Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Junkomama]

Hello, teaches.

"He was truely ahead of his time."

Is it OK to change this sentence to

"He was ahead of his time in the real meaning/ in the true sense of the word" ?

Thank you in advance!
Junkomama

[Mister Micawber]

.
No, not unless he is a time traveller; they are slightly different.

Truly ahead of his time = really advanced in ideas and outlook
Ahead of his time in the true sense = living in e.g. 2020.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Junkomama]

Thank you for your quick response, Mister Micawber!
I understand.
Then, how about the following example?

"He is a real genious."
"He is a genious in the real meaning/ in the true sense of the word."

Do they have the same meaning?

Regards,
Junkomama

[Mister Micawber]

.
First, you have to decide what 'the real meaning / true sense' of the word in question is, Junko. If it is a meaning which most readers would not consider, then you may use the phrase to draw their attention to the full impact of what you are saying.

'In the real meaning/true sense' is not just a synonym for real where real = authentic, complete.

Genius is the spelling, and most readers are familiar with the term, so using in the true sense /real meaning there just sounds odd.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Junkomama]

Thank you so much for your comment, Mister Micawber!
Now I think I got it.

Regards,
Junkomama