The two words ’information’ and ’communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out communication is getting through.

Sydney J. Harris (1917–1986) was a widely syndicated American newspaper columnist known for concise, aphoristic observations about public life, education, and human behavior. This remark reflects mid‑20th‑century concerns—heightened by mass media, advertising, and bureaucratic institutions—that sheer volume of facts and messages does not guarantee understanding. In the world Harris wrote for, organizations increasingly prized “getting information out” (press releases, reports, announcements), while audiences often remained confused or unconvinced. The line distills a practical lesson from journalism and civic discourse: effective communication must be judged by what is received and understood, not by what is merely transmitted.

Harris draws a sharp distinction between transmission and reception. “Information” names the act of supplying data—sending, publishing, or broadcasting—while “communication” is successful transfer of meaning, measured by comprehension and impact on the listener or reader. The epigram critiques a common institutional self‑deception: believing that because something was said, it was communicated. It also implies an ethical responsibility on the sender to adapt to the audience—clarity, context, and empathy matter as much as accuracy. The quote remains influential in education, management, and media studies because it frames communication as an outcome (understanding) rather than an activity (speaking).

1) “Information is giving out; communication is getting through.”
2) “Information is giving out. Communication is getting through.”
3) “The words ‘information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things: information is giving out, communication is getting through.”