Comments on: Is There a Difference Between “Assume” and “Presume”? http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-there-a-difference-between-assume-and-presume/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:00:10 -0600 hourly 1 By: David http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-there-a-difference-between-assume-and-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-180004 David Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:23:06 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=1993#comment-180004 Whilst the words are generally interchangeable when the meaning "is suppose" to be the case eg. "I assume/presume you are coming to the party" The subtlety is in the extent of prior knowlege be the person asking. Assume is used when there is no proof (or knowlege) that something is the case. "I assume you are coming to the party" The person asking has no knowlege of what the case would be and is not relying on any other known condition. For example: The person asking does not know anything else that would lead them to believe the person was coming to the party. "I assume you are coming to the party, because I expect you would be" (dominant tone) "I presume you are coming to the party" Presume is used when the person is relying upon a faint suggestion of presumptuousness or some arguable element they believe exists. For example: the person asking knows or believes they know some other information that would tend to suggest the person was coming to the party. "I presume you are coming to the party, because you always have in the past" (passive tone) Whilst the words are generally interchangeable when the meaning “is suppose” to be the case eg. “I assume/presume you are coming to the party”

The subtlety is in the extent of prior knowlege be the person asking.

Assume is used when there is no proof (or knowlege) that something is the case.
“I assume you are coming to the party” The person asking has no knowlege of what the case would be and is not relying on any other known condition.
For example: The person asking does not know anything else that would lead them to believe the person was coming to the party.
“I assume you are coming to the party, because I expect you would be” (dominant tone)

“I presume you are coming to the party”
Presume is used when the person is relying upon a faint suggestion of presumptuousness or some arguable element they believe exists.
For example: the person asking knows or believes they know some other information that would tend to suggest the person was coming to the party.
“I presume you are coming to the party, because you always have in the past” (passive tone)

]]> By: Lauren http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-there-a-difference-between-assume-and-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-122237 Lauren Sat, 23 May 2009 23:14:17 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=1993#comment-122237 to assume is to take on - such as a responsibility. to presume is to make an educated guess. to assume is to take on – such as a responsibility.
to presume is to make an educated guess.

]]> By: Gab http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-there-a-difference-between-assume-and-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-110374 Gab Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:54:59 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=1993#comment-110374 Brad, politeness isn't the only purpose of speech! In choosing how to say something, you need to decide what's most appropriate for the context. If you want to be cheeky and provocative, or even threatening, you'll choose a different way of expressing your thoughts from the way you might have chosen in a more formal context. That doesn't mean that the informal version is ungrammatical or 'wrong' - it can actually be the most appropriate version to choose in the context. Think of that scene in "My Fair Lady", where Eliza keeps saying "HOW do you do?" to each of the new people she meets, which seems so funny to Freddie that he replies with "How DO you do?" The way she'd been taught to say it ignored its contemporary usage as a greeting rather than a question, so her intonation ended up sounding odd to other speakers. Poor thing - wasn't her fault at all! Btw, clearly I have no problem with using capitals to emphasise something (especially something already within inverted commas), when bolding, underlining and italics aren't available, just like on a typewriter. What's the big issue with that? :) Brad, politeness isn’t the only purpose of speech!

In choosing how to say something, you need to decide what’s most appropriate for the context. If you want to be cheeky and provocative, or even threatening, you’ll choose a different way of expressing your thoughts from the way you might have chosen in a more formal context. That doesn’t mean that the informal version is ungrammatical or ‘wrong’ – it can actually be the most appropriate version to choose in the context.

Think of that scene in “My Fair Lady”, where Eliza keeps saying “HOW do you do?” to each of the new people she meets, which seems so funny to Freddie that he replies with “How DO you do?” The way she’d been taught to say it ignored its contemporary usage as a greeting rather than a question, so her intonation ended up sounding odd to other speakers.

Poor thing – wasn’t her fault at all!

Btw, clearly I have no problem with using capitals to emphasise something (especially something already within inverted commas), when bolding, underlining and italics aren’t available, just like on a typewriter. What’s the big issue with that? :)

]]> By: Brad K. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-there-a-difference-between-assume-and-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-109456 Brad K. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:04:09 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=1993#comment-109456 anony, the first guy 1 and guy 2 example is not proper use, nor correct use of assume. Note that using all capital letters is the common way to emphasize a word .. on a typewriter. Since I saw it on my browser, the correct way to emphasize a word varies. Some use quotation marks, hyphens, or asterisks to set off the important word. Others craft a well-written sentence to make their point. Guy 2, in your first example, insinuates in a deceptive or manipulative, almost bullying, manner. Guy 2 could have said politely, "So, will you be getting more? I would like a taste, too." Instead he "assumes" that he deserves, or is sufficiently intimidating, to get a portion of the sweets that guy 1 just enjoyed. There is nothing about polite speech here - this sounds more like gangsters or common thugs leaning on those they prey on. In your second example, I would have used assume. The assumption guy 2 makes is right now - guy 2 has already assumed, in order to make this statement, that in order to become a broker, guy 1 must begin preparing. Assume has nothing to do, in this statement, with guy 1, with guy 1's career goals, or with anyone preparing or taking classes or earning degrees. I use presume when I expect additional information in the future, relating to a choice or decision. anony, the first guy 1 and guy 2 example is not proper use, nor correct use of assume. Note that using all capital letters is the common way to emphasize a word .. on a typewriter. Since I saw it on my browser, the correct way to emphasize a word varies. Some use quotation marks, hyphens, or asterisks to set off the important word. Others craft a well-written sentence to make their point.

Guy 2, in your first example, insinuates in a deceptive or manipulative, almost bullying, manner. Guy 2 could have said politely, “So, will you be getting more? I would like a taste, too.” Instead he “assumes” that he deserves, or is sufficiently intimidating, to get a portion of the sweets that guy 1 just enjoyed. There is nothing about polite speech here – this sounds more like gangsters or common thugs leaning on those they prey on.

In your second example, I would have used assume. The assumption guy 2 makes is right now – guy 2 has already assumed, in order to make this statement, that in order to become a broker, guy 1 must begin preparing. Assume has nothing to do, in this statement, with guy 1, with guy 1’s career goals, or with anyone preparing or taking classes or earning degrees.

I use presume when I expect additional information in the future, relating to a choice or decision.

]]> By: anony http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-there-a-difference-between-assume-and-presume/comment-page-1/#comment-109048 anony Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:30:50 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=1993#comment-109048 Well suppose is lyk a question... you know.. the outcome of that question is lyk entirely optional.. nothing certain. erm... assume is kind of like saying what you think will happen E.g guy 1: Omg... those sweets were soo nice! guy 2: so i ASSUME you're going to get some more.... you know what i mean? And finally presume is for something quite a long way in the future guy 1: I want to become a stock broker guy 2: I presume you're going to take a degree in business. source: A 14 and 1 month year old... that sounded wrong..... kid from england =] stunned all of ya right! Well suppose is lyk a question… you know.. the outcome of that question is lyk entirely optional.. nothing certain.

erm… assume is kind of like saying what you think will happen E.g

guy 1: Omg… those sweets were soo nice!
guy 2: so i ASSUME you’re going to get some more…. you know what i mean?

And finally presume is for something quite a long way in the future
guy 1: I want to become a stock broker
guy 2: I presume you’re going to take a degree in business.

source: A 14 and 1 month year old… that sounded wrong…..
kid from england =] stunned all of ya right!

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