I guess/I'm guessing.

Question

What's the difference between "I guess" and "I'm guessing"?

I can think of one case where only the former can be used: "Do you like sushi?" "I guess"
where I don't think the response can be replaced by "I'm guessing."

But in most other cases that come to mind, both seem to work just fine (to me anyway):
"I guess this is a typo."
"I'm guessing this is a typo."
But I think there should be some difference. How are they different?

thanks,
becky

Usenet · Accepted Answer

On 28 May 2004 13:15:21 -0700, becky wrote, in part:
[nq:1]"I guess this is a typo." "I'm guessing this is a typo." But I think there should be some difference. How are they different?[/nq]
I think the latter is less correct. That is, I'd use it without hesitation, but wouldn't write it in a letter.
Michael Hamm NB: Of late, my e-mail address is being AM, Math, Wash. U. St. Louis 'spoofed' a bit. That is, spammers send (Email Removed) e-mail that seems to be from me. Please http://math.wustl.edu/~msh210/ realize that no spam is in fact from me.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What's the difference between "I guess" and "I'm guessing"? I can think of one case where only the former can ... a typo." "I'm guessing this is a typo." But I think there should be some difference. How are they different?[/nq]
Words like promise, suggest, advise, insist, refuse etc. use the Present Simple, when you talk in the first person ("I promise" ...). "I guess" is in the same category, IMO.

You can probably use "I'm guessing" in a dialogue like this: - "How do you know this is a typo?"
- "I'm just guessing"
where you're not actually making the guess, but you're talking about HOW you reached your conclusion.

Usenet · Answer

There are different usages here.
The usual or more formal meaning of guess is something like "to make a choice based on no or poor information."
This, however, is not how it is used in "Do you like sushi?" "I guess". The respondent isn't actually guessing whether they like sushi, they are just using "I guess" as a general affirmative, meaning "It's OK", or "Yes, that will do".
"I guess" is also used to indicate a mild interrogative. ("I guess you want chips for tea", "I guess you're off to work")

With regard to your original question (and assuming that we limit ourselves to the more formal meaning), "I guess" would be the normal usage ("Who is the flowers from?" "I guess they're from my husband"). "I'm guessing" would more nornmally be used to describe the act of guessing ("How are you working out the answer?" "I'm guessing.")

At least that's how it looks from my bit of the Southern England.

Jell

To email me, take out the takeout.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Words like promise, suggest, advise, insist, refuse etc. use the Present Simple, when you talk in the first person ("I promise" ...). "I guess" is in the same category, IMO.[/nq]
They normally* use the simple present, but the progressive can be used with all of them as form of emphasis it stresses that promising, insisting, guessing, etc., is what you're doing *right now.
[nq:1]You can probably use "I'm guessing" in a dialogue like this: - "How do you know this is a typo?" - "I'm just guessing" where you're not actually making the guess, but you're talking about HOW you reached your conclusion.[/nq]
Right. And if you choose, for emphasis, to do that at the same time that you make the guess, you end up with "I'm guessing that this is a typo."

I'm promising you that this is correct, at least in Leftpondia. I suppose it might be viewed differently in other countries.
Mark Brader "Hey, I don't want to control people's lives! Toronto (If they did things right, I wouldn't have to.)" (Email Removed) "Coach"

My text in this article is in the public domain.

I guess/I'm guessing.

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