Anomalous vs anonymous

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Grammarist

Anomalous and anonymous are two words that are often confused. We will look at the difference between the definitions of anomalous and anonymous, where these two words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.

Anomalous describes something that deviates from the norm, something non-standard or unexpected. Anomalous is the adjective form of the noun, anomaly. The word anomalous is derived from the Greek word anomalos, which means irregular or uneven.

Anonymous describes someone who is not singled out by name or someone who is unidentified. Anonymous may also mean impersonal or unremarkable. Anonymous is also an adjective, the noun form is anonymity. The word anonymous is derived from the Greek word anōnumos, which means without a name.

Examples

The House leader said that it was only recently, that evidences and documents surrounding the alleged anomalous deal were discovered. (The Manila Bulletin)

THE Supreme Court (SC) Third Division has reversed a Court of Appeals (CA) decision that reinstated a police official allegedly involved in the anomalous purchase of P131.5 million worth of defective rubber boats in 2009. (The SunStar Manila)

“I spent 20 years up all night, reading about Roswell, Dulce, Serpo, Churchill, the crashes here, Nazis building craft there, Antarctica, what’s on Mars, what’s on the back of the moon, anomalous structures.” (The Daily Star)

An apparently anonymous campaign mailer making the rounds in Fort Collins City Council District 1 is drawing the ire of the candidate it’s ostensibly intended to help. (The Coloradoan)

Glynn County school officials met Wednesday to discuss ways to address what has become a recurring issue of anonymous threats being scrawled on school walls. (The Golden Isles News)