Elicit is a verb: get a reaction, draw out an answer or information: elicit a response, elicit a smile. Illicit is an adjective: illegal or not allowed: illicit trade, an illicit affair. In speech they sound almost the same, which is why people mix them up in writing.
elicit or illicit — can you pick the right one?
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elicit a response/information from someone; illicit trade/activity; illicitly
- The interviewer used an open question to elicit a detailed response.
- The joke elicited a brief smile from the otherwise silent guest.
- The report examined the illicit sale of stolen museum objects.
What changed
First versionThe survey was designed to illicit honest feedback.
RevisionThe survey was designed to elicit honest feedback.
Illicit gets written by ear because it sounds nearly identical. But after designed to you need a verb, and the only verb in this pair is elicit. Illicit is an adjective that describes a noun: illicit trade.
Elicit is more formal than get: get feedback is conversational, elicit feedback belongs in a report or article. A third lookalike is explicit, meaning clear and direct: explicit instructions.
Your turn
Choose the verb meaning obtain a reaction: The question failed to ___ a clear answer.
Show the answer
elicit — After failed to you need the verb meaning get a response: elicit. Illicit is an adjective meaning illegal.
Describe a question, joke or photo that got an unexpected reaction from people. Use elicit.
The photographs elicited questions about how the neighbourhood had changed.
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