For example, if I say "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings BUT... " does this mean that I'm really NOT sorry for hurting someone's feelings?
2007-01-09 04:49:05 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
No, "but" doesn't not cancel out a previous statement, it quantifies and qualifies it. It says that, while the previous statement has value and merit, additional information exists that mitigates the the previous statement and asks the reader to consider both statements of information.
2007-01-09 04:58:50 · answer #1 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you're still sorry, you just have a reason for why it happened, and maybe the person you hurt contributed to what happened.
Example: I didn't mean to hit you, but you were in the way.
2007-01-09 12:55:54 · answer #2 · answered by The Ice Man 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word"but" doesn't necessarily cancel out the previous statement, but it could. "But" just modifies in some way the previous statement.
2007-01-09 12:59:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not necessarily. For example, you might have said something that was so important it needed to be said, despite hurting the other person's feelings. You may have been genuinely sorry about it but realised that it was more important to say what you said.
2007-01-09 12:55:02 · answer #4 · answered by Groucho Returns 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think it completely cancels it out, but it does take a bit away from the original statement. Like "You hit me in face with a bowling ball, but I guess maybe I had it coming since I dropped my nachos on your lap". In this sentence, I haven't forgiven the dude completely for tossing a bowling ball in my face, but I did kinda justify it a little bit. OUCH, my face hurts.
2007-01-09 12:55:13 · answer #5 · answered by Rod Rod Go 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, it's not "canceling" out the previous statement, it is meant as an exception, meaning that the previous statement wasn't all consuming...
2007-01-09 12:53:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"But" does not cancel anything in the situation you mention. It is more of an exception. "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings but, you should not have called me that first (whatever)."
2007-01-09 12:58:42 · answer #7 · answered by startwinkle05 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In general, no. Used with an apology, yes. If one needs to add a qualifier, one isn't truly very sorry.
2007-01-09 13:36:21 · answer #8 · answered by imjustasteph 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nah.. it just shows another side to something.
"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, but you hurt mine first"... you're showing why you did it in the first place and now you're sorry about it.
2007-01-09 12:53:55 · answer #9 · answered by fickle™ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it Does
2007-01-09 14:44:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