Inspire vs. Inform — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 4, 2024
"Inspire" motivates action or creativity through emotional or intellectual stimulation, whereas "inform" focuses on providing factual knowledge or data.
Difference Between Inspire and Inform
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Inspire" typically invokes feelings of motivation or enthusiasm, often encouraging people to pursue new ideas or actions. On the other hand, "inform" involves the transfer of information or data, aiming to educate or update the recipient.
When you inspire someone, you may not provide new information but can profoundly affect their perspective or choices. Whereas informing someone usually involves clarifying details or facts without necessarily affecting their emotional state.
Leaders often seek to inspire their teams to foster motivation and enhance productivity, tapping into emotional or aspirational energies. Conversely, the role of informing is crucial in settings like education or news, where clear, accurate data transmission is key.
Art and literature are classic vehicles of inspiration, using narrative, aesthetics, and creativity to stir emotions and thoughts. On the other hand, textbooks and newspapers primarily aim to inform their audiences with structured and factual content.
Inspiration can be seen as a catalyst for change or creativity, pushing individuals towards transformation. Informing, meanwhile, serves as a building block for knowledge and understanding, essential for making informed decisions.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To motivate and encourage action
To provide facts and information
Effect on Audience
Evokes emotional response
Increases knowledge base
Typical Contexts
Arts, leadership, motivation
Education, news, instructions
Methods
Stories, speeches, symbols
Data, statistics, reports
Outcome
Change in perspective or action
Better informed decisions
Compare with Definitions
Inspire
To create a positive feeling in a person.
His teacher’s praise inspired him to try harder.
Inform
To give facts or information.
She informed them about the changes.
Inspire
To fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something.
Her bravery inspired others to follow.
Inform
To give knowledge of a fact or circumstance.
He was informed by mail of the decision.
Inspire
To influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration.
The prophets were inspired by God.
Inform
To report or relate.
Journalists inform the public of ongoing events.
Inspire
To breathe in; inhale.
He inspired deeply before diving into the pool.
Inform
To be a critical element or influence on.
Her decision was informed by her father’s advice.
Inspire
To be the driving force behind something.
The novel was inspired by her travels in Asia.
Inform
To fill out or fill in.
He informed the silhouette with his expert shading.
Inspire
To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
Inform
Inform is a programming language and design system for interactive fiction originally created in 1993 by Graham Nelson. Inform can generate programs designed for the Z-code or Glulx virtual machines.
Inspire
To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion
Hymns that inspire the congregation.
An artist who was inspired by Impressionism.
Inform
To impart information to; make aware of something
We were informed by mail of the change in plans. The nurse informed me that visiting hours were over.
Inspire
To stimulate to action; motivate
A sales force that was inspired by the prospect of a bonus.
Inform
To acquaint (oneself) with knowledge of a subject.
Inspire
To cause (someone) to have a particular feeling; affect or touch
"At this moment he inspired her with disgust rather than with love" (Anthony Trollope).
Inform
To give form or character to; imbue with a quality or an essence
"A society's strength is measured by ... its ability to inform a future generation with its moral standards" (Vanity Fair).
Inspire
To cause someone to have (a feeling or reaction); elicit or arouse
A teacher who inspired admiration and respect.
Inform
To be a formative or characterizing presence in; animate
"It is this brash, backroom sensibility that informs his work as a novelist" (Jeff Shear).
Inspire
To be the cause or source of; bring about
An invention that inspired many imitations.
Inform
(Obsolete) To form (the mind or character) by teaching or training.
Inspire
To draw in (air) by inhaling.
Inform
To give or provide information.
Inspire
To breathe on.
Inform
To disclose confidential or incriminating information to an authority
The defendant informed against the other members of the ring.
Inspire
To breathe life into.
Inform
To instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge).
Inspire
To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence
A leader who inspires by example.
Inform
(transitive) To communicate knowledge to.
Inspire
To inhale.
Inform
(intransitive) To impart information or knowledge.
Inspire
(transitive) To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration.
Inform
To act as an informer; denounce.
Inspire
(transitive) To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens or exalts; to communicate inspiration to.
Elders should inspire children with sentiments of virtue.
