Questions tagged [register]
'Register' is the degree of formality called for in a particular written or spoken context. Very broadly, we distinguish 'formal', 'informal' and 'vulgar' usage in both writing and speech, but finer distinctions may be needed.
109
questions
2
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1answer
40 views
How formal is “Recipe for a disaster”
I heard the following phrase in a podcast:
Credit cards are a bit of recipe for a disaster.
I want to know if this phrase "recipe for a disaster" is formal enough to use it in a formal writing? Or ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
“blame me on it”
I have occasionally heard "blame me/them on it" and thought it was a bit jarring. The more common ways, I think, are "blame me/them for it" and "blame it on me/them."
Some examples:
Alex said in a ...
0
votes
1answer
33 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
It's a book of my mother's
If we say:
It's a book of my mother's
How could this sentence be identified? Wrong, archaic, formal or something else?
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Which of “Will you just go?” or “Can you just go?” works better?
One of my students barged into my classroom one day and was
getting on my nerves because I needed to clean up the mess he had
himself made earlier, so I wanted to ask him to leave me alone
and ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
“walking recovery in patients who suffered a stroke” or “the recovery of the ability to walk in patients who suffered a stroke”? [closed]
Tell me please which phrasing sounds more natural in the following context:
The necessary information can be found in the article with the title WALKING RECOVERY IN PATIENTS WHO SUFFERED A STROKE.
...
2
votes
1answer
255 views
Tasty, lovely, delicious, yummy, …?
I know different English words for good tasting foods or drinks: tasty, lovely, delicious, yummy... But unfortunately the dictionary entries do not enable me to decide which one to use in which ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
Difference between 'humid' and 'muggy' [closed]
Could you let me know the difference between these two adjectives? In my book they seem to be slightly different(by it's not clearly explained) while on the internet most people say that they've the ...
0
votes
3answers
66 views
What's the meaning of “joint” here? [closed]
You have the Diners Club, you sign for it. You go first class in those joints, I know that, yeah."
What's the meaning of "joint" here? I checked the O.D. didn't find anything useful...
2
votes
3answers
111 views
Phrasing and word usage
"I'm the best from all the crowd
See me deeper and scream loud,
Catch good vibes and inspiration
Feel the power and my relation"
This short lyric is a matter of argument between me and the ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Difference in meaning between “use”, “employ” and “utilize” [duplicate]
I am confused with the words "use", "employ" and "utilize".
What is the difference in their meanings, and where they are supposed to be used?
There is another topic with the same question, but it is ...
0
votes
1answer
447 views
“inclusive of” and “including”
Are "inclusive of" and "including" interchangeable in the following?
a. We all liked the show, inclusive of / including Sarah.
b. Five passengers were injured in the accident, inclusive of / ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
“worthy of mention(ing)” or “worthy of a mention(ing)”?
That kind of happening would have definitely been worthy of mention.
or
That kind of happening would have definitely been worthy of a mention.
or
That kind of happening would have definitely ...
0
votes
2answers
83 views
What does “no more Dutch” mean? “No more words”?
"Red Dead: Redemption"
No more Dutch, and no more you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zvPMrrps6o
12:15 / 11:40:13
2
votes
1answer
96 views
What does “let's shoot the shit” mean?
English lyrics by Halestorm rock band:
Here's to us:
Get another bottle out
Lets shoot the shit //What does it mean?
Sit back down
For just one more drink,
oh yeah
In some sites it's translated ...
1
vote
2answers
70 views
“made him” or “made for him”
Ann made (for) him a cup of tea.
He drank the tea Ann had made (for) him.
Are both sentences correct, with or without "for?
If yes, is there any difference in register?
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Use of the conjunction “that” to express an intentional consequence
First an example; just to make clear what I'm referring to.
He wrote a note on the calendar, that he might remember to call his friend on his birthday.
Meaning:
He wrote a note on the calendar, ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Is your coffee bottomless?
Which of the following is more natural for a customer to use at a coffee shop?
a. Do you offer free refills on coffee?
b. Is your coffee bottomless?
3
votes
1answer
74 views
WILL or continuous forms for habits - which is more common?
Which of the following is more common in everyday speech:
She is always mumbling to herself when she's reading.
She WILL always mumble to herself when she reads.
Is that the emphatic WILL (...
10
votes
3answers
6k views
What's the difference between “veggie” and “vegetable”?
What's the difference between "veggie" and "vegetable"?
Can I use them interchangeably? or is there any difference in terms of meaning and usage?
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Nuance of infinitive phrase `to stand watch` in the sentence
In the movie "The Hobbit", Erlond tells Gandalf:
You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth.
I'm not sure if there's any nuance with the use of the form to stand watch.
If I ...
0
votes
2answers
194 views
What's the meaning of “Not unattractive but getting on”?
Not unattractive but getting on.
to get on means: get along to have a good relationship.1
Does it mean:
she is attractive but she doesn't set along to have a good
relationship?
The context of ...
0
votes
2answers
201 views
omitting “that” is “so … that …”
Is it considered informal to omit "that" in "so ... that ..."?
What would style guides say about the following?
John is so intelligent (that) he can learn any language in two months.
If this ...
1
vote
2answers
166 views
Can't we say “don't/doesn't got” while we can say “I got”, “He got”, “They got” etc.? (American English)
I am used to hearing the positive version of "got" when it is used for meaning "have".
For example, I mean we can say "I got a car.", "He got three children.", "I got no money." etc.
But I am not ...
2
votes
2answers
67 views
Can the adverb “exclusively” in the sentence be replaced with an adjective without changing the meaning of the sentence?
I came across this sentence in an online article.
