process or procedure

[blacknomi]

They had to sit through a gory videoon surgical procedure.
They have developed a new process for extracting aluminium from bauxite.


Both can mean a series of actions that you take in order to achieve a result. How can I distinguish from them? Would there be any catagoies belong to "process" and to "procedure"?

[PammyLorel]

They had to sit through a gory videoon surgical procedure.
They have developed a new process for extracting aluminium from bauxite.


Both can mean a series of actions that you take in order to achieve a result. How can I distinguish from them? Would there be any catagoies belong to "process" and to "procedure"?

The two words mean just about the same thing and may be interchanged.

[Tdol]

Is there not an element of collocation here? To me, 'surgical process' sounds strange, while 'surgical procedure' sounds fine.

[blacknomi]

I found the answer. I forgot I have Oxford collocations at hand. 8) I am going to swallow the whole book.

thanks, tdol.

[MikeNewYork]

They had to sit through a gory videoon surgical procedure.
They have developed a new process for extracting aluminium from bauxite.


Both can mean a series of actions that you take in order to achieve a result. How can I distinguish from them? Would there be any catagoies belong to "process" and to "procedure"?

There are many similarities, but the words are not often interchangeable.

For me, a "process" brings to mind a series of automatic steps, very mechanical in nature. It shows up in manufacturing, automation, digestion, etc. By contrast a "procedure" is more guided by purposeful action, human involvement, less-mechanical.

due process of law
digestive process
manfacturing process
extraction process

surgical procedure
courtroom procedure
procedures manual
evacuation procedure

[blacknomi]

I was cramming Oxford Collocations and managing to generalize the rules. I was nearly there before I read your analysis. That's very impressive.

Re:

• Either: the process refers to an election creating a winner. the procedure would involve the counting of ballots and validating them.

That's a good logical explanation. Now I understand.

Dear Mike, I really can't thank you enough for your kindly help.

[MikeNewYork]

I was cramming Oxford Collocations and managing to generalize the rules. I was nearly there before I read your analysis. That's very impressive.

Re:

• Either: the process refers to an election creating a winner. the procedure would involve the counting of ballots and validating them.

That's a good logical explanation. Now I understand.

Dear Mike, I really can't thank you enough for your kindly help.

You're quite welcome. :D