This tag is for questions about correctly using a word.
-1
votes
3answers
48 views
Does “an accordingly big army” sound awkward?
Is it just me or does this sound weird?
To protect such a big empire with wide borders, an accordingly big army is required
When I wrote it initially it seemed a bit off, but I read it again ...
3
votes
2answers
47 views
The proper usage of “putative”?
I'm trying to write the sentence,
Lower-grade soldiers made up two-thirds of the putative high quality army.
My original sentence was:
Lower-grade soldiers made up two-thirds of what was ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Would you say “wanna” when you want something? [closed]
Would you say "wanna" when you want something? For example, "I wanna a new PC", instead of "I want a new PC"?
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Usage and spelling of “wordlength” and “bitbreadth”
As far as I know, these are the meanings:
wordlength — for instance, 4 bytes when the bitbreadth is 32 and 8 bytes when the bitbreadth is 64.
bitbreadth — for example, 32 or 64 or 4 bits for a ...
-1
votes
1answer
30 views
What word/title should I use in an email asking for updates [closed]
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 ...
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
77 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Difference between: Also, too and as well [duplicate]
I understand that the correct usage of also is with a verb:
She was smart, she also studied so much.
However, my trouble is with too and as well, I have been reading and I just found that as ...
1
vote
1answer
118 views
“Oblong to Allantoid” — is it valid? [closed]
I read in a paper:
One such genus is Dinemasporium which ... characterised by superficial, cupulate to discoid conidiomata with brown setae, and phialidic conidiogenous cells that give rise to ...
-3
votes
0answers
51 views
Serving for a Term [closed]
Which one is better or is there a better way to write the following sentences?
Member must serve a minimum of two-year term.
Member must serve for a minimum of two years.
1
vote
2answers
65 views
Usage of “voted in”
Is it correct to write voted in in the following sentences?
Members may vote in a new leader.
Board members will be nominated and voted in by the team.
4
votes
2answers
214 views
Does one eat soup or drink soup? [closed]
What is the correct verb associated with the consumption of soup?
I've come across both the version.
-3
votes
0answers
55 views
The use of inappropriate language [closed]
I was wondering why are people tending to be using street coded language, rather than using good English language?
-2
votes
3answers
46 views
Does one say “conciliate with death” or “conciliate death”?
I am trying to say that he came to terms with death but in a more formal way. How can I put it? Is conciliate the right word to use?
-1
votes
0answers
33 views
standard vs. criterion [closed]
What's the difference between the two words?
Can I use "criterion" in the following sentence?
That company sets the standard in this profession.
1
vote
2answers
58 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?
-2
votes
2answers
67 views
How do I use “Baby Steps” in a sentence [closed]
I want to convey that I am putting myself to something new to achieve a dream/goal. Hence I thought of using the phrase "baby steps" in a sentence as follows: "As I am laying my Baby Steps towards ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Phrase for “suddenly wake up of a dream”
What is a natural thing to say when you suddenly wake up of a dream?
The impression I have in mind is of something like burst/tear apart or escape from the dream scene by waking up.
2
votes
1answer
128 views
Usage of “accrue” in “it accrued to me to gently ask” [closed]
A newage hippie Facebook friend just sent me this. I was just wondering if it was syntactically correct,
It accrued to me to gently ask if you could consider extending the same respect, you would ...
-1
votes
1answer
124 views
Correct use of “happen”
A friend of mine told me that the following sentence is incorrect (copied from an exercise)
Do all sentences tell us what the speaker would like to happen?
He claims that it should read:
Do ...
1
vote
1answer
96 views
“My late friends” — they're not dead!
Context: We're discussing about how we used to get penalized in school for being late to classes, many years ago.
I wanted to say:
In my old school, it was hilarious to see my late friends get
...
-1
votes
0answers
47 views
Is it correct to say “take a longer break” [closed]
I played badminton with my friends and I was taking a break. My friends just finished a game. Is it correct to say: "You keep playing. I will take a longer break."
0
votes
2answers
87 views
Can we say “probable” where we have to say “possible”?
Can we say probable where we have to say possible?
What is the exact meaning of that? I have searched this, but I didn't get the perfect example of that.
2
votes
2answers
127 views
How to say hello to a group of people?
When entering a place or meet a group of people or starting a speech, how do you say hello to the audience (from a few to thousands of people). I know that this depends on the situation. I think it is ...
-2
votes
1answer
45 views
Is the use of “ignorantly” correct in the context? [closed]
Person A ask a question person B.
B answers something.
A argues with B.
B ignorantly says (thinking its no issue arguing person like A) hm, people like you won't understand.
Is ignorantly ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
“puzzled why” vs “puzzled as to why”
Is "puzzled why" correct as well? Is it just a choice of style? Or is there a difference in meaning? And if so, I'm curious (as to) what that difference is.
-1
votes
2answers
77 views
Is it correct to say: please refer to my resume? [closed]
In my cover letters, I give a summary of my resume. Then, I want to say that if you need more info about my resume, please refer to my resume.
