Questions tagged [sentence-choice]
The Sentence-Choice tag is for when you can have multiple ways to write a sentence but are not sure which way is most appropriate. Please explain which sentence you prefer and why.
623
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neither did she jump nor sing
What is the correct way of using "neither nor"?
Alex neither jumped nor sang.
Neither did she jump nor sing.
Neither jumped she nor sang.
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1
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The university bestowed an honorary degree on her (vs. to her)
The university bestowed an honorary degree on her. (O)
The university bestowed an honorary degree to her. (X)
If 'to' is not used, why it is not used?
When you use 'on' instead of 'for/to' as in the ...
- 2,556
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2
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Is it correct to say "I dodged my arm away from his punch"?
Normally, we say "a man + dodge + the thing that is moving to him".
For example, "he dodged the bullet", "he dodged the punch".
Can we say "a man + dodge + a part of ...
- 14.9k
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"Located at" or "located on"
I was doing a biology worksheet, and was confused which sentence to use, or are both correct?
The stoma is located at/on the underside of the leaf
Is there a difference?
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Alternatives to saying beginning to end
I can say a sentence: I built this product from beginning to end. The intention is
to communicate that I alone worked on this product (Software product) and no one else. And I started from nothing ...
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34
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What is the best short message to get away from virtual meeting for short time?
Due to the pandemic, many daily standup meetings were converted into video calls but it is not always possible to be available on the call all the time, sometimes we have to get away from the call for ...
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1
answer
85
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When to use "vary depend on" and "vary depending on"? [closed]
I found these examples:
Source: https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/7-508-0012?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)
The purchase of real estate is subject to transfer tax (ITBI)....
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1
answer
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Is it fine to use the word "completed" when we talk about an object instead of a process?
I have a small script to back up some of my files. It works completely silently and it doesn't provide any success or error messages, even if something is wrong.
The only message window popping up in ...
- 419
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23
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"What does it mean 'something'" Vs. "What does 'something' mean?"
I always said "What does it mean '-----'?". (For example: What does it mean 'legend'?).
Today I had thought maybe I'm mistaken and it should be: "What does 'something' mean?" (i.e....
- 26.1k
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1
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Has he come of age yet? [closed]
Has he come of age yet?
How do you usually ask that? As I understand it, the above-mentioned sentence isn't common (among Google books, on the internet). Why?
- 1,937
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Reminiscence, sleuthing
Reminiscence means recollecting past events and sleuthing means a detective solving mystery. When writing or talking, can it be delivered like this
I met a very old friend, we were reminiscing,or ...
- 365
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1
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31
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Looking for the right word for error. "Tendency"?
I am looking for the best way to describe in a report what I am observing in a experiment.
There are cars (or objects) in front of me, and my system is inferring a property of them (for example their ...
- 747
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29
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It happened when he was abroad. (4 versions of the sentence)
It happened when he was abroad. [the main subject is "it"]
When it happened, he was abroad. [the main subject is "it"]
He was abroad when it happened. [the main subject is "...
- 1,937
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"Why did the postman not come today?" Vs. "Why didn't the postman come today?"
I saw a post about common mistakes in English, and one of the mistakes was:
Why the postman did not come today? - incorrect
Why didn't the postman come today? - correct
According to the grammar I ...
- 26.1k
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2
answers
77
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Looking for a suitable formal sentence [closed]
I am a non-native researcher in the field of education. I want to write the following message in one of my academic reports, but I think it looks slightly casual. Could you please suggest to me a ...
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1
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These jeans aren’t big enough for me. / These jeans are too small for me
These jeans aren’t big enough for me.
These jeans are too small for me.
If I understand right, these sentences have the same meaning. But, in practise, it is used only the second version [NGram]. ...
- 1,937
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1
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It sounds good to go to the club tonight. / The idea to go to the club tonight sounds good
It sounds good to go to the club tonight.
The idea to go to the club tonight sounds good.
If I understand correctly, the meaning of those sentences is the same. Which version is more natural for ...
- 1,937
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votes
2
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371
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Planned Leave: Simple Present vs Future
Could anyone please clarify which among the below is correct and why?
I will be on planned leave today and tomorrow
or
I am on planned leave today and tomorrow
If I want to communicate this at 8 ...
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2
answers
47
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One of them was very successful. / One of them was a success
One of them was very successful.
One of them was a success.
If the first sentence is quite common, then the second one is surprised me. I have noticed that version in different sources. Is there the ...
- 1,937
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1
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stories for publishing / stories to publish
I had a few stories for publishing.
I had a few stories to publish.
As I understand the second version is most common [Ngram] but I can't understand why. Could you explain it, please? Is there the ...
- 1,937
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1
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28
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Few children in the class / Few of the children in the class
Few children in the class have excellent marks.
Few of the children in the class have excellent marks.
Do you see the difference in the meaning? Is there really the need to use the second version, or ...
- 1,937
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There are only three TV channels on my old TV set. / My old-fashioned TV set has only three channels
There are only three TV channels on my old TV set.
My old TV set has only three channels.
Is it appropriate to use "there are" in this context or only the second version sounds good for ...
- 1,937
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There is a little juice left in my glass. / I have a little juice in my glass
There is a little juice left in my glass.
I have a little juice in my glass.
Which version for native speakers sounds more natural, or are they both fine?
For me, as a learner, the second version ...
- 1,937
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0
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What's the best description of relationship between coach/trainer and coachee/trainee?
I'm a non native English speaker.
The purpose of this question is to find a good name for the web application I plan on building that would help coaches take notes of their trainees, finances, ...
- 111
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2
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It’s wrong to treat animals as if they had no feelings. (meaning)
It’s wrong to treat animals as if they had no feelings. [Source] (What's the meaning of this unknown (for me) Conditional?)
