# Read my lips: Next **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 7, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067 "2003-01-07T01:54:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/21 "2003-01-07T09:25:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by manwithaplan \* > \*\*Is this just an Irish/British thing? \*\* Sure ain’t a Merkin thing. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/22 "2003-01-07T10:53:39Z")
Under these circumstances I would have asked for clarification of which friday you meant… you know this is why calendars/diaries have those little numbers connected to every day… ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/23 "2003-01-07T11:03:51Z")
Another vote for **cazzle**. _This_ Friday means Friday _this_ week. _Next_ Friday means Friday _next_ week. Hasn’t it always been this way? I’ve never heard it mean anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/24 "2003-01-07T11:03:57Z")
This is not a vote for **cazzle**. This is just a vote for sensible, clear, and readily comprehensible English. **Cazzle** just happened to be there first. _Last_ Friday, _This_ Friday, _Next_ Friday. A nice, logical progression. Where’s the controversy? What the hell, though, I love **cazzle** , anyway. Nothing to be ashamed of there. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/25 "2003-01-07T11:06:01Z")
Nice silumpost, same meaning apart from the vote for cazzle… spooky! ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/26 "2003-01-07T11:12:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cazzle \* > \*\*Some may think this is merely an example of me being right, but I prefer to think of it as a popularity contest. You love me, you really love me! \*\* I do! I do! 😃 I also agree with **manwithaplan**. “Friday week” also quite common in Australia. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/27 "2003-01-07T15:41:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Troy McClure SF \* > \*\*Sure ain’t a Merkin thing. \*\* :eek: What do pubic wigs have to do with it??? So, say you’re driving down the road. I’m sitting next to you. I say, “I think I’m going to throw up. Pull over next chance you get.” When are you going to pull over, the next chance you get to or the one after that? ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/28 "2003-01-07T19:39:51Z")
Have to go with cazzle on this one. “This Friday,” or simply “Friday,” refer to the Friday of the week I’m in, provided it’s Sunday or later. “Next Friday” refers to the following one, and “the Friday after next,” refers to the third Friday to come. I added the “provided it’s Sunday or later” clause because if it’s Saturday, “Friday” _may_ refer to the day before, and "Next Friday_may_ be the following. Context is crucial. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/29 "2003-01-07T20:28:36Z")
I have _never_ encountered anyone using “next” to mean a week+ ahead. TV ads that refer to “next Thursday’s show” etc. are clearly referring to, well, “next Thursday” as in the OP. Haven’t people (other than me and the OP) noticed that their “convention” is out of whack with so many, many media uses? As for **cazzle** ’s “logic”: just because two different words are used (“this” and “next”) doesn’t mean that two different meanings are implied. This is English after all, the most overladen, synonym rich language around. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/30 "2003-01-07T20:45:33Z")
1. If I today is Saturday, and I say I will see you next Sunday, how many days away is that? Why? 2. If today is Thursday, and I say that I will see you next weeked, how many days away is that? Why? 3. If today is Monday, and I say that I will see you next weekend, how many days is that? Why? The more questions I ask, the more you have to realize that you’re making up exceptions, loopholes, and more inconsistancies. A simpler way for all would be for _next_ to mean exactly that – _next_. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/31 "2003-01-07T21:02:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*1. If I today is Saturday, and I say I will see you next Sunday, how many days away is that? Why? > > 1. If today is Thursday, and I say that I will see you next weeked, how many days away is that? Why? > > 2. If today is Monday, and I say that I will see you next weekend, how many days is that? Why? > > The more questions I ask, the more you have to realize that you’re making up exceptions, loopholes, and more inconsistancies. > > A simpler way for all would be for _next_ to mean exactly that – _next_. \*\* 1 - 8 2 - 8 3 - 11 Think of the days as train cars coming toward you, and there’s this big dining car called the weekend a few cars away. Most people would refer to it as THIS dining car (as in, I’ll meet you in this dining car), and if they meant the one after that, it would be the NEXT dining car. So if it were your way, and you said I’ll see you in the NEXT dining car, I would not assume you meant the next one to pass, but the one after the obvious one approaching us. NEXT! ---
