Acute vs chronic: simple tips to remember the difference

The words ACUTE and CHRONIC are easy to confuse and frequently used in the wrong way. 

ACUTE and CHRONIC are often used in the same context – to describe a medical condition – but their meanings are different. These tips will help you remember the difference between ACUTE and CHRONIC.

When to use ACUTE

ACUTE can be an adjective or a noun.

As an adjective, ACUTE means sudden or severe – often when referring to illness.

It can be used in a sentence like this:

“I’ve been experiencing ACUTE abdominal pain. It came on so suddenly!”

OR

“I have an ACUTE sense of smell.”

As an noun, ACUTE is a type of accent.

It can be used in a sentence like this:

“An ACUTE accent is a small mark that changes the pronunciation of word, such as café and financé.”

When to use CHRONIC

CHRONIC is an adjective.

In a medical context, it means worsening over time or recurring. 

It can be used in a sentence like this:

“The doctor told me I have CHRONIC rhinitis.”

To remember CHRONIC, it helps to know that the prefix CHRON always relates to time (as in CHRONological and anaCHRONistic). 

Knowing the difference between ACUTE and CHRONIC could help you better understand a medical diagnosis – or just keep up with your favourite TV drama! 

I hope these tips help you to tell these commonly confused words apart in future.

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