Quick vs Fast
Difference between quick and fast is not easy to grasp as it is very slight. Therefore, you see quick and fast as two words that are often confused in usage. This is because of the appearing similarity between their meanings and connotations. Strictly speaking, there is some difference between quick and fast in their meanings. The word quick is used in the sense of ‘rapid’. On the other hand, the word fast is used in the sense of ‘swift’. This is the main difference between the two words. The word quick is usually used to indicate movement or doing something within a short time. On the other hand, the word fast is usually used to indicate speed. This is a very important difference between the two words.
What does Quick mean?
The word quick is usually used to indicate movement or doing something within a short time. Observe the two sentences given below.
The ball was quick for the batsman to react.
He was very quick to answer the question.
In the first sentence, you can see that the word quick is used in the sense of ‘movement’. The movement of the ball was quick such that the batsman had no time to react to it. In the second sentence, quick means someone answered within a short time. You can understand that ‘he gave the answer without wasting any time’. Hence, you get the extra sense of ‘without wasting any time’ in the usage of the word quick according to the context.
It is interesting to note that the word quick is used as an adjective. The adverbial form is of course ‘quickly’ as in the sentences given below.
The fielder moved quickly.
The man behind the screen moved quickly.
In both the sentences, the word quickly is used as an adverb. It describes an action or movement. Hence, the word quick is to be understood in the sense of ‘instant’.
What does Fast mean?
The word fast is used in the sense of ‘swift’. Observe the two sentences given below.
The train moved fast.
He ran very fast.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word fast is used in the sense of ‘swift’ and hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘the train moved swiftly’, and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘he ran very swiftly’. It is interesting to note that the word fast should not be used as ‘fastly’. In fact, it is wrong to use the word ‘fastly’ because the word ‘fast’ itself is the adverbial form. The word ‘fastly’ does not exist at all. This is an important observation to make in the usage of the word fast. On the other hand, the word fast is to be understood in the sense of ‘speed’.
What is the difference between Quick and Fast?
• The word quick is used in the sense of ‘rapid’.
• On the other hand, the word fast is used in the sense of ‘swift’.
• The word quick is usually used to indicate movement or doing something within a short time.
• On the other hand, the word fast is usually used to indicate speed.
• According to the context, quick can also give the extra sense of ‘without wasting any time.’
• Quick is an adjective while quickly is the adverbial form of quick. However, there is no word as fastly. Fast is the adverb.
These are the important differences between the two words, namely, quick and fast.