Heart and Mind

"I Am Sure"

This musing is similar to my "literally" musing. Why the hell do people use the word "literally" when the clearly mean "figuratively." "He literally fell to pieces." Really? Read more about this by clicking on the link above, if you'd like.

Well, unlike most people I seem to hear speaking, I never use literally unless I mean literally. However, I have noticed that people often use "I am sure" to mean, "I am not sure, but I would certainly think." And I also have noticed that I often do it, myself, and I hate that that. I am trying to break that habit. Let me explain what I'm talking about...

In order to fully understand this, you may have to picture a conversation in which this phrase might be used. So, let's suppose we're having a conversation about where to order take-out from.

You might say, "How about Italian food?"

And I might say, "Yeah, there's this new pizza place we should try that just opened last month, you game?"

"Yeah, definitely. I was actually thinking of getting an entree. Does this pizza place also serve entrees?"

"Yeah, I'd imagine so. What are you looking for?"

"Oh, I don't really care, maybe ziti or lasangna or stuffed shells. Just something other than pizza. Maybe we should just get greek food."

"Well, I guess we could....but... no, I mean..if you want Itallian... I'm sure they have the basic stuff like ziti..."

Now, did you catch that? If you picture the intonation to the conversation, you'd have noticed that I not only said "I'm sure," but I did so in such a tone that meant, "I'm pretty sure." Or, "I would certainly imagine they have ziti and think it odd if they didn't."

I'm sure (there it is again) that you know what I'm talking about. Think of your own experiences when you've heard people make assurances using "I'm sure."

Clearly, I am NOT sure they have ziti. And if I knew they did, I would have said, "Yeah, they have ziti" or "Yeah, they serve entrees besides pizza."

At that point, the conversation would be done without ever mentioning that I was sure. It would simply go without say that I'm sure. In fact, in the unlikely event that it didn't go without say and the conversation were to continue, it would be you who'd mentioned the word "sure":

I'd say, "Yeah, they server entrees besides pizza."

And you'd say, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive," I'd say in a tone that had a slight -what-do-you-think-I'm-lying?- edge to it. "I've seen their menu."

So, bottom line: When I am sure, for real, I just give my answer. I usually only say "I'm sure" when I mean "I'd strongly wager on that if I were a betting man." That's messed up.

I have been thinking about writing this blog entry for a while, but was finally motivated to do so after a string of emails this morning. I had sent an animated GIF to a friend and then he replied, "LOL!!!!! That was hilarious.  Where’d you get that??"

To which I replied, "I don't know, 'cause I've had it for years. I'm sure someone sent it to me." But before hitting send, I edited my message to say, "Someone sent it to me, I'd imagine."

I'm 99.9% sure that someone did send it to me. It wasn't the kind of thing I would dig up myself. But I can't recall the specifics, and how could I have, in good faith, written, "I'm sure" someone sent it, when the previous sentence said, "I don't know" where it came from.

I'm sure your think this blog entry is pretty lame.

posted by Steve @ 12:42 PM