**Author:** ![pipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipper)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/32 "2003-01-07T21:34:52Z")
Would agree with cazzles original explanation although it gets fuzzier when you span the weekend, e.g. if today is Friday and you say “See you next Wednesday,” I would interpret this to mean the Wednesday of next week (5 days ahead) rather than two Wednesdays in the future (12 days ahead). I would argue about this with a coworker but she also had the weird habit of saying “Let’s move the meeting forward” to mean to reschedule at a later date and “Let’s move it back” to mean to reschedule at an earlier date (which is directly opposite of how I would interpret those remarks). She would explain her rational in terms of thinking about moving through a calendar: progressing “forward” on a calendar means you are moving out into the future. ---
**Author:** ![Weary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@Weary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weary)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/33 "2003-01-07T21:49:08Z")
This is why I don’t have friends…they can’t ask you out at anytime and therefore avoiding the confusion of whether next Friday is the coming friday or the one after. It’s a simple life if you don’t weaken! ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/34 "2003-01-08T04:24:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > A simpler way for all would be for _next_ to mean exactly that – _next_. Simpler, sure. Lazier, no. “Next Thursday” takes slightly less time to say than “a week from Thursday”. When it comes to simplicity verses terseness, which do you think English-speakers favor? ---
**Author:** ![CasperQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@CasperQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CasperQ)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/35 "2003-01-08T04:53:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* \*\* \A simpler way for all would be for _next_ to mean exactly that – _next_. \*\* I’m glad somebody said it. ‘Next’ seems to be used interchangeably (and thank goodness I don’t live in England or Australia - that would take some getting used to!). But it would be EASIER if ‘next’ was used properly and means what it says (i.e. the VERY next one, not the one after). What if someone said, “The Friday after next.”? Would that be two Fridays away or three? IRL, this would mean two Fridays away - but if we use next to be the one AFTER, then it would be three. Definitely inconsistent… [sub]Not that I don’t love you, **Cazz** , because I do. Or, er, I’m sure I would if I KNEW you![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/36 "2003-01-08T05:00:51Z")
_\_ ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/37 "2003-01-08T05:11:13Z")
I’ve got to side with clan cazzle on this. And I’ve got to say that this isn’t a regional thing; I’ve lived up and down the east coast, across the gulf coast and out in the mountain states and it’s been the same from everyone, save a few overeducated language snobs who wanted to take the vast majority to task for their use of the construction. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/38 "2003-01-08T05:19:59Z")
**Walloon,** , You are correct, English is confusing and not well spoken, even by natives. “I’ll see you next Friday.” should be written as “I’ll see you next _week on_ Friday.”, or " … on Friday _of next week_." Further example; This is January, if I tell you I will see you next February, I mean February of next year. If I say I will see you next _in_ February, look for me in four weeks. One of the really fun :rolleyes: things about the rules of speech is that they don’t have to be logical or internally consistent, just widely accepted. **Cazzle** , I’m sorry, I don’t love you, but I hope we can still be friends 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrandfatherTrout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@GrandfatherTrout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandfatherTrout)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/39 "2003-01-09T04:59:51Z")
Another vote for **Cazzle** ’s side of the fence. It may not make sense, but that’s nonetheless the way the word gets used 'round these parts. It has long been my contention that the English language was developed by someone who couldn’t speak a word of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/40 "2003-01-09T05:13:43Z")
Just piping up agreement with **Cazzle** (Could this a thread where a Doper’s name is raised most often outside of flaming? :)) Saying “See you Friday” alone would mean the Friday of that week, without further clarification. But, “this Friday” is the present week, “next Friday” the week following. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067.md?page=3)