Questions tagged [phrasing]
The phrasing tag has no usage guidance.
132
questions
-1
votes
2answers
57 views
A better way to say 'very different'
What is a better way to say 'very different'?
Is there one word that is an extreme of 'different'?
Example: Person A and Person B embraced the spirit of evil in very different ways.
Is there a ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
How do other words can you use for “the way something is written”?
I was racking my brain when pressed with a discussion posting in math class the other day, and I was coming to answer someone’s question when I got stuck in a bind.
The question was pre-Calc, and I ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Does “One example of that would be it's trophic cascade” make sense?
I'm trying to write a paragraph for a question for my biology class. The question is "How are organisms (and non-living things) interconnected within Serengeti National Park? He wants us to include "...
-2
votes
1answer
63 views
“What time is it? At 8 o'clock” [closed]
I am unsure about this phrasing, does answering the question "What time is it (now)?" by saying "At 8 o'clock" or "It's at 8 o'clock" sound natural?
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Correct form of saying of what will be left?
Imagine a hypothetical situation that someone is left to do home duties and you are writing a note to him.
Which is the correct form?
1) "Turn on the robot cleaner. After it finishes all that will be ...
1
vote
3answers
100 views
Can an inanimate object “get something wrongˮ? [closed]
The following is an excerpt from an article about spelling mistakes:
Can you spot the mistakes? Building signs which get standard English phrases wrong; posters and other material featuring ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Indicating Possession Between You and Another Person
Is there a good way to indicate that something belongs to you and another person when you want to mention the other person by name?
As an example, suppose some friends ask you "Where's the party at?" ...
-2
votes
2answers
70 views
What ways do you describe changing from existence to non-existence?
In a paper, I need to talk about things "coming into and leaving" existence multiple times. I feel this phrase is clumsy and there are definitely better ways of saying it that I just can't think of ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
How do you describe a study which attempts to isolate the compounding effect of factor A on factor B? [closed]
Shameless cry for academic help here.
I'm working on my thesis, which is a study that will focus on the compounding effect of group dynamics on persuasive technology. The control and treatment group ...
1
vote
3answers
79 views
Idiom/phrase for “example picked purposefully”
For example, when one is talking about a chemistry equation and they use values one wouldn't see in real life to illustrate a point better, or give a specific example that requires extra steps that ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
Can a writer refer to himself as “your author”? [closed]
I am drafting a nonfictional manuscript that, not being about me, seldom refers to me. I do nonetheless appear in the manuscript, though—or at any rate my perspective explicitly emerges—a ...
0
votes
1answer
114 views
Should a comma be included when listing age?
When listing age under someone's name for reference, does there need to be a comma between "age" and the number?
My company is running an ad for a beauty supplement featuring our brand ambassador for ...
-2
votes
1answer
396 views
Meaning of “There isn't one” [closed]
I recently stumbled on a song's lyrics in which the 1st line says:
The great truth is there isn't one
Given the rest of the lyrics, I think the author meant that no great truth exists at all. Yet, ...
0
votes
1answer
35 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
vote
1answer
5k 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
vote
2answers
79 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
votes
3answers
73 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
vote
2answers
224 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
607 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
votes
1answer
33 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
35 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
votes
2answers
3k 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
votes
1answer
159 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
votes
1answer
78 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
102 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
165 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
votes
2answers
2k 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
votes
3answers
106 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
61 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
votes
1answer
310 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
votes
0answers
72 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
votes
2answers
71 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
88 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
vote
2answers
96 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, ...
asked Mar 20 '18 at 14:42
JJ for Transparency and Monica
6,85611 gold badges34 silver badges52 bronze badges
1
vote
1answer
538 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
votes
1answer
132 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
662 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
2k 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
vote
0answers
403 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
1k 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
vote
0answers
56 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
69 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
votes
1answer
9k 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
votes
3answers
5k 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
votes
2answers
75 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
3k 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
8k 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
104 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
630 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 ...
