Attach or enclose

[irmamar]

I'm reading a letter. The author said that he enclosed a copy of another letter. Normally, I would have said: "I attach a copy..."

Is there any difference between "attach" and "enclose"? Is "enclose" more formal?

Thanks

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Is there any difference between "attach" and "enclose"? Is "enclose" more formal?

The difference is minimal. Attached is something fixed to the letter with a staple (grapa) or paperclip (sujetapapeler?). Enclosed is something in the same envelope, but loose. Normally, you would only attach something of the same format (e.g. another A4 letter) but you would enclose something of a different size (e.g. a cheque or an application form of several pages).

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

The difference is minimal. Attached is something fixed to the letter with a staple (grapa) or paperclip (sujetapapeler?). Enclosed is something in the same envelope, but loose. Normally, you would only attach something of the same format (e.g. another A4 letter) but you would enclose something of a different size (e.g. a cheque or an application form of several pages).

In this case he sent a copy of another letter, so I guess it has the same format. But I don't think the letter is stapled (I'm reading it in a book), I would never staple a copy of a letter to another one.

So attach is always fixed with a staple or paperclip. Thanks, Perikles. A present for you

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

So attach is always fixed with a staple or paperclip. Thanks, Perikles. A present for you

ooh thanks.

Yes, something different sent on like another letter would be enclosed (I enclose his letter for your comments...) but something like an appendix or additional information to the letter would be attached (I attach a detailed list of our requirements....).

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

ooh thanks.

Yes, something different sent on like another letter would be enclosed (I enclose his letter for your comments...) but something like an appendix or additional information to the letter would be attached (I attach a detailed list of our requirements....).

Well, it was just a simple staple. I wish you liked it

But it's always with a staple or a paperclip (we say clip in Spain), isn't it?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Well, it was just a simple staple. I wish you liked it

But it's always with a staple or a paperclip (we say clip in Spain), isn't it?

Si. Tengo que irme - hasta luego.

[laepelba]

I would say that the sense of "attached" is "affixed", if that makes sense.

"Enclosed" is the idea of being contained within the same envelope.

I think that in the modern day of e-mail, "attachments" make a lot of sense because a "file" is "attached" to an e-mail, in that it is AFFIXED to the email. It's not physically "stapled" to it, but it couldn't necessarily fall off...........

[irmamar]

Yes, I always use attach because of the emails

[pjt33]

Personalmente digo "attach" con emails y "enclose" con cartas, no importa si esté fijado o suelto.

[EmpanadaRica]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Well, it was just a simple staple. I wish hope you liked it

'I wish you liked it' , you would say if someone else expresses he or she doesn't like something, and you wish they would.

'I was enclosed by a gang of suspicious looking characters in a dark alley in New York who got attached to my gold rolex...'

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by EmpanadaRica

'I was enclosed by a gang of suspicious looking characters in a dark alley in New York who got attached to my gold rolex...'

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by EmpanadaRica

'I wish you liked it' , you would say if someone else expresses he or she doesn't like something, and you wish they would.

'I was enclosed by a gang of suspicious looking characters in a dark alley in New York who got attached to my gold rolex...'

I was thinking of that Pink Floyd's song: Wish you were here. Do you think that he expects that she is going to say: No, I don't want to be there

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I wish you liked it

Originally Posted by irmamar

I was thinking of that Pink Floyd's song: Wish you were here. Do you think that he expects that she is going to say: No, I don't want to be there

Irmamar - you have highlighted an important difference here.

I wish you liked it
I hope you like it
Wish you were here

Of course, the meaning is different. Wish is used in an impossible hypothetical case, something which isn't true, therefore with a subjunctive 'Wish you were here'.

But for something in the future, which might become true, you hope. 'I hope you like it' That is a simple statement in the indicative.

So: in the present tense: hope for something possible, wish for something impossible.

I hope you enjoy your meal (maybe you will, maybe you won't)
I wish I had booked a table. (But I didn't, so I can't eat here.)
(remember: in the real world, a wish never comes true)

[irmamar]

I wish I didn't make so many mistakes.

I hope I won't make so many mistakes.

Is it right?

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I wish I didn't make so many mistakes.

I hope I won't make so many mistakes.

Is it right?

Thanks.

Yes - correct

I wish I didn't (impossible, because I do)
I hope I won't (future - therefore possible. I might or I might not)

[irmamar]

Thanks