‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’: What’s the difference? As humans and as writers, we are always observing things and taking notes. But are there different ways to observe, or different ways to describe how we observe? Let’s learn more by learning the difference between ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’.
In a hurry? Here’s a short version of what’s to come:
- ‘Evaluation’ is a term that means to make an assessment of something
- ‘Analysis’ is a term that means a thorough study of something
What’s the Difference Between ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’?
As mentioned above, ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’ bot h represent ways to observe and process information — but they represent different goals.
- ‘Evaluation’ comes with the intention of determining the quality of something, with an end goal of deeming something, in very plain terms, to be good or bad.
- ‘Analysis’ is more linked to discovery and is less about judgment and more about simply seeking information.
So, knowing that these words seek different results can help us decide which to use at a given moment.
Here are some quick tricks to help you remember which is which:
- ‘Analysis’ is about asking questions, so we can use the “a” in ‘Analysis’ to connect to the “a” in ‘asking’.
- Meanwhile, ‘Evaluation’ is about judging value, and we see that the word ‘value’ fits right inside ‘Evaluation’.
Now that we have a better idea of how these two interact differently with information, we must make sure we know what they mean individually. Let’s take a closer look at ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis.’
Definition of ‘Evaluation’: What Does it Mean?
According to Oxford Languages, ‘Evaluation’ is a noun that means:
- The making of a judgment about the amount, number, or value of something; the assessment
- “The evaluation of each method.”
- Determination of the value, nature, character, or quality of something or someone
- “What’s your evaluation of her?”
- The act or result of evaluating
- A critical examination of something or someone
The word ‘Evaluation’ comes from the French ‘évaluer,’ which means “to find the value of,” which comes from the Latin root ‘valere’ meaning “be strong, be of worth, be of value.”
Synonyms of ‘Evaluation’
- Appraisal
- Judgment
- Assessment
- Rating
- Calculation
- Opinion
- Ranking
- Decision
- Interpretation
- Estimation
Antonyms of ‘Evaluation’
- Criticism
- Disapproved
- Neglected
- Termination
- Conclusion
Phrases with ‘Evaluation’
- Formal evaluation
- Informal evaluation
- Evaluation of funds
- Career evaluation
Definition of ‘Analysis’: What Does it Mean?
According to Oxford Languages, ‘Analysis’ is a noun that means:
- Detailed examination of the elements or structure of something
- “They did a statistical analysis.”
- The process of separating something into its constituent elements
- “This is a synthesis rather than an analysis.”
- A detailed examination of anything complex in order to understand its nature or to determine its essential features
- “Doing a careful analysis of the problem.”
- The identification and measurement of the chemical constituents of a substance or specimen
- “Samples are sent to the lab for analysis.”
- The part of mathematics concerned with the theory of functions and the use of limits, continuity, and the operations of calculus.
- Short for psychoanalysis
The word ‘Analysis’ comes from the Greek ‘ana-’ which means “up,” and ‘lusis’ which means “to loosen.” Together, the word means “to loosen up,” referring to unpacking information.
Synonyms of ‘Analysis’
- Examination
- Determination
- Inquiry
- Reasoning
- Investigation
- Study
- Test
- Scrutiny
- Evaluation
- Finding
- Interpretation
Antonyms of ‘Analysis’
- Synthesis
- Integration
- Consolidation
- Assimilation
- Unification
- Aggregation
- Amalgamation
- Conglomeration
- Coalescence
Phrases with ‘Analysis’
- Risk analysis
- Careful analysis
- Analysis techniques
- “Kowalski, analysis.”
- Cost-benefit analysis
Pronunciations: How to Pronounce ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’
Speaking is a huge part of language learning, and with that comes learning proper pronunciation. Follow the guides below to gain confidence by saying ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’ aloud so you are prepared to use the words in conversation or, more likely, a presentation.
Use this phonetic spelling of ‘Evaluation’ as a guide:
- ‘Ee-val-yoo-a-shun’ (the first letter is wide like in “see,” and the ‘-tion’ sound is like the word “shun”)
Use this phonetic spelling of ‘Analysis’ as a guide:
- ‘Uh-na-luh-sihs’ (the first ‘a’ is swallowed like the sound “gun,” but the second ‘a’ is wide like in the word “apple”)
How to Use ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’ in a Sentence
The final step to mastering these words is being able to use them of your own accord. Remember that these words are not synonyms and have their own bearing on how they assess information. Use the sample sentences below to get a sense of the contexts in which these words might appear.
‘Evaluation’ Example Sentences
- The superintendent of the district was coming into their school today to do an evaluation of the teachers.
- After dealing with mental health issues, he went to a psychologist for an evaluation so he could receive medication.
- The team did an evaluation of the various proposals and unanimously voted on the one that saved them the most time and money.
- His initial evaluation of her piano skills did not do her justice, and she was much more advanced than he first thought.
‘Analysis’ Example Sentences
- In economics class, we learned how to do a cost-benefit analysis to see if things would be worth their market price.
- The super fans completed a frame-by-frame analysis of the new movie trailer to look for any hidden plot giveaways.
- His blood sample was sent to the hospital’s lab for analysis, and hopefully, his results showed only good news.
- She completed an analysis of how often people came to work on time and turned it in to her bosses for review.
‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’ Example Sentences
- As part of his career evaluation, he was required to do a timed data analysis to prove his skill under pressure.
- An analysis was completed of how many students turned in their work on time, but it didn’t include an evaluation of the quality of their work.
Final Advice on ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis’
We are always taking in new information, and one of the main components of writing is breaking down and organizing that information. To know how to do that, we need to know the meaning of what we’re doing; that starts with learning to distinguish ‘Evaluation’ vs ‘Analysis.’ Knowing the difference between these words may also help you in academic writing scenarios where you are asked to approach a prompt in a certain way.
Want a recap? Here’s a quick overview of what was covered:
- ‘Evaluation’ is a noun that refers to a judgment of the value or quality of something.
- ‘Analysis’ is a noun that refers to the detailed examination of something to understand it better.
If you’re looking to find more ways to keep your writing precise, be sure to check out other confusing word articles. They will help you find the best ways to navigate your observations and give you the tools to tackle any prompt with a clear understanding.
