Learn English – the difference between “named” and “termed”

word-choice

I have the following two sentences:

(1) This new index was termed relative correlation.

(2) This new index was named relative correlation.

Which is better? Or how to make a choice between "named" and "termed"?

Thanks a lot!

Best Answer

It is based purely on preference. However, depending on what or who you are writing for, one could be preferred over the other.

Name means give a name to or specify (a sum, time, or place) as something desired, suggested, or decided on.

Term means to give a descriptive name to; call by a specified term.

If it something technical like a documentation or thesis, termed may be better.

i.e. Washington termed our endless and thankless task counterinsurgency—and Anbaris made good insurgents, very good insurgents.

For something less technical or light-hearted named would be better.

i.e. The dead man has been named as John Mackintosh.