The main difference between interpretive and interpretative is in their usage. In British English usage, interpretative is commoner than interpretive whereas, in the U.S, Canada, and Australia, interpretive is more preferred.

There is no difference between interpretive and interpretative in terms of meaning. Both words mean ‘related to explaining or understanding the meaning of something’. In fact, interpretive is the shortened form of interpretative.

Key Areas Covered

1. Interpretive and Interpretative
     – Meaning, Usage, and Examples
2. What is the Relationship Between Interpretive and Interpretative 
     – Outline of Common Features
3. What is the Difference Between Interpretive and Interpretative
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Interpretative, Interpretive

Interpretive and Interpretative – Meaning, Usage, and Examples

Interpretive and interpretative are two adjectives with the same meaning. Both mean ‘relating to or providing an interpretation.’ The origin of these adjectives is the Latin stem interpretat- Therefore, some people consider the term interpretive to be incorrect (since the Latin stem is not interpret-). However, this has not stopped the usage of the adjective interpretive. Since both are in usage, they are both equally accepted. In fact, most dictionaries show interpretive as an alternate spelling of interpretative. Some synonyms of these adjectives include analytical, informative, inquisitive, and investigative. 

The adjective interpretative is most commonly seen in British publications. In British English, interpretative is much more common than interpretive. For example, in British publications, you can find about two instances of interpretative for every interpretive. However, in other varieties of English, that is, American, Canadian, Australian, etc., interpretive commoner and popular than interpretative. Thus, the difference between these two adjectives is actually in their usage, not in the meaning.

Figure 2: Example Sentence – The issue needed an interpretive analysis.

Let’s now look at some examples using these adjectives.

Examples of Sentences

He wrote an interpretative essay on the cause and effects of environmental pollution.

The results of the interpretive method astonished them all.

They opened an interpretive centre that takes fashion enthusiasts on an interactive and educational journey.

You need a great deal of interpretative skills to analyze such a controversial issue.

When marking the paper, the teacher had to put some interpretive comments within brackets.

According to him, the questions you have to use in the exam paper can be interpretative, not only factual.

The researchers used an interpretative method to analyze the process and reach a definite conclusion.

Reading this author’s work is an interpretive process, and need to be handled.

Philosophical theory is generally interpretive in nature and requires a great deal of thinking.

She stated that this history doesn’t require conceptual knowledge or any interpretive skill.

The research work also provided an interpretative version for the procedure.

Relationship Between Interpretive and Interpretative

• Interpretive and interpretative are two adjectives with the same meaning. Thus, they are alternative spellings for the same word.
• Both mean ‘relating to or providing an interpretation.’
• Moreover, interpretive is the shortened form of interpretative.

Difference Between Interpretive and Interpretative

There is no difference between interpretive and interpretative in terms of meaning. However, the main difference between interpretive and interpretative is in their usage. The adjective interpretative is most commonly seen in British publications. In British English, interpretative is much more common than interpretive. However, in other varieties of English, that is, American, Canadian, Australian, etc., interpretive commoner and popular than interpretative.

Conclusion

In brief, interpretive and interpretative are two adjectives with the same meaning. Both mean ‘relating to or providing an interpretation.’ Thus, there is no difference between interpretive and interpretative in terms of meaning. Moreover, the difference between these two adjectives is actually in their usage, not in the meaning.

Reference:

1. “How to Use Interpretative and Interpretive Correctly.” The Grammarist, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “3196481” By Aymanejed (CC0) via Pixabay

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