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 #2 (permalink) Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:35 am Opposite of "punctual" |
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| Tom wrote: |
| I would like to know the opposite of the word punctual |
I know unprecise
But am not sure with the example.
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Tamara
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| #3 (permalink) Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:24 am Un?-punctual |
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There is no opposite word.
It depends on the context: one might say "not punctual"
"not very punctual" or "often late". |
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DOlier
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| #4 (permalink) Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:33 am Opposite of "punctual" |
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Hi Tom
The usual opposite for punctual would be late.
I feel a little uncomfortable with "regular and punctual", so that makes saying the opposite even more difficult. ;)
Exactly what tendency (of his personality/character) did you want to call "regular"?
Here is a suggestion:
Although his brother is very dependable and always punctual, he is quite undependable and frequently late.
Note to Tamara:
The standard word would be imprecise. ;)
Amy
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Yankee
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| #5 (permalink) Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:08 pm Would be ;) |
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| Yankee wrote: |
Note to Tamara:
The standard word would be imprecise. ;) |
Yes, Amy, you’re right. I often mix them up, thank you for your correction.
I know imprecise, it is widely used as a technical/Math term used in calculation.
But …'non-standard' unprecise is also in use… in fact...
Take a look, for example, at the heading: http://www.webrankinfo.com/english/seo-news/topic-301.htm
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Tamara
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| #6 (permalink) Mon Sep 04, 2006 21:26 pm Opposite of "punctual" |
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But …'non-standard' unprecise is also in use… in fact...
Take a look, for example, at the heading: http://www.webrankinfo.com/english/seo-news/topic-301.htm
Hi Tamara,
I think Yankee is correct. The term "unprecise" is not good English. However wrote the example you refer to is mistaken.
Art |
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DOlier
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| #7 (permalink) Tue Sep 05, 2006 7:11 am Not good 'unprecise' |
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Hi dOlier,
Thank you very much for your thought.
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Tamara
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| #8 (permalink) Tue Sep 05, 2006 17:50 pm Opposite of "punctual" |
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| Tom wrote: |
| Although his brother is regular and punctual, he is very irregular and unpunctual. |
I'd like to add something that has nothing to do with your initial question, Tom.
The use of the pronoun 'he' in the second clause might be a little confusing, I think. In fact, when first reading the sentence, I thought the second clause was still referring to 'his brother'. I'd prefer to use a noun instead:
Although his brother is regular and punctual, Tom (my new student, your friend, etc.) is often late.
As an afterthought, I'd take out 'regular'. Have you seen this definition for the word :) ?:
| Quote: |
If you say someone is regular, you mean they excrete the contents of their bowels frequently enough, or (of women) that their period is always at approximately the same time:
The doctor asked if I was regular/if my bowel movements were regular. |
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| Use of good morning/afternoon/evening | 'He won’t/never set the Thames on fire' |
Tom