calm / quiet

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me your opinion concerning my ascertainment regarding the verbs calm and quiet as well as the adjectives calm and quiet. I know that both are synonyms but in my opinion there is a large difference between them.

As compared with to calm, the verb-adverb combination to calm down present little difference in meaning. However, while to calm is ordinary used transitively, to calm down is ordinary used intransitively.

She calmed the excited (frightened) children.
The storm (the wind) calmed down.
The sea calmed down.
Calm down!

While the adjectives calm and quiet may sometimes be used in the sme situation, calm refers to absence of excitement, while an important meaning of quiet refers to absence of noise. Thus, we may say to a child:

Sit quiet! but She was calm.

She was calm means she was not excited; she was quiet ,means she was not noisy. The two words may be found in one sentence:

He felt calm and spoke quietly.

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

[susiedqq]

You sound like you have a good understaning of the words, calm and quiet.

Now you can calm down and be quiet about the issue.

[David L.]

Would you be kind enough to tell me your opinion concerning my ascertainment regarding the verbs 'calm' and 'quiet'.
I think you are spot on!

Two observations:
It's, "Sit quietly!" (the adverb, not the adjective).

I'm all for words, no matter how 'big', if they help express oneself clearly, or are used for specific effect, or levity...but not to be pretentious. That's why, in this forum, we point out that even though a construction in a sentence may be grammatically correct, it sounds 'odd' because it makes the person seem as if they are pointedly implying, 'see how well I know my grammar'.
Whilst there is (and you will find it listed in modern day dictionaries) the word 'ascertainment', it is so 'unused' that in most conversational and literary situations, it sticks out like somebody today wearing a monocle! You might like to try an alternative way of expressing that idea.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Also remember: Quiet is about sound. Calm is about demeanor.

The boat rocked gently on the calm sea.
Her calm manner soothed the prisoners.
Be quiet, I'm trying to read.
If we quiet the baby, the other kids will sleep.

[I edit copy quietly and have calmly tutored college writing.]