"this" vs "next"

CeleryStalker
CeleryStalker Posts: 665 Member
in Chit-Chat
Suppose it is Tuesday Nov 4 and I tell you I have plans 'next weekend'. Would you interpret that as Nov 9 & 10, or Nov 16 & 17?

Now suppose it is Friday Nov 8 and I tell you 'it's scheduled this Wednesday'. Would you assume whatever 'it' is, already happened two days ago, or is going to happen on Wednesday the 13th? What if I told you "it's scheduled next Wednesday"? Would you mark your calendar for Nov 13 or the 20th?

Does how you interpret "this" or "next" depend on what day of the week it already is?
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Replies

  • wolverine66
    wolverine66 Posts: 3,779 Member
    to me, "next" means "next." so whatever the upcoming weekend is, that's the next one. it can get tricky sometimes, because if it's Friday, and someone says "next weekend" they almost always mean the one after the immediate one, because they feel like Friday is part of the weekend.

    i usually interpret "this" as "next" as well.

    if i mean something that happened earlier in the week, i will say "this past Wednesday" or whatever.

    the main thing is, if i have any confusion about what is meant I like to use this thing called "questions." This is a tool that helps me clarify intent and meaning from the person sending the message.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    :noway:
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    "this" is the next one to occur. "next" is the second one to occur. There are probably exceptions, but this is my starting point.
  • CeleryStalker
    CeleryStalker Posts: 665 Member
    lol cranq! it's mind boggling, isn't it? and i still haven't had a coffee yet.

    :) i find i'm always having to ask my husband for clarification, because we speak on different terms, LOL

    for me, this wednesday already happened. to him, it's coming up in a few days.

    this weekend means tomorrow. and because 'this sunday' already happened, if i were to talk about the sunday coming up, i'd say 'this coming sunday'.

    and wolverine....i think she IS stalking you. lucky. ;):D
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    "this" is the next one to occur. "next" is the second one to occur. There are probably exceptions, but this is my starting point.
    ^This^
  • CeleryStalker
    CeleryStalker Posts: 665 Member
    Anybody use the term 'Tuesday week?' as in, a week from the very next Tuesday? When that one gets thrown around, my brain just melts. LOL
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Anybody use the term 'Tuesday week?' as in, a week from the very next Tuesday? When that one gets thrown around, my brain just melts. LOL
    I think that's a British thing. Like "half nine" for 9:30.
  • CeleryStalker
    CeleryStalker Posts: 665 Member
    Not sure if British, definitely southern US. Half nine. I'd be like, so you want to meet at 4:50? AM or PM? LOL
  • RN514
    RN514 Posts: 1,107 Member
    to me, "next" means "next." so whatever the upcoming weekend is, that's the next one. it can get tricky sometimes, because if it's Friday, and someone says "next weekend" they almost always mean the one after the immediate one, because they feel like Friday is part of the weekend.

    i usually interpret "this" as "next" as well.

    if i mean something that happened earlier in the week, i will say "this past Wednesday" or whatever.

    the main thing is, if i have any confusion about what is meant I like to use this thing called "questions." This is a tool that helps me clarify intent and meaning from the person sending the message.

    Get out of my head! I'm glad you typed all that out for me so I don't have to. :)
  • hotjodels
    hotjodels Posts: 118 Member
    "this" is the next one to occur. "next" is the second one to occur. There are probably exceptions, but this is my starting point.
    Couldn't have said my opinion on this better myself.
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    Anybody use the term 'Tuesday week?' as in, a week from the very next Tuesday? When that one gets thrown around, my brain just melts. LOL
    I think that's a British thing. Like "half nine" for 9:30.

    Confirmed - 'tuesday week' is a Brit thing (I'm a Brit living in the states). Of course, if you really want to confuse a yank, you say 'Tuesday fortnight'.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Not sure if British, definitely southern US. Half nine. I'd be like, so you want to meet at 4:50? AM or PM? LOL
    Hmm. I've never heard a Soutnerhner say "Tuesday week" (or similar). Not saying none do, but it isn't region-wide, I don't think. But I have heard it in British shows and movies. Though it probably isn't a nationwide thing for them, either.

    Some of those things do cross the pond.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Confirmed - 'tuesday week' is a Brit thing (I'm a Brit living in the states). Of course, if you really want to confuse a yank, you say 'Tuesday fortnight'.

    Tuesday two weeks from now! See? I know things. lol
  • miss_jessiejane
    miss_jessiejane Posts: 2,819 Member
    to me, "next" means "next." so whatever the upcoming weekend is, that's the next one. it can get tricky sometimes, because if it's Friday, and someone says "next weekend" they almost always mean the one after the immediate one, because they feel like Friday is part of the weekend.

    i usually interpret "this" as "next" as well.

    if i mean something that happened earlier in the week, i will say "this past Wednesday" or whatever.

    the main thing is, if i have any confusion about what is meant I like to use this thing called "questions." This is a tool that helps me clarify intent and meaning from the person sending the message.

    This is why we're friends, man.
  • TX_Rhon
    TX_Rhon Posts: 1,549 Member
    With you! I always ask for clarification as in "this coming weekend or the following?"
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    Suppose it is Tuesday Nov 4 and I tell you I have plans 'next weekend'. Would you interpret that as Nov 9 & 10, or Nov 16 & 17*?

