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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5 Reliable vs. Dependable #190417 04/13/10 09:22 AM 04/13/10 09:22 AM Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5 T tcolling OP stranger tcolling   OP stranger T Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5 Reliable vs. Dependable... is there any difference? Re: Reliable vs. Dependable [Re: tcolling] #190418 04/13/10 11:20 AM 04/13/10 11:20 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 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 [Re: Faldage] #190420 04/13/10 12:27 PM 04/13/10 12:27 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont 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 [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu] #190424 04/13/10 05:36 PM 04/13/10 05:36 PM Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 876 western NY twosleepy old hand twosleepy   old hand Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 876 western NY 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 [Re: tcolling] #190624 04/20/10 02:09 AM 04/20/10 02:09 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky 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 [Re: Jackie] #199608 05/03/11 10:20 PM 05/03/11 10:20 PM Joined: May 2011 Posts: 1 M Miranda stranger Miranda   stranger M Joined: May 2011 Posts: 1 @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 [Re: Miranda] #199609 05/03/11 11:35 PM 05/03/11 11:35 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,160 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,160 Land of the Flat Water WELCOME TO THE 'COOL' SITE, MIRANDA ----please, draw me a sheep---- Re: Reliable vs. Dependable [Re: Miranda] #199613 05/04/11 02:22 AM 05/04/11 02:22 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Why, thank you, Miranda. Welcome aBoard, and I hope you stick around a while! Re: Reliable vs. Dependable [Re: tcolling] #199617 05/04/11 01:03 PM 05/04/11 01:03 PM Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 down under Candy Pooh-Bah Candy   Pooh-Bah Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,706 down under Originally Posted By: tcolling Reliable vs. Dependable... is there any difference? They are spelt differently Re: Reliable vs. Dependable [Re: Candy] #199620 05/04/11 02:43 PM 05/04/11 02:43 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,160 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,160 Land of the Flat Water 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---- Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. 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