Questions tagged [formal-language]
is for questions about whether a word or phrase is appropriate in a formal context or that are requesting a word or phrase for use in a formal context.
177
questions
0
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0answers
20 views
Can we call someone who teaches at a university a “teacher”? [duplicate]
For example, like someone who is teaching people at a university. Is he still called a "teacher" or not?
1
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2answers
38 views
How can I ask a question about the timing of a meeting so that the audience understands that they do not have to accept it?
How can I ask a question about the timing of a meeting so that assumes there is a possibility to not accept it?
For example, I'm scheduled an appointment for Monday. Something has happened and it ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
“My…” Vs. “of mine”
Recently I noticed that there are people that instead of saying "My client" or "My friend" they say "a client of mine" or "a friend of mine". Initially, a couple of months ago I heard it from a German ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Differences between Going to and Will in Informal and Formal English
In formal English (or written English), I'm super sure that the Be going to and Will rules are "respected". (Correct me if I'm wrong) For example, probably in formal English, they probably use "Going ...
0
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1answer
40 views
Difference between not and don't in the next sentence [closed]
“In the period we not enter, Romanticism, the Account became the
preeminent formula for literary production.”
In the sentence above, does the ‘not’ make sense? Should I use ‘don’t’ instead?
-3
votes
2answers
84 views
Translation of 衣冠禽兽 to English
How to say a man who in human clothe but acts just like a total beast, means this man is an animal, hated people.
In Chinese words: 衣冠禽兽, which Google tranlates to crowned beast, but I don't know ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Why should I use the word “we” instead of “I” in scientific papers written alone?
In many scientific articles there are sentences of the form "In this paper we will show ..." For me that sounds natural if there are many authors. But if a researchers writes an article such that she ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Coinciding actions in the past
I have a question:
It is correct to say " I was doing x when y happened"
Also it is correct to say " While I was doing x, y happened"
BUT is it right to say " When I was doing x, y happened "
In ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
“Please, tell me” vs. “Could you tell me”
I am not a native English speaker. Last week, I sent Email to my manager saying "Please, tell me the meeting date".
My manager replied: You meant "Can you tell me the meeting date"
So, I am not sure ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
“that is” in speech
When "that is" means "in other words," can it be used in colloquial speech? Or is it more suited to a formal register? Does the following sound natural in daily speech?
We, that is, my brother and ...
3
votes
1answer
59 views
Are contractions discouraged in formal writing? [closed]
I remember reading something long ago that says people should avoid contractions in formal writing. I wonder whether that is true. And by formal writing, I mean specifically the four types:
(1) ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
The word “oblige” in this context
In formal applications it is quite obvious:
Kindly grant me three days of leave and oblige.
Can I write it simply as:
Kindly oblige me with three days of leave.
(As we have the construction--
...
0
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0answers
31 views
The usage of 'ACCORD' in IELTS Writing Task 2 Essays
Is this correct usage of 'ACCORD' in below sentences as noun and verb?
"I am in accord with this idea"
"I could not accord with these group of people"
"I shall accord with this opinion"
0
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2answers
278 views
take so long vs taking so long
I've worked in a market. Suddenly they stopped my work for verification purpose. They requested me to provide a student ID card. I've sent a scanned copy of my Student ID card for verification. One ...
-1
votes
1answer
20 views
How to describe the following situation?
There are four assumptions:
User 1's location is initially x1, and is changed at speed of 5 m/s in a counterclockwise direction along a circular path with a radius 100 centered at O1.
User 2's ...
0
votes
2answers
57 views
Which is formal; “In this paper I argue” or “This paper argues”?
In this paper I argue that small incentives can lead to greater participation in surveys.
OR
This paper argues that small incentives can lead to greater participation in surveys.
According to ...
1
vote
3answers
64 views
The formal way of saying “keep away from”
What's the legal term for "keep away from" / "keep a distance from"? I'm looking for a verb that means/expresses such a concept.
What I really want is not the legal term but what those people says ...
1
vote
3answers
49 views
Using “one” with “their” in formal and written ENGLISH
Is it correct to, for instance, write in a lecture:
"One must answer the court's questions with due respect in their case/if they are called upon"
I know such structure is admissible in colloquial ...
1
vote
3answers
51 views
Formal way to say “by now”
What would be a more formal way to say something like
The data has all been processed by now, so there's no need for further action
in an email?
I'm worried that "by now" might sound a little ...
1
vote
2answers
16 views
What does “how do you find" mean?
The context as blow:
How do you find your new apartment?
The author says it means "what do you think of something"
What do you think of your new apartment?
I have a feeling that this phrase means the ...
1
vote
2answers
238 views
“Are you hearing me” Vs. “Do you hear me”?
When I learnt English grammar I was told that some of the senses don't get "ing" of present continuous, therefore we should say "I see it now" rather than "I'm seeing it now". On the same logic, "I ...
0
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0answers
54 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part V
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part IV
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
I ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part III
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
As ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part II
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Examining some elliptical structures - Part I
After reading the comments and answer for this post, I have realized that the best (and/or maybe the only) way to master elliptical structure is seeing and examining more examples in this subject.
I ...
3
votes
2answers
548 views
Workaholic Formal/Informal
Can I use the word "Workaholic" in formal writing?
for example:
Workaholics may neglect their families and friends.
