Tagged Questions
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Would you say “wanna” when you want something? [closed]
Would you say "wanna" when you want something? For example, "I wanna a new PC", instead of "I want a new PC"?
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Is it correct to say “I would like to inquire about something?”
When I make a call to get some information regarding a matter, I generally start the conversation with "Hello, I would like to inquire about something."
Is this a correct usage? If not, what would be ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Phrase for “suddenly wake up of a dream”
What is a natural thing to say when you suddenly wake up of a dream?
The impression I have in mind is of something like burst/tear apart or escape from the dream scene by waking up.
-1
votes
0answers
55 views
“Take you in the sky” vs. “bring you up to the sky” vs. “get you in the sky” — which one is correct?
If I have got a pilot licence, I will take you in the sky/bring you up to the sky/get you in the sky. Which one is correct?
0
votes
1answer
100 views
“For example” vs. “just to name a few”
How would you explain the differences between using "for example" and "just to name a few" in the following multiple choice:
Your smartphone might give you a wake up call, send you emails, help ...
0
votes
0answers
119 views
To Whom It May Concern, what's the best way to address a group?
I write emails to groups of individuals from time to time, and when I don't/can't address anyone in particular, I will begin the letter with
To Whom It May Concern,
Is this the best way to ...
2
votes
2answers
224 views
“Split in half” vs. “split in two” — which one is correct?
Does the "in" imply multiplication, in which case split in half is correct, or is it division? It sounds like the latter to me, but I've heard it used both ways.
5
votes
3answers
109 views
“This is actually true” vs. [sic]
I often find myself in need of a short expression, to emphasize that what I just wrote (not quoted) is actually true. In cases of paradoxes or illogical truths for instance, like The Monty Hall ...
-2
votes
1answer
106 views
What is the difference between “combine A with B” and “combine A and B”? [closed]
I wonder the difference between combine A with B and combine A and B so that I can use the phrase correctly.
Thanks a lot!
-2
votes
1answer
77 views
Is there a word or another phrase for “hidden feature”? [closed]
I am in the process of writing an essay to relate written languages to programming languages and am having trouble phrasing it just right.
As it stands, the clause is as follows.
...using all the ...
1
vote
3answers
134 views
The phrase 'give you me'
There was another sentence that I wasn't sure about: "Rather, O blessed one, give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of ...
5
votes
4answers
399 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
3answers
137 views
Phrase help for do's and don'ts
While I am writing some health tips, I used a phrase do's and don'ts, in describing my activities. I wonder, if there is any equivalent word to do's and don'ts. I believe this phrase is archaic. Are ...
0
votes
5answers
647 views
term for people who lack empathy, bikeshed, are overly idealistic, impractical
This might be a long shot, but here goes.
I work in internet technology and often encounter (virtually and some times physically) people with the following characteristics. Is there a term or phrase ...
1
vote
3answers
455 views
“Suggestions as to how to” vs “suggestions how to”
Which should I write?
He has made several suggestions as to how to improve the situation.
He has made several suggestions how to improve the situation.
4
votes
1answer
539 views
“For no other reason than” vs. “for no other reason that” vs. “for no other reason than that”
I am looking for a comprehensive analysis of these three constructions:
... for no other reason than X.
... for no other reason that X.
... for no other reason than that X.
Which is ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Is it “my passion lies in” or “my passion is”?
I have the following sentence in my résumé:
My passion lies in analyzing complex algorithms.
Someone pointed out to me that it is not correct, and that it should be:
My passion is analyzing ...
16
votes
7answers
1k views
Phenomenon of overused and popular words [closed]
Certain words or phrases become really popular. These words are picked up by many people, are overused, and sometimes misused to such an extent that the whole meaning of the word changes, or is even ...
5
votes
3answers
203 views
Term for locally installed and fully owned software
I am having a bit of trouble coming up with an appropriate term for software that is locally installed, and fully owned by the buyer. This would be the opposite of the term "software as a service", ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Is “what on earth” still commonly used in real life? Is there any alternative that is not cursing or obscene?
I'm a non-native speaker. When I was at school, we were taught that "on earth" is used for emphasis in questions such as:
What on earth are you talking about?
However, from my experience ...
2
votes
5answers
223 views
Adjective/adverb for “taboo”
I'm looking for a word or phrase that means something along the lines of "the exhilaration of taboo".
Here's the context for what I'm looking for: "It was strange and [blank] to walk around and see ...
4
votes
7answers
300 views
Word (or shorter phrase for) “evaluate the relationship between”? [closed]
I am creating a poster to describe some research I have done. Listing the objectives I have something like (edit: using more sensible comparisons):
Evaluate the relationship between height and ...
5
votes
1answer
345 views
How to say “the project that we are working on” in a short phrase?
I want a short phrase for "the project that we are working on".
Could it be "our working-on project"?
2
votes
2answers
189 views
Does 'get involved' have negative connotations?
When you use the phrase 'get involved', do you expect an object for it should be negative?
I've seen some examples using it since now. Their objects were mostly negative.
Examples:
get involved ...
2
votes
2answers
5k views
Burst in or into laughter?
Which of the following phrases is correct grammatically?
burst in laughter
burst into laughter
Or are they both correct (this is my guess)?
I'd think that to "burst in laughter" could ...
1
vote
2answers
224 views
What do you say when a person/an idea/… is crazy to your mind?
What does one say or do if they think that a person's idea, behaviour, etc. is crazy to their mind?
