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Given vs If - What's the difference?

given | if |

As nouns the difference between given and if

is that given is a condition that is assumed to be true without further evaluation while if is an uncertainty, possibility, condition, doubt etc.

As a verb given

is past participle of lang=en.

As a preposition given

is considering; taking into account.

As an adjective given

is already arranged.

As a conjunction if is

supposing that, assuming that, in the circumstances that; used to introduce a condition or choice.

As an initialism IF is

interactive fiction.

given

English

Alternative forms

* giv'n

Verb

(head)
  • Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Considering; taking into account.
  • Given the current situation, I don't think that's possible.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A condition that is assumed to be true without further evaluation.
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Already arranged. (rfex)
  • Currently discussed. (rfex)
  • Particular, specific.
  • No more than three people can be in that space at a given time.
  • Assumed as fact or hypothesis.
  • Given that we will get the resources, what do we want to achieve?
  • Prone, disposed.
  • He was given to taking a couple of glasses of port at his club.

    if

    English

    (wikipedia if)

    Conjunction

    (English Conjunctions)
  • Supposing that, assuming that, in the circumstances that;
  • If it rains, I will get wet .
  • Supposing that;
  • I'd prefer it if you took your shoes off.
  • Although;
  • He was a great friend, if a little stingy at the bar.
  • (computing) In the event that a statement is true (a programming statement that acts in a similar manner).
  • If A, then B, else C.
  • Whether;
  • I don't know if I want to go or not.
  • * 1715–1717 , , Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind , Canto III:
  • Quoth Matthew, “”
  • (usually hyperbolic) Even if; even in the circumstances that.
  • * 2004', (singers), “'''If It’s The Last Thing I Do” (song), in ''You Do Your Thing (album):
  • If' it’s the last thing I do / '''If''' it takes me from Tubilo to Timbuktu / '''If''' it’s the last thing I do / I’m gonna dodge every road block, speed trap, county cop / To get my hands on you / ' If it’s the last thing I do.

    Usage notes

    * Specifically a subordinating conjunction.

    Derived terms

    * iff * if and only if * if clause * if only * as if * even if * if so be

    Alternative forms

    * ifen * iffen

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (informal) An uncertainty, possibility, condition, doubt etc.
  • * 1709, Susannah Centlivre, The Busy Body'', Act III, in John Bell (ed.), ''British Theater , J. Bell (1791), page 59,
  • Sir Fran.'' Nay, but Chargy, if——— ¶ ''Miran.'' Nay, Gardy, no Ifs'''.——Have I refus'd three northern lords, two British peers, and half a score knights, to have put in your ' Ifs ?
  • * 1791 January, "Richard?on’s Chemical Principles of the Metallic Arts''", in ''The Monthly Review , R. Griffiths, page 176,
  • Well might Bergman add, (in his Sciographia,''), “if the compari?on that has been made, &c. be ju?t.” The pre?ent writer makes no ''ifs about the matter, and has ?uperadded a little inaccuracy of his own, […]
  • * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff., work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=Even if they managed to strike Japan, the United States or South Korea with nuclear weapons — a big if , given that they do not have a reliable delivery system — they could not save themselves from ultimate defeat.}}

    Derived terms

    * big if *

    See also

    * and * else * false * or * then * true

    Statistics

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