Credibility vs. Credence: Simple Understanding and Usage

Understanding the Difference: Credibility vs. Credence

History of the Words

The word credibility comes from the Latin word “credibilis,” which means “believable.” It has been used in English for a long time to describe how trustworthy or believable someone or something is.

The word credence also comes from Latin, from the word “credentia,” which means “belief” or “trust.” In English, it has been used to show the belief in something as true or real.

How to Use Them

Credibility is used to describe how believable or trustworthy a person or information is. If someone has good credibility, people believe what they say.

Credence is used to describe the act of believing in something, usually when accepting it as true. It is more about giving belief to something or someone.

Trick to Remember the Difference

• Think of credibility as “ability to be believed.” If someone has credibility, they have the ability to make others believe them.
• Think of credence as “belief in.” When you give credence, you give belief to something or someone.

Examples of “Credibility”

1. The teacher’s credibility made the students trust her lessons.
2. News reporters need to have credibility to deliver the truth to the public.
3. The scientist’s findings lost credibility after the mistake was found.
4. His honesty gave him great credibility among his friends.
5. When the story was true, it added credibility to her account.

Examples of “Credence”

1. She gave credence to the rumor after seeing the evidence.
2. The old myth still holds credence with some people.
3. The expert’s word gives credence to the theory.
4. He refused to give credence to the false reports.
5. The community gives credence to the local tales and folklore.

Summary

In summary, remember that credibility refers to how trustworthy or believable someone or something is, while credence is about giving belief or acceptance to an idea or statement. Use credibility when talking about a person’s reputation for honesty and use credence when talking about accepting something as true or real.