✅ Structured describes something that has a defined makeup, or is clearly organized or planned (Her work day was very structured).
✅ Methodical describes something done in a systematic and organized way (The detective took a methodical approach to the case).
✅ Structured implies an orderly approach that should be followed and might be applicable to different situations (The school employed a structured approach to teaching). Structured generally suggests a predetermined system or plan that is external to you.
✅ Structured says more about the situation you’re in; methodical says more about you and your skills (She was a very methodical worker).
Would you describe yourself as methodical on your résumé? Add professional pizazz with these powerful adjectives!
✅ Prepare refers to getting yourself or something ready (prepare the table for dinner; prepare for a presentation), but also to getting someone else ready for something (We prepared them for the news).
✅ Train refers to working at something through disciplined practice in order to become good at it, or helping someone else become good at something (train for the tennis match; They had to train him on the new database).
✅ Train implies a longer period of instruction than prepare, and suggests that the person doing the training is in a leadership role.
Train is often used in the context of jobs—and job applications. Prepare a brilliant résumé with these action verbs!
✅ Decrease refers to something getting smaller or lesser in number, generally at a steady pace over time (The swelling slowly decreased; The number of students taking languages kept decreasing).
✅ Diminish refers to something getting smaller, too, but because something is being taken away or is fading (Pollution diminished the beauty of the old city over the years).
✅ Decrease suggests that the cause is inherent to the thing, or that there is some unknown cause for the lessening (The size of the cloud rapidly decreased).
✅ Diminish suggests that the cause is external, and implies something has been subtracted from a whole (Frustration diminished her desire to keep up with the sport).
Try writing about a time when something caused your anger or sadness to diminish with the help of Grammar Coach.