Questions tagged [difference]
This tag is for questions about the difference in meaning between certain words, phrases, or sentences.
4,895
questions
133
votes
14
answers
116k
views
Is there any difference between “which” and “that”?
What is the difference between the words which and that?
For example:
I have a car which is blue.
I have a car that is blue.
Are there any rules specifying usage of which and that?
- 3,101
111
votes
8
answers
151k
views
Is there any difference between being ill and sick?
I can say I'm ill or I'm sick. But what is the difference between the usage of these terms?
I've heard that one can use sick for longer-term and ill for shorter-term, but is that really correct? How ...
- 5,790
103
votes
11
answers
9k
views
Free as in "free speech", not as in "free beer"
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. — Richard Stallman
Translating free to my language (...
- 8,125
100
votes
11
answers
305k
views
Should I say "She is in the park" or "She is at the park"?
I am really confused. Which preposition is correct?
She is in/at the park.
They are in/at the park.
I am in/at the park.
Should I use in or at in these sentences?
Ana
97
votes
11
answers
355k
views
What is the difference between “nope” and “no”?
What is the difference caused by using “nope” instead of ”no”?
Is it used because “nope” sounds better and not straight like “no”? In some situations, it feels like nope is better to use than no even ...
- 1,081
92
votes
3
answers
849k
views
"As following" vs "as follows"
Which of the following sentences is more appropriate?
The reasons for these decisions are as following:
The reasons for these decisions are as follows:
This operator is defined as following:
This ...
- 1,075
80
votes
6
answers
354k
views
What's the difference between "center" and "centre"?
Which one is correct: examination center or examination centre? What is the difference between center and centre? Is the difference only in spelling? What is the usage difference?
- 1,318
78
votes
7
answers
13k
views
(In, On or At) GitHub?
What's the difference between say:
"The project will be on GitHub",
"The project will be in GitHub" and
"The project will be at GitHub"?
- 903
76
votes
6
answers
356k
views
"firstly ... secondly ..." or "first ... second ... "?
Suppose I am enumerating reasons not to fly. Is it then correct to write/say:
Firstly, I prefer the train because I can see the landscape. Secondly, I have control over my luggage, and thirdly, it is ...
- 4,735
58
votes
12
answers
11k
views
Difference between "illegal" and "very illegal"
From my understanding of English, "very" means "more than the usual" or "to a higher extent".
I've seen on several places the expression "very illegal", such as here as an example: https://youtu.be/...
- 1,043
57
votes
5
answers
85k
views
What's the difference between "last" and "latest"?
When should I use "last" and "latest"?
I found two examples:
What was the last book you read?
Karen was always up to date on the latest fashions
It seems both mean "the most recent". Can we use ...
- 775
56
votes
4
answers
344k
views
What is the difference among "Sign up", "Sign in" and "Log in"?
As I said in the title, I am wondering what is the meaning of the following expressions, and what are the differences between them ?
"Sign up"
"Sign in"
"Log in"
- 1,911
54
votes
7
answers
744k
views
Usage "in spite of" and "despite of"
What are the difference between these two prepositions: "despite of" and "in spite of"?
And what is the general usage of this two: choose in different situation, followed by etc.
user20
49
votes
4
answers
220k
views
"How it works?" vs "How does it work?"
What is the difference between:
"How it works?"
and
"How does it work?"
- 613
46
votes
10
answers
861k
views
What is the difference between "me neither" and "me either"?
I want to know the difference between "me neither" and "me either", are both correct?
- 597
42
votes
8
answers
130k
views
The difference between "Older" and "Elder"
What is the difference between "Older" and "Elder" ?
And are they interchangeable ?
- 2,382
41
votes
3
answers
11k
views
What is the difference between IMO and IMHO and IHOP?
I was reading a public forum, and I saw the following abbreviations:
IMO
IMHO
IHOP
As far as I see, these are interchangeable somehow, but I don't understand the correct usage of them.
Just assuming ...
- 1,102
41
votes
9
answers
174k
views
"co-worker" vs. "colleague"
What is the difference between "co-worker" and "colleague"?
