advance/promote

Itasan · Post by **Itasan** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:26 am

Are these all OK and do they mean the same thing?
1-1. He was advanced to the rank of general.
1-2. He was promoted to the rank of general.
2-1. He was advanced to Sales Manager.
2-2. He was advanced to Sales Manager.
Thank you.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:13 pm

My intuitions tell me that 'promoted' can be passive, but that 'advanced' has more "active" connotations and thus would take more the active form here.

RolandTrego · Post by **RolandTrego** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:18 am

I agree with Fluffy, if indeed s/he means that one would more likely say He was promoted to general manager and He advanced to general manager.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:15 pm

That is indeed what I meant with my somewhat convoluted phrasing, RT! Thanks for helping make things doubtless clearer for Itasan!

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:32 pm

In the American (U.S.) variety of spoken English, advanced would never be used in this sense. Only promoted would be used.