Tagged Questions
1
vote
0answers
20 views
What are some examples of adjectives expressing varying levels of intensity using the same root or unit word [closed]
What adjectives express varying levels of intensity using the same root or unit?
-1
votes
2answers
128 views
Is “off to somewhere with a car” correct?
I wonder if the structure of the following sentence is correct:
I'm off to my place with my car.
I'm the one driving the car, but I prefer not to use the verb drive. Would the following ...
1
vote
2answers
111 views
Prepositions and Corners
Does one use "on" or "at" in the following:
Kate met him at the corner
Kate met him on the corner.
Or are they the same?
3
votes
2answers
54 views
Using the verb entitle
Is it really proper to say, "The book is entitled 1984"? Entitle seems to be the act of giving one the right to do something or not.
2
votes
2answers
64 views
Nuances between “extenuate” and “palliate”?
I'm looking for a word which defines the act of "making an offence look less severe". However, this can be done rightfully (because an offence might in reality be excusable because of unfavorable ...
0
votes
3answers
162 views
What is an easier word than “serendipity” with the same connotations [closed]
A word that a majority of high schoolers would know.
Unless, of course, there is significant evidence that most high-schoolers know the word “serendipity”.
It shows up somewhere between 35,000 and ...
0
votes
2answers
70 views
Difference between “testified” and “stated” in a legal context
If you're working in a law firm, do the words "testified" and "stated" have two different meanings?
For example,
The witness testified that...
The witness stated that...
And is it acceptable ...
4
votes
3answers
155 views
How to formally state that parents have not raised their children well
I'm writing an article about the family and how it can change a person's life in the future.
I need a word that tells the readers about a family in which the parents have not been good enough to ...
2
votes
3answers
116 views
A word for “modify/delete/change a newspaper article” [closed]
a word for " a person/politician asking to review/modify a newspaper article before it is published"
4
votes
2answers
192 views
pleat vs crease
What is the difference between words pleat and crease in the meaning of a fold in a piece of cloth?
10
votes
6answers
1k views
“peak” vs “summit”
According to the dictionary:
peak — the pointed top of a mountain; a mountain with a pointed top
summit — the highest point of something, especially the top of a mountain
In the picture of the ...
3
votes
1answer
97 views
“Death Panels” and “Job creators”: Is there a word for these?
Is there a word or expression that describes phrases like "Freedom fries" or "Death panels"? I'm thinking of phrases that seem intentionally designed to either re-frame a familiar concept or to be ...
0
votes
3answers
2k views
“stress” vs. “distress”
From Cambridge dictionary,
stress - great worry caused by a difficult situation.
distress - extreme worry, sadness, pain.
I'm not sure if the words 'distress' and 'stress' have the same ...
1
vote
1answer
77 views
Word for a system that exhales gas
I'm looking for a word to describe a system that filters certain gases from a space and 'exhales' them outside. What verb can be used to describe that action?
8
votes
3answers
176 views
What is a word for “the desire to be considered a victim”?
I'm wondering about this in relation to the notion of a "culture of victimization", when people want to garner sympathy and/or discharge their guilt by being considered victims.
The phrase "culture ...
2
votes
0answers
310 views
Difference between “fluid” and “liquid” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Fluids” versus “liquids”?
What is the difference between fluid and liquid?
-2
votes
1answer
2k views
Is there any difference in meaning between 'efficacy' and 'efficiency'? [closed]
I feel that there is a subtle difference in meaning between 'efficacy' and 'efficiency', but I couldn't find any authoritative sources that could help me confirm or refute this. Is there any ...
2
votes
3answers
428 views
Does “split” necessarily mean 50/50?
In the Jerusalem Post headline, Palestinians split on Itamar, the statistics cited in the article say that approximately two-thirds of the Palestinians who were polled opposed the attack (Itamar is ...
1
vote
1answer
535 views
Is “plunger” a familiar word for part of a phone?
I was looking for the name of the button on a telephone that you push to hang up. On older phones where the receiver sits horizontally over two buttons, I've seen them called "plungers." Are people ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Extra pages for a magazine
In some special days, e.g. the days before the New Year, newspapers and magazines give away some extra pages or even an special magazine associated with those days, or related to the year passed. What ...
3
votes
1answer
448 views
'Conscribed' vs 'conscripted'
I'm wondering about the usage of the words 'conscript' and 'conscribe' in terms of the meaning they share.
I went to use the word 'conscripted' as in "conscripted for duty", and the word 'conscribe' ...
50
votes
13answers
6k views
Is there a polite alternative to “No thanks, I'm full”?
English is not my native language, but when I was studying in the US, I was always trying to find an alternative to
I'm full!
I felt that it was a very improper way to express that I have eaten ...
1
vote
1answer
273 views
Does the word “system” have any special meaning in literature?
I'm writing an English rendition of a Farsi passage. There's a word I'm hunting for which means methods of literary styles of writing.
I came across with the word "system" in a "Farsi to English ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
“Place” or “venue”?
Do place and venue have the same meaning? If not what are the differences and when do we use which?
