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Perfect Stranger Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

Difference between: hesitation, hesitancy and hesitance

Dear All,

I'd like to hear your opinion regarding the difference between these three, somewhat similar-sounding, words:

1) hesitation
2) hesitancy
3) hesitance

Do they denote the same thing? Is the meaning 100% the same and can they overlap? Can all three words could be used in the following expression:

without hesitation... she deserves to be praised for her scrupulous attitude towards studying
without hesitancy... she deserves to be praised for her scrupulous attitude towards studying
without hesitance... she deserves to be praised for her scrupulous attitude towards studying

Thank you
  

Top answer

The most obvious difference is that "hesitation" is much more common than the other two. I'm not sure I even knew that "hesitance" was a word. In your example, only "hesitation" works for me.

— GPY

  • The most obvious difference is that "hesitation" is much more common than the other two.
  • I'm not sure I even knew that "hesitance" was a word.
  • In your example, only "hesitation" works for me.
  • I think when talking about a pause in speech, only "hesitation" works.
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4 Answers
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The most obvious difference is that "hesitation" is much more common than the other two. I'm not sure I even knew that "hesitance" was a word.

In your example, only "hesitation" works for me.

I think when talking about a pause in speech, only "hesitation" works.
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Thank you GPY.

Would you say that hesitancy and hesitance are incorrect in the phrase I mentioned above?
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Perfect StrangerWould you say that hesitancy and hesitance are incorrect in the phrase I mentioned above?
It is hard to say categorically that they are incorrect. However, "without hesitation" is overwhelmingly more common.
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Perfect StrangerDear All,
I'd like to hear your opinion regarding the difference between these three, somewhat similar-sounding, words:
1) hesitation
2) hesitancy
3) hesitance
Do they denote the same thing? Is the meaning 100% the same and can they overlap? Can all three words could be used in the following expression:
without hesitation...
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