Grammar and Punctuation The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation

Childish, Childlike

Both are comparisons with children. The difference is that childish is unflattering; it's equivalent to infantile and only a small improvement on babyish. Someone is childish when acting unreasonable or bratty.

Not so with childlike, a word that extols youthful virtues, such as sweetness, purity, and innocence.


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