Tagged Questions
0
votes
0answers
38 views
“All that is needing” vs. “all that is needed”
I've read the following quote from Game of Thrones:
Opening your eyes is all that is needing. The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true.
English is not my mother ...
9
votes
3answers
124 views
Make/take a photograph?
In English we say "take a photograph" whereas in some other languages one would say "make a photograph".
The French say "take" even though they "make" far more often than we do in English, and ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Is 'quantitate' a synonym for 'quantify' or just a misnomer?
I have always used quantify, but have been encountering quantitate more and more in scientific literature. Is quantitate a "valid" verb and a synonym for quantify? Otherwise is there a subtle ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
Stipulated, mandated, ordained, required - w.r.t a law [closed]
Suppose a state's labor law requires that, say, every sign bigger than 1 square meters
Now, complete the following sentence: "The client shall obtain the necessary sign posting permit as ____ by ...
-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?
2
votes
2answers
61 views
“Starting with” vs. “starting from”
I would like to ask about the difference between the two phrases starting with and starting from.
Take the following two sentences for example:
Please give me all the names starting with A.
...
-1
votes
4answers
59 views
What's a word I can use to describe “putting a collar on a pet” in a comical way? [closed]
I thought of something like "stick a collar on" but "stick" doesn't satisfy me. What are my other options?
Anything with some "edge" will do if comical is too hard.
-2
votes
0answers
79 views
“Fit one's needs” vs. “suit one's needs” vs. “meet one's needs”
In a formal letter, which verb should I choose?
The programme perfectly suits my needs.
The programme perfectly fits my needs.
The programme perfectly meets my needs.
2
votes
3answers
98 views
Is it possible to use “Achieve” in negative sentences
I've noticed in IELTS reading that there was a sentence as below:
disappointing results were achieved by the Australian Academy.
I looked this verb up in Longman dictionary, It's been said that:
...
0
votes
1answer
101 views
“She got her first child” vs. “She had her first child”
I am not a native speaker and yesterday someone told me that "She got her first child" would be misunderstood and "She had her first child" is correct. Now I wonder if this is a 'local' thing here in ...
-2
votes
3answers
142 views
Can “predeceased” be used before any event?
When a person dies, it is common to say the person was predeceased by other people such as his parents, his brother, and others.
However, I am wondering if these statements are correct:
His ...
-1
votes
2answers
84 views
“He made a picture” vs. “he has made a picture” [duplicate]
Which form is better to use?
He made a picture of his sister.
He has made a picture of his sister.
And why?
The situation in which I want to use it is as follows. This is my first ...
0
votes
2answers
71 views
Is “Cutting Across the Afternoon of Life” grammatical? [closed]
I'm using this for a title of short story. The title has to reflect the last line of the story, which is as follows:
A long, dark shadow cuts across the countless cubicles.
I've thought of ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
Are These Words Interchangeable? [duplicate]
"The man was hung at dawn."
"The man was hanged at dawn."
Are "hung" and "hanged" entirely interchangeable?
0
votes
2answers
124 views
Words or expressions to describe having a difficult time in your dreams or nightmares
What is the best word to use in the following sentence? Any other words or expressions that can be used?
That day as well he had barely woken up after a night spent tossing and turning in a ...
-1
votes
1answer
50 views
Using 'show' with 'treatment'
Is it proper to say 'show special treatment' for example in "He showed him special treatment."?
I know it sounds more natural to say, "He took a special interest in him because of his background." ...
-6
votes
1answer
124 views
Please correct my grammatical mistakes, if any [closed]
we have done cams db setup.
After discussing with Mark we will do the pas db setup.
Please assist me correcting any grammatical mistakes.
-3
votes
1answer
102 views
Proper use of “drop” and “drop off”
Can I use drop to say I will leave something somewhere?
I will drop the books at your house.
I will drop off the books at your house?
0
votes
1answer
109 views
When to use “make” versus when to use “do” [closed]
I have trouble choosing between make and do in a sentence. Could someone please explain them to me?
-1
votes
2answers
127 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
“Quench thirst” vs. “still thirst” when “thirst” is used figuratively
Do I say "quenched my thirst" or "stilled my thirst" when I speak of something that I desire and not actual thirst? E.g. a thirst for a new car or something.
0
votes
1answer
187 views
Do “I guess” and “I would say” have the same meaning?
I often read sentences where the idea is "I would say" but it starts with "I guess". For example:
I would say he is not coming.
I guess he is not coming.
Do both have the same meaning?
0
votes
2answers
67 views
“Roll” vs. “roll up” [closed]
Are these two verbs the same? According to Longman, they are the same.
Here are some made up sentences:
I rolled this (up) into a ball.
Let's roll (up) our sleeves.
(I made up these ...
2
votes
3answers
104 views
The difference between 'have mercy,' 'extend mercy,' and similar phrases
Is there a difference between 'having mercy' and 'extending mercy?' Are there other phrases that mean similar things?
1
vote
1answer
156 views
“Need to” as an English Modal
In my studies of both theoretical and applied English linguistics, we studied English modals more than once. So a question came up on this site earlier today. I explained that "need to" is a modal. ...
