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Confusing words

Expecto_Patronum

Anyone find certain words or phrases that people use really confusing even though you know what it means.

I struggle with people saying next Thursday. I know that people usually mean the Thursday after this one when they say that. But it makes little sense to me as the next Thursday is this Thursday. And what if it's Thursday that day. Do they mean the Thursday next week or the one after that. 

I always have to check which Thursday they mean and then I think a look a bit silly but I find it very confusing.

  • Me too, I always assume it means the next available thursday, but it would seem that I'm wrong, so I always ask for the date.

  • Expecto_Patronum said:
    I struggle with people saying next Thursday.

    I understand this to mean the next thursday in the calendar. You wrote this on Mon 12th so next Thursday is Thurs 15th.

    If they meant next weeks Thursday then they would use the term "Thursday week" or "a week on Thursday"

    I know some people use terminology in different ways so  where there is any confusion it is always best to ask - eg just say "so in 3 days then?" or whatever.

    There are no hard rules around this sort of thing so I find it easiest to accept this and remember that humans are inconsistent which is why I add the checks to avoid the confusion.

  • Oh no, that is a bit confusing actually, as technically next Thursday is the 15th (today being Jan 12th as point of reference), and you should say 'This Thursday' then.

    If I wanted to say Thursday 22nd, I would say 'a week on Thursday', or if it was Thursday 'a week today'.

    I think I am like you that I do ask for clarity if someone says that, as it is ambiguous. I would have to check the date too.

    For my pedantry, you can only say next *day, if it is that day of the week or it has passed, and you mean the following week. 

    It's vexing when people muddle language!