Another one! Why can't we say this stain remover is very efficient. Why do we say effective? What is the difference?
What are facilities and what amenities?
When do we use specimen and when sample?
I'll post how I use those words:
I use "efficient" when I refer to people who do their jobs well and without wasting time.
I use "effective" when I refer to things or concepts.
I use "facilities" when I refer to buildings, building complexes, or parts of buildings.
I use "amenities" when I refer to a feature or quality that provides good things, benefits. http://www.answers.com/topic/amenity
I'll leave the last two to a person who works/has worked in science.
Sample means something representing the whole. A sample of cake, a sample of soil: Sample means some portion meant to represent the entirity.
Specimen: It does not imply the whole is like the specimen. In fact, specimens are uaually intended to display some variance with the norm. His specimen indicated usage of illegal drugs during this time.
To understand why we say a stain remover is "effective" rather than "efficient," we need to understand the difference between these two words.
Effective refers to the ability of a product or strategy to produce the desired result or outcome. In the case of a stain remover, if it is able to successfully remove stains as intended, we consider it effective.
On the other hand, efficient refers to the ability to achieve maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or resources. Efficiency focuses on accomplishing a task in the most optimal way, considering the input and output ratio. In the context of a stain remover, efficiency would refer to how well it removes stains with the least amount of product or effort.
When we describe a stain remover as "effective," we are primarily emphasizing its ability to fulfill its intended purpose of stain removal. However, we do not necessarily consider efficiency in terms of the resource or labor involved.
Moving on to the difference between facilities and amenities:
Facilities refer to the buildings, equipment, or structures that are provided for a specific purpose. They are the physical spaces and infrastructure provided for various activities or services. Examples of facilities can include a gymnasium, classrooms, laboratories, or recreational areas.
Amenities, on the other hand, refer to the additional features or services that enhance or add to the enjoyment, convenience, or comfort provided by a facility. Amenities are the extra perks or benefits that make a space or place more appealing or desirable. Examples of amenities can include swimming pools, Wi-Fi access, complimentary breakfast, parking, or concierge services.
To summarize, facilities are the basic structures or spaces provided for a particular purpose, while amenities are the additional features or services that enhance the experience or convenience within those facilities.
Now, let's differentiate between specimen and sample:
Both specimen and sample are terms used in scientific or medical contexts, but they are slightly different in their usage.
A specimen refers to a specific individual or object selected or collected for analysis, study, or examination. It represents a larger population, organism, or entity. For example, in a laboratory setting, if you collect a blood sample from a patient to analyze for various parameters, that collected blood is the specimen.
On the other hand, a sample refers to a portion, usually smaller and representative, of a whole population or group. It is taken to gain insights, draw conclusions, or make inferences about the larger population from which it is derived. For instance, if a company wants to conduct a market research study, they may collect a sample of potential customers to survey their preferences and behaviors. The collected individuals comprise the sample.
In summary, a specimen is a particular individual or object chosen for analysis, whereas a sample is a smaller but representative portion of a larger population or group.