Questions tagged [word-choice]
This tag is for questions about choosing the best word FROM A GIVEN SELECTION for a particular context or meaning. The selection to choose from must appear in the question. If you do not know the word already, use single-word-requests.
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What is the process of going to the reception at a hospital and telling them you've arrived called?
Like, how would you put it in this sentence?
"I've gone to the doctor's office and ____"?
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"Good for Me!" as a response to someone doing something nice for you
I have done many nice things for a relative (e.g. reorganize the outdoor deck space) and upon seeing whatever I try & do nice for her she replies "Good for Me!"
I find this offensive—am I ...
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Difference between "isn't" and "ain't" [closed]
I wish to know the difference between "ain't" and "isn't" and since I'm not a speaker of english as first language, I can't tell.
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"Habitat selection in/of birds", "concept in/of statistics", "theme in/of evolution"
It seems to me that in and of work equally well in sentences such as these:
Habitat selection in birds is frequently studied.
Habitat selection of birds is frequently studied.
...
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Should I have used "is" or "are" when telling a friend "Jennifer and Amy is going"? [duplicate]
Its all in the title. I messaged a friend on Facebook the other day. I told him "Jennifer and Amy is Going" Should I have used are or is?
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What do you call it when you refuse to give up on a particular task
In Dutch we've got the expression 'Vastbijten in'. It means you really get into a problem or some work. And you won't give up till it's resolved. I've been looking all over the web, but I've not been ...
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Is the phrase "collaborative skills" appropriate/correct in this context?
If one were to suggest that they had
"...strong documentation, collaborative, and communication skills."
My first thought is that it's a bit more awkward than saying "...collaboration...skills".
...
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Word for a decaying and renewing system, like a coral reef
Jungles and coral reefs are built in a piecemeal way: parts of them are always decaying, being patchily replaced by the fresh new bits springing up. The whole ecology acts as a single discordant ...
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Should I use Sprung or Sprang? [closed]
I just finished my English language exam, and it had the following sentence:
Beads of sweat sprang from his skin
Should it really be sprang? I always thought it was sprung, but I guess they are ...
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"One of my friends" vs. "one of my friend" [closed]
Which of the following is correct?
Yesterday, I met one of my friends.
Yesterday, I met one of my friend.
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"What are our numbers?"
How can I correctly ask a question like "What are our numbers?" meaning what are the number of people in the audience in comparison with number of people in some other audience.
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One talk/paper, two speakers/authors
I'm looking for an English word which would replace "a seminar/conference talk where each co-author of the paper gives approximately one half of the talk" which may or may not exist.
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Minister vs. Secretary
In English language, the government structure of all countries is referred to with the terms of minister and ministry.
However, in English-speaking countries, Secretary and Department are used ...
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Positive way of saying emotional appeal? [closed]
Is there a positive way of saying argumentum ad passiones?
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Which synonyms for “stated” can I use in a legal context? [closed]
In our law essays we are often required to quote different judges. It becomes really monotonous to use the word "stated" all the time. I have also used "advocated" and "declared". Are there any other ...
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How to describe this kind of education in a non-western society?
The education I received in primary school and junior high school was comparatively open-minded and libertarian.
I am describing China's education.The word "libertarian" is related with a particular ...
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How to say "My biggest (Something I am attracted to)"?
So if I want to say "Red hair is one of my biggest [insert word here]", meaning that it is one of the things I am most attracted to, is there a word I could use to complete the sentence?
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Exhortation v. Hortation - difference
Exhortation v. Hortation
Are there any difference in (a) the usage and (b) the meaning of the two?
It seems to me that Hortation is an obsolete word because in OED there is only a very brief ...
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Is there a word or an idiom for respecting someone because you are afraid of him?
I am looking for a word or an idiom about showing respect to someone superior in work because you are afraid of him. I'm not talking about real respect or showing respect to him or his works, just ...
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Is there a word that can replace the slang "broken"?
In various internet contexts and games, being "broken" means that you/something somewhat defy common sense by being stupidly powerful. Is there a more "proper" word that is equivalent to "broken"?
ie:...
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Use of the word "issue" as a euphemism for "problem"
I am submitting to a journal, and the guidelines require me to avoid use of the word "issue" as a euphemism for "problem". Thing is, as far as I know the two words are (or can be) ...
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What's the meaning of 'deflating mots' in this sentence?
I'm graduating in translation and one of my 2nd semester's works is a movie review about Philomena. I am stuck, however, at this part:
(He's an) expert purveyor of deflating mots on any subject, ...
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Is there a word for opposite numbers?
Example: -100 and +100 - is there a way of describing the relationship between these numbers?
Obviously, I've already come up with "opposite", is there anything else?
This is for use in an email.
...
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Word/Phrase for "process of falling of tiny particles off a bread/biscuit piece"
Please consider the situation:
A bread piece has some tiny particles which we see keep on removing off bread, or lying loosely on a surface after we remove it from that surface (These tiny particles ...
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Any alternative to "on the one hand, on the other hand"
I'm writing a formal academic article to introduce some facts. For example:
On the one hand, the government would like more energy, but on the other hand, it is not prepared to find more extra ...
