Questions tagged [phrasing]
The phrasing tag has no usage guidance.
0
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0answers
16 views
Can incorrect phrasing work sometimes?
I saw a comment online that said “way to English” when someone horribly butchered a sentence.
Is “way to English” acceptable despite being incorrect, since it’s meant to be a variation of “way to go”...
0
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1answer
24 views
Where should I put swiftly?
These treatments can swiftly help patients be on their way to a more active life.
or
These treatments can help patients swiftly be on their way to a more active life.
Please help!
1
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1answer
51 views
“Happy Birthday <name>” or “Happy Birthday to <name>” on a cake? [closed]
What is better to write on a cake? "Happy Birthday <name>" or "Happy Birthday to <name>"?
Or are both of them equally fine? Or is there an alternative that's better than both?
1
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2answers
49 views
How can I make this sentence correct? It sounds wrong to me [closed]
The sentence, "Innovation requires more exploration and risk-taking than architects are typically used to." sounds incorrect tome, but I cannot put my finger on what the problem is. Please help me ...
0
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2answers
53 views
Single word for “is nothing until it becomes”
Example: Data is nothing until it becomes information, with context.
The above sentence is a bit wordy so I was hoping to find a single word to replace that phrase. I could shorten it to: Data ...
1
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2answers
47 views
Two consecutive sentences that begin with in
I start off two sentences with "in" and it really irks me. Is this okay, does it sound bad? Any recommendations on how to reword the beginning of my sentences would be appreciated.
"In response to ...
5
votes
1answer
287 views
How to address today and the following 9 days
Would you think "the next 10 days" includes today?
If not, would there be a clearer way to put it, to refer to today and the following 9 days?
0
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1answer
34 views
Is “Thanks for staying with me here…” correct?
I want to express my thanks and appreciation for someone who has patiently understood, listened and bared me.
Thanks for staying on this one with me...
Is there some better way to say or text this?...
0
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1answer
27 views
How to adress personified concepts like “love” like they're people? (with no ambiguity)
There's a song lyric in a French song that goes like this:
Je t'attends depuis longtemps, toi l'amour
Which means, more or less:
I've been waiting for you for a long time, love
But there love ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Help with parenthetical phrase
first time poster here. Can someone help me with comma placement in the following sentence:
Margaret loved music, especially the compositions of Joseph Haydn, which inspired in her an irresistible ...
0
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2answers
188 views
“Had Come” or “Came”
My mom and I are editing my book and we got stuck on a sentence: "It seemed like such a big question for someone her age — at least she thought so — for it had only been a few seasons after she was ...
0
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1answer
69 views
“Quench bloodthirst”? Is this correct?
I was writing a text and got to this part.
"Characters can turn hostile quickly, drawing in interested bystanders that will either help the player or try to kill them. Nothing less than murder will ...
2
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1answer
39 views
How to use two parenthetical qualifiers on the first mention of a noun? [closed]
I'm writing a paper that includes a reference to the University of North Georgia. The first time I mention this university, I'd like to add a qualifier stating its commonly-used acronym "UNG" that I ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Is there a word for when you use a descriptor in place for a word/phrase you've forgotten?
Best example I can give is a post I saw a while back where someone was trying to remember the name for a manta ray and described it as a sea pancake instead. Logically you could call it a sea pancake ...
-1
votes
1answer
97 views
What do you mean by Communication Network? [closed]
In the following concept, what do you mean by Communication Network?
There is an association (an inter-continental one) in which each member participates in building relation among its member through ...
0
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2answers
323 views
Oasis vs Oases - Which to use?
I am looking over something before posting it online and I have a sentence that simply doesn't seem to 'sound' right either way I write it. Specifically, I am trying to decide whether it is more ...
4
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3answers
63 views
Lingustic term for three consecutive synonyms used in a sentence?
If I recall correctly, in David Brin's "The Uplift War", a species called the Gubru frequently use sentences in which three consecutive synonyms appear to emphasize a topic--presumably a grammatical ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Is there a word for phrasing something as a question?
