"Whenever" and "Seen"

[Randi]

I have a new question... when do you use "assume" and when do you use "presume"? Oh and surmise?

And a few more...

speak/talk

stamina/perseverance

explain/elucidate

Anyone know?

[Edwina's Secretary]

I have a new question... when do you use "assume" and when do you use "presume"? Oh and surmise?

And a few more...

speak/talk

stamina/perseverance

explain/elucidate

Anyone know?

What fun questions! Let's see what people come up with (without using a dictionary!)

Assume means to come to a conclusion based based on surrounding information.

Presume to me is just about the same thing - only with more emphasis

Surmise - drawing a conclusion - has a certain connotation to me of looking down your nose at the person who does not surmise as your do

Speak/talk - same thing - one just has more letters

Stamina is energy. Again - connotation - lots of energy

Stamina is what I need to have to persevere.

Preseverance - sticks with a task even though it is difficult

Explain/elucidate - mean the same thing - to describe. Elucidate has an air about it of "I will tell you, you poor simpleton, how it really is."

[K9soul]

I would use speak when referring to a language, i.e. "I speak English," "Do you speak Spanish?"

"Talk" seems maybe slightly more informal, like "We need to talk." "Let's talk about pets." But when someone is giving a speech or a lecture they are usually considered to be "speaking" or a "speaker." Subtle differences and in some cases interchangeable.

[Randi]

It's amazing, the more English I read and write, the more I'm becoming? aware how much more I need to learn. I realize I can not apply for a job where they want "fluent English".


AdoreMyDogs, I caught you - he he! See this:

I see a lot of incorrect grammer here in Texas, more then I've ever seen before when I lived in Michigan.

Lots are making this mistake, though - and I will never understand why.

[Catherinedana]

OK - I'm from Brooklyn and when I moved to Florida (pronouned Fla-rida by me and Floor-ida) by most others, I got a bit of ribbing about my accent. I have lost the most intense part of my accent living outside of NY now for 15 years (I have learned to pronounce the "r" at the end of words! LOL!) but still backslide when I'm with my family or very comfortable with someone or very angry. I have my college degree in English and am a good writer, understanding the finer points of punctuation and such but I also believe that spoken English is very different from written. I would like to see folks take more care with their written English, but I absolutely LOVE accents and enjoy talking to people from other places and hearing how they speak. My former husband was from Ireland and he and his friends and relatives had me enraptured with their accents and use of words. I think that's the only reason I married him!!!!

Cut people some slack about their language use when they talk and enjoy the differences. . .it's really cool! One thing that does make me a bit nuts though is th use of "heigth" instead of "height". It's just plain incorrect and makes even the most intellegent person sound dopey. I hear that a lot in FL where I live. I even yelle at one of my bosses once when he said it repeatedly throughout the day and drove me crazy!

Cheers!
Cathy (formerly of Brooklyn, New Yawk)

[Randi]

I'm not completely sure, but the pronounciation of "heigth" as "hieght", sounds like it could be a person from South Africa, perhaps?

[orangemm]

I've seen a lot of people write "could of" instead of "could have". WHY???

Or if someone says "She gave the gift to Bill and I"..........ARGH!

Also, the improper use of to and too.

Also, "loosing weight", HUH?

People, please, go back to school and learn proper English!

Am I too picky?

[Catherinedana]

I'm not completely sure, but the pronounciation of "heigth" as "hieght", sounds like it could be a person from South Africa, perhaps?

It IS pronounced height with the "T" sound on the end of the word, since it is actually spelled that way and if you check the dictionary (go online and they even pronounce it for you) that is the correct way. "Heigth" with the "th" sound at the end of the word, is spelled and pronouned incorrectly. . .

[phesina]

It's amazing, the more English I read and write, the more I'm becoming? aware how much more I need to learn. I realize I can not apply for a job where they want "fluent English".

Randi, you speak (or at least write) English beautifully! I don't think I know even one word of Danish .