LexBrew
Confusables Entry 1065 / 1350 60-second read

Dis- vs. Dys-

Negation or reversal versus impaired or abnormal.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

Her disfunction at work was medical.

✓ Correct

Her dysfunction at work was medical.

The ruleii

DIS- = not / reverse. DYS- = impaired.

DIS- is Latin (dislike, disagree, disappear — plain negation). DYS- is Greek (dysfunction, dyslexia, dystopia — impaired or painful). Medical terms almost always take DYS-.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Medical = DYS. Everyday = DIS.

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