This tag is for questions about choosing the best word for a particular context or meaning.
41
votes
9answers
5k views
When should I use “a” vs “an”?
In the following example, is it appropriate to use a or an as the indefinite article, and why?
He ate [insert here] green apple.
I know that in the case of just "apple", it would be "an apple," ...
88
votes
15answers
6k views
Is there a correct gender-neutral, singular pronoun (“his” versus “her” versus “their”)?
Is there a pronoun I can use as a gender-neutral pronoun?
Each student should save his questions until the end.
Each student should save her questions until the end.
37
votes
7answers
13k views
“If I was” or “If I were”. Which is more common, and which is correct?
My question of whether to use if I was or if I were. Which one is incorrect or nonstandard?
10
votes
4answers
558 views
“User accounts” or “users account”
Is it correct to say user accounts or users account when referring to the accounts any user has on a site like this one?
In general, in the case of a noun that is used as adjective for the noun that ...
15
votes
6answers
6k views
“Who wants ice-cream?” — Should I say “(not) I” or “(not) me”?
With the enthusiastic question of "Who wants ice-cream?", what is the more correct response?
(Not) I.
(Not) me.
Neither response is a sentence. The first response of "(not) I" sounds ...
30
votes
14answers
4k views
I can run faster than _____. (1) him (2) he?
Consider the sentence "I can run faster than 15 miles per hour." Its meaning is clear and to my eyes obviously grammatically correct. Now let me present some variations that have given me trouble for ...
25
votes
3answers
12k views
When should “into” be used rather than “in to,” and vice versa?
"Into" (one word) and "in to" (two words) are frequently confused. In what situations should the former be used? The latter?
42
votes
12answers
5k views
“Less” vs. “fewer”
I've just received a memo which says (effectively)
As more people leave, there will be less people available.
I want that word to be fewer. Are there guidelines for which word ought to be used ...
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?
6
votes
3answers
6k views
How to use “who” vs. “that”
I often get confused when trying to use who vs that.
Some examples that often confuse me:
That
The person that went to the store.
The people that went shopping.
The persons that went ...
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 ...
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, ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Using “that” and “this” interchangeably
Learning and using English I'm always confused about what word to use for referring to things that have been described by me a few sentences earlier: "that" or "this".
Confusion comes from the fact ...
36
votes
5answers
2k views
Is “data” considered singular or plural?
Related to this question and this question.
My non-native English speaking friend just asked me:
Data is ...
or
Data are ...
I said both but that's because I've been desensitized from ...
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 ...
15
votes
4answers
1k views
When are “if” and “whether” equivalent?
Are if and whether equivalent in sentences like the ones below?
How to determine if my saddle is too high?
How to determine whether my saddle is too high?
We should check if everything ...
18
votes
3answers
45k 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 ...
84
votes
19answers
8k views
What is a feminine version of 'guys'?
I commonly use the word 'guys' to refer to a group of males colloquially. It's colloquial but not rude, off putting, condescending, patronizing (though I wouldn't use it with a group of men at a board ...
30
votes
3answers
2k views
Alternatives to “and/or”?
As a programmer, I have no problem with seeing or using "and/or" in technical documentation. For example,
I can upvote an answer that satisfies me and/or mark it as accepted.
That's perfectly ...
6
votes
5answers
18k views
“Can/may/will you help me with this?”
Which word to use when we ask for help?
Some conditions:
We know that the person asked is able to do it.
We don't know if the person asked is able to do it.
13
votes
4answers
10k views
Difference between “I have got” and “I have gotten”
I see these two expressions are used almost identically in different contexts. Is there a difference between I have got and I have gotten?
15
votes
3answers
2k views
Person, Persons, People, Peoples
Can you please clarify the relation and differences between these nouns?
For example, is it proper to use "persons" instead of "people"? Are they the same? As I believe that "people" is plural, how ...
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 ...
16
votes
4answers
2k views
Types of things vs. types of thing
When speaking precisely or technically, one would say that "Homo erectus and homo sapiens are two species of hominid" rather than "Homo erectus and homo sapiens are two species of hominids." The ...
