Is an Argument Always a Fight?
"Argument" and "fight" can be treated as synonyms, but each word carries distinct tones. In Ian McEwan's World War II novel, Atonement, for instance, "argument" appears in moments of urgency without implying hostility: "They were right in its path and there was no time for argument." By contrast, McEwan uses
"fight" signals aggression or conflict, as in, "No will to fight for their own country." Throughout the novel, "argument" conveys disagreement in pursuit of a solution, while "fight" suggests hostility, sometimes with physical implications. This distinction mirrors how the words are used in everyday speech. An argument is a reasoned...
