Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around how to describe a person's honesty and the appropriate use of adverbs in recommendations for organizations, schools, or companies. Participants explore nuances in language and the implications of different word choices in the context of recommendations.
Discussion Character
- Conceptual clarification
- Debate/contested
- Meta-discussion
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that "he seems honest" implies a personal acquaintance, while "he looks honest" is based on appearance, and "maybe he is honest" expresses uncertainty.
- There is a request for clarification on the use of adverbs like "probably," "likely," "may," and "possibly" in the context of describing someone's character.
- One participant expresses concern about using these adverbs correctly, citing examples related to the word "murder." They seek guidance on the differences in meaning and usage.
- Another participant believes that all the adverbial phrases convey similar meanings and asks for a ranking based on likelihood.
- Discussion includes the challenge of writing recommendation letters, particularly regarding how to convey trustworthiness without direct knowledge of the person being recommended.
- Concerns are raised about native speakers' perceptions of subtle differences in adverb usage that may not be apparent to non-native speakers.
- A participant points out that the original poster's phrasing contains errors that they would not typically make in their native language, suggesting a need for careful language use.
- Another participant discusses the connotations of the adverbs, suggesting that while they are synonyms, they carry different implications in specific contexts.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the nuances of adverb usage and the implications of various phrases. There is no consensus on a definitive ranking of the adverbs or their meanings, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best way to articulate recommendations.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the potential for misunderstanding the subtleties of language among non-native speakers and the challenge of conveying trustworthiness in recommendations without personal knowledge of the individual.
Second, in order to recommend someone to some organizations/schools/companies, what words/statements you would use to describe him so that he can get the job/bonus/an increase in salary/or be accepted, etc.? (I want to write something to introduce my friends to some big boys 
yaye, i am not a native please bear with my awful use of the language