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.
11,025
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130
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14
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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?
- 3,061
111
votes
8
answers
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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 ...
99
votes
11
answers
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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
89
votes
3
answers
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views
Does "a couple" always mean two?
Today I said some event was a couple of weeks away. A native speaker from Australia corrected me and said, no it's at least three weeks away. What followed was a discussion as to whether a couple ...
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80
votes
6
answers
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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?
- 1,308
75
votes
9
answers
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views
If potato chips come in contact with humid air, they become what?
In my mother-tongue, there's a word for it. I'm wondering what the English word is.
If potato chips come in contact with humid air (as in rainy days), they lose their crispiness, and become ...
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73
votes
4
answers
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views
Is there any more 'respectful word' than 'beggars' for these wonderful guys?
In India, beggars don't do anything and ask for money. But here, I see this specific practice to ask for money (in foreign countries).
Check this guy
he works harder, shows his skills and asks for ...
- 65.7k
64
votes
8
answers
126k
views
What is the right word to refer to a black person, when you don't know their name?
Excuse my ignorance, I have lived in the UK for 8 years however I still don't know how to refer to a black person, as I came from a country where racism was not an issue.
Some agency called me last ...
- 1,140
63
votes
3
answers
223k
views
Is "series" Plural or Singular?
Such expressions as
Drama series
and
TV series
are plural or singular?
E.g.
I like to watch drama/TV series or I like to watch a drama/TV series?
- 1,239
60
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Can I write "nonsensual data" for data that makes no sense?
I am worried that "nonsensual data" might come across as data that does not have a lot of erotic vibe....
- 703
60
votes
1
answer
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What's the meaning of bee in hand and beauty in eye?
I've seen this riddle.
I have a bee in my hand. What's in my eye?
Apparently, the answer is beauty but I don't get it. What's the play on words here?
- 4,255
57
votes
4
answers
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"[I]t literally scared her to death" - Why is "I" in brackets?
Quoting a phrase from an article:
Grubb’s first overdose was on Aug. 15, 2015. Her mother found her blue on her bedroom floor, a tourniquet around her arm and a needle next to her. Paramedics ...
- 1,659
52
votes
2
answers
6k
views
The college in 'Electoral College'
By college, I understand as a school or a university. How to make sense of the College in the term 'Electoral College'?
- 785
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votes
7
answers
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Why are nice picture/gif/video about foo called "foo-porn"?
I was browsing Reddit and I discovered many subreddits named after foo-porn, to name just a few:
/r/EarthPorn
/r/FoodPorn
/r/Map_Porn
/r/ruralporn
/r/shockwaveporn
/r/SkyPorn
/r/unixporn
It seems ...
- 1,209
51
votes
3
answers
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views
What is the correct term "back-end", "back end" or "backend"?
I have a question.
What's the correct term?
Back-end, Back end or Backend
I'm a software back-end developer
I'm a software back end developer
I'm a software backend developer
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50
votes
9
answers
20k
views
Can I say "fingers" when referring to toes?
In my native language, there is no word for toes. You just use the same word for both toes and fingers. In this context, I would say a human has 20 fingers.
Recently I've heard someone saying a ...
- 603
49
votes
6
answers
58k
views
'Ask away' - what does 'away' mean?
“Sir,” said Harry, reminding himself irresistibly of Voldemort, “I
wanted to ask you something.”
“Ask away, then, my dear boy, ask away. . . .”
In this sentence, I don't know what does 'away' ...
- 2,409
49
votes
8
answers
14k
views
"To death" vs "to the death"
Sometimes I see the former, as in "starve to death".
But sometimes I see the latter as well, as in "fight to the death", or in the following quote:
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend ...
- 561
44
votes
5
answers
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views
What do we call 'ketchup', 'cheesy dip' , 'oregano' and things like that collectively, as they aren't side dishes?
With most of the Indian dishes, we are served with something other than side dishes i.e. salads.
Since most of the users here come from different countries, I come up with stuff that is ...
- 65.7k
43
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Do native speakers still use "ought to"?
Do native speakers still use "ought to" in daily conversation?
I haven't seen "ought to" used on any social or news ... websites. I only read about it in English grammar books.
Ngram:
Trends:
...
- 4,520
43
votes
6
answers
9k
views
"Bathroom" or "Restroom"
I have a specific question: Are Americans more inclined to use "bathroom" or "restroom" about a bathroom/restroom with several sinks and stalls in a company building?
- 501
42
votes
5
answers
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views
How can you recognize if an "uncle" is father's brother or mother's brother? (Is there any "default option"? )
Sometimes the speaker (or author) specifies their meaning for the word "uncle", for example:
The gelding was mine, a gift from a great-uncle on my mother’s side. (Educated by Tara Westover)
...
- 5,126
42
votes
7
answers
9k
views
What's the meaning of "Can it, will you?"
I was watching a TV show, and one scene in a movie theatre goes like this:
Film viewer: We know, sit down.
Jason: Maggie.
Maggie: How are theatre owners gonna know how we feel about this ...
- 539
42
votes
3
answers
10k
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 ...
- 1,122
42
votes
3
answers
365k
views
"Important to me" or "Important for me"
I cannot easily figure out which one is more appropriate to use:
It's important to me.
It's important for me.
Are they the same? If not, what's the difference?