Ex: Bathroom -> Bathroom?
I know there is one, I just don't remember the word for it
0
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1answer
32 views
Another way to phrase “Earn More Money”?
We are creating a page that has a title, "Earn More Money" which states how the swimming coaches can earn a little bit of cash by following certain steps.
However, we find that this phrasing is a bit ...
2
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0answers
45 views
Trying to find the correct word or phrasing [closed]
I'm trying to find the right word or phrasing for a specific action.
Person A, wearing armour, is incapacitated on the floor. Person B (much physically larger) comes along and picks him up by ...
0
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2answers
56 views
Term to describe a phrase so obvious that subtext is expected?
I am trying to convey an idea that seems so obvious to people that their mind struggles to find some alternate meaning or subtext to latch on to when they hear it conveyed.
Consider "It is June". ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Particular use of “substitute” [duplicate]
"James Watt invented the steam engine, which substituted machine power for human power."
I've read this phrase, and thought "that can't be worded right, it ought to be 'substituted human power for ...
1
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2answers
89 views
Avoiding fractional digits when referring to an average number of people
Initial examples
Having studied students in a sufficiently large number of classes, you might say something like:
The average number of professional athletes per class is 0.15.
On average, ...
1
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1answer
32 views
“To be provided” in context
Is it grammatically correct to say:
“you can contact John Doe to be provided with the account information”?
Is the “to be provided” part something a native English speaker would say it in this ...
-1
votes
1answer
42 views
Short-term parking costs
Could somebody please help me out with the following?
Is this ok:
"The average short-term parking costs are €2.10 per hour in the municipality".
Or should I write one of the following:
"The ...
0
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0answers
339 views
One of the main reasons I picked up a guitar
Can I say "Jimmy Page was one of the main reasons I picked up a guitar in the first place"?
Sounds right but when I think about it... 'in the first place' means I had 1 reason only... no?
Or should ...
0
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1answer
111 views
Is there a better alternative for “marriage seeker”? [closed]
I'm trying to find an alternative for "marriage seeker"; ie, someone who asks for the other's hand in marriage.
1
vote
1answer
264 views
Is there a more formal way to the expression “Telling it like it is”?
I'm rewriting a guideline of professional conduct for my small company. One of the points mentioned requires managers to
Tell it like it is: don't argue that a routine (but necessary) task is ...
2
votes
1answer
837 views
Are there other ways to say “from when I was younger” or “from my childhood”?
For example:
I loved the cartoons from when I was younger
I loved the cartoons from my childhood
I was wondering if there were other possible variations of saying this.
Any colorful new ...
-1
votes
0answers
28 views
Questions: Of and Back in The…Syntaxes that Bug Me [duplicate]
I am a publicist, so my job is to write all day! I love writing, but I have 2 grammatical questions, purely because the syntax always bugs me.
What is the most proper for 'of?' Should it really be ...
1
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0answers
33 views
“Closed Now” or “Now Closed”?
Hello all,
We just added a new feature to our site where a status bar auto updates based on the Library hours, so we had to add an alternate state for when it's closed. I'm confused as to how the ...
-3
votes
2answers
426 views
'There is an argument“ vs ”there is argument"
Hi everyone I'd like guidance as to whether it is ok to say "there is argument that" versus "there is an argument that' - is the shorte still correct?
Also 'there is need to' versus 'there is a need ...
1
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0answers
54 views
I do like a green tie/ a man in a tuxedo
I've scoured the internet but couldn't find anything on this. Why this particular way of phrasing? Is there any difference between using the singular and using the plural, that is? For instance " I ...
0
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0answers
436 views
phrasing of the sentence - I am your guy, if you need
I am currently writing a cover -letter for an unsolicited application.
and wanted to write something like
if you are looking for this and this.. I am your guy.
