use of vs. usage of

[Torsten]

Hi,

When do we say "use of" and "usage of"? What exactly is the difference?
Thanks a lot,
Torsten
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TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Alan]

Hi Torsten,

I'll have a go- I believe the sense of 'use' is simply the idea of function - as in:

The use of the article in that sentence is to show that you are referring to one object only.

The idea of 'usage' is to me the frequency of the use of something or the custom of using it - as in:

The usage of writing a past event in the Present Simple is a device to make the description more vivid.

Hope this elucidates.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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