What is the difference between "misinformed" and "ill-informed"?
(S. Preethi, Hyderabad)
An ill-informed person does not have much knowledge of a particular subject. Some dictionaries say that it is the opposite of "well informed". You may know a lot about cricket, but you may not know much about rugby. In such a case, I can say you are ill-informed about rugby. Many of us are ill-informed about a lot of things. It is but natural; it is not possible for an individual to be well informed about everything. Here are a few examples.
*The ill-informed comments made by the Vice Chancellor had the students worried.
*The workers were ill-informed of their rights
When you "misinform" someone you are deliberately lying to the individual. You are providing him false information in order to trick him. You are trying to deceive him. Politicians are very often accused of misinforming the public. Unlike ill-informed, misinform has a negative connation.
Here are a few examples.
*Some people believe that Bush and Blair misinformed the public about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.
*The author accuses the tobacco company of misinforming teenagers about the dangers of smoking.
S. Upendran
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