The meaning of “this Friday” is clear to most, but the term “next Friday” is ambiguous.
The rationale appears to be
- This week – this Friday
- Next week – next Friday (or “Friday week”)
To confuse matters, some people say “this Friday” if you are earlier in the week. But if you say “next Friday” you mean the week later.
“Friday week” always means a week from the Friday that’s soonest.
“Friday next week” is also clear as is “Friday week”
http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-cobuild/next (Collins)
You use next in expressions such as next Friday, next day and next year to refer, for example, to the first Friday, day, or year that comes after the present or previous one.
I was unaware of the confusion until yesterday, and will now avoid terms like “next Friday”
