Inspiring vs. Inspirational
What Is Their Main Difference?
These words are both related to how stimulating and motivating something/someone is. However, we mainly use 'inspiring' when the result is that someone feels motivated, whereas, 'inspirational' is more about the purpose of something.
Differences
As I stated above, we mainly use 'inspiring' when we want to indicate that something/someone really motivated us in a particular subject. Look at the examples below:
In fact, I find his paintings to be quite inspiring.
Mom, I don't really need an inspiring speech right now.
'Inspirational', on the other hand, is more about how one aims at something to be 'inspiring'. The audience might not necessarily be motivated by it, but the intention behind it is to be 'inspirational'. Take a look at the examples below:
The director was in fact trying to shape an inspirational personality.
James declared that the billboard must be inspirational.
Similarities
Both refer to motivation and how something can motivate another human being. Check out the following examples:
She had planned on delivering an inspirational speech, but she messed it up.
I never thought a movie could be this inspiring until I watched 'One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest'.
Are They Interchangeable?
Although they are both used in the same context, they cannot be used interchangeably. 'Inspiring' deals more with the result, whereas, 'inspirational' is more about the intention behind something. Compare:
✓ I think this episode was inspiring.
X I think this episode was inspirational.
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