Germane
adj.thoughtful, capableformal
What it means
Directly relevant to the matter being considered.
Reach for it when marking information that materially belongs in a focused discussion
The reviewer raised one germane question about the safety threshold.
Choose between these
7- everyday
related
a broad connection is enough
not when Related is weaker and can admit details too remote to be germane.
- professional
applicable
a rule or method can actually be used in this case
not when Applicable concerns use, not whether an idea belongs in the discussion.
- professional
plain, neutral language should mark a connection to the topic
not when Relevant can describe a loose connection, while germane usually implies direct bearing.
- formal
material
the information could affect a decision or outcome
not when Material has specialized legal and financial meanings that may overstate importance.
- formal
the point applies precisely to the issue at hand
not when Pertinent sounds procedural and can feel stiff in ordinary conversation.
- literary
a remark or example is strikingly well suited
not when Apposite praises aptness and is less familiar than germane.
- literary
apropos
timely relevance should sound lightly sophisticated
not when Apropos can sound affected and is awkward before every noun.
Said against
3- irrelevant
- extraneous
- immaterial
It naturally appears in
3- germane to the discussion
Her experience was germane to the discussion of safer crossings.
- directly germane
Only two of the comments were directly germane to the permit.
- germane question
A germane question exposed the plan's missing assumption.