What's the difference between..?

Question

1. Epic is an understatement.2. Epic would be an understatement.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

habibaelgindy
1. "Epic" is an understatement.
2. "Epic" would be an understatement.

1. The speaker is giving a strong opinion that he truly believes in. He states this as a fact.
2. The speaker is hedging. He's not completely committed to the idea that this is an understatement. Or he may be thinking of some imagined case in which this would be an understatement.

1 is more definite than 2. In ordinary conversation we use the pattern in 2 when we don't want to be held very strictly to an opinion we may have.

— We should go to Yellowstone Park for a vacation.
— That would be fun. (The speaker doesn't want the conversation to go down a path where he might really have to go to Yellowstone Park. Even more non-committal is That might be fun. If the speaker is really enthusiastic about the prospect, he'll say That will be fun.)

CJ

What's the difference between..?

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