This tag is for questions about the differences in the meaning of two words.
0
votes
1answer
63 views
“X is famous” vs. “X was famous” [duplicate]
When saying a sentence like:
Nikola Tesla __ famous because he was a genius.
Should the blank be replaced by is or was?
Or is it dependent on when the person is/was famous? If so, what exactly ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
dependent vs dependant
I find so many different "rules" on the internet that it is really hard to understand when to use these words: dependent and dependant.
In the below examples, what would you pick and why:
a) "Your ...
0
votes
1answer
334 views
Difference between “zeros” and “zeroes” [duplicate]
Are there any differences between “zeros” and “zeroes”? Is any of them more correct, more often used, more modern? Are there differences e.g. between British English and American English in the usage ...
2
votes
1answer
264 views
“I care for you” versus “I care about you”
I would like to know if there is a semantic difference between I care for you and I care about you.
0
votes
0answers
44 views
What's the difference between order and bill? [closed]
I don't know what the diff between those two action or words.
1
vote
4answers
140 views
Difference between “delight” and “delightful” [closed]
I am wondering if there is really a difference between delight and delightful.
I would like to make a title for a French cooking app and was thinking of this:
MyApp - Homemade delightful French ...
5
votes
3answers
145 views
Advocate versus Partisan
Advocate and Partisan are two of the most ambiguous words I have ever come across. I have been researching these two words for almost three hours trying to figure out if they're the same or different. ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Differences in the Semantics of Three Tri-Part Phrasal Verbs
What are the subtle semantic differences in the following three tri-part phrasal verbs:
(1) be up against
(2) come up against
(3) run up against
2
votes
1answer
167 views
“Hitler will send no warning” vs “Hitler won't send warnings”
As in this WWII poster:
Are they the same thing, or are there differences in expression？
Why do native speakers choose the first one?
3
votes
1answer
116 views
Is “much” used for emphasis in “much to your surprise”?
What is the main difference between these sentences:
To your surprise, he is alive.
Much to your surprise, he is alive.
Is much only used to emphasize your surprise?
Can I have a ...
1
vote
1answer
155 views
“Need to” as an English Modal
In my studies of both theoretical and applied English linguistics, we studied English modals more than once. So a question came up on this site earlier today. I explained that "need to" is a modal. ...
1
vote
1answer
289 views
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
By definition an idiom is an expression or phrase that cannot be understood by the sum of its parts. There are, of course, many idioms that we can understand by virtue of their
transparency like "shed ...
1
vote
2answers
90 views
Medical or medicinal? [duplicate]
I am not an English native. I am working in the field of medicinal plants. I like to know why we don't use term "medical plants"? What is the difference between them?
3
votes
4answers
212 views
Difference between “now” and “right now”
Is there any difference between the two following sentences?
We can't connect to Outlook right now.
We can't connect to Outlook now.
0
votes
3answers
88 views
“in a word” vs “in a sentence”
In a word, you are wrong!
In a sentence, you are wrong!
Which is more natural?
I feel "in a word" is more common than "in a sentence", but "you are wrong!" consists of three words rather ...
1
vote
3answers
106 views
“Child”/“kid” implies paternity/maternity relationship?
Do the words "child" and "kid" imply a paternity (or maternity) relationship, just like "son" or "daughter"?
If true, how can I refer to a child without implying paternity? Example: if Anne is a ...
1
vote
3answers
120 views
“compiled with gcc” vs “compiled in gcc”
"This program was compiled with gcc."
"This program was compiled in gcc."
"This program was written in C++."
"This program was written with C++."
Note: gcc is a widely used compiler ...
4
votes
3answers
97 views
Usage of “flavour” vs. “version”
Software systems undergo versioning when changes are made to them.
E.g.: "Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows RT etc. are some popular versions of the Windows Operating System."
Similarly, some software ...
6
votes
3answers
253 views
Are there any differences in meaning or nuance between ‘suffocation’ and ‘asphyxiation’?
There was a lot of news about a fire in a nightclub in southern Brazil, where 233 people were killed. I found some newspapers wrote that most of the victims died from ‘suffocation’ and other media ...
0
votes
2answers
272 views
Morrow vs. Tomorrow [closed]
What's the difference between morrow and tomorrow?
Why are there two similar words for the same meaning?
I noticed it in the title of a song of Michael Nyman, "Second Morrow", on Gattaca OST.
...
0
votes
1answer
464 views
'Sort out' or 'sought out', which one is correct?
I was reading an apology letter of Shirley Hornestein and found it very interesting, honestly. But there are few points on my mind. Please help me to understand:
Is it sort out or sought out?
...
3
votes
6answers
133 views
“Synchronous events” and “synchronized swimmers” — what is the difference?
In JavaScript, why does synchronous and asynchronous appear to be the opposite to their definition?
Synchronous (in JavaScript this refers to running in sequence):
occurring at the same time; ...
0
votes
2answers
149 views
What is the difference between “so much” and “quite so much”?
I was told that "so much" is more emphatic than "quite so much", but I am not sure. Could you explain the difference between the following pairs of sentences?
Don't put so much emphasis on that ...
0
votes
1answer
96 views
Is there a difference between a “way” and a “means”?
From my workbook:
If you think that this is the most effective means of conveying our brand name ...
Does using way instead of means make sense? Also what is the difference between those two ...
1
vote
4answers
168 views
“First off” vs “first”
First off we need to write down a word; second we need...
