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1 vote

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 - ...
WS2's user avatar
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2 votes

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 ...
James K's user avatar
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2 votes
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 ...
Kate Bunting's user avatar
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2 votes
Accepted

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:/...
Kjaamond's user avatar
0 votes

"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/...
Jeff Osigwe-Sal's user avatar
1 vote
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 ...
Sam's user avatar
  • 1,443
0 votes

‘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 ...
BigMistake's user avatar
-2 votes

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 ...
BigMistake's user avatar
0 votes

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 ...
Greg Whitaker's user avatar
1 vote

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 ...
No Name's user avatar
  • 121
0 votes

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.
carnivalWilson's user avatar
1 vote
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 ...
FumbleFingers's user avatar
4 votes

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 ...
Sean Werkema's user avatar
3 votes

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 : ...
Peter Kirkpatrick's user avatar
2 votes

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.
Paul Tanenbaum's user avatar
2 votes

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.
Deipatrous's user avatar
1 vote

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.
BigMistake's user avatar
2 votes

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," ...
BigMistake's user avatar
3 votes

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. ...
Paul Tanenbaum's user avatar
18 votes
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 (...
James K's user avatar
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3 votes

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&...
James K's user avatar
  • 195k
0 votes

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 ...
Sam's user avatar
  • 1,443
0 votes

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.
TimR's user avatar
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1 vote

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 ...
Jay's user avatar
  • 60.8k
0 votes

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 ...
Mirel Bodner Abeles's user avatar
2 votes
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 ...
Marios Athanasiou's user avatar
2 votes

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" ...
Leachoid's user avatar
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2 votes

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 ...
Raydot's user avatar
  • 121
-1 votes

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 ...
BigMistake's user avatar
1 vote

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....
Derelict Paradise's user avatar
3 votes
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 ...
timchessish's user avatar
4 votes

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 ...
AmateurDotCounter's user avatar
7 votes

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 ...
Jay's user avatar
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3 votes

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 ...
gotube's user avatar
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1 vote

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 ...
BigMistake's user avatar
2 votes
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 ...
timchessish's user avatar
0 votes

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 ...
bob's user avatar
  • 1
3 votes

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 ...
Kate Bunting's user avatar
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12 votes

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 ...
BigMistake's user avatar
1 vote

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 ...
Kate Bunting's user avatar
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1 vote

"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 ...
Jay's user avatar
  • 60.8k
1 vote

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 ...
James K's user avatar
  • 195k

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