Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
Selected vs Pre-selected	BeDelicious	07/16/05
Hi everybody. I'm new to this board. I was wondering what the difference between "selected" and "pre-selected" was? Could somebody explain it to me using some examples? Thanks very much.
Answered By		Answered On
Schoolmarm		07/17/05
Welcome, BeDelicious. The difference is slight, and primarily syntactic. It's a matter of connotation. If something is "selected" it is chosen from a group. The end user generally is assumed to be making the selection. If something is "pre-selected", the group has been assessed by an outside agency before being offered to you for your own selection. "The used cars on our lot are pre-selected for style and mechanical perfection" would suggest that the owner of the lot has chosen from a large group only the cars he found to be exceptional. From that pre-selected group, you are then allowed to make your choice. "I have selected the best of the best for your entree tonight" suggests that a single choice was made from a larger group. In general, the word "pre-selected" is over-used and often meaningless in context. "Selected" is sufficient under most circumstances.

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