Word Meanings

What you say sounds good, in theory but I'm still not convinced.

I can't think of an example of a sentence where you can't swap one word for the other one?  Can you?

If they were interchangeable, you would be able to presume an identity, which doesn't sound right.

I'd also say one is more based on actual knowledge, whereas the other is more guesswork - but I can't work out which one because I've thought about it too much. I think before I started thinking about it, I thought it was that 'presume' was based on knowledge, and 'assume' was based on guesswork.

I think they could be interchanged without many people noticing though. I tend to say assume rather than presume.

Dr Livingstone I assume does not seem right to me

hammill:

Dr Livingstone I assume does not seem right to me

Lol.  No it doesn't.  But it still makes sense.  It sounds wrong because its such a famous phrase.

However David's example of Pete assuming Joe's identity does make more sense.  I admit you can't presume someones identity. Maybe that's it.

Although assume is being used in a different context isn't it?  In this case assume means to replicate or falsify, whereas 'I assumed you were coming to the party' is a different meaning.

Maybe the difference is assume can be used for multiple meanings, and presume can't?

God I love the English language.  I must admit like the vast majority of people I use assume 95% of the time.  Can't remember last time I used the word presume in every day conversation. 

I think I have too much time on my hands.

A petition is called for, to make more use of the word 'presume'. 'Assume' shouldn't be allowed to hog all the limelight. If we don't start using 'presume more, it'll be forgotten about and eventually fade from our beautifully confusing language. Presumably. 

There's another one. You can't put 'assumably' in place of presumably. Mainly because it doesn't exist. But also, because you can't.

in scientific reports you would state any assumptions made, never presumptions

timwileman:

in scientific reports you would state any assumptions made, never presumptions

Why?

I think that's just habit.

I work in project management and I do the same.  I work a lot with formally documented assumptions.  Everyone is comfortable in making assumptions like "System testing will complete to schedule", "The business will be ready to receive the system on 1st January". "The marketing department will be ready for the product launch".

But they are just as easily presumptions as assumptions.   We just don't tend to use the terminology "presumption"

I agree with David lets get a petition to stop the word presumption disappearing from the English language

Or are we assuming it never will? 

I can't believe I actually read all of this thread. *Yawn.

Presumably, you assumed it would be interesting.