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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Usage
Next Wednesday
Hello
I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any other day) to mean the next Wednesday that comes along - so if today is Tuesday then "next Wednesday" is tomorrow.
But now I'm wondering if I've been labouring under a misapprehension. A friend told me that next Wednesday is actually shorthand for "Wednesday of next week" and that my usage is more correctly expressed by "this Wednesday" - which is shorthand for Wednesday of this week.
Is there a right and a wrong here? If not, then what is the most common usage - particularly in the UK.
Many Thanks
Jeff
I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any other day) to mean the next Wednesday that comes along - so if today is Tuesday then "next Wednesday" is tomorrow.
But now I'm wondering if I've been labouring under a misapprehension. A friend told me that next Wednesday is actually shorthand for "Wednesday of next week" and that my usage is more correctly expressed by "this Wednesday" - which is shorthand for Wednesday of this week.
Is there a right and a wrong here? If not, then what is the most common usage - particularly in the UK.
Many Thanks
Jeff
Top answer
Jeff had it: [nq:1]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any other day) to mean the next Wednesday that comes along ... a right and a wrong here? [/nq] This is complex and depends on context.
- Jeff had it: [nq:1]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any other day) to mean the next Wednesday that comes along ...
- a right and a wrong here?
- [/nq] This is complex and depends on context.
- If it's Tuesday then "next Wednesday" means 8 days from now.
- If it's Sunday then it could be either the next Wednesday or the one after that, depending on the hand gestures used.
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29 Answers
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Jeff had it:
[nq:1]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any other day) to mean the next Wednesday that comes along ... a right and a wrong here? If not, then what is the most common usage - particularly in the UK.[/nq]
This is complex and depends on context. If it's Tuesday then "next Wednesday" means 8 days from now. If it's Sunday then it could be either the ne
[nq:1]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any other day) to mean the next Wednesday that comes along ... a right and a wrong here? If not, then what is the most common usage - particularly in the UK.[/nq]
This is complex and depends on context. If it's Tuesday then "next Wednesday" means 8 days from now. If it's Sunday then it could be either the ne
00
[nq:2]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any ... is the most common usage - particularly in the UK.[/nq]
[nq:1]This is complex and depends on context.[/nq]
Is it 'complex', or is it 'complicated'?
I think the latter.
Pete
[nq:1]This is complex and depends on context.[/nq]
Is it 'complex', or is it 'complicated'?
I think the latter.
Pete
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[nq:2]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any ... is the most common usage - particularly in the UK.[/nq]
[nq:1]This is complex and depends on context. If it's Tuesday then "next Wednesday" means 8 days from now. If it's ... depending on the hand gestures used. But we'd probably use "this Wednesday" or "a week on Wednesday" to be clear.[/nq]
I agree about Tuesday
[nq:1]This is complex and depends on context. If it's Tuesday then "next Wednesday" means 8 days from now. If it's ... depending on the hand gestures used. But we'd probably use "this Wednesday" or "a week on Wednesday" to be clear.[/nq]
I agree about Tuesday
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(Email Removed) had it:
[nq:1]I agree about Tuesday, but what about Thursday? If I say on Thursday that we will hold the meeting next ... in six days. So I would not say "next Wednesday", I would say either "Wednesday" or "a week from Wednesday".[/nq]
Could be either. There is no formal rule about this. It might also be different in different parts of England.
David
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[nq:1]I agree about Tuesday, but what about Thursday? If I say on Thursday that we will hold the meeting next ... in six days. So I would not say "next Wednesday", I would say either "Wednesday" or "a week from Wednesday".[/nq]
Could be either. There is no formal rule about this. It might also be different in different parts of England.
David
==
rep
00
[nq:1]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any other day) to mean the next Wednesday that comes along ... a wrong here? If not, then what is the most common usage - particularly in the UK. Many Thanks Jeff[/nq]
There's a Public radio show in the US titled "A Way With Words" which discussed this. They concluded that one should stop with words like 'next' and use dates
There's a Public radio show in the US titled "A Way With Words" which discussed this. They concluded that one should stop with words like 'next' and use dates
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[nq:1]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any other day) to mean the next Wednesday that comes along ... a wrong here? If not, then what is the most common usage - particularly in the UK. Many Thanks Jeff[/nq]
I looked it up in the Cambridge Online Dictionary:
THIS: "TIME used to refer to the present week, month, year, etc or the one that comes next"
NEX
I looked it up in the Cambridge Online Dictionary:
THIS: "TIME used to refer to the present week, month, year, etc or the one that comes next"
NEX
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[nq:1]It does look a bit confusing 
I'd say that 'this Wednesday' is the most present Wednesday (since today is actually Tuesday). I
I'd say that 'this Wednesday' is the most present Wednesday (since today is actually Tuesday). I00
[nq:2]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any ... common usage - particularly in the UK. Many Thanks Jeff[/nq]
[nq:1]I looked it up in the Cambridge Online Dictionary: THIS: "TIME used to refer to the present week, month, year, ... more present than 'next Wednesday', which would be next week (and not this week, because this week is still present).[/nq]
Agreed. "N
[nq:1]I looked it up in the Cambridge Online Dictionary: THIS: "TIME used to refer to the present week, month, year, ... more present than 'next Wednesday', which would be next week (and not this week, because this week is still present).[/nq]
Agreed. "N
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[nq:2]Hello I've always understood the expression next Wednesday (or any ... is the most common usage - particularly in the UK.[/nq]
[nq:1]This is complex and depends on context. If it's Tuesday then "next Wednesday" means 8 days from now. If it's ... we'd probably use "this Wednesday" or "a week on Wednesday" to be clear. David == replace usenet with the[/nq]
How do hand gestures make it
[nq:1]This is complex and depends on context. If it's Tuesday then "next Wednesday" means 8 days from now. If it's ... we'd probably use "this Wednesday" or "a week on Wednesday" to be clear. David == replace usenet with the[/nq]
How do hand gestures make it
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(Email Removed) had it:
[nq:1]How do hand gestures make it any clearer?[/nq]
If it's Friday and I say "Next Wednesday" with a far-away gesture, I mean the Wednesday in 12 days time. If I say it with a close-in gesture, I mean the Wednesday in 5 days time.
David
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replace usenet with the
[nq:1]How do hand gestures make it any clearer?[/nq]
If it's Friday and I say "Next Wednesday" with a far-away gesture, I mean the Wednesday in 12 days time. If I say it with a close-in gesture, I mean the Wednesday in 5 days time.
David
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replace usenet with the
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