The captain's speech was aimed to inspire her team to victory in the final.
Inform
(transitive) To give form or character to; to inspire (with a given quality); to affect, influence (with a pervading principle, idea etc.).
His sense of religion informs everything he writes.
Inspire
(intransitive) To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale.
Inform
To make known, wisely and/or knowledgeably.
Inspire
To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
Inform
To direct, guide.
Inspire
To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
Inform
To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.
Inspire
(transitive) To spread rumour indirectly.
Inform
Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.
Inspire
To breathe into; to fill with the breath; to animate.
When Zephirus eek, with his sweete breath,Inspirèd hath in every holt and heathThe tender crops.
Descend, ye Nine, descend and sing,The breathing instruments inspire.
Inform
Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.
Inspire
To infuse by breathing, or as if by breathing.
He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul.
Inform
To give form or share to; to give vital or organizing power to; to give life to; to imbue and actuate with vitality; to animate; to mold; to figure; to fashion.
Let others better mold the running massOf metals, and inform the breathing brass.
Breath informs this fleeting frame.
Breathes in our soul, informs our mortal part.
Inspire
To draw in by the operation of breathing; to inhale; - opposed to expire.
Forced to inspire and expire the air with difficulty.
Inform
To communicate knowledge to; to make known to; to acquaint; to advise; to instruct; to tell; to notify; to enlighten; - usually followed by of.
For he would learn their business secretly,And then inform his master hastily.
I am informed thoroughly of the cause.
Inspire
To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by inspiration.
And generous stout courage did inspire.
But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.
Inform
To communicate a knowledge of facts to, by way of accusation; to warn against anybody.
Tertullus . . . informed the governor against Paul.
Inspire
To infuse into; to affect, as with a superior or supernatural influence; to fill with what animates, enlivens, or exalts; to communicate inspiration to; as, to inspire a child with sentiments of virtue; to inspire a person to do extraordinary feats.
Erato, thy poet's mind inspire,And fill his soul with thy celestial fire.
Inform
To give intelligence or information; to tell.
He might either teach in the same manner, or inform how he had been taught.
Inspire
To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; - opposed to expire.
Inform
Impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to;
I informed him of his rights
Inspire
To breathe; to blow gently.
And when the wind amongst them did inspire,They wavèd like a penon wide dispread.
Inform
Give character or essence to;
The principles that inform modern teaching
Inspire
Heighten or intensify;
These paintings exalt the imagination
Inform
Act as an informer;
She had informed on her own parents for years
Inspire
Supply the inspiration for;
The article about the artist inspired the exhibition of his recent work
Inspire
Serve as the inciting cause of;
She prompted me to call my relatives
Inspire
Urge on or encourage especially by shouts;
The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers
Inspire
Fill with revolutionary ideas
Inspire
Draw in (air);
Inhale deeply
Inhale the fresh mountain air
The patient has trouble inspiring
The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well
Common Curiosities
How does informing differ from inspiring?
Informing involves providing factual data or updates, primarily aiming to educate, whereas inspiring aims to emotionally or intellectually stimulate someone towards action.
What are effective ways to inform someone?
Clear communication, using facts, data, and accessible language are effective ways to inform someone.
Is inspiration necessary for creativity?
While not absolutely necessary, inspiration often plays a significant role in fostering creativity and innovation.
How can teachers use both inspiration and information in the classroom?
Teachers can blend inspirational stories or methods with factual teaching to engage and educate students effectively.
What does it mean to inspire someone?
To inspire someone means to fill them with the motivation or desire to do something, often leading to creative or positive action.
Why is it important to be well-informed?
Being well-informed allows individuals to make educated decisions and stay updated on important issues.
What are typical situations where one might need to inspire rather than inform?
In leadership, motivational speaking, or during artistic creation, inspiring is more crucial than merely informing.
Can false information inspire?
False information can inspire based on its perceived truth, but the actions taken on such inspiration may be misguided or harmful.
Can a person be both inspired and informed at the same time?
Yes, someone can be both inspired and informed if they receive motivating information that also enriches their knowledge or understanding.
What impact does inspiration have on an individual?
Inspiration can lead to heightened creativity, increased motivation, and the pursuit of personal or professional goals.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
