Valuable, Invaluable, Priceless or Precious?

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Valuable, Invaluable, Priceless or Precious?


Welcome to Fransy Fancy English! Chaos and confusion when it comes to these words, right?
Precious might be easier to understand. Let's see!

VALUABLE

How do we start? Valuable. Okay... Something valuable is worth lots of money. You know that because you can put a price on it. I can give you an example. What do we call things that are worth a great deal of money, especially small personal things such as jewellery, cameras, items made of precious metals or precious stones, furs? We call them valuables because they're worth money. So, always keep your valuables safe and out of sight. 

We can talk about valuable jewellery/paintings/antiques.

"The thieves took three pieces of valuable jewellery."


The adjective valuable can also describe something which is very useful or important. You can receive valuable advice from a friend or get valuable information about something.

In this sense, we can talk about valuable advice/help/experience/tools/contribution.

"They have skills and qualities which make them highly valuable."
"It was a valuable experience for all of us."
"The internet can be a very valuable learning tool."

INVALUABLE

Ready for the next one? 
Invaluable! Have you spotted the prefix “in” here? It doesn't really mean the opposite of valuable, an object without value but something so important that can't be valued, such as a priceless work of art.

“Invaluable” is stronger than “valuable". Invaluable usually applies to things that can’t be valued in monetary terms, non-physical things. You can talk about invaluable help/support/experience/advice.

























"His support has been invaluable to us."
"Her analytical skills make her an invaluable member of the team."


PRECIOUS

If something is precious, it is rare, special and important to us. And yes, it may be of high cost!

"Her family have always been precious to her."
"Your free time must be very precious to you."
"Diamonds, emeralds and rubies are all precious stones."


























PRICELESS

You could say that something is priceless when its value cannot be determined. It is similar to invaluable. The only difference is that invaluable often means extremely useful.

You talk about a priceless painting, gift or even moments!





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