Tagged Questions
2
votes
1answer
57 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
85 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
122 views
A better, more academic way of saying 'whether or not'
This is my sentence, and I was hoping to make it sound more academic:
The aim is to ascertain whether or not the actors from the two films analysed can be considered to be heroes
Is there a ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
“Remember those times that” or “remember those times when”
I have seen that in certain places the phrase "remember those times that" is used, when I actually find it more natural to say "remember those times when".
Since I am not a native English speaker I ...
-5
votes
1answer
299 views
How can I rewrite the following sentence with fewer words? [closed]
How can I rewrite the following sentence with fewer words?
The team endeavours to improve its performance constantly.
1
vote
1answer
95 views
Correct use of “proof-of-concept” [closed]
In writing a technical paper, I'm wondering about the correct use of proof-of-concept.
In short, the situation is that we have developed an application/tool to show the feasibility of a new approach ...
2
votes
2answers
126 views
Is the word “dorm” acceptable in a thesis?
I'm writing a thesis about students living in dormitories and I would like to know if a dorm is an acceptable expression for a dormitory?
I don't live in GB nor in USA and the thesis is neither ...
1
vote
2answers
3k views
“Regards” vs. “Best regards” vs. “With regards” [closed]
Which of the three phrases in the concluding phrase is most appropriate when sending a work-related email?
Could the three be ranked in terms of their overall level of formality?
-4
votes
2answers
119 views
“Hispanic were X persons” vs. “Hispanic numbered X persons”
!
Is the following sentence from Wikipedia poor style or even ungrammatical?
The 2010 United States Census reported that San Jose had a population of 945,942. The population density was 5,256.2 ...
0
votes
0answers
79 views
can “love” be used in place of “like” [closed]
I am not a native speaker, and I am not sure whether this sentence is stylistically correct: "He loves to see his orchard bloom" meaning that he enjoys seeing his orchard bloom. Please help.
-1
votes
2answers
177 views
Using “henceforth” to refer to future events, but from a “past perspective”
The title isn't great, sorry, I couldn't really come up with anything better :D Here's a bit of context:
I'm working on my thesis and am currently writing down the historical evolution of a certain ...
-2
votes
1answer
2k views
“In a time when” vs. “in a time where” [closed]
Which one is grammatical? Or is this a question of style?
In a time when someone else is sent to clean up our mess.
In a time where someone else is sent to clean up our mess.
1
vote
3answers
257 views
“A smile cures the wounding of a frown”
I found the following on a poster of a professional photographer:
A smile cures the wounding of a frown
The sentence seems awkward and wrong to me. I think something can cure a disease and heal ...
3
votes
2answers
409 views
“The likeliest problem” vs. “the most likely problem”
The likeliest problem vs. the most likely problem:
are they both correct?
do they mean the same thing?
is one preferable over another?
2
votes
1answer
152 views
Level of illiteracy, ______ of innumeracy?
What noun would one use in the titular phrase? To my mind, level sounds absolutely correct for the former, but very out of place in the latter. Instead, I think degree fits better for innumeracy. I ...
0
votes
3answers
307 views
Omission of agent in active voice
I love writing but grammar is seriously not my cup of tea so please forgive my ignorance.
The case in point is:
Henry’s eyes were gouged out by George.
Is it possible to write this in active ...
1
vote
4answers
5k views
“Henceforth” vs. “hereinafter”
What is the most suitable way to express that a sentence/word will be "replaced by" another sentence/word, from that point (in a text, for instance)?
Henceforth called/named...
Hereinafter ...
3
votes
4answers
210 views
Number agreement of “a thing of the past”
Is the pluralization correct in the following sentences?
To Do lists are a thing of the past.
To Do lists are things of the past.
A To Do list is a thing of the past.
Are they all ...
4
votes
1answer
151 views
Should the use of apostrophes be consistent?
It is time to rock, but don't be too loud.
Is it recommended to stay consistent with the use of apostrophes? Should it instead be:
It's time to rock, but don't be too loud.
If that is fine ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
'To take something into account' vs. 'to take something into consideration'
OALD defines the expressions as follows:
to take something into account: to consider particular facts,
circumstances, etc. when making a decision about something
to take something into ...
