Diligent and hardworking are often used interchangeably, but there's a subtle difference. Hardworking simply means putting in a lot of effort and working for long hours. Diligent, however, implies a careful and conscientious approach to work. A diligent person pays close attention to detail and strives for accuracy and high quality in their work, while a hardworking person might focus on sheer volume of work completed, regardless of the quality. Think of it this way: a hardworking person might mow the lawn quickly, while a diligent person would mow the lawn carefully, ensuring all the edges are neat and the grass is evenly cut.

Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference:

• Hardworking: "She's a hardworking student who spends many hours studying." (Meaning: She puts in a lot of study time.)

• Diligent: "He's a diligent researcher who always double-checks his data." (Meaning: He pays close attention to details and accuracy in his research.)

• Hardworking: "The construction workers were hardworking and finished the job ahead of schedule." (Meaning: They put in many hours and completed the job quickly.)

• Diligent: "The diligent artist spent weeks perfecting the smallest details of her painting." (Meaning: She put painstaking attention to every aspect of her artwork.)

• Hardworking: "Despite being hardworking, he didn't get the promotion." (Meaning: He worked hard but maybe didn't show additional qualities for promotion.)

• Diligent: "Her diligent efforts paid off, and she received top marks on her exam." (Meaning: Her careful and attentive work led to success.)

While diligence often involves hard work, hard work doesn't always mean diligence. Diligence implies a focus on quality and conscientiousness, while hard work simply implies a large amount of effort.

Happy learning!