To want people to know the difference between discrete and discreet?

[Tworingsandamicrowave]

Have noticed it a few times recently, when 'discrete' has been used in the wrong context and it makes me cross.

Their are worse things.
Or is it they're?

I'm quite hot on grammar but don't know the difference - please explain!

I'm guilty of this. Please could you let me know the difference, once and for all, so I don't use either inappropriately?

Defiantly agree with you

Well if you want people to know, then you have to tell them.

Everyone should of got this right.

Discrete is a mathematical term meaning separate or not continuous, think about the difference between measuring height and number of counters. Height can be 5, 5.1, 5.23467 etc, counters can only be 1, 2, 3 etc

Discreet is quiet, subtle

I trained as a scientist so this annoys me but not enough to mention :D

So you want people to know but you dont go on to explain?!

your not wrong. Their is no excuse.

YANBU - it's one of those that annoys me.

You should be more discreet with your pedantry, OP.

Discreet means doing things without making a fuss, unobtrusively (e.g. discreetly cleaning chocolate off your dress, not that that ever happens to me ). Discrete means separate or distinct - e.g. dividing a task into discrete areas.

YABU, Why on earth does it make you cross?
You are very lucky to know the difference, it proves you were fortunate enough to have a good education.

YANBU to want to educate people though, so can you explain please, I would like to know.

If I am trying to do something without trying to gain attention, which one would it be? What does the other refer to please?

Discreet: to be private/carefully quiet or restrained
Discrete: something that is independent (separate) of anything else

I did not know the scientific discrete, so I may have miss pelt.

Bluddy forriner.

Yanbu. I've noticed this in the last few weeks on here

This link has a good explantation.

Essentially discreet means careful, whereas discrete means individual

www.vocabulary.com/articles/chooseyourwords/discreet-discrete/

That clears it up welsh Thank you very much.

See OP, sometimes all you have to do is explain, there's nothing to be cross about.

I'd after agree with you OP.

Well thanks for letting us all know the difference OP

Between you and I , I can get a mite wound up over 'disinterested' and 'uninterested', too.

I agree with you, OP. That sort of thing irks the hell out of me.

Thank you for your replies, especially those who have explained the difference. I wanted to post a link but was unsure of how to do it so my education was obviously not all that, gillybeanz.

I've been bitten to death by mozzies today so generally feeling quite cross, just wanted to post about this particular issue. I thank you!

Clearly your desperate need for people to know the difference isn't great enough for you to elucidate OP.

Just stick to making snide comments about other posters' knowledge and feeling superior, much the best way.