Questions tagged [nuance]

Nuance: a subtle difference or distinction in color, expression, meaning, etc.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
1 vote
3 answers
53 views

What is the difference — honor, confer, decorate —?

I’m a Japanese college student, and in English class, I saw a sentence saying, The prime minister was formally invested with the title by Emperor. When I looked up words which mean "to give a ...
xiuxiu's user avatar
  • 11
7 votes
5 answers
1k views

Is catechin an ingredient, a composition, or a compound of green tea?

I have a feeling that the word "ingredient" implies that it was intended to be there by human, while catechin is not an additive, but was naturally in the tea leaves. Giving another example, ...
Pascal's user avatar
  • 71
2 votes
1 answer
81 views

colonial heritage vs. colonial legacy

I'm trying to find the best translation for the German phrase "koloniales Erbe" as applied to a former colonial power, e.g. as used in the title of this conference. Both "colonial ...
joriki's user avatar
  • 308
0 votes
0 answers
16 views

Comma usage and "for" [duplicate]

Here are three examples collected from the Internet: (1) Teslamotors.com is for many, the first introduction to Tesla and EVs. (one-comma version) (2) This last point is, for many, the most ...
nomen's user avatar
  • 13
0 votes
2 answers
110 views

Where are the outer limits?

When one talks about the "outer limits" of something, what, or where, does it mean exactly? (I mean, where to pinpoint?) Thinking of a limit as an outermost line, is it the area closest to ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 11
3 votes
3 answers
101 views

Nuances between 'more' and 'better' (than something) [duplicate]

For this sentence, which one is correct or more suitable, 'more' or 'better'; or are they both equally valid? Are there any nuances between them? I like baseball ______ than soccer. Please give a ...
Ron Vanden's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
81 views

Work ON a farm, work IN a farm or work AT a farm? Which one is correct, why and the incorrect ones why not? [duplicate]

As the title says. Please help me out with this :)
user460812's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
95 views

what does the expression "I was feathered" mean?

I'm reading "A Day No Pigs Would Die." I’d just wound up running away from Edward Thatcher and running away from the schoolhouse. I was feathered if I was going to run away from one darn ...
Ashley Maria's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Difference between "provocative" and "thought-provoking"

In some dictionaries, provocative has two meanings: (1) Causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately. (2) Arousing sexual desire or interest Some other dictionaries ...
dodo's user avatar
  • 133
-1 votes
1 answer
34 views

Help me with understanding the context

I'm having difficult time to understand the dialogue below. It comes from "Project Runway season 19." KRISTINA: Did you start to put your zippers? CHASITY: It's not gonna be the last moment. ...
Grace's user avatar
  • 55
3 votes
2 answers
248 views

‘should’ versus ‘expected to’ [closed]

I have the following piece of college regulation. Staff and students should have access to teaching rooms on the hour. Allowing time for setting up equipment and finding seats, this means that formal ...
Moonwalker's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
45 views

I'll be at the concert tomorrow evenif/while/if it means queuing for tickets all night [closed]

In my Cambridge English book there is a practice sentence where I have to put in a clause. The options are 'while', 'despite', 'if' and 'even if'. The context is contrast clauses. The sentence is: I'...
JesseH's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
0 answers
116 views

How to say that you can wear a garment "by itself?"

I can't seem to realize if this sentence is okay: (I'm writing about some kind of a top) "It is a versatile piece that can be worn by itself or as an overshirt." Q1. Is versatile the right ...
サボテン's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
62 views

Does the addition of a second “some” change the meaning of the following sentence?

I’d like know to whether the following sentence retains its nuance and meaning with the addition of “some” before the word “others”. “I’m good at some types of art and bad at others.” “I’m good at ...
user428883's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
166 views

Asymmetry of "not good" and "not bad"

I'm not sure about this but it seems to me that "not good" always has a firm negative connotation, i.e. it is equivalent to "bad", whereas "not bad" doesn't necessarily ...
Insanit's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
417 views

Is there any difference between "putting on" and "faking" (an accent)?

