Tagged Questions
2
votes
1answer
120 views
“Perhaps” or “Maybe”?
As a non-native speaker of English, I was once told in London by a learned British man that I should not use 'maybe' for 'perhaps' in the UK, as by doing so, I'd be following an American usage (so ...
3
votes
2answers
81 views
A summer house, a cottage or a cabin?
When I want to refer to a (rural) vacation home, what would be the most appropriate term in BrE? I know in American English cabin and camp are used for those, but what would correspond to those in ...
3
votes
1answer
66 views
If I go to a Language School, do I go to school?
My friend, aged 21, has just started taking classes at a language school, and will shortly be doing 4 hours each weekday there. It feels very odd to be saying "How's school going?" – we finished ...
2
votes
3answers
108 views
What word describes the shape of a whirlwind when seen from above?
What word describes the shape of a whirlwind when seen from above?
Swirl
Whorl
Radial
The shape they make when seen from above resembles a radial pattern or even a whorl.
-1
votes
3answers
78 views
“Testification” in US English
The usage of Dieter Wisclieceny’s statements and testifications from
the Nuremberg Trials as the basis for the interrogation and trial of
Eichmann is also accurate.
In Microsoft word, the ...
1
vote
4answers
164 views
In England, do people use “people” or “persons” more?
In England, do people use "people" or "persons" more? And do you use the phrase "Keep it on your person"?
3
votes
6answers
305 views
Word or phrase to refer to self-employed professionals working from home in the UK?
Other than homeworkers (which is vague), freelancers (which is, to my knowledge, US-specific, and non-exclusive to this), what other words do self-employed people working from home describe ...
1
vote
1answer
215 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
1answer
119 views
Correct headline in scientific pro/contra table
Which words are appropriate for the headline in a table with pros and cons in a scientific paper (physics)?
PROS CONS
ice cheap cold
fish expensive warm
3
votes
2answers
298 views
Sapu Lidi: A broom made of many wooden sticks
For many Indonesians, the name sapu lidih or sapu lidi is somewhat familiar. Well, this "sapu lidih" is actually a broom made of many wooden sticks. If you translate the name directly to English, it ...
2
votes
4answers
366 views
US and UK English: queue or waiting line?
What do you usually say, depending on the context and depending if it's US or UK English?
wait in line or queue
4
votes
8answers
558 views
Dinky cars (toy cars)
I came across this term while proofreading an unpublished poem by an Irish poet. The context is not important so I'll just say that it is clear that it means “toy cars”.
I Googled the term and see ...
0
votes
3answers
575 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 & ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Is there a different understanding of “rubber” in British and American English?
I was well aware of the different meanings of rubber, not least because there are the same definitions in my mother-tongue. However, while reading a text about differences between British and American ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
“Invite” vs. “invitation”
I hear a lot of people saying "Send me an invite". I always thought that it was an 'invitation'. Is "sending one an invite" accepted usage? Or is it incorrect? If I need to get my wedding invitation ...
2
votes
5answers
555 views
“Available jobs to/for them”
First of all, English is not my first language. I have a question, maybe a basic one, about this phrase:
The situation highlights the mismatch between some areas of training and available jobs ...
9
votes
4answers
623 views
Is this correct grammar: “[…] cash can't be beat.”
I found the following phrase in a NYTimes article and I was pretty surprised that it wasn't corrected or edited out: "But when it comes to privacy and freedom, cash can't be beat.".
I am under the ...
13
votes
2answers
558 views
Is “so” more feminine than “very”?
Many Japanese textbooks of English mention the "feminine 'so'": the use of "so" for "very" is more typical of a feminine speaker. I don't think this is true in the US (I learned English living in ...
15
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it awkward to use the word “aubergine” instead of “eggplant”?
According to Google Ngrams eggplant is far more common (although in British English aubergine seems to have a small advantage over eggplant).
So, not being a native speaker of English I wonder ...
7
votes
6answers
6k views
'Expired' or 'Passed away'?
When someone dies, do we say they expired or passed away?
Does the word expired give any more respect when used? Or less respect than passed away?
3
votes
2answers
302 views
Phrasing of “What knowledge is required [at/in] [a] university?”
In British English, how should I properly write a sentence like
What knowledge is required at university?
Basically, I want to ask what knowledge is required for study at a university or in a ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
“And to you” or “you too”?
