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.
1,796
questions
1
vote
1answer
30 views
Can I use a sentence with indirect speech in an essay? Example below↓
Would it be proper for written AmE? After making some points in my essay I need to state that what I've just said probably engenders a question.
This (probably) brings up/arises/elicits a question, ...
1
vote
2answers
25 views
How can I say that something happens not for the first time?
Would these examples be proper for written American English?
It happened not for the fist time that he decided not to attend classes.
or
It was not a single occasion/time when she decided not ...
2
votes
2answers
46 views
In one sitting, all at once (AmE usage)
Will it be okay to use "all at once" instead of "in one sitting"? I mean in AmE what would sound more natural? Do they have a slight difference in their meaning?
I read the book in one sitting/...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
How to politely tell your senior that what they told is wrong?
How to politely tell someone whatever they told is not correct according to me?
Is it okay to say "let me know if I am wrong?" after explaining them about that concept?
-1
votes
1answer
13 views
“a newcomers” singular or plural
According to google search, "a newcomers" is used in many websites.
is it singular or plural?
And if it's plural, why do we add a in front of it?
2
votes
1answer
21 views
Ways of applying the phrase: “in/after the fashion (of)”
A situation relates to a not well-off person trying to live large anyway while being on vacation.
Is it possible to exploit the phrase "in/after the fashion" as it stands in the following patterns?
"...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
concerning “at daytime”
A: As often on Internet forums, at the question "why stars are not
visible at daytime" posted by an amateur it is not enough to answer
"because the sun shines, ---“ (from google)
Would it be ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
“Saying that” meaning
It is hard for me to understand the meaning of the expression "saying that". If it is at the beginning of the sentence, how is it right to explain? Where is it appropriate to use and what construction ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
meaning: at three
What does "at three" mean in the following?
Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
difference between “will have to” and “have to”
They can’t fix my computer. I’ll have to buy a new one.
The tense of the first sentence is the present. But in the following sentence "will have to" is used instead of "have to". I wonder why.
I ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
On Using Thanks a Pile
As a non-native speaker of English, I am not quite sure whether or not I can use the phrase Thanks a pile to tell someone I am pleased for something good they have done.
Is this phrase commonly used ...
2
votes
2answers
33 views
Can we say “Tell it to me” instead of “Tell me”?
"Tell it to me first."
Is this sentence correct, or should the sentence be "Tell me first"?
0
votes
1answer
15 views
a joint defense agreement vs a defense agreement
I only found the phrase "a joint defense agreement" that seems to relate to the forcing laws but I'm a foreigner and don't get it so well.
About the other, what is "a defense agreement" though? Give ...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
“promissory note”, “bill of exchange” or “note payable”?
"promissory note", "bill of exchange", "note payable" - many dictionaries present these terms as interchangeable. Wikipedia doesn't contain an article on "bill of exchange".
Is there any explanation ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
The use of phrasal verb “start with” in context
Is the folliwing use of start with correct?
Now I would like to know your names, and let's start with that guy.
What I am trying to say is that I want that guy to tell me his name first. If the ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Can you answer to “Do you speak English?” with just “I do.”?
That's pretty much the question. It is a must to say "Yes, I do" for such kind of question or you can answer just as "I do".
0
votes
1answer
33 views
What is called singing with a song?
When you sing with a song, for example, sing Wings of Birdy quietly or loudly by yourself when you are listening to it. What is the phrase of doing this?
1
vote
1answer
17 views
Do stretching or do stretches
Do stretching or do stretches,which ones are correct and more commen? If both are right, where and when should I use them?
0
votes
0answers
13 views
“set to” vs “set with”
Could you please tell me what is the correct and idiomatic phrase to say:
Set a/the variable to 10
Set a/the variable with 10
I suppose that the second phrase is incorrect.
This is for ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
How do we use the phrase “To think…”?
How do we use the phrase "To think..."? I am wondering how it should be used and what it means exactly? Is it used to say someone is astounded or surprised? I remember seeing it used before, but I am ...
0
votes
2answers
43 views
Does the phrase “to be selective with” mean what I want?
They didn't give us all the information about the matter. They were
selective with the truth.
I want to say that they intentionally gave only some of the truth about the matter and not some others.
0
votes
1answer
36 views
“On-screen” usage as an adverb and/or prepositional phrase
I want to use the phrase "on-screen" correctly, so I have looked it up on online dictionaries and found it defined as an adverb or adjective but not a prepositional phrase which is a bit confusing ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
What does the phrase “get three assists with your player” mean here?
Here is a sentence from a football game app's description:
In the game you will be asked to get three assists with your player.
I know the meaning of the word assist, however the meaning of the ...
24
votes
3answers
9k views
“Correct me if I'm wrong”
I had always had the impression that when people say, "correct me if I'm wrong", their underlying meaning is not to ask for correction but to stress that, "I'm 100% sure of what I'm saying", ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
How to use “acceptable” in response to a question
Suppose someone asks how I'm doing. Which form of the word "acceptable" is grammatically correct to use for a response? Is it "Acceptable", "Acceptably", "I'm acceptable", "I'm acceptably", "I'm doing ...
