Growth vs. Development

In this lesson, we're gonna work on the differences and similarities between these two confusing words. Shall we begin?

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both refer to how someone/something becomes bigger. However, 'growth' is used when something/someone has become bigger in shape or size, whereas, 'development' is used when someone/someone has made progress and become a better version of themselves.

Differences

As I mentioned above, we mainly use 'growth' when we are pointing to the physique of someone/something. It can also be used in a social context meaning that we show how something has expanded. Look at the following examples:

Enjoy the growth of your children instead waiting for them to reach a certain level.

Stop interfering with the natural growth of the dinosaur.

'Development', on the other hand, is used when we are talking about how the quality of something/someone has improved, not just their physique. When talking about human beings, we are pointing out how someone has become more emotionally mature, stable, and better. When we use it for non-human things/creatures, we are mainly indicating how something/someone has improved. Check out the following examples:

I used to read many articles on cognitive development when I was in high school.

The development of machines has totally changed our lives.

Similarities

We can use either to talk about how something has become bigger and better. Check out the following examples:

According to the statistics, population growth has decreased in comparison to the past years.

All this technological development will be useless once nature conquers us all.

Are They Interchangeable?

Although they are both in nearly identical contexts, we cannot use them interchangeably because one refers to the physique, whereas, the other one is about quality. Compare:

✓ This book will help you understand the children's cognitive development.

X This book will help you understand the children's cognitive growth.

As you can see, we do not have 'coginitive growth'.

Comments

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