word choice - Difference between "computation" and "calculation"


If the words computation and calculation are not perfect synonyms what is the difference between them? Which one describes more accurately what is done by a person computing or calculating something on a piece of paper?



Answer



They're pretty close to synonyms, but "calculation" implies a strictly arithmetic process, whereas "computation" might involve applying rules in a systematic way. You would calculate your mortgage payment, and you might compute your actuarial health risk.


All this, IMHO.


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