not up to snuff

[taked4700]

Hi,

1. They think that Tom is not up to snuff.

2. They don't think that Tom is up to snuff.

Do you think 1 and 2 mean the same thing?

I suppose that English has a rule that "I don't think..." is better than "I think that...not..".

If 1 and 2 mean the same, which is more idiomatic?

Thanks in advance.

 

[charliedeut]

As far as I could find out, it's "up to snuff": snuff - definition of snuff by Macmillan Dictionary. So IMO #1 is better.

charliedeut

PS: As you will notice, the dictionary says it's both "informal and old-fashioned", so you should be careful when using it.

 

[Raymott]

Please fill out the "Reason for editing" box if you are going to make a reply look meaningless.

 

[Tdol]

I suppose that English has a rule that "I don't think..." is better than "I think that...not..".

Have you seen this given as a rule? I wouldn't agree with it- the context may affect which sounds better.

 

[taked4700]

Thank you, all the teachers / contributors.


Tdol. Thank you for your important comment. I googled some examples which include "think... not..." construction.

[URL]http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2012/yan-interview-text_en.html
[/URL]But after my long-term observation and first-hand experiences I think it's not always decided by socialisation. Some people are just born that way. Their thought processes are different. They are born to promote self-interest at ...

( I guess this one is idiomatic because this sentence indicates partial negation:not always.)


http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1973/fischer-lecture.pdf
I think I do not have to repeat the results of those investigations today. I would like to talk instead about a field of research in which we have been intensely interested in recent years: namely, the field of carbene complexes and, more recently, ...

( I guess this one is not idiomatic. "I don't think I have to repeat..." would be more idiomatic. )

Thanks in advance.

 

[probus]

To my ear they are exactly equivalent.

 

[taked4700]

Thank you, Probus.

How about this:

1. I think he is not a nice guy.

2. I don't think he is a nice guy.

Both sentences mean an opinion of mine on him, and 1 indicates directly that he is not good while 2 presumes, in my thinking, he does not seem to be a good guy. Therefore, I think, 2 is politer than 1, which is the reason English speaking people prefer "I don' think" to "I think ..not..".

Am I right?

Thanks in advance.

 

[probus]

Thank you, Probus.

How about this:

1. I think he is not a nice guy.

2. I don't think he is a nice guy.

Both sentences mean an opinion of mine on him, and 1 indicates directly that he is not good while 2 presumes, in my thinking, he does not seem to be a good guy. Therefore, I think, 2 is politer than 1, which is the reason English speaking people prefer "I don' think" to "I think ..not..".

Am I right?

Thanks in advance.

I see nothing to choose between them. To me they are the same.

 

[jordanmichael]

Both sound perfectly fine to me.

 

[bmetz]

Hello, I am an English teacher and I wanted to respond to your post. Yes, I think he is not a nice guy and I don't
think he is a nice guy mean the same thing. Don't is a contraction, which means it is formed by two words: do and not. Therefore, the sentence really is "I do not think he is a nice guy"

However, when looking at popular language, and Standard English, it is more common to say "I don't think he is a nice guy" rather than the other option.

• don't = do not

As far as politeness, I agree that saying that I don't think is politer than I think.... not due to the presumptions of thinking and being able to change one's thinking. I don't think hints that there's a chance of changing one's thinking whereas I think... not is hard to argue with because it's your thoughts and your opinions. Does that help?

In addition, I wanted to correct, or comment, on your sentence, "Both sentences mean an opinion of mine on him." The correct way to say this is "Both sentences mean my opinion of him" rather than "an opinion of mine on him." We don't usually place things like opinions or other abstract ideas onto people, but rather formulate them.
Therefore, it's my opinion not an opinion of mine.

 

[probus]

Hey bmetz, welcome aboard.

 

[BillyBongy]

What are the secrets of being a great conversationalist? --->> What are the secrets of being a great conversationalist?<<<<----- Thank u for your help!