Questions tagged [usage]
For questions on how and why certain words are used in varying ways within various contexts.
2,410
questions
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Is this sentence really grammatical?
there's one kind of sentence structure that has been troubling me for a while now, and unable to find answers to my doubts, I'm here to ask for u guys' kind help!
My sentence is as follows: "It is ...
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1answer
16 views
How “much” emissions or how “many” emissions?
The following is what I found in the website of US Energy Information Administration.
Is the word "emissions" usually used with "much" as in the quotation? If so, why is the verb "are" used instead ...
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3answers
45 views
Can I use “any” when offering and requesting something?
I've learnt that "any" is generally used in questions, but we may use "some" in questions when offering or requesting something.
Examples:
Would you like some bread? (offer)
Can I have some water, ...
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1answer
27 views
Can I say “wonder of” instead of “wonder about”?
This is certainly non-idiomatic, and it is strange. If I am lucky, I think I might get away with something like this by profoundly abusing the syntax of the language, but I cannot do it alone.
I ...
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1answer
33 views
I won't be able to make the meeting vs I won't be able to make it to the meeting
Do these sentences mean the same thing? What does "it" refer to when they say "make it"?
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20 views
Which one is correct, honorable mention or honorary mention?
Looking at the definition on Google, looks like both can be used interchangeably. Is it true? Or is there some nuance to it? Thanks!
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42 views
Can a device produce “certain wavelengths” or only “light at certain wavelengths”?
I want to write a sentence like this: "Our product produces exactly the right wavelengths to drive photosynthesis".
But I am not sure if this is a correct usage of the term "wavelengths". After all, ...
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0answers
24 views
Is it correct to use “opposite side” instead of “other side” in the context of a debate? [closed]
Opposite side sounds like I am talking about a street, airplane, something physical. When I Google opposite side of a debate, mostly I get references mentioning other side of a debate.
Is opposite ...
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1answer
28 views
“scroll up something” or “scroll something up”
I'm trying to find the right way of expressing myself in a code comment. I have a list and I'm basically scrolling up/down in this list.
Should I use scroll things up/down or scroll up/down things for ...
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1answer
52 views
Can you start a sentence with Such as?
"Even though I am not fortunate enough to visit the campus, reading about Notre Dame makes me feel at home with its attention to tradition, its history of innovations, academic research, and service ...
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1answer
59 views
English grammar: time and place in a sentence?
Is it compulsory to always place time at the end of a sentence?
For example:
"I bought a cake in the morning. I ate the cake in the afternoon."
"In the morning, I bought a cake. In the afternoon, I ...
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1answer
26 views
Notes in a business report without a verb?
There are notes a in business report like 'Contractor to proceed as per the comments'. I really wonder that there is not verb to complete the sentence and apparently it looks to use as 'contractor ...
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27 views
“Intent of” versus “intent to”
I'm writing an essay and looking to explain my intentions behind a creation. I'm stuck on the usage of the word intent.
Is this the correct usage:
I did (xyz) with the intent of creating an (abc).
...
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1answer
69 views
Meaning of “Do not expect troubles as they have a tendency not to disappoint”
In Think and Grow Rich Chapter 16, the author said,
Do not expect troubles as they have a tendency not to disappoint.
Why do troubles "have a tendency not to disappoint"? Don't they "have a ...
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0answers
35 views
What does the sentence “Her welcome was as warm as Tom's three years earlier had been frosty” mean? [migrated]
I cannot understand the sentence above. What does it mean?
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1answer
48 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 ...
4
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4answers
142 views
Position description for 'lying on the side propped up on one elbow with the hand supporting the head'
Is there a common phrase or a better, shorter way to describe this man's body position?
"He was lying on his side, propped up on one/his elbow, hand supporting his head."
Which makes it clear he is ...
3
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6answers
161 views
Has “Brexit” become an everyday verb in English?
I've heard that Brexit has become an everyday verb in French. Apparently Brexiter is:
'a verb used to announce to everyone that you are leaving, but without going anywhere’
and there's even a ...
21
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7answers
7k views
Is there a heavy usage of the word “bonfire” in English?
I wonder if the word "bonfire" is very often used in the English language. Maybe in different contexts than just the burning of something for fun, which is the main translation as I understood. I ...
2
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0answers
71 views
Term for/etymology of the opposite of a nosism (using 'we' to mean 'you')
A nosism is the term for using 'we' to refer to oneself. I am looking for a term for/etymology of using 'we' to mean 'you'.
EDIT: Another way of putting it is that I'm looking for the proper term ...
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2answers
101 views
Can “x exclusive” and/or “x-exclusive” mean that x is excluded?
Is it reasonable for the statement "y is x exclusive" to mean "y does not include the patronage of x"? For instance, is it correct to say that a "whites-only" drinking fountain was black people ...
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0answers
57 views
What does the word “horde” mean in the context of a well-known rhyme “Hickory, dickory..”?
So I looked up the most common version of the rhyme and it goes like this:
Hickory, dickory, dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, dickory, dock.
But ...
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2answers
30 views
Meaning of “holds for” in quote
Bell's inequality holds for all non-product states
To my understanding, this sentence should mean "Bell's inequality is correct for all non-product states".
But the true meaning is "Bell's inequality ...
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0answers
29 views
Combining Access request /revoke in one line [or is it better to split for clarity purposes]
Dear English language experts,
I am writing to you from the perspective of an end user, who submits IT requests every now and then. When a request needs to be submitted, there is a special web form ...
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0answers
30 views
What noun should I use when I want “seekability”?
