Questions tagged [word-choice]
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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1answer
8 views
to have a lot of guts
Are there any other expressions to say "I have a lot of guts"?
The situation is you want to express that you have enough courage and conviction in a job interview.
1
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1answer
12 views
'Teleworking' or 'remote work'?
I am reading a book for learning business English, reading the text from the book I came across the term "teleworking", which is in essence a remote work.
I've seen the term "remote work" various ...
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0answers
15 views
refer to “x” by “y” or refer to “x” as “y”
How to correctly use refer to:
We refer to products prior to "x" by "y"
Or,
We refer to products prior to "x" as "y"
1
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1answer
40 views
What's the difference between 'I have worked in this company before' and 'I had worked in this company before'
If I used to work in a company, which one of the sentences given below is correct when I am telling someone about this experience:
(1) I have worked in this company before; or
(2) I had worked in ...
1
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1answer
12 views
“Next comments” or “following comments”?
Which would be more correct: “next comments” or “following comments” in the sentence: “Save my name and email for my next comments”? This sentence is used in the context of saving user's data for ...
2
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4answers
37 views
“The devil is in the detail” or “The devil is in details”
Which statement is correct?
The devil is in the detail
Or,
The devil is in details
0
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1answer
19 views
Do we say “in the nightmarescape” or “on the nightmarescape”?
I am really not sure. I often have trouble determining if we should use "in" or "on", but in this case it seems both are valid. Is there a general rule, because I feel like I have asked similar ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Ranking vs Rank which one is correct in the sentence
Please help which one is grammatically correct... There is no context just wondering...
1) I want to compare your course rank versus others rank.
2) I want to compare your course rank versus others ...
0
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1answer
18 views
How do I write people doing something at the same time?
While Lorrainne got in the driver's seat mom got into the passenger seat.(they are switching places)
0
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1answer
31 views
crosscheck x with z?
I am not sure about my use of the word crosscheck.
I have a sentence similar to:
To ensure the program correctness, we manually crosscheck the
program's xyz function, and the product expiration ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
“prior” vs. “previous” work
Are prior and previous interchangeable in this context?
... including datasets from previous work.
And,
... including datasets from prior work.
Can you clarify please what is the difference ...
3
votes
4answers
95 views
“Lack of” vs “shortage of”
The plants have shut down for lack of funds.
Why can we not say:
The plants have shut down for shortage of funds.
I can not tell the difference.
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2answers
31 views
What's a term that can encompass “check in” and “check out”?
The "check in" and "check out" here is not of a hotel, but like of an hourly work freelance "check in" and "check out" type. So when the user "check in", they are considered show up to work. And when ...
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0answers
26 views
Can vs May (Which one is correct?)
Which modal verb do I use in the first blank? I know that “may” is for asking permission, but “can” is for showing capability. So throwing a peel is somewhat a capability.
Some people can/may ...
2
votes
1answer
31 views
Blocked Vs obstructed
Which word is an appropriate choice below?
They are trying to clear roads blocked/obstructed by fallen trees.
The confusion is because, in the context, both word choices seem correct. Both means ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Draw \ pull water from well
He is drawing water from well.
He is pulling water from well.
Which is more suitable in this context?
Is there any suitable phrasal verb for this?
Thank you.
3
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2answers
36 views
Is the word “grown” required?
In Aquaman (2018) movie, Orb says to King Ricou, who is living under water:
You're a kingdom of bloated philosophers and flaccid poets whose
waters have grown stagnant, and it sickens me.
Is the ...
1
vote
1answer
11 views
“Wrap up in” alternatives in this context
When I was a child my mother used to wrap me up in heavy clothes.
When I started going school she used to [gap] my uniform.
I know the phrasal verb put on, can I use put me on in the gap.
...
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7answers
765 views
Can you describe someone as luxurious?
Can you describe someone as luxurious? As in someone who likes luxurious things?
We're pretty sure you can't, but we don't know what word you'd use. It's not hedonistic, that's different. We're just ...
0
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0answers
30 views
How to talk with your one-year-old baby? [on hold]
This question is about English language daily conversations.
What are the phrases and sentences you would say to your one-year-old children, or any toddler?
How would you tell him to come where you ...
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3answers
52 views
What can be used instead of the word 'depressed'?
I heard that 'depressed' is used for serious conditions such as melancholiacs. Then what word could be used for daily lives?
1
vote
1answer
29 views
“Storey” or “storeyed” in this context
Cambridge dictionary says:
It's a normal two storeyed house.
There is a single-storeyed extension on the back of the house.
A three-storey house.
There is no hyphen in the first, and the ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Should I use “was” or “were” in “as though he was frightened”?
I have seen a sentence and there was:
He acted strangely, as though he was frightened.
Is "was" right for this sentence? Or must there be "WERE".
4
votes
2answers
359 views
Is it correct to say “which country do you like the most?”
Is it correct to say "which country do you like the most?" or is there any other way to ask this question?
Is it ok to skip 'the' in this question? I heard that one should use 'the' when speaking ...
4
votes
1answer
201 views
How to say in one word “the one who you talk with”?
Google translate says it's "interlocutor". But I've never heard of it before. I suspect it is a very formal word (used in the legal etc.). FWIW, in Russian there is a pretty common word "собеседник" (...
