Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Lesson 326. The title of today's lesson is the
difference between "day after day" and "day by day." This is another one that
sometimes comes up that a student might ask what's the difference between the two ?
Because basically each one of them mean each day or every day. So let's look at
it there so we can see how and why we might use which one, in which situation.
So let's look at the note here. We use day after day to indicate. Indicate
of course means show. That something happens in a continuous, monotonous...Monotonous
means like boring , you know, repetitive, repeating the same thing over and over
again. Almost like robotic or unpleasant way. So day after day tends to be used
more with negative things, especially with complaining about something. All
right. And let's take a look here. Day by day is used to simply mean gradually. So
if we really want to emphasize the word gradually will probably say day by day.
All right. So let's look at the first one here. Of course with the X, this is wrong.
Day after day, we are making progress. Yeah. Well first of all, it's not negative.
Usually we use ...we don't use day after day with positive things and of course
with the check day by day this would be correct. And it's also better too because
day by day means gradually. And I think that's really what you want to emphasize
here. That you're gradually, slowly you're making progress. So day by day we're
getting better and better we are making progress. So in this case, day by day is
definitely better. Not day after day. All right again. The second one with the X.
This is wrong. Now this is a case where day by day
would probably not be suitable. So if you say day by day, I have to work hard and
struggle to put food on the table. This one is definitely negative. This one is
definitely complaining. So this is a case, with the check ...this would be better. It's,
it's be better to say like day after day. And a lot of times, sometimes we will even
repeat it. Day after day, after day after day. Sometimes we will say it like that
complaining about something. So day after day I have to work hard and struggle to
put food on the table. So instead of day by day not gradually. All right. Again
with the X , this is wrong. Day after day, he is building up a nest egg for
retirement. So again, this is not a negative thing. This is definitely
positive. You're not complaining and you probably do here really want to
emphasize the idea of gradually. So in this case, with the check this is better.
Day by day, he is building up a nest egg for retirement. So he's saving a lot of
money that hopefully when he retires he'll be able to use that money. Okay.
Good. And the last one we have. You, you know with the X . Of course she complains
to me day by day about how difficult her life is. All right. What we even have
complain in it and it's obviously somebody's complaining. It's negative, in this case
usually day after day is better, So she complains to me day... of course with
the check. This is right. She complains to me day after day about how difficult her
life is. It should not be day by day here. You know, you don't want to emphasize
gradually. Okay. Anyway I hope you got it. I hope it was informative. Thank you for
your time. Bye-bye.