I know they both mean "pretending to have" (a particular accent). Yet, I'm unsure if they can be used interchangeably. Are they both disapproving? For example, He was just faking a Scottish ...
BeatsMe's user avatar
  • 1,458
0 votes
0 answers
39 views

What's the difference between "subject to" and "subjected to" in contracts? [duplicate]

Applicants are subject to testing ... Applicants are subjected to testing ... When employers use "subject to" or "subjected to" in this way, does "subject to" imply they ...
Joe's user avatar
  • 1
-2 votes
2 answers
78 views

Difference between a 'condo' and a 'condominium' [closed]

They seem to be a really similar words, but I wonder that there is a difference between the two words? Location, size of the house, or facilities in the building?
Woojin Cha's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
189 views

What is the difference between the two sentences? (Have you been ... before? AND have you ever been...?)

Have you been to Japan before? Have you ever been to Japan? What is the difference between the two sentences? Thank you.
Huy Phan's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
66 views

What is the difference between “[I] may [be] ...” and “even though ... ”? [closed]

The above is a question that has occurred to be fairly recently. I admit that there are plenty of cases where they are not even close to equivalent, but how about the following? I may be visually ...
Micheal Gignac's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
56 views

Is there a word that has no nuance and refers to the literal property of something being new?

Sorry for the rather confusing title. I'm writing a research paper regarding COVID-19 and am trying to write a sentence along the lines of: The main challenge of building a COVID-19 domain QA model ...
Sean's user avatar
  • 143
0 votes
0 answers
34 views

"not so useful as" vs "not as useful as" [duplicate]

I do not understand whether the first or the second sentence is correct, or perhaps both? No other metal is so useful as iron. No other metal is as useful as iron. Although the latter feels ...
Agnay Srivastava's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
62 views

Looking for a Very Specific Adjective

Is there a word to describe a person who is both of the following? a) insidious - in the traditional sense...that they have a tendency to use or harm people in such a way that the victim does not ...
Boris's user avatar
  • 1
-1 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is there a difference between Lenience and Leniency? Google defines them the same way but is one the modern version and the other the older one?

The Google definition for both words is: he fact or quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected; clemency. Which one is used most nowadays? Thank you.
marcel_pi's user avatar
  • 161
1 vote
1 answer
918 views

meaning of "ghetto kids" [closed]

I'm going to translate the following sentence into a language in which there may not be an exact equivalent for the word 'ghetto'. He taught ghetto kids in New York's public school system. (...
apadana's user avatar
  • 397
1 vote
1 answer
129 views

What is the difference between 'To study English is not easy' and 'Studying English is not easy'?

What is the difference (nuance) between these two sentences? 'To study English is not easy.' 'Studying English is not easy.'
BigSilver's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
767 views

The difference between '' It is ... '' and '' Is does be ... ''

1 John: Does the fax machine be used any more ? Mary: Yes, it does be used on occasion. 2 John: Is the fax machine used any more? Mary: Yes, it is used on occasion. . Are these different tenses ...
Kantura's user avatar
  • 621
0 votes
2 answers
132 views

Present Unreal Conditional and speaking about present

I would like to ask, if the sentence below is grammatical and how can we understand this sentence: If the car was sold in the last week, you wouldn't see this in the public database yet. Also, can ...
Richard's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
2 answers
957 views

What are the differences in nuance/meaning between I hope you will spend some time with me, and I want to spend some time with you [closed]

Could anyone help me understand differences in nuance/meaning between 'I hope you will spend some time with me', and 'I want to spend some time with you'.
Sunflower's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
156 views

Difficult construction with Past Perfect + have to

I'm a little bit confused with grammatic construction which includes Past Perfect + "have to". The first question which appears here is: if this construction is grammatic or not? The law changed ...
Richard's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
4 answers
5k views

Draw my attention (from something) to something

"A beautiful woman always draws my attention". "While I was chatting at Laura's party, a beautiful guy suddenly drew my attention". «Now I wish to draw your attention to what has attracted my ...
Silvio Roberto Vinceti's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
262 views

Future Simple vs. Future Perfect in difficult sentence

I would like to ask three questions: 1.) If the sentence mentioned below is gramatically correct. Everything will be spotless by the time they get here. 2.) Is it correct to use Future Simple ...
Richard's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
2 answers
201 views

Tenses - Differences in meaning of two sentences

I would like to understand the difference between two sentences and ask if they are gramatically correct. 1.) Sam gained weight because he had been overeating. So, he ate much in the past and gained ...
Richard's user avatar
  • 111
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Allegedly vs. apparently - Differences in connotation?

