Acumen vs. Acuity vs. Acuteness
Sometimes, words in the English language mean similar things, but are used quite differently. These words-acumen, acuity, and acuteness-all have to do with "sharpness" or "quickness," but in different ways. Let's look more closely at what these words mean and how they are used.
Acumen is a noun, and it means the ability to make good decisions and good judgements. Typically, acumen is used to refer to good judgement in a particular subject or field of expertisee.
1. Mr. Keller was known for his business acumen, so it was no surprise when he was hired as the vice president of the company.
2. Mrs. Jones says she will not run for mayor, even though many feel she has the political acumen to do so.
3. The inventor lacked the financial acumen to earn money from his inventions.
Acuity means sharpness of thought, vision, or hearing. It is also a noun. While acumen refers to the ability to make a good judgement in a particular field, acuity refers to sharpness in a more general sense, and it is typically used to refer to vision and hearing, as well as wit and understanding.
1. The doctor was impressed by the child's acuity with the difficult tasks on the test.
2. My grandfather's visual acuity is not what it once was, and he can no longer drive at night.
3. A dog has stronger auditory acuity than humans, so they can hear sounds that we cannot.
Acuteness is also a noun, and it refers to sharpness or sensitivity. Acuteness is the noun form of the adjective "acute." You have heard this term used in geometry to describe a sharper angle. This term is the most general of the three, referring to sharpness or sensitivity in a broad sense.
1. The acuteness of the child's feelings when her dog died could not be ignored.
2. I sprained my ankle, and the acuteness of the pain was unbearable.
3. The acuteness of the musician's hearing astonished me.
To summarize, these three words all have to do with "sharpness," but in different ways. Acumen refers to sharpness or quickness of judgement, especially in a particular field. Acuity refers specifically to sharpness of thought, vision, or hearing. Finally, acuteness is a broad term referring to sharpness. Do you now have the vocabulary acumen, and the acuity of thought to use these words with acuteness?
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