Questions tagged [difference]
This tag is for questions about the difference in meaning between certain phrases or sentences.
3,078
questions
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Pros and Cons, Prostitution and Constitution
The phrase pros and cons has given me an illusion for a long time that pro means something good (supporting, approving, agreeing), while con means something bad (trick, hoax, disadvantage):
promising,...
1
vote
2answers
27 views
got or has got?
if I want to say that my friend has beautiful eyes should I say
"she has got beautiful eyes"
I would shorten the "she has" into "she's" so it would be "she's got beautiful eyes"
or
she has ...
14
votes
6answers
2k views
What is the difference between scissors and shears?
I never saw this word "shears", but I found it on the internet and I went to search the meaning of that. Well, if scissors and shears have the same meaning. Let me know how to use each one.
2
votes
2answers
30 views
Seemingly vs. apparently
The words "seemingly" and "apparently" have a similar meaning.
Something looks a certain way, and it really is so.
Something looks a certain way, and is probably so.
Something looks a ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
What is the difference between in meaning “in the job”, “on the job” and “at the job”?
Is there any difference in meaning between in the job, on the job, at the job? For example:
I have to do a lot today in the job/on the job/at the job.
I feel they all mean the same in the context,...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
What are the differences between “careful of / with / about the child”?
In the dictionary
careful [not before noun] giving attention or thought to what you are doing so that you avoid hurting yourself, damaging something
or doing something wrong
Be careful!
...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
Is there any difference in meaning between “pass”, “pass by” and “pass past”?
Is there difference in meaning between pass, pass by and pass past. For example:
On my way home I will be passing/passing by/passing past the school, so I could pick you up.
I feel there is no ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
What is the difference between “check something for something” and “check something over for something”?
Is there any difference between check for and check over? For example:
I have to check my essay for mistakes.
I have to check my essay over mistakes.
Does over imply greater carefulness in ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
“each + singular ” or “each + plural”
The server is connected to each PC in the class via cables.
The server is connected to each PC in the class via a cable.
I would like to know whether the two sentences listed above I created ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
What's the difference between 'hold' and 'detain'?
Is there any difference between 'hold' and 'detain' in terms of time "length" of detention/holding, or any other differences concerning the legal side of the two words.
The following sentence is ...
1
vote
2answers
36 views
Is there any difference between the phrase “from day to day”, “day by day” and “day after day”?
Is there any difference in meaning betweeb the following sentences.
My health is improving from day to day.
My health is improving day by day.
My health is improving day after day.
If ...
0
votes
2answers
34 views
Are these roughly interchangeable: “you don't touch the ball with your lips”, “you don't touch your lips to / onto the ball”?
The word "touch" is very flexible
touch 1 FEEL [transitive] to put your hand, finger etc. on someone or something
She reached out to touch his arm.
If your house has been burgled, you ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
“Attain” vs “Achieve”. What's the difference?
I have been struggling with understanding what the actual difference between the verbs "attain" and "achieve" is, even though they can be sometimes interchangeable. Could someone give me a detailed ...
-1
votes
1answer
37 views
Construction of the sentences and difference “What” and “How”
Which one is correct and why? When does use How or What? And Does it need to use "Does" or doesn't?
What does this song called? or How does this song called?
What does this game call? or How ...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
What is the difference between “end up in” and “end in”?
Is there any difference in meaning between end up in and end in? For example:
My attempt to cook chicken ended up in a complete mess.
My attempt to cook chicken ended in a complete mess.
0
votes
1answer
25 views
What is the difference in meaning between “come with someone” and “come along with someone”?
Is there any difference in meaning between the following sentences?
Why don't you come with us to the party.
Why don't you come along with us to the party.
I cannot see any difference, but I ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
“His voice cracked with the strain”
His voice cracked with the strain, and they stood looking at each other in the whiteness and the emptiness, and Harry felt they were as insignificant as insects beneath that wide sky.
Harry ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
What is the difference between “Ms.” and “Mrs.”? [duplicate]
What is the difference between "Ms." and "Mrs."?
I always assumed they are the same, until today I found both of them in one place for choice, seems that there's a difference between them:
N.b. I ...
0
votes
3answers
51 views
“They” or “Them”
Why for example in these sentences like that should use them instead of they and what is possible to put in between "want" and "them/they", I mean so or that or something else?
I want them not to ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
How does it write correctly?
How does it write correctly and why? How can I write this in the past tense? and also in question form how to say this? I mean the second action that did not happen and then you don't know how to ...
2
votes
2answers
32 views
Difference between “current events” and “current affairs”
What is the difference between “current events” and “current affairs” when it comes to what is in the news?
Current Events:
[plural] chiefly US
: important events that are happening in ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
What is the difference in meaning betweee the structure “not…or,” “neither…nor, ” and “not…nor/neither”?
Is there any difference in meaning between the following sentences?
My tablet isn't good or bad.
My tablet is neither good nor bad.
My tablet isn't good, nor is it bad.
My tablet isn'...
0
votes
3answers
41 views
Difference between “human” and “people”
What is the difference between them in this phrase? And Which one is not correct or are they both correct?
These things happen. We are all human.
These things happen. We are all people.
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Present perfect continuous
I’ve been thinking about the subtle differences in these three sentences
1-I’ve been reading books for years
2-I’ve been reading a lot of books for years
3-I’ve been reading five books for ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Difference between “years” and “age”?
