Die vs die off

Question

What is the difference between "die and die off"?

Example:

People with Parkinson´s disease, neurons in the substancia nigra slowly die off.

People with Parkinson´s disease, neurons in the substancia nigra slowly die.

Are they interchangeable?

Great question! - sinmeta, Mar 5, 2013

Thanks a lot, sinmeta!! - luisssito, Mar 5, 2013

Answer 1

They are interchangeable in certain contexts, including in your example. But they're not always interchangeable. "Die off" only can be used when referring to a group or whole category of people, it cannot be used for just one or two people dying.

For example, you could say the Neanderthal people died off thousands of years ago, meaning the entire species. You wouldn't say they died in this case.

You also wouldn't say that a person died off, just that he or she died.

Dying off is the fact of an entire large group of people or animals dying.

Sorry for the long answer, I hope it's helpful!

Thanks a lot, sinmeta!!! Your answer is clear. Just a question, why can I say neurons "die"? In Parkinson´s many neurons die off, aren´t they only supposed to take "die off"? - luisssito, Mar 5, 2013

Unless, your explanation is used to talk about people! - luisssito, Mar 5, 2013

I guess I was only thinking about whole organisms. When discussing neurons, you could say either one. I don't honestly know what the rule is, but either way is correct. - sinmeta, Mar 5, 2013

Ok, thanks a lot, sinmeta. I understand you, there are some things that just can´t be explained easily, but your explanation was great!!!! - luisssito, Mar 5, 2013

Actually Luisssito, I just thought of something else. Dying off is a gradual process, not just a single point in time. So a species or thousands or neurons can die off (it takes time). Dying, on the other hand, can happen at a single time. - sinmeta, Mar 5, 2013

I´d just like to echo that all Sinmeta´s explanations, including subsequent comments, sound just perfect. Great answers. - rogspax, Mar 5, 2013

Answer 2

To die off - indicates a gradual process and not a sudden one.

to die out - can also be used.

Update

to die away - used to say that sound is gradually fading for example.

:) - --Mariana--, Mar 5, 2013

Yes. - annierats, Mar 5, 2013

Died out - good one, Ian. I hadn't thought of that. - sinmeta, Mar 5, 2013

Thanks, ian-hill! - luisssito, Mar 5, 2013

Answer 3

Sinmeta's answer is perfect.

Some other examples....

• Because I didn't water my plants they died off one by one.

• The dinosaurs died off many centuries ago.

I agree about the plants, but I think ' died out' sounds better about the dinosaurs, because we don't know what happened. Out with a bang or a gradual decline? - annierats, Mar 5, 2013

Thanks, Mariana! - luisssito, Mar 5, 2013

Answer 4

The procedural quality is what you need to focus on, it's gradual as has already been stated, it's a slow,incremental process. "They died. off one by one".

Thanks, lagartijaverde! :), by the way, why that name? :) - luisssito, Mar 5, 2013

Answer 5

Die off is more commonly used about plants, and sometimes animals .

The grass died off quickly, after being spraryed with Paraquat.

For people you sometimes use 'picked off'.

The sniper picked off the guards, one by one,during the night . ( He had a silencer on the gun, obviously).

The girl picked off the ticks and left them to die off in a jam-jar. ( She could just let them die, it makes no odds in that sentence, nor to the horrible ticks).

We've put posion out for the rats and I hope they are dying off now.

Thanks, annie!! - luisssito, Mar 5, 2013