0
votes
2answers
75 views
“Minify” vs. “minimize” in this NYT piece
I would like to ask for clarification to understand the meaning and the usage of the word "minify".
Let us read the following piece:
The New York Times “But by no means do I ever overlook or
...
1
vote
7answers
186 views
Proper verb to use with “test”
Assume that somebody has created a test/quiz like this one.
Has he developed the test? put it together? wrote it? something else?
What verb would you use?
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.
-1
votes
1answer
226 views
“Take advantage” vs. “make advantage”
I'm worried that 'take advantage' could have a slightly negative connotation. Could you say "make advantage [of a situation]"?
0
votes
3answers
202 views
Another way of saying “being judged”
What is another way of saying "being judged?"
The context is:
Being judged gave me an open mind about the different ways other cultures are judged and treated as well.
Being criticized ...
3
votes
3answers
173 views
What is the difference between “carry out a crime” and “commit a crime”
Do these both have the same meaning?
John carried out a crime.
John committed a crime.
-2
votes
2answers
123 views
What is the difference between “nudge” and “push” [closed]
I am trying to nudge them towards a practical solution.
What does nudge imply here? Can't we just use something like push?
Is the word outdated or still in use?
I'm not trying to avoid using ...
0
votes
3answers
3k views
“Please note” vs. “please notice” [closed]
When I'm writing a text and want to ask the reader to pay close attention to a point, should I write "Please note" or "Please notice"? Is there any difference?
1
vote
2answers
112 views
“Stop a loophole” vs. “fix a loophole”
Which is the preferred usage — "to stop a loophole" or "to fix a loophole"?
0
votes
2answers
77 views
On the usage of “epitomized”
Epitomized by right captainship, the ship reached safely to the harbor.
I'm emphasizing the capabilities of the captain here. Is this correct usage?
0
votes
1answer
77 views
“Keep informed” versus “stay informed”
I saw "Keep Informed!" written under the social profiles of a Firefox extension in its release notes.
I think, the writer wants to say "keep abreast of all the developments, bug fixes and new ...
5
votes
2answers
323 views
The sound of a moving tree trunk
When it's windy out as the wind is blown against a large standing tree, its trunk moves and makes a noise similar to that creaking noise that a door or a floorboard in a house makes.
Do we use creak ...
-1
votes
1answer
154 views
Why do “consulting engineers” advise, not consult?
I am interested to find if the two terms consulting and advising are interchangeable, particularly in business.
Generally, one consults someone else, who advises. That is, the seeker of information ...
4
votes
2answers
139 views
“Consists of” vs. “consists in”: different meanings of the verb, or the same meaning applied differently?
Mark Twain said,
Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.
Could he have used consists of there instead of consists in and ...
3
votes
3answers
572 views
“Start” vs. “begin”, “finish” vs. “end”
I am not a native speaker and I have came up with a problem of using start vs. beginning. Which one is more proper to indicate a date (year)? For example:
The year in which physiotherapy ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
Retire Vs Retirement
I am confused between the two:
My father is due to retire/retirement in a few months and is restless.
According to my understanding, retire sounds more appropriate. But I am not sure. Could ...
0
votes
3answers
193 views
How do the words “stare” and “gaze” change the meaning of the sentence in the given context?
Please consider the excerpt below.
I felt awkward discussing such issues with Aarti’s dad, so I kept quiet.
“I know how the education business works, Tiwari talks intellectual,
but he wants ...
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 ...
1
vote
4answers
239 views
Right word for “convince somebody to do something softly”? [closed]
I would like some help with a word which means convince but which indicates that it takes quite a lot of gentle effort to achieve the desired result.
My name is Gopal and I love Aarthi. She loves ...
9
votes
5answers
473 views
Right word to represent “speaking with low audible voice”?
Please consider the following sentence
"Oh my god, bad opening for the day", the shopkeeper ____ while seeing the trouble making customer and flashed a smile when customer approached him.
Which ...
5
votes
3answers
65 views
Difference between “evade X” and “sidestep X”?
Please consider the following sentences
In the journalist meeting, the politician evaded the questions about riots.
in the journalist meeting, the politician sidestepped the questions about ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Is “bulwarker” an acceptable word?
I'm well aware that bulwark refers to something used as a fortification or a defense. However, I was wondering if the word bulwarker is an acceptable word to use in English.
I know it's possible to ...
6
votes
3answers
260 views
Alternatives for “conducted” with respect to research
Literature review is a big part of my life. I usually use “[Scientist] conducted a research using data from” to state a previous study.
Do you have recommendations of other verbs to use? I am tired ...
0
votes
1answer
106 views
Word choice: “accept”, “sign”, something else?
I had sent an express mail to my friend several days ago, which contained some documents. After checking online, I can see the express mail has been delivered. Now I'd like to write an email to my ...
0
votes
3answers
99 views
Use of both adjective and verb in place of object clauses
I've been trying to assemble this sentence, but something feels wrong with every option I've come up with.
This has made me frustrated and lack motivation to go on this way.
or:
This has ...
