Hello. I'll be grateful for your help.
Which word is it better to use to complete the following sentence: "Only two people died in the fire but there were a lot of 1)victims; 2)casualties"?
The two words look like synonyms to me(I consulted a dictionary), but maybe they are used differently. And is it possible to use the word "injured", ie "... a lot of injured", maybe "a lot of the injured"?
Thank you for all your time and advice.
I'd word it:
Two people died in the fire, but there were a lot of other casualties.
Two people died in the fire, but there were a many injured people.
Hello! I'd be happy to help you with your question.
In the context of the sentence you provided, both "victims" and "casualties" can be used. While they can be considered synonyms, they are often used in different contexts.
The word "victims" typically refers to individuals who have suffered harm, injury, or loss as a result of an unfortunate event or circumstance. In this case, it implies that there were many people affected by the fire, even if only two people died.
On the other hand, "casualties" commonly refers specifically to individuals who were killed or injured in an accident, disaster, or conflict. It generally includes both fatalities and those who require medical attention. Using "casualties" in your sentence would emphasize the fact that there were more than just deaths in the fire.
Regarding the word "injured," it is indeed a suitable option for completing the sentence as well. You could say "a lot of injured" or "a lot of the injured." Both phrases convey the idea that a significant number of people were harmed but not killed in the fire.
To choose the word that best suits your intention, consider the emphasis you want to convey. If you want to highlight the overall impact on many people, "victims" would be appropriate. If you want to emphasize the number of people affected, including both deaths and injuries, "casualties" would be fitting. Alternatively, if you want to focus specifically on the injuries without specifying the number, using "injured" or "the injured" could be the best choice.
I hope this explanation helps you choose the most suitable word for your sentence!