First we need to write down a word; second we need...
What's the subtle difference between "first off" and "first"?
Moreover, ...
2
votes
2answers
208 views
What's the difference between “sea port” and “maritime port”?
Road transport is not the only sector concerned. LNG is also used in
maritime and inland waterway transport. The Commission therefore
proposes the installation of fuel stations in leading ...
6
votes
4answers
291 views
What's the difference between “on the contrary” and “in contrast”
Is there any difference between these two phrases? Is there any context in which we only can use one rather than the other?
3
votes
2answers
80 views
“length in bytes” vs “length by the byte” and “paid in hours” vs “paid by the hour”
"The variable len indicates the buffer length in bytes."
"The variable len indicates the buffer length by the byte."
I'm a computer programmer, so I know 1 is far more common than 2.
...
1
vote
4answers
346 views
Difference between get “off of” and “off”
What is the difference when you say "get off of something" and "get off something"?
0
votes
3answers
140 views
“I went to bed hungry” vs. “I went to bed hungrily” [closed]
What is the exact difference between "I went to bed hungry" and "I went to bed hungrily"?
-2
votes
1answer
59 views
“More” vs. “more than” [closed]
What is the difference between the following statements?
John uses 15 000 matchsticks to make model boat A. He uses 2300 more to make model boat B.
John uses 15 000 matchsticks ...
3
votes
3answers
395 views
What is the difference between a “prefix” and a “combining form”?
According to ODO, mini- is classified as a combining form. How exactly is this different from a prefix (or an affix, in general)? Can combining forms also be prefixes?
3
votes
2answers
46 views
“Moderator for” vs. “moderator of”
In OAAD, there's an example for the entry moderator:
moderators of online discussion groups
But I've seen the preposition for used in that context by native speakers too. Are they both correct? ...
0
votes
3answers
104 views
“in response to” vs “for response to”?
"I am writing in response to your mail."
What does it mean by "in" in this sentence?
Is "I am writing for response to your mail." acceptable?
1
vote
1answer
218 views
Difference in pronunciation between “won't” and “want” [closed]
Which is the difference in pronunciation between "won't" and "want"?
0
votes
2answers
98 views
Step in/on/into the job market?
I am an international student. I wish to know which of the following I should use.
Step into the job market
Step in the job market
Step on the job market
-1
votes
1answer
232 views
Which of the following sentences are correct?
Can someone please tell me which of the following sentences are correct and which are the differences between them?
Prove me wrong.
Prove I'm wrong.
Prove me I'm wrong.
Prove me that I'm ...
-1
votes
2answers
121 views
They've insist or they insisted [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do the tenses in English correspond temporally to one another?
When is the present perfect tense used instead of the past tense?
When will “Present Perfect vs. Past ...
2
votes
3answers
96 views
Are “coded” and “encoded” synonymous?
I was creating a domain for a website, but I couldn't understand the difference (if there is any) between the words coded and encoded.
What's the right use of them? Or are they just synonyms I can ...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
Difference between “acquittal” and “false accusation” [closed]
I encountered a phrase with a word "acquittal" in a context of criminal law.
In Wikipedia, its meaning is described as following:
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies that ...
-2
votes
1answer
65 views
“In avoiding failure” vs. “For avoiding failure”?
1: In avoiding failure, we must be careful.
2: For avoiding failure, we must be careful.
What are the subtle differences between the two sentences?
0
votes
0answers
14 views
“You were at the party, weren't you?” = “You were at the party, no?”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it correct to append “no” to a question?
I have a doubt between both expressions. I think the first one is the correct for express such rhetorical question, isn't it ...
1
vote
1answer
139 views
Difference between some sentences involving tense
What is the difference between the two sentences in each of the three cases?
1A. I should like to have sat down.
1B. I should have liked to sit down.
2A. He acts as if he knows the ...
1
vote
0answers
39 views
1.99 dollar or 1.99 dollars? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are these plural or singular?
Should we use plural or singular for a fraction of a mile?
I want to write price of some thing in my site.
As I know (maybe I am wrong) ...
1
vote
2answers
202 views
“I love you for who you are” vs. “I love you as you are” vs. “I love you for what you are” [closed]
I love you for who you are.
I came across the line from a BBC Radio’s drama, and wondered what’s the difference from saying “I love you as you are,” or “I love you for what you are.” Would you ...
2
votes
2answers
75 views
What/How is the time?
The farmyard was deserted. Dieter had gone down the lane with Rupert
and Nialla to the river, and by now they had probably already made
camp. If I was lucky, I might be just in time for a cup ...
11
votes
6answers
821 views
What's the difference between 'just' and 'fair'?
What's the difference between 'just' and 'fair'? OED gives slightly different definitions, but they are not distinct enough as to be clear (to me). Is the difference simply idiomatic, or is there a ...
3
votes
1answer
169 views
Differences between “inasmuch as” vs “as much as”
Can anyone provide me with some examples illustrating the differences between mentioned adjectives. Is it possible to use them interchangeably on various occasions?
0
votes
2answers
321 views
“Do you have” vs “Have you got”
I am studying English and I want to know the main difference between “Have you got?” and “Do you have?” questions. Are they the same? Is one more formal than the other?
4
votes
5answers
149 views
What is the difference between “section” and “part”?
What is the difference between "section" and "part"?
The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English says for "section":
one of the parts that something such as an object or place is divided ...
