Questions tagged [writing]
For questions specifically related to written English.
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Has understood or had understood?
I'm doing some essays to prepare for the C1 writing test. I wrote this sentence:
"after a student had understood a formula, it would be more efficient if he was able to apply it through ...
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pull a face in shock?
What's the correct expression? I'm not a native speaker. I want to describe that he made a expression of shock; like pulled a face in shock; but I feel that's wrong. How can I see it concisely?
magicphoenix
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Is there a reason that some wikipedia pages use "BC" while others use "BCE"?
On https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus it says:
Born Gaius Octavius
23 September 63 BC
Rome, Italy, Roman Republic
Died 19 August AD 14 (aged 75)
Nola, Italy, Roman Empire
On https://en....
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Academic Writing: whether "and of" is necessary?
Please see the following two sentences and let me know which one is academic-writing appropriate.
A. As to the financial market effects of UMPs, many empirical studies emphasize their effectiveness in ...
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Is year's full form hyphenated in English?
Someone said In English year's full is only written with the last two numbers hyphenated. So, if I am talking about the year 2121, should I write it as twenty one twenty-one?
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Can these two sentences coexist in the same contexts? [closed]
Can sentence “the white semicircle became black” and “the white semicircle disappeared” coexist in the same contexts? Or are they two different interpretations?
I’m preparing for some exam.
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long title without verb
As a non-native English speaker I know that English requires verbs in every sentence, but I don't know if it is the case for the long title (a title of a subsection in academic article).
Example for ...
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How many types of starting sentences are there?
___ about payments and account balances should be directed to our billing department.
(A.): to inquire (B.): inquired (C.): inquires (D.): inquire
in the test, said was the right answer is (C.): ...
Howl 3castle
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How to ask someone to complete a sentence, like on a test or exercise?
“I know that I’m good at singing.”
“I know that ________.”
I want to make someone form the first sentence by adding a clause to the second one.
In this situation, can I say, “Write that you’re good ...
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What is the difference between inner, internal, and interior conflict? [closed]
What is the difference between inner, internal, and interior conflict?
Can we use the term "interior"? If no, why?
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About Difference Between ' and " in the Title
I have a YouTube channel and i don't want to any mistake on grammar or syntax.
Which one is true? I saw a lot of news channel and all of them using different types. Is all of them can be used?
For ...
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Are "as of writing" and "at the time of writing" both correct?
I see that 'at the time of writing' is grammatically correct (Is 'at the time of writing' correct?).
Is this replaceable with 'as of writing'?
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Reduced adjective/adverb clause with past action/completed event
Original sentence: 1) "Authorities are investigating whether a man who allegedly drove an SUV into a holiday parade in Waukesha, Wis., killing five people and injuring more than 40, was fleeing ...
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"Please confirm immediately'' vs ''Please confirm at your earliest convenience''
I took a test about choosing the appropriate salutation in writing a business letter. The question tells:
"If you want someone to act immediately, you can write:..."?
I answered:
"...
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Plural or singular verbs with lists of single elements
Another plural/singular verb question that I feel must have been asked before but cannot find a good example on ELL or the usual grammar websites. I know the rules for compound subjects.
The dog and ...
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at the same time as or at the same time when
The sentence:
At the same time as the value of x decreases, the variable y and its absolute value decrease.
Can we use when instead as?
At the same time when the value of x decreases, the variable ...
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Can I say "Whatever You Did Do?"
I am writing a song about forgiveness and "It does not matter what you did do" perfectly fits into the rhyme scheme while "It doesn't matter what you did" does not.
How awkward ...
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Using imperative form as a Product Feature
I am preparing my RGB Keyboard Product's features. Is it okay to use imperative form? and Are the following sentences correct?
Change the colors from the app on the phone by connecting via Bluetooth.
...
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A question about the common noun
I wonder if the following sentence is missing something, isn't it?
"It's a long journey from tea leaf to cup of tea."
Shouldn't it be added an indefinite article or something before "...
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Which sentence is correct between I tried to use it but it's hard or I tried to use it but it was hard?
