✅ Mediator and arbiter both refer to someone who settles an issue (We hired a mediator to solve our workplace dispute; My friend was appointed arbiter so that our game of musical chairs didn’t get out of hand).

✅ Mediator emphasizes the neutrality of a person who helps settle disputes, often in a way that satisfies everyone involved (The mediator helped us come to a solution that worked for everyone).

✅ Arbiter emphasizes that a person has been given the power to make decisions, whether those decisions satisfy everyone involved or not (We disagreed with the arbiter, but it wasn’t worth arguing).

When was the last time a game got so heated that you needed an arbiter? Write about it with the help of Grammar Coach!

✅ Great describes something wonderful, or particularly good. It can also describe something particularly notable or remarkable (a great holiday).

✅ Outstanding describes something excellent, or something superior to other things like it. Outstanding can also describe something that is prominent or notable because of its excellence (Their work was outstanding).

✅ Great is generally used to mean particularly good. In this sense, outstanding is a more intense word, suggesting something even better (an outstanding painting).

✅ However, when great and outstanding are used to mean important or prominent, great has the more intense meaning (a great statesperson).

Check out these outstanding synonyms!

✅ Realistic and pragmatic both describe people who are focused on real and practical things.

✅ Generally realistic describes someone who is not fanciful or idealistic. Sometimes this suggests someone who is pessimistic—although a realistic person is technically neither optimistic nor pessimistic (She was realistic about how difficult the house would be to renovate, which put us in a sour mood).

✅ Pragmatic describes someone who is focused on the practicality of doing something or making something happen (She had a pragmatic approach to interior design, taking into consideration people’s day-to-day needs).

✅ Realistic often suggests a worldview or state of mind, while pragmatic suggests less interest in big picture ideas and more interest in getting something done (He was very pragmatic about solving issues).

Describe a time when you had to be pragmatic about something with the help of Grammar Coach.