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publicity ~ advertisement

“Publicity” (noun) is ‘the state of being known to or come to the notice of everyone; the act of providing information about something or someone to gain public attention or interest’,

[“Publicity” is something that comes into the notice of the people though the person or thing involved does not intend or plan to make it known (not on purpose), or may not necessarily spend any money to do so!  However, ‘the publicity department or the publicity campaign’ of a company or political party is an accepted usage though this department spends money to make people know about them.]

e.g.

The young swimmer got a lot of publicity when she swam the 10 Km. long river upstream.

The government spends a lot of money on the publicity campaign to develop awareness of the killer disease AIDS.

The divorce case of a prominent industrialist got a lot of publicity, and it ruined his business.   [i.e.  he actually did not want his divorce issue known to public but through newspapers or otherwise it was brought out]

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“Advertisement” (noun) [also ‘ad’ in simple & short form] is ‘a notice of something such as a sale or job position, service offered or service needed printed in a newspaper or shown in films or on TV or painted on hoardings’

{“Advertisement” is something that comes into the notice of the people because it is made on purpose to attract the attention of the people, and it is usually done by spending money, a lot of it at times, to do it!}

e.g.

There is an advertisement in today’s newspaper for the post of cleaners.

He put/placed an advertisement for his new product.

There is an advertisement by the new restaurant for cooks.

Common Errors:

1.

There is a publicity in the newspaper for drivers.   [wrong]

There is an advertisement in the newspaper for drivers.  [right]

2.

Mother Teresa was given a good advertisement for her social work.  [wrong]

Mother Teresa was given publicity for her social work.  [right]

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