This tag is for questions about correctly using a word.
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Would you say “wanna” when you want something?
Would you say "wanna" when you want something? For example, "I wanna a new PC", instead of "I want a new PC"?
1
vote
2answers
48 views
“It was still bright/ light outside.” Is one of these incorrect?
If I want to say it's still somewhat early in the evening and it's not so dark outside so that you can still see things quite clearly almost like during daytime, which of the following sentences would ...
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
28 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
what's the difference between Transfer, Transport and Transmission as the noun
Here are some examples
FTP is short for File Transfer Protocol, while TCP is short for Transmission Control Protocol, the layer in which TCP resides is called Transport Layer. What's the difference of ...
1
vote
1answer
114 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
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
66 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
9k views
“Consist in” vs. “consist of”
I would like to have this clear once and for all:
What is the correct use of consist in / consist of?
"Meditation consists in/of attentive watchfulness."
"The body consists in/of cells."
...
3
votes
3answers
158 views
Can one use “hopefully” in an absolute sense?
Bill Bryson, author of the recent best-seller "A Short History of Nearly Everything", in one of his books says:
We must never use hopefully in an absolute sense, such as "Hopefully it will not ...
2
votes
1answer
104 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
2answers
64 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
210 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.
9
votes
3answers
828 views
Why is a “fountain pen” so called?
I was accused of using a fountain pen the other day (guilty as charged). Does anyone know why it is called so? The mess of ink I get on the page, the table, my person, etc when refilling it is ...
-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?
-3
votes
0answers
52 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?
-1
votes
0answers
31 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
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?
-2
votes
1answer
89 views
If I am saying “Someone and Myself's (possession)”, what would the correct usage in this phrase be? [duplicate]
I was just wondering how to properly use the phrase, I am trying to talk about something that belongs to both my friend and myself so how would I say that? My friend and myself's? or a different way?
0
votes
1answer
93 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.
3
votes
2answers
189 views
Correct usage of “all expenses paid”
I am confused on how to properly describe an all expense paid vacation.
Is it an all expenses paid vacation or an all expense paid vacation, and are there any hyphens between all, expense or ...
-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 ...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
What does 'hip' exactly mean?
A friend of mine said he would like to bring the word 'hip' back in to fashion. I thought of 'hip' as a body part, so I didn't understand him until he said," Riding horses is seriously great; I mean ...
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 ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views
Difference between “to fear” and “to be afraid of”
I fear/am afraid I changed my gender.
The very thing I fear/am afraid of is the thing that I can't realize that I actually changed not the thing that I consciously know that I changed. That ...
-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
95 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
...
5
votes
7answers
3k views
Is it proper to use the word “bandwidth” as it relates to time allotment?
I'm a web developer and I've often heard other technical and developer types say:
Sorry, I don't have the bandwidth to take on your project at this time.
I started using the term myself and ...
-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."
2
votes
2answers
125 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
84 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.
9
votes
3answers
454 views
Does using the word “crony” necessitate a negative connotation?
I have always heard the word "crony" in the context of acquaintanceships between people exploiting their closeness for less than noble means. Despite its definitions in the usual places as simply ...
-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
60 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
74 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
550 views
Is it appropriate to write RIP for expressing grief?
I came to this question after I saw a Facebook post about someone who passed away with everyone posting rip as a comment. Wikipedia tells me the following about the abbreviation of RIP:
"Rest in ...
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
263 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
“By the Bye”: Etymology and Usage
In India we frequently use this term as a substitute for 'By the way'. Is the usage as popular in other countries? Can someone throw some light on the etymology?
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!
7
votes
2answers
367 views
Why do we say that someone “practices” law or medicine?
I’m wondering why we refer to providing legal or medical services as a practice of law or medicine, respectively. For example, we say that a lawyer practices law or a doctor practices medicine. This ...
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?
1
vote
5answers
3k views
Mow the lawn, cut the grass, mow the yard, cut the yard …what is correct?
This weekend I mowed the yard. My neighbor says he cut the grass. Did I cut the grass, or maybe I mowed the lawn, or did I cut the yard?
When does one mow, and when does one cut? Is it grass, or ...
-4
votes
1answer
53 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") ...
2
votes
2answers
104 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?
1
vote
2answers
150 views
Can the name of a country always convey the name of a nation?
There is an old name of a country and its description:
Persia: The land and people in southwestern Asia from the ancient Sassanian empire to the modern nation state of Iran, prior to 1935.
I ...
-2
votes
1answer
69 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?
