Im not sure if it should be called a grammar question or a sentence structure question or a communication question or what.....
When some one says something is going to happen, for instance, on "NEXT Wednesday" and it is Tuesday, are we supposed to assume they are referring to the next day or 8 days later? If the answer seems simple then I ask the same question, but its a Thursday or any other day when the comment is made.
IS IT JUST ME, or do these type statements need to be worded differently to be clear on the intent. I could care less if someone says clip or magazine if I know what they mean, but when the intent is confusing then why cant people realize that and clarify in the first place? Im not saying this drives me wacko, just asking for a friend......

I ain't be needing no stinking gambler lesson.

To me, there is "this Wednesday/tomorrow". Then there is "next Wed/the 10'th" when the face diaper mandate is finally lifted.

Here's what i think.

if it's Tuesday, and someone says NEXT wednesday, they mean 8 days away, if it's TOMORROW wednesday, say Tomorrow.

You guys are cheating by using logic.

Agree with yall so far but not answering the question. Play like the wednesday in question is the same but the statement was not made on Tues but it was made on Monday or Friday? To me, at least the way most of us speak, that you cannot use the word next in that context but you must be more specific.

I personally say Wednesday week.
Have heard it said that way all my life.

Y'all

^^ There you go, that would do it. Other ways to say it also but "next" isnt always clear and not likely that its ever completely clear.

For me "Next" means next week. Anything the current week is "this." But that's just me.

Norml, fair enough, but I guess I was bored. Its just driven my crazy since a long time ago, one of my deer hunters texted me on a sunday morning that he was coming to the deer lease "THIS weekend." I had to text him back to see if he meant THAT DAY or the "next coming up weekend".

Jimbo, thats logical and would in most instances be clear. But what if it was friday or saturday(or Sunday) and someone said "next" Monday. Which would they mean?
Im not asking yall how yall would say it cause theres lots of clear ways. Im asking yall to agree that it can often be unclear if someone is talking to you and only says "next". It just needs further clarification.
By the way, when my better half and i go out to eat, I often ask her stuff like this instead of talking about current events or politics. I drive her crazy but we are never bored(not me anyway.)

It's Monday.
My neighbor says he needs me to help him do such and such, THIS wednesday. meaning day after tomorrow.
Or
My neighbor says he needs me to help him do such and such, NEXT wednesday, means 9 days away.

Abbott threw the media for a loop, I have seen it reported both as starting tomorrow and next week..

Better to be safe than sorry.

^^^EXACTLY. Thats my point. Saying "next" is never 100% clear and sometimes its completely unclear and it should be said in a different way to avoid confusion.
Im not sure exactly what Abbott said but IF all he said was "next wednesday" then there is room for confusion.
Ill try one more time... If its this past friday and he said the exact same thing, would it not of been much more confusing?? What it he had said it last thurs or this past sunday..... All Im saying is that saying "next" is not always clear and sometimes very unclear.

If it is said on Monday, next Wednesday is not this upcoming Wed, but the following. If it is said on Friday, it is not this upcoming Wed, but the following. Next Wednesday means the same thing no matter what day it is said on.

why not a date ie 3/10/2021? to me, next is next, not the one following the next

Uncle, I am completely unsure of what is "officially" the correct way to use the word "next". But I will guarantee you that in your example of it NOT MATTERING WHAT DAY ITS SAID ON will completely make a difference in reality to a huge percentage of people.
In your example of it being said on friday, please anyone answer me this..... If someone texts you and says they need you to take off work from a very important job to take them to the airport "next wednesday", or you telling me you would be completely confident which wednesday they meant that you would ask off work and then show up without first clarifying which wednesday?? ZERO people would do that!!! It just needs to be said in a different way, if it is in the least bit important.

Shucks I'm confused!!!!

That is how I am wired too. It is simple and it works.

If the statement was made on a Friday, I would probably say "this coming Wednesday". Next is always the one after the soonest based on how I've heard it used.

NEXT time start a thread on "couple", "few" and "many"

Ive had arguments with my wife about this very topic to many times to count...

X2

You need to learn to spell first.