Confused At Present

My definite recollection is that at school, we were taught that there was a clear distinction between ‘at present’ and ‘presently’.

My brain has them filed as:

Presently : In a short time; soon

At present: Now

I recently spotted this sign on St Patrick’s Quay and it did prompt to ‘confirm’ that understanding prior to this blog. The results did not completely confirm.
 
Collins, Chambers and Macmillan state that ‘presently’ means both ‘at present’ and ‘soon’. Chambers indicates that the ‘now’ version came from America.

Macmillan  categorises me as Old-Fashioned.

The Guardian and I are on the same page – I can live with that.

---

“presently adverb 1 soon; shortly. 2 N Amer, especially US at the present time; now”

Chambers Dictionary

presently - 

1. 1 formal at the present time
   

Presently, Rachel is heading our research group.

2    old-fashioned soon
He’ll be with you presently.

Macmillan Dictionary

presently
means soon, not at present
Guardian Style Guide

presently 

adverb

1. in a short while; soon

1. at the moment

1. an archaic word for immediately

Collins Dictionary