Tagged Questions
1
vote
1answer
65 views
“Firstly, secondly” vs. “Firstly, lastly” when listing just two points
Normally, if we which to illustrate our points, we can use firstly, secondly, lastly (or last but not least or finally).
There are a few pieces of information we need to notice:
Firstly,
...
0
votes
3answers
54 views
“Above” or “later” when referencing a range of versions of software
Which is correct when referencing an operating system version "OS X 10.6.x and later" or "OS X 10.6.x and above"?
Bonus points for providing the why.
1
vote
0answers
26 views
Which one is correct, 'I like this more' or 'I like this better'? [duplicate]
I feel that using 'I like this name more' is more correct than 'I like this name better'. Since English is not my mother tongue, I am not sure.
5
votes
4answers
243 views
Indian English use of “only”
I am from Bangalore and people here tend use the word only to emphasise something in a sentence. For example:
We are getting that only printed.
What is the proper way to put it?
-1
votes
3answers
70 views
“Move slower” vs. “move less”
What is the proper word to fill the blank?
The more cars there are on a given road, the __ the traffic will move.
The answer is slower. But I wonder whether less is incorrect.
2
votes
1answer
115 views
When would I use “once” versus “nonce”?
Looking at the definitions for once and nonce. they appear very similar to me.
Under what circumstances would one or the other be a more appropriate word choice?
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Is this usage of “however” with an adjective correct?
Is the word "however" correctly used in this sentence? If not, how could it be rephrased?
This program, however comprehensive, hasn't been updated for a long time.
Is there a better construct to ...
-4
votes
1answer
43 views
“Match manual” or “match manually”? [closed]
I am not sure about whether to use "match manual" or "match manually". I am not native but I know that the latter is grammatically correct as the word "manual" has to be used as an adverb in this ...
0
votes
1answer
252 views
Word to describe things that run after each other [closed]
Is there a word to describe tasks that need to "run one after the other"? My current choice is sequentially, but feel there is a better word.
0
votes
6answers
158 views
Looking for a formal equivalent phrase for the adverb “personally”
Which one is correct: "personal basis" or "individual basis"? I want to use it in a formal letter. I want to say: "I don't know Mr. X on a personal basis (or individual basis) and I have not had an ...
-2
votes
2answers
108 views
“I need to wash my hands bad[ly]” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“I feel bad for you” versus “I feel badly for you”
I'm terrible at the usage of bad vs. badly. Given the sentence:
I need to wash my hands bad[ly].
Should the ...
0
votes
2answers
329 views
How should I reply to “Dude, are you there?”
Let's say I am having a telephone conference with rest of the team, and somebody asks me "Dude, are you there?" How should I reply?
Yes, dude, I am there.
or
Yes, I am here?
It is ...
4
votes
4answers
381 views
“Overseas” vs. “abroad”
I'm a native speaker of Inland Northern American English. My intuition tells me that the word "abroad" is unremarkable, especially in collocations like "study abroad".
However, I've been ...
-2
votes
3answers
378 views
More grammatically correct: “anything but” or “anything except”?
Could you tell me which of these phrases is grammatically correct — "anything but" or "anything except"?
If the use depends on context, what are the instances when each must be preferred?
1
vote
2answers
190 views
Using “yet” and “still”
When someone says,
The changes have to be updated.
someone may reply,
Those changes need to be made but the plan to make those changes does not yet exist. (as sometimes found)
Is it ...
0
votes
2answers
210 views
Word order with “just” and “only” meaning “merely”
Marking a German student's test I have encountered the following problem:
The relationship between the two adolescents is one-sided. Just the boy really feels something, the girl hates him.
Can ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
“Glaringly obvious” vs. “blaringly obvious”
I've heard both phrases in everyday speech, so there's little doubt in my mind that the answer is both. I suspect, though, that one of these phrases is more the original than the other, and the other ...
-1
votes
2answers
175 views
Using “henceforth” to refer to future events, but from a “past perspective”
The title isn't great, sorry, I couldn't really come up with anything better :D Here's a bit of context:
I'm working on my thesis and am currently writing down the historical evolution of a certain ...
3
votes
3answers
335 views
Alternative phrase to “highly paid job”
James: I make 10000 USD a month.
Alice: Wow, you have a highly paid job.
Is the phrase “highly paid job” correct?
I think yes, but also wish to ask the native speakers here.
I assume that ...
5
votes
3answers
204 views
What's the adjective for “by distance”?
If I had to describe a state that occurred only for a certain amount of time, I'd simply use the adjective "temporary" to describe the state (or the adverb "temporarily" to describe the verb). What ...
8
votes
3answers
346 views
Does the word “apparently” imply that I personally do or don't believe the statement following it?
When I say "Apparently, xyz", does that imply one of the following, and if so, which one?
From observation, I believe xyz to be true, but I leave open the possibility that I might be wrong.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
Reword “increasingly too late”
How should I fix a sentence which says "As X disappears, it is increasingly too late to do Y with X"? The sentence seems awkward to me, but "too late" is an adjective, so is the sentence ...
0
votes
2answers
2k views
“Not the same as” vs. “not the same like” [closed]
"Not the same as" and "not the same like" sound both strange to me (non-native speaker). Google finds both versions. Are both okay?
Is this phrasing used anyway or would people go for "different ...
0
votes
3answers
546 views
Use “underway” or “under way” as an adverb?
Is it proper to use underway as an adverb? Or should under way be used?
Merriam-Webster defines underway as an adjective and under way as an adverb.
