The difference between Initial and Original

When used as nouns, initial means the first letter of a word or a name, whereas original means an object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived.

When used as adjectives, initial means chronologically first, early, whereas original means relating to the origin or beginning.


Initial is also verb with the meaning: to sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.

check bellow for the other definitions of Initial and Original

  1. Initial as an adjective:

    Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.

    Examples:

    "Our initial admiration for their efficiency gave way to disgust about their methods."

    "The initial stages of a syndrome may differ vastly from the final symptoms."

  2. Initial as an adjective:

    Spatially first, placed at the beginning, in the first position; especially said of the first letter of a word.

    Examples:

    "The initial letter of names is usually printed with a capital letter."

  1. Initial as a noun:

    The first letter of a word or a name.

  2. Initial as a noun:

    In plural, the first letter of each word of a person's full name considered as a unit.

    Examples:

    "You can get your initials printed at the top."

  3. Initial as a noun (typesetting, calligraphy):

    A distinguished initial letter of a chapter or section of a document.

  4. Initial as a noun (phonology):

    onset, part of a syllable that precedes the syllable nucleus in phonetics and phonology.

  1. Initial as a verb (transitive):

    To sign one's initial(s), as an abbreviated signature.

    Examples:

    "Please initial each page and sign the contract in full at the bottom."

  1. Original as an adjective (not comparable):

    Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others.

    Examples:

    "the original state of mankind;  the original laws of a country;  the original inventor of a process"

  2. Original as an adjective (not comparable):

    First in a series or copies/versions.

    Examples:

    "The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions."

    "This recording is by the original broadway cast."

  3. Original as an adjective (not comparable):

    Newly created.

    Examples:

    "Tonight we will hear an original work by one of our best composers."

  4. Original as an adjective (comparable):

    Fresh, different.

    Examples:

    "The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception."

  5. Original as an adjective (not comparable):

    Pioneering.

    Examples:

    "Parker was one of the original bebop players."

  6. Original as an adjective (not comparable):

    Having as its origin.

    Examples:

    "This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina."

  1. Original as a noun:

    An object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived.

    Examples:

    "This manuscript is the original."

  2. Original as a noun:

    A person with a unique and interesting personality and/or creative talent.

    Examples:

    "You’re a real original."

  3. Original as a noun (archaic):

    An eccentric.

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