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Reliable vs. Dependable
#190417 04/13/2010 9:22 AM
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tcolling
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Reliable vs. Dependable... is there any difference?
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
tcolling #190418 04/13/2010 11:20 AM
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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.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Faldage #190420 04/13/2010 12:27 PM
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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...
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Buffalo Shrdlu #190424 04/13/2010 5:36 PM
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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.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
tcolling #190624 04/20/2010 2:09 AM
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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.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Jackie #199608 05/03/2011 10:20 PM
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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.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Miranda #199609 05/03/2011 11:35 PM
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WELCOME TO THE 'COOL' SITE, MIRANDA

----please, draw me a sheep----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Miranda #199613 05/04/2011 2:22 AM
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Why, thank you, Miranda. Welcome aBoard, and I hope you stick around a while!
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
tcolling #199617 05/04/2011 1:03 PM
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Originally Posted By: tcolling
Reliable vs. Dependable... is there any difference?


They are spelt differently wink
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Candy #199620 05/04/2011 2:43 PM
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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----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Candy #199628 05/04/2011 11:12 PM
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Originally Posted By: Candy


They are spelt differently wink


LOL! And dependable is worth more points in Scrabble.

Seriously, I think they have exactly the same meaning.

I like to say things a little differently
The Saga Retold in Limericks
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
obihave #199629 05/05/2011 2:11 AM
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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."

Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
obihave #199636 05/05/2011 3:54 AM
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Originally Posted By: obihave
Originally Posted By: Candy

.....

LOL!


Thanks OB Its good know someone appreciates me jokes laugh
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Candy #199644 05/05/2011 6:54 AM
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I would have laughed, but I was gone for a…spell.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199653 05/05/2011 3:06 PM
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But you are back now.

----please, draw me a sheep----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
tcolling #199764 05/11/2011 7:41 AM
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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
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
JonRichfield #199773 05/11/2011 3:24 PM
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Land of the Flat Water

Welcome, Jon

----please, draw me a sheep----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
LukeJavan8 #199779 05/11/2011 3:36 PM
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Thanks Luke; Nice to be here!

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

Jon
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
JonRichfield #199780 05/11/2011 3:40 PM
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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; 05/11/2011 3:41 PM.
----please, draw me a sheep----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
LukeJavan8 #199787 05/11/2011 10:41 PM
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A Luke sheep:

Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199798 05/12/2011 2:56 PM
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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----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
LukeJavan8 #199805 05/13/2011 1:38 AM
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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.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
LukeJavan8 #199806 05/13/2011 2:31 AM
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And Antoine's sheep doesn't spell your name!
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
JonRichfield #199811 05/13/2011 1:47 PM
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Originally Posted By: JonRichfield


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


But did you draw your avatar, Jon?
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199813 05/13/2011 3:25 PM
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Originally Posted By: Tromboniator
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----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199814 05/13/2011 3:27 PM
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Land of the Flat Water
Originally Posted By: Tromboniator
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----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
LukeJavan8 #199818 05/13/2011 8:37 PM
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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.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199820 05/13/2011 9:59 PM
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Land of the Flat Water
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----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
LukeJavan8 #199821 05/13/2011 10:14 PM
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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.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199822 05/13/2011 10:17 PM
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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----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
LukeJavan8 #199823 05/13/2011 10:18 PM
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Land of the Flat Water
I've printed up the Sheep. Someway, someday it may become
an avatar or something. I really like it.

----please, draw me a sheep----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
LukeJavan8 #199825 05/14/2011 2:08 AM
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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

Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Candy #199826 05/14/2011 2:11 AM
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Thanks, Candy.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
tcolling #199838 05/14/2011 3:20 PM
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yeah, that's awesome, Tromb!

formerly known as etaoin...
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199853 05/15/2011 3:05 AM
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YOU DREW THAT?!?!?! Holy cow--I mean, ram! I have always wished I could draw or paint.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199854 05/15/2011 9:40 AM
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They're perfectly good sheep, but did you draw them by hand or computer?
(as asked by the privite investigator)
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
BranShea #199857 05/15/2011 10:17 AM
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I draw on computer. My arthritic joints don't give me satisfactory results when I try to draw on paper.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199859 05/15/2011 3:03 PM
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Land of the Flat Water
A most unsatisfying planet, the LP would say.

----please, draw me a sheep----
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
Tromboniator #199868 05/15/2011 9:30 PM
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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.
Re: Reliable vs. Dependable
tcolling #199873 05/16/2011 5:11 AM
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Thank you. I think they're nice to Luke at.
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