2
votes
3answers
11k views
Is it appropriate to use 'eagerly' while ending a formal e-mail
Nowadays, I always use the below phrase when I am ending a formal e-mail;
I eagerly await for your response.
Regards,
I've seen this phrase somewhere, kind-of a formal e-mail and I am using ...
9
votes
10answers
5k views
What is a word for a man who has a lot of sexual relationships?
What do you call a man who loves and tries to have many sexual relationships with girls and usually doesn't fall in love with any of them?
To clear what I'm looking for, Suppose a guy at ...
4
votes
1answer
627 views
What is a fork's single point called?
A fork usually has three points, what are the individual points called? Trident points?
2
votes
3answers
958 views
“Approve (of),” “assent,” “consent,” and “grant”
I wonder if there is any difference in using approve (of), assent, consent, and grant as verbs. Can anyone help?
12
votes
8answers
5k views
What's the difference between “bucket” and “pail”?
What is the difference between bucket and pail?
Is there a distinction between the shape of a bucket and the shape of a pail?
Are buckets and pails made of different materials?
Is there a difference ...
5
votes
3answers
213 views
Is there an alternative to “that much less”?
The teams weren't fair to begin with, but Jim's injury made them that much less fair.
The last part of that sentence feels wrong to me due to the contrast of "much" and "less". Is there perhaps a ...
0
votes
3answers
625 views
“very pleased to read your posting” — pleased=happy vs. pleased=satisfied
In a formal context, I would like to tell the author (whom I admire) of a posting that I was happy that I discovered/found it because I did not expect it.
I was very pleased to read your posting ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
“Credulous” - Formal Use
What is the basic meaning of Credulous , in which context it will be the best to use instead of "willing to believe" ? How formally we can use "Credulous" ?
8
votes
5answers
1k views
A word for “rate of change”
Physics problems are usually written like:
The rate of change of the soup's temperature ...
Is there a common English word that captures "rate of change" or "speed of change" in a single word, ...
4
votes
4answers
334 views
Equivalent word which represents 'Team' or 'Individual'
I am developing a coding contest project with multiple contests.
The participants can be a team or an independent individual, depending on the contest setting. I want to define only one model for the ...
8
votes
6answers
3k views
Word for “someone who does the same job as me”
Is there a word that means something like "someone who does the same job as me"?
I've thought of colleague and co-worker. These both indicate that someone works at the same place, or some other kind ...
1
vote
1answer
217 views
Singular form of the biblical magi
I was working on a crossword puzzle with the clue bearer of gold, frankincense, or myrrh. I immediately thought that the answer is obviously either "magi" or "wise man," but then realized that the ...
2
votes
4answers
255 views
More colloquial term for “confidant”
Is there a more colloquial term for a "confidant", or someone who has been entrusted with sensitive information to be disclosed only under certain conditions?
This is related to my previous question ...
3
votes
4answers
511 views
Word to describe “when sensitive information is given to a trusted proxy in case of untimely death”
What's a good word to describe the situation when sensitive information is given to a trusted proxy (such as a lawyer), to be released only when a certain event occurs, such as a person's untimely ...
4
votes
6answers
5k views
What is the difference between “Class of 2004” and “Batch of 2004”?
What is the difference between "Class of 2004" and "Batch of 2004"? I have a feeling that one means the students who joined the university in 2004 and the other means those who graduated in 2004. Is ...
15
votes
1answer
3k views
Words pertaining to the senses and the corresponding disabilities
I need help on finding words relating to the senses/perception. I mean this in a neuronic/biological or philosophy-of-mind kind of way.
A word for...
pertaining to the senses (Is it sensory?)
...
6
votes
3answers
3k views
When would one use “burnt” and when would “burned” be more appropriate?
More out of curiosity than anything, when would one use "burnt" and when would "burned" be appropriate? For example,
This coffee tastes burnt.
This coffee tastes burned.
or
They burnt ...
13
votes
5answers
913 views
The place where the railroad crosses the road
What do you call those places where a railroad crosses an automobile road?:
Of course, I've heard what they are called in English, but I suspect that they are referred to differently depending on ...
10
votes
5answers
2k views
3
votes
2answers
3k views
What's the difference between “successive” and “consecutive”?
What's the difference between "successive" and "consecutive"?
5
votes
4answers
3k views
What's the difference between “to confirm” and “to verify”?
What's the difference between "to confirm" and "to verify"?
3
votes
1answer
109 views
What's the difference between “to herald” and “to announce”?
What's the difference between "to herald" and "to announce"?
2
votes
1answer
154 views
What's the difference between “drivel” and “nonsense”?
What's the difference between "drivel" and "nonsense"?
2
votes
1answer
478 views
What's the difference between “shrouded with” and “covered with”?
What's the difference between "shrouded with" and "covered with"? Any different hues of meaning here?
1
vote
2answers
1k views
What is an “anecdote” as opposed to a “joke”?
I've always thought that an anecdote was a short funny story that had actually never happened, but was rather created by common people in order to satirize, ridicule or to laugh at someone. But ...
3
votes
3answers
684 views
What's the difference between “to frighten” and “to scare”?
What's the difference between "to frighten" and "to scare"? I've heard both, but have never been able to figure out the difference.
