This tag is for questions about choosing the best word for a particular context or meaning.
22
votes
9answers
1k views
Difference between “try to do” and “try and do”
What is the difference between try to do and try and do?
To me (non-native speaker), asking someone try and do this seems a bit rude. It's like saying you can try all you want but this must be done: ...
22
votes
8answers
4k views
Is there a subtle difference between “somebody” and “someone”, “anybody” and “anyone”?
Are there any subtle differences between "somebody" and "someone", or can they be used completely interchangeably? Similarly, can you imagine a situation in which you would prefer "anybody" to ...
21
votes
4answers
2k views
“Sit in a chair” vs. “sit on a chair”
What is the correct usage? I know you sit 'on' a sofa/couch. What about chair?
21
votes
7answers
4k views
What's the difference in meaning between “emigrate” and “immigrate”?
What's the difference between emigrate and immigrate? They seem to have the same definitions in the dictionary but they are antonyms...
21
votes
9answers
3k views
Do the words “jail” and “prison” refer to different things?
In everyday speech, the terms jail and prison are used interchangeably in many situations. However, my understanding is that, at least in the US, they actually refer to slightly different things. For ...
21
votes
6answers
16k views
When do I use “can” or “could”?
When should I use can? When should I use could?
What is right under what context?
21
votes
2answers
882 views
Which is correct: “math” or “maths”?
Which one is considered correct? I say "math", however I believe I heard somewhere that "maths" is correct. Also, should it (and "mathematics") be capitalized or not?
21
votes
6answers
2k views
Using “utilize” instead of “use”?
My friend has been raising a ruckus about the abuse of the word "utilize" in place of the word "use." He complains that it just makes your sentences sound pretentious.
u·ti·lize [yoot-l-ahyz]
verb ...
21
votes
3answers
2k views
“This question has been asked at Stack Overflow” vs. “on Stack Overflow”
How should I phrase it:
This question has been asked at Stack Overflow.
Or,
This question has been asked on Stack Overflow.
21
votes
1answer
1k views
“The ticket is printing” vs “…is being printed”
You're standing in front of a ticket vending machine and it says "The ticket is printing". Is that correct or should it be "The ticket is being printed"?
EDIT:
If both are correct, which one should ...
21
votes
3answers
9k views
When to use & instead of “and”
Are there rules of usage when using the ampersand "&" instead of "and"?
Are they completely interchangeable?
The ampersand seems more casual, but I'm not sure.
20
votes
7answers
1k views
Why “Greater Toronto” rather than “Great Toronto”
Many big cities have their names preceded by Greater. Why not just Great? Does Greater indicate that the city is ambitious to expand itself?
Why is Greater not used for country names such as Great ...
20
votes
7answers
3k views
Difference between “the very first” and “first”
I have the sentence:
Who wrote the very first dictionary ever?
Is it any different from
Who wrote the first dictionary ever?
I don't get how something could be more first.
20
votes
4answers
5k views
“Hooker”, “whore”, “prostitute”, when to use which?
"Hooker", "whore", and "prostitute" all mean whore; what are the differences between them?
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 ...
20
votes
9answers
23k views
Using “dear”, “darling”, or “honey” to address a friend
As far as I know dear, darling, and honey are commonly used between lovers, but I suppose there are more words like that. What else is commonly used?
Which of these can be used to address a ...
20
votes
3answers
1k views
“between” vs “among”
Today I was cut off in the middle of the following sentence:
"Between Cook, Strauss and Pietersen..."
My friend said I was wrong; for more than 2 entities, among/amongst are used. Between is ...
20
votes
6answers
8k views
What is the correct usage of “myriad”?
The vast majority of the time when I see the word "myriad" it is in a sentence like "He had a myriad of things." However I don't like the extraneous words so I normally use it like "He had myriad ...
20
votes
5answers
1k views
When did “while” and “whilst” become interchangeable?
I think most folk happily use either "while" or "whilst". I've a vague recollection that at one time "while" indicated the passing of time and "whilst" was essentially the same as "whereas" or ...
19
votes
4answers
3k views
What do you call a man who knows well how to fix his household appliances?
Some men are really good at fixing things, especially the household appliances while they're not specialists or technician. Is there any words to explain these people?
19
votes
8answers
9k views
What does “a couple” mean to you, and what does “a few” mean to you?
What does “a couple” mean to you, and what does “a few” mean to you? Is there a proper way to use it?
It was striking to hear that “a couple” meant two (2) to someone. My reaction was, “how/why do ...
19
votes
11answers
927 views
What word defines a category suited for both header and footer?
So there I was, trying to ask a question (now on SO) on Webmaster.SE partly involving a 'header' and a 'footer'. One part of my code defines shared aspects of both the header and the footer.
Anyway ...
19
votes
6answers
4k views
What is the difference between “archetype” and “prototype”?
I'm very confused by the difference between "archetype" and "prototype", and even more baffled when to use which. Can someone clarify?
19
votes
6answers
27k views
Is it “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”?
When should one sign a letter with "Yours faithfully" or "Yours sincerely"?
19
votes
4answers
5k views
Why do we say “was supposed to” for “should have”?
I was supposed to do my homework, but I went out clubbing instead.
On a literal interpretation, supposed to suggests that other people (or indeed, myself) might have supposed (thought, imagined, ...
19
votes
4answers
2k views
19
votes
9answers
4k views
Is it correct to say “on accident” instead of “by accident”?
There is a great chasm on these phrases in the US. The great divide seems to be currently centered at the age of 40. The younger generation has began shifting to "on accident" for unknown reasons. ...
19
votes
2answers
1k views
When should you write “answer” versus “response”?
In context, when would it be appropriate to use "answer" or "response"? I always tend to use "answer" personally, but I have always this nagging feeling I could be wrong.
19
votes
3answers
280 views
What are the names of the pieces of a question mark?
A question mark ? seems to be composed of two distinct pieces, top and bottom. Do these pieces have their own names, and if so, what are they?
18
votes
10answers
18k views
“Washroom”, “restroom”, “bathroom”, “lavatory”, “toilet” or “toilet room”
I've always been confused by the terms washroom, restroom, bathroom, lavatory, toilet and toilet room. My impression is that Canadians would rather say washroom while Americans would probably say ...
18
votes
3answers
643 views
18
votes
7answers
2k views
What is wrong in “Please don't pluck the flowers” and other phrases used in the Indian subcontinent?
In the Indian subcontinent, especially India, there are many English words or phrases which are not a part of dictionary or not used in other parts of the world.
The first one is "Please don't pluck ...
18
votes
5answers
1k views
Are there any words I can use to disambiguate “biweekly”?
We have two words for events occurring in periods of years - biannual meaning twice a year, and biennial meaning once every two years.
However, my colleagues talk about having meetings biweekly. This ...
18
votes
3answers
445 views
“e.g.” versus “i.e.”
What are the differences between these two abbreviations? What are the appropriate situations to use each?
18
votes
3answers
44k views
“More clear” vs “Clearer”: when to use “more” instead of “-er”?
Which one of these adjectives is correct? I can see that both of them are being used, I'm just not sure which one is grammatically correct.
Is there any general rules to follow as of the use of one ...
18
votes
4answers
1k views
Transform or transformation?
Is there a difference between the words transform (noun) and transformation?
Let me describe my problem. I have a mathematical model which I can transform into a better model with help of a data ...
17
votes
18answers
2k views
An inoffensive word for “stupid”?
In my native language, there is a word that has a meaning similar to stupid, but it is friendly and usually used for a close friend or loved one. It even helps the target people to feel happy in some ...
17
votes
10answers
965 views
What is an appropriate word for a “rerise”?
I'm wondering if there is a more appropriate term in English that describes a rise of something (like a nation) that has already achieved that status before, like a second rise or re-rise.
17
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the best way to explain how to choose between “its” and “it's”?
Probably one of the most frequent grammar mistakes in the English language is:
The dog sat on it's mat.
Since spelling checkers don't catch it, and it is even logical, since you would correctly ...
17
votes
7answers
1k views
Is “penultimate” commonly used? [closed]
Is penultimate commonly used in English, or are its variations (such as second to last) more common?
I need to use it in conjunction with the expressions First Payment Date and Last Payment Date to ...
17
votes
6answers
17k views
How should I ask for a bill in a restaurant politely?
I used to say check please, but my English teacher said that it's wrong, and the proper way is to say something like bill please.
What's the truth?
17
votes
3answers
955 views
“Make something out of” or “Make something with”?
So there was a fill in quiz I had to do, and there was a question it says:
Bill can make a doghouse _ paper. That's cool.
I filled in 'out of'.
Bill can make a doghouse out of paper.
And ...
17
votes
16answers
1k views
Word for when something wrong is made to seem normal because it is common?
Someone made this statement:
You found the perfect partner (looks, finance, personality) but the
sex is a bust, would you cheat?
I found it offensive that she was making the question 'would ...
17
votes
5answers
3k views
Is it acceptable to use “is become” instead of “has become”?
In the King James version of the Bible there is a verse like this:
The Lord is my strength, and my fortress, and my song. And He is become my salvation.
Is it still feasible to use "is become" ...
17
votes
1answer
4k views
Ones or one's: Which is the correct usage?
I've been confused about this as long as I can remember. Should it be:
One should do ones duty.
or
One should do one's duty.
I'm guessing it should be the latter. But that doesn't sit well ...
17
votes
8answers
961 views
What is a good way to refer to stories that are meant for adults?
There are stories for children and for adults. But when I say "adult stories" people tend to think they are erotica/porn stories.
What is a good way to refer to adult stories?
Example of adult ...
17
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the difference in usage between “for instance” and “for example”?
What is the difference in usage between for instance and for example?
Are they just interchangeable? I suspect they are not strictly but cannot seem to find an authoritative explanation.
16
votes
9answers
937 views
Is there a word or expression for a small crush on someone?
I am not very sure if the word crush ("an intense and usually passing infatuation") can be used between two strangers.
For example, a man sees a beautiful woman for the first time in his life. Could ...
16
votes
6answers
10k views
“Is there something wrong?” or “Is there anything wrong?”
Is there any difference between "Is there something wrong?" and "Is there anything wrong?"? Also, you would say "He would like something to drink" but "Would you like anything to drink?", right? I'd ...
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 ...