In my company there is an employee whose name is Bob. But Bob and I, we don't know each other. In this case, is Bob my "co-worker" or "...
- 649
41
votes
2
answers
155k
views
What is the difference between "wait" and "await"?
I'd like to know the difference between the two verbs since they seem to have the same meaning. When should I use await, and when wait?
- 463
40
votes
5
answers
104k
views
What is the difference between "do you like" and "would you like"?
Do you like candy?
Would you like some candy?
Do you like walking?
Would you like to go for a walk?
What is the difference? And are they the same or not? Do they any use in different situations?
- 4,267
40
votes
5
answers
71k
views
Is Let us = Let's?
Many times I heard these words interchangeably. I want to know if "Let's" and "Let us" are used for the same meaning.
I think (for me):
"Let us" is word used for requesting. Like Let us do something ...
- 1,202
40
votes
5
answers
457k
views
Working in / for / at?
Which is the correct way to tell where I'm working?
I'm working in XYZ company.
I'm working for XYZ company.
I'm working at XYZ company.
Or is there any difference in the meaning?
- 871
39
votes
7
answers
15k
views
Why is 'The Chinese have invented the printer' wrong?
In the textbook by by Raymond Murphy, Intermediate English Grammar, 2nd edition, on page 26:
"The Chinese invented printing."
Raymond Murphy says that we can't use the present perfect here. ...
- 1,617
39
votes
3
answers
97k
views
“file doesn’t exist” or “file doesn’t exists”
You’ve requested the example.txt file. That file doesn’t exist/exists.
Which one should I use? Why?
- 733
37
votes
3
answers
204k
views
Differences between "mandatory" and "compulsory"
What is the difference between mandatory and compulsory? Are they synonyms? Can they be used interchangeably especially with regard to something you must do?
Writing the essay is a mandatory task.
...
- 1,029
37
votes
5
answers
19k
views
What is the difference between can and could in 'Can/could you please explain this to me?'
Can you please explain this to me?
Could you please explain this to me?
I am unable to figure out which to use which situation. I did google, and some posts say they are both the same, even if ...
user448
35
votes
11
answers
19k
views
What is the difference between robbing and stealing?
In a song (The Troubles by U2), there is this:
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Somebody stepped inside your soul
Little by little they robbed and stole
Till someone else was in control
I ...
- 1,911
34
votes
4
answers
47k
views
What is the difference between "hug" and "embrace"?
What is the difference between hug and embrace?
Hug:
Squeeze (someone) tightly in one's arms, typically to express affection.
Embrace:
Hold (someone) closely in one's arms, esp. as a sign of ...
- 10.2k
33
votes
1
answer
30k
views
What's the difference between words "number", "count", "amount" and "quantity"? [closed]
I just can't understand when i should use one of these words and when another. They are too similar, but looks like they are not absolutely the same. So what is the difference between them?
- 507
31
votes
7
answers
198k
views
Difference between "in time" and "on time"
I have an appointment at 8 and I arrive there at 7:55, is it "on time" or "in time"? What about "the nick of time"?
- 711
29
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Dates and times: "on", "in", "at"?
I’m often confused when I speak about times and dates. What is the rule for using on, in, and at in the following sentences?
I will do it ___ Tuesday.
We married ___ March.
He returned ___ the same ...
- 8,125
29
votes
4
answers
665k
views
Difference between "where are you from" and "where do you come from"
What is the difference between "where are you from" and "where do you come from"?
Are they the same? Are they used in the same situations or not?
When you see someone for the first time which one ...
- 4,267
28
votes
3
answers
102k
views
it vs. this vs. that
I've never understood what is the difference between the subject pronoun "it" and the demonstratives "this" and "that".
To be precise, I understand well the difference ...
- 27.1k
27
votes
6
answers
29k
views
What is the difference between "you are being" and "you are"?
Having a debate on whether "You are being a jerk" and "You are a jerk" have the same meaning in context. Are you calling someone a jerk if you state they are "being" a jerk or is the context that they ...
