A Quick English Question. (Urgent)

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Omnis

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I'm having a brainfart at the moment.

When is it appropriate to use Toleration as opposed to Tolerance? Are they freely interchangeable? Conditional?

I have this sentence: "Young society is therefore unable to demonstrate patience and toleration."

Should that instead be tolerance? Looking at the definitions, I've seen these two:

"1. a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations; 'all people should practice toleration and live together in peace'"

and this:

"1. an act or instance of tolerating, esp. of what is not actually approved; forbearance: to show toleration toward the protesters."

So, my sentence is valid according to the first definition. But, is it? The 2nd one says that toleration is only an instance, meaning that tolerance is the practice of tolerating, whereas the first says toleration is the practice of tolerance.

:boggled: I love this language.
 
Sometimes I think the world would run so much smoother if we all spoke spanish or something, all those other languages have set specifics for things, English just steals words or mokes them up off the top of it's head. Vacuum? yeah, uh, great idea for a spelling. :rolleyes:

I honestly don't know the answer to your question.
 
My money is on tolerance.

If you are a person who is able to tolerate a lot, I'd say tolerance is a trait you possess, not toleration.

Like you said, I think tolerance in an attitude or disposition, toleration is a tolerant act or instance.
 
Boundary Layer
My money is on tolerance.

If you are a person who is able to tolerate a lot, I'd say tolerance is a trait you possess, not toleration.

Like you said, tolerance in an attitude or disposition, toleration is a tolerant act or instance.
Click to expand...

I still don't know... Does anyone else have some input or are you guys clueless? Please, don't be shy and let me know if this baffles you as well.
 
I also believe "Toleration" should be used as describing an instance where something was tolerated.
--The girl showed Toleration when her boyfriend farted during the movie.--

Adversely, the act of tolerating is Tolerance.
--Having Tolerance is a very integral part of parenting a child of any age.--

I know the act of tolerating is Tolerance, but in all truth, I can't remember any specific times I've heard the word "Toleration". I know it's a word, but I really don't know when it should be used.

EDIT: Toleration - an act or instance of tolerating, esp. of what is not actually approved; forbearance: to show toleration toward the protesters.
--The first defintion on Dictionary.com. This describes an instance, obviously.

Tolerance - a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
--Ditto. This describes the act.

EDIT 2: So, is your sentence a general statement or is it describing the result of a certain happening?
 
Maybe judging by patience it should be tolerance? Although there isn't a word "patiation" as far as I know...

I guess I am clueless.
 
I f you have a copy when you're finished feel free to post it. I want to read it so I can see into the depths of your mind and get to know you on a much deeper, possibly sexual level.
 
I'm pretty sure that those first sentences there should be tolerance. I only think that because my grandma used to be a college grammar teacher. :D
 

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