On the one hand, I agree with the author - my definition is the same as theirs. On the other hand, I have moved to a country where everyone else uses a different system (it differs on whether "next friday" is in 6 days if we're talking during saturday). Are they wrong? Is all of this arbitrary? I think that learning to navigate these differences part of being a better communicator and a better person.
When Is "Next Friday"?
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Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#12This doesn't fully accord with my intuition, but I absolutely believe that the best course of action is listed: USE A CALENDAR DATE!
Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#13This is a fine rule, but don't rely on it if you're trying to learn English. Typically, you simply wouldn't use the term "next " in the first place unless context already makes it clear. E.g. you would only say "next Friday" if:
- Today (or perhaps tomorrow) is Friday, and so is clearly not the one you mean
- You were just talking about the upcoming Friday ("Not this Friday, but next Friday")
Also note that people often say "The Friday after next", referring to the Friday after the upcoming Friday, which breaks the "next" rule.
Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#14Isn't next Friday the Friday after this Friday? Which is the Friday after last Friday, even if it's Friday.
Simple as.
Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#15This doesn't fully accord with my intuition, but I absolutely believe that the best course of action is listed: USE A CALENDAR DATE!
In ISO-8601
Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#16If we follow the same logic.
If today is may 2026, and you want to do something "next September", are you referring to september 2027? After all, months are also grouped in years.
The fact that "next [X]day" skips the one on the current week is arbitrary, and probably more confusing than if it didn't. If people you are talking to understands that, go on, but otherwise keep in mind that "next [X]day" is confusing and you should clarify or say it differently
Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#17> The Simple Rule > If the Friday you’re referring to is beyond seven days from today, including today, it’s next Friday. That's not a such simple rule. I'm not even sure what "including today" means. A simple rule would be: next Friday is the first Friday after today. The whole existence of this website suggests that the term "Next Friday" is at best ambiguous. Especially on a Saturday or Sunday, many people will in…
Your rule is describing this Friday, not next Friday.
Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#18In American English idiom, “next Friday” is the Friday after the coming weekend, regardless if there’s a Friday (“this Friday”) in between. With some ambiguity if it’s currently the weekend.
Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#19“Friday next week”. Sorted.
Re: When Is "Next Friday"?
#20“Friday next week”. Sorted.
"Next week's Friday" -> "Next's Friday" -> "Next Friday
Still confusing, but at least I understand where it comes from.