I would like to know your opinion about the difference,in meaning and usage (if there is any of it), between whatsoever and whatever. Thank you very much!
There will be a better answer than this, but the current usage of "whatever" is mainly limited to surly people being dismissive of someone else's contribution to a discussion. It is used as a single word in that context and is really not polite.
Hi Parergon, To me at least, yes, there is a difference. I like whatsoever, even though (or because) it's a little old-fashioned. I find it the more forcefu lof the two--perhaps because it has four syllables rather than three? For example: I want nothing whatever to do with your half-baked plans. I want nothing whatsoever to do with your half-baked plans. See what I mean? These links may help you get a sense of the difference: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whatever http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whatsoever
In the examples that I've given, yes; but the two aren't always interchangeable. As usual, context is all-important. Were you thinking of a particular situation/context?
I think that the two mean pretty much the same thing - whatsoever is slightly more formal, slightly more emphatic, in my opinion.
I disagree, river, I personally use it quite a lot, especially when emphasis is required. Recently in another thread we were discussing the translation from Spanish about women who had had no education and there I used 'women who had had no education whatsoever' in order to stress that point. My English is decidedly BE and I don't think I'm the only dinosaur from the UK who is still using whatsoever.
I am in accord with Porteño, I've been hearing 'whatsoever' living in London. La Grive Solitaire: "As usual, context is all-important. Were you thinking of a particular situation/context?" No, I was not thinking of a peculiar context or sentence. ** Would you be able to explain me when they are not interchangeable?
I disagree in terms of AE, too, river. The example for whatsoever in the free dictionary link I gave (no power whatsoever) is a perfect example of the difference between the two. Although their meaning is the same, whatsoever is far more emphatic.
The OED lists whatever as an alternative for whatsoever. I suppose the meaning is the same, but I agree that whatsoever is more emphatic. It also seems more quaint - a little archaic. Whatever you do, don't assume they are always interchangeable. Whatsoever you do ....? Well you could say that I suppose, but it's a little biblical.
Salve, My ancient Webster's [Seventh New Collegiate] Dictionary defines whatever first as a pronoun [all words in brackets are mine]: 1a. anything or everything that, b. no matter what [e.g., Whatever happens, leave immediately when the fire alarm goes off.], c. what not, 2. What (when used in questions expressing astonishment or perplexity) [e.g., Whatever was Janet Jackson thinking when she wore a top with removable parts?] and second as an adjective: 1a. any...that: all...that, b. no matter what [e.g., Whatever way you do it, just get it done!] 2. of any kind at all. It goes on to define whatsoever as whatever...and leaves it at that. I would have to say that whatsoever means the same thing as whatever [these days] in only one sense: of any kind at all. For example, to paraphrase an old nursery rhyme: Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard and found no food whatsoever. For me, the word has no other usage whatsoever. ['Whatever' could be used in both of the preceding sentences in the same manner.] 'Whatever", unfortunately, has become popular as an answer when the person is less than enthusiastic about doing something. For example: [to a child], "You need to clean your room." [Response], "Whatever." It's a verbal shortcut for "Whatever you want, Mom." or "Whatever job you want me to do, Mom.", but it is not heard in a positive tone of voice. One would not use "whatsoever" in place of "whatever" here.
