This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer about the several possibilities available for a particular meaning, and which one of them would be the most appropriate.
1
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2answers
28 views
The right word for left-handers
How to call left-handed people who were not forced to change to writing right-handed? Unrelearnt left-handers? Is there any optimal name?
1
vote
1answer
19 views
Difference between read on and read about
Very often my co-workers ask me the question:
What are you doing?
And I always wonder whether I should reply with reading on or reading about :
I am reading about the origins of the universe.
...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
Someone referred someone to someone
Say person B wanted to ask person A some question, but person A asked person B to find person C for an answer. When talking to person C, which one is correct?
"Hi, person A referred me to you / Hi, I ...
0
votes
2answers
27 views
approaches to 'architecture design' vs 'building an architecture' of a computer program
In case of software development, architecture of a computer program is a set of approaches and rules how to develop and maintain a computer program. The architecture is divided by a few layers and for ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
How to use “with”?
"I can't imagine a better monument to your mother," Miss Hurd said with an uncharacteristic catch in her voice.
Why does the word here use "catch" rather than "catching"?
I think that the word put ...
2
votes
3answers
44 views
Difference between “have” and “make”
I had the essay published in the school paper.
I made the essay published in the school paper.
Why I can't use "make" in the sentence ?
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Are in vs are included in vs are featured in
Would you explain the difference in meaning between the following sentences.
Is it okay that several scenes with Dana are in the movie?
Is it okay that several scenes with Dana are included in the ...
2
votes
2answers
508 views
the world’s richest man OR the richest person in the world?
Who is the richest man in the world?
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos surpassed Bill Gates in July 2017 to become
not only the world’s richest man, but the richest person in the world
with an ...
1
vote
2answers
25 views
Confusions of or in?
I am not sure which of the following sentences sounds more natural/correct.
Confusions of my head are driving me crazy
Or
Confusions in my head are driving me crazy
Any help is appreciated.
...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
In or on a plane?
I very well know you should say:
"I'm on board the (air)plane."
when you travel by air.
My question, however, is related to IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) software. So, could you tell me please ...
0
votes
0answers
4 views
Should I use “to a significant extent” or “by significant extent” in this sentence?
I find the meaning of to some extent as follow:
to some extent
Somewhat; partly; in a limited way or to a limited degree.
Your essay would be improved to some extent by tidying up your ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
How formal or euphemistic is “debris”?
Is the word "debris" considered to be an euphemism of other words? And does the word have some kind of the degree of formality? If yes, is it informal or formal one?
So the word 'debris' here is in ...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
Learn about vs. know about
I want to learn about different cultures.
I want to know about different cultures.
Do these two sentences mean the same?
0
votes
0answers
24 views
Which one is better [on hold]
please make sure there are the student name and class written on the back of the cheque/ bank-in-slip.
please make sure the student name and class are written on the back of the cheque/ bank-in-slip.
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Help to understand the usage of 'what' and 'but' in this sentence
Perhaps it was because he was now so busy, what with Quidditch practice three evenings a week on top of all his homework, but Harry could hardly believe it when he realized that he'd already been at ...
0
votes
3answers
22 views
Should I use “another” or “other” in this sentence?
Here are the sentences:
There’s no other words for it.
There’s no another word for it.
There’s no other word for it.
I think the first sentence is right, the second is less preferred, ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
“As of now”, is it possible to distinguish between the meanings?
I am quite puzzled as not even native speakers can agree whether "as of now" means "currently" or "from now on".
Looking in the dictionaries:
(Oxford) As from (of) - Used to indicate the time or date ...
1
vote
2answers
19 views
adjective to describe a video device with a lot of functionality
What's the right adjective to describe a video device like a camcorder or VCR that has a lot of functionality?
For example,
Wow! this camcorder/VCR is quite ________________ !
1
vote
1answer
18 views
is 'Truth be told' informal?
Truth be told, I do not like writing.
I know that some idioms are informal, but is this one also considered informal? I want to use it in my essay.
0
votes
2answers
30 views
Is it “gel spray” or “spray gel”?
I’ve come across products labeled spray gel and gel spray. I think they’re both correct. Spray gel means gel that is spray, and gel spray means spray that is gel. They refer to the same thing. Am I ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
data, a data, game data, or your data for game localization?
I'm learning English and localizing some sentences for a game.
I have done it just in case but I'm not sure I should use "data", "game data", "a data", or "your game data", etc...
How can I write them?...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Paint is flaking off
I saw the verbs flake off and peel is used for these situations but I would like to ask how to inform a painter or someone about the problem in different and unambiguous ways.
For example, which one ...
0
votes
2answers
19 views
-based with a two-word term
There is a technology called Spring Boot. I am describing a process built on this framework.
I want to say
an approach based on Spring Boot
but rephrase it by using an adjective with the suffix -...
-1
votes
2answers
18 views
Is there a way to say that “you weren't somewhere for some time that wasn't enough to do sth”
Somebody asks you
A) Could you do you homework last night/on the weekend?
B) No. I wasn't home enough (which means I needed 2 hours to do them
but I was home only for 30 minutes)
I'm ...
-2
votes
0answers
31 views
Is there a difference between Setup and Configuration? [closed]
Is there a difference between Setup and Configuration?
I am using setup but would like to know if it would be preferable to use configuration for a technical document.
0
votes
3answers
65 views
“In the city” meaning “not at home”
Consider the following sentence:
Sorry for not being at home when they came. I had to be in the city.
The person who says it lives in some city and on that day he/she is still in the same city ...
0
votes
2answers
55 views
Categorically vs. Explicitly
I have confusion about the exact difference between these two words. I understand that both are used to choose only one condition/situation/thing out of many, but it seems they have different meaning.
...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
“Dramatic” vs. “big” in “a dramatic effect”
Kindly consider the following sentence:
This rise in sea level will have a dramatic effect on coastal cities and towns all over the world.
I was told that the adjective "dramatic" in this context ...
1
vote
2answers
10 views
How do we say something started to happen frequently
I see my friend doing exam. He never look for answers when he doing his exam (rarely cheat on exam) and until the 3rd exam he looks for the answers on his notebook during his exam then he started to ...
0
votes
2answers
20 views
“The average” vs “an average.”
Do they mean different things, or pretty much the same?
For example:
I typed on Google "How many breaths does a person take in a day?" and scrolled down until I spotted an/the average: 17,000-30,...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
Would I use has or have in the following [duplicate]
Would I use has or have in the following:
My husband and my daughter have been strong and supportive advisors throughout my endeavor.
My husband and my daughter has been strong and supportive ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Are my usage of “already”, “at once”, and “immediately” correct?
To demand something or want someone to do something immediately, I have a few expressions:
Tell me already: I don’t want to you to tease me any longer.
Tell me at once: I’ve become really annoyed by ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views
Is this a correct sentence? - He is likes to … (play/playing) guitar
I read in an educational book this sentence.
He is likes to ....... (play/playing) guitar.
I have to choose between play or playing but all the sentence form is odd sound for me.
Is this a correct ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
Through or because of
Is it acceptable to say “John earned a medal of Bravery through his actions”?
It would makes sense to prefer ‘because of’ instead of ‘through’ but is this acceptable or simply poor grammar?
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Which word is most common in everyday language for an electrical outlet - “socket”, “outlet”, or “plug”?
In everyday language, which standalone word denominates it best?
"Socket", "Outlet" or "Plug"?
0
votes
2answers
27 views
The difference between 'in', 'to' and 'into'
I cannot decide what is a proper preposition in a sentence below:
Then place the discharged battery to the charger.
So is the preposition "to" right? I am not sure whether "in" or even "into" is ...
1
vote
2answers
50 views
What is correct, “demonstrate” or “demonstrates”?
What is correct, "demonstrate" or "demonstrates"? in this sentence from CNN:
The announced concessions on dairy in the new USMCA deal demonstrates once again that the Canadian government is willing ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Meaning of the word “illuded”
I'm doing some test online (on Upwork) and this is one question:
Complete the following sentence:
The herd of gazelles successfully __________ the wild cheetahs.
alluded
eluded
...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Which one is correct? “Might be” or “might get”?
Which sentence is correct?
Their study might be hampered.
or
Their study might get hampered.
0
votes
1answer
22 views
school of economics/economic
What is more natural use in English when you speak about the school where you study economy?
I heard some people say School of economics and in the other hand Economic School. What is correct? Is ...
3
votes
2answers
744 views
Here's a bunch of versions of the word “smuggler's boat”. Please tell me which one is best or normal
As we English learners do, I fed words to google to find the most popular variation. This is what I ended up with:
Word: Result count:
A "smuggle boat" 56
B "smuggle ship" ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
the meaning of save on more good times
save on more good times
It's from an ad.
Why did we use save on rather than save at, as I usually collocate at with time.
Does it mean I can get savings at the next times?
0
votes
1answer
35 views
What's the right adjective to describe a joke that is not the greatest?
What's the right adjective to describe a joke that is not the greatest, that is, not as funny as other jokes are?
For example:
Usually, Jack reacts with a lot of laughter even to the smallest
of ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Is the sentence “Could I smoke here?" ungrammatical?
The correct sentence is "Can I smoke here?", but I wonder why I can't use "could" in this question.
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Misdrank/leaked out of the mouth/spill on the floor(word choice)
This is a word choice question-describing a minor mishap when a person is drinking any liquid.
While I was sipping some of my coffee out of a cup, I misdrank it, and then it leaked out of my mouth ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Stimulating VS Various, Numerous
Is the use of STIMULATING appropriate in the following sentence or can I use VARIOUS/NUMEROUS instead? If yes, how would it change the meaning of the sentence?
There are stimulating factors because ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
Does “doubt” invoke “would ever” construction?
I saw this sentence in Oxfords’ definition of doubt:
They had doubts that they would ever win.
As I know, ever is used in negative sentence. So is doubt a negative word?
And I think never means ...
0
votes
2answers
35 views
What is the word for a kid's bedroom?
I want to know a word for a kid's bedroom just like a women's bedroom is called a boudoir.
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Some issues that are bothering me about the following sentence
The sentence is:
Intrigued by its success, I wanted to deepen my knowledge of the language’s history and of the unique culture that sprang around it.
I wrote it as a part of a project I have to ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Naming a bonus in a betting game creator
What can I name the bonus that a betting game creator extra adds to the total stakes from his/her credits?
On this gaming website, a member can create a game with options for other members to place ...
