Many words in the English language tend to get confusing because of their overlapping meanings or very slight difference. Though we know they’re synonyms, the slight difference makes us doubt what the better word to use is. Take ‘situation’ and ‘circumstance’ for example. How do they differ? Let’s see!
What Is the Difference Between ‘Situation’ and ‘Circumstance’
‘Situation’ and ‘circumstance’ are nearly synonymous words that both describe a state of affairs of something. Their only main difference is the control a person has in that state of affairs or situation. When it is something a person cannot control, immediately or at all, then it is a circumstance.
It’s best to understand the difference between ‘situation’ and ‘circumstance’ by understanding the levels of control a person can have in an event, a situation, or a condition. Let’s divide it into three.
- conditions one can directly control
- conditions one cannot directly control
- conditions one cannot control at all
Among the three types of conditions above, all these are considered ‘situations.’ We can describe a ‘situation’ as more of a general term for a set of conditions or state of something at a given particular time.
On the other hand, those we can call ‘circumstances’ are only conditions one cannot directly control or one cannot control at all. When it is a ‘circumstance,’ it is more specific to a set of conditions that one has little to no control of.
Another way to differentiate the two is that, when you are in the middle of a situation, there are factors that you can control and factors you cannot. Those that you can control are what make up your situation, while those that you can’t control are what make up the circumstances your situation is happening in.
Take a look at the example below.
- I think she handled the situation well, given the circumstances she was in.
Here, ‘situation’ refers to the set of conditions the person was in that they can control or handle. On the other hand, ‘circumstances’ refers to the factors that they cannot control but may have affected how they were able to handle the situation.
Are ‘Situation’ and ‘Circumstance’ Interchangeable?
When you don’t need to create a specific distinction between what you can control or not, ‘situation’ and ‘circumstance’ are easily interchangeable as they generally mean the same. While ‘circumstance’ is more specific to events we cannot control, many people often interchange the usage of the two words regardless.
Situation
‘Situation’ is a state of affairs, a condition or set of conditions that exist at a particular moment. Usually, when we say we’re in a particular situation, it is an event, a crisis, or a set of conditions in which we are positioned.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, ‘situation’ is ‘the set of things that are happening and the conditions that exist at a particular time and place.’
Below are examples of how to use ‘situation’ in a sentence.
- He’s in a bad situation right now.
- The situation in our school right now is saddening.
- I thought Kimmy handled the situation really well.
- I have a situation I need to deal with.
- How’s your current financial situation?
- Today’s political situation in our country is appalling.
- I’m not good at handling complicated situations.
Circumstance
‘Circumstances’ are also a set of conditions or state of affairs that exist at a particular moment, but this is more specific to conditions one has little to no control of at that given moment. Usually, these are the factors that affect one’s situation.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a ‘circumstance’ means ‘a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is.’ Therefore, these are unchangeable factors or events that affect a situation.
Below are examples of how to use ‘circumstance’ in a sentence.
- Despite the circumstances, I was able to pass decent work.
- I can’t live properly under these circumstances.
- What circumstances hinder you from passing on time?
- Under no circumstances should you give up on your dream.
- There are circumstances we simply cannot control.
- They were forced by circumstance to move to a new home.
- The investigation was done under questionable circumstances.
What Are Situational Circumstances?
‘Situational circumstances’ is a term that is mostly related to business, production, consumerism, and the like. Generally, ‘situational circumstances’ refer to factors and conditions that a person encounters or experiences in a particular situation. Thus the term, as the circumstance is different for every situation.
You may also like: Scenario vs. Situation – Difference Explained (+Examples)
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
