think,reckon,suppose,guess

Question

what is the difference between think,reckon,suppose and guess?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Here's my basic reaction to these words.
A dictionary will give you details

I think I'm offering my opinion.
Very commonly said.

I reckon I'm offering a quick opinion.
Sounds a bit like cowboy talk, or Clint Eastwood, to me.

Not said much where I live.

I suppose Based on some evidence, but not much.
Very commonly said.

I guess Based on no evidence or very little.
Again, sounds like a cowboy to me.
Not said a lot where I live.

Clive

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Here are the dictionary main entries:
reckon
1. to count, compute, or calculate, as in number or amount.
2. to esteem or consider; regard as: to be reckoned an authority in the field.
3. (Regional Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. ) to think or suppose.

suppose
1. to assume (something), as for the sake of argument or as part of a proposition or theory: Suppose the distance to be one mile.
2. to consider (something) as a possibility suggested or an idea or plan proposed: Suppose we wait until tomorrow.
3. to believe or assume as true; take for granted: It is supposed that his death was an accident.
4. to think or hold as an opinion: What do you suppose he will do?

think
1. to have a conscious mind, to some extent of reasoning, remembering experiences, making rational decisions, etc.
2. to employ one's mind rationally and objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given situation: Think carefully before you begin.
3. to have a certain thing as the subject of one's thoughts: I was thinking about you. We could think of nothing else.
4. to call something to one's conscious mind: I couldn't think of his phone number.
5. to consider something as a possible action, choice, etc.: She thought about cutting her hair.

guess
1. to arrive at or commit oneself to an opinion about (something) without having sufficient evidence to support the opinion fully: to guess a person's weight.
2. to estimate or conjecture about correctly: to guess what a word means.
3. to think, believe, or suppose: I guess I can get there in time.

Anonymous · Answer

The four mean basically the same thing, but there is a slight shade in meaning. They all mean that the speaker is less than absolutely certain that what he says is true:

1. "I think he's coming to the party." You are not certain that he's coming, and so you say this, rather than something like, "He's coming to the party.", which expresses certainty that he's coming.

2. "I reckon he's coming to the party." This means essentially the same thing as 1., but this would sound odd if spoken outside of certain rural areas of the US. If someone said this in, say, New York City, it would mean he's trying for an effect, by speaking in a non-standard way. Perhaps he's making fun of the person, or making fun of himself or one of the listeners.

3. "I suppose he's coming to the party." The expresses more doubt that he's coming than sentence 1. And this is the most formal and intellectual-sounding of the four sentences.

4. "I guess he's coming to the party." This means essentially the same thing as 3., expressing more doubt that he's coming than sentence 1.

think,reckon,suppose,guess

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