'met up with' and 'met'

[Tilly2]

I had an interesting period of time today with a student who could/would not see the superfluousness of 'met up with' over 'met'.

Just out of interest, do you see a difference between the two?
I was trying to point out that 'met' is perfectly acceptable. and 'met up with' is two words too many.

[Charity]

Tilly, do you really not see the difference?

[Psybbo]

Tilly, are you ignoring me:0)

[Tilly2]

I see that 'met' is all that is required. 'Met up with' is a waste of words.

Sibton, why do you think I am ignoring you?

[elliemay1]

There is a subtle difference as pointed out, so imo "met up with" is not a waste of words.

[plautus]

i do not know what subject you teach your students, but I hope that it is not English! I say this as a language graduate.

[Tilly2]

Why do you say that , plautus?

[plautus]

As has been pointed out by others, apart from myself, there is a subtle difference in meaning which you are unable to distinguish.

[Mamyalynne]

Language is fluid and ever evolving...

One might say 'I bumped into so and so'

Another may say 'I happened to bump into so and so'

[Tilly2]

So you think that my teaching of 'met' as acceptable means that I am incapable of teaching English?

[Psybbo]

superfluousness - superfluity? pedantic I know

[DaisyNonna]

Met acceptable. Met up with? Up where? With whom?

[Mamyalynne]

'Met' is just as acceptable as 'Met up with' IMHO

[elliemay1]

They're both acceptable."Met up with" is not incorrect. It's a matter of choice.

[plautus]

I didn't want to start a fight, but to be honest your pedantry ill-serves your students. I presume you tell them to say, "It is I", instead of "it's me".

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/meet+up+with

[DTCwordfan]

Whilst both are acceptable, there is a slight difference - met up with is more formal as in a date, met is more informal - i.e. "I met up with sibton, as we agreed, at 10pm on AM." versus, "I happened to be in AB town and met Sibton in the street."

[Tilly2]

Now, why would I do that plautus? Please explain.

[Zacs-Master]

'Met' could infer that it was the first time you had met the person and would need qualifying by a statement such as 'I met X who I've known for years' whereas 'met up with' infers that it is someone you already knew.

[rojash]

"So you think that my teaching of 'met' as acceptable means that I am incapable of teaching English?"

No, but if you are teaching that "met up with" is redundant and semantically identical to "met", then I'd prefer it if you were teaching PE.

[Psybbo]

Tilly, great post, the cat among the pigeons