Reckon vs. Recon — What's the Difference?

Reckon is a verb that is commonly used in everyday language to mean calculating, concluding, or considering something in a certain way. For example, one might say they reckon it's going to rain based on the look of the sky. On the other hand, recon is an abbreviated form of the term reconnaissance, which refers to the military activity of sending soldiers or aircraft to gather information about enemy forces or positions. Recon is often used in military contexts but has also found its way into general usage to describe any activity involving the gathering of information, especially in a preliminary or exploratory way.

While reckon is broadly applicable across various contexts, from everyday conversations to business and mathematics, emphasizing personal judgment or estimation, recon specifically denotes an activity aimed at gathering strategic information, often in preparation for military action or in competitive scenarios, such as business or sports. Whereas someone might reckon the outcome of an event based on available data or intuition, recon requires active exploration or investigation to uncover new information.

In its use, reckon can be substituted with synonyms like believe, think, or expect, depending on the context, signifying a more personal, subjective viewpoint. In contrast, recon is more objective and action-oriented, implying a systematic approach to acquiring knowledge, often without directly engaging the subject of interest, to avoid detection or to maintain secrecy.

Despite their differences, both terms imply a form of assessment, whether it be an internal evaluation of facts or opinions in the case of reckon, or an external collection of strategic data in the case of recon. However, the methods, objectives, and contexts in which they are used significantly diverge, reflecting the distinct nature of personal judgment versus tactical information gathering.

Reckon, with its roots in Old English, has a long history in the language, reflecting a deep-seated way of expressing contemplation and judgment. Recon, derived from military terminology, underscores the evolution of language in response to technological and social developments, particularly in how strategic and competitive endeavors are described.