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 #2 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:52 pm Needless to say |
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Hello Purley,
"Needless to say" means "It is not necessary to say that". It introduces material which may already be familiar to those present, or which might be easily inferred or assumed. Its purpose is to draw attention to the material, for the purpose of reassurance, humour, etc., or as a polite reminder.
1. Needless to say, we'll let you know what's happening as soon as we know ourselves.
– reassurance.
2. I was meant to meet Quentin for a drink last night. Needless to say, he didn't turn up on time.
– humour: the speaker assumes that the addressee shares his knowledge of Quentin's poor time-keeping.
3. Needless to say, DNA is a complex molecule.
– polite reminder: without "needless to say", it might sound as if the addressee didn't know that DNA is a complex molecule.
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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Joined: 13 Oct 2006
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Location: Southern England
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| #3 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 14:58 pm Needless to say |
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| To me it often carries a meaning of "obviously". |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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| #4 (permalink) Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:04 am Needless to say |
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A veiled "obviously", perhaps.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1326
Location: Southern England
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| #5 (permalink) Sat Sep 20, 2008 15:09 pm Needless to say |
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| MrPedantic wrote: |
A veiled "obviously", perhaps.
MrP |
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017
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| Noun noun agreement. | hive of activity |
Purley