# "Next" day problem. Can someone explain it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950 "2006-11-10T23:12:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/21 "2006-11-11T17:40:42Z")
Uh, I did read your post. You said that in Georgia they say “Monday **next** ” not “Monday **week** ”. My post doesn’t say anything about the “Monday next” wording specifically because your post said that they use it in Georgia. I personally haven’t ever heard it used by an American either. (I live in Georgia at the moment and haven’t heard that either, but maybe it doesn’t make it all the way to Atlanta) ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/22 "2006-11-11T18:36:27Z")
So, when you say “next week”, do you mean two weeks from now? When you say “next month”, do you mean two months from now? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/23 "2006-11-11T18:44:08Z")
If your riding in a car with someone and they’re giving you directions and tell you “Take a left at the next stoplight” do you go to the second one?? If they ask you to “Stop at the next McDonalds you see, I’m hungry” do you skip the first one you see? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/24 "2006-11-11T18:58:49Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] “next Monday, not this one” [/QUOTE] Still ambiguous, as it seems a contradiction: next, but not next. ---
**Author:** ![tariqbutt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@tariqbutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tariqbutt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/25 "2006-11-11T19:03:44Z")
> [@](#): > > So, when you say “next week”, do you mean two weeks from now? When you say “next month”, do you mean two months from now? exactly. Next month is december: the next one to occur. Next year is 2007: the next one to occur. Next week starts in 3 days: the next one to occur. Next monday is in 3 days: the next one to occur. This is the only consistent method. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/26 "2006-11-11T19:07:46Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] If your riding in a car with someone and they’re giving you directions and tell you “Take a left at the next stoplight” do you go to the second one?? [/QUOTE] If you’re three feet from an intersection, traveling at 30 mph, and you’re told, “Make the next right,” do you slam on the brakes and spin the car trying to make _this_ right, or do you continue until you get to the _next_ one after _this_ one? ---
**Author:** ![tariqbutt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@tariqbutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tariqbutt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/27 "2006-11-11T19:14:54Z")
> [@](#): > > If you’re three feet from an intersection, traveling at 30 mph, and you’re told, “Make the next right,” do you slam on the brakes and spin the car trying to make this right, or do you continue until you get to the next one after this one? Well in a word, yes. If I was approaching a turn and someone said “next turn”. Id say “Hey you didnt give me enough time to take the turn”. I would assume here that next refered to the next one to occur. However if they said “Not this turn, but the next one”, in that case they are specifying that the turn we are approaching is not the one to take, but we shall take the one after the turn specified. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/28 "2006-11-11T19:16:31Z")
[QUOTE=tariqbutt] exactly. Next month is december: the next one to occur. Next year is 2007: the next one to occur. Next week starts in 3 days: the next one to occur. Next monday is in 3 days: the next one to occur. This is the only consistent method. [/QUOTE] Using your consistent method tomorrow is “next sunday”. Which is very inconvinient. Next month is decembter, the one after this one Next year is 2007, the one after this one, Next week starts in 3 days, the one after this one Next monday is in 9 days, the one after this one This monday is in 2 days, because today IS not a monday, so the closest monday is in two days. Next december is in 2007, the one after this one, because TODAY is not december, and the closest december is next month in 2006. **The other** consistent method. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/29 "2006-11-11T19:26:03Z")
[QUOTE=commasense] If you’re three feet from an intersection, traveling at 30 mph, and you’re told, “Make the next right,” do you slam on the brakes and spin the car trying to make _this_ right, or do you continue until you get to the _next_ one after _this_ one? [/QUOTE] No, because if you are three feet from the corner, by any reasonable definition you are already _at_ that corner. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/30 "2006-11-11T19:35:24Z")
[QUOTE=groman] Next december is in 2007, the one after this one, because TODAY is not december, and the closest december is next month in 2006. [/QUOTE] That sounds like a good argument for calling next month “next December”. **next** **1 :** immediately adjacent (as in place, rank, or time) **2 :** any other considered hypothetically \ ---