- 279
27
votes
5
answers
52k
views
'to' versus 'in order to'
Is it always possible to just use 'to' instead of 'in order to'?
What is actually the additional information provided by 'in order to'?
I understand in order to as meaning that the aforementioned ...
- 491
27
votes
4
answers
20k
views
what is the difference between "yet" and "still"?
what is the difference between "yet" and "still"?
When we can use "still"? and when we can use "yet"?
Are they synonyms or not?
"The plan could yet succeed." Can I use "still" in that sentence ...
- 4,267
26
votes
5
answers
10k
views
What's the difference between "vanilla" and "plain" when talking about yogurts?
Merriam Webster explains vanilla (when used as an adjective) as:
lacking distinction : plain, ordinary, conventional
It's not obvious why vanilla has such a meaning, and why plain is listed as its ...
- 1,007
26
votes
6
answers
38k
views
Glass vs Cup - differences in usage
In everyday spoken language when you, as native English speakers, say "glass" and "cup" are they considered as a synonym for you or you have a special meaning for each one of them?
As a non native ...
- 27.1k
26
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What are the differences between "to talk" and "to speak"?
Both verbs "to talk" and "to speak" refer to the same action.
Is their meaning exactly the same?
When is more appropriate to use one, or the other verb?
- 955
25
votes
5
answers
154k
views
Difference between "nice to see you" and "nice to meet you"
What is the difference between "nice to see you" and "nice to meet you"?
Are they the same or not?
- 4,267
25
votes
11
answers
6k
views
"must" vs "shall" - are they the same, or is one a softened version of the other?
In Information Technology, the "RFC2119 standard" (not exactly standard, but it does not matter here) provides guidance for the use of some words: "must", "must not", &...
- 805
25
votes
5
answers
266k
views
Which one is correct, "in the USA" or "in USA"?
I want to know, what are the differences between "in the USA" and "in USA"? When to use "the" before a nation's name?
- 4,764
24
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What does "Yes, you can. But you may not." mean?
In a cultural function, some seats were reserved for the distinguished persons. But an ordinary spectator wanted to have one of those reserved seats which were empty. He said to the guard, "Can I sit ...
- 2,480
24
votes
8
answers
13k
views
Is there any difference between friendly and kind?
A music teacher is portrayed as follows:
“She talks to everyone. She always says hello.”
Thus, is she friendly or kind?
Cambridge Dictionary defines friendly as
behaving in a pleasant, ...
- 787
24
votes
5
answers
78k
views
Difference between "fast food" and "junk food"
What is the difference between "fast food" and "junk food"?
Are they the same or not?
"Are they used in the same way?"
- 4,267
24
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Difference between "ignite" and "kindle"
Can't grasp the difference and the use cases of these 2 words. They both seem to mean something close to "set on fire", but what is the exact meaning, and are their use cases the same?
Can one ignite ...
- 383
24
votes
1
answer
541k
views
the exact time of "evening" and "night" [closed]
I wonder what the exact times of the following words are: morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night, mid-night.
What's the difference between at night and in the night?
- 4,764
23
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Is there any difference in pronunciation between the words "fiancé (a male)" and "fiancée (a female)"?
I see no difference between transcriptions above-mentioned words, and what words / variants would be better to use in those meanings?
fiancé /fɪˈɑːnseɪ/ /fɪˈɒnseɪ/ /fɪˈɒ̃seɪ/ - ODO
fiancée /fɪˈɒnseɪ/ ...
- 1,169
23
votes
3
answers
59k
views
Tap, faucet, spigot - what are the differences?
What are the differences between tap, faucet and spigot?
Are they regional variants?
(ngram isn't particularly helpful in determining that, due to other, more popular meanings of 'tap').
- 10.2k
22
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Why is "crime story" more correct than "criminal story"?
Criminal is an adjective and story is a noun. Why is "crime story" used instead of "criminal story"? While both crime and story are nouns. What's this latter combination?
Is "criminal story" even ...
- 359