Questions tagged [phrase-usage]
This tag is for questions about how to use a particular phrase. If your question is a request for a phrase to use, you should use the "phrase-request" tag.
0
votes
1answer
10 views
A lot about or A lot of
I am hearing a lot about the problem of ragging these days.
I am hearing a lot of the problem of ragging these days.
What ia the difference?
Which is correct?
-2
votes
1answer
29 views
Word choice for “Educationally Enriched”
Is there any word which replace the phrase "Educationally enriched"? I was trying to write an essay where I defined a state where every people are educated. To define that I was taking help of phrase ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
“Will you be free” vs “Are you free”
I want to hang out with my friend on Sunday (or some other time), what is the correct way to ask him about his ability to do it?
a)"Are you free on Sunday?" or
b)"Will you be free on Sunday?"
I can ...
0
votes
1answer
11 views
Usage of the word 'TOGGLE'
The word 'toggle' itslef means switching between two states. But is it proper to use explicitly like 'toggle ON' or 'toggle OFF' ? How the usage for that word should happen?
0
votes
0answers
16 views
Structure of “as in”
When I ask question by using examples, they often use "as in your example X" If they confirm my examples . Is it some kind of reduced phrase? or "as in" means "for example" ?
For instance:
Me: Can I ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Why is “more than meets the eye” grammatical in some cases?
I find this idiom very interesting, idiomatic and intuitive but not that grammatical to me. Why should we use meets, the third-person singular simple present sense? Can I change it to any other senses?...
0
votes
0answers
6 views
I would think ( that ) … vs I think …?
What NAm/BrE native speakers exactly mean when they say or reply with " i would think ( that ) ... " ?
I mean if it's used in only one possible correct way and therefore doesn't need any further or ...
0
votes
1answer
5 views
What does it mean to say “ i think it's safe to say ( that ) … ”?
What NAm/BrE Native speakers exactly mean when they say " i think it's safe to say ( that ) ... " ?
I mean if it's used in only one possible correct way and therefore doesn't need any further or ...
0
votes
2answers
20 views
Can you replace “come to think of it with ”thinking of it"?
I've already used "thinking of it." Example:
Thinking of it, maybe I shouldn't knock on that door.
I made a Google Books search.
There are similar phrases but I couldn't find a sentence that ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Is it common for native speakers to offer to do things with “Can I”?
You have a car. You have to go to the same way as Steve, who is on foot. You offer him a lift.
You say to him:
The exercise is from Can/Could/Would you ... ? etc(Request, offers, permission and ...
-1
votes
1answer
19 views
Can I say “class notes” instead of “lecture notes”?
Can I say class notes instead of lecture notes? Do these phrases have the same meaning?
0
votes
1answer
6 views
“ I would say … ” vs “ I think that … ” , are there any differences in meaning or use between saying them
Are there any differences in meaning/usage between when NAmE Speakers saying or replying with " I would say ( that ) ... " vs " I think ( that ) ... " ?
1
vote
2answers
23 views
“That much more so”
Two lines in the movie The Kingdom go:
And after speaking with Thamer, I advised withholding additional U.S. Personnel, because a large part of the religious justification for these bombs is the ...
4
votes
1answer
198 views
Can “Am I the bad guy here?” be said by a girl?
In an interactive story (that's why it is impossible to quote the text), the main character said to herself:
Am I the bad guy here?
when she was questioning a bad action, which has been done by a ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Which is correct: “of my own will” or “of my own free will”?
Situation: I purchased a book. However, no one demanded that I purchase the book.
Which of the following should I say?
I purchased the book of my own free will.
I purchased the book on my own....
0
votes
2answers
44 views
Can “In a timely manner/fashion” describe a noun?
I want to use the phrase "in a timely manner" like this:
Such a timely manner answer!
It is supposed to function as an adjective that describes the noun "answer", but I find it awkward beside the ...
-1
votes
1answer
50 views
“I can SORT OF understand something”. How SORT OF is used here?
What Native Am.Eng Speakers exactly mean when they say
"I can sort of understand it."
I mean, how sort of here correctly used in this context?
I mean, if it has only one possible correct ...
0
votes
1answer
11 views
Which phrase is the most correct/idiomatic in this context?
Since I am not yet fully scheduled, at the moment I cannot say for
sure which period is suitable for me. Is it OK if I let you know about
this in 3 weeks once I am fully scheduled?
At the moment?...
0
votes
2answers
38 views
Meaning of “don't necessarily think” [closed]
What do English speakers exactly mean when they say:
I don't necessarily think that
or:
I don't think that someone is necessarily a bad person
0
votes
1answer
21 views
What is the correct way to say: Collected data from acts/laws and from <ministry counterparts> via phone and email?
I am not sure how to properly put this in a sentence. While working as a policy research assistant for a provincial government ministry [e.g., Alberta Ministry of Mineral Resources], I collected data ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Meaning/usage of “it's not that bad”
What do people mean when they say:
"I don't think it was that bad."
Does this phrase have only one possible correct meaning or use? Does it require further context to be provided in order to ...
0
votes
2answers
26 views
How do you use “scoop up”?
I am wondering if you can use the verbal phrase "scoop up" without clarifying what you are scooping up and just mentioning from what container you are scooping up.
For example:
She scooped up an ...
2
votes
2answers
29 views
Two to the three or two to the third?
I wonder if we can say "two to the three" to indicate 2 to the 3rd power.
Here are my attempts to search on Google for it:
And "two to the third" seems also OK:
Which one do you usually use?
0
votes
1answer
34 views
“Not faraway” for talking about a related matter
Can I use the expression "Not faraway" when wanting to talk about another matter that is strongly related to the previous one?