I am a dane, so I don't know ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
How to indicate that something happened at the same time as a prolonged event (a war) but not as part of that event
The U.S.S Pueblo is a US ship that was captured by DPRK forces in 1968, at the same time that the Vietnam war was going on. I wrote a comment about the time of the event on a question on Skeptics.SE ...
0
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1answer
4k views
Can't decide whether to use focus or focuses in this sentence [duplicate]
I feel like I should use "focuses" as using "focus" sounds weird in the following sentence.
Risks are not identified prospectively, i.e. this is a case of “Fighting the Last Battle” syndrome, whereby ...
2
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3answers
2k views
Clear and succinct way to say “don't have to” [closed]
I'm looking for other ways to express that something may be a certain way but doesn't have to be so. Are there any - preferably with a smaller number of words - ways for saying that?
Example phrase:
...
0
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2answers
71 views
What's an accurate/alternative way to represent the idea of a “blueprint”?
This is in a programming context, for some financial software.
An Investment can have a lot of Processes that apply to it (ex: both parties need to sign 'x' set of documents, called 'Subscription' ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the correct way to respond to a negative question? [duplicate]
If someone asks me the question
Do you want to come to my house?
If I say yes- I'm accepting their offer. If I say no- I'm declining their offer... simple.
If someone instead asks
Do you not ...
6
votes
1answer
5k views
“How it looks like”
My German English professor regularly uses the phrase "how it looks like", for example in questions.
How does the social media market look like today?
In my head, it always sounds wrong – I'd ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
How to phrase “contained within earth” without being obvious about the earth's center
Perhaps this question is a bit specific, but I'm trying to make a pub quiz right now, where one of the questions I want to ask is what the most common liquid present in earth is, without it being ...
2
votes
1answer
397 views
Is there anything redundant about the collocation “discuss together”? [closed]
I'm not comfortable with "discuss together" but I see it used quite a bit especially in translations. I think it's clunky usage as "together" is embedded in the meaning of "discuss".
Is "discuss ...
1
vote
1answer
327 views
What is the correct terminology for describing the modes of application of a product to a plant?
What is the correct word (or sequences of words) for describing the following two processes?
1) The application of an agricultural product, such as a pesticide, to a plant, through the leaves. If you ...
0
votes
1answer
750 views
“Choose to” vs “make a conscious decision”
How does the phrase "I choose to do X" compare against "I make a conscious decision to do X"?
Does the latter serve to underline the point, or does it seem redundant? Especially when compared to the ...
0
votes
2answers
9k views
Can something or someone “garner attention”? [closed]
I'd like to express something using an analogy of a cat vs. dog fighting because they want to garner attention. The dog wants attention vs. the cat wanting attention. Does it make sense to say "garner ...
0
votes
1answer
282 views
Is it correct to say you're trying to protect yourself from or against something? [duplicate]
For example: "I'm trying to protect myself from the brainwashing aliens."
My idea is that against seems like a stronger word to me. Making the item or topic at hand seem more... how should I say... ...
0
votes
1answer
449 views
How would I express that what someone says is a challenge? [closed]
Let's say that two people are having a conversation and one of them says something like
Try me, Tom. Then I will surrender."
I'd like to add a "he says" statement. Should the "he says" say "He ...
1
vote
1answer
341 views
Is “How to do XYZ?” correct? If so… why? [duplicate]
All over the the internet, and especially on SE sites, I see the following construction in the titles of questions:
How to write a question?
How to make a widget?
How to add foo to bar?
...
0
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2answers
77 views
Appropriate Phrasing: The ensuing topics are [closed]
I'm co-writing the editorial for an upcoming magazine and I am unsure about the phrasing of a particular sentence. Is the usage of the word "ensuing" appropriate in the following sentence?:
The ...
3
votes
3answers
165 views
Another way of expressing “morally wrong” ideas
In an article I'm writing, I have the following sentence:
"It might be a bit of a moral gray area to..."
I go on to give an analogy to connect it to the topic I'm writing about, but I'm not liking ...
