afraid >< scared

English translation: see explanation

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	afraid vs scared
Selected answer:	see explanation
Entered by:	Kardi Kho

05:37 Jan 8, 2003

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
/ other

English term or phrase: afraid >< scared

which one is commonly use in england ?

aning

see explanation

Explanation:
According to the OED, 'scared' is very common in informal speech and is often used to describe small fears, while 'afraid' is more formal and less common; BUT this is true only when they are used to mean the feeling of fear.
As we all know, 'afraid' has broader meaning/usage, more than just feeling fear. 'Afraid' is also used to mean 'worried' and in this case, 'afraid' is more commonly used than 'scared'.
The idiom 'I'm afraid (that)' means 'I'm sorry to tell you (that)' and is used to introduce apologetic refusals and bad news (I'm afraid that I can't help you). In this case, scared is hardly used.

Another important point is that 'afraid' is one of the adjectives that are not usually used before a noun in attributive position
John is afraid (but never John is an afraid man).
On the contrary, 'scared' can be used in attributive position eg. a scared child'

hope that helps

Selected response from:

Kardi Kho
Indonesia
Local time: 11:16

Grading comment

thanksnagain k !
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +10

I would say 'afraid' is more commonly used, because ...

Refugio

3 +7

stylistic difference

Michael Tovbin

5 +1

afraid has two menings, scared rather only one

Teresa Goscinska

both are commonly used in the UK

Mike Birch

5 -1

afraid

cruzacalles

see explanation

Kardi Kho

afraid -- scared/frightened

Noel Castelino

Answers

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

stylistic difference

Explanation:
I would say that they are stylistically different. "Afraid" is neutral while "scared" is colloquial and emotionally colored. According to Hornby, neither is described as specifically US or UK.

Michael Tovbin
United States
Local time: 23:16
Native speaker of:

English,

Russian
PRO pts in pair: 108

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

afraid

Explanation:
scared is a more casual term.

cruzacalles
United States
Local time: 00:16

46 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +10

I would say 'afraid' is more commonly used, because ...

Explanation:
it is not only used to express fear, but also doubt.

"I'm afraid you don't know what you are talking about."

"I'm afraid I forgot to bring my lunch today."

Also, afraid is a more general or even abstract word sometimes.
"I am afraid of cats."
But:
"My neighbor's cat scared me when he jumped out of the bushes."

Refugio
Local time: 21:16
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 485

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Fuad Yahya: Good analysis. The distinctions apply in the US as well.

2 hrs

-> Thanks Fuad

agree

Marie Scarano

3 hrs

-> Thanks Marie

agree

Andy Watkinson: Nice distinction

3 hrs

-> Thanks Andy

agree

Peter Coles: Afraid is also used (in GB English at least) to express regret, or to apologise, e.g. "I'm afraid that I forgot to bring the report".

4 hrs

-> Indeed. Thanks Peter

agree

Jacqueline van der Spek

8 hrs

-> Thanks Jacqueline

agree

Christopher Crockett: Yes, it depends entirely on the context.

9 hrs

-> Thanks Christopher

agree

Alexandra Tussing

15 hrs

-> Thanks Rusinterp

agree

Kardi Kho: I would say 'afraid' has broader meaning.

18 hrs

-> I am afraid you are right. Thanks K.

agree

Teresa Goscinska

1 day 9 hrs

-> Thanks Teresa

agree

Nikita Kobrin

3 days 5 hrs

-> Thanks Nikita

11 hrs confidence:

both are commonly used in the UK

Explanation:
There is a fundamental difference:
'scared' derives from a transitive verb;
'to be afraid' is intransitive.
Both words are Standard English, and neither is a colloquialism.

Mike Birch
Local time: 05:16
Native speaker of:

English,

French
PRO pts in pair: 15

20 hrs confidence:

see explanation

Kardi Kho
Indonesia
Local time: 11:16
Native speaker of:

Indonesian
PRO pts in pair: 35

Grading comment

thanksnagain k !

1 day 10 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

afraid has two menings, scared rather only one

Explanation:
As Ruth said :
afraid it is not only used to express fear, but also doubt.

scared means rather only fear.
It is not very common to say: i am scared I cannot help you.

So the question should not be :which is more common, but when is used

I would also say that scared is more serious than afraid

Teresa Goscinska
Local time: 14:16
Native speaker of: Polish
PRO pts in pair: 4

2 days 16 hrs confidence:

afraid -- scared/frightened

Explanation:
Just to add to the excellent points made by the previous contributors:

I am afraid of ghosts, but last night I was scared/frightened out of my wits by A ghost.

Being scared/frightened has an immediacy about it. Being afraid is a more general, permanent and deep-rooted condition.

Have you thought of asking this question in the Indonesian section ?

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Note added at 2003-01-12 10:50:13 (GMT)
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I ask this because you want your answers in Indonesian.

Noel Castelino
Local time: 06:16
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 4

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