Which one is more correct to say or is there a difference in meaning between the two:
"in the future, I would like to..."
"in future, I would like to..."
I'm going to use this phrase in my letter of introduction.
I was always under the impression that there was a subtle difference between the two in BrE, a difference I've never been able to figure out on my own. Does one mean "starting now" and the other "starting at some point in the future, but not now"?
I was always under the impression that there was a subtle difference between the two in BrE, a difference I've never been able to figure out on my own. Does one mean "starting now" and the other "starting at some point in the future, but not now"?
Where I live, we would in fact say:Most of the replies are from native-speaking countries yet not one clearly explains the difference.
In future means from now onwards.
--> In future, don't take my things without my permission. (From now onwards, don't take my things without my permission.)
NOT In the future, don't take my things without my permission.
[....]
Excuse my confusion, but I'd like to ask something. Isn't the word future an uncountable noun? As I know, the uncountable nouns don't take an article before them.
As I said earlier, the is not a problem for countable and uncountable nouns. Egmont means that uncountable don't take the indefinite article (a or an). You can't say a bread, but the bread is fine. The issue is the zero article, which is available for uncountable nouns ('Your meal comes with bread' - zero article for bread). Future is mainly countable:
This product has a future.
This product has future.
But in future is a set phrase.
Thank you for your answer.We really ought to have context, but I believe in some cases UK speakers say "in future" where US speakers would say "in the future."
Thank you for your answer.
I hope to see you in future.
In the future, I will become a doctor.
That is, "the" doesn't make any sense in the US. What about in British?In the US we would say "in the future" in both cases.
That's the opposite of what The Newt (correctly) said.That is, "the" doesn't make any sense in the US. What about in British?
Thank you. You mean that there is a difference between "in future" and "in the future" in British? What is the difference?That's the opposite of what The Newt (correctly) said.
I'm not qualified to comment on British English. I was pointing out that you saidThank you. You mean that there is a difference between "in future" and "in the future" in British? What is the difference?
whereas The Newt saidThat is, "the" doesn't make any sense in the US.
You seem to be saying that the US wouldn't use "the," when The Newt said that we do.In the US we would say "in the future" in both cases.
Neither of these sentences is natural BE.Thank you for your answer.
I hope to see you in future.
In the future, I will become a doctor.