[General] back

[kite]

Dear teachers,
Suppose I have schduled an appointmemt on 10th. Now I want to rescheduled on 5th; that means I want it a little bit earlier. Now I want to call the office and request for an early date. Can I say "May I take a little back my appointment?"? I know I could say "May I reschedule an appointment?" But I want to say with the word "back" or whichever words that give means "back". Because I I do not want to cancel the appointment but to bring it on an earlier day than first one.

Thanks.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Dear teachers,
Suppose I have schduled an appointmemt on 10th. Now I want to rescheduled on 5th; that means I want it a little bit earlier. Now I want to call the office and request for an early date. Can I say "May I take a little back my appointment?"? I know I could say "May I reschedule an appointment?" But I want to say with the word "back" or whichever words that give means "back". Because I I do not want to cancel the appointment but to bring it on an earlier day than first one.

Thanks.

Can I move my appointment back a few days?

 

[5jj]

Can I move my appointment back a few days?

That sounds to me as if you want to postpone it. I'd ask to move/bring it forward a few days.

 

[PeterValk]

Not a teacher.

AmE and BrE.....occasionally it makes me smile just to think about the differences between them. Move it back, move it forward.
How on earth are you guys able to make any kind of deals if you don't understand each other?

Why not simply be more elaborate:
"I have an appointment for the 10th, but I won't be able to make it because I'll be out of town. Would it be possible to make a new appointment for the 5th?"

 

[SoothingDave]

It's not an AmE difference. I think Mike read it too quickly.

If you move something from the 5th to the 10th, you have moved it back.

If you move from the 10th to the 5th, you have moved it up or moved it forward.

 

[MikeNewYork]

It's not an AmE difference. I think Mike read it too quickly.

If you move something from the 5th to the 10th, you have moved it back.

If you move from the 10th to the 5th, you have moved it up or moved it forward.

Sorry. I read the 5th as the 15th.

 

[Barb_D]

My favoriate Indian English word is "prepone."

Just like it sounds - the opposite of "postpone."

Could we prepone this meeting to the 5th? I keep hoping it will catch on in America, but so far, not yet.

 

[kite]

It's not an AmE difference. I think Mike read it too quickly.

If you move something from the 5th to the 10th, you have moved it back.

If you move from the 10th to the 5th, you have moved it up or moved it forward.

Great! Very helpful. Then I would say "May I move forward my apointment?"

 

[Rover_KE]

I'd say 'May I bring my appointment forward?'