As I understand this sentence, here is used some Conditional. But what ...
- 1,937
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1
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41
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Is “someone meets something” common?
Three expressions:
Someone meets someone
Someone meets something
Something meets someone
I can see that the first expression is commonly used by native speakers. I wonder if the second and the third ...
- 163
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1
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29
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"Causes teeth cavities" or "Causes cavities in teeth"
As you know, "cavity" refers to a hole or an empty space between two surfaces or on a surface or inside of it.
Also, this is the only noun which can refer to teeth decay!
Having said that, I ...
- 13.6k
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1
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32
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DIfference between in regard(s) to vs with regard(s) to
Can you tell me the difference between: in regard(s) to vs. with regard(s) to
and the plural "s" is needed or not?
For example: "I do not take any responsibility in regard(s) to the ...
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85
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Expressing expectation for future career
In a paragraph, I have written about my past experiences, plans, and my interests. As a conclusion I want a single sentence to explicitly express my expectation for my future career.
I can simply say &...
- 115
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votes
1
answer
36
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How to put equal emphasis on the application used in a training program in addition to the content/material taught?
I completed some certificate courses, which are designed to teach people how to conduct statistical analysis using "R" (a programming language).
I am trying to highlight this in my resume. I ...
- 9,896
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2
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53
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"Go back being friends" vs "go back to being friends."
Google Ngrams says that go back to being friends is a lot more common than go back being friends.
Is the reason grammatical? Or there's another reason? (Or maybe they are equally correct?)
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Synthesis(If the answer below is correct?) [closed]
Is there any difference in the below two sentences? (synthesis)
Use much to transform the sentence:
Mother needs to be very patient when talking to her teenage daughter.
Much patience is needed by ...
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177
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Choose whichever [one] you prefer
Apple or banana, choose whichever you prefer.
Apple or banana, choose whichever one you prefer.
If the options are only "Apple" and "Banana", which of the above phrases is correct ...
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Related to payments made by accountant to vendors
Vendor To recipient : Hello I'm here to receive the payment for the goods rendered to your store. Could you please let me know who pays for it Or Should it be "Who does the payment for the ...
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Is it okay to say "I bought a dresser from a furniture shop"?
In this case "in" is the correct preposition, but is it possible to say "I bought a dresser from a furniture shop"? If yes, does it have the same meaning as "I bought a ...
- 277
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Which answers are right for "When did we first meet?"
Question: When did we first meet?
Answers:
It'll be 5 years on Tuesday.
It'll have been 5 years on Tuesday.
It'll have been 5 years on Tuesday since we first met.
It'll have been 5 years on Tuesday ...
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Should there be only one preposition in the following sentence: from or on?
This aircraft can take off from and land on both land and water.
This aircraft can take off and land on both water and land.
Are both these sentences grammatically correct? If yes, then which one ...
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Does the line in bold do the job?
Demonetization was supposed to at least partly solve the problem of
black money in the economy. It did very little of that and only caused a lot of inconvenience to the common man.
I basically want ...
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1
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What is an idiomatic and polite way to tell students to make their homwork handwritting clear and readable?
I wonder how to politely tell students to make the handwritting of their homework clear and readable. I don't know the standard ways of saying this since I never see university professors emphasize ...
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Is it okay to say "We are no more in the 20th century"? Using "no more" with periods of time
The most correct form is "We are no longer in the 20th century". But saying "We are no more in the 20th century" or "We are in the 20th century no more" is also correct? ...
- 277
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There is something wrong with me, I don’t feel well. / There is something wrong with me, I don’t feel so good
Is it natural to combine these two parts of the sentences if we speak about one's health? Could the beginning of the sentence by itself say about one's health, for example, 'he is catching a cold'?
...
- 1,937
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'Play a more and more significant role' vs. 'play more and more a significant role'
I am a bit confused about which of the following two sentences are correct.
[A] Education plays a more and more significant role in people's lives.
[B] Education plays more and more a significant ...
- 2,265
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22
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There is no one we have to wait. / We have no one else to wait for
I'm trying to translate this sentence from my native language. Please, see the following versions:
We have no one to wait anymore. (That's my online teacher version. I think, it's not correct. I can'...
- 1,937
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34
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"Polar opposite of someone" or "someone's polar opposite"
As you know the term "polar opposite" means "the complete or exact opposite of something else."
As far as I'm concerned, we can say something like: "we're polar opposites,&...
- 13.6k
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1
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31
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Get negative thoughts (away from yourself / out of your mind)
I was wondering as which one of the following structures sounds more natural to be said to Yoga students by their master?
a. Get negative thoughts away from yourself.
b. Get negative thoughts out of ...
- 13.6k
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(Be full of / Have a lot of) (needs / demands)
I was wondering what combination sounds more idiomatic here in my example?
Children .................. So, forward-looking parents would better make sure whether they can fulfill their needs and meet ...
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We **were thinking/thought** a lot about where the best place for celebration is - Past Simple or Past Continuous?
Which tense is better here?
We were thinking/thought a lot about where the best place for
celebration is. In the beginning, we decided to rent a cafe, but it's
really expensive nowadays. Later, we ...
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2k
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Where are you headed? VS. Where are you heading? [closed]
Where are you headed?
Where are you heading?
What are the differences between the two sentences, and how should I use them?
- 235
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2
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51
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Difference between "get down here" and "come down here"?
Could someone please tell me the difference between "get down here" and "come down here"? Is "get down here" even natural or is it bad English?
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Is there a difference in the meaning of this sentence if I put "according to" at the beginning of the second dpd clause vs at the end of the sentence?
I want to say
Taliban is never trustable
Taliban was a supporter of Xinjiang islamist militants (source: China)
I wrote this sentence:
Taliban is never trustable, and they were one of the ...
