This tag is for questions about choosing the best word for a particular context or meaning.
2
votes
2answers
499 views
Use of “is” vs. “are” when both singular and plural countable nouns follow
This is a question I've been wondering about for some time, and I finally came across an example today that I can quote. Consider this sentence (from):
No longer is the main primary exchanges the ...
0
votes
2answers
82 views
Why does “for” sound more appropriate than “during” in “I couldn't do anything for the rest of the day”?
I couldn't do anything for/during the rest of the day.
I know that for sounds correct, perhaps because "the rest of the day" is a finite chunk of time like "one hour" or "one week".
However, I ...
1
vote
3answers
89 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
28 views
Meaning of “How'd you know?”: “would”, “did”, or “do”?
Does the question "How'd you know" mean:
How do you know?
or
How did you know?
or
How would you?
4
votes
8answers
2k views
Which is correct: “soda” or “pop”?
Depending on where you go in the world, some people will refer to a carbonated beverage as "soda" while others choose to use the term "pop." For example, "Can I get you a soda" vs. "Can I get you a ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Would like a specific word that describes a feeling or thought
I have a friend, whom I have not seen for some time. We E-Mail quite often, I share a lot of funny stuff which cracks him up.
Here is the problem, this is strictly platonic however we want to see ...
-1
votes
1answer
27 views
What word/title should I use in an email asking for updates
I would like to contact my recruiter (via email) asking for updates on my application.
What should I put in the title so it is informative, but also at the same time does not sound like I am too ...
0
votes
2answers
34 views
Which one of these words is more suitable for “having” or “accomplishing”?
I want to express the achievement of a goal such as "Buying a car", or "Learning a Skill".
Can I say:
"I obtained a new car."
or
"I obtained piano playing skill."
Is there a word better than ...
5
votes
7answers
3k views
What is the difference between “probably” and “possibly”?
Recently I saw the movie "Pursuit of Happyness", which is actually quite good, and I noticed the actor (Will Smith) asking the difference between probably and possibly to his son. So I would like to ...
0
votes
1answer
265 views
“give me five” and “slap me five”, any difference?
What's the meaning of "slap me five"? Any difference between "slap me five" and "give me five"?
There is a book called Slap Me Five.
0
votes
0answers
45 views
I am looking for a word that is the same as aspiration but it's done
For example if you wish to do or have something, you can use aspiration. What word is the best to use for things that you have and done already ? For example I was thinking about accomplishment but it ...
8
votes
4answers
20k views
“Paid” vs “payed”
I think I have always used these two words interchangeably without noticing until my professor was saying how some students misspelled the word and he was amazed.
Can someone tell me when I should ...
-1
votes
2answers
47 views
from and by differences [closed]
I have some questions.
"I'm tired from the hard work".
The function of this "from" is kind of reason, right?
What's the differences between from and by.
by is also changeable in this above sentence?
...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Is it ok if I start an opinion composition with the word 'Indeed'?
I was just wondering, is it's OK to begin an opinion composition with the word 'Indeed' in the first sentence? For example: Indeed I believe people's consumerism is one of the main causes for our ...
0
votes
4answers
10k views
What's the difference between “You have my word” and “I promise”?
What's the difference between you have my word and I promise?
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Is the verb “redouble” just a redundant way to say “double”?
A colleague and I were reading a corporate memo that contained the phrase 'redouble our efforts'. His claim was that the word redouble was equivalent to double and simply nonstandard. (Similar to, ...
13
votes
6answers
4k views
What is the difference between illegal and unlawful?
I often hear an unlawful act, so what is an illegal act?
-1
votes
0answers
29 views
“Across the top” vs. “on the top” [closed]
Which one of the following sentences is correct?
Command buttons across the top of the screen are common to all screens.
Command buttons on the top of the screen are common in all screens.
...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Hypernym for injured and dead
I'm working on some project that deals with natural disasters. I need to find the most proper word that can be used to refer to someone who either was injured or died in a disaster.
Can I use ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
Is it correct to say “I would like to inquire about something?”
When I make a call to get some information regarding a matter, I generally start the conversation with "Hello, I would like to inquire about something."
Is this a correct usage? If not, what would be ...
6
votes
9answers
2k views
A Word that means “to adapt or improve, to conform to a higher standard”?
I need to find or invent a word that suggests a system might be "adapted or improved to conform to a higher standard". A verb, noun, adjective or even adverb would be acceptable, but so far I haven't ...
3
votes
5answers
4k views
“Complement” or “supplement”?
On a site similar to this one I answered a question and the OP made a comment which prompted me to complete my answer in an edit. I called it "an example" but I originally wanted to call it ...
8
votes
5answers
6k views
“Chair” or “chairman?”
Is it right to use chair, but not chairman in this example?
He served as the Department Chair from 1995 to 1999.
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Term for “utilize for commercialization”
I'm making a résumé right now and I need a term for "utilize for commercialization" as in:
I have learned how to [use for commercialization] the concepts learned in school.
Or something like ...
2
votes
4answers
8k views
“Fine with/by/to you/that”
Are there any differences when asking the following?
Would that be fine with you?
Would that be fine by you?
Would that be fine to you?
