Tagged Questions
1
vote
2answers
69 views
“It was still bright/light outside.” Is one of these incorrect?
If I want to say it's still somewhat early in the evening and it's not so dark outside so that you can still see things quite clearly almost like during daytime, which of the following sentences would ...
2
votes
3answers
118 views
Is it correct to use the comparative adjective “blacker?”
You can find "bluer," "redder," "greener," and "whiter" in the dictionary, but not "blacker." This seems mystifying. In his "El Paso" song, Marty Robbins sang, "Blacker than night were the eyes of ...
1
vote
1answer
96 views
“My late friends” — they're not dead!
Context: We're discussing about how we used to get penalized in school for being late to classes, many years ago.
I wanted to say:
In my old school, it was hilarious to see my late friends get
...
0
votes
2answers
89 views
Can we say “probable” where we have to say “possible”?
Can we say probable where we have to say possible?
What is the exact meaning of that? I have searched this, but I didn't get the perfect example of that.
1
vote
2answers
190 views
A noun to describe character sequences between words
I'm creating a formal system in which a sentence can be formed by four types of sequences of characters:
Words
Prefixes
Suffixes
Sequences in between words
What noun would you use to describe a ...
0
votes
2answers
83 views
Looking for words similar to “lagging” and “ahead of”
In computer networking, assume that I'm waiting for packets which are ordered by sequence number. First I get sequence number 1, and then 2, then 3 …
Assume that I now have 99 packets and ...
-1
votes
2answers
43 views
Word implying this object is required by another
I'm looking for a word that has the opposite implication to "depends on" or "has this prerequisite". Something which describes the relationship of B to A if A is a prerequisite of B.
Something that ...
4
votes
4answers
241 views
Quintessential vs essential?
While quintessential means 'representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class' [OED], it defines essential as 'absolutely necessary; extremely important'. I have noticed frequent ...
0
votes
1answer
101 views
Alternative for “full-fledged”
I am looking for an alternative for "full-fledged".
Mister X systematised its use and meaning, and developed the notion
into a full-fledged concept of ...
The context is academic, but not ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
What's the difference between “active” and “busy”?
What's the difference in meaning between saying "I'm an active person." and "I'm a busy person."?
1
vote
1answer
96 views
Correct use of “proof-of-concept” [closed]
In writing a technical paper, I'm wondering about the correct use of proof-of-concept.
In short, the situation is that we have developed an application/tool to show the feasibility of a new approach ...
1
vote
1answer
93 views
logic and reasoning
My sentence:
Sometimes a question can have multiple answers where all of them share some kind of evidence but none of them can be a [strict — right — 100% sure that it is the answer — what else?] ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Is “introductive” a word? Or should I use “introductory”?
I was very surprised when open office's spell check underlined the word introductive. I checked a few dictionaries and only a few (including The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University ...
0
votes
4answers
246 views
what's the difference between “apparent”, “evident” and “obvious”?
I believe they are all the same, but is there any case in which not all of them are correct?
Here are the examples, from an English textbook:
1. It is (quite) __ that he took the wrong path.
...
-1
votes
2answers
46 views
“Multiple” vs. “additional”
When you are adding or inserting additional people to a list, what is the correct word to use, multiple or additional? Example:
Multiple escorts can be added using the Add New Escort tab.
...
0
votes
1answer
206 views
The opposite of Archive
A colleague and I are writing some software and we're looking for some advice on the usage of the word "Archive". Currently, we're using archive as a marker to state that the entry in our database has ...
-3
votes
2answers
85 views
What is the difference between “unrelenting” and “relentless”?
Which one do I use for a song that I'm listening in a loop?
I asked this on Quora but didn't get a satisfactory clear answer that would justify the difference.
-1
votes
1answer
47 views
What is the difference between “Distribution Worker” and “Distributing Worker”?
I cannot differentiate when I should use a noun like "distribution" as an adjective to another noun, or when should I use an "-ing" participle as an adjective. Could you please clarify the differences ...
2
votes
4answers
104 views
“Distribution worker” vs. “distributed worker” [closed]
I cannot differentiate the meanings of the two words. Could you please clarify?
In general, when should I use a noun (distribution) or an adjective (distributed) for verbs similar to distribute, ...
0
votes
0answers
94 views
“Operative” vs. “operational” [closed]
Which is the most appropriate word to describe the state of a system which is ready to work: operative or operational?
0
votes
2answers
220 views
Polite Compliments
Is a "polite compliment" necessarily a redundant statement when used in a group of people as opposed to a one-to-one situation?
0
votes
2answers
190 views
Deciding between “eponymous” and “titular”
William Gibson has a short story collection titled Burning Chrome. One of the stories in this collection is also titled Burning Chrome. I was recommending the book to someone and I wanted to say that ...
-1
votes
3answers
81 views
“Restricted quality” vs. “limited quality” [closed]
I want to express that an entity has different levels of quality concerning some criterion and these levels are ordered. For an example, I have five different levels:
Entity X is of
high quality
...
10
votes
3answers
177 views
“You are likely to [verb]” vs. “you are like to [verb]”
In a recent answer to another question, a fellow poster just used the following turn of phrase:
The nearest you’re like to get is [word][.]
I only ever saw and used "you’re likely to..." myself, ...
3
votes
2answers
116 views
Is “titular” the appropriate word for a song that only uses the album title in its lyrics, not title?
