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.
5,917
questions
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Word to express something above awesome
Consider the scenario -
Where someone tell me I earn this much money per month. And the amount is really huge. So express my surprise
That's insane amount of money.
Is it correct to use insane ?
...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
“Highly” vs “Richly”
Sentence:-
"I highly/richly deserve this honour."
"He highly/richly deserves this punishment."
According to my textbook 1. Ans: "highly"
2. Ans: "richly"
As ...
0
votes
2answers
17 views
Word to communicate - Express in writing
Suppose I want communicate - Express in writing
Like if someone has solved a question but he hasn't given explanation
So I could ask him to express more in writing
Is there a good word for this ?
...
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votes
2answers
33 views
Word for fell asleep unconsciously
Is there a single word to express - I feel asleep unconsciously or like when it happens you just
want to relax on bed but fell asleep. How do you communicate that efficiently with a single word
or ...
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votes
1answer
24 views
Nuance of “Why” which has comma after it
On Twitter, a phrase in an advertising was mentioned as a mistake by a native English speaker.
Why, Subaru?
I think the advertising tries to say “Why don’t you choose Subaru?”
However, this sentence ...
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1answer
37 views
Should the following be “who” or “whom”?
You must be wondering who I am.
I think "who" in the object and therefore it should be "whom"? But for some reason, "who" sounds more natural to me.
What's the correct ...
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vote
0answers
23 views
Can “some” be used in “if” clause?
We can say "If you have any questions, please let me know." Then can we say "If you have some questions, please let me know."? Or what's the difference between them? Thanks.
0
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1answer
29 views
Is it correct to say “he lay on the bed rolling himself up because of cold”?
Look at the above picture, is it correct to say "he lay on the bed rolling himself up because of cold"?
Or Do we have a common word to express that lying position?
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3answers
61 views
Can a noun be used as a verb?
I wonder if it is possible to use a noun as a verb in a casual conversation. This is very common in my native language and when I was doing my research I found a text about it. I sounded like a ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Word for not close friendship [duplicate]
According to the Oxford dictionary:
Friend - a person who you know well and who you like a lot, but who is
usually not a member of your family.
What noun you can use for a person whos you know not ...
-3
votes
1answer
22 views
The body in/on his windshield
He got out of the car. Looked up at the building, then at the body in/on his windshield.
If the body is lying outside his windshield, should it be in or on?
2
votes
2answers
291 views
Broken/Shattered/* window
Imagine a floor to ceiling window with a big hole in it because someone has jump through it. If you saw that window would you describe it as broken or shattered or something else?
Two police officers ...
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1answer
35 views
What is so detailed in kitchen-sink?
Why do we use "kitchen-sink" to tell that something is made of a great detail, at the best quality etc.? Here is a part from Wikipedia article on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (emphasis ...
0
votes
2answers
31 views
use of “rather” in the beginning of a sentence
what does "rather" mean here?
It is part of their job to identify new security phenomena and define
strategies to cope with them. Therefore they are often trained and,
thus, predisposed to ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
What have you done to/with him?
all. What is more natural to use here - 'to' or 'with' ?
A: Where is Pete? What have you done to/with him?
B: He wasn't much of a help.
A: So what? You killed him?
B: That's right.
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1answer
13 views
Word Choice/Phrase: Alternate Term for “Little Opportunity”
I'm looking to use another word in place of "little opportunity," but can't seem to think of one. Any suggestions?
They left the country to escape the little opportunity.
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votes
1answer
17 views
Word choices - stretched/extended - snapped/burst/broke
She started running across the room when suddenly her sock caught on a nail in the floor. The sock stretched/extended... and snapped/burst/broke, sending her hard to the floor.
Which of the verbs ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Why is it “wrinkled his nose in disgust AT the smell” instead of “in disgust OF the smell”?
I came across this sentence:
He wrinkled his nose in disgust at the smell.
I wonder why not:
He wrinkled his nose in disgust of the smell.
Does it make any difference why we don't use of?
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0answers
35 views
Calling someone, “harsh”
I know that we can say someone is "harsh on someone," but I wonder if we can call someone harsh without specifying on whom.In dictionaries, I couldn't find definitions or examples of "...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Is “wipe off” correct here?
She started trying to wipe the ketchup off her shirt with a tissue, but only ended up smearing it more.
Is "wipe the ketchup off her shirt" the most natural and logical word to use in this ...
2
votes
1answer
22 views
Using “”formalized" for a solution
This is a formalized version of the solution. Is this sentence correct ? What are alternative
words one could use apart from formalized. The context is :
I solve a question but in a rough way. After ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
looking for an adverb for “without concealing a truth”
he told me about it without concealing the truth
is there any adverb I can replace the prepositional phrase with?
I think frankly and honestly would work in the context but favoring the intention, I'...
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votes
2answers
120 views
A better parody of “traitors, Rattlesnakes and alligators” [closed]
The song "Union Dixie" (the very opposite of "Dixie") sings: "Away down South in the land of traitors, rattlesnakes and alligators. Right away! Come away! Right away! Come ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
I didn't think something else vs. anything else
I asked my friend what he's doing, and he answered that he's resting. I responded "I didn't think something else", meaning I predicted it, and he responded that he thinks it should be "...
2
votes
2answers
88 views
Which is the better choice – “electoral roll”, “electoral register” or “voting list”?
I'm writing about the election of board members, and need to refer to the list of people who may cast a vote. In this context, which would be the better choice – "electoral roll", "...
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0answers
34 views
Which is the better choice – “election counting” or “vote counting”?
