Learn English – “Given that” vs. “Granted that”

nuanceregisterverbsword-choice

Understanding that "given that" and "granted that" are both used to mark the premise of an argument (or conditions that are assumed to be true), and the actual meaning is almost identical, I have to catch the nuance.

Is there a colloquial difference between them? Is this a difference in register? Is "granted that" literary/academic?

As for the amount of Google hits, "given that" is used about twenty times more.

Best Answer

Given that X introduces proposition X as a fact which will be a basis of your subsequent discourse. The proposition is ‘given’ before you start your argument.

Given that John is an internationally renowned scholar, I think we may trust his professional judgment.

Granted that X usually concedes proposition X as a fact which your subsequent discourse must overcome.

Granted that John is an internationally renowned scholar, I think that in this case he is mistaken.

Occasionally you will find granted that X used to mean Assuming that you agree that X—in that case, you proceed as with given that X:

We have now surveyed John’professional qualifications. Granted that he is an internationally renowned scholar, I think we are called upon to trust his professional judgment.

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