Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[BMO]

Any difference between the two in expressing beginning?

Thanks.

bmo

[bud]

BMO, the only instance that I'm aware of that that we use conception to mean beginning is when a baby is conceived. Does anyone else know differently?

[BMO]

Google:

in its conception --- 30,000
in its inception -------19,000

bmo

[bud]

But do you look to see what it really means in any of those 30,000 hits? To me, with no context to tell me differently, I would assume that it means: in the concept of it; in its idea; in the imagining of it... something along those lines.

In its inception = in its beginning.

[BMO]

So "in its conception" is more about pregnancy or forming an idea, and is not equivalent to "in the beginning" as in "in its inception."

bmo

[bud]

BMO, this was an interesting question - so much so that it was on my mind when I woke up this morning.

I'm not aware that, in general, conception means beginning. It occurred to me, though, that the conceiving of something is in fact a very special type of beginning...

Suppose that in January you and a friend were hanging out, and just chatting together you somehow came up with an idea for a new business. Over the following weeks you discussed it in greater detail and convinced yourselves that it was viable. Over the following months you secured financing, filed the documents to start a corporation, and were then able to open for business in July. (Congrats, by the way!)

Well, the date of inception for your new company is July, but the date of conception is January... So, at least in this example, they are not synonyms for the same beginning.

[BMO]

This is really an excellent example. Conception is the beginning of forming that idea, it is a beginning of something albeit in the form of an idea, totally different from the usual sense of beginning or commencement.

Thanks.

[bud]

Yes, well put, BMO!

[BMO]

Thanks again.

bmo