Words / C1

ri-SPEKT-iv/rɪˈspektɪv/

Respective means each one’s own, after a list: their respective offices, in their respective fields. Respectful is polite; respectable is socially approved — extra syllables, different words. Respectively matches list A to list B in order (red and blue respectively). Do not write respective for “very respectful”.

Meaning

Belonging separately to each of the people or things just mentioned.

Examples

• “The two departments published their respective results on Friday.”
• “The two authors listed their respective grants, which stopped a messy joint thank-you.”
• “Smith and Jones scored 12 and 9 respectively, which is the adverb of matching order.”

Good to know

Each one’s own (after a pair/list). Mix-up: respectful (polite); respectable (decent). Adverb: respectively (in that order).

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