Questions tagged [word-choice]
This tag is for questions about choosing the best word FROM A GIVEN SELECTION for a particular context or meaning. The selection to choose from must appear in the question. If you do not know the word already, use single-word-requests.
1,792
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Is there a correct gender-neutral singular pronoun ("his" vs. "her" vs. "their")?
Is there a pronoun I can use as a gender-neutral pronoun when referring back to a singular noun phrase?
Each student should save his questions until the end.
Each student should save her questions ...
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votes
17
answers
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When should I use "a" vs "an"?
In the following example, is it appropriate to use a or an as the indefinite article, and why?
He ate __ green apple.
I know that in the case of just "apple", it would be "an apple," but I've ...
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When to use "If I was" vs. "If I were"?
If I was...
If I were...
When is it correct to use "If I was" vs. "If I were" in standard English?
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I can run faster than _____. (1) him (2) he?
Consider the sentence "I can run faster than 15 miles per hour." Its meaning is clear and to my eyes obviously grammatically correct. Now let me present some variations that have given me ...
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11
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"Less" vs. "fewer"
I've just received a memo which says (effectively)
As more people leave, there will be less people available.
I want that word to be fewer. Are there guidelines for which word ought to be used ...
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41
votes
6
answers
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Types of things vs. types of thing
When speaking precisely or technically, one would say that "Homo erectus and homo sapiens are two species of hominid" rather than "Homo erectus and homo sapiens are two species of hominids." The ...
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"User accounts" or "users account"
Is it correct to say user accounts or users account when referring to the accounts any user has on a site like this one?
In general, in the case of a noun that is used as adjective for the noun that ...
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votes
5
answers
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Using "that" and "this" interchangeably
Learning and using English I'm always confused about what word to use for referring to things that have been described by me a few sentences earlier: "that" or "this".
Confusion comes from the fact ...
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votes
7
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“between” vs. “among”
Today I was cut off in the middle of the following sentence:
Between Cook, Strauss, and Pietersen—
My friend said I was wrong. He said that for more than two entities, among/amongst are used, and ...
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votes
5
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Difference between "I have got" and "I have gotten"
I see these two expressions are used almost identically in different contexts. Is there a difference between I have got and I have gotten?
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"More clear" vs "Clearer": when to use "more" instead of "-er"?
Which one of these adjectives is correct? I can see that both of them are being used, I'm just not sure which one is grammatically correct.
Are there any general rules to follow as to the use of one ...
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6
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Is it acceptable to use "is become" instead of "has become"?
In the King James version of the Bible there is a verse like this:
The Lord is my strength, and my fortress, and my song. And He is become my salvation.
Is it still feasible to use "is become" ...
malach
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votes
5
answers
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When are "if" and "whether" equivalent?
Are if and whether equivalent in sentences like the ones below?
How to determine if my saddle is too high?
How to determine whether my saddle is too high?
We should check if everything is ...
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58
votes
6
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When do I use "can" or "could"?
When should I use can? When should I use could?
What is right under what context?
- 1,145
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5
answers
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How to use "who" vs. "that"
I often get confused when trying to use who vs that.
Some examples that often confuse me:
That
The person that went to the store.
The people that went shopping.
The persons that went ...
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votes
4
answers
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"Effect" vs. "Affect"
I've noticed that some people use effect and affect interchangeably. What are the differences between these two and when are the proper situations to use each of them?
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3
answers
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When should "into" be used rather than "in to," and vice versa?
"Into" (one word) and "in to" (two words) are frequently confused. In what situations should the former be used? The latter?
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4
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Can “due to” and “because of ” be used interchangeably?
Is it fine to use due to in place of because of ? How about the other way around? Are any of these sentences ungrammatical?
He was lost because of the storm.
He was lost due to the storm.
He lost his ...
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votes
13
answers
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"May" & "Might": What's the right context?
I may not be coming in tomorrow...
I might not be coming in tomorrow...
When should I use "may" and when should I use "might"?
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votes
21
answers
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What is a feminine version of 'guys'?
I commonly use the word 'guys' to refer to a group of males colloquially. It's colloquial but not rude, off putting, condescending, patronizing (though I wouldn't use it with a group of men at a board ...
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What does “a couple” mean to you, and what does “a few” mean to you?
What is the proper way to use the terms “a couple” or “a few”?
How should one use these words to avoid confusion? How do people use these words in practice.
It was striking to hear that “a couple” ...
zuludelta9
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6
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"Can/may/will you help me with this?"
Which word to use when we ask for help?
Some conditions:
We know that the person asked is able to do it.
We don't know if the person asked is able to do it.
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Avoiding "existential it" while referring to a past event?
I know the use of "existential it" is frowned upon, but I'm not entirely sure how to rephrase the following sentence to remove it:
It is hard to tell what would have occurred if the battle had been ...
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Why do we say "was supposed to" for "should have"?
I was supposed to do my homework, but I went out clubbing instead.
On a literal interpretation, supposed to suggests that other people (or indeed, myself) might have supposed (thought, imagined, ...
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votes
3
answers
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Person, Persons, People, Peoples
Can you please clarify the relation and differences between these nouns?
For example, is it proper to use "persons" instead of "people"? Are they the same? As I believe that "people" is plural, how ...
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votes
3
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When to use "have" and "have got"
When do I use have and have got?
Are "I have the answer" and "I've got the answer" both correct?
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3
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Is it "5–6 weeks are a lot of time" or "5–6 weeks is a lot of time"?
I was just copyediting somebody's answer on another SE site and my native English speaker Sprachgefühl told me I had to correct the grammar of one sentence:
... 5–6 weeks are a lot of time ...
by ...
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votes
8
answers
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Which is correct: "__ is different from __" or "__ is different than __"?
As someone who learned English later on in life, I was taught that different from is the correct grammar to use: this is different from that. However, it seems these days everyone uses different than ...
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votes
4
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When are "because", "since","for" and "as" interchangeable?
I am not a native speaker. On a previous question of mine, I thanked for an answer by saying:
So the phrase is not an idiom, since it is applied in its literal sense.
I consciously chose since ...
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votes
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"I use to", or "I used to"
Which is the correct sentence, if there is a correct one?
I use to be a hitman.
I used to be a hitman.
I've read the second sentence recently in a book, but I was sure it should be I use to be ...
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votes
3
answers
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Correct usage of ‘on’, ‘at’ and ‘in’
As a foreign English speaker who never really studied too much English grammar other than the basics at high school, I often struggle to decide what is the correct preposition to use in certain ...
73
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2
answers
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"Dear Sir or Madam" versus "To whom it may concern"
When is it appropriate to use the terms Dear Sir or Madam and To whom it may concern? The rules I was taught state that Dear Sir or Madam should be used when you're writing a letter to a person about ...
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What is a word that means "someone who pretends to be your friend but is actually your enemy?"
What do you call someone who pretends to be your friend but is actually your enemy?
A friend suggested spy for me, but that does not nearly describe the word I need for an English project. The ...
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Alternatives to "and/or"?
As a programmer, I have no problem with seeing or using "and/or" in technical documentation. For example,
I can upvote an answer that satisfies me and/or mark it as accepted.
That's perfectly good ...
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votes
9
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"A few" vs. "few"
I have few friends.
I have a few friends.
I thought "few" means just one, two or even none. "A few" typically means more than two. However it seems to me some people say "few" when they really ...
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"The ticket is printing" vs "...is being printed"
You're standing in front of a ticket vending machine and it says "The ticket is printing". Is that correct or should it be "The ticket is being printed"?
EDIT:
If both are correct, which one should ...
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Which is grammatically correct: "Let he who..." or "Let him who..."
Let he who believes in this prophet speak now what he knows.
Let him who believes in this prophet speak now what he knows.
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6
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Difference between "can" and "may"
Which is correct if I want to request for a pen?
Can I have your pen please?
May I have your pen please?
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"Lunch" vs. "dinner" vs. "supper" — times and meanings?
I've seen cases where a noon-time meal is referred to as dinner, and the evening meal is called supper. There's also lunch around noon followed by dinner in the evening. Is there a particular ...
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How do native English speakers respond to "Thank you"?
In my school and university I was taught to say "Not at all" or "Don't mention it" in response to "Thank you!". Now I rarely hear these phrases used, but rather something like "You're welcome", "It's ...
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What is the name of the first decade in a century?
80s: the "Eighties"
90s: the "Nineties"
00s: the ???
For that matter, what is the second decade called? The "tens" just doesn't sound right.
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Can "real" be used as an adverb to describe an adjective?
Is this correct?
That is a real cool answer.
I learned that that was incorrect, since "real" is an adjective which can describe a noun, e.g. "real answer" but it is not an adverb which can ...
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“situation where” vs. “situation in which”
In my mother tongue I can use the word where not only to describe something connected to a location, but also to substitute in which.
My question is: Is it correct to use where in a sentence like ...
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What is the difference between "till" and "until"?
What is the difference between till and until?
When to use till or until? Please explain with examples.
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"Speak to" vs. "Speak with"
What are the differences between these two phrasal verbs and what are the best situations to use each?
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4
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"This question has been asked at Stack Overflow" vs. "on Stack Overflow"
How should I phrase it:
This question has been asked at Stack Overflow.
Or,
This question has been asked on Stack Overflow.
- 1,041
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6
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What Is the Real Name of the #?
I used to say "sharp sign" to refer to the # sign.
Today a friend told me that the correct term is number sign or hash sign or even just hash.
What is the difference between these options and what'...
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Which one is right — "He works at company X" or "in company X "?
I usually use "at a company" but I have encountered some articles using "in a company", "in XYZ firm" or "in an organization".
Which one is right?
25
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3
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When do we use "arrive at" versus "arrive in"?
When do we use "at" and "in" with "arrive" talking about place, not time?
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What do you call a response which does not address the question?
When some one is asked a question, sometimes if they are trying to avoid answering the question, they respond with something unrelated. What is the word for that response?
Eg. A: Why were you late?
...
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