I need the technical term for the counting of votes after an election. I've found "election counting" and "vote counting", which both seem to be used to quite some extent – but ...
0
votes
2answers
50 views
“By the river” vs “at the river.” [duplicate]
Which one is more common?
Example sentence:
The firework festival was held at/by the river.
Or are they equally correct?
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Which is better – “election panel” or “nominating committee”?
Which is the better choice when I want to talk about a group of people whose task it is to nominate members for a board or the like – nominating committee or election panel? I've found both, but I ...
1
vote
2answers
30 views
Is “right of presence” the correct phrase in this context?
I'm looking for the correct term in English for the right that for instance an alternate board member may have to attend a board meeting even if they haven't been summoned to that particular meeting. ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
What does “overheard” mean in this context?
Tocqueville’s, Madison’s or J.S. Mill’s criticism of democracy as a
‘tyranny of the majority’ is therefore well founded. This has led to
corrective institutions, such as rule of law, basic rights for
...
1
vote
0answers
15 views
that's fine, that's OK or tomorrow is fine
If someone asks you if sending you the document you requested by (date) is Okay. Which answer is more idiomatic?
(date) is fine. (Is this OK in this context or only to confirm a meeting date?)
That's ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
“Which is to” or “What to” - which one is more accurate? [duplicate]
Between the two sentences, which one is more accurate and why?
Grammarly vs Prowritingaid – Which is to Choose?
Grammarly vs Prowritingaid – What to Choose?
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0answers
31 views
The keyboard shortcuts are completely different from that of Windows
I came across this sentence in an "actual speaking", and had seen similar examples in English context too many times. Nevertheless, my question is about whether the author had to use "...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
situation which/when/where/that
"But when you run away from a situation which/when/where/that you should've faced instead, the consequences might be, regret, disappointment, sadness, anger and disapproval from your loved ones.&...
3
votes
2answers
56 views
flowers fade or fade away or fade off?
What is the right word to use when we talk about withering flowers?
Is it faded or fade-off or fade away?
eg: The flowers faded-off/faded away/faded
3
votes
5answers
3k views
Is hi-fi a proper English word? [closed]
This hotel or pub is hi-fi ?
Is that a correct sentence ?
What are other good words one can use for a good quality pubs/clubs ?
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0answers
32 views
Online discussion section or online discussion session?
In an online course, there are sessions every, e.g., two weeks in which the teacher and the students hold an online Q&A meeting. It seems that both "online discussion section" and "...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
In which way vs in what way
Can these two expressions be used interchangeably? I'm not sure but if I'm not mistaken "in which way?" is not correct, or maybe I just can't come up with an appropriate sentence.Also I've ...
1
vote
2answers
42 views
Using “bark” about people to mean “yell angrily”
Suddenly the inmates break into singing. A prison guard tries to bark them to silence -
Prison guard: SILENCE!
I have seen "bark" used with people to describe that someone yells angrily, but ...
0
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0answers
21 views
Can the structure “let + Noun + adverb / preposition” be used with any preposition or adverb?
Say, the structure "go + adv./prep" can be used with almost any preposition or adverb.
For example, I went into the house / up the hill / on the bank of a river / through a tunnel / over the ...
3
votes
1answer
27 views
What is the difference between “have an issue” ,“facing an issue”, “have got an issue”?
If I'm contacting customer support of a software company to report an issue with the software prodct that I purchased from them what is the correct usage?
I have an issue
I'm facing an issue
I've got ...
0
votes
2answers
18 views
Is 'duration' a natural/standard term for end time - starting time?
I know duration is ok here, but is that always the word a native would
choose? Is there any more natural alternative?
For example:
Start Time: 3ᴘᴍ
End Time: 6ᴘᴍ
Duration: 3 Hours
I came across some ...
0
votes
2answers
24 views
Can I use “trimming” in the meaning of “add or remove extra materials and obtain the final format”?
We are writing a journal article with some friends. I want to tell them that we have to finish the main part of the work by mid-May, then we have time to "add or remove extra materials and obtain ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Which sentence correctly uses the verb “stand”?
I am not sure which sentence is normal or how they differ.
The lighthouse was standing on a cliff.
The lighthouse stood on a cliff.
Which one can I use? Also, is the stood in sentence number two a “...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Can I say “I was surfing Facebook and I found a video of a citizen shouting at a police officer”?
Is the expression "surfing Facebook" something native English speakers use in their talk?
0
votes
1answer
38 views
infinitive-to : what is the difference between two type of infinitives
I wonder about the usage of word “to” in the following sentences:
In the first example, the first phrase before ‘to say’ is a full sentence and in the second example it follows an adjective. I can ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Referring to female college age students while writing a novel
I am trying to write a novel. I want to write in a manner that will be respectful toward gender.
I have not yet figured out how to refer to female college-age characters quickly and smoothly without ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
What is the difference between “become sensitized” and “become sensitive” in the enclosed text?
I wonder what the difference between "become sensitized" and "become sensitive" in this context?
With time to appraise the ostracism episode, individuals become differentially ...
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0answers
28 views
Is there a single word to describe what one does on a treadmill?
I'm a native speaker but I often have trouble communicating my ideas efficiently. On a treadmill, I may walk, run, or use the 'intervals' program, which switches back and forth between walking and ...
0
votes
2answers
25 views
Sea devil description
Do "lamp" and "torch" work in #1 or only "lamp-like" "torch-like" appendage? And do native speakers use "face" when they talk about "fish" ...
