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to address a problem

English translation: you are right

07:13 Sep 7, 2003
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary
English term or phrase: to address a problem
My question is: is 'addressing a problem' the same as 'resolving a problem'? My feeling is that it isn't. 'Addressing a problem', the way I understand it, is to tackle it, deal with it, which isn't synonymous with finding a solution to it, or to put it differently, make it disappear, which is what happens when a problem is resolved. Recently I've met with an opinion that in American English 'addressing a problem' equals 'resolving a problem'. I would appreciate some comments regarding this issue.

much obliged

Ensor
Ensor
Local time: 10:44
Selected answer:you are right
Explanation:
I would also say that addressing a problems is more like "working toward the resolution of a problem" or "facing".
Oh, yes. I am American by the way.
Selected response from:

Marie Scarano
Italy
Local time: 03:44
Grading comment
Thank you all.

Ensor
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +22you are right
Marie Scarano


  

Answers


21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +22
you are right


Explanation:
I would also say that addressing a problems is more like "working toward the resolution of a problem" or "facing".
Oh, yes. I am American by the way.

Marie Scarano
Italy
Local time: 03:44
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 81
Grading comment
Thank you all.

Ensor

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Syeda Tanbira Zaman
17 mins
agree  Teletariat
20 mins
agree  Chris Rowson (X)
41 mins
agree  Rowan Morrell: In a translation context: you might address a problem (difficult word or phrase) by looking up the dictionaries, asking on KudoZ etc., but that doesn't mean you've resolved it. You're just working towards resolving it, as Marie rightly says.
55 mins
agree  Terry Burgess: 150%--and I sincerely like Rowan's way of putting it. Nice one Rowan!
1 hr
agree  jerrie
1 hr
agree  Pnina: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary agrees with you. According to it one of the meanings of the verb "address" is "deal with it: treat".
2 hrs
agree  Bob Kerns (X)
2 hrs
agree  Graciela Carlyle
4 hrs
agree  Sinziana Paltineanu (X)
4 hrs
agree  Mario Marcolin
5 hrs
agree  Nancy Arrowsmith: dealing with the problem
6 hrs
agree  Refugio: Addressing a problem may or may not include finding a solution.
7 hrs
agree  Susana Galilea
8 hrs
agree  awilliams: absolutely
8 hrs
agree  airmailrpl: facing a problem..working towards resolving it..
9 hrs
agree  RHELLER: focus on a problem, deal with a problem
9 hrs
agree  Autobahn
10 hrs
agree  Empty Whiskey Glass
10 hrs
agree  Catherine Norton
11 hrs
agree  David Moore (X): bit like addressing a golf ball, really....suppose that's the connection.
12 hrs
agree  AhmedAMS
14 days
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