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Illustrative vs Prescriptive - What's the difference?

illustrative | prescriptive |

As adjectives the difference between illustrative and prescriptive

is that illustrative is demonstrative, exemplative, showing an example or demonstrating while prescriptive is of or pertaining to prescribing or enjoining, especially an action or behavior based on a norm or standard.

illustrative

English

Adjective

(head)
  • Demonstrative, exemplative, showing an example or demonstrating.
  • This example of bad behavior is illustrative of his continued bad behavior.
    ----

    prescriptive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to prescribing or enjoining, especially an action or behavior based on a norm or standard.
  • *
  • For one thing, spoken language tends to be less subjected to prescriptive
    pressures than written language, and hence is a less artificial medium of com-
    munication (written language is often a kind of 'censored' version of spoken
    language). [...]

    Synonyms

    * normative

    Antonyms

    * descriptive (especially of grammar and usage) * proscriptive

    Derived terms

    * prescriptiveness