Learn English – The Times is a highly (respected or respectable) journal

adjectivesadverbsphrase-meaningphrase-usage

What is the correct usage?

The Times is a highly (respected or respectable) journal.

And if we changed the sentence to this, would you change your choice?

The Times is a highly (respected or respectable) journal all over the country.

Best Answer

Respected - people respect it.

Respectable - it is worthy of respect.

Both are acceptable, but there is a subtle shading of meaning, if you analyse it.

The first may be considered 'fact', the second 'opinion'.

…which would push your second sentence towards 'respected', as the entire statement is ostensibly one of 'fact', even if it is actually merely an opinion.

…and now you see how newspapers push opinion as fact ;-)

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