Editly Etymology: counsel vs council

The experts at Editly have become masters of commonly confused words in their careers as online editors, proofreaders, and humanizers. In Editly Etymology, they reach back into their experiences to offer a closer look into the horrifying beauty of the English language. This installment investigates a pair of words that seems to plague writers around the world: counsel vs council. 

Counsel Definition

Counsel is a noun that means advice, especially formal.  

Council Definition

Council is a noun that means an official group of people that meet regularly.

Did you catch that? Just to make sure, let’s ask AI to help us generate a visual representation of each of the words.

Counsel = advice. 

Council = group of people (that can give advice). 

Counsel Root

Middle English, via Old French, from Latin. 

Council Root

Old English, from Latin. 

Who is to Blame for this Confusion?

While the French did run some interference that cemented the confusion, it seems that—as is often the case—that the Latins shoulder the ultimate blame.

AI Text on Counsel

The word "counsel" has an intriguing history, tracing back through Middle English to Old French and Latin roots, reflecting its longstanding association with advice and guidance. Here’s a deeper look at its etymology and development:

1. Latin Origins: "Counsel" originates from the Latin "consilium," which means advice, plan, or consultation. The word encompasses the ideas of deliberation and collective decision-making. It is related to "consulere," meaning to consult, advise, or deliberate, indicating a process involving thoughtful discussion or planning.
2. Old French Influence: The word entered English through Old French, where it was spelled "conseil." The French term carried similar meanings, referring to advice or a deliberative body. This borrowing reflects the close linguistic and cultural exchanges between English and French during the Middle Ages, particularly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
3. Middle English Development: In Middle English, the word became "counsel," and it was used both as a noun and a verb. As a noun, it referred to advice given or received and also to the act of giving advice. As a verb, "to counsel" meant to advise someone.
4. Legal and Governmental Usage: "Counsel" has long been used in legal and governmental contexts. In legal terms, it refers to the advice given by a lawyer or attorney to their client. The term is also used to denote the lawyers themselves, especially in formal or collective terms such as "counsel for the defense."
5. Modern Usage: Today, "counsel" retains these core meanings but is also used more broadly. In a general sense, it can refer to any advice or guidance given. In a professional setting, it often relates specifically to legal advice or the role of advisors in various fields (e.g., financial counsel, legal counsel).

The evolution of "counsel" from its Latin origins to its current usage in English highlights the continuity and adaptability of legal and advisory concepts in language, reflecting their fundamental importance across different societies and eras. (324 words)

Humanization of AI Text on Counsel

"Counsel" has an intriguing history that reflects its longstanding association with advice and guidance. Here’s a deeper look at its etymology and development:

1. Latin Origins: "Counsel" originates from the Latin "consilium," meaning advice, plan, or consultation. Related to "consulere" (meaning to consult, advise, or deliberate), it indicates a process involving thoughtful discussion or planning.
2. Old French Influence: The word entered English through Old French, where it was spelled "conseil." The French term carried similar meanings, referring to advice or a deliberative body. 
3. Middle English Development: The word became "counsel," and it was utilized both as a noun and a verb. As a noun, it referred to advice given or received and also to the act of giving advice. As a verb, "to counsel" meant to advise someone.
4. Legal and Governmental Usage: "Counsel" has long been used in legal and governmental contexts. In legal terms, it refers to lawyers themselves and to the advice given by them.
5. Modern Usage: While “counsel" retains these core meanings, it is also used more broadly. In a general sense, it can refer to any advice or guidance given. In a professional setting, it often relates specifically to legal advice or to that of advisors in fields such as finance.

The evolution of "counsel" from its Latin origins to its current usage in English highlights the continuity and adaptability of legal and advisory concepts in language. (235 words)

Result of Changing the AI Text to Human Text 

The humanized content is both clearer and easier to read than the original AI content. This transformation is primarily driven by the deletion of irrelevant facts and unnecessary repetition. Its impact can be measured in a quantitative sense, as the text has been reduced from 324 to 235 words—or by more than 27 percent.

AI Text on Council

The word "council" has a distinct history, often confused with "counsel" due to their similar pronunciation and spelling. However, "council" has a specific lineage and usage focusing on group decision-making and governance. Here’s a look at its development:

1. Latin Origins: The word "council" derives from the Latin "concilium," meaning a meeting, assembly, or gathering for consultation or deliberation. This term is related to "conciliare," meaning to bring together, unite, or assemble.
2. Old French Influence: From Latin, the term passed into Old French as "concile," maintaining similar meanings related to assemblies or gatherings, particularly in ecclesiastical contexts.
3. Entry into English: The word entered English from the Old French "concile," becoming "council" in Middle English. It was used to refer to formal meetings for discussion and decision-making among members of a community, organization, or government.
4. Ecclesiastical and Secular Use: Historically, "council" has been extensively used in both ecclesiastical and secular contexts. In religious contexts, it referred to assemblies like church councils, which are formal meetings of church leaders to decide on doctrinal and organizational matters. In secular governance, it described gatherings of leaders or elected representatives to deliberate on administrative and legislative issues.
5. Modern Usage: Today, "council" is primarily used to describe a body of people convened for consultation, advice, or administration. Examples include city councils, student councils, and other similar governing or advisory bodies across various levels of organizations and governments.

The history of "council" from Latin to modern English illustrates its integral role in describing formal assemblies and decision-making bodies, highlighting how specific institutional practices have shaped and preserved the word’s usage over centuries. (269 words)

Humanization of AI Text on Council 

The word "council" has a distinct history and usage focusing on group decision-making and governance. Here’s a look at its development:

1. Latin Origins: "Council" derives from the Latin "concilium," meaning a meeting, assembly, or gathering for consultation or deliberation. This term is related to "conciliare," meaning to bring together, unite, or assemble.
2. Old French Influence: The term passed into Old French as "concile," maintaining similar meanings related to assemblies or gatherings.
3. Entry into English: Entering Middle English from the Old French, the word became “council.” It was used to refer to formal meetings for group discussion and decision-making.
4. Ecclesiastical and Secular Use: Historically, "council" has been extensively used in both ecclesiastical and secular contexts. In religious contexts, it referred to assemblies like church councils. In secular governance, it described gatherings of leaders or elected representatives to deliberate on administrative and legislative issues.
5. Modern Usage: "Council" is primarily used to describe a body of people convened for consultation, advice, or administration. Examples include city councils and student councils.

The history of "council" highlights how specific institutional practices have shaped and preserved the word’s usage over centuries. (190 words)

Effect of Humanizing the AI Text

Humanization has enhanced the delivery and impact of the AI text, without losing any of its original meaning. It has been made more human primarily through better diction (word choice) and the elimination of repetition. Indeed, humanization has reduced the word count from 269 words to 190 words—or by more than 29 percent.

The Takeaway

Whether it’s for counsel or council, the best AI humanizer does, in fact, turn out to be a human. So, if you need any help to humanize your AI text, don’t wait to get started on Editly.