This is programming lingo and apparently not a word in the dictionary and so I would like to be able to solve "this problem" with only dictionary primitives. (If you allow me to speak that away.)
A ...
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0answers
59 views
What does Trump's usage of “unable to” in this tweet of his indicate/convey? [closed]
Here's the tweet. Quote:
[...] to produce & sign into law major Criminal Justice Reform
legislation, [...] and which was unable to get done in past
administrations
As a non-native English ...
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0answers
43 views
Are there English dialects that still use the verb “to snithe”?
Wiktionary says that it's used in some dialects in Northern England, but I wonder if that information is still up-to-date. Have you personally heard the verb being used?
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1answer
24 views
What kind of word is “Frankenstein” in this context?
This question was asked on ell.SE - https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/228380/when-you-frankenstein-a-team-together-is-frankenstein-a-new-verb
...and as answered over there, the verb "To ...
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0answers
30 views
Use of an Article for Performance
The word performance in the broadest sense is a countable noun and hence would require an article. However, what happens in a different context when performance is not countable. Which of these two ...
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2answers
81 views
What does “Extraordinary” mean in the name of a job? [closed]
It is said that Franz Liszt worked as Grand Ducal Director of Music Extraordinary at Weimar court.
What does Extraordinary mean in the name of a job?
I remember in an episode of The Office, the ...
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1answer
94 views
In a week versus After a week
"I'll be back in a week" means "I'll be back after a week has passed" or "I'll be back after the next seven day's period is over".
I've done a great deal of research to find out whether "I'll be back ...
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2answers
155 views
Is the phrase “You are requested” polite or rude?
My supervisor and I wrote a research paper to be sent to journal for review. My supervisor wrote the cover letter of the paper as
Dear Editor in Chief
You are requested to review the paper "...
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1answer
74 views
“Cousins in love” — “Cousins in Law”?
In the first chapter of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, Lady Betram and Mrs Norris present to Sir Thomas their idea of adopting Fanny's daughter. This will provide some relief for the Price's ...
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0answers
22 views
Is there any mistake in this sentence below? Should 'it' be deleted in the sentence? [closed]
I saw the sentence like this
What memories do you think it will happen today?
I think 'it' is an unnecessary word for this sentence.
What is the meaning of the sentence above?
And is there any ...
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2answers
51 views
Can I use the word “Kerfuffle”in formal writing?
I would like to find out if I can use the word kerfuffle in formal writing. English is not my first language and I am thinking of using the word Kerfuffle in my exam report.Is it too informal?
Here ...
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1answer
41 views
Can you say “Are they three” talking about inaninate things?
Are they three?
Can it be in proper English, things, or is it more correct to use "Are there three?" or "Are there three of them?"
Is it hypercorrection or some are more natural than the other ones?
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2answers
59 views
Exist or Exists? [closed]
I am writing a paper on the topic of “dharma”. I have written:
“Within these two categories exists all forms and definitions of dharma.”
I am stumped! Is it supposed to be exist or exists, and why?
2
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1answer
108 views
Master to mister?
Why was Master weakened to Mister so as to address individual hominēs sapientēs and the English language lost the thou/you distinction while the Greek language kept both Kύριος intact and the Eσύ/...
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2answers
59 views
“Further the goal”: is this use correct?
Does the word "Further" fit naturally in the following sentence?
"The modern thinkers believe that by attracting the young generation towards museums, the management furthers the fundamental goal of ...
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1answer
42 views
Do you use 'a man of effort'? [closed]
I'm a Korean. In a Korean textbook, there's 'He's a man of effort.'
Do you use this expression?
then
1
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2answers
58 views
What does the word “matted” mean?
I've just moved to London with my parents and I'm not very confident with my English language knowledge. I need to write an essay for my English classes on the topic "home decorations". We have a list ...
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0answers
20 views
Comma usage in a series [duplicate]
What is the rule on the use of commas in a series?
Is it medical, dental, and behavioural or medical, dental and behavioural?
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2answers
54 views
Is this correct [closed]
"Now he occasionally felt like working" in a oxford
Bookworm
Should not it be "feels" instead of felt ?
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1answer
30 views
How to write arithmetics inline in a sentence?
I'm trying to wrap my head around the following sentence (this is about maritime and ports):
If you are fixing a 10 days port call in a month having a 0.5 ratio would result in (10 x 0.5 = 5 days) ...
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0answers
19 views
Is this a valid either-or sentence?
I read this a few days ago:
... individuals who log on and float either instead of or in addition to scheduling hours.
I suppose it sounds awkward to me because I tend to think that in a sentence of ...
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0answers
51 views
Variations of “I'll let you know when it's done”
Do all these sentences mean the same thing or are there any subtle differences among them?
I'll let you know when it's done.
I'll let you know when done.
I'll let you know when it has ...
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0answers
23 views
“I look forward to … ” something that isn't certain to occur
Is it grammatically correct (and then what is the social undertone) to write "I look forward to joining your team" if I am in fact only applying to join said team, but it is not at all certain to ...
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3answers
44 views
Word that best describes a set of people have gotten used to accepting mediocrity or failure
What is the word to describe when a person or set of people have gotten used to accepting mediocrity or failure
3
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1answer
54 views
What's the difference between index and indicator?
My phrase is: "The main (indexes / indicators) of regional development".
Which noun should I use?
I have searched for any difference in their meanings on the Internet, but didn't find anything ...
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0answers
61 views
What does the expression “ranging from something to something” mean?
I am studying for a TOEFL exam and I have a question about this particular exercise. The exercise is about a short text which talks about what is aggression and the theories that study it. Edit: Here ...