- 1,188
41
votes
8
answers
18k
views
How to say something like "my company" without sounding like I own the company?
How do I say something like "my company," "my plane," "my bus", etc. without making it sound like I own the company/plane/bus/etc?
"Our company" makes it seem like both me and the person/people I'm ...
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votes
5
answers
70k
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 ...
- 1,192
40
votes
4
answers
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views
Allow (to) + infinitive, substantive, verb+ -ing
In which way can the verb 'allow' be used? There is always some confusion and apparently it's often intuitively used wrongly. Which form corresponds to correct English, eventually depending on context ...
- 695
39
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Why did my "seldom" get corrected?
In an answer in the Spanish site about the use of timbre in European Spanish I tried to say that there is a specific meaning of the word that I know but very infrequently get to use, so I wrote this:
...
- 503
38
votes
3
answers
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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?
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votes
3
answers
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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.
...
- 1,009
35
votes
3
answers
13k
views
My dad doesn't want me to TOUCH alcohol
My dad doesn't want me to touch alcohol before I turn 21.
Is it perfectly natural to use 'touch' here? I searched for it and found some examples, but not enough to make me sure.
- 1,223
34
votes
6
answers
9k
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How do Americans respond when asked for their names?
I heard a character on TV, when asked for his name, responded:
My name is Bond, James Bond.
Why doesn't Mr. 007 reply, "My name is James Bond".
I am not familiar with first/middle/last name ...
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33
votes
6
answers
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views
"When you Frankenstein a team together..." - Is "Frankenstein" a new verb?
I did not know that "Frankenstein" can be used as a verb.
Max Kellerman, a highly reputed sports analyst working for ESPN, says
"When you Frankenstein a team together, usually it doesn't work ...
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33
votes
7
answers
23k
views
Does one call "regular" men "Sir" in the UK?
I've lived in the US for a couple of years and ended up using "Sir" when addressing "regular" men in a large range of situations (in which I would use "Ma'am" if I was addressing a woman):
[on ...
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32
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why is "for a tortuous three days" singular even though days is plural?
I was surprised to find out that you should write:
I waited for a torturous three days.
Instead of:
I waited for torturous three days.
Why is this? "Days" is plural ...
- 4,801
31
votes
10
answers
9k
views
Why does "graphic" mean violent or gory?
My German friend asked me why "graphic" means "violent or gory", as in "graphic content" or "graphic language".
(Related, but not the same question: What‘s does ...
- 945
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votes
11
answers
7k
views
Keeping my mouth shut, referring to avoiding weight gain
Today, in an informal context I was asked what was the best strategy to keep a good weight according to my experience. I said that keeping my mouth shut was quite a good strategy.
Can I use the word ...
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31
votes
1
answer
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Are there any solid reasons for the "-st", "-nd", "-rd", and "-th" suffixes for numbers?
Is there any reason why we say 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the rest (4, 5,.. 10,..) are all -th except the one ending in 1, 2, 3? Why does it change specifically for 1, 2, 3?
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3
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Why is it correct to say "me busy."?
I was playing Warcraft. I clicked on my peon.
He told me: "me busy. leave me alone."
Why is it OK to say it that way instead of just "I'm busy."?
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votes
1
answer
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What's the name of this walking style used by Luna Lovegood?
There is a character called "Luna Lovegood" in Harry Potter series
This is how she walks:
What's the name of this walking style used by this character?
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votes
3
answers
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views
Are some offensive words always masculine?
I have an interesting question which has got me thinking lately. You see, there are some nouns that I have always seen be used as masculine such as the words "fucker" and "motherfucker" (which I am ...
- 504
30
votes
7
answers
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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"?
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votes
6
answers
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What's the meaning of "be broker than the Ten Commandments"?
The meaning of "the Ten Commandments" is clear (see Wikipedia for example). Also, Oxford Dictionaries show "broke" means "Having completely run out of money".
But I don't understand the meaning of ...
- 5,126
29
votes
6
answers
51k
views
Difference between 'One to One' and 'One on One'
I have been confused about the difference between "one to one" and "one on one".
Which one is more appropriate of the following?
We will have one to one meeting?
We will have one ...
29
votes
7
answers
21k
views
"quite" vs "pretty"
What is the difference between quite and pretty in the following context:
The differences between these concepts are quite complicated.
and
The differences between these concepts are pretty ...
- 4,849
28
votes
4
answers
8k
views
"Transgender" versus the obsolete term "transgendered"
As of recent I've been reading some Wikipedia articles on gender and sexuality leading out from the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) page. However, it was not clear to me why the former ...
28
votes
4
answers
12k
views
I have "a doubt" about whether this phrase is acceptable English
To my (British) ear, it never sounds correct to say you have a doubt about something.
I expect that doubt to be pluralised, even if there's only one specific thing that I'm doubtful of, in one ...
- 67.4k
27
votes
9
answers
12k
views
Greeting with "Ho"
The other day, in a chat room, I was greeted with:
Hi!
I'm a nice person so I greeted back with:
Ho!
But then I got a reply:
No! I'm not a Ho!
I thought Ho is an interjection similar to ...
- 997
27
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Why is it "your" and not "yours" in "to see your on Amazon account activity"
I have read on the Amazon Pay page:
You can find all your off Amazon account activity here.
Click Amazon Orders below to see your on Amazon account activity.
Why does it say "your"? As far ...
- 2,089