Is a song on a music album considered to be the titular song if it doesn't share the title of the album, but incorporates it into the lyrics? If not, is there another appropriate term for this lyrical ...
2
votes
3answers
175 views
“Is this the right way?” vs “Is this the correct way?” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“right” vs “correct”
I've had this question for a long time. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Is this the right way?
Is this the correct way?
5
votes
3answers
965 views
Adjective describing a person who does work to get it done
I have a friend who always goes on that I have a bad work ethic, though I am not lazy. At the same time, he says he has a good work ethic, but is lazy.
The definition of having a good work ethic is ...
1
vote
2answers
118 views
Is it possible to use “extraordinaire” instead of “extraordinary”?
Since they are both adjectives, is it possible to use them interchangeably on various occasions? When is the right time to use extraordinaire?
4
votes
3answers
152 views
Using “reachable” instead of “available”
Is it possible to use reachable as a replacement for available? I noticed that some dictionaries don't have the former term in their database. Is there any origin for this word?
1
vote
4answers
609 views
“Large amount of calories” vs. “high amount of calories”
Is it more typical to say that there are a large amount of calories or a high amount of calories?
For example:
Chocolate cake contains a high/large amount of calories.
2
votes
3answers
214 views
“Precise” vs. “exact” [closed]
Which of the sentences below looks more natural?
Question answering systems that appear with the aim of providing precise textual answers.
Question answering systems that appear with the aim ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
Is “low physique” idiomatic?
Is "low physique" idiomatic? If not, what is the adjective to be used with physique?
5
votes
4answers
417 views
“The point is moot”
I was recently called out for using the phrase "the point is moot" incorrectly. My intent was to indicate that I felt that the point wasn't really worth debating or discussing. I was then shown that ...
2
votes
4answers
158 views
“Unsociable” vs. “unsocial” in the following sentence
I got stuck in my exam when there were two options which look similar in meaning. Interestingly, the examiner gave two synonyms. The sentence was:
The hockey team could not deal with his ...
0
votes
2answers
242 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
votes
3answers
95 views
'Financial' vs. 'economical'
Which of these is the right usage?
John's financial situation is not good.
John's economic situation is not good.
When is the usage of financial justified over economic and vice versa, given their ...
1
vote
0answers
493 views
“Particular” vs. “specific” [closed]
The Free Dictionary lists particular and specific as synonyms, but there still seems to be a subtle distinction between the two. What is that distinction?
In a phrase along the lines of:
the ...
1
vote
1answer
200 views
“Drawing room” or “sitting room”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What’s a reception room / parlor / parlour / drawing room?
Please consider the following room:
The house is a late Victorian townhouse. The room (A) has a size of about ...
-1
votes
3answers
248 views
Cynical used to describe a noun [closed]
My brother recently stated that a pet hate of his is was the use of the term "cynical challenge" to describe a football tackle.
Can a nasty challenge be worded as a "cynical challenge"?
1
vote
2answers
84 views
How to better express the idea of “written communication”?
As compared to "verbal communication" or "visual communication", I was wondering if there was a synonym for "written communication" that is semantically similar to the first two. What throws me off ...
10
votes
3answers
998 views
“Quick question” vs. “short question”
Which one would you prefer: "quick question" or "short question" for a question that you know is simple and will only take a moment to answer? Or maybe "simple question"? The problem I have with ...
4
votes
2answers
103 views
“Pay-for” vs. “for-pay”
Is pay-for or for-pay the correct word? For example, which of these two sentences is correct?
This is a pay-for product.
This is a for-pay product.
5
votes
3answers
435 views
“Aforementioned” vs. “aforesaid”
I'm writing a paper. In it, I have the following sentence.
The ________ principle has two discrepancies.
I am considering using either "aforementioned" or "aforesaid". How are the meaning of the ...
2
votes
3answers
121 views
“Broad surface” or “large surface” [closed]
When comparing the total surface area of (geometrical) bodies, can I describe it as "large surface" (or "largest") or, as an editor suggested, do I have to use "broad surface"?
Edit:
Example ...
4
votes
3answers
162 views
“A different one” when we have 3 objects - other/another? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can “another” be used with plural nouns provided periods or measurements don’t count?
Here is the context (found in a forum for learners of English)
WAITRESS: Do you ...
1
vote
5answers
390 views
“Minimum changes” or “minimal changes”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Maximum” vs. “maximal”
Having altered the original text as little as possible, what is the correct way to name the changes? Is it minimum changes or minimal changes?
...
0
votes
4answers
286 views
What is the correct word to describe a turn or a bend — “hard”, “sharp”, “heavy”…?
If there is a very sharp turn or detour or bend — in a piece of plastic, for example, — what is the correct word to describe it (hard, sharp, heavy...)?
2
votes
2answers
98 views
US English — “primary grains being produced” vs. “major cereals being produced”
I am correcting a Spanish-to-English translation that states,
The primary grains being produced in the world are maize, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum and oats.
I would prefer to use cereals ...
1
vote
4answers
205 views
What is the correct usage of “imperative”?
Consider the statement:
The drought we have suffered this year makes it all the more imperative to wisely use the stock of food we have.
Is this a correct usage of the word imperative? What may ...
4
votes
4answers
221 views
Word for “cinema with a single screen”?
I usually say multiplex for a cinema with more screens. What word can I use to refer to a cinema with a single screen? Monoplex? Singleplex?
Is there a word other than single-screen to describe a ...
