Expert or Specialist?

Question

When do you use only one, and when can you use both?

Pieanne · Accepted Answer

Could you give us some examples, and we'll be glad to correct you - if need be - .

Thanks!

Wwwdotcom · Answer

Ok,

1. Law
2. Position / Job at a company
3. This one is difficult to describe. If you are at a university and you have a lecture, the person giving the lecture is called a lecturer. Obvious, but with a company what do you call them? Usually, their position at their company would suffice. To better give the setting, a company is changing their rules and regulations. So, they have all company members go to a conference where this person (specialist / expert?) will inform the company members of the changes in the rules and regulations as well as when they will go into effect.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Well, an expert is expected to be very knowledgeable or skilled. It's subjective, of course. An "expert cookie maker" among the PTA circuit might not be considered an expert in the kitchens in Paris. This wouldn't be a job title, but you might use it to describe how good a job someone does.

A specialist may also be highly skilled, but being a specialist means that this person does only this task, and not others. Or, they may do others, but this is the area that gets most of the that person's focus and attention. I may be a "grammar specialist," and because I do a lot of grammar, so it's likely that I'm also pretty expert at it. You could have two "experts" who work side by side, but one is a specialist in job A, and one is a specialist in job B.

"Specialized expertise" means that I've really focused my energies on one thing, and by now, I'm pretty darn good at it. (Obviously, it's not spelling for me!)

If I went to a conference, I'd like to hear an "expert." Just because someon specializes in it, doesn't guarantee he's also an expert. In a prior job, I actually had the title "Communications Specialist." That was a title. You'd very rarely hear of a "Communications Expert" in that context - but it might require that you BE an expert to get the job.

Does this help at all?

Paco2004 · Answer

You can say "GG is an expert in many areas of linguistics", but you cannot say "GG is a specialist in many areas of linguistics".

paco

BarbaraPA · Answer

Right. If I "specialized" in so many areas, I'd be a generalist.

Now, if only I were truly expert [:^)]

MrPedantic · Answer

If I call you an expert, I accept that you know what you're talking about.

If I call you a specialist, I don't necessarily accept that you know what you're talking about.

So "expert" puts a value on someone's knowledge, in a certain field; but "specialist" only concedes that they operate in a certain field.

MrP

Aqua red · Answer

Hi

I'd like to know procurement specialist or procurement expert is correct?!

your urgent assistance is appreciated

Expert or Specialist?

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