What if we switch you and that around? Do they still make ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
“A snap on the back” vs. “a snap at the back”
I have the hat which has a snap on/at the back of the hat.
Which preposition to use here?
This is the sort of thing the sentence refers to:
15
votes
6answers
13k views
Is “substract” (versus “subtract”) a proper word?
I read an article recently where the author used "substract" instead of "subtract". I'm more familiar with the latter word but after doing a bit of googling, it seems that both words are being used, ...
-1
votes
1answer
32 views
who or whom in this context? [duplicate]
I am unsure which is the grammatically correct one in the following context:
...trying to find a programmer with who / whom I could collaborate.
Which one is the correct usage?
10
votes
13answers
4k views
How to describe someone who speaks a language “as if it is his mother tongue” in a CV?
Let's say English is not my mother tongue, but I claim in my CV that my English level is "as if" it was my mother tongue?
Is natively the word for that?
As in:
Languages:
Hebrew: ...
2
votes
4answers
190 views
“In a while” vs. “for a while”
I recently got a message that says
Haven't heard anything from you in a while.
I always thought that the right way to say this would be to use for insdead of in. Are both versions correct? ...
5
votes
2answers
3k views
5
votes
8answers
2k views
“Does it make sense?” or “Do you understand me?”?
Suppose I tell something to my companion and I want to make sure he understands me. I thought I may simply ask "Do you understand me?". But recently I heard that in such cases I should ask "Does it ...
-1
votes
2answers
33 views
Correct usage of commitment [closed]
What is correct?
The recorder must serve a minimum of two-year commitment. OR the recorder must serve a minimum of two years.
13
votes
10answers
6k views
Is it offensive to call a redhead a “ginger”?
So I just re-watched this great comedy by Tim Minchin, and here are the questions:
How bad/offensive is the g-word
really (other than being an anagram of the n-word)?
What are alternatives? Is ...
0
votes
2answers
64 views
What term sums up the following situation?
What term sums up the situation in which a person does not feel (s)he has to weigh into (or put much effort) into an argument because the implications will not affect them?
Thus, person X debates for ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
Use of majority to refer to quantity
Is it correct to use 'majority' to refer to quantity? For example: More than half the garbage in our city is recycled . The majority of garbage is recycled.
If this is incorrect, why?
0
votes
2answers
59 views
“Committed to supporting X” vs. “committed to support X”
I'm trying to edit a speech and found a commonly used phase which I'm not sure if I should amend it or not. The sentence goes like this:
[a subject] is committed to supporting [a project].
...
1
vote
2answers
67 views
“Approach mathematics like/as a creative activity”
Given the sentence:
Teachers in this country have generally been trained either to approach mathematics like/as a creative activity or that they should force students to memorize rules and ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
“Answer to the question” vs. “answer for the question” vs. “answer of the question”
The answer to the question.
The answer for the question.
The answer of the question.
Which is grammatical? What are the differences? And what is the preferred usage?
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Is there any other word meaning “prick” with initial onsets “pr-” except prick?
This is my edited question:
I look up in the etymological dictionay about prick, and find that prick is not a word derived from Proto-indo-european etymon.
Meanwhile, I find a lot of words meaning ...
-2
votes
0answers
56 views
How to describe the closest enclosing element? [closed]
Say
<hello name="hello1">
<hello name="hello2">
<myTag/>
</hello>
</hello>
I wish to say the hello element (which is the hello with name "hello2") that is closest to ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
“To go so far as to” — suitable for academic writing?
Is using the phrase "to go so far as to" in an academic context (e.g. in an article in humanities journal) acceptable?
New Example:
I do not know why Mister X went so far as to assert that Mister ...
-2
votes
0answers
30 views
“Develop a process for” vs. “develop a process on”
Which one is grammatical?
Develop a process on handling incoming material...
Develop a process for handling incoming material...
1
vote
2answers
55 views
Meaning of the word “findings”? [closed]
I need to find a word to define the products you see in the capture.
The best match I've found is findings.
Is this word the correct one? Is there a better word for these products?
-1
votes
1answer
57 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
176 views
A noun to describe character sequences between words
I'm creating a formal system in which a sentence can be formed by four types of sequences of characters:
Words
Prefixes
Suffixes
Sequences in between words
What noun would you use to describe a ...
-1
votes
3answers
113 views
Which word (adjective or noun) best describes the idea of doing something anywhere, anytime and with anyone?
The ideal word, which can be either an adjective or a noun, should describe (or at least allude to) the idea that doing something anywhere and anytime with anyone, or that something is done anywhere, ...
5
votes
1answer
140 views
Is the phrase, “a bloody altercation” an accurate way to describe the Officer’s killing at the MIT campus?
I was caught up with the word, “the bloody altercation” in the following statement of New York Times (April 25) article titled “Officer’s killing spurred pursuit in Boston attack.”
...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
'I am nice, thank you'? [closed]
I would like to know whether, if someone asks me "How are you?" and I reply "I'm nice, thank you", is the word 'nice' grammatically correct?
0
votes
1answer
79 views
What is the term for a photo used to advertise a business such as a firm?
I'm looking for the word that describes the portrait style photos used to advertise yourself to the world. You often see these in the context of a law firm or theater artist profile. Would profile ...