The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & ...
4
votes
5answers
300 views
Which adverb implies supreme confidence, falling just shy of arrogance?
When he participated in debates and round table discussions, Christopher Hitchens spoke with supreme confidence.
I'd like to replace with supreme confidence with an adverb that implies supreme ...
0
votes
4answers
2k views
“Without success” vs. “unsuccessfully”
Is the phrase below correct?
I have tried to contact the customer without success.
Isn't it "I have tried to contact the customer unsuccessfully"?
2
votes
3answers
203 views
“Mostest” vs. “most” [closed]
What is the difference between mostest and most?
Can they be used interchangeably?
5
votes
1answer
132 views
Placement of “just” in “we just need minified and concatenated files” [closed]
I was talking to my client. I wanted to convey that "we need the minified type of files and the concatenated type of files; nothing other than that". I quickly wrote this:
we just need minified ...
0
votes
4answers
376 views
Adverb form of “sustainable”
I'm translating a sentence to English, and want to use the phrase:
All material is produced sustainably.
But my spell-check doesn't like the word sustainably, so I looked it up, and have found ...
4
votes
5answers
3k views
When to use “generally”, “usually”, or “normally”
Generally speaking what are the usually accepted usage scenarios for the above mentioned words in a normally occurring English vernacular?
In short, what are the rules/guidelines for using generally, ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
“Unequivocably” vs. “unequivocally”
I was interested in the following sentence which appeared in a news article titled “SCIENCE WATCH; PROGRESS IN AIDS DISPUTE” in The New York Times (March 10, 1987).
Dr. Robert Gallo at the cancer ...
1
vote
2answers
193 views
Should I say “domesticable” or “domesticatable”?
What should I say better, "domesticable" or "domesticatable"?
1
vote
3answers
193 views
Is “even” a choice in this sentence?
I would appreciate your help.
He is not strong at all. He would not even lift me.
I would like to express that he would not even lift me, let alone heavier stuff.
0
votes
4answers
208 views
Is “relatively big compared to” redundant?
If I say something like
He is big compared to the other guy.
He is relatively big compared to the other guy.
is the adverb relatively wrong because of redundancy?
13
votes
3answers
1k views
“A bit” vs. “a little bit” vs. “a little”
Is there a difference between a bit, a little bit and a little in the following context?
He is a little bit angry.
He is a little angry.
He is a bit angry.
Or do these sentences mean the ...
1
vote
1answer
475 views
“ 'Such' amount” or “ 'such an' amount”?
Is there any difference between them!? If you google both: 1 and 2, the amount of retrieved results are very similar. I'd like to know if there's any (grammar) rule that makes it clear when to use an ...
0
votes
2answers
149 views
“New diagnosed” vs. “newly diagnosed” [closed]
Which one of the following is correct to use?
New diagnosed cases.
Newly diagnosed cases.
1
vote
3answers
393 views
Use of “ever” instead of “more and more” [closed]
I wonder if I can use "ever" in place of "more and more".
For example, do the following two sentences have the same meaning?
Software is getting more and more complex.
Software is getting ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
“Often” and “oftentimes”
Is there any difference between the two terms 'often' and 'oftentimes'? They seem to be used interchangeably but is one more appropriate in certain situations than others? Is 'oftentimes' an older ...
1
vote
4answers
5k views
“Henceforth” vs. “hereinafter”
What is the most suitable way to express that a sentence/word will be "replaced by" another sentence/word, from that point (in a text, for instance)?
Henceforth called/named...
Hereinafter ...
1
vote
3answers
891 views
Are 'effectually' and 'effectively' completely interchangable?
In the OED:
effectively, (adverb)—in such a manner as to achieve a desired result:
make sure that resources are used effectively.
effectual, (adjective)—successful in producing ...
1
vote
6answers
371 views
How far is the safari park from here?
Which is/are the correct and natural answer(s) to this question?
It is ten miles far from here.
It is ten miles far away from here.
It is ten miles far away.
It is ten miles away.
...
3
votes
1answer
260 views
“Instantly” vs “instantaneously” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Instant” vs. “instantaneous”
I know there is a similar question already answered, but I still have doubts. I was doing a word formation FCE ...
2
votes
2answers
273 views
“Publicly well known X” vs “public well known X”
How do you say it correctly?
The publicly well-known project
or
The public well-known project
10
votes
3answers
6k views
Is it 'what it looks like' or 'how it looks like'?
I live in a country where English is not the native language.
Oftentimes I hear my coworkers say they want to know or determine "how it looks like". This is grammatically closer to our native ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Difference between “no more used” and “no longer used”
You can say not used any more just as readily as not used any longer, but it is no more used seems quite wrong compared to it is no longer used. Why?
3
votes
6answers
364 views
“Too” as a sentence modifier
I was recently having a discussion with a friend on the "sure-thing principle" (not relevant but Google if you wish to know what that is). We were discussing it in the context of a scenario and the ...
4
votes
5answers
4k views
“Newly found” vs. “New Found”
What is the grammatically correct way to say the following sentence?
"I have come away with a new found respect for the author..."
or
"I have come away with a newly found respect for the ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Which is correct: “I bought it online/offline”
On several occasions, someone has asked me where I purchased my shirt and I replied with "I bought it offline."
It didn't sound right to me.
My brain thought that I bought it 'off' of something ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Opposite of “most recently”
What is a good way to formulate the opposite of "most recently"? For example,
Display the five most recently updated streams.
The two most recently hired coders are doing a great job.
How ...
