New answers tagged word-choice
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what is the difference between a plank and a board?
I believe the two words are close synonyms, and the context probably has most to do with which one is used.
Planks are used among other things to provide temporary bridging, loose walking surfaces - ...
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what is the difference between a plank and a board?
A plank is a piece of lumber, it is a long, narrow, flat, piece. It has no particular purpose, and so could be used for anything where a piece of wood of that shape is needed. You could several to ...
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2
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Accepted
What's the difference between before, until, and unless?
All three words would be grammatically correct, but not all grammatical sentences make sense.
Sentence (1) refers to the passage of time in a person's life, so unless is not appropriate. Until sounds ...
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2
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Is "words in <suffix>" correct?
"in" can mean "characterized by" so it fits in your sentence. I haven't heard of any rule that prohibits the use of "in" in this sense.
Meanings of "in":
https:/...
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"In" and "on": How can I decide which one to use for vehicles?
On the bus and in the bus:
On the bus is more appropriate. We use "on the bus/plane/train" - because we can WALK while we are inside the compartment.
Just as we can say "In the car/...
1
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Accepted
Which word is closer to (I'm asking for finding a word for someone "who doesn't know but acting like know"?)
You can use the idiom : fake it
It implies (As per merriam-webster):-
to pretend to be something that one is not or to have some knowledge or ability that one does not really have
Examples:—
He didn't ...
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‘in’ vs ‘after’ vs ‘later’
which ending sounds the most natural and grammatically correct for the
following sentence? and why?
even if you have the best teacher in the world, it’s not gonna matter
if you give up…
…after just a ...
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The difference between " considering formalities " with " standing on ceremony "
These are uncommonly used. "Considering formalities" makes perfect sense when used in the context of a sentence. I'd stick with that, unless you have a reason, as it is more common.
It's ...
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Manager, boss, superior – which should I choose?
Manager or Supervisor would both be appropriate. Ideally you want the word that connotes the role you'll be playing. In most cases, you will be managing or supervising your team while they work ...
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Fill in the blank: "The first rule of sailing is, when you see _______ in trouble, you help him."
All compound pronouns, yes even "everyone", are grammatically singular - the number of the postcedent (in this case, the "him" in "you help him") is not a reliable test ...
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Second-to-last vs second-to-previous
Penultimate and antepreprior.
The second to last item: penult (noun form of penultimate).
Item preceding the previous: antepreprior.
1
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Accepted
distinctive vs distinct
The 5 most common nouns in a sentence starting with The distinct... are advantage, feature, difference, features, nature.
The 5 most common nouns in a sentence starting with The distinctive... are ...
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Manager, boss, superior – which should I choose?
The other answers here are quite good, so I won't duplicate them, but I would like to add some context around the word "boss" in English, which has additional connotations — additional ...
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distinctive vs distinct
Merriam-Webster defines distinctive as:
1a: marking as separate or different : serving to distinguish
the distinctive flight of the crane
1b: having or giving an uncommon and appealing quality : ...
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distinctive vs distinct
Distinctive means tending to distinguish, whereas distinct means either separate or particular. So in your example, if one wishes to say “what sets them apart,” the better choice is distinctive.
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2
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Manager, boss, superior – which should I choose?
Modern work lingo these days favours line manager to avoid all the subtle differences in connotations that might inadvertently be triggered. You can use that phrase for all your X.
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Should I use 'Combo', 'Set' or 'Assortment'?
Everything but "assortment" is acceptable.
"Set" is best, perhaps because combo sounds like you're trying to sell me fast food or a great deal when I am buying something bland.
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In IT, how should it be, "View Option List" or "See Option List"?
"View options" sounds better. This is simply because it is what is used most of the time. In another universe, it could have been "see options." I would drop the "list," ...
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Manager, boss, superior – which should I choose?
Your examples don’t completely nail down the context, so there is some wiggle room. Plus there are differences between US and British (and likely) other usage. But here’s what this American would say.
...
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18
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Accepted
Manager, boss, superior – which should I choose?
"Manager" is a fairly neutral word, suitable for most business contexts. Your manager is the person who has responsibility for supervising your work.
"Manager" would work well in (...
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3
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He had or He did
In reduced answers of this form, you reduce the sentence to just the subject and the auxiliary verb.
Who is playing football?
Tony is.
With a simple present or past tense questions, "do support&...
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0
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He had or He did
Tony did can be the answer if you're responding to a question or statement regarding Tony's apartment,
Tony had can be the answer if you're just providing a general statement regarding Tony's ...
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The water sparkled as diamonds in the sunlight - "as" or "like" or both?
Everyone agrees that like is idiomatic in your example, but there's considerable doubt about as.
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Which is correct, "a consequence of the fact" or "an explanation of the fact"?
A "consequence" is a result. If A causes B, then B is a consequence of A.
An "explanation" is additional information about a subject.
In this example, the writer is giving reasons ...
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What is the difference between "education program" and "educational program"?
I agree with Standon's comment.
I think that educational refers more to the content or value of the program, while education as an adjective/noun adjunct refers more to the purpose.
So, if talking ...
2
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Accepted
Is "Given is .." right?
Given is multitude of purposes and that many global industries use aluminum in their products, the price models the overall health of the world economy.
That sentence is wrong! The writer wanted to ...
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Is "Given is .." right?
I agree with your guess that the writer intended "Given its .." and that this is therefore a typographical error.
The "it" here being "aluminum" (or "aluminium" ...
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Can "copycats" and "plagiarists" be used interchangeably in business contexts?
Here is the distinction between "plagiarist" and "copycat:"
"Plagiarist" specifically refers to copying another person's writing or research. It does not -- for instance ...
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Can "copycats" and "plagiarists" be used interchangeably in business contexts?
In the setting you described, neither plagiarist nor copycat would be a natural choice. Plagiarist is descriptive / literary and might be used in a book or news publication. It attributes an identity ...
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What are the differences between awkward, embarrassed, and embarrassing？
Common
All of them (Awkward, Embarrassed and Embarrassing) are adjectives.
Differences betwwen (Embarrassed & Embarrassing)
1. Embarrassed is used when someone wants to explain their feeling.
E....
3
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Accepted
Is the use of the conjunction " While" at the beginning of this sentence correct? While hearing the bad news, l told everybody in the village
"On" is definitely better, "while" implies that you were telling people at exactly the same time as you were hearing it which sounds very odd. "After" also works but ...
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4
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In which situations do we say "Bob flirts with Mary"?
Flirting is the act of making romantic advances; this is true no matter the intent behind those advances.
However, these advances are "not meant to be taken seriously" in the sense that ...
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In which situations do we say "Bob flirts with Mary"?
Ditto @gotube when he says that flirting is an action and not an intention.
Flirting means making casual romantic advances. Like telling someone that you think they are attractive, laughing at their ...
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3
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In which situations do we say "Bob flirts with Mary"?
Flirting is an action only, not an intention or desire, so 1 and 2 are not examples of flirting because they aren't even actions. Bob may want some kind of relationship with Mary, but do nothing at ...
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Count vs Number of
Both "Parts Counted" and "Number Of Parts" are (or at least can be depending on application) accurate. In most code I see, number of parts (or numParts or num_parts, etc.) is used ...
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Accepted
Count vs Number of
"Number of parts" implies that this is the number of parts that actually exist.
"Parts counted" is just the number we have been able to count, implying we don't know how many there ...
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0
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Is fair-to-middling better than middling?
English point of view.
Actually, it isn't directly related to the word acceptable.
It is from flour milling.
A yesteryear term for how the millstone was set up for grinding.
Fair (fine), middling or ...
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3
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In which situations do we say "Bob flirts with Mary"?
Strictly speaking, flirt describes situation 3. (I would use Bob behaves towards Mary rather than says to.)
It definitely doesn't mean situation 1; it implies that you don't have real romantic ...
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In which situations do we say "Bob flirts with Mary"?
It can be used in all of the above. It doesn't rule out any of those three, or imply a particular one of those three. However, the word "flirt" has the connotation of something light; that ...
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Using The "Across" preposition in "The Pharmacy is across the Market" sentence is appropriate?
You could say 'The pharmacy is across the market' to indicate that it is somewhere on the other side of the market place.
If you use opposite you need a point of reference. 'The pharmacy is on the ...
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"Was it fun there?" or "How did you like there?"
"Was it fun there?" Fine.
"Did you like there?" Close. You should say, "Did you like it there?" That is, you need the "it". Frankly I am not sure what grammar ...
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Use of the word settle
No, the verb "settle" can't be used with an object like this.
In the sense of "go and live somewhere, permanently" the verb is intransitive, with an almost obligatory prepositional ...
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