This tag is for questions about choosing the best word for a particular context or meaning.
5
votes
4answers
249 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
74 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
98 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
144 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
459 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
169 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
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?
0
votes
5answers
202 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
95 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
130 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
94 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
166 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
71 views
“Until you apologised” vs. “until you have apologised” vs. “until you apologise”
What is the most correct way of saying to someone that I won't speak to him before he has apologised.
I won't speak to you until you have apologised for what you have done.
I won't speak to ...
0
votes
4answers
245 views
what's the difference between “apparent”, “evident” and “obvious”?
I believe they are all the same, but is there any case in which not all of them are correct?
Here are the examples, from an English textbook:
1. It is (quite) __ that he took the wrong path.
...
-1
votes
2answers
128 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 ...
3
votes
5answers
156 views
Short expression for “If you are not 100% convinced yet, this last thing will seal the deal”
I'm writing a LinkedIn recommendation for a colleague of mine. I praised his abilities far and wide; now I would like to throw in one last (ironic and informal) punch line to top it all off.
Here is ...
-1
votes
1answer
108 views
A word to describe thing or activity that is usually happens with other people [closed]
For example:
The movie contains violent scenes, (that usually can be seen in) the Tarantino movies.
He barely know us, but gave us a warm welcome, (that's usually given by) close friends.
What ...
1
vote
2answers
187 views
A word to describe something that has a clear-cut purpose and consequently works out of the box
I'm looking for a word that would convey the idea of something that adresses a definite problem set and consequently lets you do so without much effort.
Here's an example:
Hammers are designed to ...
4
votes
5answers
268 views
A word to describe “work that is ready to be done”
I'm writing an application that generates a spec sheet for a publication. At the top there will be a list of the various components (ads, articles, etc.) and how many there are for each status type:
...
2
votes
2answers
110 views
“Crisis”, “drama” and similar words in the news
Today I read the economist headline:
On to the next crisis.
Automatic spending cuts took effect on March 1st; more drama is to come
I startled at the word ‘drama’. It would be regarded as ...
0
votes
4answers
109 views
How would you describe an operator which has no fixity? [closed]
Traditionally mathematical operators are either prefix, postfix or infix. All the three forms of notation are equivalent and can be converted from one to another.
Formal systems such as programming ...
3
votes
3answers
183 views
What's the opposite of Proof of Concept?
From an Information Technology perspective, what's the opposite of Proof of Concept?
I need to ask my client if they want us to build them a Proof-of-concept (app in its basic form) or a full-fledged ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Adjective antonym of “discriminate”
In biology, hierarchical clustering is used to separate studied samples into different groups, thus if successful, the clustering criteria can be seen to "discriminate" between group A vs. B.
I am ...
-2
votes
1answer
79 views
What is correct: “both sides of you” or “both sides of yours”?
Which is right?
both sides of you
both sides of yours
Example:
I know both sides of you(rs) and they make you the girl I love.
-1
votes
2answers
46 views
“Multiple” vs. “additional”
When you are adding or inserting additional people to a list, what is the correct word to use, multiple or additional? Example:
Multiple escorts can be added using the Add New Escort tab.
...
8
votes
8answers
1k views
What do you call a person who has never done anything wrong in their life?
What do you call a person who always speaks the truth, never does anything wrong, and treats everyone fairly?
I am looking for a word or name of a popular person who was famous for having similar ...
2
votes
4answers
114 views
“Put/value above” vs. “put/value over”
The company puts profits above/over safety.
The company values profits above/over safety.
Is it above or over?
0
votes
2answers
69 views
Difference between “value” and “valorize”?
Beyond the definitions of both words, I can't find which is best in which context.
If I mean giving impontance to something, which one should I use?
If I mean giving more value ($) to something, ...
1
vote
7answers
227 views
single word that means which can be constructed at home
What is the word that means “that which can be fixed up at home”?
For example, I buy parts from a store, bring the parts home, and then can construct the thing out of those parts by myself. What is ...
-2
votes
1answer
52 views
“Enrich” vs. “enriches”
Which is correct?
The profoundness of experiences, such and more, enriches / enrich me till date.
0
votes
1answer
206 views
The opposite of Archive
A colleague and I are writing some software and we're looking for some advice on the usage of the word "Archive". Currently, we're using archive as a marker to state that the entry in our database has ...
0
votes
3answers
143 views
Usage of “Which” and “What” [duplicate]
Which is your most favourite subject in school ?
What is your most favourite subject in school ?
Which one is acceptable? If both are acceptable, do they have any difference in meaning?
2
votes
1answer
78 views
Is there a word for motion that a bull makes when it kicks back with his legs before charging?
Is there a word for motion that a bull makes when it kicks back with his legs before charging?
Kind of like at 22s in the following video
http://youtu.be/pjM_67aOT3Y?t=22s
Even if it's not an ...
2
votes
1answer
304 views
Could I address someone by first name in business emails if he/she addresses me by first name?
I am really not sure about when it is appropriate to use someone's first name in business emails. If someone addresses me by my first name, but signs his email officially — full name, plus title, ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
What is the most common name for the floor above the ground floor in Canada?
I think the floor above the ground floor, in public buildings, is either called 2nd floor (in which case the ground floor is the first) or 1st floor. This is quite confusing since you need to know the ...
-1
votes
4answers
117 views
What is one word for - endlessly spread in all directions?
What is one word for - endlessly spread in all directions? It may be in context of a forest.
2
votes
5answers
98 views
What do we call one step in a resolution?
Lets say, I have taken a resolution. And there are 5 steps in the process of accomplishing the resolution. Is there a word for each of those steps? A word other than "baby-step", "target", ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Which pronoun should be used to refer back to actions?
Which word is better suited to reference an action? For example,
Setting appearance of each report component is too long process. It’s
easier to use styles for it.
or
Setting appearance of ...
2
votes
2answers
152 views
Referring to people from different parts of United Kingdom
I see four people in front of me. One is from Wales, one is from Scotland, one is from England and one is from Northern Ireland. I can say about each one "He is Scottish/Welsh/English". But, how do I ...
13
votes
7answers
1k views
What do you call an indoor water tap?
I always thought water sources were called taps in kitchens, bathrooms etc, but a Google search only returned outdoor taps.
So my question is, what are indoor taps really called? Like this one: ...
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.