OED
Year:
10a. In plural.
Age; the length of time that a living thing has lived.
Merriam Webster
Year:
5b Years plural : age
https://www.merriam-webster.com/...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
The use of “check” or “check on” in context
Tell me please if I need to use check or check on in the following context.
I am not sure if the facts he cited are true, so I had better check/check on them.
If both are correct there, then what ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
What is the difference in meaning between “be going to be doing something” and “will be doing something”?
Is there any difference in meaning between be going to be doing and will be doing? For example:
I can't go to the party as I am going to be working on my project.
I can't go to the party as I ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Is there any difference between “had better do something” and “had better be doing something”?
Is there any difference between had better do something and had better be doing something? For example:
It is very late so I had better go home.
It is very late so I had better be going home.
...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
All life and All lives
What is the difference between them?
Earth was created for all lives, not just human life.
Earth was created for all life, not just human life.
I found the second on http://thriveglobal.com/...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Are the words “yet” and “still” synonymous in the sense of “despite”?
Are the words "yet" and "still" totally synonymous in the following sentence?
The team was unprepared, yet/still it managed to pull it off.
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Is “the” possible as a right answer? (English test from Japanese year 7)
This box is big. This ( )( )( ) box.
Fill in the blanks so those two sentences can be almost the same meaning.
I know the answer is This (is)(a)(big) box.
However many children use "the" instead ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Difference between “don't have + noun” and “don't have any + noun”
In negative sentences, what is the difference between the forms "don't have + noun" and "don't have any + noun"?
Here are two couples of examples:
(With countable nouns)
I don’t have books
I ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Is there a real difference between “to mull something over” and “to think something over”?
I've done this exercise focusing on phrasal verbs. There was a sentence, something like this:
I need to ...... it over before I make my decision.
The particle "over" gave me only two choices - mull ...
-1
votes
1answer
40 views
on your future vs in your future
Is there any difference in meaning between the two sentences below?
You can expect positive effects on your future.
You can expect positive effects in your future.
-2
votes
1answer
28 views
Are these 3 constructions the same?
While watching the film Django Unchained I came across the phrase (I paraphrased it to make a direct word order).
I insist that you shake my hand.
But I'm curious if I can paraphrase it in the ...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
“the whole shabang” vs “the whole shebang”
In the vocabulary.com
A shebang is a thing or a group, used in the phrase "the whole shebang." When your teacher says the test will cover the whole shebang, she means everything you've studied is ...
1
vote
2answers
47 views
what is the difference between “grit your teeth” & “grind your teeth”?
what is the difference between "grit your teeth" & "grind your teeth"?
grind [intransitive, transitive] to rub together, or to make
hard objects rub together, often producing an unpleasant ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Do something or To do something?
Consider a simple to-do list:
To make exercises.
To call Jane.
To buy wine.
or
Make exercises.
Call Jane.
Buy wine.
Which version is correct/better? Does they have a difference in their meaning?
...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Move over / Move aside
Is there any difference?
I read somewhere said that "move aside" implies a little bit of ordering rather than asking.
Is it true?
Mom was cooking dinner and her little daughter was blocking her ...
0
votes
0answers
10 views
The differences between the word “Manufacturing” and “Manufacture”
I'm translating a document and I came across to the word "manufacture and manufacturing" and i was wondering when i should use this word in a sentence.
For example:
The lamination processes are ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
Should I use food list or foods list?
I am not sure which one I should use. For example, I want to talk about a keto food list or a dairy-free food list. Or is it a dairy-free foods list? I see both spellings, even on reputable websites.
1
vote
2answers
39 views
Difference between “Go into” and “Go inside”
I would like to know the difference in meaning between "go into" and "go inside".
Here are a couple of sentences.
The boys went into the room.
The boys went inside the room.
I know in the ...
1
vote
3answers
39 views
Before/In front of
I'd like to know if "before" and "in front of" is equally common in a sentence like this in American English? Is one more formal than the other?
Elina stands before/in front of a vending machine, ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Consider the sentences below please
I'm wondering if these two sentences have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. Doe the parts in bolds equal?
3 soap dispensers have already been broken in the mens' restroom while the ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
Have + verb-ing participle
I'm wondering if the following sentences have the same meaning. Does the second one sound natural in English?
I can't sit there because her bag is standing there
I can't sit there because she ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Too far vs far enough
The car was far,but it wasn't ( too far - far enough ) for me to see.
I said the answer is ( too far ),my teacher doesn't agree.
Which one is it and why?
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Which phrase is more correct?
I have two sentences that are ambiguous to me.
The first sentence is:
I have got a woman at home.
The second sentence is:
I got a woman at home.
The meaning I'm aiming for is the present moment. I ...
0
votes
2answers
32 views
“I gave it everything I've got” or “I gave everything I've got”
Last day, I read this sentence " Nice game, the team gave IT everything they've got"
to give is a transitive verb therefore An object must follow the verb; however I consider "everything they've got" ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Which of these statements is correct?
I sometimes get confused about the which of these statements.
I saw you entering Daniel's room in the morning.
I saw you enter Daniel's room in the morning.
Do the above sentences have the same ...
5
votes
5answers
3k views
What's the difference between words “tongue” and “lingua”?
Dictionary.com definitions:
tongue - the usually movable organ in the floor of the mouth in humans and most vertebrates, functioning in eating, in tasting, and, in humans, in speaking.
lingua - ...
