This tag is for questions about choosing the best word for a particular context or meaning.
-5
votes
1answer
286 views
How can I rewrite the following sentence with fewer words? [closed]
How can I rewrite the following sentence with fewer words?
The team endeavours to improve its performance constantly.
-6
votes
1answer
113 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.
-1
votes
1answer
58 views
To devote vs. dedicate yourself: which works better for being studious?
In regards to studiousness, if I were to advise students to focus on their studies, should I say:
Just dedicate yourself.
or rather
Just devote yourself.
Am I right to feel that devote ...
2
votes
2answers
213 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.
-2
votes
2answers
39 views
Event: “archived” vs. “filed” vs. “shelved”
I'm coding a database that has an Events table with a status field. When an event's date has not yet passed, the status is Published.
I would like to use a term to mean that the date of the event has ...
0
votes
1answer
218 views
“Man” vs. “guy” vs. “boy”
I am about 19 year old and go to college. Often I have to refer to myself in an introduction. What shall I call myself? 'Man' seems too old, 'boy' seems too young and 'guy' seems too informal. What ...
-3
votes
2answers
96 views
Is it “sneak peek on” or “sneak peek at”?
I would like to post a screenshot of my upcoming app. What is correct to say, "sneak peek on" or "sneak peek at"?
Here is a sneak peek on my app for iPhone.
Here is a sneak peek at my app for ...
0
votes
2answers
94 views
Value interdependency: difference between “ratio”, “proportion”, “rate”, and “relation”
In the context of decision-making, I'm looking for a word that describes the relation of two values: "even if value a increases, value b decreases". For this relation, I have found ratio, proportion, ...
1
vote
2answers
94 views
What term best describes the “mentality” with which an API is designed?
As someone whose mother tongue is not English, I'm sometimes having a hard time having the correct feeling towards the meaning of some words. This is one of those situations.
I'm looking for a term ...
2
votes
2answers
94 views
Is there a single word or a phrase that can be used to denote either Before or After? [duplicate]
I am looking for a word that does not refer to now, but can refer to either before or after. In case of phrases, the lesser the words, the better is.
It is to name a Java class file whose basic task ...
-3
votes
1answer
81 views
“Effective in” or “Effective at” [closed]
Two questions:
Should the following read "most effective at obtaining donations" or "most effective in obtaining donations?"
Is the dash after "future emails" a correct use of the dash or should it ...
0
votes
1answer
83 views
Openings at the shores where rivers enter
What do we call those points on the sea shores where rivers join the sea?
0
votes
1answer
86 views
What's the difference between “active” and “busy”?
What's the difference in meaning between saying "I'm an active person." and "I'm a busy person."?
2
votes
1answer
176 views
How to describe factually correct but irrelevant answers [closed]
When you ask someone a question and they provide a factually correct but irrelevant answer how can you describe that answer with a few choice words indicating your poor opinion of the answer?
I'm ...
-1
votes
1answer
52 views
Is “along” correct in “You were the best along with person X and Y”?
You were the best along with person X and person Y.
When I want to tell someone that he was one of the best in the group of people, but not the only one, can I use the word along? Or is together ...
1
vote
1answer
128 views
Which one is correct — “at the city” or “in the city”?
I want to know the correct preposition to use with the word city in the following context:
He arrived in the city.
He arrived at the city.
So which one will be correct?
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Is 'edit' a correct term for the act of editing? [closed]
Can we refer to the action of editing as to an edit? For example as in this sentence, "I paid a lot to get that edit done, it was a long text". Or "Free photo edits for the first 100 customers".
0
votes
1answer
65 views
“Our editors compete to get your job”
I run a web service where customers submit an image with a description what needs to be edited, and editors compete with prices to get that editing job.
I want to put the following sentence in an ...
0
votes
1answer
170 views
What is difference between “ok” and “alright”?
Difference between "ok" and "alright".
Is the two words have exact same meaning. If so, What will be difference or difference is only reflects according usage in different circumstances.
3
votes
1answer
95 views
Is there an adjective for people who prefer seeing diagrams rather than reading words?
I have a friend who prefer seeing diagrams rather than reading words. Is there an adjective to represent his character?
0
votes
2answers
68 views
Word for Success + Triumph
Are there words that mean succeed and nurture, kind of like triumph and foster together? Looking for something that conveys a winning environment that helps people achieve their goals. Halcyon is the ...
-1
votes
3answers
75 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
votes
2answers
87 views
Is there a difference between subsidy and subvention?
The title says pretty well what I want to know: Is there a difference between subsidy and subvention? If yes, which one? When should I use subsidy and when subvention?
0
votes
3answers
222 views
Russian: nationality and ethnic groups
In Russian language there are 2 different words that are translated into English as "Russian".
The first is nationality. For example (in English), Russian man (even he's Tatar or Chechen, but has ...
-3
votes
1answer
99 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?
-3
votes
3answers
70 views
What's a word meaning somebody who does things that are publicly noticeable? [closed]
I'm trying to come up with a synonym for "outspoken" with a connotation of "makes a scene about something in public", but I can't find it.
