Perhaps and Apparently

Question

Please help me to understand the meaning of perhaps and apparently. When do we use it?I never get the meaning of these words. Is apparently similar to certain?Thanks in advance.

Dave_anon · Accepted Answer

Hi

"Apparently" means " - this is how it appears". It can be used straightforwardly...

- James drives a BMW; apparently, he has a good job

Often, it can be used to mean that the appearance is misleading. If a famous fictional detective says...

- There is a footprint by this window. Apparently, the thief entered this way

That may well mean: "this is how it appears, but I know different"

The word can be difficult to understand until you decide whether the speaker means the word in the first or second way. Are they saying: "I am basing this statement on the appearance - that's why I think it's right"? Or are they saying: "If you base your thought on how things appear, you will be wrong"?

"Perhaps" just means "possible" and, again, it can go either way...

- Perhaps you'll win the lottery
[It's unlikely]

- Perhaps you'll feel better tomorrow
[It could well be and I hope so]

Neither word means "certainly". They both, in their own ways, point to how we may be uncertain about things. Perhaps James took out a big loan for the car and he can't really afford it...

Hope this helps

Dave

Aseem31 · Answer

It was so helpful. Perhaps it will be more clear to me if I use these in a sentence.
Person 1: John scored highest marks in his exams.
Person 2: Apparently, he studied well.

Am I correct with the two sentences?

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

Yes, that's fine. As we would say in idiom...

- There's no perhaps about it...

Dave

Perhaps and Apparently

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