If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#36
|
|||
|
|||
Quirk in W2003 grammar
That's exactly the distinction I arrived at for "fast" vs. "quick
(ly)." It also fits Tony's intuition about something that "happens quickly" rather than "happens fast" -- I wonder whether he could be persuaded to come back and reconsider his rejection of "he ran fast." On Feb 16, 3:43*pm, Gordon Bentley-Mix gordon(dot)bentleymix(at)gmail (dot)com wrote: Peter, In my mind there is an extremely fine but important difference between "fast" and "quick". Fast is related to top speed, whereas quick has more to do with agility or acceleration.Therefore, while the two sentences are highly similar, they are not identical. As for my preference, it depends on what information is being requested. If the question is about who had the greater maximum speed, then "faster" is the logical choice. However, if the question is about who could reach a certain speed soonest, then "quicker" wins. (Pun intended ;-P) For example, the Bugatti Veyron is billed as being the fastest production car in the world by virtue of its top speed approaching 300 km/h. However, there are several production cars which reach 100 km/h in less time and, therefore, are quicker. Similarly, something like a Lotus Esprit could probably traverse a winding, hilly route in less time than a Veyron, and in this instance, I would classify the Esprit as quicker - although the Veyron is indisputably faster. Don't you just *love* English? The subtleties are spectacular! No wonder non-native speakers - no matter how well schooled - find it so difficult, and software - no matter how well designed - struggles so much. (Hmm... "software struggles"... is that correct? Word seems to think so.eg) -- Cheers! Gordon Bentley-Mix Word MVP |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|