This tag is for questions about choosing the best word for a particular context or meaning.
86
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.
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 ...
81
votes
10answers
6k views
Is there a word for a person with only one head?
Reading this article by the fantastic Douglas Adams I came across this interesting quote:
‘[I]nteractivity’ is one of those neologisms that Mr Humphrys likes to dangle between a pair of verbal ...
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 ...
51
votes
10answers
3k views
What's the difference between the adjectives “strategic” and “tactical”?
I recently read this sentence:
It was a strategic move rather than a tactical one.
I have trouble interpreting it. Can someone help?
51
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the purpose of using the word “automagically” when we already have “automatically”?
Is there a difference between the two? I see it used regularly in the tech community to mean automatically.
Has the word been adopted into any recognised dictionary?
For example:
That was the ...
50
votes
14answers
6k views
“Email” or “e-mail”?
Which way of writing the word: "Email" or "e-mail" is correct? Both variants seem to be in wide use. If both ones are okay, maybe there is a difference in contexts they have been used (one is more ...
50
votes
13answers
6k views
Is there a polite alternative to “No thanks, I'm full”?
English is not my native language, but when I was studying in the US, I was always trying to find an alternative to
I'm full!
I felt that it was a very improper way to express that I have eaten ...
50
votes
4answers
5k views
How did Americans greet each other before “Hi”?
I had assumed that "hi" was a somehow abbreviated form of "hello," but though both of these words appear to have originated from a noise to attract attention, hi actually predates hello. These words ...
49
votes
6answers
2k views
How small does a land-mass have to be before you live “on” it, rather than “in” it?
I'm sure virtually everyone agrees that people live on the Isle of Wight, but in Ireland.
Apparently the usage depends somewhat on physical size, but that can't be the whole story. How exactly do we ...
47
votes
8answers
4k views
Which term correctly identifies those who enjoy programming/technology: “geek” or “nerd”?
Which term correctly identifies those who enjoy and are involved with programming and technology, geek or nerd?
47
votes
16answers
38k 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 ...
46
votes
11answers
4k views
What is the difference between “it's up to you” and “it's down to you”?
I see both "It's up to you" and "It's down to you" in conversations.
So what's the difference?
43
votes
12answers
4k views
What do you call a disk drive that is not solid state?
I tried searching for things like opposite of solid-state, but most of what I've found suggest things like liquid-state. I'm pretty sure a drive that is not solid-state contains no liquid to speak of.
...
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 ...
42
votes
6answers
2k views
“Indexes” or “indices”?
A table can have one index, or it has two or more ind...?
Is it indexes or indices? I'm just asking since I've noticed that they're both used quite often. Even Wikipedia seems to support both ...
40
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," ...
39
votes
9answers
6k views
You quench your thirst. What do you do with your hunger?
What is the equivalent of "quench" when speaking of hunger? Is it appropriate to say you quenched your hunger?
39
votes
6answers
7k views
Which is the correct spelling: “grey” or “gray”?
What is the difference? Or is there any? Which would be more British English?
38
votes
15answers
3k views
Is there a word for a change so small that it doesn’t seem to be a change at all?
Today, I was reading an article on pharmaceutical companies making minute changes to a drug in order to extend the patent. In one instance, the company profiled did not actually change the content of ...
37
votes
5answers
1k views
Flora, fauna, robot
Are there any terms for referring to robot-kind, as flora refers to plants and fauna to animals?
I'm looking for a word that would fit in with flora and fauna, so if it derives from Latin or Roman ...
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?
37
votes
7answers
2k views
Is there a difference between “disc” and “disk” for naming digital storage media?
I thought that a disc was a disc, and it is sometimes spelled disk. I now have got an indication that those two are not the same thing.
In this answer on Graphic DesignBeta, I wrote floppy disc in ...
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 ...
35
votes
4answers
6k views
What is the difference between “illicit” and “illegal”?
What is the difference between "illicit" and "illegal"? Are they just synonymous? Used in different contexts?
34
votes
2answers
1k views
“Effect” vs. “Affect”
I've noticed that some people use effect and affect interchangeably. What are the differences between these two and when are the proper situations to use each of them?