I am a non-native speaker trying to find the right expression for my sentence. There is a study that reports a 55% decline in the number of trades, however, I cannot examine the data or the study ...
00schneider's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

kicking off or kicked off

Collins Dictionary: If an event, game, series, or discussion kicks off, or is kicked off, it begins. The shows kick off on October 24th. [VERB PARTICLE] The Mayor kicked off the party. [VERB ...
Suwon Kim's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
758 views

Meaning of "dismay"

What is the exact meaning of dismay? Is it close to shock and surprise? Or is it closer to disappointment and unhappiness? Or does it mean embarrassment? When I looked the word up in the ...
Rabbit's user avatar
  • 29
2 votes
0 answers
115 views

Use of an indefinite article associated with a particular person's name [duplicate]

Indefinite (and definite) articles are sometimes associated with a person's name. This answer by Jon Hanna is the best summary of the uses I have found. Also, another question addresses the issue ...
Masa Sakano's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
58 views

"Extreme" consequences of argument

I am trying to say that an argument (a philosophical reasoning for what it's worth) is not taken to its extreme consequences, in the sense that it is not brought and explored to its logical deepest ...
Silvio Roberto Vinceti's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
176 views

Nuances of "I move to speak"? [closed]

I heard a lawyer say "I move to speak" in a sitcom and I wonder what its nuances are. Searching for the phrase doesn't give many results, so it seems like it's not a common phrase. Is it only used ...
user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
13k views

could get vs could've gotten

Is there any difference between could get and could've gotten? Obviously, "could get" can be used for future, hypothetical situations, but I can't see what the difference is, if any, between the two ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 596
1 vote
0 answers
70 views

A comparison in two sets of quantifiers and adjectives

I learn almost every word on my own, in my productive if a bit peculiar way. I inevitably get perplexed by the ambiguity and the interchangeabilty between the words that I discover with more details. ...
Kismet's user avatar
  • 39
-4 votes
2 answers
5k views

What is the difference between "fate" and "fait accompli"? [closed]

Is there a qualitative difference, or in the sense of finality, or irreversibility or changeability, some negative connotation, e.g. fate may be affected by future actions, but fait accompli is not? ...
Jardine's user avatar
  • 143
1 vote
1 answer
473 views

Stripped-down vs bare-bones

I understand that "stripped-down" and "bare-bones" probably mean the same thing for most people, but are there nuances that make them different? I tend to feel that "bare-bones" has all the ...
busukxuan's user avatar
  • 336
0 votes
1 answer
176 views

Is "bankroll" preferred to "fund" as a verb in formal writing?

In formal, factual writing, is it more appropriate to use as a verb the word "fund" rather than "bankroll"? [Example: "An anonymous donor [bankrolls/funds] the food pantry."] To me, "bankroll" has a ...
DrBB01's user avatar
  • 46
0 votes
1 answer
10k views

experienced in VS experience with VS with experience in [closed]

I wonder how to improve my sentence more intuitive in English. I want to say 1) I am a Designer. 2) I have experience in(or with) Websites Design. 3) I researched to design the sites. Could you ...
Sue's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
5 answers
2k views

Can "nude" or "naked" to refer to a half-covered body?

From my knowledge of the definition is that one has to be completely uncovered to use those two terms. However I have seen it being used in shows (and maybe books) where a half-covered person is ...
shoryuu's user avatar
  • 257
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

get, have etc a grasp of something vs a grip on something

Is there a difference between having/getting etc a grasp of something and a grip on something, when you mean knowledge/understanding? Merriam Webster defines grip , in this sense, as "mental grasp", ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 596
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

Craving vs longing vs yen

What is the difference between long, yen, and crave, as verbs and nouns both? Longman: Longing - a strong feeling of wanting something or someone Craving - an extremely strong desire for ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 596
0 votes
1 answer
198 views

Differences between "give" and "give way "

What's the difference between give and give way. I'll start with what I know so far, and what I think to be the case, please set me straight where you think I'm wrong. Dictionary definitions Give=...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 596
9 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is there any difference between "straighten out" and "sort out"? [closed]

Is there any difference between straighten out and sort out? I already know what they mean, so I'm interested in nuances. I'm going to give a couple of examples, let me know if any sounds unnatural, ...
Daniel's user avatar
  • 596