Some medical literature has found that exclusively breastfeeding during the first four to six months of life may decrease your baby’s risk of ...
2
votes
3answers
336 views
A word denoting something taking place for the last time in an indefinitely large series
I've been looking for the word denoting something taking place for the latest time in an indefinitely large series, for example, the solar eclipse occurring for the______ th(?) time from the beginning ...
4
votes
1answer
977 views
Godspeed as a way of saying goodbye
There are a couple of movies I heard actors using Godspeed as a way to say goodbye. At least I interpreted it this way. I though never heard anyone use this expression in the UK, Ireland, Australia, U....
5
votes
1answer
93 views
“How much are you into us for already?”
I am confused about a line from the movie Kingpin:
Ernie: All right, let's go. Thank you for the education, gentlemen. We've just received a PhD in stupidity. (to Roy) Doctor, shall we?
Roy: ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Use of the word bestow
If we see the language in its natural pace and flow which of the following sound better?
May God bestow sincerity upon me!
or
May God make me become sincere!
or
May I become sincere!
1
vote
3answers
264 views
Difference between -decker, -tier, shelf and level (see picture)
How would you describe the number of shelves of the growing trays in the image below? Four-leveled, four-tier, four-shelf or four-decker? Are all these ways correct and interchangeable?
0
votes
2answers
36 views
“spot defective goods” or “check products for defects”
Which of the following is more natural?
Your job is to check products for defects.
Your job is to spot defective goods.
I'd appreciate your help.
1
vote
2answers
71 views
What is the difference between “likelihood” and “probability”?
What is the difference between "likelihood" and "probability"?
Iv'e check the dictionaries for that questions and it seems that there's no a difference. Cambridge dictionary even call them clearly ...
2
votes
3answers
6k views
What is the difference between someone and somebody? [closed]
Should I say:
[•] I'm thinking about someone.
Or
[•] I'am thinking about somebody.
0
votes
0answers
113 views
meaning of the phrase “amped up on” in context
It is from Crash Course A&P. It is at 1 minute and 23 second. Here is the context:
But even when they are functioming well, some of your immune cells are careening around your body like ...
2
votes
1answer
218 views
The usage of “see”
Are the following sentences grammatical?
The summer of 2000 saw me in a research project at a museum in Africa.
The summer of 2000 saw me doing a research project at a museum in Africa.
The ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
“People persons” versus “people people”
A People person is someone who is outgoing and has good communication skills.
He was always energetic and positive and he was a people person.
What is the plural of "people person"?
I am ...
1
vote
2answers
183 views
Why was “wise advisor” better than “savvy person”?
See Question 10 in the image.
He was to be loyal to his lord, courageous in his defense, and a (10) savvy person. Basically, he was to be a man of honor, who would stay true to his Christian faith ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Making question
I'd like to know the difference between
Why don't you do it?
Why do you not do it?"
Could you please let me know the differences?
2
votes
7answers
945 views
How to say “a bit of code”
I am describing how this part of my code works:
def store_output(self, file_name, identifier):
dsc_in = ogr.Open(file_name)
if dsc_in is None:
raise Exception("Reading data failed.")
...
0
votes
1answer
123 views
“establish a startup” in conversation
I'd like to know whether "establish a startup" sounds pompous in a conversation as follows:
John: Why did you decline that job offer?
Peter: I decided to follow my dream and establish a startup. Now ...
1
vote
2answers
810 views
“cranial” vs “cerebral”
Is there a substantial difference between the adjectives "cranial" and "cerebral"? Are these ones interchangeable in a not-so-medical context?
1
vote
1answer
85 views
Use the verb “to mothball” in official texts
I saw a Wikipedia article (and not only this one) using the verb "to mothball" to denote rather obsolete, abandoned, put-on-hold methods or phenomena, e.g.:
So by 2003, the original ECMAScript 4 ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Bowed down at / before / in front of the altar
Which is the correct preposition to use here from the options given in title ?
He bowed down ______ altar.
I have mentioned three options here though I had 4 options in the question. I managed ...
8
votes
4answers
3k views
“Fixing” an error
Open source programmers commonly use the term "to fix" (as in "fixing an error") to mean to correct (eliminate) an error.
Is this use of the term "to fix" common outside open source programming (both ...
1
vote
3answers
97 views
Is “crimp an aluminium cap on” a naturally-sounding phrase?
My translation from Russian:
Fill the vial with nitrogen, then immediately close it with a stopper and crimp an aluminium cap on.
The Russian original uses the word "завальцевать", which is ...
0
votes
1answer
331 views
'Sick leave' and 'ill versus sick'
We want to use the terms ill and illness in our software instead of sick (see also Is there any difference between being ill and sick?), but I'm having difficulty finding a proper replacement for the ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
is this something we can write or just say
Is the sentence below run on or is it something we say to each other
Isn't "Have a great morning/night" a run-on sentence? or can I say "you have a great morning/night"? Or is that just a sentence we ...
5
votes
3answers
6k views
Can you “carry a child” in your womb?
Can I use "carry a child" to replace "carry a pregnancy"? Are there any single-word verbs I can use in this sense?
Surrogacy is an arrangement or agreement whereby a woman agrees to carry a ...
0
votes
2answers
4k views
how do you say: i was doing many things at the same time
I work with people that speaks in English (my native language is Spanish).
Yesterday i gave the wrong information to a coworker, so I wanted to apologize and explain that my mind was doing several ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Someone who has passed lots of difficulties in their lives
Please suppose someone who has had lots of difficulties in his life and has passed many problems so far. Someone who had been without money, food and even a home to live in for a long time and as the ...
