punctuality versus timekeeping

[awake2reality]

Hi

A) ... hardly any of them get to work on time
B) ... there is a noticeable lack of punctuality/timekeeping

Using A, one of the two words in B should be chosen. The answer is 'punctuality', but I don't understand what the difference is. I'd appreciate any explanation.

[Alan]

Hi,

The point the sentence makes is that 'hardly any of them' arrive at the right time - they are late and therefore they are not 'punctual'. Timekeeping suggests how well or badly someone follows the rules for arriving on time. In other words you could be good or bad at timekeeping. The word itself doesn't indicate the ability to be one or the other but 'punctuality' is essentially to do with being good at timekeeping.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Party Conferences

[awake2reality]

Thank you very much Alan.