Abstinence vs. abstention

boron · Mar 3, 2012

Are abstinence and abstention synonyms?

I was thinking abstinence meant not participating in something (like drinking) on a long-term, while abstention meant not participating (like voting) at one occasion.

But:
Survey found that the rate of alcohol abstention remained stable.
Alcohol abstention is high among Asians.

Do both words sounds fine here:
Fatty liver is reversible with abstinence.
Fatty liver is reversible with abstention.

robjvargas · Mar 3, 2012

The difference seems subtle:

Abstinence:

Merriam-Webster said:
ab·sti·nence [ab-stuh-nuhns] Show IPA
noun

forbearance from any indulgence of appetite, especially from the use of alcoholic beverages: total abstinence.

any self-restraint, self-denial, or forbearance.

Economics . the conserving of current income in order to build up capital or savings.

the state of being without a drug, as alcohol or heroin, on which one is dependent.

And Abstention:

Merriam-Webster said:
ab·sten·tion [ab-sten-shuhn] Show IPA
noun

an act or instance of abstaining.

withholding of a vote.

So I read that as state one is in while abstaining, while the other the is act itself.

boron · Mar 3, 2012

I "hear" it, like abstinence is an attitude, state or period that lasts
and
abstention is either a one-time act or an act followed by a long-term attitude.

IceCreamEmpress · Mar 3, 2012

"Abstinence" is far more usual in US health and science writing.

Ketzel · Mar 3, 2012

I agree. And I think "abstention" is more usual in US legal writing. For example: Opponents to the judge's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court relied on the judge's record of abstentions to show how often the judge had a personal interest in the outcome of a court case.

boron · Mar 5, 2012

OK, so the meaning of both words is not different...

Abstinence vs. abstention

boron

Health writer

robjvargas

boron

Health writer

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Ketzel

Leaving on the 2:19

boron

Health writer