Learn the Difference Between “systemic” and “systematic”
Given the recent conversations and demonstrations against racial injustice, the words “systemic” and “systematic” have begun to appear frequently and are sometimes used interchangeably. And although they have the same root word, they also have different meanings. If you’re not quite sure when to use each word, Mignon Fogarty (aka “Grammar Girl”) and the good people at Grammarist have explained it for us. Here’s what you need to know.
Some background
Let’s start with the root word: system. According to Dictionary.com , the word “system” was first recorded in the early 1600s and comes from the Greek sýstēma , “a whole made up of several parts.” There are several different uses for the word, including “a form of social, economic, or political organization or practice,” according to Merriam-Webster . This definition is applicable when discussing practices such as racism. Now let’s look at the difference between “systemic” and “systematic”.
Systematic
As Fogarty explains, “systematic” is the older and more common of the two words, dating back to the 1670s in English. This word is used to describe what is thorough and deliberate, methodical or planned. She offers examples such as:
The doctors began a systematic treatment plan.
Ending systematic discrimination is a worthy goal.
Systemic
Now let’s talk about “systemic”. The word has been used in English since the early 1800s, and Fogarty says it looks like doctors were the first to come up with the term to describe something that happens throughout a biological system – such as a patient’s body or digestive system. … … An example of this would be: “He has a systemic infection.”
Since then, the word “systemic” has been used in the context of something that exists in several parts of an entire system, such as government or the business sector. According to grammar , “systemic” is the more specific of the two words and means “system-wide or deeply rooted in the system.” This is where its use in racist terms comes in: it usually refers to “habits or processes that are difficult to reverse because they are embedded in the system.”
“Systemic” versus “systematic”
With this in mind, Fogarty says that some problems are both systemic and systematic – so there is some overlap – but they are not interchangeable. She sums it up like this:
If you want to say something methodical, organized, and deliberate, call it systematic.
If you want to say that something is widespread and affects many parts of something, call it systemic.