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.
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Are there any differences in the ways of speaking English by men and women? Any typical examples?
In Japan, my home country, men and women speak slightly differently in terms of word choice and how to end a sentence, to give you just a few examples. This is especially true in informal situations. ...
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53 views
Is it normal to find mistakes in the novel “Lord of Flies”?
I started reading “Lord of Flies” from William Golding, and so far I really like it.
However, I came across many grammar or verb mistakes like the ones below:
“Your dad don’t know, nobody don’t know......
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51 views
Damning problem
As a task at my university, I am proofreading and commenting on an academic paper of my groupmate. I came across the word combination "damning problem" in the following context:
The most ...
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1answer
32 views
Is “long since” a conversational phrase?
Is "long since" a conversational phrase? Or is it more likely used in written document?
Even though her parents have long since died, she still talks about them in the present tense.
Have you ...
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25 views
Is “to be (couple of pages) in” formal or informal?
For example:
I lost interest after I had been a couple of pages in.
Can we use this sentence in formal situations?
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57 views
Teacher said I write in a pompous register? Why? Could you help me understand? [closed]
Okay, so I've submitted a proposal to my teacher. I get the part that I've made inaccurately structured sentences, also I understand that I have missed to an extend the point of the given task. But I ...
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1answer
55 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 ...
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38 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 ...
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34 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 ...
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43 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?
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1answer
54 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 ...
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1answer
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“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.
...
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1answer
730 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 ...
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4answers
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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 ...
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3answers
80 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...
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3answers
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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 ...
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1answer
138 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 ...
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1answer
604 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 / ...
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“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 ...
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2answers
86 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
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1answer
161 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 ...
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2answers
294 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?
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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, ...
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1answer
78 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?
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1answer
77 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 (...
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3answers
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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?
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1answer
53 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 ...
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2answers
197 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 ...
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2answers
394 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 ...
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2answers
252 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 ...
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2answers
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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 ...
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3answers
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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 ...
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1answer
2k 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....
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1answer
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“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
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1answer
44 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!
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459 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?
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54 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.
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2answers
137 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 ...
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3answers
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What is the difference between someone and somebody? [closed]
Should I say:
[•] I'm thinking about someone.
Or
[•] I'am thinking about somebody.
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0answers
135 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 ...
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1answer
462 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 ...
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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 ...
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2answers
224 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 ...
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1answer
47 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?
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7answers
1k 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.")
...
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1answer
157 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 ...
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2answers
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“cranial” vs “cerebral”
Is there a substantial difference between the adjectives "cranial" and "cerebral"? Are these ones interchangeable in a not-so-medical context?
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1answer
91 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 ...
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2answers
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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 ...
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4answers
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“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 ...