2
votes
2answers
20 views
Word choice - Opening of a gap
Looking for a word to describe the opening or widening of a gap. Like, if you are experiencing an earthquake and the earth opened in front of you, how you you describe that with "Oh look, the ground ...
2
votes
1answer
27 views
Finesse=amazing (word choice)
Let's say you are describing a newly built building in your hometown. You say it is amazing:
The new building has a finesse architectural design.
An American say it is wrongly used. But an online ...
3
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1answer
40 views
“I came to Paris.” or “I got to Paris.”
I came to Paris.
I got to Paris.
Have any difference of the above sentence?
3
votes
2answers
35 views
Sorry, I was in the Gym
In the sentence Sorry, I was in the Gym, should I use in, on or at? Is there a rule of thumb that I can follow to always know which one to use it?
0
votes
2answers
17 views
The gains vs amount of time required is not worth it
Why should I say
The gains vs amount of time required are not worth it
and not
The gains vs amount of time required is not worth it
?
0
votes
0answers
11 views
“considered as” vs “considered to be”
I'm trying to understand the difference between considered to be and considered as according to this link on ELU, but I still can't figure out which one to choose in my sentence:
In addition to ...
1
vote
1answer
18 views
He is coming straight [ to \ for \ at ] me
We generally use to for showing movement.
He is coming straight to me.
But Cambridge dictionary says:
The dog seemed to be coming at \ for me.
Can I use to instead?
1
vote
1answer
20 views
It felt like “I'm going on an adventure”
I have been working on a software that it looks like an adventure (it's hard).
In the last three weeks, I have worked on new software, and I finished it just now. I want to say to my co-workers "...
1
vote
1answer
19 views
Finish VS Complete in this context
I heard people say:
A: Hurry up!
B: Hang on! Let me complete my work.
But many people in this context use:
Hang on! Let me finish my work.
Are they interchangeable?
Thank you.
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Could you spell it out for | to me
Is there any difference between:
Could you spell it out for me
vs
Could you spell it out to me
2
votes
3answers
49 views
A word meaning “to take something with you since it is not difficult for you anyway”
I am looking for a word that I could use when I am asking someone to help me by taking something with them, and I’d like to stress that I am asking for this favour because I know it is not a big deal.
...
1
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2answers
30 views
What should I attack | tackle next
When talking about a new assignment at work, the scrum master always says
You should tackle ticket [ticketNumber] next.
Is tackle the right choice? Can I use attack instead?
Thank you.
1
vote
2answers
33 views
In regard to the list of suggestions
Is it right to say In regard to the list of suggestions...?
I've used Grammarly and the Algorithm suggested to chance to Regarding to the list.
Is it different? How?
1
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1answer
28 views
What to write in mail if someone asking to reply to confirm [closed]
what to send in reply if someone asking to reply the mail to confirm
As discussed, Please find the details below and kindly
confirm your presence by replying to this email.
I am thinking that it ...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
“make things look better” and more detail
A basic sentence:
They make things look better than they are.
So far, it seems ok. But now I would like to be more specific:
They make things look better on TV or on posters than they are.
And ...
0
votes
2answers
29 views
What is the right preposition when you write about limiting choices
Is this the right way to write about choices limitation.
Students' choices should be restricted\limited to\in vocational
courses.
Or
Your choices are limited to\in the following options (a or ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Alternative word for TODO
As a programmer myself, I usually use the word 'todo' when I comment something on my code. The word is descriptive enough on that purpose, but I can hardly come up with any alternative words for it ...
0
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1answer
13 views
alive once alive forever?
doubt
Is it correct to say
alive once alive forever
meaning one who feels alive once lives forever?
0
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1answer
32 views
is there any difference between “fisherman/woman” and “fisher”?
I've frequently come across the term "fisherman" (more rarely in the feminine) meaning a person who catches fish, whereas "fisher" was limited to religious texts. Now in a Cambridge FCE test a number ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
make or makes in this context?
Their love of (something) and (something) make/makes (I forget what was here). (sorry i forgot the blanks it was on an sat test)
2
votes
1answer
24 views
which word sounds natural? (common/usual/regular) [closed]
I google a lot about the meaning of these words, but I could not find out what is the best choice for my sentence?
kings decided in the dictator manner without listening to others' advice. Therefore, ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Confusing choice- born or borne
having a good day.
Mary has BORNE a son(give birth to...)
Does this book lie to me?
1
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2answers
19 views
“Performance in the office” vs “performance at the office.”
What's the correct option? Maybe both are okay?
Example sentence:
Research has shown that naps improve mood, focus, memory, which translates into better performance in/at the office.
(Performance ...
1
vote
2answers
19 views
Generic person: “how can you do that?” or “how can one do that?”
I'm making a generic question, addressed to no one specific:
can I write: "How can you do that?"
or should I use: "How can one do that?"
I like the first one better but I've heard that the second ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
“This is considered…” vs. “This is considered as…” [duplicate]
Does this "as" change the meaning or correctness of this sentence?
This is considered as socially desired.
This is considered socially desired.
Are both of them grammatically correct? Why or why ...
