WOULD THERE BE/MAKE A DIFFERENCE ? / SAVE SOMETHING

Question

Can you say both?1 Would there be a difference if he came or not?2 Would it make a difference if he came or not?Can you say this and what does this mean?-Buy rechargeable batteries to save buying batteries.Thank you

Philip · Accepted Answer

I think that #2 is better [in reality, there would be a difference, but would it actually "make" a difference?]

Batteries: it's a little awkward, but it gets the idea across.

Using rechargeable batteries means you don't have to be constantly buying and carrying around extras.

Adrenochrome · Answer

Philip is perfectly correct.

On the matter of the batteries, you could always replace the repetition with a contrasting description, implying the word.

'Buy rechargeable batteries to save buying more/replacements/ordinary'

Alc24 · Answer

Could please tell me what you think of these 4 sentence here

It has to do with DIFFERENCE?

Thank you

Adrenochrome · Answer

I see what has happened. You've asked a good question and started a dispute between teachers, which has probably left you very confused. They are discussing a valid point, if you really wanted to write an essay - but, in reality, they are being pedantic and arguing a very small point.

1. Would there be a diffrerence between if there was a light in here or not. 'Would there be any difference if there was a light in here?'
When using 'difference between' it must be followed by two or more options. However, in your sentence, the second part 'if there was a light' implies the obvious options -dark or light, so they needn't be stated. As such the 'between' is not needed. The 'or not' is also unnecessary because it is implied. (Technically, precise English grammar rules would say that the second part of the sentence should read 'if there were a light in here?', however, this has generally fallen out of use and 99.9% of English speakers would use 'was'. That is the argument that has stolen your question on the other page. It's about common usage versus absolutely correct English.)

2. Both are fine, though it might be slightly better English to say

'There is no difference whether you press the button or not.'
'It won't make a difference whether you press the button or not.'
It depends uopn the person speaking - a better educated character would use whether, but if works fine, in commonly spoken English.

WOULD THERE BE/MAKE A DIFFERENCE ? / SAVE SOMETHING

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