    Now suppose it is Friday Nov 8 and I tell you 'it's scheduled this Wednesday'. Would you assume whatever 'it' is, already happened two days ago, or is going to happen on Wednesday the 13th**? What if I told you "it's scheduled next Wednesday"? Would you mark your calendar for Nov 13 or the 20th***?

    Does how you interpret "this" or "next" depend on what day of the week it already is?
    * because "this weekend" is the one coming up and "next weekend" is the one after that.
    ** because it's still "scheduled" and nobody said "past" wednesday.
    ***because "it's scheduled for Wednesday" means the very next Wednesday headed up the pike, and "next Wednesday" refers to the Wednesday after that.

    All in all, I am in the habit of using these phrases in concert with the actual day numbers and day of the week. The people I deal with need that much information (day of the week) to know whether they can commit or attend. For example I might say, "I am having a __________ on Saturday November the 24th at 10am...do you think you can make it?"

    ETA: I see British talk below so if regional is a factor I will add that I'm in California, Los Angeles to be exact.

    ETA 2: Before anyone gets on my case for use of "past wednesday". http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/past_passed.htm
  • CeleryStalker
    CeleryStalker Posts: 665 Member
    ah ya, we should all list our locations along with our responses. I'm from New England (CT), but have been living in North Carolina for the past 20 years. Despite living here more than half my life, I still get confused by the local speak.

    And the 'Tuesday week' stuff....ya, I think it's regional. My husband doesn't say it, yet he was born and raised in this area where we live. You drive an hour east of here and you hear it all the time.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    ah ya, we should all list our locations along with our responses. I'm from New England (CT), but have been living in North Carolina for the past 20 years. Despite living here more than half my life, I still get confused by the local speak.

    And the 'Tuesday week' stuff....ya, I think it's regional. My husband doesn't say it, yet he was born and raised in this area where we live. You drive an hour east of here and you hear it all the time.
    Been in Tallahassee for nearly seven years (it's north Florida, so more like GA than FL) and lived in St. Marys, GA, for two years before that. My SO's mother's family is from Arkansas.

    I'm originally from Elmira, NY.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    to me, "next" means "next." so whatever the upcoming weekend is, that's the next one. it can get tricky sometimes, because if it's Friday, and someone says "next weekend" they almost always mean the one after the immediate one, because they feel like Friday is part of the weekend.

    i usually interpret "this" as "next" as well.

    if i mean something that happened earlier in the week, i will say "this past Wednesday" or whatever.

    the main thing is, if i have any confusion about what is meant I like to use this thing called "questions." This is a tool that helps me clarify intent and meaning from the person sending the message.

    OMG wolverine we could never have dated. If you told me "let's go out next weekend" I would have not been home when you showed up at my door on this weekend. I would have thought it was the following week after that and would have been out with Jof "this" weekend...as I see that's how he would have phrased it.

    I do, however think we would have settled our differences reminiscing over "past wednesday" .
  • JoyeII
    JoyeII Posts: 240 Member
    "this" is the next one to occur. "next" is the second one to occur. There are probably exceptions, but this is my starting point.

    ^^^^^^^
    Yes, this!
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    If I'm not sure if they are talking about "this" weekend or "next" weekend, I ask them to clarify.
  • CeleryStalker
    CeleryStalker Posts: 665 Member
    we could schedule a riot over this, but only about half of the participants would show up on the right day, LOL
  • somerisagirlsname
    somerisagirlsname Posts: 467 Member
    "This" is always nearest future. "Next is always at least one total week away. If something "is" this Wednesday, on a Friday, then assuming it was a previous Wednesday is silly because "is" is defined as present, not past.

    I have a friend who watches my dog for me that ALWAYS thinks I'm talking about "this" weekend when I say "next" weekend. Never fails. I really need to curb my this/next vernacular around her.

    ETA: Next Wednesday, on a Friday, is also acceptable to me.
  • Monkey_Business
    Monkey_Business Posts: 1,800 Member
    What I do is:
    1. If it is something I am interested in, I ask for a clarification.
    2. If I am going to blow it off, I have a ready made excuse :-)
  • CeleryStalker
    CeleryStalker Posts: 665 Member
    What I do is:
    1. If it is something I am interested in, I ask for a clarification.
    2. If I am going to blow it off, I have a ready made excuse :-)

    LOL
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  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member

    Does how you interpret "this" or "next" depend on what day of the week it already is?

    No, because I have more than one functioning brain cell.

    liar.gif
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    we could schedule a riot over this, but only about half of the participants would show up on the right day, LOL

    oh if it's a riot, now that I know that the brits and wolverine have different ideas you can bet I'm gonna show up on all the days.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    I use this for the nearest, including the one we're in, and next for the one that will follow this one.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    to me, "next" means "next." so whatever the upcoming weekend is, that's the next one. it can get tricky sometimes, because if it's Friday, and someone says "next weekend" they almost always mean the one after the immediate one, because they feel like Friday is part of the weekend.

    i usually interpret "this" as "next" as well.

    if i mean something that happened earlier in the week, i will say "this past Wednesday" or whatever.

    the main thing is, if i have any confusion about what is meant I like to use this thing called "questions." This is a tool that helps me clarify intent and meaning from the person sending the message.

    OMG wolverine we could never have dated. If you told me "let's go out next weekend" I would have not been home when you showed up at my door on this weekend. I would have thought it was the following week after that and would have been out with Jof "this" weekend...as I see that's how he would have phrased it.

    I do, however think we would have settled our differences reminiscing over "past wednesday" .
    :laugh: :laugh:

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