This tag is for questions about choosing the best word for a particular context or meaning.
0
votes
0answers
4 views
Previously versus last time
What is the difference between the following two sentences?
This is the vendor from which the item was purchased the last time.
This is the vendor from which the item was purchased ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
“To my right” vs. “on my right”
Which one is correct and why?
To my right is Alex.
On my right is Alex.
What is the difference between on and to here?
0
votes
0answers
23 views
property of words to infer its meaning [closed]
What allows us to use a word that we rarely use, or haven't looked at the definition for, properly in a sentence? I don't necessarily mean a specific usage, but rather we can substitute big words that ...
6
votes
2answers
46 views
Is there a word for selecting yourself as the target audience for an invention or product?
Let me explain this with an example. An inventor faces a problem, he decides to develop a solution for it. Initially, he is the main target audience for his invention.
I was wondering if there was an ...
2
votes
2answers
52 views
A summer house, a cottage or a cabin?
When I want to refer to a (rural) vacation home, what would be the most appropriate term in BrE? I know in American English cabin and camp are used for those, but what would correspond to those in ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
“Compute column last line” vs “compute column's last line” [closed]
Is "compute column last line" correct? Or should I write it "compute column's last line"?
Regarding a program which computes the last line of a given excel column.
1
vote
2answers
55 views
How would you apply the idiom “I'm $verb'ed out” to “eat”?
I've often heard people apply the suffix -ed after a verb to create phrase, "I'm $verb'ed out." They do this to mean that they've already done $verb, and don't intend to do it in the immediate future ...
1
vote
2answers
44 views
Is it correct to use the term paranoia when expressing overrated reaction due to fear of something?
I was discussing with someone who had this strong conviction that AI is a ridicule all through and neglected all of its uses. At a stage, the argument got heated, and I said:
I think you are ...
1
vote
0answers
20 views
What are some examples of adjectives expressing varying levels of intensity using the same root or unit word [closed]
What adjectives express varying levels of intensity using the same root or unit?
11
votes
3answers
969 views
In the context of family, what is the opposite of “immediate”?
In the context of family, the term "immediate" refers to member of the family connected by birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership, or cohabitation.
Is t here a term that refers to the rest of ...
5
votes
1answer
54 views
When the subject of a sentence is the same as the object of the previous sentence
What is it called when the subject of a sentence is the same as the object of the previous sentence?
For example:
I'm going to Freddy's house. Freddy lives down the block. The block is paved ...
3
votes
2answers
401 views
Is ‘anything in a skirt” a popular idiom? Does it have special overtones?
I came across the words, ‘anything in a skirt” in the following sentence of Jeffery Archer’s “The Fourth Estate”:- Page 202.
“(Captain Armstrong is entitled to a car and driver) if the brigadier
...
3
votes
6answers
115 views
Word for the longest time in spent in a group
A friend and I were discussing what would be an appropriate word to describe the person that has been in a group for the longest. I suggested the word elder, but that seems to apply the age of the ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views
“All that is needing” vs. “all that is needed”
I've read the following quote from Game of Thrones:
Opening your eyes is all that is needing. The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true.
English is not my mother ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
Try something by video? [closed]
There is a video of a dance and I want to say: I am going to try it in practice (preposition) the video? Would "by" work here?
1
vote
3answers
23 views
Finish, complete, submit, or finished at the end of a short drag and drop word bank quiz that isn't graded?
What term's better for the finish or submit button at the end of a short, optional, test quiz?
The quiz is a drag and drop with a word bank, and the button I'm talking about will check their answers, ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Macho for women [closed]
Is there a negative term to define women who are "overly" feminine, in the same way that "macho" is often applied negatively to certain male behavior?
0
votes
3answers
55 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
52 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
votes
1answer
53 views
Word meaning “to actively demonstrate knowledge”
I'm looking for a word meaning "to actively demonstrate knowledge or skill".
I think that "To flaunt" can have negative interpretation, where as a more neutral act such as "to showcase" may not ...
10
votes
3answers
156 views
Make/take a photograph?
In English we say "take a photograph" whereas in some other languages one would say "make a photograph".
The French say "take" even though they "make" far more often than we do in English, and ...
2
votes
1answer
45 views
Is 'quantitate' a synonym for 'quantify' or just a misnomer?
I have always used quantify, but have been encountering quantitate more and more in scientific literature. Is quantitate a "valid" verb and a synonym for quantify? Otherwise is there a subtle ...
1
vote
1answer
89 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"?
