'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.

[Mamyalynne]

The two dictionary links I have provided so far have borne out the fact 'meet up with' is perfectly acceptable.

[Tilly2]

I'm not arguing with anyone. You are all arguing with me. Retiring graciously is not my thing. However, it is time for bed. Goodnight.
I can resume tomorrow.

[Zacs-Master]

I think we're questioning how Tilly came by hers AYG.

[Zacs-Master]

I'm not arguing with anyone. You are all arguing with me
Isn't that tautological? I could be wrong as I don't have a degree in English (just a degree of common sense)

[Mamyalynne]

Night Tilly.

[Tilly2]

zacs-master, just before I go. Why are you being so aggressively rude? I have not been rude to you, in my responses. If I had, then I could understand your comments. As it is, I find your personal comments unnecessary and unacceptable.

[Zacs-Master]

I'm pretty certain I've not been either rude or aggressive. I may have put my point across strongly and asked you some pointed questions but that's not the same thing.

[plautus]

"I'm not arguing with anyone. You are all arguing with me
Isn't that tautological?"

Actually, no, but that's between you and me for the moment. Tilly has dug herself into a hole, and we, as gentlemen scholars, will allow her to retire gracefully.

[NOX]

Tilly, I think the point that a lot of people are trying to make is that there is a subtle difference between the two phrases. For sure, you could almost always substitute 'met' for any longer sentence describing a meeting including 'met up with' but who wants a spoken or written language based on brevity? The English language is one of the richest, most colourful languages in the world. We ought not to edit it into a clipped oblivion and certainly not teach children that there is no difference between those two phrases when there clearly is ( one suggesting a pre-planned meeting the other an accidental one). I'm glad your student stood up to you and argued the point, and whilst I'm not casting doubt on your integrity as a teacher I would be concerned if my child came home from school with a tale of an English teacher who didn't know the difference between the two phrases (which is why all my kids were home educated ;-)

[Svejk]

Tilly, do the right thing. Buy the student a big bar of chocolate, say "you know what,you were right, I was wrong".
Do this in front of the whole class & your cachet will go through the roof. It'll be like a scene from 'Goodbye Mr Chips'.
Excuse my grammar etc. I left school at 15, and didn't pay much attention the odd time I did turn up.

[FredPuli43]

Has anyone mentioned the common American usage "met with" ? News broadcasts there often have "The President met with [a visiting official]" One less word than 'met up with' , with much the same indication of formality but it also suggests a degree of gravity or length; the President met by arrangement and there was some lengthy or important discussion.

Our 'met up with' suggests a meeting which was pre-arranged, as already said. 'Met', on its own, does not.

[Tilly2]

It was quite amusing that some of you did not/would not see the sentence Elliemay, between you and I, we were blue sky thinking , outside the box and actioning the language for what it was.

In the context of the lesson, and the way the student used the phrase 'met up with', I know that I was right in pointing out that 'met' was more appropriate.

[boxtops]

That's it then, tilly- it's the context which makes the phrase relevant/correct, or not.

Had you said you'd "got it off of him", now that's another story!

[elliemay1]

Don't see why that was "quite amusing", Tilly. But, if you say the context it was used in was wrong, then you should have outlined this at the very beginning. Would have saved much confusion. But, please now concede that, in the phrase, "met up with" , "up with" is NOT ALWAYS superfluous. I await your reply.

[Tilly2]

Elliemay, I thought it was amusing because several people actually thought that I didn't know that 'between you and I' was wrong and began to correct me. The there was the twaddle, blue sky thinking etc. people tried to get me to explain. I know it was wrong and I know it was twaddle. That was the point.

My original question asked if people could see the difference between 'met ' and 'met up with'. Obviously a lot of people can.

[stewey]

Slightly off topic; however, a good point to keep in mind: Why use a big word when a miniscule variant will adequately suffice?

[Tilly2]

Thank you stewey. I like that.

There are a couple of typos in my last post which will, no doubt, create an avalanche of people telling me how little I know.

[stewey]

Well, Tilly2, you certainly started the weaving of an interesting thread.

[Svejk]

Did you get him a Mars Bar.