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Draque Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
Extend the deadline or postpone the deadline ?
I often see people say or write "extend the deadline until...", so I bet this is an correct expression.
But still I can't help but wonder.
The verb "extend" means "make a period last longer" such as "stay".
But the word "deadline" is a "point in time" rather than a "period".
In that case, how should "to extend the deadline" make sense ?
Don't you think "postpone" or "delay" is more appropriate ?
Please give me your opinions.
But still I can't help but wonder.
The verb "extend" means "make a period last longer" such as "stay".
But the word "deadline" is a "point in time" rather than a "period".
In that case, how should "to extend the deadline" make sense ?
Don't you think "postpone" or "delay" is more appropriate ?
Please give me your opinions.
Top answer
Much of language does not 'make sense'. It is a matter of what is accepted and understood by its speakers. These are the number of examples found in Google Books: Extend the deadline - 1192 Postpone the deadline - 118 Delay the deadline - 0
- Much of language does not 'make sense'.
- It is a matter of what is accepted and understood by its speakers.
- These are the number of examples found in Google Books: Extend the deadline - 1192 Postpone the deadline - 118 Delay the deadline - 0
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5 Answers
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Much of language does not 'make sense'. It is a matter of what is accepted and understood by its speakers.
These are the number of examples found in Google Books:
Extend the deadline - 1192
Postpone the deadline - 118
Delay the deadline - 0
These are the number of examples found in Google Books:
Extend the deadline - 1192
Postpone the deadline - 118
Delay the deadline - 0
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Does this mean that an expression becomes correct because lots of people use it or it appears in many places? Does that mean "ain't" is correct English? I'm sure it also shows up in lots of books.
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AnonymousDoes this mean that an expression becomes correct because lots of people use it or it appears in many places?Eventually; it is just a matter of time.
AnonymousDoes that mean "ain't" is correct English?It is correct and common casual English only.
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AnonymousDoes this mean that an expression becomes correct because lots of people use it or it appears in many places?
Yes. Depends on which kind of English we are talking about -- natural, formal, informal, slang, etc. Mister Micawber answered your question in the light of natural Eng
Yes. Depends on which kind of English we are talking about -- natural, formal, informal, slang, etc. Mister Micawber answered your question in the light of natural Eng
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It may help to understand the origin of the word. During the American Civil War, many Confederate prison camps had deadlines, boundaries beyond which prisoners could not venture without being shot. The line differed from camp to camp, sometimes a rope stretched between stakes, sometimes a fence. But it was a spatial boundary before it was a temporal one, so extending such a deadline made sense.
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