Thread: Using use usage

"Using" as noun, "use" and "usage". What is the difference, if there is any?

I don't believe "Using" can ever be a noun. But perhaps it's just slipping my mind...

Use/Using/Uses/Used all mean the same thing.

Usage is a different word, and it is a noun.

Usage is used to describe what something does/is used for.


The usage of a car is to transport people.
The usage of a cup is to hold fluid.
Etc. etc.



Does that help?

Originally Posted by muzzy

I don't believe "Using" can ever be a noun. But perhaps it's just slipping my mind...

Trust me, it can.

Use/Using/Uses/Used all mean the same thing.

Usage is a different word, and it is a noun.

Usage is used to describe what something does/is used for.


The usage of a car is to transport people.
The usage of a cup is to hold fluid.
Etc. etc.

That is, like "purpose"?

Does that help?

Yes, of course, thank you.

I think the question was, what is the difference between the use of 'use' and 'usage', both nouns. It might be the part of the country I'm in, but I would normally say 'use' in everyday speech in the context of 'the use of the cup', the use of the car', etc, but I think 'usage' could be substituted as well.

If you're saying something like 'It's no use!', or 'There's no use in trying!' (as in 'It's hopeless') then 'use' is your only choice.

The only place where I commonly say usage is in reference to something like my monthly water bill: "My water usage is twice as much this month as it was last month."


Here's a note about the subject from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/usage:

—Usage note The nouns usage and use are related in origin and meaning and to some extent overlap in their use. Usage usually refers to habitual or customary practices or procedures: Some usages of the Anglican Church are similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also commonly used in reference to language practices: English usage is divided in the pronunciation of aunt. Use refers to the act of using or employing (something): She put her extra money to good use. Perhaps in the belief that it is the more impressive term, usage is sometimes used where use would be more natural: Has your usage of a personal computer made the work any easier?

Originally Posted by Grogs

I think the question was, what is the difference between the use of 'use' and 'usage', both nouns. It might be the part of the country I'm in, but I would normally say 'use' in everyday speech in the context of 'the use of the cup', the use of the car', etc, but I think 'usage' could be substituted as well.

If you're saying something like 'It's no use!', or 'There's no use in trying!' (as in 'It's hopeless') then 'use' is your only choice.

The only place where I commonly say usage is in reference to something like my monthly water bill: "My water usage is twice as much this month as it was last month."


Here's a note about the subject from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/usage:

—Usage note The nouns usage and use are related in origin and meaning and to some extent overlap in their use. Usage usually refers to habitual or customary practices or procedures: Some usages of the Anglican Church are similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also commonly used in reference to language practices: English usage is divided in the pronunciation of aunt. Use refers to the act of using or employing (something): She put her extra money to good use. Perhaps in the belief that it is the more impressive term, usage is sometimes used where use would be more natural: Has your usage of a personal computer made the work any easier?

It is much more clear now, thanks.

I'd say "usage" is more formal.

Also usage = consumption, in context.

Use/Using/Uses/Used all mean the same thing.

Not they don't. They are different tenses and persons and...

Use [yooz] = the verb, e.g. "I use" ect.
Use [yoos] = a noun.

Originally Posted by muzzy

The usage of a car is to transport people.
The usage of a cup is to hold fluid.
Etc. etc.


Does that help?

No it doesn't, those sentences sound bad at best and are grammatically incorrect at worst.

The purpose of a car is to transport people.
The purpose of a cup is to hold liquid.



The use of cars damages the environment.
The use of cups to hold liquid began in the iron age.

In my experience usage is rarely used as a stand-alone noun, although it's perfectly possible for it to be. In the examples of consumption given earlier I suppose it may be used: My electricity usage is higher than it should be. < even here I would say use, but that may be nothing more than personal preference.

One situation where I think usage MUST be used is when the noun is adjectival. Non-English speakers will inevitably come across a noun's secondary, adjectival role in English if they haven't already. For example, in book cover, book is acting as an adjective which defines what type of cover we are talking about, even though on its own book is not an adjective, unlike, say, big and stupid. The death penalty would be another good example.

But anyway, I digress. My point is that when used adjectivally, I think usage is the only option. In dictionaries, for instance, if a word has certain contextual nuances to consider, it appends the definition with a usage note (not a use note).

I hope that makes at least a modicum of sense.

EDIT: In fact, Usage note is given in an extract which Grogs copied from a dictionary entry.

Code:

2) more clearly - the difference between use and usage when they are used without article, (1)-- the difference is not related to countability. In language, usage is established use; use is pragmatic usage.  Actually, however, they are cavalierly mixed by most writers (including me).

And, of course, Mr Google (best friend of the English language learner) has more than you would want to read here

The quote is from one of the Google hits.