For example:
She always appears in the most beautiful clothes ever. ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
The different possible ways the phrase “ most definitely ” is correctly used
What do Native Am/Brit.Eng speakers really mean when they say "it's most definitely ( that ) ... " or reply with "most definitely." ?
Is there only one possible meaning or use of it - or perhaps ...
1
vote
2answers
29 views
Self intro: hi there, [name] here [on hold]
When I introduce myself (in like a WhatsApp Group, etc.), does "Hi there, Chris here" works?
0
votes
1answer
25 views
The meaning or the usage of The phrase “ I'm beginning to think ( that) … ”
When a native American English speaker says the following phrase
I'm beginning to think ( that ) ...
I still don't really know if they always used it in the same way regardless of whatever ...
1
vote
2answers
217 views
That's very nice of you
It's very nice of you to help me.
That's very nice of you to help me.
I know the first sentence is correct. But how about the second sentence?
5
votes
3answers
501 views
“You've called the wrong number” or “You called the wrong number”
A while ago I wrote this sentence:
Sorry to interrupt you, sir. But I think you called the wrong number.
Something felt wrong so I Googled: I think you've called the wrong number. To my surprise, ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Is it correct to say “I had a friend visiting me in my dream”?
Is it correct to say "I had a friend visiting me in my dream"? If it is, what is the difference between this phrase and this one - "A friend visited me in my dream"? I understand that I can use "I saw ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
“Wow! It's already the end of April” “Yeah, you're right. Time …”: Time flies and whatelse?
I was wondering about the difference between these sentences. They all translate the German "Der Zeit vergeht so schnell" or the Italian "il tempo vola".
I would like to know if:
all of them are ...
0
votes
1answer
10 views
Does “remembered to” mean that the action was done?
John remembered to call Alex.
Does this sentence imply that John called Alex? Or does it merely mean that John remembered that he needs to make a call? That is, is the sentence
John remembered to ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Usage of “in part”
The usage of "in part" seems very peculiar to me. It is used in the middle of phrases. These usage quite confused me.
For example:
1- The levels of blood glucose depend "in part" on what you
eat ...
1
vote
4answers
356 views
Which types of prepositional phrase is “toward its employees” in Philosophy guiding the organization's policies towards its employees is not bad?
The philosophy that guides the organization's policies towards its employees is not bad.
The philosophy guiding the organization's policies towards its employees is not bad.
The organization's ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
Using much before adjectives?
Can I use "much" before any adjective in the meaning of "very" ?
I'm not much good at knitting
I'm very much aware of the problem.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
If this sentences above are ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
the correct usage of “feel appropriate” phrase
People should not be forced to retire, and they should be allowed to continue working as they feel appropriate.
I want to say as they feel it is OK. Is this is a correct usage of the word?
-1
votes
1answer
23 views
what is the defference between 'I don't have anything' and 'I have nothing'
I don't have anything.
I have nothing.
What is the differnece between them?
I wanna know the nuance, because to me they just look the same.
-1
votes
1answer
38 views
Thank you email at office [closed]
Could you give me better phrases than this?
The situation is that you took 1week leave for vacation and want to say thanks to coworkers.
" title: Thank you
Thank you so much for your assistance ...
2
votes
2answers
17 views
“not only.. but also” and “as well as”
These failures can not only motivate us to find a successful way to accomplish our goal but also help us to grow in wisdom and in spirit.
I learned that "not only A but also B" and "B as well as A" ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
What is the context which the phrase “blow over” has been used in here?
I read a sentence in a chapter named "Poet and Pancakes" which was:
An extremely talented actress, who was also extremely temperamental, once blew over on the sets.
Most of the dictionaries define ...
1
vote
2answers
30 views
I am on the sickness layoff
I'd like to ask how a native speaker expresses the fact that someone is not able to fulfill the obligations due to illness.
Sorry, I cannot take part in the conference. I am on the sickness layoff.
...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
“You (are/have been) nothing but…” in complimenting
I'm not very sure of how suitably is using that construction in complementing others since its start has a very negative indication and may make the other person feels bad and/or uncomfortable.
I ...
6
votes
2answers
872 views
What is the meaning of the verb “bear” in this context?
I read a sentence in a chapter named "The Last Lesson" which was:
Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, and, bearing on with all his might, he wrote as large as he could: "Vive ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
South Australian Country
I have noticed in South Australia that country folk will ask the question "where are you to" Can someone elaborate on this. I know that basically it means "where are you".
3
votes
2answers
80 views
“by the sounds of it” VS “by the sound of it”
"It's no good nagging me, it's done," he said firmly. "Fred and George have got the gold - spent a good bit of it, too, by the sounds of it - and I can't get it back from them and I don't want to. So ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
I'm sorry if you think so
Can "I'm sorry if you think so" be used in the context where someone is looking down on me or expressing that they don't have a good opinion of me. Like, "I think your recent work is not good" "I'm ...
4
votes
3answers
268 views
“to be prejudice towards/against someone” vs “to be prejudiced against/towards someone”
Which one is the correct form?
He's prejudice against/towards women.
He's prejudiced towards/against women.
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Be glory to God or vice versa
In the phrase 'Glory be to God' the use of 'be' is in place of 'is' or is it a subjunctive? In full it is:
Glory should be to God.
OR
Glory is to God.
If it is 'is' then what if we place 'be' ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
telephone introducing myself (not name)
Good morning, when we do a call, usually we introduce ourselves or answer using "this is Name" or "it's Name". But if I should say that I am the father/friend/colleuge/mother etc of the person who the ...
2
votes
2answers
16 views
What does “is a factor of” mean in this sentence?
Image quality is a factor of screen size, dot pitch, width of viewing angle, response rate, resolution, and color depth. (from New Perspective on Computer Concepts 2018, P136)
Does it mean "is ...
