Questions tagged [word-usage]
This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer about the meaning or correctness of a word in a sentence. Give as much context as possible.
1,037
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
3
votes
1
answer
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What is the difference between "I complained about the machine" and "I complained of the machine"?
The Oxford Dictionary says we can use "complain about something" or "complain of something".
complain: to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about
somebody/...
- 19.2k
3
votes
4
answers
7k
views
How to use "seems to be"
What is the correct way to say this..
I just checked my bank account and that seems to be have been activated.
I just checked my bank account and that seems activated.
I just checked my bank account ...
- 1,237
2
votes
2
answers
37
views
Is it called a doorway even if there's no door?
Example:
He moved to the doorway to the family room and peeked in.
Is 'doorway' used even if there's no door but just an opening into another room? Or would native speakers use another word for that?...
- 1,153
2
votes
2
answers
109
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Why are these types of videos called 'slander'?
Search 'slander' in Youtube and you will get tons of meme-like videos with 'slander' in their titles. For example, here is a screenshot of the video Job Slander.
Why are these types of videos called ...
- 3,296
2
votes
2
answers
95
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How can I describe this kind of prostration?
To prostrate, as Collins dictionary says, means:
"If you prostrate yourself, you lie down flat on the ground, on your front, usually to show respect for God or a person in authority"
On the ...
- 1,613
2
votes
2
answers
352
views
"Far above" vs "Well above"
Are "well above" and "far above" interchangeable? I know that we can use "well" when talking about something that is above another thing. Can we use, "far" ...
- 1,184
2
votes
1
answer
475
views
Which is better, most important or the most important
A-1) What is most important to me in life is love.
A-2) What is the most important to me in life is love.
B-1) Love is most important in life.
B-2) Love is the most important in life.
Are they all ...
- 1,176
2
votes
1
answer
61
views
The usage of "one"
I remember hearing a sentence with the word "one".
For example:
There are three tomatoes. Two of them are red. The ones being red are so delicious.
Is the usage of "the ones" ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
344
views
"might as well be" vs "could very well be"
Compare these sentences:
This woman standing right next to him in this picture could very well be his mother
This woman standing right next to him in this picture might as well be his mother
Are ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
499
views
is regretting and regrets
I know this is the basic grammar knowledge, but I can't figure out the differences between these sentences:
1)We sure hope Brad is regretting those hateful tweets now.
and
2)We sure hope Brad regrets ...
- 303
2
votes
2
answers
166
views
Run it under water, hold it under water, run water over it
The following sentences are about rinsing something under running water, be it a whisk (or any utensil for that matter) or a scald, wound/cut.
Just run it under water.
Just hold it under water.
...
- 3,216
2
votes
2
answers
653
views
Initial talking or initial talk?
I just saw "initial talking" as the title to the introduction on an academic text. I had only seen "talk" not "talking". Is initial talking also used as an introduction of sorts?
- 809
2
votes
2
answers
172
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Which is a better alternative for "limitations" in this context: "lacked resources" or "lacked the capability"?
This is from a book review by Michell (1920):
"[...] provinces tried to meet the need [of tackling unemployment] by [...], but the limitations of
purely provincial and unrelated bureaus became ...
- 9,946
2
votes
1
answer
363
views
"The+ comparative" form
I know that when something changes (whether it increases or decreases in size, number, or whatever) along with another change, it can be expressed with
" the+ comparative, the+ comparative" form.
ex) ...
- 407
2
votes
1
answer
38
views
The water sparkled as diamonds in the sunlight - "as" or "like" or both?
Could you please tell me if it is possible to use "as" in this context, or only "like" can be used, or both options are possible?
- 95
2
votes
1
answer
101
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Can I use the verb 'forgo' in this context?
Cambridge says:
forgo (v.) to not have or do something enjoyable:
I shall have to forgo the pleasure of seeing you this week.
So, can I use the verb forgo in this context?
For example, if one ...
- 26.7k
2
votes
1
answer
868
views
using "a/an" with "enjoyment"
Can enjoyment be used with an article "a/an" or should it always be a non-countable noun?
For example,
Listening to her was always an enjoyment.
Among numerous examples of using "enjoyment" in ...
