Imply/Infer

Posted on by Mark DuPré

Person A is talking to Person B. Person A says that Person B’s girlfriend has no personality, is only interested in Person B’s money and has negatively impacted Person B’s manners, wardrobe and personal cleanliness since knowing her.

Person A is implying (suggesting, indicating but not stating directly) that Person B might consider breaking up with his girlfriend.

If Person B hears the implication and gets the same idea, he is correctly inferring (deducing, concluding) what Person A is suggesting.

If you suggest a course of action or change of perspective without directly stating it, you are implying something. If someone picks up what you are implying, then they are inferring what you are saying.

And if Person B hears all these things that Person A is implying regarding his girlfriend and he infers that she’s great and he should continue dating her, then he is inferring incorrectly and might be a bit clueless.

Couple/couple of

Posted on by Mark DuPré

Today’s entry is about the difference between speaking and writing.

Technically, it’s only correct to say couple of and not couple when you write or speak about a couple of things. But when we speak, we often say things like “I saw a couple people I knew from class today.” Or “I think a couple teaspoons will do it.” That’s not technically accurate, but it’s become acceptable colloquially.

When writing, however, it’s important to use the phrase couple of… when referring to two items. (Of course, when we talk about two people who are in a relationship, we simply call them a couple. That’s not what we’re talking about here.)

So when using the word couple, and describing the couple, we use of with it. Trust me, it sticks out if you don’t!

Daylight Saving Time

Posted on by Mark DuPré

We’re coming up to the end of Daylight Saving Time. Not Daylight Savings Time. Just plain ol’ “saving”—with no “s” at the end.

Savings refers to money most of the time, and this changing of the clocks isn’t about money (except perhaps indirectly).

We are apparently “saving” daylight when we turn the clock ahead. So it’s just Daylight Saving Time.

Hope your body adjusts quickly!