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klafterreith
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 429
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 Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:14 am Post subject: confidence |
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An agony aunt has received a letter from a teenager telling her about personal problems. Now the agony aunt writes a reply:
Dear Suzanne,
I read your letter. Thank you for your confidence.
A native speaker told me that the word `confidence�cannot be used in a sentence like this. It should be `thank you for trusting me�etc
Do you agree? Please comment.
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Christine123
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, confidence can be used correctly in that sentence. What I am guessing is what is trying to be conveyed here, is "thank you for your confidence in entrusting me with your personal problems."
I am, however, confused about "agony aunt." That doesn't really make sense. If you want to convey that the aunt is in agony, you would need to change the noun agony to its adjective form, agonized. |
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Bluegum
Joined: 26 Oct 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Melbourne
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| Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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| "Agony aunt" is an expression, perhaps used only in British English. It means the person who advises readers on personal problems in a magazine or newspaper. Maybe Americans call it something else. |
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Christine123
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:01 am Post subject: |
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| Bluegum wrote: |
| "Agony aunt" is an expression, perhaps used only in British English. It means the person who advises readers on personal problems in a magazine or newspaper. Maybe Americans call it something else. |
I did not realize it was a title. Titles can trump grammar. I believe our counterpart is "Dear Abby."  |
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