3
votes
2answers
383 views
“Does not make changes” or “makes no changes”
I was thinking of using this sentence on my computer program:
This action does not make changes on user's machine.
Just to be sure, I checked Google Translate which suggested:
This action ...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
1st or 3rd person in CV/résumé? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it normal in English to talk about oneself in the third person in these cases?
I’m currently preparing my CV in English. I’m not a native English speaker, and I ...
4
votes
3answers
845 views
“Each X” vs. “each of the Xs”
Are each X and each of the Xs interchangeable?
For example, in the following sentence, I would use each of the characters:
Each of the main characters is interesting.
But one could also write ...
4
votes
4answers
19k views
“I would like to ask you a favour” vs. “I would like to ask you for a favour”
Which form is to be preferred?
I would like to ask you a favour.
I would like to ask you for a favour.
-2
votes
3answers
192 views
“The aims are promoting and protecting” vs. “the aims are to promote and protect”
Which of the following two constructions is correct? and why?
Some of the important aims of the UNO are to promote peace and protect human rights.
Some of the important aims of the UNO are ...
5
votes
4answers
253 views
Weird wording in our FAQ
This is completely minor, but it caught my eye in the signature section:
Please don’t use signatures or taglines in your posts, or they will be removed.
Maybe it's me, but the "or" feels ...
2
votes
3answers
55 views
The X is on vs the X is at? What would you describe this variation as?
"The Knight is on D1." and "The Knight is at D1."
Semantically the sentences mean the same thing. They are describing the position of a knight on a chessboard. The document I am writing contains a ...
4
votes
3answers
6k views
“I'm home” or “I'm at home”
The second form looks more correct to me, but the first expression is present in several titles of movies and songs. Which form is preferable?
21
votes
6answers
2k views
Using “utilize” instead of “use”?
My friend has been raising a ruckus about the abuse of the word "utilize" in place of the word "use." He complains that it just makes your sentences sound pretentious.
u·ti·lize [yoot-l-ahyz]
verb ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Is it always bad to use “get” or “got”?
Back in grammar, one of the many rules we were given was to always avoid "get," "got," or "gotten" due to their ambiguity and tendency toward poor grammar as in:
What happened to your arm? It got ...
2
votes
2answers
6k views
“Prerequisite for” vs. “prerequisite to”
When is it appropriate to use "prerequisite for" instead of "prerequisite to"? Does it depend on context, or is it a matter of style?
I googled the two phrases and found 4.5 million hits for ...
0
votes
2answers
563 views
Is “upcoming” too informal?
I'm writing a PhD thesis.
Should I use "upcoming" in the following sentence, or is it too informal?
. . . the modifications will be
included in the upcoming fourth
version of the manual . . .
...
19
votes
6answers
28k views
Is it “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”?
When should one sign a letter with "Yours faithfully" or "Yours sincerely"?
6
votes
3answers
615 views
Is it proper to start a sentence with the word that ended the last sentence?
For example:
Instead, you’ll use a higher-level model called ASP.NET AJAX. ASP.NET AJAX gives you a set of server-side components and controls that you can use when designing your web page.
This ...
1
vote
2answers
519 views
Starting email question
Please, help me understand how to build a sentence in an email to sound natural, clear, and polite. (I am not a native speaker of English.)
Description of the situation: I send a product inquiry to a ...
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.
6
votes
3answers
1k views
“So long as” vs. “as long as”
Which phrase is more formal — "so long as" or "as long as"?
Example:
So long as Google Voice allows free long distance in North America, I will use it.
As long as Google Voice allows free ...
3
votes
1answer
166 views
Can one be *highly* ambivalent?
I've always felt that it's something of a contradiction to be very or highly ambivalent. It's grammatically correct, as far as I know, but is it stylistically acceptable, or is my sense of linguistic ...
12
votes
7answers
6k views
Are there any differences between “I believe” vs “I think” vs “I reckon”?
These are the three most common ways to say "I think." (At least, I believe so. I mean, I think so. Um...)
Are there any subtle differences between them?
Are there situations where one of the three ...