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Do I have to use the auxiliary before all the verbs?
Which of the following is correct?
I will dance and sing at the concert tonight.
I will dance and will sing at the concert tonight.
Does it happen with to, too? For example:
I like ...
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Thing that opposes its origin [closed]
I'm looking for a word for the thing or phenomenon that opposes its origin like in Lenz's Law which states that:
If an induced current flows, its direction is always such that it will oppose the ...
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What is a good word for the Exhale portion of a laugh?
I have the following sentence:
[She'd been laughing, then had a sudden panic attack]... Then all at once she hadn’t been able to breathe.
The room had plenty of air — she could feel it sucking in and ...
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"Arguments in each topic" or "arguments on each topic"?
Which is the right way to express the following?
You have to present your arguments in each topic.
You have to present your arguments on each topic.
Or maybe there is yet another preposition to use?
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A word akin to racist and sexist?
When someone discriminates based on race we call that person a racist. When someone discriminates based on one sex we call that person a sexist. What about when someone discriminates based on sexual ...
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Is there a word that means "When there's too much of something and people don't take interest anymore"?
For example, there is a new style of shoe, and when there are only a few people who wear it, it's hip and trendy, but now everybody has a pair and it's ______. Or, there's a new and popular product ...
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Word that implies membership to multiple organizations/associations
When an individual belongs to an organization, they can be said to be a member of that organization. From the organization's perspective, they may have 1 or more members who have joined their ...
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Dare to think or dare thinking? [duplicate]
In a sentence like this:
I wouldn't even dare to think about the results.
vs
I wouldn't even dare thinking about the results.
Are both of them correct? They seem fine on the surface, but when ...
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How do we use the words 'electric' and 'electrical' correctly? [duplicate]
These two words are used differently as shown below:
Electric engineering (incorrect✖)
Electrical engineering (correct✓)
Electrical lamp (incorrect✖)
Electric lamp (correct✓)
And sometimes, they're ...
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Should I use "and anyway" or "and by the way" in the following case?
It's very unlikely for a planet to hit the Earth. And anyway, why is
he so sure about it? He's not an astronomer."
It's very unlikely for a planet to hit the Earth. And by the way, why
is he ...
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Operator, operand - term for the result?
How the result may be called when applying an operator to its operands?
In eg. programming one may be familiar with a so-called "expression" like this one from a SO question:
x>y && z==5
...
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Should I use the past tense or present tense? [duplicate]
I am struggling to choose the correct tense for this question:
What were the names of the sons of Mahatma Gandhi?
OR
What are the names of the sons of Mahatma Ghandi?
His sons have passed away so ...
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What is a word for the act of preparing a home for first/new occupancy?
Not necessarily the absolute form - as in a brand new house - but just the act of doing any final prep work in anticipation of a new occupant for a home. 'Housewarming' comes to mind, but that seems ...
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What word would best represent a combination of being alive, thinking differently, and having atmosphere [closed]
I know it sounds pretty hard to find such a word, but I'm needing a title that flows and is pretty, and attractive. This is a title for a project.
The word I'm trying to think of would try to express ...
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Word for update/create [duplicate]
Is there an english word, which can be used for both update and create?
I'm programming a function which creates something if it doesn't exist already, otherwise it updates the stuff.
A word which ...
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Proper use of “repertoire”
Could the word repertoire be used to describe one’s behavior as a façade?
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Use of the word 'inured'
My English TA commented on my word choice of inured. Is the way I'm using it incorrect?
Given Lilith’s other choices, she attempts to become comfortable with his looks
versus
Given Lilith’s other ...
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Is there a word or phrase for helping someone when you are better equipped than them?
Is there a word or phrase for doing a favour or helping someone because you are in a better position than they are to get it done?
For example, it would take me a lot longer to herd some cattle than ...
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What prefix corresponds to something on the same level?
I am working on modeling a problem for a computer program and am having a tough time coming up with the proper naming convention I would like to use.
Specifically I am working with a finite state ...
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Is "run the danger" in common usage?
I was interested in the following sentence which appeared in an article titled “Building a Classier Image; Las Vegas Hotels Woo Blue Chip Visitors" by Andrew Pollak in The New York Times (November 13, ...
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Difference between laxity and lethargy? [closed]
I know their respective meanings but somehow I associate lethargy in a negative sense (as in a disease or something). Are they completely interchangble or do they have any specific usercases?
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Any kind of + plural word [duplicate]
I have a question about any kind of.
Results can be applied to any kinds of drawing or texturing applications
In the sentence above, should I use any kind of applications or any kinds of ...
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Is there a word for when a child no longer "hero-worships" their parents?
A part of growing up, is losing your "hero-worship" of your parents. The moment you realize they're not larger-than-life, but they have got flaws... The moment you start looking at them with new eyes....
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What is the difference between "vouch" and "guarantee"?
To me, there is a difference between "vouch" and "guarantee".
To vouch for someone, you are stating that because of your relationship, you have knowledge that their character is good. However, I ...
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What is the difference between "depth of the trench" and "trench depth"? [closed]
As a non-English native speaker, I don't know what is the difference between these following expressions and whether or not the first expression is correct?
The first expression:
Then you ...
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