This coming Sunday", "This Sunday" or "Next Sunday"?

[Tan Elaine]

Today is Thursday. In three days it is Sunday.

Do we say "This coming Sunday", "This Sunday" or "Next Sunday"?

Thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

Number 1 and 2 work. If today is Thursday, May 4th, I would understand "next Sunday" to be Sunday, May 14th.

"Next Xday" is imprecise. We use it frequently, and it's nearly always understood, but its meaning varies depending on how many days it is till the nearest Xday. If today were Monday and you said "next Sunday", I'd ask you whether you meant the nearest upcoming Sunday or the one after that. The safest thing is to use number 1 or 2, or simply say "Sunday".

 

[bhaisahab]

All three are fine in BrE.

 

[jutfrank]

All three are fine in BrE.

Only the first two are fine. We wouldn't say next Sunday in BrE.

 

[bhaisahab]

Only the first two are fine. We wouldn't say next Sunday in BrE.

Perhaps you wouldn't. I would.

 

[Tan Elaine]

All three are fine in BrE.

Thanks, bhaisahab.

It's interesting how BrE differs from AmE in this context.

 

[jutfrank]

Perhaps you wouldn't. I would.

I meant I can't think of a situation where either of us would. (It's only three days away.)

 

[Tan Elaine]

Perhaps you wouldn't. I would.

Where I live, 'next Sunday' is a common expression.

 

[andrewg927]

To me, in your case "next Sunday" sounds more like next week and not "this Sunday".

 

[jutfrank]

To me, in your case "next Sunday" sounds more like next week and not "this Sunday".

Yes, to me too. I'm sure there's no difference between BrE and AmE on this point.

 

[bhaisahab]

If I wanted to refer to Sunday the 14th of May today, I would say 'Sunday week' or 'a week on Sunday' not 'next Sunday'. Sunday the 7th is obviously the next Sunday after Thursday the 4th. I would most probably use 'on Sunday' or 'this Sunday' to refer to Sunday the 7th, but I might use 'next Sunday'.

 

[GoesStation]

I learned "Sunday week" when I lived in Toronto. It's a shame we don't have this useful expression in American English.

 

[andrewg927]

I learned "Sunday week" when I lived in Toronto. It's a shame we don't have this useful expression in American English.

I don't find the term "Sunday week" intuitive to understand. It means a week from Sunday, doesn't it?

 

[Tdol]

It does, but many of these time expressions that could extend beyond the simplest calendar view can easily get unclear.

 

[GoesStation]

I don't find the term "Sunday week" intuitive to understand. It means a week from Sunday, doesn't it?

Yes. It took me a while to grasp that, but once I did, I found it a really handy phrase. You can understand it as "Sunday plus a week."

 

[andrewg927]

Well, handy in Canada or England but certainly not in America (which is something our student should take notice if he/she wants to live in America).

 

[GoesStation]

So Americans would certainly not like 'Sunday fortnight' or 'a fortnight on Sunday'.

I'm afraid not. I don't recall hearing "fortnight" used when I lived in Canada but perhaps it still has some currency there. For some reason the word has completely fallen out of use in American English.

 

[andrewg927]

So Americans would certainly not like 'Sunday fortnight' or 'a fortnight on Sunday'.

I think it is fine to use that if you don't want to be understood. ;-)