**Author:** ![tariqbutt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@tariqbutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tariqbutt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/31 "2006-11-11T19:38:01Z")
I am curious about these cases: It is tuesday say. Does next monday mean the monday of next week (in 6 days)? Or does it mean the one in 13 days (the one after “this” monday?) (for me obviously I use the method of the next one to occur) Actually related to that. Does “this” monday refer to yesterday (the monday of “this” week)? Also it is january 2007. I say “What you doing next summer?”. Do you think I mean summer 2008?! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/32 "2006-11-11T19:41:29Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] No, because if you are three feet from the corner, by any reasonable definition you are already _at_ that corner. [/QUOTE] Right, the distinction between _this_ and _next_. Days within the same week are _this_ and days in next week are _next_. Next month is December, the one after this one. Next year is 2007, the one after this one. Next week starts in 3 days, the one after this one. Next Monday is in 3 days, because it is part of next week. This Monday was 4 days ago, because it was part of this week. On Monday, this Thursday will be in three days. On Monday, next Thursday will be in ten days. The third consistent method. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/33 "2006-11-11T19:50:45Z")
If we’re talking about days of the week (Monday through Friday), my usage depends on whether or not there is an intervening weekend. So, if it’s Thursday, and i’m referring to the Monday that is coming in 4 days, then it’s next Monday, because there’s a weekend in between. > [@tariqbutt](#): > > It is Tuesday say. Does next monday mean the monday of next week (in 6 days)? Or does it mean the one in 13 days For me, the former. Also, if it’s Monday, then “this Wednesday” is the one in two days’ time, and “next Wednesday” is the one in nine days’ time. If there are two intervening weekends, then the term “next” is not used. As others have noted, Commonwealth folks would probably then use the term “Monday week.” ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/34 "2006-11-11T19:51:20Z")
[QUOTE=commasense] Right, the distinction between _this_ and _next_. Days within the same week are _this_ and days in next week are _next_. [/QUOTE] So, ask **tariqbutt** points out, under your definition “this Monday” would be five days ago. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/35 "2006-11-11T19:55:00Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] So, ask **tariqbutt** points out, under your definition “this Monday” would be five days ago. [/QUOTE] Not really, because in common parlance “this” (at least when used about days) refers to a day that is in the future. Once a day has passed, it’s unlikely that someone will refer to it as “this Monday.” I guess that on Wednesday one could theoretically say “This Monday i went to work,” but it makes much more sense to simply say “On Monday i went to work.” ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/36 "2006-11-11T19:56:24Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] That sounds like a good argument for calling next month “next December”. **next** **1 :** immediately adjacent (as in place, rank, or time) **2 :** any other considered hypothetically \ [/QUOTE] In my dictionary **next** 1. coming immediately after the present one in time, space, or order. 2. (of a day of the week) nearest (or the nearest but one) after the present. To me “the present” referes not to the “present day” but “the same that could be considered present”. As in present week is the week we are in now, but present Sunday is tomorrow. Next Sunday is 8 days from now. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/37 "2006-11-11T20:24:31Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] As others have noted, Commonwealth folks would probably then use the term “Monday week.” [/QUOTE] I think the most common phrase used here would be “A week on Monday”. “Monday week” is used rarely these days, but would be understood universally. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/38 "2006-11-11T22:00:06Z")
[QUOTE=tariqbutt] I am constantly running into this problem. Say it is friday, and someone says “I will meet you next monday”. What day are they refering to? To me it means monday in 3 days time (ie the next one that will occur) [/QUOTE] Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/39 "2006-11-11T22:11:17Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] So, ask **tariqbutt** points out, under your definition “this Monday” would be five days ago. [/QUOTE] Yes, as I said explicitly in the post you are quoting. As **mhendo** points out, it would be somewhat rare to refer to a day in the past as “this Monday.” But the principle applies, because a Monday in _next_ week is not _this_ Monday. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950/40 "2006-11-11T23:18:06Z")
I think there are definitely times when “next” refers to skipping the imminent one. “You’ll miss your train!” “Oh, I’ll just take the next one.” The person isn’t saying that they’ll catch the one that is imminent, but the one after that. I had a thread in IMHO about this very topic a couple of weeks ago. My husband and I confuse each other because he uses “next” and “last” in ways I don’t understand. To him, they are very rigid. “Next winter” will start in December of 2006. “Last summer” was summer of 2006. For me, next winter starts December of 2007, and last summer was in 2005, while the winter starting in December is “this coming winter” or “this winter” and the summer of 2006 is “this summer” or “this past summer.” We try to use specific dates so we don’t confuse each other more than necessary. On the other hand, my usage much be standard here because I never run into confusion with the people I work with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-day-problem-can-someone-explain-it/379950.md?page=3)