I really like to chat with English folks, so I have wished them Merry Christmas. To my surprise I have noticed the following pattern — the British answered "and to you", but Americans "you too". The ...
3
votes
3answers
420 views
“Amendment” or “Addendum” for book correction
A clarification of a European building code has been issued, therefore a separate correction for the book is released. What would this correction be called?
I have had the words amendment and ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Can one answer “Have you got…?” with “Yes, I've got.”?
As an American in Europe I often get questions about the British "have got" which is hard for me to answer since I have little feeling for what is correct. E.g. someone today asked me:
If someone ...
8
votes
4answers
10k views
“Checked shirt” vs “check shirt”
My son is learning English as a foreign language and I notice a mixture of British and American words in his vocab lists. Is there such thing as a checked shirt, or should it be a check shirt?
3
votes
6answers
809 views
What's “maiden name” all about?
I was pondering the term "maiden name" when talking with BE speakers recently. They don't seem to have that term. So my question is two-fold:
One: Is there another term for "maiden name," especially ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Why are you “reading” a particular subject at university?
I've always wondered why the verb "read" is used to basically mean "study" when describing somebody's university course. They might say:
I'm reading History at university.
And it might be said ...
29
votes
8answers
10k views
“Toilet”, “lavatory” or “loo” for polite society
My friend is trying so hard to fit into polite society, and is raising her child to say loo rather than toilet. I know it should be lavatory (and I would not say lav) but we are in the 21st century ...
2
votes
3answers
101 views
“And” or “with” when comparing
If one were to try and compare mixed food with food and a side which would you use? For example, what is the difference between "Green Salad with Dressing" and "Green Salad and Dressing" and which one ...
-3
votes
3answers
392 views
Which one is more British: “car hire” or “rent a car”?
I am wondering which one is more commonly used in the United Kingdom: car hire or rent a car?
0
votes
2answers
94 views
“Records” or “record”?
I would like to know what the difference between records and record is.
Which would be correct — John Allen's Records or John Allen's Record?
11
votes
2answers
902 views
Preventative vs. preventive
In this answer about the non-word disabilitated, the word preventative is compared (unfavourably, if my reading of the implication is correct) to preventive.
However, I have always used preventative, ...
8
votes
8answers
3k views
“Season” vs. “series”
TV shows, other than ones that have new episodes year-round (e.g. news, soaps), typically group episodes in batches — most often per year, although not necessarily calendar years, and sometimes there ...
6
votes
4answers
3k views
“Badly” versus “poorly”
I was saying to an American friend, "I pronounce still bad," which she said is a mistake, saying it should be poorly.
Well, I get that part, but when I asked if I can say badly, she said I ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Sorted vs Sorted out
I'm an American and I refer to a situation which is settled as "sorted out." My English family would just say that it's "sorted". Which is the earlier expression? Did Americans add the preposition ...
2
votes
2answers
4k views
“Can” vs. “could” in asking a question [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When do I use “can” or “could”?
I am a little bit confused about asking a question:
Can you please tell me my next work?
or
Could you please tell me my next ...
11
votes
6answers
815 views
“Toward” or “towards” – what would a native speaker use?
In this question we learn that toward and towards are interchangeable, but that the former is somewhat more typical of U.S. English and the latter of British English, although there is some indication ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Which is correct: 'Drafty' or 'draughty'?
I have been changing 'drafty' for 'draughty', or because of my confusion, removing the word altogether while subbing online articles.
I'd appreciate guidance on which term is correct for UK English.
...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Why is “a couple of <things>” often shortened to “a couple <things>”?
I would write a couple of . I often read/hear a couple .
I assumed this was an American English thing (I'm British), and just a convenient shortening of the phrase for speaking. It's easier to say a ...
11
votes
3answers
3k views
“right” vs “correct”
Except when we use right to denote direction, what is the difference between these two terms?
Also, which one is the preferred construction between these two
Am I right?
or
Am I correct?
5
votes
11answers
793 views
What should I call the English spoken in UK?
I have read that saying British English is too specific, and that I should say English English.
Is that true?
When I say British English, what do people think I am referring to?
11
votes
6answers
3k views
“Speak to” vs. “Speak with”
What are the differences between these two phrasal verbs and what are the best situations to use each?
