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Karla_I
24 Nov 2020

  • English (US) Near fluent
  • Spanish (Mexico)
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Question about English (US)

What is the difference between Across from and Opposite ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

One is American and the other British?
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Lorna_5506
24 Nov 2020

  • English (US)

@Karla_I across and opposite sometimes share the same meaning, and example for both would be “ She sat across from me at the lunch table.” “She sat at the opposite side of the table as me” In difference, you could say two words mean the opposite thing but you wouldn’t say the mean the across thing. An example would be “ off and on” they are opposite, but they are not across.

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OwLeho
24 Nov 2020

  • English (US)
As far as I know, both British and American use both, so it's not that. When you are describing directions or placement of people/things, there are times where they can both be used to mean the same thing with no difference. But most of the time, they have slightly different connotations/nuances/subtleties of meaning that will change the meaning or add extra meaning when they are used. So: "Across from" basically means "on the other side of". Often used if there is something in-between them. So across from them, on the other side of a sports field or a big table or on the other side of the room, on the other side of a river, etc. It implies there is something in between, something in the way, and that they are on different sides of it, with the space or object between them. "opposite" can mean similarly if it's used to talk about placement or directions, but it means it more exactly, precisely. Like on a round clock, the opposite of 12 is 6. But 7 and 11 are across from each other, but not opposite to each other. However, opposite most often means 'completely different'. So in colors, black is opposite white, they are completely different. Smooth is opposite rough/scratchy. Wet is opposite dry. Day is opposite night. Dead is opposite alive. So when someone uses the word opposite, this meaning is still there in the background, suggesting that maybe these two things/people that are 'opposite' might be very different from each other or even that they don't get along with each other.

As far as I know, both British and American use both, so it's not that.

When you are describing directions or placement of people/things, there are times where they can both be used to mean the same thing with no difference.

But most of the time, they have slightly different connotations/nuances/subtleties of meaning that will change the meaning or add extra meaning when they are used.

So:
"Across from" basically means "on the other side of". Often used if there is something in-between them. So across from them, on the other side of a sports field or a big table or on the other side of the room, on the other side of a river, etc. It implies there is something in between, something in the way, and that they are on different sides of it, with the space or object between them.

"opposite" can mean similarly if it's used to talk about placement or directions, but it means it more exactly, precisely. Like on a round clock, the opposite of 12 is 6. But 7 and 11 are across from each other, but not opposite to each other.

However, opposite most often means 'completely different'. So in colors, black is opposite white, they are completely different. Smooth is opposite rough/scratchy. Wet is opposite dry. Day is opposite night. Dead is opposite alive. So when someone uses the word opposite, this meaning is still there in the background, suggesting that maybe these two things/people that are 'opposite' might be very different from each other or even that they don't get along with each other.

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