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stranger
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OP
stranger
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Reliable vs. Dependable... is there any difference?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
formerly known as etaoin...
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old hand
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old hand
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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.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
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stranger
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stranger
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@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.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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WELCOME TO THE 'COOL' SITE, MIRANDA
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Why, thank you, Miranda. Welcome aBoard, and I hope you stick around a while!
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Reliable vs. Dependable... is there any difference? They are spelt differently
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
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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.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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newbie
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newbie
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They are spelt differently LOL! And dependable is worth more points in Scrabble. Seriously, I think they have exactly the same meaning.
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old hand
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old hand
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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."
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Thanks OB Its good know someone appreciates me jokes
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old hand
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old hand
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I would have laughed, but I was gone for a…spell.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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----please, draw me a sheep----
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: May 2011
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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...
Jon
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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----please, draw me a sheep----
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stranger
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stranger
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Thanks Luke; Nice to be here!
I'd love to draw you a sheep, but my artistic talents forbid...
Jon
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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
Last edited by LukeJavan8; 05/11/11 03:41 PM.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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old hand
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old hand
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A Luke sheep:
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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old hand
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old hand
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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.
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old hand
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old hand
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And Antoine's sheep doesn't spell your name!
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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I'd love to draw you a sheep, but my artistic talents forbid...
But did you draw your avatar, Jon?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
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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. Thanks for that great site, Peter. Did you get it, Candy, it's Aussie????
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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And Antoine's sheep doesn't spell your name! 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.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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old hand
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old hand
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Let's see if I can carry this too far! Oo – earthquake. I wonder what the magnitude was. 4.0, 45 miles from here.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
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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
----please, draw me a sheep----
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old hand
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old hand
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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.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
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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.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I've printed up the Sheep. Someway, someday it may become an avatar or something. I really like it.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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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
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old hand
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old hand
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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yeah, that's awesome, Tromb!
formerly known as etaoin...
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Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 11,613 |
YOU DREW THAT?!?!?! Holy cow--I mean, ram! I have always wished I could draw or paint.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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They're perfectly good sheep, but did you draw them by hand or computer? (as asked by the privite investigator)
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old hand
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old hand
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I draw on computer. My arthritic joints don't give me satisfactory results when I try to draw on paper.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
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A most unsatisfying planet, the LP would say.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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"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.
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old hand
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old hand
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Thank you. I think they're nice to Luke at.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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....and will make a nice avatar: personalized. and for me. Never really had such care.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 11,613 |
It's a first here, that's for sure. Congratulations!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Thanks, Jackie, but it is Peter who deserves all the credit as you have been reading here, I'm sure.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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