Use diligence when the effort is both careful and persistent. It sounds more approving and formal than hard work, and it often appears with with diligence, great diligence, or due diligence.
Use diligence when the effort is both careful and persistent. It sounds more approving and formal than hard work, and it often appears with with diligence, great diligence, or due diligence.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She completed the report with a diligence | She completed the report with diligence |
| He did the task with much diligence | He did the task with great diligence |
| They worked with diligence in the project | They worked with diligence on the project |
Use diligence in this sense mainly in legal, finance, and business contexts. The phrase due diligence is the normal term for checking facts, risks, documents, and obligations before a deal or decision.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| We realized due diligence before the deal | We conducted due diligence before the deal |
| The buyer made due diligence on the company | The buyer conducted due diligence on the company |
| They signed without doing the due diligence | They signed without conducting due diligence |
Diligence is strongest when care and sustained effort matter together. In business and law, due diligence is the fixed phrase for a careful pre-decision investigation.
Diligent is the adjective, diligently is the adverb, and diligence is the noun. For business checks, conduct due diligence is more natural than make due diligence.
Borrowed through Anglo-French from Latin diligentia, meaning attentiveness or carefulness, from diligere, to value, esteem, or choose carefully. The older English word also had a sense of haste or speed, but modern use centers on careful effort and required care.
What does diligence mean?
Diligence means careful, steady, and persistent effort in doing work or carrying out a responsibility.
Is diligence countable?
It is usually uncountable. Say with diligence or great diligence, not a diligence for ordinary effort.
What is due diligence?
Due diligence is careful investigation or review before a business, legal, or financial decision.
What is the difference between diligent and diligence?
Diligent is the adjective. Diligence is the noun for the quality or practice.
What is the adverb form of diligence?
The adverb is diligently, as in They worked diligently.
Is diligence a positive word?
Yes. It usually praises careful effort, reliability, and attention to detail.
Do you say make due diligence?
No. The usual phrases are conduct due diligence, perform due diligence, or carry out due diligence.