I felt sympathetic toward/for/with the kids there.

[angliholic]

I felt sympathetic toward/for/with the kids there (an orphanage).



Do all of the bolded words fit in the above? Are there subtle differences in meaning among them? Thanks.

 

[2006]

I felt sympathetic toward/for/with the kids there (an orphanage).
I would only say, I feel sympathetic toward the kids there.

One can aso say, I feel sympathy for the kids there.

One can also say "...in sympathy with....", but one is usually in sympathy with someone else's efforts or objectives, rather than being in sympathy with 'them'.



Do all of the bolded words fit in the above? Are there subtle differences in meaning among them? Thanks.

2006

 

[angliholic]

2006

Thanks, 2006.

To make sure, are the following three identical in meaning?

I feel sympathetic toward the kids there.
I feel sympathy for the kids there.
I sympathize with the kids there.



Besides, if I am in sympathy with your efforts or objectives, does it mean that I agree on your efforts or objectives?

 

[2006]

Thanks, 2006.

To make sure, are the following three identical in meaning? Yes.

I feel sympathetic toward the kids there.
I feel sympathy for the kids there.
I sympathize with the kids there.


Besides, if I am in sympathy with your efforts or objectives, does it mean that I agree on your efforts or objectives? Yes. But say 'agree with', not "agree on".

2006

 

[angliholic]

Thanks, 2006.
Gotcha.

 

[baqarah131]

No, only toward is correct.

Or more likely:
I felt sympathy for the kids there.
or more likely yet:
I felt sorry for the kids there.

I felt sympathetic toward/for/with the kids there (an orphanage).



Do all of the bolded words fit in the above? Are there subtle differences in meaning among them? Thanks.

 

[Amigos4]

Wouldn't 'empathy' also be appropriate?

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[baqarah131]

No.

Sympathy means that you are saddened by the suffering of others.

Empathy would mean that you have the same pain. You can put yourself in someone else's shoes and experience what they're feeling. It's a nuance, but I think it's a distinction worth preserving.

I still think "I feel sorry for them" would be better.

salutations
edward

Wouldn't 'empathy' also be appropriate?

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[angliholic]

No.

Sympathy means that you are saddened by the suffering of others.

Empathy would mean that you have the same pain. You can put yourself in someone else's shoes and experience what they're feeling. It's a nuance, but I think it's a distinction worth preserving.

I still think "I feel sorry for them" would be better.

salutations
edward

Hi, edward.

I notice the way you use "salutations" in your post, and I wonder if it amounts to "greeting" in meaning in that context. Could I use "greetings" in that context too? I learned both words from reading in the past, but never used them myself before.

 

[baqarah131]

I think this goes back to a TV show in the 1950s. There was a character who used to say "Greetings and salutations!"

Used the way I've used "salutations", it's almost humorous; it's an expression you'd use among friends, which I consider you to be.

These lines at the end of a message are not so important nowadays, since people have got used to e-mail.

You can say
best wishes
best
regards
best regards
or any number of variants.
Or you can just omit this.

The word "greetings" would only fit at the beginning of a message. I don't think it's used much nowadays.

best
edward

Hi, edward.

I notice the way you use "salutations" in your post, and I wonder if it amounts to "greeting" in meaning in that context. Could I use "greetings" in that context too? I learned both words from reading in the past, but never used them myself before.

 

[angliholic]

Thanks, Edward.