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'Display' and 'exhibit'

Question
'Display' and 'exhibit'
Answer

The nouns exhibit and display are used in slightly different contexts.

Claudia asks an excellent question: 

Which of these two can be used is the sentence: "The director gave a detailed (display/exhibit) on the future plans for the art gallery."

Would you please explain to me the different meaning of these two nouns? 

 

display in this context would be something that shows an example of something that can be generalized:

A display of strength.

The store's window display had a jacket I like.

Her trophies are in a display case.

 

An exhibit is used to refer to something specific, often in the context of a museum:

We saw the museum exhibit devoted to ancient Greek vases.

There's a new exhibit of contemporary art at the museum.

I was interested in seeing an exhibit of her work.

 

Note that idioms share this distinction:

On display simply means "being shown": 

The new televisions are on display in the store.

Exhibit A means "a perfect example": 

I use myself as exhibit A of laziness.

 

Finally, I wouldn't use either display or exhibit in this case. Here's what I would suggest:

The director gave a detailed presentation on the future plans for the art gallery.

 

 

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