33
votes
8answers
4k views
Can I “wear an umbrella”?
Does it make sense to say the following?
Yesterday I wore an umbrella and a coat.
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?
32
votes
5answers
3k views
Is “the girls are want to gossip” correct?
Is this the correct use and placement of want?
The girls in the office are want to gossip.
Does anyone have a reference citing this use?
32
votes
4answers
9k views
Which is correct, “buck naked” or “butt naked”?
"Butt naked" or "buck naked" both refer to completely naked, or do they? Where the phrase comes from I have no idea but that would be of interest.
This is a phrase I am too afraid to google and ...
31
votes
6answers
9k views
What is the difference between “nevermind” and “never mind”?
I never remember the appropriate use of either of nevermind and never mind. What's the difference and how can I remember?
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 ...
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 ...
29
votes
9answers
5k views
“Trainer” is to “trainee” as “mentor” is to what?
What do you call someone who is being mentored? Is it mentoree or mentee? Does the term student or pupil imply a context outside the business environment?
29
votes
8answers
9k views
“Toilet”, “lavatory” or “loo” for polite society
My friend is trying so hard to fit into polite society, and is raising her child to say loo rather than toilet. I know it should be lavatory (and I would not say lav) but we are in the 21st century ...
28
votes
6answers
1k views
Is there a word for two persons dodging each other on the street?
While walking on a path, sometimes two person try to dodge each other. Like one guy steps left, and at the same time, other guy steps left and then switches direction and so does the other guy. Is ...
27
votes
6answers
2k views
A word that says a person is both female and your friend
It's often confusing for me to talk about my friends, especially my female friends. This is because in Dutch there are words for both male ("vriend") and female ("vriendin") friends. In English ...
27
votes
5answers
25k views
What is the difference between “till” and “until”?
What is the difference between till and until?
When to use till or until? Please explain with examples.
26
votes
15answers
8k views
Collective word for food and drink
Is there a word that best describes food and drink taken at the same time? I've thought of refreshments and consumables but neither seem right to me.
26
votes
6answers
13k views
What is the correct way to use “neither” and “nor” in a sentence together?
Given these facts:
The tool cannot be found in the kitchen.
The tool cannot be found in the bathroom.
Which is the correct sentence to represent the situation above?
I can find the tool ...
25
votes
5answers
1k views
Are 'accuracy' and 'precision' interchangeable nouns?
The dictionary for accuracy says:
The quality or state of being correct or precise.
The ability to perform a task with precision.
And for precision:
The quality, condition, or ...
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?
24
votes
5answers
2k views
Term for a bullet hitting a bystander in a gunfight
What is the term for a bullet hitting a bystander in a gunfight?
When it misses the intended target and hits a bystander.
23
votes
14answers
6k views
What is a word/idiom for 'unable to decide'?
Let's say I have an important decision to make and I can't decide between two competing things (like break up with a girl or not break up with her). What would be a word/idiom to express that?
23
votes
2answers
60k views
23
votes
7answers
21k views
“Lunch” vs. “dinner” vs. “supper” — times and meanings?
I've seen cases where a noon-time meal is referred to as dinner, and the evening meal is called supper. There's also lunch around noon followed by dinner in the evening. Is there a particular ...
23
votes
4answers
1k views
“Bad with something” or “bad at something”?
In a question on Spanish.StackExchange, a question came up about expressing that you are bad at remembering or doing something. Is one "bad at something" or "bad with something" (nouns)? What about ...
23
votes
3answers
2k views
Is two-thirds plural?
Is 2/3 always, sometimes or never plural?
E.g.
1a) 2/3 of the pizza were eaten.
1b) 2/3 of the pizza was eaten.
2a) 2/3 of the visitors were men.
2b) 2/3 of the visitors was men.
I ...
23
votes
3answers
3k views
When are “because”, “since”,“for” and “as” interchangeable?
I am not a native speaker. On a previous question of mine, I thanked for an answer by saying:
So the phrase is not an idiom, since it is applied in its literal sense.
I consciously chose since ...
22
votes
9answers
10k views
What is the difference between “complicated” and “complex”?
I can't understand: what's the difference between complicated and complex?
They seem to be used interchangeably. Are they actually different at all?
