here, we can see someone is evaluating Dan with advantages and disadvantages. This makes sense because it helps them to understand him better. However, Dan would not use these words for himself.
It’s always better to use advantages and disadvantages for objects or companies. People might find it offensive if you use these words for them, so be very careful how you choose to write them.
8. Benefits And Drawbacks
Finally, we have benefits and drawbacks. These only ever apply to companies or inanimate objects. Benefits are things that we can find that are good about certain companies or objects. Drawbacks are things that we wish didn’t exist.
While benefits might allow us to take two positive steps forward, it’s always possible that drawbacks cause us to take three negative steps back. You have to weigh up these two things if you’re going to run a successful business, project, or task force.
Also, if you can list out all of these things before committing your full time or energy to something, you’ll set yourself up for success.
That’s why it’s common for people to analyze and evaluate profits or projects before taking anything new on. These reports and evaluations will let you know whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks or not.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
A
pros and cons
Meaning
- good points and bad points
- advantages and disadvantages
- the favourable and unfavourable factors or reasons
- arguments for and against something
The phrase “pros and cons” is now generally used to mean the benefits and drawbacks of something. “Pros” refer to the benefits, while “cons” refer to the drawbacks.
Example Sentences
- There are pros and cons to having children.
- I’m weighing the pros and cons of moving to another state.
- The pros and cons of using a laptop for work are debatable.
- The pros and cons of taking a day off work are clear.
- There are pros and cons to every decision we make in life.
- Boxing came with many pros and cons in Muhammad Ali’s life.
Origin
The phrase “pros and cons” has been in use for at least a century. It comes from the Latin phrase “pros and contras,” which means “for and against”.
In Roman times, law cases were decided by a magistrate or judge after hearing arguments from both parties of an issue. The argument that stated more convincing reasons as to why the verdict should be “for” or “against” would usually win the case.
The phrase “pros and contras” is still used in some legal contexts today, such as when a judge is deciding whether to grant bail to a defendant. The pro argument for granting bail would be that the defendant is not a flight risk and will attend all future court hearings. The contra argument against granting bail would be that the defendant is a flight risk and might not attend future court hearings.
Against, Assorted, Good
Is there a single word to denote pros and cons? For example,
Here you can view the [pros and cons] of this product.
update:
When reading the word, one should immediately understand that it’s about the pros and cons and not features/specifications in general. Think about a block or section, with 2 lists, a pros list and cons list. It’s that block or section I want to refer to.
asked May 8, 2014 at 13:02
Here you can view the criteria of this product.
criterion: a characterizing mark or trait
answered May 8, 2014 at 13:51
ElianElian
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0
What you’re looking for is technically called a «hypernym» — that is, a word which represents a wider concept than the word you’ve started with. You’re looking for a word that is a hypernym for both «pro» and «con». WordNet provides the ability to look up hypernyms for words, and it suggests arguments or statements.
You might also consider considerations, aspects, factors, or even circumstances though none of them quite convey what you want.
Overall, although no single word answer seems to beat the original phrase pros and cons, I think I like considerations the best:
Here you can view the considerations for this product
Or simply:
Product considerations
answered May 8, 2014 at 13:26
tobyinktobyink
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I believe you are looking for the word Trade-offs
answered Apr 12, 2017 at 20:53
jamesjames
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Features would work perfectly in your example:
Here you can view the features of this product.
fea·ture [fee-cher]
noun
- a prominent or conspicuous part or characteristic: Tall buildings were a new feature on the skyline.
answered May 8, 2014 at 13:23
RonanRonan
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1