(Untitled)

[meredith44]

I was going to ramble about my RL, but I think I'm going to hold off on that for a moment in favor of doing my first poll. Yay! Anyway, someone on my flist is taking an English class and was told that most Americans would say that something was "challenging" rather than "difficult". I think I most often say the latter, but I was curious as to

Comments

[jaybee65]

I think my answer would vary, depending on what nuance I want to give it. "Challenging" has a slightly more positive connotation, to me -- it suggests that it might not be easy, but the person faced with the task ought to be able to rise to the occasion. "Difficult" doesn't convey that same level of optimism.

[meredith44]

And that right there does a pretty good job summing up why I go for "difficult", I think. I'm not exactly an optimistic person. *grin*

[labellamafia494]

for the "American" speakers on my flist
Does Canadian count? *g*

I'm not enough of an optimist to say "challenging" instinctively, so "difficult" it is.

[meredith44]

As I'm virtually Canadian, I think it should. Besides, we're all North Americans, aren't we? (And I really am proud of myself for resisting tossing an "eh" in there. *grin*)