A question of Context . . .
"There appeared to be no obvious difference between . . ."
In the summary of the research article I am writing, you would read the above as meaning exactly that, no difference between x and y. If you were reading it in a story/novel/fic/whatever, how would that differ? I, at least, would read it and assume that there was more to it - that while there did not at first appear to be a difference, one was about to become clear, ie. "There appeared to be no obvious difference between their magic, but upon closer inspection, she could she how his was tight and controlled while hers had an element of choas present." Or whatever.
The first is being deliberately vague so as not to assume, the second is . . . I am copping out on that, and saying it depends on the author's intention *g*
Don't mind me, just procrastinating . . .
In the summary of the research article I am writing, you would read the above as meaning exactly that, no difference between x and y. If you were reading it in a story/novel/fic/whatever, how would that differ? I, at least, would read it and assume that there was more to it - that while there did not at first appear to be a difference, one was about to become clear, ie. "There appeared to be no obvious difference between their magic, but upon closer inspection, she could she how his was tight and controlled while hers had an element of choas present." Or whatever.
The first is being deliberately vague so as not to assume, the second is . . . I am copping out on that, and saying it depends on the author's intention *g*
Don't mind me, just procrastinating . . .