- 4,122
2
votes
1
answer
12k
views
What is the difference between "I am sorry to miss your concert" & "I am sorry for missing your concert"?
Here is from the dictionary
Sorry (adj): [not before noun] feeling sad and sympathetic
sorry (that)… I'm sorry that your husband lost his job.
sorry (to see, hear, etc.) We're sorry to ...
- 19.2k
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Is it right to use the structure "do as well as doing"?
These properties are particularly useful in travel items which can face varying climates and weather conditions, as well as withstanding the rigors of various transport methods and rough handling.
In ...
- 2,933
2
votes
2
answers
3k
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contexts for "to learn" vs. "for learning"
Consider the following sentences
We came here to learn English.
We came here for learning English.
I suppose most of us here would agree that both of them are grammatically correct.
And I ...
- 415
2
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Verb for someone who refuses to repay money
What's the verb to say the behavior of someone who refuse to repay the money he owed?
(Even if he knows it and is able to pay it back.)
As far as I know, there is a commonly used noun which called ...
- 805
1
vote
0
answers
13
views
Correct words to use in a From certain date to certain date doing something
So this is what I could come up with, but for some reason, it sounds wrong to me, and it is bugging me
As of 29.05.2023. Through and including the 29.08.2023, we will have new regulations in ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
55
views
What does the word "feedback" actually mean?
I googled the meaning and it tells me "'feedback' means 'information about reactions to a product, a person's performance of a task, etc. which is used as a basis for improvement'." However, ...
- 29
1
vote
0
answers
33
views
<in the song of "beat it",> <in the movie of Doom> VS <in the song "beat it",> <in the movie Doom"
I know that we can say "In the song 'Beat It'" or "In the movie 'Doom'" like in
I love the guitar solo in the song "Beat It"
In the movie Doom, there is no part that ...
- 1,184
1
vote
0
answers
23
views
Is it natural to say "Turn the bike so that you and it are side by side"?
Looking at the above picture, I am sure we can say "the woman is sitting on a chair and there is another chair opposite the woman"
Now:
...
You were sitting at a table.
Your child parked ...
- 19.2k
1
vote
1
answer
37
views
Is “discuss about” is a common usage nowadays
I have believed that the expression “discuss about” is incorrect as dictionaries and grammar books say. But in an academic conference which I atteded today, two intelligent speakers, one of who is a ...
- 21
1
vote
0
answers
32
views
Can I say "the sofa was broken" when the foam of the sofa got loose and too stretchy to be usable?
The word "broken" has 2 meanings
1 : separated into parts or pieces by being hit, damaged, etc.
The street was covered with broken glass.
2 : not working properly
a broken camera
So, when ...
- 19.2k
1
vote
1
answer
30
views
At the vs With the
My heart grieves with the thought that he will stay back. Vs
My heart
grieves at the thought that he will stay back.
Grammarly corrects the first sentence to the second one. However, I have come ...
- 503
1
vote
1
answer
60
views
a relative adverb "that" "where". Is it possible to say "the World Cup that..." instead of "the World Cup where..."?
This is the second World Cup in succession that Germany have failed
to get out of their group, suffering the same fate in Russia in 2018.
This is from BBC sports.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/...
- 1,176
1
vote
1
answer
25
views
Employee Christmas Fund vs Employees Christmas Fund - which is correct?
In writing a solicitation for the residents of a senior community to give a contribution to a Christmas Fund for hourly employees, what is the correct heading for a flyer: 2022 Hourly Employee ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
32
views
Is it correct to say "Mike delegated his customers to Mary"?
Look at this situation.
Mike and Mary works in a same company they are salespeople and noone has higher rank than the other.
Mike has some Chinese customers who can not speak English. However, Mary ...
- 19.2k
1
vote
0
answers
29
views
Is the phrase "Discontinuance of service" mainly use as a legal term?
From Lawinsider
Discontinuance of service or "Discontinuance" means cessation of service not requested by a Customer; "Distribution facilities" means terminal poles, manholes, ...
- 47
1
vote
2
answers
140
views
the company vs your company
Is it wrong to say "we can help you build the company"?
I understand that it makes more sense to say "we can help you build your company", but is it grammatically wrong to use the ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
45
views
What does recruit mean in this context?
