Difference between “Relaxed” and “Relaxing”? [on hold]
I've always been unsure of this one. I work for a holiday company and we use this word quite a lot. I never know if I should be going for "relaxed" or "relaxing". Can they be used interchangeably?
Please could someone help clear this up for me?
Here is an example:
"This unique approach creates a relaxed/relaxing atmosphere that puts both parents and children immediately at ease"
word-choice
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
71
put on hold as off-topic by Mari-Lou A, tmgr, Skooba, choster, Mark Beadles 10 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – tmgr, choster
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
I've always been unsure of this one. I work for a holiday company and we use this word quite a lot. I never know if I should be going for "relaxed" or "relaxing". Can they be used interchangeably?
Please could someone help clear this up for me?
Here is an example:
"This unique approach creates a relaxed/relaxing atmosphere that puts both parents and children immediately at ease"
word-choice
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
71
put on hold as off-topic by Mari-Lou A, tmgr, Skooba, choster, Mark Beadles 10 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – tmgr, choster
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
2
There is a big difference in principle (-ed is what it is itself, -ing is what it does to others), but in this context, that big difference doesn't really make much difference. At the end, people are relaxed.
– Mitch
2 days ago
add a comment |
I've always been unsure of this one. I work for a holiday company and we use this word quite a lot. I never know if I should be going for "relaxed" or "relaxing". Can they be used interchangeably?
Please could someone help clear this up for me?
Here is an example:
"This unique approach creates a relaxed/relaxing atmosphere that puts both parents and children immediately at ease"
word-choice
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
71
I've always been unsure of this one. I work for a holiday company and we use this word quite a lot. I never know if I should be going for "relaxed" or "relaxing". Can they be used interchangeably?
Please could someone help clear this up for me?
Here is an example:
"This unique approach creates a relaxed/relaxing atmosphere that puts both parents and children immediately at ease"
word-choice
word-choice
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
71
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
71
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
71
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
71
asked 2 days ago
BenBen
71
71
put on hold as off-topic by Mari-Lou A, tmgr, Skooba, choster, Mark Beadles 10 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – tmgr, choster
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as off-topic by Mari-Lou A, tmgr, Skooba, choster, Mark Beadles 10 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – tmgr, choster
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
2
There is a big difference in principle (-ed is what it is itself, -ing is what it does to others), but in this context, that big difference doesn't really make much difference. At the end, people are relaxed.
– Mitch
2 days ago
add a comment |
2
There is a big difference in principle (-ed is what it is itself, -ing is what it does to others), but in this context, that big difference doesn't really make much difference. At the end, people are relaxed.
– Mitch
2 days ago
2
2
There is a big difference in principle (-ed is what it is itself, -ing is what it does to others), but in this context, that big difference doesn't really make much difference. At the end, people are relaxed.
– Mitch
2 days ago
There is a big difference in principle (-ed is what it is itself, -ing is what it does to others), but in this context, that big difference doesn't really make much difference. At the end, people are relaxed.
– Mitch
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
"relax" has two basic meanings, one that refers to the effect on people (or animals):
- to become quiet and calm after you have been upset or nervous, or to make someone do this
If we consider this meaning, "relaxing" would be the correct adjective to express the effects above on people, and we could speak of a relaxing atmosphere to refer to an environment that invites people to relax.
The second basic meaning of "relax", in which what is affected is inanimate (laws, rules), is:
- to make a rule or law less strict
A relaxed atmosphere would then be one in which there are no strict rules to follow. Now, the noun "atmosphere" can also be deemed to include, in my opinion, the people who are around you (not only the music and the facilities). In this case, "relaxed" would refer to an animate subject.
For the reasons above, and unlike what happens with other pairs of -ed/-ing adjectives (bored/boring, amused/amusing, interested/interesting), I think both "relaxed atmosphere" and "relaxing atmosphere" work, though with slighly different meanings:
- relaxed atmosphere: the atmosphere is already relaxed and its effect is catching.
- relaxing atmosphere: the atmosphere helps or induces people to relax.
answered 2 days ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,7281513
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
"relax" has two basic meanings, one that refers to the effect on people (or animals):
- to become quiet and calm after you have been upset or nervous, or to make someone do this
If we consider this meaning, "relaxing" would be the correct adjective to express the effects above on people, and we could speak of a relaxing atmosphere to refer to an environment that invites people to relax.
