Legal Writing

Is There a Difference Between ?Assume? and ?Presume??

By Maeve

Both words have numerous definitions in the OED, but in ordinary usage, both assume and presume mean “suppose.”

I suppose you are going to the beach this summer.
I assume you are going to the beach this summer
I presume you are going to the beach this summer.

H.W. Fowler’s opinion was that in using presume, the speaker believes the supposition is true and will believe it until he learns otherwise. In using assume, the speaker feels no certainty that his supposition is true or not.

In a legal context, presume means “to take as proved until contrary evidence is presented.” Ex. The defendant is presumed innocent.

Because of the association of the word presume with legal contexts, it carries a connotation of formality. For the fiction writer, presume would be the preferable choice in the speech of a remote or officious character.

Is There a Difference Between “Assume” and “Presume”?

Full post as published by Daily Writing Tips on April 06, 2009 (boomark / email).