Writers often confuse the words adopt and adapt, and it’s easy to understanding why this error occurs. Both adopt and adapt can function as verbs, and their meanings are closely related. However, these words do different meanings. Adapt means to change something – to make something fit by modification. Usually, you adapt to someone or something. In contrast, adopt means to formally accept or practice something.

The definitions and examples included below may help to further clarify the meanings of these words:

Adapt is a verb that means to make something fit for a specific or new use or situation, often by modification.

Ex: Although William lacked social skills when he began kindergarten, he gradually adapted to the classroom environment by learning to interact with other children.

Adapt is often used more specifically as a biological verb which means to become accustomed to changes in environment.

Ex: Some people believe that polar bears will adapt to global warming, but others believe that the species is in danger of extinction. 

Adopt is a verb that means to take into a new relationship, especially to take someone else’s child legally as one’s own child.

Ex: When the Smiths learned that they were unable to have their own children, they decided to adopt Teri.

However, adopt can also function as a verb meaning to take up and practice an idea, plan, or way of doing something.

Ex: Patty adopted her teacher’s simple technique for solving quadratic equations.

Adopt may also function as a verb meaning to formally approve and accept something or to put something into effect.

Ex: Victoria adopted a city-wide ordinance to ban smoking in all public facilities.

In summary, “adopt” means to make something one’s own, while “adapt” means to take something and change it – not necessarily to make it one’s own.

In addition to our website, we recommend “Easily Confused Words and the GRE.” This page features an extensive list of easily confused words which are likely to appear on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The page is designed to function as a worksheet that visitors can print out and fill in on their own.

Test your understanding of adapt and adopt by choosing the correct word in each of the sentences below.

1. The committee decided to (adapt, adopt) a new English textbook for the fall semester.

2. Darwin’s studies revealed that different species of finches developed when the birds were forced to (adapt, adopt) to new environments.

3. As he read through accounting journals, Greg began to (adapt, adopt) the writing style of other professionals in his field in an attempt to improve his own writing.

4.  The Sullivans (adapted, adopted) the meatloaf recipe to serve more guests.

5. The modernist sculptor decided to (adapt, adopt) the young artist as his protégé.

Answers

1. The committee decided to adopt a new English textbook for the fall semester.

2. Darwin’s studies revealed that different species of finches developed when the birds were forced to adapt to new environments.

3. As he read through accounting journals, Greg began to adopt the writing style of other professionals in his field in an attempt to improve his own writing.

4.  The Sullivans adapted the meatloaf recipe to serve more guests.

5. The modernist sculptor decided to adopt the young artist as his protégé.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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