Questions tagged [phrasing]
Questions about how something should be put into words in order to express a certain meaning.
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Is "I believe x does not equal y" the same as "I don't believe x equals y"
Given x and y could be any phrase, do these phrases always mean the same thing? If not, what's the difference?
I believe x does not equal y
I don't believe x equals y
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4
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A word that describes the polite phrases we use to begin our letters
How can we refer to the polite phrase used at the beginning of a letter (email in my specific context)?
For example, we may start our letter:
Dear Bob, I hope that you're well and had a nice ...
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2
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"Should either be" or "should be either"?
Which is more correct:
This rule specifies that an object should be either visible or invisible, but not partially visible.
Or
This rule specifies that an object should either be visible or ...
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2
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Is the use of "boot" in "it'll boot you none to try" weird or strange?
I seem to have a phrase in my head for a long time that i can't remember where I picked it up.
It will boot you none to attempt this/try.
The implication being that there will be no advantage or ...
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7
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learn how to [verb] vs. learn to [verb]
"learn to [verb]"
"learn how to [verb]"
Is [1] merely a less formal version of [2]? If not, does [1] communicate something subtly different? Consider the following:
In [2], the object of learning is ...
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3
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"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 the ...
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3
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"Half" or "A Half"
This argument has come up at work, and I actually found it pretty interesting.
My colleague is arguing that you might say "a quarter of a pizza", whereas you'd just say "half of a pizza" rather than "...
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"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 – ...
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3
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Alternative structures for "not only ... but also ..."?
I'm trying to write this essay and I find myself writing too many "not only ... but also ..." structures. Can you guys help me come up with some alternatives?
Basically, I want this kind of ...
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3
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Wishing someone that something goes easily for them
I'm trying to phrase a sentence in which I'm wishing that something goes easily for someone, but can't get the wording to sound right, and not awkward.
For example, someone may be studying for a test ...
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2
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OK to use two "there"s in a sentence?
A teacher once told me that it is improper to use two there words in a sentence, such as
There is a woman there.
or
Is there a man there?
and instead state
A woman is there.
or
Is a man ...
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5
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1
answer
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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?
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7
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Is there any suffix expressing “demand a lot”?
For example, a job that demands a lot of effort is effort-***? Or a program costs lots of money is money-***? Or a task needs high patience is patience-***?
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Should I follow English conventions, or write what sounds better?
How a sentence sounds when read aloud or in your head can often "sound" different for each individual doing so; however, I was reading details regarding the usage of "data" and "datum" and was ...
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3
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What do you call a statement like "No fake lures"?
We have a car dealer around here with an ad that reads "No Fake Lures". Now, as I understand the concept of a lure, if it doesn't attract attention, it's not a lure. And if a lure does attract ...
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6
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Can a negative be used to express a positive, such as "mangoes are sweet and so aren't papayas."
Is it incorrect to use the positive/negative construction when the intent is positive/positive? In other words can these two statements be viewed as equivalent:
Mangoes are sweet and so aren't ...
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"Sorting on" vs. "Sorting by"
Recently asked a question of a colleague:
Are you sorting this list by acronym?
He responded:
Yes, I’m sorting on acronym (ascending).
Emphasis mine in each case.
Is one correct and not the ...
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Can you rephrase this sentence (about storing files)?
Starting from this date all such files will be stored in folder B.
Is it possible to re-phrase this sentence without changing its meaning in such a way that it would start from "Starting from this ...
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3
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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 ...
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Word for a dry laugh
I'm looking for a word to fill in this blank:
“They’re delinquents,” The doctor agrees. “But, don’t worry, we’re finding them, Jannie. You will get the justice you deserve.”
I let out a _______. “Don’...
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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 ...
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votes
3
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"Regardless to the fact" vs "Regardless of the fact"
I want to say that something will happen regardless of whether something else happens. However, in my particular situation, using regardless of sounds awkward.
Some arrangements work better than ...
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Wording an 'If-Then' Statement Tense
I need help phrasing the last part of this conditional sentence (assume I can't change the first conditional statement):
If I died tomorrow, I would have wanted to go skydiving.
or
If I died ...