2
votes
1answer
258 views
elevation vs altitude
There is a question already dealing with the difference between elevation and altitude:
Which to use: "altitude" or "elevation" in regards to height above sea level?
The ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
Correct use of “proof-of-concept” [closed]
In writing a technical paper, I'm wondering about the correct use of proof-of-concept.
In short, the situation is that we have developed an application/tool to show the feasibility of a new approach ...
-1
votes
1answer
53 views
To extend or to expand the topic? [closed]
To extend the topic.
OR
To expand the topic.
If the rules or things you are talking about can also be applied to other things, which would you say, "by extension" or "by expansion"?
5
votes
4answers
243 views
Indian English use of “only”
I am from Bangalore and people here tend use the word only to emphasise something in a sentence. For example:
We are getting that only printed.
What is the proper way to put it?
1
vote
1answer
93 views
logic and reasoning
My sentence:
Sometimes a question can have multiple answers where all of them share some kind of evidence but none of them can be a [strict — right — 100% sure that it is the answer — what else?] ...
4
votes
1answer
73 views
Why (and for whom) does “unbeknown” become “unbeknownst”
I know there's been an earlier question What is the meaning and usage of the word “beknownst”?. But nothing there satisfies my curiosity about that extra -st at the end.
I might have supposed the ...
0
votes
2answers
97 views
usage of i.e in a sentence [closed]
My professor tells me that the word i.e should be written with a brace and quotations outside it For example: "(i.e)"
is that the correct way?
-2
votes
1answer
36 views
Both the products had potential to succeed globally [closed]
What is the right way to do this sentence?
A and B where unique applications at the time of their launch. Both the products had the potential to succeed globally.
What I'm trying to say is: both ...
0
votes
3answers
136 views
Infinitive vs. Past Simple for short technical annotations [duplicate]
I use source control management software at work. When I commit some changes, I annotate them with the bare infinitive like this:
"add new feature", "fix bug #10012"
I note that some of my ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Is “overly” necessary?
Somehow, overly never struck me as a cromulent word. Over is already an adverb. You can write “This sentence is over-long.” Is there really an advantage to writing “This sentence is overly long”?
...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Is “regardless of whether or not” proper grammar?
I have a sentence like this:
I will go to the store regardless of whether or not it's raining
Meaning that the weather has no bearing on my intent to go to the store. The "regardless of whether ...
0
votes
1answer
429 views
word to make someone feel bad or insulted
I am looking for a word that can correctly interpret a situation like this
You boss constantly insults you, make you feel like you know nothing or if you are some idiot may be, has no empathy for ...
1
vote
2answers
51 views
“Sold” equivalent for something free?
Specifically, how could I say 20 tickets have been "sold" when referring to free tickets?
I've considered given out or given away, but neither implies a person asking for a ticket and being given ...
3
votes
3answers
110 views
Is “great” used by native speakers to describe calamities any more?
I know that "great" used to be used to indicate "very large" for disasters and other calamities, such as the Great Fire of London, the Great Chicago Fire and the Great War. Is it common for native ...
0
votes
4answers
166 views
What might be an appropriate term for a long-term, very serious, girlfriend? [duplicate]
In the USA, where I live, it is becoming increasingly common that men and women are making committed relationship decisions, but choosing to remain unmarried. However, they live together, raise ...
4
votes
2answers
86 views
Indefinite article before symbols
The choice of "a" versus "an" depends on the pronunciation of the following word. Mathematical writing may use symbols as nouns or adjectives, and their pronunciation is not always clear. Here is a ...
0
votes
1answer
108 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?
0
votes
5answers
192 views
What is a word that means “created out of nothing”
I am writing an article and I am having trouble finding a word for "to create out of nothing." The following are slightly different forms to show you the general 'feel' of the word that I am looking ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
Is there a difference between “opt” and “choose”?
Could you give examples where one is better suited than the other one? Or are they completely synonymous?
(I'm not a native speaker.)
Update: I'm writing a piece software documentation and I wonder ...
1
vote
3answers
122 views
Usage of “provided” and “providing”
I'm not sure if I used the word "provided" in a right way in the following example:
In general, this algorithm solves Fibonacci problem with higher scores rather than the original algorithm, ...
2
votes
2answers
188 views
Which one is more correct to say? “Sit” or “Sitting”?
The sit of her dress was perfect.
The sitting of her dress was perfect.
I didn't know that "sit" could be a noun form of the verb "to sit". I've been using "sitting" so far, but I came ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Is “introductive” a word? Or should I use “introductory”?
I was very surprised when open office's spell check underlined the word introductive. I checked a few dictionaries and only a few (including The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University ...
0
votes
2answers
92 views
How to call an item that's neither an accessory nor a piece of jewelry
First let us paint a picture together.
Think of an individual whom wears clothes (like the lot of us); this individual also has an item around the wrist, which is not an item that affixes to another ...
3
votes
4answers
165 views
Is it better to say someone lived “at” or “on” a particular street?
When I was a lowly copyboy for a newspaper in the 1970s, I wrote obituaries. My desk editor came to me with a criticism. I had written that the deceased lived "on Nevada Blvd." She threw my copy ...
