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Top Banana
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OP
Top Banana
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Okay, totally pointless poll here <g>. Just curious to know whether this is a US/UK English thing or just totally random.  Yvonne
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Pulitzer
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Pulitzer
Joined: Apr 2003
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Well, Yvonne, I'd like to be able to prove your point that it's a UK/US thing, except that I suspect it's more of a Euro/North American thing.  You see, I do say 'presents', not 'gifts'; but I'm from Ireland, strictly speaking. So I had to click the option of 'presents, and I'm not from the UK'. Sorry!  Wendy
Just a fly-by! *waves*
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Merriwether
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Merriwether
Joined: Apr 2003
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I bounce between both. I think I use presents most of the time, but I've been known to use gifts quite a bit, too. I think I'd had a reason for doing so at one point, but I've forgotten it. It was something like I give presents, but get gifts, or buying presents, but have gifts on the table, or something odd like that.
Maybe I'll just call them shinys.
"You need me. You wouldn't be much of a hero without a villain. And you do love being the hero, don't you. The cheering children, the swooning women, you love it so much, it's made you my most reliable accomplice." -- Lex Luthor to Superman, Question Authority, Justice League Unlimited
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Top Banana
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Top Banana
Joined: Jun 2003
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I know I use the word "gift", but I'd have to give it some more thought to determine exactly under what circumstances. I think "gift" to me is more of a spontaneous, impromptu thing. A present is more formal, and associated with a major event eg. birthday present, wedding present, Christmas present, etc. If I think about it some more, I may realize I have to modify this definition. Oh, and I'm not from the UK. - Vicki Edited: I just re-read this, and it sounds like my answer is "gift". It isn't. My answer is "Present". That is the word I use. I just meant that, under certain circumstances, I do use the word "gift". But not in reference to Christmas presents.
"Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution" - Daniel Webster
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Top Banana
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OP
Top Banana
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,293 |
Yeah, I knew I'd worded the question badly, but I couldn't think of a better way to put it without getting terribly complicated. The brain is winding down for Christmas, you see. Yvonne
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Merriwether
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Merriwether
Joined: Apr 2003
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I have no problem accepting either.
Tank (who gives gifts but receives presents... or is it receives gifts and gives presents... or.... presents gifts and gifts presents... or... nevermind)
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Merriwether
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Merriwether
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I mentioned this in the UK/US English thread. At least I thought I did!!! LOL. No one had an answer for me. Maybe it was another board.
I chose presents - non UK
I've converted to lurk-ism... hopefully only temporary.
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Hack from Nowheresville
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Hack from Nowheresville
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 189 |
Ok my first poll that I answered! Anyway, I voted presents and I'm from the U.S.A. I had to think about the answer and almost clicked the "who cares" answer but I didn't. 
Tempus: Because you are, in a
word, looney toons!.
Inmate: Looney toons is two words.
Tempus: Not if you say it fast.
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Top Banana
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Top Banana
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I chose "Other" since I will use either word. If I were to pick the one I use more, I'd probably say, "presents".
-- Roger
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." -- Benjamin Franklin
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Merriwether
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Merriwether
Joined: Apr 2003
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What Roger said. Although . . . I more associate the word "gift" with the actual act of giving, and "present" with the actual item. So, "What a lovely gift!" would more imply "How nice of you!"; while "What a lovely present!" would more mean "Wow, I've wanted one of those!" Scary inside my head, innit?
Do you know the most surprising thing about divorce? It doesn't actually kill you, like a bullet to the heart or a head-on car wreck. It should. When someone you've promised to cherish till death do you part says, "I never loved you," it should kill you instantly.
- Under the Tuscan Sun
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Posts: 3,093 Likes: 40
Boards Chief Administrator Pulitzer
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Boards Chief Administrator Pulitzer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,093 Likes: 40 |
I use both interchangably, but mostly presents. Sara 
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Hack from Nowheresville
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Hack from Nowheresville
Joined: Apr 2003
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I chose "Presents, not from UK" Perhaps you should have included something like "I use UK English" or "I use US English". That might be more useful in determining if it's a UK/US thing. Seems that a lot of people here use "presents" though.  metwin1
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Columnist
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Columnist
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I use both gift and present equally.
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