Vocaboly.com

[Bob Cunningham]

Someone has asserted there is a difference in connotation
between positive "anymore" and "nowadays" in that positive
"anymore" implies that the situation referred to didn't
exist earlier, while "nowadays" pertains only to the
existing status.

That isn't true.

Whether I say

Anymore coffee comes in 12-ounce cans

or

Nowadays coffee comes in 12-ounce cans

I'm implying that there was a time when coffee cans
contained an amount of coffee different from 12 ounces.

In general, the meanings of synonyms can intersect for some
senses and not others, but in the case of "nowadays" and
positive "anymore" I think the intersection is more nearly
complete than it is for some other synonyms.

[Jim Lawton]

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:36:34 GMT, Bob Cunningham <exw6sxq@earthlink.net> wrote:

[nancy13g]

Jim Lawton wrote:

[Peter Duncanson]

On 26 Oct 2005 10:24:05 -0700, "nancy13g" <nancy13g@verizon.net> wrote:

[Bob Cunningham]

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:59:33 GMT, Jim Lawton
<usenet1@jimlawton.TAKEOUTinfo> said:

[Chris Waigl]

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:59:56 +0000, Bob Cunningham wrote:

[Peter Duncanson]

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:59:56 GMT, Bob Cunningham <exw6sxq@earthlink.net>
wrote:

[Robert Bannister]

nancy13g wrote:

[Charles Riggs]

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:59:33 GMT, Jim Lawton
<usenet1@jimlawton.TAKEOUTinfo> wrote:

[Jim Lawton]

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:59:56 GMT, Bob Cunningham <exw6sxq@earthlink.net> wrote:

[Jim Lawton]

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 05:28:41 +0100, Charles Riggs <chriggs@éircom.net> wrote:

[Salvatore Volatile]

Jim Lawton wrote:

[Will]

Jim Lawton wrote:

[R J Valentine]

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:36:34 GMT Bob Cunningham <exw6sxq@earthlink.net> wrote:

} Someone

That'd be me.

} has asserted there is a difference in connotation
} between positive "anymore" and "nowadays" in that positive
} "anymore" implies that the situation referred to didn't
} exist earlier, while "nowadays" pertains only to the
} existing status.
}
} That isn't true.

Do you mean that you disagree with me or that you have made an incorrect
restatement of what I said?

} Whether I say
}
} Anymore coffee comes in 12-ounce cans
}
} or
}
} Nowadays coffee comes in 12-ounce cans
}
} I'm implying that there was a time when coffee cans
} contained an amount of coffee different from 12 ounces.

I agree with your claim that you are implying what you say you are
implying. But could you insert the word "still" in both of them (assuming
the possibility that coffee once came in 12-ounce cans)? As far as
English usage goes, it seems to me to work fine with the "nowadays"
example, but not with the "anymore" example. And that there is the
difference I'm talking about. "Nowadays" permits negativity, but doesn't
force it. "Anymore" forces it.

} In general, the meanings of synonyms can intersect for some
} senses and not others, but in the case of "nowadays" and
} positive "anymore" I think the intersection is more nearly
} complete than it is for some other synonyms.

I agree.

--
R. J. Valentine <mailto:rj@theWorld.com>
Just quibbling the fine points.

[Peter Duncanson]

On 27 Oct 2005 04:15:41 -0700, "Will" <billrigby@hotmail.com> wrote: