Questions tagged [word-usage]
This tag is for questions about correctly using a word. The word has to be provided within the question. The question should be limited to the usage of one word. For the usage of complete phrases there is the tag phrase-usage.
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questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Can one write 'Health behaviors'? I keep coming across this kind of usage in some research papers
"Analyzing health behaviors of diabetics" was the title of a paper. I was wondering about the usage.
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Usage of under the aegis
I really want to use the phrase 'under the aegis' in a small paragraph but want to be grammatically correct. I am planning to write "thankful to xxxx for taking me under their aegis" or &...
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Meaning of "implying" in the following sentence
The capacity to cause or change certain types of human behavior by implying or using physical or psychological means to induce compliance.
I consulted various dictionaries but the definitions given ...
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Is this correct usage of the word “slack”?
“The charger cord is getting pulled. Could you give it slack?”
What I want to convey here is, pull the cord in the other direction (to which it is being pulled right now) so that it becomes ‘loose’ ...
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Is "it shall be" the same as "it is"? Specific to the context of law?
The US constitution uses "shall be" in places where the German constitution (Grundgesetz) would use "is", and that makes sense to me, no problem so far.
But in a translation of the ...
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How to interpret "only" in sentences?
I have hard time understanding how to interpret "only" in sentences. Consider the following statements:
"Only on Saturdays I play football".
Can I interpret this as "If I ...
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What is a better way to say "the [quality/quantity] is similar for both"?
I don't think this is a correct use of "both". Although it works, like how using a double-negative still gets the message across, I'd like to use an alternative.
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Usage of "For your information" in a formal email
I am writing an Email to a professor and want to assure him I will refer to his publication in the future. I am just curious whether using "For your information" in the following sentence is ...
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Why do some sentences begin with for?
lyrics from raekwon's north star from ob4cl:
No man, can judge for another
But each man must weigh all facts and circumstances
And find truth in his own judgment of righteousness
See, the way to evil, ...
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123
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Dispute over interpretation of "Less smaller"
I know that the correct form of "less smaller" is "less small" but that is the original phrase we went to a dispute over. This is the exact phrase.
Someone: Most of the sites I ...
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Lessons/meetings/events at a certain time/at certain times
I am referring here to the lessons schedule and want to know if the person has preferences for a certain time slot or don't they mind having lessons at any time (very flexible).
Can I say "Do you ...
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"Equalize" as a substitute for "counterbalance"
When I say "This is equalized by that" is this the correct way to express that the weight of "that" is equal to the weight of "this"? And I want to stress here that "...
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Test vs. examination vs. assessment
Note that this is not about tests/exams/assessment in the academic settings. I'm doing translation for a foreign company and looking for a word to describe what they do.
This company takes requests ...
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181
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To hyphenate or not to hyphenate "chemically treated"? That is my question
chemically treated nanostructured powder Should I hyphenate chemically-treated? I really don't know cause I googled it and couldn't find it hyphenated. I think that according to the rules it should be,...
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A be the occasion of B used in sentence, order of A and B?
Is the sentence
A battle over the production of bread in Paris was the occasion of Marie Antoinette's unfortunate remark about eating cake.
written in the right order? Is it grammatically correct? ...
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Is "put in by hand" a correct expression?
In the present theory, these things are assumptions we have to put in by hand.
— Physics from Symmetry, Jakob Schwichtenberg, Springer International Publishing 2015
I can roughly understand it means &...
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Is this sentence correct? ( adj+noun order)
"...possibly generated by the damages intensification of the hexagonal lattice caused by the repeated impact of the steel balls during the milling process."
First of all, from my point of view, damage ...
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Most basic/common words in spoken English
I need a sorted list of the most frequent spoken English words for everyday situations. Think of the most important words for a beginner learning the language. When learning new words, you'd want to ...
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252
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Can I use " for " instead of " as" to sound more natural / informal
Like in this example
It's such a shame for our school to have that brazen man "for" a teacher.
Does it sound natural and used in informal language?
I mean if we say "for a teacher" instead of ...
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"He drank in his surroundings" is this correct?
Here's the sentence for context.
"Steel grey eyes drank in his surroundings like a ravenous pit"
is this correct?
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Is it correct to use "in developing" in the following sentence?
Is it correct to use "in developing" in the following sentence?
The proportion of men to women in developing gastric lesions was 3 to 1.
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Reply of “thanks for appreciation”
Can I reply “Glad to hear it” to the email saying -“ thanks for appreciation”
He is appreciating my encouragement towards his written story.
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Is the term "downforce" exclusively used to describe the aerodynamics phenomenon?
When describing a literal, physically applied "downward force", would it be improper to use "downforce" rather than "down force" (or some variant of)? And if so, should it be hyphenated, i.e., "down-...
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What's the difference between 'have an influence on something' and 'influence something'
How is 'have an influence on something' different from influence something?
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Alternatives to "that"
I am required to use: The fact that...., One of the major advantage is that...., A key problem with this definition is that....,The observation that...., The reason why it accounted for x is that.....
...
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When and by whom was “coronnial” coined?
The Cambridge Dictionary blog posted on May 11th, 2020 a new word:
Coronnial - noun [C]
(UK /kəˈrəʊ.ni.əl/ US /kəˈroʊ.ni.əl/)
someone who was born around the time of the covid-19 pandemic
...
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Using or replacing "fixed" as in placed firmly, without causing confusion or making the sentence longer
I'm translating a punch list into English and wondering if "fixed" in sentences would cause confusion.
For example, the sentence in the original language is
Some devices are not fixed.
, whose ...
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51
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Does the phrase “mug my day off” make sense?
i heard “mug someone off” so i was wondering about “mug something off”. Have you ever heard someone say it? And if so what does it mean exactly?
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286
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As to why or of why
Which one is correct and used universally?
I don’t owe you an explanation as to why I knocked the glass over.
I don’t owe you an explanation of why I knocked the glass over.
Is one used more than ...
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36
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Which sentence structure is correct and why?
I have typed nearly all the sentences.
I nearly have typed all the sentences.
Also, do I need to add the preposition 'of' to the sentence? E.g. "I have nearly typed all of the sentences."
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Which one should I say?
can somebody help me?
Which one should I say:
“I took a blood/urine test yesterday”
“I had a blood/urine test yesterday”
?
Thank you!
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Why do people say “see you in the next video” in a video even thought I am the one who is going to see them?
I see this in many YouTube videos where the person says something like “and I’ll see you in the next one,” but I never understood what that actually means. To me, it sounds like it should be something ...
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287
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Use of 'period' at the end of sentence
I have observed this in some quotes or dialogues that people say 'period.' at the end of their sentence/quote.
I wanted to ask why and when is it used
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Correct Usage: But for your charm or But for your charms?
Are both of these correct usage:
But for your charm I wouldn't have stayed back.
But for your charms I wouldn't have stayed back.
If both of these are correct usage then are the meanings same in ...
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Expressions for "a wish dedicated to one self"
I was translating a short story about a mortician (someone who does makeup for the dead) when I came across an idea I don't know how to express. In the story, the protagonist was talking about her ...
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can "topical issue" be used in this way?
I want to say that recently people are talking more about music and its effects on the community.
here is the sentence:
"Fine arts, namely music, have been a topical issue latterly, in regard to ...
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Use of otherwise
The graphs also confirm that method x closely approximates ground truth, compared to otherwise shifted curve of method Y.
Is the use of otherwise making sense here??
If yes, any suggestions whether ...
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It was vs it is
Good evening ,i was wondering if you can tell me what is the correct form of this setence.Since I am talking about a book ,it is a little confusing :)
The social worker visited Fanella's house due to ...
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Meaning of 'what is this compared to her previous song'
'What is this compared to her previous song'.
Two people argued about whether a song was good or not, and one just responded with this.
What did they mean by that? I haven't found any satisfactory ...
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Which is correct or what are the defferences between: 'use of a something , 'using of something' or just 'using something'?
I've run into a phrase: 'use of PPE (personal protective equipment)'. But I'm confused with the 'use'- forms as a noun. Is it correct to say 'using of PPE' or 'using PPE' without a preposition? And ...
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english Vocabulary
Many a time I experience problem in learning new words, like I learn and I know them but still whenever I have to write somewhere, I am using the same old words, is there a way to retain them easily?, ...
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Early vs Earlier usage
Which of the following sentences are correct. Early vs earlier. Can I use both sentences?
I went on my lunch break late. Next time I will try to take my break earlier.
I went on my lunch break late. ...
user381847
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What are the difference of "so…that" and " such…that"
Are these two the same? Or what's different? I often confuse them.
I know that "Such that" is a description of HOW something is to be done,but I don't know what is "so that mean".I need your help. ...
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Does it sound strange to write "plant's water and nutrients intake"?
there. I'd like to know if "intake" can be used with "plant" in "plant's water and nutrients intake". Or does it sound strange? Thanks.
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'strong chance' or 'strong possibility'?
'there is a strong chance that our team will win.'
or
'there is a strong possibility that our team will win.'?
i think the latter seems more suitable.
thoughts?
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Reassured to know/hear
Can one say
You will be reassured to know/hear.
?
Take e.g. the following sentences, made up by myself:
The Arabic and Hebrew scripts have no vowels - however, the learner will be reassured to ...
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meaning of ON THE WOOD
In the following passage about Napoleon, I can't make out what the writer means by on the wood - is it the wooden nub of the pencil after the lead has worn down, or the wooden surface of his desk?
...
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Can you say Method A respects the privacy?
I have the following sentence and I need your help:
"Moreover, Method A respects the privacy of the residents"
This Method A is an optimization method that controlls flexible electrical loads in ...
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231
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Usage of articles with phrases
No article is used before a noun used in phrases as: to leave home, to send word, to catch fire, etc etc. Examples: He sent me word to see him. He left home. Here is my question: why do not these ...
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What does 'one narrative for all' mean?
It's in a book and a character goes like:
"That comes as no surprise. They strike me as thick as pigshit; one narrative for all.But what exactly in this instance don’t they understand?"
Here,what ...
