Pilferage Vs. Theft: Which Should You Use In Writing?

Pilferage and theft are different words with related definitions. This causes much confusion among writers. This pilferage vs. theft post will help you determine which of these words is correct to use in writing.

Pilferage refers to the recurrent theft of small things of little value. On the other hand, theft is the act of stealing or felonious acquisition or removal of another person’s personal property. The difference between these words is that pilferage is a form of theft, while theft is a general word.

One of the beautiful things about the English language is the presence of many words. However, this benefit can also be a challenge, especially when you encounter confusing or close words like pilferage and theft. This write-up will clarify the differences between these words and help you choose the right one to use in writing.

Definitions Of Pilferage And Theft

The first natural step in finding the differences between words is researching their meanings. So, find the definitions of pilferage and theft below:

So, what’s the definition of pilferage? Pilferage refers to the recurrent theft of small amounts, little articles, or things of little value. 

Definitions Of Theft

Theft is the act of stealing property. Also, it is the unlawful act of taking something from someone or the crime of stealing.

Another source defines theft as the felonious taking or removing of a person’s personal property with the intent to deprive them of the same. This source also refers to larceny as another word for theft.

A more comprehensive definition of this noun is “taking another person’s property, items, or services without their consent. Various types of theft exist, like burglary, larceny, robbery, fraud, or shoplifting.

How To Properly Use Pilferage And Theft In A Sentence

People often get confused by words like pilferage and theft because of their meanings. However, now that the text above explains their differences, we can dig into how you can use these words. Here are a few guidelines:

How And When To Use The Word Pilferage

Use this word in a sentence when referring to the theft of small things or items of little value. It is crucial to note that this word is a noun. Let’s explain more about that below.

• Pilferage is a common noun. Therefore, it is a generic name for an action and should not have an initial capital letter unless it appears at the start of a sentence or in a title.
• Pilferage is an abstract type of common noun. An abstract noun refers to something you cannot see, hear, or sense but know it exists.

When using the term in a sentence, note that it can serve as the subject, object (direct or indirect), complement (for a subject or object), appositive, or adjective.

• As the subject, pilferage should be the recipient of an action denoted by a verb. For example, “Pilferage is punishable by the law.”
• As an object, pilferage should be the recipient of the action done by the subject. For example, “Tell Simon about your pilferage charges.”
• As a complement, pilferage should explain more about an object or a subject in a sentence. For example, “John is a pilferage defender.” 
• As an appositive noun, this word should appear after another noun to explain it further. For example, “The offense, pilferage, will cost you three months in prison.”
• Sometimes, you can use this noun as an adjective. For example, “Jimmy is a pilferage demon.”

Other Word Forms of the Word Pilferage

This word is majorly an uncountable noun. It lacks the plural form in most contexts. A good example sentence is, “Jimmy was charged on two pilferage charges.” Interestingly, you can still use it in plural contexts.

For instance, in specific contexts, you can use the plural form “pilferages.” Only use this plural form in reference to various types or collections. For example, “John committed various forms of pilferages.” Besides the plural form, this word does not have other forms, like the past and present tense, because it is a noun, not a verb.

How And When To Use The Word Theft

Use the word theft as a noun. Therefore, refer to the guidelines above when using it in sentences. Something else worth noting is the context in which you use this noun. Use the word theft in a sentence as a noun to refer to:

• The crime of stealing
• Unlawfully taking possession of something
• Copying someone’s written work
• Taking away something or someone by force
• An illegal scheme
• Trading smuggled goods 

Note: theft is a countable noun. Its plural form is thefts. You can use a countable noun with articles like a, an, the, some, many, or few. For example, “The family did not expect the theft.”

The Main Differences Between The Words Pilferage And Theft

The key difference between these words is in their definition. Theft refers to the unlawful or forceful acquisition of another person’s property or services. It is a general word. In contrast, pilferage is a form of theft that involves small things of little value.

Apart from pilferage, other forms of theft are burglary, robbery, larceny, library theft, looting, or fraud. In addition to this, here are other differences between these words:

Spelling

Another prevalent difference between these words is their spelling. The spellings differ so much that you may not think the two words have any similarities unless you know their definitions.

Pronunciation And Syllables

The correct way to say pilferage is “/pil-fer-ij/.” This word has three syllables. In contrast, the proper way to articulate theft is “/theft/.” This term is monosyllable.

Origin and Formation

The word theft comes from the Old English word “peofo,” a direct translation of “theft.” It also has Proto-Germanic and Old Frisian roots. The first recorded application of this word in writing was in the late 12th century.

In contrast, the noun pilferage came about in the 1620s by combining the words pilfer and age. Pilfer is a transitive verb meaning “to steal in small quantities.” On the other hand, “-age” is a word-forming element in nouns of action, function, or condition.

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List Of Examples Of Pilferage And Theft Use In Sentences

Now that you know the differences between these words, you can start using them in sentences correctly. Check out the following sentence examples for motivation and inspiration.

Example sentences of the word pilferage

1. Anita is researching the causes of pilferage behaviors among teens.
2. Pilferage is a form of petty crime.
3. John earned a bad reputation when the cops arrested him for pilferage.
4. The court dropped Don’s pilferage charges when the complainant failed to provide evidence of the crime.
5. Mum punished my sibling when he admitted to pilferage.

Example sentences of the word theft

1. The brothers used the information on the computer to commit identity theft. 
2. Jimmy got a three-month prison sentence for theft. 
3. Theft is not a petty crime, especially if it involves violence. 
4. Theft with violence is a serious crime, punishable by up to twenty years in prison. 
5. Publishing someone’s intellectual work without their permission is a form of theft. 
6. When writing articles online, if you copy from someone else’s article, that is considered theft.

Wrapping Up: Pilferage Vs. Theft

Pilferage is the act of stealing petty items or things of little value. On the other hand, theft is the act of unlawfully taking another person’s property or services. The difference between these words is small but existent.

These words also differ in origin, formation, spelling, and pronunciation. Read this article exhaustively and use these words in sentences correctly. Feel free to write and share your sentences with others as you keep practicing.