-1
votes
1answer
30 views
Ever since phrase
Which one is correct?
This is the first time I have applied the brakes ever since I am driving.
This is the first time I have applied the brakes ever since I am driving from home.
1
vote
1answer
13 views
Will have to get used to / be used to
There is a sentence:
I am a father now and I will have to get used to being called 'father'
I am a father now and I will have to be used to being called 'father'
What's the correct ...
1
vote
1answer
15 views
Can I use “walk with limps” to imply that both legs are in pain or injured?
I know that, we can say something like
He had a stiff ankle on the right leg and walked with a limp. (self-made sentence)
Now, I am wondering if can I use the plural "limps" to imply he had to ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
“must not be done” vs “must be not done”
The latest comments must not be included in the document.
The latest comments must be not included in the document.
I'm not sure whether the selected phrases are correct? What is the way natives ...
1
vote
1answer
16 views
Let go of or let go
Which one is correct? And do they have different meanings?
Please let go of her.
Please let her go.
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Concerning the meaning of “week for week, month for month, year for year”
Does the expression in bold within:
“The human ability to understand capitulates when faced with the sheer number of deaths, week for week, month for month, year for year,” Judge Bührmann said. ...
0
votes
2answers
20 views
using 'quite a' with adjective 'vulnerable'
Is it okay to use the modifier 'quite a' with adjective 'vulnerable' in referense to children?
I've been using "quite a vulnerable boy" for a very long time and have always found this phrase useful ...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
Meaning of would vs would have
She said she ... her work by evening.
Which answer is true?
would finish
would have finished
What is the difference between two answer?
1
vote
1answer
28 views
As for / as to with people and new subjects
As far as I understand from my research on internet, there is no clear consensus on their usage.
I found one speaker saying: "When you introduce a subject related to
what you have just been ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Finding error in the following sentence
I was given a question and I had to find error in it
The priest class took upon itself the monopoly (1)/ of scriptural knowledge and interpretation (2)/ of the same to its own advantage. (3)/ No ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
keep title short
Suggestion to use contracted terms in titles (of a book or something) to make them shorter (not too long):
Prefer contracted terms to keep titles short.
Does the selected phrase sound natural?
0
votes
0answers
30 views
The meaning of “to be a matter of”?
Happiness is a matter of health in body and soul.
The sentence is meant to say that "happiness is defined by health in body and soul".
Does "is a matter of" mean that? Is it idiomatic to use it in ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Correct usage of the phrase “which, in turn.”
His empire created the foundation for the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, which in turn, had their own great works.
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Fixing code review remarks
The code review is a process of inspection of a software code in order to find flaws, errors, defects etc. During a code review an inspector writes remarks about what is wrong and should be fixed.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Which is better? “Student Performances” or “Students' Performances”
I was told to use "Students' Performances" instead of "Student Performances" for the cover page of a video project that shows the performances of students from several schools for a rally and ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
The usage of “excess”
Suppose A and B usually come together. For example 10 units of A and 10 units of B. However, sometimes you may have 15 units of A and 10 units of B.
I want to say that A is in excess .... B. Or ...
-1
votes
1answer
28 views
“have something accoplished”
I'm just wondering why we can say "What do you want to have accomplished in ten years ?" is it right to use "have something done " in such sentence ? or we use present perfect here... im confused
0
votes
0answers
118 views
“Give a hand” vs “help”: transfer of inputs [duplicate]
Can the phrase "will you give me a hand?" be used instead of "will you help me?"
'Help" in this sentence includes physical or intellectual help also. Or "help" pertaining to intelligence. Sharing of ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
Which of the following sentence about 'of noun' as an adj. is correct?
I have two objects A and B, A is of color green while B is of color blue. Are the following sentences correct?
A and B are of different color.
and
A and B are of different colors.
If not, how ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
The more buckets are allocated, the less the load factor gets
I was writing an answer on StackOverflow and came up with this sentence
The more buckets are allocated, the less the load factor gets. (x ?)
It sounds a bit off to me because of "the more buckets"....
40
votes
4answers
10k views
Can you please explain this joke: “I'm going bananas is what I tell my bananas before I leave the house”?
Can you please explain this joke: "I'm going bananas is what I tell my bananas before I leave the house"?
And another one: "I hate it when my friends ask me to do them a solid especially when I've ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Using “I am writing to…” with “request”
I have encountered the phrase "I am writing to inform..." several times in an E-mail. However, I have never seen this phrase used with any verb other than "inform" before. Thus, I am not very ...
0
votes
2answers
36 views
Grammatically correct to use 'the' before 'school' in this sentence?
I read a sentence in an English Textbook. In the sentence, is it grammatically correct to use 'the' before the word 'school'? Please explain to me.
Her school is near her home. The school starts at ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Is it correct to use 'for' after 'walk'?
I would like to know whether it is correct to use 'for' after 'walk' in this sentence.
Everyday, we walk for 10 miles to the villages around our town.
0
votes
3answers
46 views
Usage/understanding of “holding it all”?
In the Off Camera Show (timestamp), Brit Marling says today many people take many photos a day as a way to say
I'm here, I'm alive and I'm holding it all.
Is this a way to express someone has ...
