Monday marks the 54th annual Earth Day, a day meant to encourage environmentalism, sustainability and climate action. To celebrate, we’re digging a little deeper on the terms climate change and global warming.

The terms are often used interchangeably, but global warming is only one aspect of climate change. Global warming is exactly what it sounds like: The temperature of the Earth as a whole is on the rise. But this temperature rise doesn’t happen equally everywhere, with temperatures rising in some places while they fall in others. Even though these temperature changes are caused by global warming, the term “climate change” might be less confusing since temperatures drop in certain locations.

And while global warming is a factor of the changing climate, “climate change” is a more overarching term that refers to a broader range of changes to the planet, including sea-level rise, shrinking glaciers and longer heat waves.

And if “climate change” doesn’t sound serious enough, there’s also climate crisis or climate emergency, which are used to convey a greater sense of urgency about the situation.

Whatever term you use, just be sure to get your facts right. Scientifically accurate reporting on climate change can help readers understand that our environment is under threat and encourage them to support climate action, according to a study from The Ohio State University.

Before you go: We are thrilled to share that Stylebot is a finalist in the Next Challenge for Media & Journalism. The competition features companies that are reinventing media and news, and we're honored that our work is being recognized. There is a public voting period that opens May 2, and we would appreciate your support. Expect the link to vote in the May 3 newsletter.

❤ Team Stylebot

💌 A tip a week

If someone forwarded you this email, subscribe here to get one writing tip a week in your inbox.

💬 Get reliable, ethical writing advice at your fingertips

Improving your writing means making better choices every day. Stylebot makes it easy with our Slack, Teams and Google Chrome extensions. Try Stylebot for free today.

📝 About Stylebot

Stylebot helps media professionals save time without sacrificing quality by answering editing questions on Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Chrome. We're on a mission to make editing faster, easier and more fun ✨ Learn more about Stylebot or follow us Instagram, X or LinkedIn.