For instance:
In Germany, when someone dangerously passes you, you will show them by tipping your ...
1
vote
5answers
3k views
Better way of saying “Go-to man”?
Does anyone have a suggestion for a gender-neutral alternative to the phrase "Who's the go-to man?" The go-to person feels stylistically awkward.
0
votes
1answer
202 views
Can “an act of protest” and “a sign of protest” be used interchangeably? Are they idioms that are synonymous to each other? [closed]
Can "an act of protest" and "a sign of protest" be used interchangeably? Are there contexts where one of these phrases should be used, and not the other?
Also, are "act of protest" and "sign of ...
0
votes
3answers
355 views
What's the best way to say: “which one is more true or more accurate”? [closed]
What's the best way to say:
"which one is more true or more accurate" when talking about 2 words?
0
votes
2answers
105 views
Does the phrase “fully n percent” have real meaning?
For example:
Fully 46 percent of the recipients polled in the social sciences
had...
Is this simply a way to avoid starting the sentence with a number? As in:
Forty-six percent...
I ...
0
votes
3answers
186 views
How to say the opposite of 'lose one's grip' for a newcomer? [closed]
If someone has not been doing a specific action for a while, you can say he "lost his grip" (got out of practice).
But what about the other direction, when you want to say that a person is new and ...
2
votes
1answer
205 views
Proper use of “context” in a phrase
Which of the following phrases is correct?
Everything is in some context.
or
Everything has some context.
3
votes
2answers
184 views
A phrase to show that something is deeply personal
The context here is that I'm translating from Spanish a phrase which has a wonderful suggestion of deep intimacy. I want to keep the translation as literal as possible but also to maintain the emotion ...
3
votes
2answers
245 views
Is “learning yourself” the same as “learning by yourself”?
(Other than the first also meaning to learn about oneself...)
Is learning yourself the same as learning by yourself? How much do these two phrases differ?
In India's spoken English, the former is ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
What is correct: “bind to” or “bind with”?
What is a correct phrase: “bind to” or “bind with”? If both are correct, when should I use the first form, and when the second?
1
vote
5answers
452 views
Can I say “reduces the proximity to zero” to describe 2 objects being very close?
When I say "reduces the proximity to zero", does it mean that the distance between two objects are extremely close?
My intention is to describe that the distance between two objects gets very close ...
2
votes
4answers
125 views
Is “sustain the tuition fee” correct English?
Searching for it in google yields just 9 miserable results. So, I am puzzled - is it bad English, or is the opposite true - too good to be widely used?
EDIT
The complete sentence is:
However, ...
3
votes
3answers
330 views
Can I say this? “To spank my shoulder when needed” [closed]
Can I say this: "To spank my shoulder when needed" or "to spank on my shoulder when I'm down in life"? Is there a way instead not using spank? Is there any other way to express the same feeling?
1
vote
3answers
355 views
What is another way of saying “how” in a question context? [closed]
For example, in the situation "How does a affect b?" I've come up with "In what way does a affect b?" and "What aspects of a make it affect b?" (although that has a slightly different connotation). ...
5
votes
8answers
735 views
What would you call a person who is not a student, but takes interest in exploring academic topics?
A person who is not formally enrolled as a student, researcher or faculty in some university or college but who takes interest in exploring academic topics/stuff. For e.g. Such a person could be ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
“Sour cream” versus “soured cream”
Does anyone besides my husband insist on adding an -ed to sour cream? Etymonline dates "sour cream" to 1855, but has no mention of "soured", so I don't think this is analogous to "iced tea" or "ice ...
4
votes
3answers
163 views
Possibilities to combine “drop-dead” with an adjective
What adjectives can you combine with drop-dead to emphasize?
There's drop-dead gorgeous, can you also combine others like "nice" and "simple"?
0
votes
3answers
178 views
Is the phrase “large number core machine” correct?
I would like to use the following phrase for a machine with large number cores. Is this correct? Please let me know.
large number core machine
8
votes
2answers
460 views
“Exact a price” versus “extract a price”
I recently heard someone use the phrase "extract a price". He was referring to a scenario in which an action had an associated cost. To me, it seems the correct phrase should have been "exact a ...
2
votes
5answers
539 views
“A classmate and I was” vs “A classmate and I were”
I'm writing a resume right now targeted towards a specific company. My girlfriend (a classmate) and I were (see, I don't know if that's the right word, hence this question!) the first from our school ...
2
votes
2answers
682 views
“Forbidden to” vs “Forbidden from”?
Which sounds better (and where do you live?) I am American, and I think "forbidden from" sounds better, although both "forbidden to" and "forbidden from" are considered standard usage.
"The banks ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
“On short notice” vs “At short notice”
What's the difference between those two? I've tried to ask Google but got very mixed results -- some people say it's the same, some that one of them is illegal and the rest offer other explanation, ...
3
votes
1answer
706 views
How can I use “insight”?
I want to express that after a certain experience I have some new insights. Does an insight come "into mind", or do you "gain/develop" insight? How is this best phrased?
3
votes
3answers
207 views
“Agreed” or “agreed to”
Should agreed or agreed to be used in the example below?
The member countries agreed the bailout package for the sovereign. NATO will enforce the sanctions agreed in May.
The member ...
1
vote
3answers
568 views
Is describing someone as “higher-educated” awkward?
I’m updating my résumé and would like to convey in a condensed manner the fact that I have a Masters degree in a particular branch of the humanities (politics and society of the Middle East, but ...
