Reliable vs. Dependable... is there any difference?

I think you'll find that while many people may agree that there is a difference, you'll find few agree on what that difference is.

the distinction that I (usually) make is that reliable is more about machinery and dependable is more about people. but I often use reliable for people, too, but I don't often say machinery is dependable, though it could be, of course.

I see them as synonyms, just like rely and depend. The etymology is not similar, but to me they are equal. I would use either one for people, machinery, weather or whatever. I have a dependable vehicle and a reliable husband (usually...). Since they are the same to me, I can't say what the difference would be.

To me, reliable is slightly "higher". That is, I would rather have a friend or a car that is reliable than dependable; I think reliable is a degree or two closer to certainty.

@Jackie, I agree with you. Out of curiosity I searched for these words and found two things. This cool Wordsmith site, and that someone other than me feels there is a difference in these two words. I couldn't have explained them better, but I too feel that reliable is a step closer to certainty than dependable.

WELCOME TO THE 'COOL' SITE, MIRANDA

Why, thank you, Miranda. Welcome aBoard, and I hope you stick around a while!

They are spelt differently

To me reliable means that they may not be in some cases,
dependable means 'you can count on it'. Perhaps just
six of one and half-dozen of another.

LOL! And dependable is worth more points in Scrabble.

Seriously, I think they have exactly the same meaning.

Seems one may have been reliant on the other.

depend
early 15c., "to be attached to as a condition or cause," a figurative use, from M.Fr. dependre , lit. "to hang from, hang down," from L. dependere , from de- "from, down" + pendere "to hang, be suspended" (see pendant).

rely
early 14c., "to gather, assemble," from O.Fr. relier "fasten, attach, rally, oblige," from L. religare "fasten, bind fast," from re- , intensive prefix, + ligare "to bind" (see ligament). Sense of "depend, trust" is from 1570s, perhaps via notion of "rally to, fall back on."

Thanks OB Its good know someone appreciates me jokes

I would have laughed, but I was gone for a…spell.

But you are back now.

Hmmmm... I am new here; I thought I had answered, but if so my immortal response is now in bit heaven. It being immortal however, here it is again, if not very reliably.

I propose that one might use the words according to the following distinction: A platform (or perhaps a hood) could hold you up reliably, but a gallows dependably.

Just a thought...

Welcome, Jon

Thanks Luke; Nice to be here!

I'd love to draw you a sheep, but my artistic talents forbid...

That has not stopped a number of others on this site, in the
past. The quote is from Antoine de Ste.-Exupery's
"The Little Prince", a book I used long ago in
teaching second year French. Would last a semester easily,
easy yet challenging. Thanks for the offer anyhow. It is
good to have new blood here, stick around.

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Prince-Kath...05128431&sr=1-1

A Luke sheep:

Oh my, oh my.
Thanks Peter. That is actually better than the attempts
the pilot does for the Prince in the book. Your's has the
amorous looks of Spring madness.
I am appreciative.

You're welcome. I don't think I've seen Le Petit Prince in almost fifty years. I read Vol de nuit a couple of years later.

Oh! I just discover Le Petit Prince online at http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0300771h.html. Je le lirai, peut-être ce soir.

And Antoine's sheep doesn't spell your name!

But did you draw your avatar, Jon?

Thanks for that great site, Peter. Did you get it, Candy, it's
Aussie????

Pardonez-moi, Pierre mais> it must be Monday on a Friday.
I knew there was something special about the sheep, but I
could not quite grasp it, and am still having trouble, as I
said, Monday on Friday. So you had to spell it out for me
so I'd notice. Please continue, because I like it, but am
still so thick headed today. Must be the weather, temp dropped
to 40 this AM.

Let's see if I can carry this too far!
Oo – earthquake. I wonder what the magnitude was.
4.0, 45 miles from here.

Wow: hope there were not any injuries.
Keep us informed. All we get is Osama. I have to tune into
the BBC or France24 to get world news, even news in Alaska.

I looked and I saw it for a moment and then I'd lose it again.
Sort of like those things similar to "Where's Waldo" where you
stare and stare and finally a 3D thing jumps out at you.
THANKS FOR THE SHEEP

It won't be on the news. 4.0 shook the house, but nothing even fell. If you were in a car you wouldn’t know it happened. Probably no one at, say, the high school or the hospital would have noticed.

Just one of those everyday thing, huh?
We don't get them here. Not too far from the New Madrid
fault down in Missouri, but I've not ever felt one, tho' they
say they happen. Probably we'd think it was a train or truck
or some such thing. Glad it was not too serious.

I've printed up the Sheep. Someway, someday it may become
an avatar or something. I really like it.

I can fix it for you to have as avatar, Luke
You can depend on me and I'm reliable!

Do you want the whole drawing (with the progressive changes) or just the last bit where your name is a sheep.

Your work is brilliant Peter

Thanks, Candy.

yeah, that's awesome, Tromb!

YOU DREW THAT?!?!?! Holy cow--I mean, ram! I have always wished I could draw or paint.

They're perfectly good sheep, but did you draw them by hand or computer?
(as asked by the privite investigator)

I draw on computer. My arthritic joints don't give me satisfactory results when I try to draw on paper.

A most unsatisfying planet, the LP would say.

"draw on computer. My arthritic joints don't give me satisfactory results when I try to draw on paper."

They're just very good sheepy sheep.

Thank you. I think they're nice to Luke at.

....and will make a nice avatar: personalized. and for me.
Never really had such care.

It's a first here, that's for sure. Congratulations!

Thanks, Jackie, but it is Peter who deserves all the credit
as you have been reading here, I'm sure.