Germane
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.
Words to choose between 7
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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professional
applicable
Fits when a rule or method can actually be used in this case
Careful Applicable concerns use, not whether an idea belongs in the discussion.
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professional
Fits when plain, neutral language should mark a connection to the topic
Careful Relevant can describe a loose connection, while germane usually implies direct bearing.
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formal
material
Fits when the information could affect a decision or outcome
Careful Material has specialized legal and financial meanings that may overstate importance.
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formal
Fits when the point applies precisely to the issue at hand
Careful Pertinent sounds procedural and can feel stiff in ordinary conversation.
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literary
Fits when a remark or example is strikingly well suited
Careful Apposite praises aptness and is less familiar than germane.
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literary
apropos
Fits when timely relevance should sound lightly sophisticated
Careful Apropos can sound affected and is awkward before every noun.
Opposites 3
- irrelevant
- extraneous
- immaterial
Common phrases 3
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germane to the discussion
Her experience was germane to the discussion of safer crossings.
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directly germane
Only two of the comments were directly germane to the permit.
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germane question
A germane question exposed the plan's missing assumption.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated