25
votes
Accepted
Is it okay to say "We are no more in the 20th century"? Using "no more" with periods of time
no more can have the same the meaning as no longer and, up until 1840, it was more widely used. Here is a typical example:
He instantly determined to be no more a slave. - The works of Hannah More, ...
- 61.4k
23
votes
Does saying "Keep it up" put me in an authoritative position?
To be honest, nobody really minds this kind of vague congratulatory message. Few people are going to analyse or dissect the grammar or meaning.
However "Keep it up" really means "...
- 232k
17
votes
Accepted
Should I use 'denote' or 'be'? 'Let A denote/be a vertex cover…'
Your example should use be.
We generally use the verb "denote" only if we're introducing a notation for an existing unique entity; hence "Let <notation> denote <entity>"...
- 4,717
16
votes
Accepted
What is a formal alternative for being "on the same page"?
I would not hesitate, even a second, to use "on the same page" in a formal context. It does not carry any informal connotations, it's widely understood (I used it once translated literally ...
- 14.8k
13
votes
Accepted
What should I call a person sharing knowledge in school that is not a teacher?
In AmE, you weren't a tutor, a teacher, or a trainer. Broadly speaking, a tutor's primary job is to help with homework; the teacher was the "real teacher" that was there; a trainer usually helps with ...
- 45.4k
13
votes
Two Grammatical questions over sentences extracted from The Economist
Your interpretation is correct. "It" refers to the capture of the drone under the described conditions.
I had completely missed the extra "a" hiding in plain sight. Yeah, that's a typo. It should ...
- 5,726
13
votes
Accepted
“in the meanwhile” vs. “in the meantime”
This is from Merriam Webster's discussion of these phrases:
Meanwhile and meantime can both be nouns or adverbs and are interchangeable. "Meantime" is more frequently seen as a noun, in the phrases ...
12
votes
what does this phrase mean "placed on her end"?
The author is attempting to provide a sense of the Titanic's massive scale by way of comparison between the ship's length and a tall building's height.
Normally, a ship would be oriented horizontally ...
- 1,661
11
votes
Accepted
Writing a letter to two persons who are not a couple or married?
First of all, please note that the usage "Mr. Firstname" or "Miss Firstname", as in your example, are conventional only in specific subcultures of English speakers; I encountered it for the first time ...
- 8,256
11
votes
Accepted
Is ball-park figure formal or informal?
There is no single authority to which one would turn to determine whether phrasing is "formal" enough for a situation; sometimes, even in an academic paper or a public address, colloquial ...
- 17.8k
11
votes
What is a formal alternative for being "on the same page"?
I think something like this would be suitable, although I don't particularly think it's any better that what you proposed:
These reports also ensure that all stakeholders are well-informed
about the ...
- 111
11
votes
Does saying "Keep it up" put me in an authoritative position?
"Keep it up" can be used by a boss or other authority figure. It can also be used in other contexts. It is commonly used by sports fans to or about an athlete after a successful performance....
- 41.4k
10
votes
Is "steer clear of" formal or informal?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, "steer clear of" is neither informal or formal: it's just a normal expression. The register is therefore appropriate for any situation.
It is not, ...
- 61.4k
8
votes
Accepted
Plural or single—at velocities or at velocity
That's a needless problem. When you say X km/h, that's a velocity. Just say
The cars move at 90 km/hr and 95 km/hr.
However, if you want to include the word velocity, a more idiomatic expression ...
- 43.2k
8
votes
Does saying "Keep it up" put me in an authoritative position?
I share the perspective of the person who gave you that advice. Care should be taken with this expression
I would expect to hear this only from someone with a vested interest in the activity, and who ...
- 2,096
8
votes
Accepted
In contexts like 'this study can give English learners...', is 'can' idiomatic or should 'will' be used?
What you're describing is hedging, which means that the writer is expressing uncertainty. Sometimes it's necessary to do so, but in other situations it's not appropriate and is used more as a crutch ...
- 15.9k
7
votes
Writing a letter to two persons who are not a couple or married?
What sounds normal depends on the culture of your boss and your "senior", your company, and other factors. One safe choice in most business situations around the world would be:
Dear John Wu and ...
- 10k
7
votes
Accepted
Gender neutral Mx. without a name
If you don't know the gender or name of the person you are writing to, I would just use Dear Sir or Madam.
Mx. is not a widely recognized title in the English language.
- 1,209
7
votes
Plural or single—at velocities or at velocity
What is clearest is to write
The first and second cars move at speeds of 90 and 95 km/hr respectively
It corresponds exactly to the mathematical notation
||v_1||= 90 km/hr and ||v_2|| = 95 km/hr
...
- 32.2k
7
votes
Is "steer clear of" formal or informal?
It's difficult to say with little context if "steer clear" is used properly in regard to formality. If this is an academic paper, however, as this sounds as if it could be, I suggest ...
- 2,160
7
votes
In contexts like 'this study can give English learners...', is 'can' idiomatic or should 'will' be used?
First you need to note that "can" has special grammar rules. It is a defective modal verb, so it is not used on its own but always with other verbs, and it doesn't have the full range of ...
- 232k
7
votes
Should the suffix "III" be included in the salutation to a senator
The use of numerals like "III" only applies when you include a person's first name, so if you're just saying "Senator Smith", then "III" would be incorrect.
If you said, &...
- 51.1k
6
votes
What is your idea about using "practicalize"?
A résumé or cover letter is supposed to be short, clear, and impress the reader. Taking time and space to define a word is a waste of space in a résumé or cover letter.
A neologism is a newly-...
- 24.4k
6
votes
Accepted
Is it informal to use "so on " in the article?
So on is not super formal, but will be found in a lot of relatively formal writing. I would not avoid it without having some specific reason to expect that it would be rejected. I've seen it in legal ...
- 22.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Are contractions discouraged in formal writing?
In general contractions are avoided in formal writing. But this is a matter of style, not a rule. As for the cases you list in the question:
(1) Academic literature,
Contractions are generally ...
- 41.4k
6
votes
what does this phrase mean "placed on her end"?
When an object is rectangular, that is, longer than it is tall, to "place it on its end" means to place it so that the short end is on the ground or floor or table, and it extends upward the ...
- 68.8k
6
votes
what does this phrase mean "placed on her end"?
LIKE THIS:
Innumerable examples ... https://www.urbanthree.com/blog/some-inspired-heights-comparisons-in-downtown-asheville/
- 1,225
6
votes
A question about formal prepositions
There's nothing inherently formal or informal about prepositions - context dictates which you should use and in most contexts, the preposition choice is right or wrong rather than formal or informal. ...
- 111k
5
votes
Accepted
Two Grammatical questions over sentences extracted from The Economist
It appeared calculated to show China's naval reach . . .
It appeared calculated can be interpreted in two ways. You can interpret "calculated" as an adjective, meaning "it appeared to be planned and ...
- 7,361
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible