This tag is for questions about the differences in the meaning of two words.
0
votes
2answers
484 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
104 views
“Work” vs. “working” (noun)
What are the differences between work and working when used as nouns?
For example:
Advocates claim that work/working brings a lot of benefits for young people.
Which one is correct? I have ...
4
votes
3answers
425 views
Froth, foam, lather or suds?
I know this topic is unlikely to pique any native speaker's curiosity, but bear with me, I am trying to learn the difference between froth, foam, lather and suds.
I feel these terms are not always ...
6
votes
1answer
376 views
What is the difference between “hang on” and “hold on”?
I often hear the words hang on and hold on, especially on TV. People use them when they want someone to wait for something. What's the difference between them?
0
votes
2answers
285 views
“Atop” versus “on top of” [closed]
I'm sure this is silly and won't be terribly difficult to answer: can one climb atop a mountain or is it proper to say climb on top of. Or does it matter? I'm thinking the latter is correct.
3
votes
1answer
137 views
Positioning “only” in “I have worked with X” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Correct position of “only”
Which of the following sentences are correct?
I have worked with only Mr. X.
I have worked only with Mr. X.
I have only worked with ...
0
votes
1answer
175 views
Difference between “antisymmetric” and “nonsymmetric” [closed]
What is the difference between antisymmetric and nonsymmetric?
I only know the meaning of asymmetric.
3
votes
3answers
173 views
Archaic vs Historical in dictionaries
At Oxford Dictionaries Online the word alderman is marked as "chiefly historical", whereas ere is marked as "literary or archaic".
I've looked around on the ODO site, but I can't find a guide to ...
0
votes
1answer
646 views
When to use “include” and “including”?
I know that include is a verb while including is a preposition but they made me confuse when it comes to their usage.
I usually confuse when to use include with including.
Most Thais like ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
Difference between “improvisation” and “extempore” [closed]
What is the difference between improvisation¹ and extempore² and where should one use each of these terms?
0
votes
0answers
13 views
Difference among “dis-”, “de-”, & “un-” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a general rule for the prefixation of “un-” and “de-” to words?
Origins of negative prefixes like in-, un-, il-, ir-, dis-, a-
What is the difference between ...
4
votes
4answers
458 views
Is “That would be great” conveying a touch of unwillingness? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I use “will” or “would” when I suggest that something will/would come in handy?
For example:
Tom: Hey, will you be free tomorrow night to catch a movie ...
1
vote
1answer
275 views
“Reward” vs. “award” vs. “prize” [closed]
Got the following from this link.
Award (n): a recognition of a personal achievement, e.g. a scholarship for winning a science fair, a plaque for volunteering 100 hours of community service
...
3
votes
3answers
315 views
“Suggestion” vs. “proposal”
I am currently writing my thesis concerned with the analysis and design of data visualizations. For certain use cases my thesis suggests certain visual interpretations (to which I generally refer as ...
1
vote
2answers
310 views
“True” vs. “right” vs. “correct”
I noticed that, in the dictionary, the words True, Right and Correct can have a meaning resembling accurate or exact. ODO says:
True (adj) = accurate or exact.
Right (adj) = true or correct as a ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
'Whack someone“ vs ” Whop someone“ vs ”Wallop someone"
I noticed that, in the dictionary, the words Whack, Whop and Wallop can have a meaning resembling hit some one hard. ODO says:
Whack (Verb) = strike forcefully with a sharp blow.
Whop (Verb) = ...
2
votes
3answers
167 views
What's the difference between “rigor” and “rigorousness”?
What's the difference between rigor and rigorousness?
Which should I use in the following?
Rigorousness and clarity are not synonymous in pedagogy.
6
votes
1answer
200 views
What is the difference between yesterday and one day ago?
Do yesterday and one day ago refer to the same time period? If no, what is the difference?
3
votes
2answers
327 views
“Admonish someone” vs “Censure someone” vs “Reprimand someone”
I noticed that, in the dictionary, the words admonish, censure and reprimand can have a meaning resembling criticize or disapprove (of) some one sharply and formally. ODO says:
Admonish (verb): ...
6
votes
4answers
299 views
What is the difference between “dispute” and “argue”?
There were two English teachers who told me different answers. I'm confused. When I want to talk about two persons having different opinions, I have to say that "they dispute with each other" or "they ...
4
votes
3answers
423 views
Difference in the implied meaning when different words for “Shining” used?
Please consider the sentences below:
The grass was glittering with dew.
The grass was glistening with dew.
The grass was glinting with dew.
The grass was gleaming with dew.
Below are the ...
2
votes
2answers
179 views
Difference in the implied meaning when different words for “cheating” used?
Please consider the sentences below:
He chiseled me out of my dues.
He swindled me out of dues.
He cheated me out of my dues.
Below are the definitions given by Dictionary
Chisel = ...
4
votes
2answers
198 views
What is the difference between “impossible” and “implausible”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Plausible” vs. “possible”
My English-Russian dictionary translates "impossible" and "implausible" absolutely the same. But there must be a difference. Could you ...
2
votes
3answers
120 views
“Hence the need to make X” vs. “hence the need for X”
Is either of these two sentences correct? If both are correct, is one of them more common than the other?
[some arguments...] Hence the need to make an educted guess.
[some arguments...] ...
1
vote
2answers
325 views
the difference between company and a companion [closed]
In what situation would you use company or a companion in the following sentences?
I have a dog and it's my company.
I have a dog and it's my companion.
Can I use company instead of companion ...
19
votes
3answers
839 views
What exactly are the differences between “diligent”, “assiduous” and “sedulous”?
From OALD:
sedulous (formal) showing great care and effort in your work
synonym: diligent
assiduous (formal) working very hard and taking great care that everything is done as well as it ...
1
vote
3answers
87 views
”voice controlled” versus ”voice activated” [closed]
While researching a computer game, I came across the terms “voice controlled” and “voice activated”. What is the difference between them?
2
votes
2answers
160 views
Difference between “presidentship” and “presidency”
What's the difference between presidentship and presidency? Please give examples to show the difference.
-1
votes
2answers
435 views
“I got it covered” vs “I've got it covered” [closed]
Which of the two sentences is correct and why:
I got it covered.
or
I've got it covered.
Edit:
I am referring to usage that implies that you have something under control:
Sally: Did ...
0
votes
2answers
259 views
Usage differences between “glum”, “grumpy”, “sulky”, “glower”, and “morose”
I learned from my English book these are synonyms. However I am curious to know what the specific usage of each word is. How much interchangeable are they with each other?
Consider the sentence ...
1
vote
3answers
196 views
Usage difference between modest vs decent?
The Dictionary definitions are below:
Modest = not excessively large, elaborate, or expensive.
Decent = appropriate; fitting
Please consider below sentences
He has a modest three ...
1
vote
3answers
298 views
Usage differences between “than”, “to”, and “over”
I understand that than, rather than, over and to are used to compare things. How ever I am not sure when to use those for specific scenarios. Are these interchangeable?
Consider the sentence below:
...
0
votes
3answers
255 views
Can I always use “unless” interchangeably with “if not”? [closed]
I have been bothered by the question whether 'unless' and 'if not' can be used interchangeably. I think they can have the opposite meaning, but I am not sure. Could you support my opinion with some ...
4
votes
3answers
790 views
'I hope it rains' or 'I hope it will rain'
I've been through several books for teaching English as a foreign language, and these structures are usually presented as exact synonyms. But isn't there a difference?
Just by looking at the verb ...
5
votes
2answers
749 views
“Deliberately” vs. “intentionally” vs. “on purpose”
I wonder if there is any difference between usage of these three:
deliberately
intentionally
on purpose
Are they completely interchangeable? Are they at the same level of formality?
I found some ...
1
vote
1answer
100 views
Symphonic vs. symphony
Is there any clear line between a symphony and symphonic?
For long, I thought that a symphony was simply a "song" played by a symphonic orchestra. Then I realized that more often than not, the ...
0
votes
2answers
157 views
“Feeding” data or “entering” data: which one is correct?
Which is the better verb to use with data: feeding or entering?
Furthermore, which is more common in the
literature of the field and which do people who
work in the field say more often?
Are they ...
2
votes
2answers
189 views
“Regress” vs. “retrogress”
What do each of them mean exactly? Is either (or both) the opposite of "progress"?
Could someone please explain the difference?
To add some context:
When I look up the definitions I see the ...
-1
votes
1answer
250 views
Do “figure out” and “realize” mean the same? [closed]
Talking about noticing something, do both mean the same?
For example:
I just figured out that the ball is blue.
I just realized that the ball is blue.
0
votes
2answers
263 views
Is there a difference between “brainstorming” and “mindstorming”? [closed]
Some people use brainstorming, others use mindstorming. I could not find the difference between the two words.
1
vote
2answers
109 views
“types of data” vs. “data types” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Data source types” vs. “types of data sources”
Please can you tell me that what the difference is between "types of data" and "data types". Are they the same?
For ...
0
votes
1answer
206 views
What's the difference between “bloke”, “chap” and “lad”?
Several synonyms are used in the UK: bloke, chap, lad. What's the difference between them?
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Connotation of terms regarding one's profession [closed]
I'm wondering if there are more-commonly-than-not held connotations for terms regarding occupation that would differentiate between one's own personal experience in a field versus the description of ...
1
vote
2answers
165 views
Can “supposed to” be used to mean “considered to”?
I have a doubt regarding expression like these:
The new Al Pacino movie is supposed to be a good movie.
Asians are not supposed to be good ball players.
Whale is supposed to be the smartest animal ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
“Clod” vs. “chunk” vs. “lump”
Are there usage differences between clod, chunk, and lump? Are they interchangeable?
For example, is it better to use lump or clod for wood?
3
votes
0answers
147 views
“Straight ahead” vs. “straight as you go” [closed]
Is straight as you go used often? What is the main difference to straight ahead?
I have heard straight ahead in conversations quite a bit, but straight as you go doesn’t ring a bell. Perhaps it ...
5
votes
3answers
195 views
“Point to” and “point at”
I'm having trouble putting the difference in meaning between "point to" and "point at" into words and my Longman dictionary isn't helping, I'm afraid.
I'm not a native speaker, but I feel there is a ...
4
votes
2answers
226 views
Is there any difference in meaning between “All these” and “All of these”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it correct to use “all this” instead of “all of this”?
Are they fully interchangeable, or do they have a somewhat different usage?
Common sense suggests that "all ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
“Gain/acquire/gather/get experience”
According to my Longman dictionary, gain experience and get experience seem to mean the same:
gain/get experience: The programme enables pupils to gain some experience of the world of work.
But ...
6
votes
1answer
101 views
Difference between “mark” and “marker”
In a diagram, I added small visual elements to identify specific objects. Should I call these things (visual) marks or (visual) markers? What is the difference? Is there a better term?
According to ...
