Ideal vs Real
Knowing the difference between ideal and real is necessary since ideal and real are two states that need differentiation in terms of their meanings and connotations. Ideal is something that is more suited for a given purpose. Real is something that is permanent. Looking at these two words, ideal and real, from a linguistics point of view one can see that real is used as an adjective and an adverb. At the same time ideal is used as an adjective and a noun. Interestingly, both ideal and real have their origins in late Middle English. Realness is a derivative of the adjective real. The noun forms of the words ideal and real are ideality and reality respectively.
What does Ideal mean?
Ideal, on the other hand, is a word used in the mundane sense of something being suitable. Look at the following sentences.
The conditions are ideal for a game of cricket.
He is the ideal person for the job.
In both the sentences given above, the word ideal is used in the sense of suitable. In the first sentence, the weather conditions are described ideal or suitable for a game of cricket. In the second sentence, a person is described as more suitable than anybody else for the particular job. The word ideal is thus used as an adjective. In fact, in both the sentences given above the word ideal is used as an adjective. According to these observations, it can be said that the word ideal is based on suitability. Sometimes, the word ideal is used in its adverbial form ideally as in the sentence given below.
It was ideally spoken by him.
Here, the word ideal is used as an adverb.
What does Real mean?
In metaphysics, a real object is the one which cannot be destroyed, which is true, ever existent, all pervasive, all-knowing and omnipotent. It refers to the Supreme Entity that is otherwise called the Absolute. It has neither birth nor death. It is the only reality. It is the real. The word real is based on authenticity. It is a valid experience. Sometimes the word real is used in the sense of original. Hence, it is true that the word real is based on originality. Look at the use of the word real in the following sentence.
The fight between the two enemies was the real fight.
In this sentence, you can find that the word real is used in the sense of original. It gives the additional meaning or idea that all other fights are not original ones. Therefore, one can say that the word real is based on originality. The word real is also used sometimes as an adverb as in the sentence,
Really speaking the situation was bad.
Here, the word real is used as an adverb. Sometimes, the word really is used in the sense of truly.
What is the difference between Ideal and Real?
• The word ideal is based on suitability whereas the word real is based on originality. This is one of the main differences between the words ideal and real.
• The word real is based on authenticity. It is a valid experience.
• The adverbs of ideal and real are ideally and really respectively.