Can "buff" be substituted with "fan"?

[NewHopeR]

My dictioinary gives me the definitions:
Fan: an ardent follower and admirer.
Buff: an ardent follower and admirer.

They look absolutely same.

Context:

Shelby's death was taken hard by the many auto industry veterans and auto buffs who knew him personally, or only via his cars.

 

[FreeToyInside]

In AmE usage, a buff is generally more involved in the activity or thing that you're talking about than a fan.

I've not heard of a 'car fan', but a 'racing fan' would be somebody who likes to go to races and watch them on TV. A 'car buff' is somebody who knows about car makes and models, can probably tell you the difference between a 67 and a 68 Ford Mustang, probably knows the inner workings of a car, likes all things related to cars.

Similarly, a 'movie fan' is somebody who likes to watch movies. A 'movie buff' could probably name every film with a particular actor, the years those movies came out, who directed them, etc. Buffs are generally more involved, have a deeper interest in the thing you're talking about.


(not a teacher, just a language lover)

 

[5jj]

Similarly, a 'movie fan' is somebody who likes to watch movies. A 'movie buff' could probably name every film with a particular actor, the years those movies came out, who directed them, etc. Buffs are generally more involved, have a deeper interest in the thing you're talking about.

:up:

I would call myself a film (BrE) fan and, specifically a western buff.

I have been called a western anorak. (definition 2)

 

[FreeToyInside]

:up:

I would call myself a film (BrE) fan and, specifically a western buff.

I have been called a western anorak. (definition 2)

Actually, a true 'film buff' in the US would probably take offense to being called a 'movie buff'. They're always the first ones to point out that 'that's not a movie, it's a film.' In their estimation:
movie = Hollywood cookie-cutter plot with awful dialogue and lots of explosions
film = artsy stuff, with substance

(not a teacher, just a language lover)

 

[Tdol]

Actually, a true 'film buff' in the US would probably take offense to being called a 'movie buff'. They're always the first ones to point out that 'that's not a movie, it's a film.' In their estimation:
movie = Hollywood cookie-cutter plot with awful dialogue and lots of explosions
film = artsy stuff, with substance

I wasn't aware of the distinction in AmE. :up: