Is that creature venomous or poisonous? 

These are two commonly confused words and are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings.

What’s the difference?

Something is venomous if it injects its toxin through a bite or sting. Think snakes, wasps, scorpions, and spiders.

Something is poisonous if it produces toxins when it is touched or eaten. Think frogs, octopuses, deadly nightshade, and hemlock.

Why care?

Using the correct words shows you know what you’re talking about, and you will build trust with your readers.

When words are used incorrectly, they can at best pull the reader out of your story, or at worst, lose your reader’s trust.

When might you use them incorrectly?

If you’re writing dialogue then you have more freedom to bend the rules. If someone you spoke to isn’t used to snakes, they might have shouted “Snake! Watch out, it’s probably poisonous!”

Outside of dialogue and fiction though, stick to the correct words. If it bites you, it’s venomous. If you touch it or eat it, it’s poisonous.

What’s next?

If you need help wrangling your adventure into a compelling narrative, contact me and we can start a conversation.

References

dictionary.com, ‘venomous’.

dictionary.com, ‘poisonous’.

Rafferty, John P. Britannica, ‘What’s the difference between venomous and poisonous?’

Australian Academy of Science, ‘Poison vs. Venom’