Thursday, 8 October 2015

word choice - 'Changes from' or 'Changes to'

"From" is correct and unambiguous. "To" is also correct, but ambiguous.



"From" is used here to show where or when something started. "Changes from your usual schedule" implies that the usual schedule was the original schedule and that the current schedule is not the usual schedule.



"To" can be used here either to show that the schedule is receiving the action of the change or to show direction. In the first sense, "changes to your usual schedule" means that the usual schedule received the change, and that the current schedule is not the usual schedule. In the second sense, "changes to your usual schedule" means that what existed before was not the usual schedule, and that that was changed and the change resulted in your usual schedule. You see, "to" is ambiguous.



Use "from" or use neither. Don't use "to."

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