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.
113
questions
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2answers
45 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
30 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 ...
0
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1answer
22 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?
0
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1answer
56 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 ...
2
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1answer
51 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
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0answers
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 ...
0
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1answer
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 ...
1
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1answer
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?
1
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1answer
54 views
Which of āWill you just go?ā or āCan you just go?ā works better?
One of my stuĀdents barged into my classĀroom one day and was
getĀting on my nerves beĀcause I needed to clean up the mess he had
himĀself made earĀlier, so I wanted to ask him to leave me alone
and ...
1
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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
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1answer
623 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
3k 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
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3answers
74 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
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3answers
112 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
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1answer
117 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
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1answer
562 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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3answers
3k 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
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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
2
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1answer
151 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
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2answers
263 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
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1answer
27 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
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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?
3
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1answer
75 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
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3answers
8k 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
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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 ...
0
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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 ...
0
votes
2answers
320 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
220 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
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2answers
74 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 babyās risk of ...
2
votes
3answers
342 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
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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
101 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
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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
4answers
408 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
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2answers
48 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.
2
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2answers
122 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
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3answers
9k views
What is the difference between someone and somebody? [closed]
Should I say:
[ā¢] I'm thinking about someone.
Or
[ā¢] I'am thinking about somebody.
asked Apr 7 '18 at 8:17
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0answers
134 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
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1answer
443 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
213 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?
2
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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.")
...
0
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1answer
147 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
969 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
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1answer
90 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
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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
4k 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
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3answers
99 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 "Š·Š°Š²Š°Š»ŃŃŠµŠ²Š°ŃŃ", which is ...
0
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1answer
379 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 ...