I feel that this is not the correct usage. If that is ...
0
votes
3answers
84 views
Understanding “as of”, “as at”, and “as from”
I'd appreciate your assistance in helping me particularly understand how to use the phrase "as of" properly.
What is the proper interpretation of the following sentence?
"I need you to get me all ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Someone vs Somebody [duplicate]
Can anyone please explain the difference between "someone" and "somebody"? Or they are same?
-1
votes
2answers
293 views
Why are animal names used as vulgar slang for body parts?
Asking this question in strict propriety out of genuine curiosity, why is that in (American) English animal-related names are used for vulgar names for the private body parts? In fact, all of the ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Proper usage of are or is in this case? [closed]
Which is the proper usage of are or is in this case?
The implications that this experiment has are astronomical!
vs
The implications that this experiment has is astronomical!
0
votes
2answers
41 views
How frequent is the use of 'Appropriation' in American English compared with British English?
How frequently is the word 'Appropriation' used in American English? In what contexts might young people commonly hear it?
-2
votes
1answer
74 views
Is “should've” a word? [closed]
I've used the word many times but different sources say different things. Is it recognized as a word in the British standard?
1
vote
2answers
106 views
Did I use “albeit” correctly in this sentence?
Did I use "albeit" correctly in this sentence?
Here is the essay (which is word-for-word, albeit some segments I took out).
2
votes
2answers
160 views
Which word is technically correct in English: debrick or unbrick?
With certain electronic devices if you make a mistake you can brick (used as a verb) the device, so it ends up in a defunct state. So the device ends up being bricked.
What is the correct term to ...
2
votes
3answers
119 views
To give someone the 411
"To give someone the 411" is short for information but is this phrase common in the US and/or in Britain and is it still up to date or outdated?
-4
votes
1answer
54 views
Do I use a comma before “that” or “which” here?
Let's say I'm describing what some person is currently doing, and I say:
He is reading articles which he is summarizing in his blog.
Is this sentence (and specifically, this usage of "which") ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Usage of the word “implies” when sure of a result
If I have a proven without a doubt that drinking cyanide means certain death, is it correct to write the following?
The result of the study implies that drinking cyanide leads to certain death.
1
vote
1answer
104 views
How should I use the phrasal verb “to d**k around”?
To waste time
Stop dicking me around and get to the point.
Would you please stop dicking around with her?
To take advantage of
You're dicking him around, you know?
Don't ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Is it incorrect to refer to a set of things by using the singular form of the objects it contains? [duplicate]
I'm sorry I couldn't word that better, the following example will hopefully clarify:
As you can see, the teacher refered to the bank of words as "word bank", as opposed to "words bank". Which one ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Objectivity vs. Objectivism vs. Objectiveness [closed]
What are some clear-cut distinctions between objectivity, objectivism, and objectiveness?
1
vote
1answer
29 views
“Curious X”: X is the subject or an object
When 'curious' is used as an adjective (e.g., in the construction "A is a curious B"), there is ambiguity as to whether the noun it modifies is:-
The subject: A feels curious (e.g., "Humans are a ...
3
votes
2answers
150 views
Word for 45° rotated
We are writing a mathematical article. We are describing objects (unit squares) rotated only 0° and 45°.
For easier use we call 0° rotated "axial".
What should we call 45° rotated? Using just ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Is “to circuit” a common verb in colloquial language?
My boss asked me to have a look at a presentation he'll be giving next week; checking if he didn't forget anything.
While skimming over the document, the following sentence was somehow bothering me:
...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Word meaning relating to or involving humans or people
I need a word to fill the blank in this sentence: "The hurricane was one of the most blank-deadly events in history."
The human death count was recorded, but not the death count not for other ...
1
vote
5answers
99 views
“stop to do something” vs. “continue to do something”
A transcript of a recent speech by Barack Obama contains the following sentence:
Boston police, firefighters, and first responders as well as the National Guard responded heroically, and continue ...
-2
votes
3answers
141 views
Can “predeceased” be used before any event?
When a person dies, it is common to say the person was predeceased by other people such as his parents, his brother, and others.
However, I am wondering if these statements are correct:
His ...
3
votes
2answers
80 views
Is code written by a programmer “handcrafted”?
The immediate definition of "handcrafted" that I found was: "Make skillfully by hand.".
In the same way a woodsman would craft a wooden toy with tools, a programmer using tools such as a computer and ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Could “Instead,” be used as the first word of a sentence without any following “of”?
Would the following sentence be correct? If not, I am looking for an adverb to express the meaning of “instead”.
Our team could have won the match if our coach had interchanged the goal keeper ...
-5
votes
1answer
121 views
Why is the noun 'sex' uncountable? [closed]
According to the definition of the noun 'sex' in dictionaries, it means 'the PHYSICAL ACTIVITY that two people do together in order to produce babies or for pleasure.' If so, why isn't it countable?
...
