This tag is for questions about the differences in the meaning of two words.
6
votes
3answers
317 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
367 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
784 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
145 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
181 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
105 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
194 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
231 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
424 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
81 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
442 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
145 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
60 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
460 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
50 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
114 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
267 views
Difference in pronunciation between “won't” and “want” [closed]
Which is the difference in pronunciation between "won't" and "want"?
0
votes
2answers
104 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
241 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
145 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
104 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
90 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
68 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
165 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
277 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
81 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
1k 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
202 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
451 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
176 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
142 views
“Continuing” vs. “continued”
So, just a few minutes ago we had this question asking whether one could substitute ongoing availability with continuing availability and what the difference would be, if any. Apart from the question ...
0
votes
1answer
235 views
What is the difference between “vocabulary” and “word”? [closed]
Why does my English teacher usually point out my mistake when I wrote the following sentence?
I learned a lot of new vocabulary. -> I learned a lot of new vocabulary words.
Why do I have to put ...
0
votes
2answers
409 views
“I did it by myself” vs “I did it myself” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Myself vs by myself
"I did it by myself" and "I did it myself"; what's the exact and subtle difference between the two?
2
votes
5answers
531 views
What is the difference between “dichotomous”, “binary”, “boolean”, etc.?
To classify species we use a method called: dichotomous biological key. It works base on true and false cycles. In computer sciences true and fulse working is called boolean and binary is a 0 and 1 ...
0
votes
1answer
147 views
Difference between “hypotyposis”, “ekphrasis” and “iconotext” [closed]
What is the difference between hypotyposis, ekphrasis and iconotext?
0
votes
2answers
64 views
“Proxime” vs. “proximate”
When should proxime and proximate be used? Can they be used both to mean spatial as well as temporal nearness? Are they being used differently in British and American English?
6
votes
4answers
3k views
What is the difference between 'can', 'could', 'may' and 'might'?
I'm a native English speaker and I've been doing some research into English grammar for a programme I'm working on. However, on looking into modal verbs, I've only just come to appreciate how subtle ...
6
votes
2answers
134 views
Difference in usage between “expat” and “emigrant”?
Is there a difference in usage between expat and emigrant? I believe I encounter the former mostly in positive contexts, describing highly-skilled professionals ("expat guide to [country]"), and the ...
0
votes
1answer
113 views
Difference between “hypnotic” and “hypnotizing”
Is there a difference between hypnotic and hypnotizing? I believe they are synonyms but I think of hypnotic as being more metaphorical, and hypnotizing as being used, at least sometimes, as a clinical ...
2
votes
2answers
446 views
“It was my birthday yesterday” vs. “My birthday was yesterday”
Is there a difference between the following sentences?
It was my birthday yesterday.
My birthday was yesterday.
When should I use "it was something yesterday/a few days ago/..." and when ...
-1
votes
1answer
312 views
What is the difference between variability and variance? [closed]
I could only find one result from Yahoo Answers, but the answer wasn't clear on the exact meaning of variability and how it is different from variance.
1
vote
1answer
439 views
What is the difference between “synergistic” and “synergetic”?
What is the difference between "synergistic" and "synergetic"? I believe they both speak of the cooperation of multiple things to produce an output, but how do they differ?
0
votes
3answers
196 views
What is the difference between “clearance” and “sale”?
I want to understand the difference between clearance and sale. So are these words synonyms or not? E.g.
Receive 60–90% off CookiesKids Clearance from Cookie's Kids.
Receive 50–85% off After ...
1
vote
1answer
141 views
Is there a difference between “depressive” and “depressing”?
Is news depressing or depressive? In what situations would you use these two words?
According to dicionary.com:
depressive - tending to depress
depressing - serving to depress; inducing a ...
1
vote
1answer
245 views
Difference between the use of “resilience” and “resiliency”
I constantly hear people use the word "resiliency" (especially sports broadcasters and the like). I've always used "resilience" instead. Is there a preferred word to use in any given situation?
As ...
1
vote
4answers
325 views
The insured vs. the assured
Consider the following statement (written in the context of marine cargo insurance):
The insurers plead negligence on the part of the assured.
The writer is British.
Is the use of assured ...
0
votes
1answer
388 views
Difference between “second cousin” and “first cousin once removed” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there an accepted rule for naming all of our various distant relatives (Kinship Terms)?
What is the difference between second cousin and first cousin once removed? Is ...
0
votes
2answers
482 views
Is there any difference between “He won't do something” and “He wouldn't do something”? [closed]
I have read somewhere that He won't do something means He refused to do something and also He wouldn't do something has the same meaning.
Now I'd like to know, what is the difference in usage of ...