3
votes
1answer
171 views
Some clarifications are needed about the grammar of Elliptical Structure
As far as I know, one application of elliptical structure is the omission from a clause one or more elements which has been repeated in previous clauses. However, I do not know whether there exists ...
0
votes
1answer
133 views
“out and out, all in all” are they formal or informal?
Can someone confirm if the below adjectives are formal or informal?
out and out, all in all
0
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2answers
37 views
What verb can I use to mean “cause financial costs”?
I'm trying to describe (very succinctly) the financial impact of a given scenario. If it happens, it will cost money.
What is the right verb to describe this? My first thought is to cause financial ...
1
vote
2answers
190 views
Is a “senior faculty member” of a university the same as a “senior professor”?
But, as one senior faculty member of the City University, who spoke on condition of anonymity, puts it... He is obviously not fit for such a senior academic position. We don’t want ethics dumping here....
1
vote
1answer
2k views
What to write in mail if someone asking to reply to confirm [closed]
what to send in reply if someone asking to reply the mail to confirm
As discussed, Please find the details below and kindly
confirm your presence by replying to this email.
I am thinking that it ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Usage of “it is” in formal, mathematical language
I have come across a scientific paper written by non-native speakers where some mathematical formulas are introduced by "it is". For example:
Proof of Theorem X. Assume xyz. [Long mathematical ...
1
vote
2answers
98 views
How to say “does this make a difference?” more formally?
[Some fact about our component.] Does this make a difference for inclusion in the OtherCompany App Store?
Sounds not as formal as I would like a business email to be. It's passable, I think, but I ...
-1
votes
2answers
315 views
How can I formally say “I'm getting into work, we talk later”?
I thought about "I'm going to enter my work now", but I'm both not sure if it formal or even correct.
Context: in a conversation in WhatsApp, where I will stop the conversation because I'm entering ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Is it OK to refer to the name of an applicant in a recommendation letter by his/her family name alone?
I am writing a recommendation letter to support an employee's application for graduate schools in Canada.
For example, if his name is Kai Kang,where Kai is the given name and Kang is the family name....
4
votes
1answer
224 views
Is it informal to use “so on ” in the article?
I have written this phrase
The input of the DNN is the features extracted automatically by feature_extractor model, which are given to the first hidden layer, and the outputs of this layer are ...
1
vote
3answers
53 views
How do I make something more formal? [closed]
How do I make this more formal? The part of the sentence: a lot of the times.
0
votes
1answer
189 views
“Huge” or “Enormous” preferable to use in academic writing? [closed]
I would like to know which one, huge or enormous, would be preferable to use in academic writing, such as in the following example:
Overcoming the current cancer levels in the population is a ...
1
vote
1answer
108 views
Formal connectors of results (“in this way”, “hence”, “thusly” and “as follows”) [closed]
In the following examples, are the terms ("in this way", "hence", "thusly" and "as follows") synonyms sufficiently formal to be used in academic work with a sense of result?
In this way, as this ...
0
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2answers
55 views
How to give multiple, possible options for an appointment? [closed]
Simple suggestions for an appointment...
We could meet on Friday at 2 p.m.
Are you available on Monday at 10 a.m.?
...can become quite cumbersome when many possible dates have to be given ...
2
votes
3answers
153 views
What is your idea about using “practicalize”?
I'm writing a SOP, in the following sentence I have used the word "practicalize" (utilize). in my view, it's an appropriate and beautiful word to use in academic essays, but when I googled it, I found ...
0
votes
2answers
58 views
Using 'a' multiple times after commas and 'and'
For example in sentence with structure:
X is a well known and widely used technology...
X is a well known and a widely used technology ...
Y consists of three layers: a lower layer, middle layer and ...
0
votes
1answer
410 views
Is “he will be come around 1pm” or “he will come around 1pm” more formal?
I would like to know which sentence is more formal in "he will be come around 1pm on tomorrow afternoon" and "he will come around 1pm on tomorrow afternoon"
2
votes
1answer
93 views
Meaning of “a Richard Snary” / “a Given Name” [closed]
An old joke I found in Mark Forsyth's "The Etymologicon", originally mentioned in the OED
A country lad, having been reproved for calling persons by their Christian names, being sent by his master ...
0
votes
2answers
302 views
Can I use “so on” in formal writing?
Can I use "so on" to mean that there are still more on the list in formal writing, particularly in an essay?
Internet has improved people's living standard and made our lives easier and more ...
1
vote
2answers
463 views
Meaning of “By way of information” [closed]
"By way of information"
What does it mean? Is it correct for a formal letter?
0
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1answer
477 views
Is the phrase “in a way that” appropriate for a Formal sentence
"At first, internet allows the people to connect with others, who live in far-away, in a way that just wasn't possible decades ago."
Is "in a way that" is formal or informal?
0
votes
1answer
37 views
How formal or euphemistic is “debris”?
Is the word "debris" considered to be an euphemism of other words? And does the word have some kind of the degree of formality? If yes, is it informal or formal one?
So the word 'debris' here is in ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Formal paper and Capitalization (inside parenthesis or about special elements -Tables, figures etc-)
In a thesis, or a formal paper written in English. What is the correct way to write inside a parenthesis and what is the correct way to refer to a table, or figure or section etc.?
Also, do we have ...
