Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stellara]

hey

can you explain to me, where's the difference between "use" (the noun) and "usage" ? both are the noun of "to use" i believe. but there have to be a difference in the meanings..

thank you!
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[bud]

Wow, tough question, Stellara!

I don't know if this is correct or not:

I'd say that usage is used when we are speaking in generalities. We talk about the usage (of all people) of a particular word or phrase.

Use might be used when we talk about one specific incident of usage. Ex.: After saying something, I might think it sounded a bit strange. So then I might add, "I don't know if my use of that word was correct, but you know what I mean, right?" (Even native speakers struggle with the language at times!)

Anyone else have any ideas?

[stellara]

okay, thank you!

i thought, too, that "use" is generally more often used. especially in spoken english..

thanks
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[RedRose]

I thought use was just a noun, and usage was an adj

Now I got it. thanks bud and stellara.

[bud]

My pleasure!

You could be right, Stellara. It is a difficult question, and I couldn't find anything on the web about it - when you look up usage, it directs you to use!

[mittari]

use isn't identical to usage.

use is the act of using and usage is the way in which words/phrases are usually/habitually used.
say, if you go wrong when speaking or writing English, it can be grammar, spelling, usage etc even if (in the case of usage) a word is in common use.

for example 'alright' is a nonstandard (wrong usage!) variant of 'all right'; it still is in common use.

hope this clears things up a bit.

m.

[bud]

It does for me. Thank you!

[stellara]

yes, for me too! thank you!
greets
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