Proscriptive vs Prescriptive – What’s the difference?

Proscriptive vs Prescriptive - What's the difference?
Prescriptive is an antonym of proscriptive. Proscriptive is an antonym of prescriptive. As adjectives the difference between proscriptive and prescriptive is that proscriptive is proscribing or prohibiting, for example as according to a norm or standard while prescriptive is of or pertaining to prescribing or enjoining, especially an action or behavior based on a norm or standard.

proscriptive

English

Adjective

(en adjective )

  • proscribing or prohibiting, for example as according to a norm or standard
  • Antonyms

    * prescriptive

    prescriptive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective )

  • Of or pertaining to prescribing or enjoining, especially an action or behavior based on a norm or standard.
  • *
  • For one thing, spoken language tends to be less subjected to prescriptive
    pressures than written language, and hence is a less artificial medium of com-
    munication (written language is often a kind of ‘censored’ version of spoken
    language). […]

    Synonyms

    * normative

    Antonyms

    * descriptive (especially of grammar and usage)
    * proscriptive

    Derived terms

    * prescriptiveness