Common Errors Grammar Tip 28

Systemic or systematic? 

Which sentences are correct?

1. No evidence of systemic discrimination was found.
2. No evidence of systematic discrimination was found.

3. Systemic change is needed to save the organization.
4. Systematic change is needed to save the organization.

5. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease.
6. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systematic autoimmune disease.

7. The researchers conducted a systemic review of the data.
8. The researchers conducted a systematic review of the data.

9. He took a systemic approach to improving his free-throw score.
10. He took a systematic approach to improving his free-throw score.

The correct sentences are A, C, E, H, and J.

Why?

The term systemic means “affecting the entire body or system,” while systematic means “according to a system or method.”

People commonly use “systematic” when the correct choice is “systemic.” Confusion in the opposite direction is rare.

When unsure of the proper term, separately substitute both “system-wide” and “step-by-step” in the intended space. If “system-wide” works better in the sentence, then systemic is the correct choice of term. If “step-by-step” is the better fit, then go with systematic instead.

Let’s look again at our sentences:

1. No evidence of system-wide discrimination was found.
2. No evidence of step-by-step discrimination was found.

3. System-wide change is needed to save the organization.
4. Step-by-step change is needed to save the organization.

5. Rheumatoid arthritis is a system-wide autoimmune disease.
6. Rheumatoid arthritis is a step-by-step autoimmune disease.

7. The researchers conducted a system-wide review of the data.
8. The researchers conducted a step-by-step review of the data.

9. He took a system-wide approach to improving his free-throw score.
10. He took a step-by-step approach to improving his free-throw score.

The substitutions make it easy to choose the right term.

Now that you know . . . you know!