Assistance or Assistants?

What is the difference between assistance and assistants?

Assistance means help or aid. For example: Assistants are people who provide help. It is the plural of the noun assistant. For example:

Assistance and Assistants

The words assistance and assistants sound identical, but their meanings are different. Here's a very quick summary:

Assistance

The noun assistance means help. It usually means providing money, resources, or information to assist. Assistance can usually be substituted with the word help.

Examples:

Assistants

The word assistants describes people who provide help. It is the plural of the noun assistant.

Examples:

A Quick Test

Much Assistance and Many Assistants

Assistance is a non-countable noun; i.e., it doesn't have a plural form. Therefore, many cannot be used with assistance because many is only used with countable nouns (like assistants). With assistance, use much. For example:


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See Also

What are nouns? What are non-countable nouns? What are countable nouns? List of easily confused words