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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
How to distinguish the two phrase, set off and set out!
Dear Sir/Madam,
I can't distinguish between set off and set out,would you please help me !
I can't thank you enough!
I can't distinguish between set off and set out,would you please help me !
I can't thank you enough!
Top answer
This is one of the few situations where they overlap, and where they can be very probably interchangeably used: ------- set out intransitive verb : to start out on a course, a journey, or a career <set out across the sea> <set out early from his cabin> <the engineering course he had originally set out on> set off intransitive verb 1 : to start out on a course or a journey <set off for home> <saddled up and set off in pursuit> Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary ------ Otherwise they are pretty much different. Suggest looking in a dictionary. But I'm definitely curious to know what others will have to say on this subject.
- This is one of the few situations where they overlap, and where they can be very probably interchangeably used: ------- set out intransitive verb : to start out on a course, a journey, or a career <set out across the sea> <set out early from his cabin> <the engineering course he had originally set out on> set off intransitive verb 1 : to start out on a course or a journey <set off for home> <saddled up and set off in pursuit> Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary ------ Otherwise they are pretty much different.
- Suggest looking in a dictionary.
- But I'm definitely curious to know what others will have to say on this subject.
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5 Answers
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This is one of the few situations where they overlap, and where they can be very probably interchangeably used:
-------
set out
intransitive verb :
to start out on a course, a journey, or a career
<set out across the sea> <set out early from his cabin> <the
engineering course he had ori
-------
set out
intransitive verb :
to start out on a course, a journey, or a career
<set out across the sea> <set out early from his cabin> <the
engineering course he had ori
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As mentioned above, each has several meanings, but if it's a matter of the meanings related to starting, they are interchangeable. To my ear, there is only an extremely slight difference in the shade of meaning. set out gives a more determined and serious feel to the action, while set off gives a more casual and breezy feel to the action.
The mountain climbers set o
The mountain climbers set o
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set out gives a more determined and serious feel to the action, while set off gives a more casual and breezy feel to the action.Maybe that's not idiosyncratic. I can sense that, too, even as an ESL student.
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The mountain climbers set out for the peak on the fifth day.
set out - to start a (usually long) journey by making a first step like leaving the starting place
The children set off on their picnic all smiles and laughter.
set off - to make an initial action which consequences is a beginning of a journey
The light difference is in focus:
se
set out - to start a (usually long) journey by making a first step like leaving the starting place
The children set off on their picnic all smiles and laughter.
set off - to make an initial action which consequences is a beginning of a journey
The light difference is in focus:
se
00
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