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Simplify vs Simply - What's the difference?

simplify | simply |

As a verb simplify

is to make simpler, either by reducing in complexity, reducing to component parts, or making easier to understand.

As an adverb simply is

(manner) in a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.

simplify

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To make simpler, either by reducing in complexity, reducing to component parts, or making easier to understand.
  • To become simpler.
  • * 2006 , Karen Oslund, “Reading Backwards: Language Politics and Cultural Identity in Nineteenth-Century Scandinavia”, in David L. Hoyt and Karen Oslund (editors), The Study of Language and the Politics of Community in Global Context , Lexington Books, ISBN 978-0-7391-0955-7, page 126:
  • Thus, throughout the nineteenth century, linguists generally held that more grammatically complex languages were older and that languages tended to simplify over time—the four grammatical cases of German as contrasted with the seven of Latin, for example.

    Derived terms

    * oversimplify * simplification * simplifier English ergative verbs

    simply

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (manner) In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.
  • (manner) Plainly; without art or subtlety; clearly; obviously; unquestionably.
  • (manner) Weakly; foolishly; stupidly.
  • (Johnson)
  • (focus) Merely; solely.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
  • , page=13 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) , title= Ideas coming down the track , passage=A “moving platform” scheme
  • (degree) absolutely, positively.
  • (speech act) Frankly.
  • Antonyms

    * complexly