Assume/Presume
Both of these words mean to believe something before it happens, but there is an important difference...
If someone bangs on your door in the middle of the night, you might assume (and hope!) it's your crazy neighbor. If your neighbor knocks on your door every night at 6:30, at 6:29 you can presume she's coming over in a minute. (www.vocabulary.com)
Assume: To suppose or believe something without any proof. Ever heard your English teacher say this? To assume (Ass-u--me), makes an ass out of u and me. You and I have certainly experienced other people assuming things about us! And we are certainly are guilty of doing likewise.
Example:
Person 1: "I saw Amy with another guy at the movies last night. I'll bet she's cheating on Brian."
Person 2: "No dude, that's her brother. Steve is in town for the weekend."
Example:
Person 1: "I saw Amy with another guy at the movies last night. I'll bet she's cheating on Brian."
Person 2: "No dude, that's her brother. Steve is in town for the weekend."
Presume: From the Latin pre "before" and sumere "to take," it means to be sure of something before it happens. To suppose something without proof, but based on probability.
Example:
"My friend Greg just texted me. He's coming over. I know he's going to ask for money again."
Person 1: What are you and your husband doing this evening?
Person 2: What we always do on Friday nights--order pizza and rent a movie."
Hope that explanation blew the smoke away between these two misused and totally confused words. It sure cleared things up for me!
Example:
"My friend Greg just texted me. He's coming over. I know he's going to ask for money again."
Person 1: What are you and your husband doing this evening?
Person 2: What we always do on Friday nights--order pizza and rent a movie."
Hope that explanation blew the smoke away between these two misused and totally confused words. It sure cleared things up for me!
***
Linda
Kozar is the co-author of Babes With A
Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (Hardcover/eBook,
Howard/Simon & Schuster 2009) and author of Misfortune Cookies
(Print, Barbour Publishing 2008), Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A
Casket, and Dead As A Doornail, (“When The Fat Ladies Sing Series,”
eBooks, Spyglass Lane Mysteries, 2012). Strands of Fate released October
2012 (Hardcover/eBook, Creative Woman Mysteries), and her nonfiction title Moving
Tales, Adventures in Relocation, released in 2013 (Indie-Published). She
received the ACFW Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as
president of Writers On The Storm,
The Woodlands, Texas ACFW chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded,
co-directed and later served as Southwest Texas Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers
Guild.
In addition to writing Linda is
Lead Host of the Gate Beautiful Radio Show, part of the Red River Network on
Blog Talk Radio—interviewing Christian authors from Debut to Bestselling,
airing the 3rd Thursday of every month. She and her husband Michael,
married 24 years, have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren and a Rat Terrier
princess named Patches.
Represented
by: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such Literary Agency
Member
of: CAN (Christian Authors Network), RWA (Romance
Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston Romance Writers of America), ACFW
(American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands,
Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The Woodlands, Texas, The Woodlands
Church, The Woodlands, TX.
I've got a good one. Using the same word as a noun or verb. (If you want to know the difference check out the old School House Rock videos)
ReplyDeleteI used the word "poacher" as a noun, meaning an illegal hunter. The people around me (who will remain nameless because I know them and do I not want dire revenge coming my way) were only familiar with using "poach" (a verb) as in poaching an egg. When I explained what I meant and was surprised that they did not know what a poacher was they responded "We're not all writers who uses words like that?"
Well apparently only me, but then I'm a writer.
You're kidding me, Cindy! Really? Gosh, I can't imagine they've never heard of a poacher before. It's a common word. Oh well, it takes all kinds of people:)
ReplyDeleteSadly, it doesn't surprise me. It is the texting generation.
ReplyDeleteDo you know that it is a big deal that I know how to write a business letter? But then I like to write everything :)
Wow, you're right. The texting generation doesn't know how to do any of the old school stuff.
ReplyDelete