Questions tagged [difference]
This tag is for questions about the difference in meaning between certain phrases or sentences.
3,937
questions
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0answers
9 views
have an/any idea about who it could be?
Do you know who it could be? No? Does anybody else here have an/any idea about who it could be?
As you see it, could I use "an" instead of "any" if I want to imply that the speaker ...
1
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0answers
11 views
How is “he'd better get used to it” different from “he should get used to it”?
I'm trying to understand the phrase "better get used to it". I know it basically means "he should get used to it", but is there a small difference between them? Is one more ...
0
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2answers
30 views
Is there any difference in meaning between “still” and “so far” when used in negative present perfect sentences?
Could you please tell me if there is any difference in meaning between still and so far when used in negative present perfect sentences? For example:
So far I haven't found a job.
I still haven't ...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
Is there any difference between “already” and “now” when used with the present perfect?
Could you tell me if there is any difference between already and now when used with the present perfect? For example:
I have already had five tablets, so I know a thing or two about them.
I have had ...
0
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1answer
22 views
What is the difference between fire and burn?
This Idea came from this question of this group.. This made me thinking what is the specific (a scientific explanation may be more helpful) difference between burn and fire. If fire is the state that ...
3
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2answers
29 views
How weird would it be to use "a little more in the next sentence?
"Animal Kingdom and Shackleford are little more than the best of a bad bunch of 3-year-old thoroughbreds".
(New York Times, June 11 2011. It is a New York Times article about the stakes.)
...
0
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1answer
20 views
Is there any difference between “now” and “so far” when used in the present perfect?
Could you tell me if there is any difference between now and so far when used in the present perfect? For example:
I've been to four foreign countries now.
I've been to four foreign countries so far.
1
vote
2answers
29 views
Business - plural form or singular form
There are two sentences:
I had some urgent business
or
I had some urgent businesses
What's the right?
(In the meaning that I was busy.)
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1answer
19 views
Can I use “carefully” and “cautiously” interchangeably in this context?
She carefully/cautiously stepped back to the body, grabbed the gun, and ran out of the room.
I can't figure out if I should use "carefully" or "cautiously" in this context. Are ...
0
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1answer
38 views
“I have waited for you two hours” vs. “I've been waiting for you for two hours”
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the following sentences?
I have waited for you for two hours. I'm leaving.
I have been waiting for you for two hours. I'm leaving.
3
votes
1answer
37 views
Live and living as an adjective [duplicate]
I was at an English lesson and I said “a live organism”, but the teacher immediately interrupted and said “you should have said “a living organism””
“I didn’t catch that” said I. and a classmate of ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
What are the differences among “bubbles”, “suds” and “foam”?
What are the differences among "bubbles", "suds" and "foam"?
From my understanding,
"bubbles"means the round, individual and see-through ones. "bubbles&...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
“Expect of someone” vs. “expect from someone”
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the following questions?
What do you expect of your partner.
What do you expect from your partner.
1
vote
1answer
55 views
whether vs either
What are the differences between "whether" and "either"?
For me, they mean about the same, something about the choice between 2 or more things.
I want to eat either an apple or a ...
1
vote
2answers
23 views
What does “your standing around ” mean?
I just found this weird expression while I was looking for the meaning of come along and it is as follows: "Come along, Osmond. No sense in your standing around". I think they are using &...
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0answers
32 views
The difference between more crucial or more important
In the examples below it seems that using 'more important' is correct. Would you agree and why?
If studying to be an engineer, it is obvious that studying calculus is more crucial than studying ...
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0answers
18 views
What is the difference between “whimsy” and “whimsical”? [closed]
Please, feel free to provide with examples.
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0answers
26 views
“Move from a city” vs. “move out of a city”
Could you tell me if there is any difference between move from a city and move out of a city? For example:
I lived in the city for a couple of years but decided to move from it to live in a small ...
1
vote
1answer
14 views
Is there a difference between a jewel set with gems and one embedded with gems?
Is there a difference between a jewel set with gems and one embedded with gems?
I was wondering if the two terms were interchangeable since their definitions look pretty much the same—obviously within ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
What's the difference between “wrap” and “wind”?
I've looked them up in several dictionaries, but I find them very similar in meaning because both mean to turn something around something else, for example:
She wound a scarf around her neck.
She ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Is there a nuance of meaning between “could” and “would” when asking someone to do something politely?
Could you tell me if there is a nuance of meaning between could and would when asking someone to do something politely? For example:
Kate, could you pick up some milk on your way home?
Kate, would ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
“Who have this memory card?” [closed]
If I say "Who have this memory card?" is it correct?
Or who owns this memory card?
Perhaps both are correct I want to know.
1
vote
1answer
16 views
Off, switched off and turned off
What is the difference between the sentences below?
Make sure the power is off first.
Make sure the power is switched off first.
Make sure the power is turned off first.
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1answer
37 views
tasty dishes vs delicious meals
Is there some difference in these phrases or not?
tasty dishes
vs
delicious meals
Maybe "delicious meals" are more tasty than "tasty dishes"?
Are "Dishes" and "...
-1
votes
2answers
41 views
hit or reach a plateau
What’s the variant the most idiomatic?
The figures reached/hit a plateau
Are they both grammatically correct?
2
votes
2answers
34 views
the difference between “need to do” and “need to be doing.” [duplicate]
I want to ask the difference between "need to do" and "need to be doing." Here is an example"
We need to do this as soon as possible.
and:
We need to be doing this as soon ...
-1
votes
1answer
19 views
What's the difference between “method” and “process”?
I came across the following sentences in a political science book:
"Political science—like other social sciences—seeks to study human
behaviour through the use of a scientific method that, at ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Pointed/Aimed the gun at
She pulled out a gun and pointed/aimed it at him.
Is there any significant difference between these or are they interchangeable here?
Is there a difference if it's pointed/aimed from short or long ...
-1
votes
1answer
30 views
'draw a border' or 'draw a boundary'
What's the variant more appropriate?
Are they both right and equal?
Draw a border
Draw a boundary
In the context, for instance:
"When we're talking about philosophy and psychology we have to...&...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
exert influence vs influence
What are the differences between them?
influence
exert influence
The latter is more emotional and stronger, isn't it?
(The translation of these two words into my language are absolutely the same.)
0
votes
1answer
36 views
What is the difference between “yet”, “as yet” and “so far” in negative sentences?
Could you tell me what the difference is between yet, as yet and so far in negative sentences For example:
I have a whole cake, but I haven't touched it yet.
I have a whole cake, but I haven't ...
2
votes
2answers
62 views
“All I want” or “I only want”
What's the difference between the following sentences?
1 "All I want is peace and quiet"
2 "I only want peace and quiet"
0
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0answers
36 views
“Until now I didn't realize that…” vs. “until now I hadn't realized that…” [duplicate]
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the following sentences?
Until now I didn't realize that you can sing so well.
Until now I hadn't realized that you can sing so well.
...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
think/ponder/ruminate/contemplate
We can think about future.
But can we say some of these ways?:
We should ruminate about future
We should ponder about future
We should contemplate about future
Do any some of them make a sense?
Or ...
1
vote
0answers
13 views
There are some benefits to have/having an experience
Can you help me with this rule?
I have no idea about its name (maybe gerund?).
But Word offers me to change "have" to "having".
Why should (or shouldn't) I do it here?:
There are ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
January's schedule vs. January schedule
Is it January's schedule or January schedule?
I also get confused with whether to include an apostrophe before "bill."
This is my January bill or January's bill.
0
votes
2answers
24 views
Usage of the words: “pivotal” and “paramount”
Can the words "pivotal" and "paramount" be used with the word "advantage"?
The most pivotal advantage of remote learning is...
The most paramount advantage of remote ...
-3
votes
1answer
44 views
Could you tell me what “temporal” is?
Sentence: People don’t usually think of touch as a temporal phenomenon.
(I only have this sentence)
As I know, 'temporal' means two things:
relating to the world, 2. relating to the time.
1
vote
2answers
32 views
What's the difference between “Is the song good?” and “Is the song any good?”?
What's the difference between
Is the song good?
and
Is the song any good?
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Is there any difference in meaning between “in time,” “with time” and “over time”?
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between in time, with time and over time? For example:
You will definitely learn how to play the guitar in time.
You will definitely learn how ...
0
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0answers
13 views
Is there any difference between “suppose”, “assume” and “let's say” in hypothetical questions?
Could you tell me if there is any difference between suppose, assume and let's say in hypothetical questions? For example:
Suppose you lost your job, what would you do?
Assume you lost your job, what ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
envision / predict / forecast
If I have a quarrel with somebody and say:
I can envision all your further words!
Is it appropriate in the context that I want to emphasise that all they words are a commonplace for me and they ...
1
vote
2answers
27 views
Is there any difference between “who is to do something” and “who is going to do something” in rhetirical questions?
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between who is to do something and who is going to do something in rhetirical questions? For example:
Who is to look after my plants when ...
6
votes
3answers
608 views
Is there any difference between “take the initiative” and “show initiative”?
Could you tell me if there is any difference between take the initiative and show initiative? For example:
Micheal is someone who takes the initiative.
Micheal is someone who shows initiative.
1
vote
1answer
20 views
You can/You're welcome to
Firstly, are both sentences perfectly natural?
Would the first sentence be considered polite?
Do you see a big difference between the sentences in how polite they are?
Sentences:
You like this teddy ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Is there any difference between “do well in a job interview”, “do well at a job interview” and “do well on a job interview”?
Could you tell me if there is any difference between do well in a job interview, do well at a job interview and do well on a job interview? For example:
If Kate does well in the job interview, that'...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
What's the difference between “consist” and “comprise”?
I have often used "consist" and "comprise" in the same sense because meaning of them seem similar. Can you explain the difference between the two words?
Example sentence; From ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
“it did not until now” vs “it has not”
I thought "it did not until now" is natural and not wrong, but my friend keeps saying it is wrong and it should be "it has not" because "did" as past simple tense and &...
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votes
1answer
23 views
Do the phrases “valuable for” and “valuable to” have the same meaning?
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between valuable for and valuable to?
The workers are very valuable for the company.
The workers are very valuable to the company.
0
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1answer
19 views
Difference between “disband” and “disperse”
The police disbanded/dispersed the mob.
According to my textbook dispersed is correct.
I wanna know why disbanded is wrong or is it that dispersed is more appropriate? If so, then why?
As disbanded ...