The second basic meaning of "relax", in which what is affected is inanimate (laws, rules), is:
- to make a rule or law less strict
A relaxed atmosphere would then be one in which there are no strict rules to follow. Now, the noun "atmosphere" can also be deemed to include, in my opinion, the people who are around you (not only the music and the facilities). In this case, "relaxed" would refer to an animate subject.
For the reasons above, and unlike what happens with other pairs of -ed/-ing adjectives (bored/boring, amused/amusing, interested/interesting), I think both "relaxed atmosphere" and "relaxing atmosphere" work, though with slighly different meanings:
- relaxed atmosphere: the atmosphere is already relaxed and its effect is catching.
- relaxing atmosphere: the atmosphere helps or induces people to relax.
answered 2 days ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,7281513
add a comment |
"relax" has two basic meanings, one that refers to the effect on people (or animals):
- to become quiet and calm after you have been upset or nervous, or to make someone do this
If we consider this meaning, "relaxing" would be the correct adjective to express the effects above on people, and we could speak of a relaxing atmosphere to refer to an environment that invites people to relax.
The second basic meaning of "relax", in which what is affected is inanimate (laws, rules), is:
- to make a rule or law less strict
A relaxed atmosphere would then be one in which there are no strict rules to follow. Now, the noun "atmosphere" can also be deemed to include, in my opinion, the people who are around you (not only the music and the facilities). In this case, "relaxed" would refer to an animate subject.
For the reasons above, and unlike what happens with other pairs of -ed/-ing adjectives (bored/boring, amused/amusing, interested/interesting), I think both "relaxed atmosphere" and "relaxing atmosphere" work, though with slighly different meanings:
- relaxed atmosphere: the atmosphere is already relaxed and its effect is catching.
- relaxing atmosphere: the atmosphere helps or induces people to relax.
answered 2 days ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,7281513
add a comment |
"relax" has two basic meanings, one that refers to the effect on people (or animals):
- to become quiet and calm after you have been upset or nervous, or to make someone do this
If we consider this meaning, "relaxing" would be the correct adjective to express the effects above on people, and we could speak of a relaxing atmosphere to refer to an environment that invites people to relax.
The second basic meaning of "relax", in which what is affected is inanimate (laws, rules), is:
- to make a rule or law less strict
A relaxed atmosphere would then be one in which there are no strict rules to follow. Now, the noun "atmosphere" can also be deemed to include, in my opinion, the people who are around you (not only the music and the facilities). In this case, "relaxed" would refer to an animate subject.
For the reasons above, and unlike what happens with other pairs of -ed/-ing adjectives (bored/boring, amused/amusing, interested/interesting), I think both "relaxed atmosphere" and "relaxing atmosphere" work, though with slighly different meanings:
- relaxed atmosphere: the atmosphere is already relaxed and its effect is catching.
- relaxing atmosphere: the atmosphere helps or induces people to relax.
answered 2 days ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,7281513
"relax" has two basic meanings, one that refers to the effect on people (or animals):
- to become quiet and calm after you have been upset or nervous, or to make someone do this
If we consider this meaning, "relaxing" would be the correct adjective to express the effects above on people, and we could speak of a relaxing atmosphere to refer to an environment that invites people to relax.
The second basic meaning of "relax", in which what is affected is inanimate (laws, rules), is:
- to make a rule or law less strict
A relaxed atmosphere would then be one in which there are no strict rules to follow. Now, the noun "atmosphere" can also be deemed to include, in my opinion, the people who are around you (not only the music and the facilities). In this case, "relaxed" would refer to an animate subject.
For the reasons above, and unlike what happens with other pairs of -ed/-ing adjectives (bored/boring, amused/amusing, interested/interesting), I think both "relaxed atmosphere" and "relaxing atmosphere" work, though with slighly different meanings:
- relaxed atmosphere: the atmosphere is already relaxed and its effect is catching.
- relaxing atmosphere: the atmosphere helps or induces people to relax.
answered 2 days ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,7281513
answered 2 days ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,7281513
answered 2 days ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,7281513
answered 2 days ago
GustavsonGustavson
1,7281513
1,7281513
add a comment |
add a comment |
2
There is a big difference in principle (-ed is what it is itself, -ing is what it does to others), but in this context, that big difference doesn't really make much difference. At the end, people are relaxed.
– Mitch
2 days ago