Confirmation for Dummies

Confirmation is a word that encompasses the idea of providing evidence or proof to support something that you already believe or suspect. It's like when you have a gut feeling about something, and then you find information or receive verification that confirms your initial intuition.

Imagine you're playing a game of hide and seek, and you have a hunch that your best friend is hiding behind the big oak tree in the park. Without any concrete proof, you're not completely sure if your assumption is correct. However, in order to confirm your belief, you might peek behind the tree and, lo and behold, your friend is indeed hiding there. This act of checking and finding the evidence you needed to support your claim is what we can call "confirmation."

In a different context, let's say you're reading a detective novel and you come across a clue that suggests the murderer is the butler. But can you be absolutely sure? To find out, you keep reading and gathering further evidence that points towards the butler's guilt. Eventually, when all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, and it becomes clear beyond any doubt that the butler is indeed the culprit, you have achieved confirmation.

In everyday life, confirmation can also refer to an agreement or verification of something that has been arranged or agreed upon. It's like when you make plans with a friend to go to the movies, and you send them a message saying, "Just to confirm, we'll meet at the theater at 7 pm, right?" This is your way of double-checking and making sure that you both are on the same page and that your plans are finalized.

To put it simply, confirmation means obtaining evidence or proof that supports your beliefs, suspicions, or plans. It's about finding that reliable information or getting that agreement that reassures you and gives you confidence in what you already thought or arranged. It's like connecting the dots, stepping closer to the truth, or making sure everyone is on the same page.