persuasive v. convincing

General question: What is the difference between something persuasive and something convincing? I've heard this distinction twice now in the past month, and I'm not sure what the different is meant to be.

Jordan

Post 1

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - 12:17pm

I would have thought they were the same, but maybe persuasive is something like impressive and well-presented while convincing actually succeeds in changing the listener's mind.

Post 2

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - 4:25pm

It would help to know the Latin. Per- ("thoroughly") and Con- ("together") imply per-fection, com-pletion, achievement of the sense of the verb to which they are prefixed. Vincere is to conquer, the English cognate is win. Suadere, motivate, is literally cognate with sweeten.

To convince is to "win," to overcome all opposition. The persuade is to motivate sufficiently to act.

Post 3

Thursday, October 29, 2009 - 11:44am