Difference Between Systemic and Systematic

Systemic vs Systematic

It is very easy to distinguish what is systemic and what is systematic. Perhaps the confusion between the two words only arose because of semantics, spelling and sound. The two words have almost the same letters nevertheless. It’s just the addition of two letter ‘a’ and ‘t’ for systematic, which make it longer. The pronunciation is also the same but there’s obviously an additional syllable for the word systematic.

By definition, the two adjectives differ. Systematic, means something is well organized or arranged according to a set of plan and or is grouped into systems. Conversely, systemic means something matters to the entire system. This describes something that belongs to, works together with, or can affect the entire body or system as a whole. The two words further amplify its definition when used to describe other terms across various fields of study. For business, there are systemic and systematic risks and also systemic and systematic circulations in the field of Science.

To concretely show the difference between the two adjectives, it is best to use them in sample sentences. In one common definition of Science (the study); it is regarded as a systematic and orderly arrangement of facts, principles, true happenings that governs our lives and the whole world. Science is systematic because it has order and its facts are arranged. You cannot say Science is systemic but Science is systematic for it readily follows a particular system or methodology. Thus, if you have a consistent method of cleaning the bedroom first, followed by the living room and lastly the dining room then more or less you can be described as cleaning your house systematically.

Systemic is very different because when the doctor tells his patient that he or she has a systemic lupus or a systemic infection then this means that the patient is experiencing a generalized infection all throughout the entirety of his or her body. The entire system (the human body) is affected that’s why the case is already systemic. This also implies that the health prognosis is poor because the infection has spread.

In summary, the two words differ because:

1. Systematic is a longer word with four syllables compared to the shorter word (systemic) that only has three syllables.

2. Systematic is an adjective that’s used to describe something as consistent, organized and well arranged whereas systemic means that something has or can affect the whole system.

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