15
votes
1answer
3k views
Words pertaining to the senses and the corresponding disabilities
I need help on finding words relating to the senses/perception. I mean this in a neuronic/biological or philosophy-of-mind kind of way.
A word for...
pertaining to the senses (Is it sensory?)
...
6
votes
2answers
211 views
“Nikki's and Alice's X” vs. “Nikki and Alice's X”
Which option is grammatical?
There will be readings from Nikki Giovanni’s and Alice Walker’s writings.
There will be readings from Nikki Giovanni and Alice Walker's writings.
Saying it ...
33
votes
9answers
4k views
When should I use “shall” versus “will”?
Which is the correct use of these two words, and in which context should one be used rather than the other?
11
votes
6answers
7k views
Difference between “commentor” and “commentator”
What is the difference between commentor and commentator? Is commentor or commenter a legitimate English word?
11
votes
5answers
12k views
What is the difference between “nothing but”, “anything but”, and “everything but”?
What is the difference between these phrases? When is it valid to use which? Should they be avoided as being ambiguous?
4
votes
4answers
2k views
Which one is more correct: “works at a university” or “works in a university”?
My relative is a fairly big academic and works at a university.
Is this correct? or should I have used in instead?
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" ...
1
vote
0answers
564 views
Other ways of saying whichs [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
'Which', 'whose' or something else?
Of course there isn't a word whichs (as far as I know), but I am talking about the possessive form of which.
...
0
votes
0answers
647 views
“A user” or “an user”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Use of “a” versus “an”
“A” becomes “an” before a word beginning with a vowel, does this apply to “u”?
Is it “a ...
64
votes
8answers
4k views
Which is correct: “__ is different from __” or “__ is different than __”?
As someone who learned English later on in life, I was taught that different from is the correct grammar to use: this is different from that. However, it seems these days everyone uses different than ...
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 ...
22
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.
16
votes
5answers
2k views
“A few” vs. “few”
I have few friends.
I have a few friends.
I thought "few" means just one, two or even none. "A few" typically means more than two. However it seems to me some people say "few" when they ...
20
votes
10answers
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 ...
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.
10
votes
5answers
2k views
“In the Internet” vs. “on the Internet”
When should I use "in the Internet" and when "on the Internet"?
3
votes
2answers
732 views
What is the difference in meaning between “I play” and “I do play”?
What is the difference between I play and I do play?
For example:
If someone were to ask to me, do you play soccer?
1
vote
4answers
485 views
“There is no rule” vs. “there isn't rule”
What are the differences between the two sentences below:
There is no rule.
There isn't rule.
13
votes
7answers
1k views
What is the name of the first decade in a century?
80s the "Eighties"
90s the "Nineties"
00s the ???
For that matter, what is the second decade called? The "tens" just doesn't sound right.
0
votes
3answers
387 views
John, Valencia, and I (or me)? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
Should I Put Myself Last (“me and you” vs “you and me”)?
When do I use “I” instead of “me?”
Who wants ice-cream?
...
47
votes
16answers
39k views
How do native English speakers respond to “Thank you”?
In my school and university I was taught to say "Not at all" or "Don't mention it" in response to "Thank you!". Now I rarely hear these phrases used, but rather something like "You're welcome", "It's ...
16
votes
3answers
9k views
16
votes
6answers
9k views
Which is correct: “prefer X to Y” or “prefer X over Y”?
Many say that "prefer X to Y" has a more formal ring to it than "prefer X over Y". Are there any dialects where you wouldn't use "prefer X to Y" in colloquial speech at all? Conversely, are there any ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it absolutely necessary to use “than” over “then” in a comparison?
Do you think you are smarter then me?
While this question should be using than...I have to wonder if this is a debatable topic within English or is this cut and dry? If this specific instance is ...
3
votes
3answers
258 views
What are the guidelines for usage of “will” and “is/are going to”?
I use them interchangeably, however I'd like to know when one is better or more appropriate than the other.
2
votes
2answers
373 views
Does “the same number of people” behave as singular or plural?
This hurts my eyes to read it and my ears to say it, but the writer stands by item #43
About the same number of people was awarded bachelor's degrees in 2010 as filed for personal bankruptcy ...
