It is a common mistake for people to mistake interchange words that sound similar in their conversations or use it even in social talks. Such words that sound very similar but have two different meanings are called homophones. Even well-versed English rhetoricians tend to make this kind of error sometimes. One such standard word-pair that is often mistaken to be the opposite is Affirm and Confirm.
You would have heard the word ‘confirm’ many a time. But, the affirm verb is used in fewer common places only.
Affirm vs Confirm
The main difference between affirm and confirm is that affirm got just one meaning, which is to establish a positive statement and to exercise it as a claim or a cause. Confirm has two meanings to it. One is to prove that the statement is valid, and the other is to encourage its validity.
Comparison Table Between Affirm and Confirm
| Parameters Of Comparison | Affirm | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| What does it mean? | Affirm means to state something without an ounce of doubt or declare a person’s support for; uphold; defend. Affirm is usually employed in a legal context. | Confirm means establishing the reality or validity of something. Confirm is also utilized to confer with a spiritual rite. |
| Examples | “The mother affirmed her findings.” The mother has stated her feelings openly. | “It was confirmed by the DNA results that he was the father of Rakhi” There is a strong evidence to firmly determine or confirm the above statement. |
| Noun and its adjective | The noun here is affirmance and the adjective is affirmable. | The adjective here is confirmable and comfortability is its noun. |
What is Affirm?
Affirm is something that can be stated in a public and emphatic manner. It is supposed to be a transitive verb with only a few objects along with the need for a direct subject so that it can be in opposition to the intransitive verbs. Talking about its origin, affirm is derived from the Latin word affirmāre(meaning to make it officially valid and to resolute) that had been conceived from the term firmāre which means to reinforce.
For example, She was carrying the baby in her hands. Here the baby is the direct object of carrying.
The tone of the sentence indicates that the woman was certainly carrying the baby, and it has been stated in an assuring and strong manner. Affirm has another meaning too. It is to give your support to someone or something that you are loyal to, like showcasing your dedication.
Take, for example, His father was a dedicated army officer and was always loyal to his Mother Earth and will always stand by his people. Here the officer is seen to be loyal to his country and also shares his support for the people.
What is Confirm?
When we think of its origin, confirm is derived from the Latin word confirmāre, which means to reinforce or to enact. Confirm means to declare the truth about a fact or a statement. It is most commonly used to assert something that may be a false belief or something that needs some confirmation to be assured.
For example, The police found evidence to confirm that the murderer was someone within the Rajput family.
It clearly shows that there is some data to believe the statement that has been provided by the police. According to the Christian belief, confirmation is a form of a sacrament that is delivered on a person to proclaim them as a whole member of the church.
If you had to appoint someone for a specific position, then the word ‘confirm’ can be well used, and it is also used to declare the death or birth of someone important too.
For example, It was confirmed that the Prince would be throned as King on the eve of his birthday.
The birth of the future heir of the Sharma family was confirmed this morning.
Main Differences Between Affirm and Confirm
- Affirm is used to give a formal consent to any valid transaction whereas confirm is used when you want state a person’s views or opinions with firm belief.
- Even though affirm is often utilized positively, confirm can be used in both positive and negative aspects.
- The other synonyms for affirm are to warrant, declare, or claim, and their antonyms are to forbid, deny, etc. Confirm also means bear, certify, or to argue, and their opposites are invalidate, disprove, or to refute.
- Affirm can be claimed to be used as a transitive or intransitive verb depending on the context. Confirm is mainly used as a transitive verb.
- Example, we cannot affirm that the diamond is real. But the thief confessed his crime and it was confirmed that the diamond was a fake.
Conclusion
Confirm and affirm are two words in the English language that are regularly mistaken for each other. This confusion can most presumably be credited towards the comparability of articulation and a specific connection that the two words bear in importance, also.
In any case, assert and affirm are two unique words that can be utilized to signify various implications in totally different settings, due to which one must watch their definitions intently