‘Refute’ and ‘rebut’ are both commonly used to mean ‘deny’ or ‘reject’. However, these terms have distinct meanings of their own, so they shouldn’t be used interchangeably.
To avoid errors in your written work, then, try to keep the following in mind.
To ‘refute’ something is to disprove it, which requires more than a simple denial. Rather, refuting something involves using evidence or counterarguments to show that it’s false:
After weeks of research, we were able to fully refute Dr Spurio’s claims.
For instance, while some people deny that we’ve visited the moon, ‘refuting’ this would involve providing scientific evidence that it was a hoax.
A successful attempt to refute something is known as a ‘refutation’.
When we ‘rebut’ something, we argue against it. This can imply that something has been disproved:
She rebutted the argument by pointing out several errors.
But it can simply mean ‘argue against’, even when something is still disputed:
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
He will rebut the claims at a press conference later today.
Both of these are fine, but a ‘rebuttal’ should involve an attempt to argue a point, not just a denial.
This all depends on the situation. If something has been fully disproved, it has been ‘refuted’. If it has simply been argued against (but not necessarily disproved), it has been ‘rebutted’.
Importantly, neither word quite means ‘deny’. You can ‘deny’ something without any evidence or argument (even if nobody believes you). But to ‘rebut’ or ‘refute’ something implies that you’ve at least tried to argue against it, offering a different point of view or version of events.
This distinction is often ignored in everyday speech, where ‘rebut’ is widely used to mean ‘deny’. But it is worth maintaining in formal writing. Remember:
Refute = Disprove
Rebut = Deny or argue against
Δ
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
Effective professional communication is an important skill for contractors and freelancers navigating remote work environments....
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...