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Joined: Sep 2004
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One native English teacher told us once that the former saying is not right. But I occasionally find some persons use the later usage in writing or in conversation. It seems both are acceptable at this time. Is that so?

Thanks,

Callithump


Do inform me if you see any corrections needed in my written English.
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"It's clear to me" is perfectly good colloquial US English and probably other dialects as well. "I'm clear about that" is not so standard but would be understandable in most if not all contexts.

#164867 01/05/07 03:47 AM
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as in, have I made myself perfectly clear..

dialog from "A Few Good Men":

Jessep: We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear?
Kaffee: Yes sir.
Jessep: Are we clear?
Kaffee: Crystal.

dialog from "My Cousin Vinny":

I don't want to hear explanations. The state of Alabama has a procedure. And that procedure is to have an arraignment. Are we clear on this?

#164868 01/05/07 11:37 AM
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Aha! It was the "about" that threw me off. Tsuwm is clear on that.

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Also common:
I'm clear on that
a shortened form of
I'm clear on that point (or topic or area or ...)

#164870 01/05/07 03:42 PM
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The foregoing followups are right on. Summing up, "I'm clear about that" is ambiguous because it can also mean that I'm defending a statement that you have found confusing, while I don't understand your puzzlement


dalehileman
#164871 01/05/07 07:18 PM
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Yes, the two phrases smack of being opposite in that the 'clear' term appears to apply to the speaker in one case and the listener in the other. Alles klar?

Last edited by Aramis11; 01/05/07 07:20 PM.

ÅΓª╥┐↕§
#164872 01/06/07 02:13 AM
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Alles klar?

Ja, ganz klar ... auf der Andrea Doria.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
#164873 01/06/07 03:48 PM
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Aber der Titanic


dalehileman
#164874 01/11/07 06:07 AM
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So, "It's clear to me" means "I have understood what it means" while "I'm clear on that" means "I have made my points clear (so you should have understood)".

And "I'm clear about that" is ambiguous in meaning for it can mean both "I have made clear what you mean" and "I have made clear what I mean". So I would be recommended to avoid using it.

Am I clear on that? And has it been clear to me?



Thansk,

Callithump


Do inform me if you see any corrections needed in my written English.
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