Is It Pointless or Futile?

2022-10-22

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1
  • Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between "pointless" and "futile."
    • 2
  • Dear teacher,
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  • I am Aiping from California.
    • 4
  • I read the article "Who Brings Sand to the Beach?"
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  • I wondered what is the difference between the words "pointless" and "futile?"
    • 6
  • Thank you! I wish you all the best!
    • 7
  • Aiping, your loyal reader.
    • 8
  • Dear Aiping,
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  • These two words are often used as synonyms or words that can be used to mean the same thing.
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  • But there are slight differences in usage.
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  • Let's start with "pointless."
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  • "Pointless" is an adjective that means having no point, sense or purpose.
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  • To be "pointless" is to be without meaning or aim.
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  • For example, we can say:
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  • It is pointless trying to talk to her... She will not listen.
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  • Driving home right now is pointless because traffic is so heavy.
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  • In a game or competition, "pointless" can also mean without a point scored.
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  • The game remained pointless at the end of the first half.
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  • "Futile" is also an adjective. It means not able to produce a desired result. It can mean ineffective or useless.
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  • We worked on the project for hours, but failed to fix the problem. All of our attempts were futile.
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  • Voting for that candidate would be futile as he did not win the nominating election.
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  • The main difference between these two words, is that with "futile" there is a goal or aim that can not be reached by the methods attempted.
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  • With "pointless" there is no goal or aim.
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  • Please let us know if these explanations have helped you, Aiping!
    • 25
  • What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
    • 26
  • And that's Ask a Teacher.
    • 27
  • I'm Faith Pirlo.
    • 1
  • Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between "pointless" and "futile."
    • 2
  • Question:
    • 3
  • Dear teacher,
    • 4
  • I am Aiping from California.
    • 5
  • I read the article "Who Brings Sand to the Beach?" I wondered what is the difference between the words "pointless" and "futile?"
    • 6
  • Thank you! I wish you all the best!
    • 7
  • Aiping, your loyal reader.
    • 8
  • Answer
    • 9
  • Dear Aiping,
    • 10
  • These two words are often used as synonyms or words that can be used to mean the same thing.
    • 11
  • But there are slight differences in usage.
    • 12
  • Let's start with "pointless."
    • 13
  • Pointless
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  • "Pointless" is an adjective that means having no point, sense or purpose. To be "pointless" is to be without meaning or aim.
    • 15
  • For example, we can say:
    • 16
  • It is pointless trying to talk to her... She will not listen.
    • 17
  • Driving home right now is pointless because traffic is so heavy.
    • 18
  • In a game or competition, "pointless" can also mean without a point scored.
    • 19
  • The game remained pointless at the end of the first half.
    • 20
  • Futile
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  • "Futile" is also an adjective. It means not able to produce a desired result. It can mean ineffective or useless.
    • 22
  • We worked on the project for hours, but failed to fix the problem. All of our attempts were futile.
    • 23
  • Voting for that candidate would be futile as he did not win the nominating election.
    • 24
  • Summary
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  • The main difference between these two words, is that with "futile" there is a goal or aim that can not be reached by the methods attempted. With "pointless" there is no goal or aim.
    • 26
  • Please let us know if these explanations have helped you, Aiping!
    • 27
  • What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
    • 28
  • And that's Ask a Teacher.
    • 29
  • I'm Faith Pirlo.
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  • Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.
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  • _______________________________________________________________________
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  • Words in This Story
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  • beach - n. an area covered with sand or small rocks that is next to an ocean
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  • synonyms - n. a word that is similar in meaning to another word
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  • primary- n. an election in which members of the same political party run against each other for the chance to be in a larger and more important election
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  • ______________________________________________________________________
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