Parker Birdie

A growing garden of thoughts


Information

inform (v.) early 14c., "to train or instruct in some specific subject," from Old French informer, enformer "instruct, teach" (13c.) and directly from Latin informare "to shape, give form to, delineate," figuratively "train, instruct, educate," from in- "into" (from PIE root *en "in") + formare "to form, shape," from forma "form" (see form (n.)). In early use also enform until c. 1600. Sense of "report facts or news, communicate information to" first recorded late 14c. Related: Informed; informing.

Information gives shape to, it forms you, it instructs you. Compare this to communication which seeks to share, and to make common.

A communication is something that you take part in, whereas information is something that instructs you.

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