1
vote
2answers
69 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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
38 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
Which one of these words is more suitable for “having” or “accomplishing”?
I want to express the achievement of a goal such as "Buying a car", or "Learning a Skill".
Can I say:
"I obtained a new car."
or
"I obtained piano playing skill."
Is there a word better than ...
0
votes
1answer
65 views
I am looking for a word that is the same as “aspiration” but it's done
For example if you wish to do or have something, you can use aspiration. What word is the best to use for things that you have and done already?
I was thinking about accomplishment, but it only ...
2
votes
1answer
61 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
51 views
from and by differences [closed]
I have some questions.
"I'm tired from the hard work".
The function of this "from" is kind of reason, right?
What's the differences between from and by.
by is also changeable in this above sentence?
...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
“Across the top” vs. “on the top” [closed]
Which one of the following sentences is correct?
Command buttons across the top of the screen are common to all screens.
Command buttons on the top of the screen are common in all screens.
...
0
votes
4answers
23 views
Short exclamation to mean: “This is driving me crazy.”
(Edit: The exclamation should be a "word" instead of a "sound" because it is the first human word uttered by the protagonist (the chimp). I don't really have much choice with the phrasing since it's a ...
1
vote
1answer
71 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
98 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
63 views
Term for “utilize for commercialization”
I'm making a résumé right now and I need a term for "utilize for commercialization" as in:
I have learned how to [use for commercialization] the concepts learned in school.
Or something like ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
who or whom in this context? [duplicate]
I am unsure which is the grammatically correct one in the following context:
...trying to find a programmer with who / whom I could collaborate.
Which one is the correct usage?
0
votes
1answer
62 views
“A snap on the back” vs. “a snap at the back”
I have the hat which has a snap on/at the back of the hat.
Which preposition to use here?
This is the sort of thing the sentence refers to:
2
votes
4answers
224 views
“In a while” vs. “for a while”
I recently got a message that says
Haven't heard anything from you in a while.
I always thought that the right way to say this would be to use for insdead of in. Are both versions correct? ...
-1
votes
2answers
35 views
Correct usage of commitment [closed]
What is correct?
The recorder must serve a minimum of two-year commitment. OR the recorder must serve a minimum of two years.
0
votes
2answers
65 views
What term sums up the following situation?
What term sums up the situation in which a person does not feel (s)he has to weigh into (or put much effort) into an argument because the implications will not affect them?
Thus, person X debates for ...
4
votes
2answers
113 views
Use of majority to refer to quantity
Is it correct to use 'majority' to refer to quantity? For example: More than half the garbage in our city is recycled . The majority of garbage is recycled.
If this is incorrect, why?
1
vote
2answers
67 views
“Approach mathematics like/as a creative activity”
Given the sentence:
Teachers in this country have generally been trained either to approach mathematics like/as a creative activity or that they should force students to memorize rules and ...
-2
votes
0answers
56 views
How to describe the closest enclosing element? [closed]
Say
<hello name="hello1">
<hello name="hello2">
<myTag/>
</hello>
</hello>
I wish to say the hello element (which is the hello with name "hello2") that is closest to ...
0
votes
2answers
65 views
“Committed to supporting X” vs. “committed to support X”
I'm trying to edit a speech and found a commonly used phase which I'm not sure if I should amend it or not. The sentence goes like this:
[a subject] is committed to supporting [a project].
...
-2
votes
0answers
30 views
“Develop a process for” vs. “develop a process on”
Which one is grammatical?
Develop a process on handling incoming material...
Develop a process for handling incoming material...
2
votes
1answer
86 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
1answer
72 views
'I am nice, thank you'? [closed]
I would like to know whether, if someone asks me "How are you?" and I reply "I'm nice, thank you", is the word 'nice' grammatically correct?
1
vote
2answers
59 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?
1
vote
1answer
112 views
Is there any other word meaning “prick” with initial onsets “pr-” except prick?
This is my edited question:
I look up in the etymological dictionay about prick, and find that prick is not a word derived from Proto-indo-european etymon.
Meanwhile, I find a lot of words meaning ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Usage of “diary” and “calendar”
The difference between a paper diary and a paper calendar is fairly clear, though either may be used to record an appointmemt. However a computer application is less clear as, for example, MS ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
Stipulated, mandated, ordained, required - w.r.t a law [closed]
Suppose a state's labor law requires that, say, every sign bigger than 1 square meters
Now, complete the following sentence: "The client shall obtain the necessary sign posting permit as ____ by ...