3
votes
1
answer
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Which he doesn't or does?
Here's the context:
A dying man has guilt, and one of the voices in his head is claiming he will experience hell, if he dies with it (the guilt). One voice hints that 'hell is a hoax', and the other ...
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3
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Is this correct: "[x] is where [explanation]"
When explaining a concept, for example, recursion, is it valid to use a construction such as:
Recursion is where a subroutine calls itself.
To my ear, "is where" sounds somewhat weird. Do you ...
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proper phrasing for "avoid X in favor of Y"
I'm having a brain cramp: if cookies should be avoided, and carrots are preferable instead, is it correct to say:
Avoid cookies in favor of carrots.
or if not, what's the correct way to phrase?
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7
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What makes this sentence 'clunky'? [closed]
I've had comments that the sentence below seems awkward and clunky. Can anyone help me clarify what it is that is off about it. Background being:
"An issue has been found but not correcting in ...
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5
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Is saying "I have checked futilely" correct?
For example:
After checking a few stores futilely, I found a store with what i needed
Is that correct, or is there better phrasing?
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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 ...
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What's the name of this kind of act?
What's the name of this kind of act? It is commonly seen between friends. (I mean the act between two people, not necessarily 4 people like this one.)
Or can you describe it with a few words?
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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:
...
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1
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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?" ...
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3
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Is it 'concentrated in' or 'concentrated with'
I find that both usages are abundantly used on the internet and am confused as to which is the correct version.
Example:
Only a small amount of product is necessary since our formula is highly ...
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2
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Negating two verbs separated by or
I'm curious about the logical implications of phrasings of the form:
not given or received
In my mind, this can parse as either "not (given or received)" or "(not given) or (received)", which ...
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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 words? Or ...
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1
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How to avoid ordinal numbers when referring to a place in a queue?
I have the following sentence:
"You are currently 5th in the queue"
I'd like to avoid using ordinal numbers. What is the best way to rephrase this sentence such that it conveys the same meaning, ...
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1
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To be about; to be all about
I have a nagging feeling "to be all about" is vastly different than its "all"-less counterpart.
This game is all about teamwork.
To me this means the very basis, the fundamental ...
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2
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Predicate or noun after "nationality"
Which one is correct?
To put a predicate after nationality
His nationality is Chinese.
To put a noun after nationality
His nationality is China.
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2
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"Under what form would our government operate?" Is this correct phrasing? [closed]
In this sentence
Under what form would our government operate?
I am wondering whether Under what form or In which/what form would be the correct phrasing, and I realised that I can't find the answer....
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1
answer
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How would you say a person has made a choice out of being of noble character?
Let us say a person is noble/of noble character/noble-hearted. As in, he isn't a person of a social rank of nobility, but rather is a good, selfless person.
I'd like to say that this person has done a ...
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1
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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 ...
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"This what is" vs "This that is"
Came across the following choice of words from a British-Australian writer. It is not very recognizable to me, and am wondering if it's a question of dialect, or was just a mistake/typo:
All this ...
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3
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Way of saying 'washes hands of it' but implies physical
Looking for a non-crappy way of describing someone doing that washing hand motion you do to clear your hands of dust or dirt, but without saying 'washing hand motion'. I feel like there's a good way ...
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1
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Is it rude to say "how did you end up here"? [closed]
Is it rude to say, "how did you end up here?" to a teacher?
I said it to my English teacher, and then thought, "damn, I don't know if I'm supposed to phrase it that way or not."
So, is it?
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How should I phrase this question? [closed]
I have some supplies for my son's classroom. I need to let his teacher know that I have these supplies to give her, and I need to know how she would like me to get them to her. BUT I would like to ...
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1
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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 ...
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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 ...
2
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1
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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 ...
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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 ...
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What is the best way to reword the parenthetical plural "diagnosis(es) and remedy(s)"?
What is the best way to word the following sentence?
A diagnosis(es) and remedy(s) remain elusive as we continue to seek help from various medical professionals.
Since diagnosis ends in -is, should ...
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