The natural sciences had not yet made their appearance in Swedish
universities, but Åbo Akademi led the field in theological research at
the end of the seventeenth century. So the classical languages ...
- 591
1
vote
3
answers
118
views
Is it common to say "My salary is good" or "My pay is good"?
It seems that "pay" is more common in everyday English and salary is way too formal.
I feel like "salary" is used more in accounting or formal documents.
I don't know why not many ...
- 19.2k
1
vote
0
answers
24
views
What does "enfeoffment of a right to tax people" mean in this context?
It has to be remembered that the kingdom of Sweden had no real system
of enfeoffment. It was not the peasants themselves as vassals who were
enfeoffed, but the right to tax them. In central and ...
- 591
1
vote
1
answer
13
views
Here how does the word ''where'' play as its role?
in this following sentence, what does the word ''where'' mean?
How should I take the word ''where''?
''How is it ever possible to speak of the annihilation of a self, or soul, or ego, where no such ...
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1
vote
1
answer
48
views
Is the use of the word "opening" correct in this context?
This context comes from the book "Black Rednecks And White Liberals" by Thomas Sowell
"Early Lebanese businesses in the United States were noted for “opening 16 to 18 hours daily,” ...
- 2,630
1
vote
1
answer
66
views
What's the word I should use for close calls
Please allow me to ask a question, I set a goal in my work, which could not be accomplished in the first place, but it was finally accomplished. How should this situation be described? What word would ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
43
views
needs some work doing/done
The following is an example sentence from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
As you can see, the house needs some work doing on it.
source
It seems that many native speakers prefer &...
- 5,507
1
vote
1
answer
28
views
Oncoming, outcoming and forward meaning
What are the meaning of the following three words in a context? (I know the meaning by themselves but I can't quite picture what they mean)
Oncoming lane
Forward lane
Outcoming lane
I am not really ...
- 787
1
vote
2
answers
47
views
Does "mind your own business" refer to a physical action not a verbal expression that intervenes one's life?
Normally, when someone says something or expresses something in words which intervenes our life.
For example, A saw B eating fast food. A, then, said to B "Fast food is not good fro your health&...
- 19.2k
1
vote
1
answer
80
views
“Don’t confine yourself”
From what I see in dictionaries, with the word “confine,” generally “to” is used as in “confine somebody/something to something.” I wonder if it is okay to use the word “confine” without “to something....
- 1,184
1
vote
1
answer
53
views
What is the difference in these sentences?
Numerical adjectives. What is the difference between saying “40 days and 40 nights vs only “40 days and nights”
Also, if I’m looking for 10 bottles of wine and liquor does this mean 10 bottles in ...
1
vote
1
answer
118
views
What is the difference between "the one thing" and "only thing"?
Do "the one thing" and "only thing" mean the same?
Consider the following:
Basketball is the one thing that X is can do and Y cannot.
Basketball is the only thing that X is can do ...
- 391
1
vote
2
answers
48
views
Usage of "rather"
What's the difference between following sentence:
She kept herself rather to herself in her own pantry.
and
She rather kept herself to herself in her own pantry.
Are there some omitted words in ...
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1
vote
0
answers
20
views
The best "attributive" adjective describing someone or something that has to take its turn to do something? Can "Due" be attributive?
Let's say three people, A and B and C, must take turn to roll a die.
Is it idiomatic and correct to say
The due candidate rolls the die either on the table or on the ground depending on the previous ...
- 5,975
1
vote
0
answers
33
views
You shouldn't / You don't
A: We just discussed a few things.
B: Right. Let me just make one thing very clear - you
shouldn't/don't discuss my love life with them, alright?
If B is angry and orders A not to do that again, ...
- 1,153
1
vote
0
answers
26
views
What is the correct way to use the phrase 'I'm a bit of a...(noun)'?
'I am a little bit of a scientist myself'. I've heard this phrase so many times but I can't find any grammatical explanation to this. Is it possible, for example, to say 'I'm a little bit of a teacher'...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
234
views
Can I use "tho/though" just like when I use "because" or "but"?
In my country, to be precise, the dialect in my country (not English) is often using a sentence like this (for convenience reason since it's an English site, I'll try to translate into English):
...
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