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I have a friend who believes that I can't say I stopped smoking as I have taken it up again (I have given it up and taken it up again a few times before).

I believe that I can say, "I gave up smoking", and that "I stopped smoking", even if I had/have taken up/begun this foul addiction again.

Examples:

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

 

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

Just because I have taken up smoking again, does it mean that I can't say I stopped smoking at a particular time in the past?

That is, is stopping permanent, or can it be temporary?

I have a friend who believes that I can't say I stopped smoking as I have taken it up again (I have given it up and taken it up again a few times before).

I believe that I can say, "I gave up smoking", and that "I stopped smoking", even if I had/have taken up/begun this foul addiction again.

Examples:

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

 

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

Just because I have taken up smoking again, does it mean that I can't say I stopped smoking at a particular time in the past?

That is, is stopping permanent, or can it be temporary?

I have a friend who believes that I can't say I stopped smoking as I have taken it up again (I have given it up and taken it up again a few times before).

I believe that I can say, "I gave up smoking", and that "I stopped smoking", even if I had/have taken up/begun this foul addiction again.

Examples:

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

Just because I have taken up smoking again, does it mean that I can't say I stopped smoking at a particular time in the past?

That is, is stopping permanent, or can it be temporary?

added 25 characters in body; edited tags; edited title
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Andrew Leach ♦
Andrew Leach ♦
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grammar re stopped or gave up Does "stopping" imply permanence?

I have a friend who believes that I can't say I stopped 'smoking'smoking as I have taken it up again (I have 'givengiven it up'up and 'takentaken it up'againup again a few times before).

I believe that I can say, "I gave up smoking", and that "I stopped smoking", even if I had/have taken up/begun this foul addiction again.

Examples:

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

Just because I have taken up smoking again, doesn'tdoes it mean that I can't say I stoppedstopped smoking at a particular time in the past.

Is this correct?

CheersThat is, Vickiis stopping permanent, or can it be temporary?

grammar re stopped or gave up

I have a friend who believes that I can't say I stopped 'smoking' as I have taken it up again (I have 'given it up' and 'taken it up'again a few times before).

I believe that I can say, "I gave up smoking", and that "I stopped smoking", even if I had/have taken up/begun this foul addiction again.

Examples:

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

Just because I have taken up smoking again, doesn't mean that I can't say I stopped smoking at a particular time in the past.

Is this correct?

Cheers, Vicki

Does "stopping" imply permanence?

I have a friend who believes that I can't say I stopped smoking as I have taken it up again (I have given it up and taken it up again a few times before).

I believe that I can say, "I gave up smoking", and that "I stopped smoking", even if I had/have taken up/begun this foul addiction again.

Examples:

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

Just because I have taken up smoking again, does it mean that I can't say I stopped smoking at a particular time in the past?

That is, is stopping permanent, or can it be temporary?

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Vicki winsor
Vicki winsor
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grammar re stopped or gave up

I have a friend who believes that I can't say I stopped 'smoking' as I have taken it up again (I have 'given it up' and 'taken it up'again a few times before).

I believe that I can say, "I gave up smoking", and that "I stopped smoking", even if I had/have taken up/begun this foul addiction again.

Examples:

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

Just because I have taken up smoking again, doesn't mean that I can't say I stopped smoking at a particular time in the past.

Is this correct?

Cheers, Vicki