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Prompt vs Initial - What's the difference?

prompt | initial |

As adjectives the difference between prompt and initial

is that prompt is ready, willing (to act) while initial is chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.

As nouns the difference between prompt and initial

is that prompt is a reminder or cue while initial is the first letter of a word or a name.

As verbs the difference between prompt and initial

is that prompt is to lead someone toward what they should say or do while initial is to sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.

prompt

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (archaic) Ready, willing (to act).
  • * 1623 , William Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra , III.8:
  • Tell him, I am prompt To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.
  • Quick, acting without delay.
  • He was very prompt at getting a new job.
  • On time, punctual.
  • Be prompt for your appointment.

    Derived terms

    * promptness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A reminder or cue.
  • (business, dated) A time limit given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods.
  • * John Stuart Mill
  • To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt , which for this article [tea] is three months.
  • (computing) A symbol that appears on a monitor to indicate that the computer is ready to receive input.
  • I filled in my name where the prompt appeared on the computer screen but my account wasn't recognized.
  • (writing) A suggestion for inspiration given to an author.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To lead someone toward what they should say or do.
  • I prompted him to get a new job.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The only sour note on a virtually perfect night for England came from shameful 'monkey' chanting aimed at Ashley Cole and Ashley Young from a section of Bulgaria's fans which later prompted an official complaint from the Football Association to Uefa.}}
  • (theater, and, television) - to show or tell an actor/person the words they should be saying, or actions they should be doing.
  • If he forgets his words I will prompt him.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    See also

    * promptly * prompter ----

    initial

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
  • :
  • :
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}
  • Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial , a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.
  • Synonyms

    * incipient * opening

    Antonyms

    * final

    Derived terms

    * initially * initialness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The first letter of a word or a name.
  • In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit
  • You can get your initials printed at the top.
  • (typesetting, calligraphy) A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.
  • (phonology) onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.
  • Synonyms

    * drop cap, versal

    Derived terms

    * initialism * initial teaching alphabet

    Verb

  • To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.
  • Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom.

    See also

    * middle