It’s Sunday evening, and my husband and I are talking. I say something about “next Monday.”

“What?” he says. “You mean tomorrow?”

“No, of course not,” I say, impatiently. “Tomorrow is ‘this Monday.’ ”

It’s all very clear and logical in my mind, but I realize that my thought process is not everyone’s. If I meant tomorrow, should I have said, “this coming Monday”? Or better still, "tomorrow"? And for next Monday, “a week from tomorrow”? And then I wonder, when does “next” become “this”?

We’re both speaking English about a very simple concept, and there’s confusion. I conclude that even in conversation I should assume nothing—advice a lawyer once gave me. I resolve to be more precise, more patient.

And more understanding toward those whose first language is not English and who struggle to understand all the idiosyncrasies of its grammar and word usage. We who were reared speaking English should appreciate how challenging the language can be, even when speaking with another native speaker—and be sure we say clearly what we mean.

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