# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/41 "2003-01-09T05:19:08Z")
My preference is to use **manwithaplan** ’s “Friday” and “Friday week”. My family has always used those, and if you are familiar with the “_xxx_day week” thing, it’s crystal clear (is it used at all in the US?). Unfortunately, it does seem to confuse some people no end, so I often have to use the “this Friday / next Friday” thing. Definitely my second preference, though. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/42 "2003-01-09T09:00:06Z")
Next Friday means the friday of next week. Oh, I mean: I love **cazzle** too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/43 "2003-01-09T16:09:11Z")
English is the reason we have so many lawers. BTW I vote goes to the **cazzle** camp too. sorry ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/44 "2003-01-09T21:03:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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? > > A simpler way for all would be for _next_ to mean exactly that – _next_. \*\* Well, because usage varies so much, I tend to say something like “You mean this coming Sunday, or a week from this Sunday?” But I’m distressingly literal-minded sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/45 "2003-01-10T01:56:25Z")
People group the days into units called WEEKS. If you say NEXT (day) you are implying NEXT WEEK on a certain day. If it was Friday and you said ‘next Friday’ then it would be the very next Friday. In other words if the day in question is more than six days away you say next. If is is less than six days away no modifying word is used. ---
**Author:** ![Tal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@Tal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tal)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/46 "2003-01-12T12:08:08Z")
hey cazzle _waves_ you popular girl you ! to add my 2c worth, i agree with cazzle! hey…caz…can ya tell my presence here means i’m really bored _g_ ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/47 "2003-01-12T12:27:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sublight \* > \*\*I have to agree with **cazzle** , as well. That’s why I always told my students to say either ‘this coming Friday’ or ‘Friday of next week’ to avoid confusion. \*\* As someone who makes his living via appointments, I use this technique when scheduling or rescheduling. I don’t always have a calendar handy to refer to “the fourteenth,” but I always use the “this coming Friday” or “Friday of next week.” Incidentally, **cazzle** is correct, and is also loved. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/48 "2003-01-12T13:47:07Z")
I almost never say “next” unless it’s perfectly clear from context what I mean (e.g. it’s Friday, and I say next Tuesday). If it’s Monday, I say “this coming Friday” and if I mean the Friday of next week, I say “Friday of next week” or “a week from this Friday”, and usually quote the date as well. ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/49 "2003-01-12T14:54:06Z")
I’m coming to this quite a bit late, but: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **TheLoadedDog** _: > **My family has always used those, and if you are familiar with the “xxxday week” thing, it’s crystal clear (is it used at all in the US?).** Far as I can tell, this is not used anywhere in the US. I certainly never heard it before, and in fact erroneously thought it was a typo the first time it appeared in the thread. And for once I’ll throw my vote with the majority, and go with the **cazzle** system. No modifier, or “this,” is within the next six days. “Next” as a modifier means seven days away or better, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Leifsmama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a698b9/32.png) [@Leifsmama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leifsmama)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067/50 "2003-01-12T16:31:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pipper \* > \*\* > > 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. \*\* I have a similar problem with AC and heat. When I ask someone to turn the AC down, I mean I’m too cold. I’m thinking in terms of turning the machine down, causing it to run less. Invariably, someone sets it to colder. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/read-my-lips-next/147067.md?page=2)