Way

Question

Is there any semantic difference between these two below?There is no way of knowing whether he is really honest or not.There is no way to know whether he is really honest or not.

MalRey · Accepted Answer

I don't see any difference in meaning.

Audray · Answer

Hi, Taka,

I looked up in my dictionary and in fact I could read a very long explanation regarding the word way. So, briefly:
1. If you refer to a way of doing something, you are referring to how you can do it, for example the action you can take or the method you can use to achieve it.
Another way of making new friends is to go to an evening class.
I worked myself into a frenzy plotting ways to make him jealous.
I can't think of a worse way to spend my time.
There just might be a way.
All right, we'll do it your way.

2. If you talk about the way someone does something, you are talking about the qualities their action has.
She smiled in a friendly way.
He had a strange way of talking.

3. If you say there's no way that something will happen, you are emphasizing that you think it will definitely not happen.
There was absolutely no way that we were going to be able to retrieve it
( you can use no way as an emphatic way of saying no )

Then I found this:
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/way
http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/way_1

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I have a slight preference for the first, but otherwise, they are the same in meaning.
I would prefer:
There is no way of knowing if he is ~~really~~ honest. ~~or not.~~
There is no way to tell if he is honest.

Audray · Answer

That it seems to me very interesting:
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1683685

Terryxpress · Answer

This is not to do with 'way' but the old gerund versus infinitive issue:
That is the way to do it according to the books, but I have found a way of doing it that is much quicker.
the way to do it : infinitive form because the books are asserting this as a general truth
a way of doing it: gerund, because I am specifically referring to MY way.

There is no way of knowing whether he is being honest or not.

There is no sure-fire way to know whether people are honest or not.

Taka · Answer

Interesting.

So 'This is a way to do it' sounds a bit strange? Would you also agree, MalRey, AS?

CalifJim · Answer

TakaIs there any semantic difference between these two below?

There is no way of knowing whether he is really honest or not.
There is no way to know whether he is really honest or not.

If there is, it's very subtle, and I'm not sure you could get universal agreement on what the subtle difference actually is, if there is any.

CJ

Taka · Answer

So you think the difference between 'This is a way to do it' and 'This is a way of doing it' is also subtle, Jim?

CalifJim · Answer

TakaSo you think the difference between 'This is a way to do it' and 'This is a way of doing it' is also subtle, Jim?

Yes -- possibly so subtle as to exist only in the imagination.

The infinitive looks a little more to the future, perhaps. ???

CJ

KJinCali79 · Answer

This is an interesting question.  I believe there is a subtle difference, but it would generally depend on the context.   "no way to know" seems to be describing a process, or criteria, or a manner in which one could determine whether someone is honest.  This is asserting that there is, in fact, no way to do so (no manner by which to do so).     "no way of knowing" seems to be describing one's own thoughts about whether someone is honest.  This is assuming, but not asserting, that there is no way to be certain.  As an aside, you do not need the "or not" in either sentence.

Way

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