I was talking to my friend about how to use Photoshop so I told her I tried to use it but it was hard. But then I realized that if I use it was hard then does it mean that it's no longer hard for me ...
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Are these sentences correct to say "I don't understand what she said" and "I don't understand what she asked"?
Suppose I'm talking with someone and they say/ask something that I don't get it. Can I use the following sentences?
"I don't understand what she said"
"I don't understand what she ...
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How do I know which tenses to use if I start a sentence with "What if I told you"?
My understanding is if I start a sentence with "what if I told you" then the following sentence should stay in the past but I'm confused because I don't want to tell a past but sometimes I ...
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I need help for a definition [closed]
Does this sentence make sense, and is it correct?
“ Her honest opinion seemed very abrasive to others”
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Is it grammatically correct to say, " I would let her know that you would join her "?
I want to know if it’s grammatically correct to say, " I would let her know that you would join her "
Can you say this after asking someone if they would like to accompany another person out ...
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Responding to a message
Someone shared her first blog entry on a whatsapp group. It was a good moment
I am not sure how could I respond to it. Is just writing nice! a good way?
What could be other ways to respond? Where ...
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How to start talking about a different topic
When you are discussing something with someone especially over chat
and have written say around 10 sentences there. And now suddenly you want to mention
or talk about something else. I feel it's not a ...
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Are noun+noun and noun's (aphostrope) + noun the same?
First, please see these examples:
Noun+noun:
a three-hour journey
a ten-pound note
a four-week course
noun + 's + noun:
I've got a week's holiday starting on Monday.
Julia has got three weeks' ...
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Placing footnote mark before or after punctuation?
I am writing a research paper. I need to add a footnote. Should I place the footnote mark/superscript before or after "full stop"?
For example:
The placement of footnote: style Ahere.
The ...
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The percentage of journeys made by public transport is 3%/3
Which is correct?
The percentage of journeys made by public transport is 3%.
or
The percentage of journeys made by public transport is 3
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The second most popular way of making journeys is on foot
I'm checking this chart's description:
There is one sentence that sounds odd
The second most popular way of making journeys in Canada is on foot.
I think that way of making journeys doesn't sound ...
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The last place in this category is the Netherlands with almost twice less car use
There is an IELTS writing task:
Is this description correct?
According to the table, it is clearly seen that car use prevails in
all represented countries. The leader in the group is Canada with 90
...
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Can participles be used like this?
There are many glasses which were not made from broken glass. They are just made this way. Can I call them 'broken glass'? If not, should I just say 'glasses'?
user127881
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'Apples, red in two of them and brown in one of them, are rotten'
If apple A and B are red and apple C is brown and they are rotten, then does 'apples, red in two of them and brown in one of them, are rotten' make sense? I mean two red apples and one brown apple are ...
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Referring to female college age students while writing a novel
I am trying to write a novel. I want to write in a manner that will be respectful toward gender.
I have not yet figured out how to refer to female college-age characters quickly and smoothly without ...
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fearing for someone
He was fearing for the hostages.
Is this enough to be understood? Or should it be...
He was fearing for the hostages' safety.
or
He was fearing for the hostages' lives.
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Do these sentences mean the same?
Supposing that I and a friend are talking about football and then we discover that another friend of ours is listening to our talk.Which one is the best? Do these sentences mean the same?
You weren't ...
Nathan Serrano
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"This raining is falling hard" would it be wrong? or how does it feels for you
I know it is commonly said "This rain is falling hard" but I am working in a poem and "This raining is falling hard" fits perfect with all the metrics and the entire story.
But ...
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When italicizing, do I have to include 'a,' 'an,' and 'the'?
For example, I want to emphasize the term 'multi-channel non-orthogonal multiple access scheduling problem' in the following statements.
Based on (1), (2), and (3), the multi-channel non-orthogonal ...
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Does my sentence mean what I want it to mean?
Just then, people start cheering and applauding as Steve steps up on the karaoke stage and takes the microphone.
Written like this, does it mean that people started cheering and applauding because ...
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When to use in writing the characters "=" and ":"?
In written English, I always have used them interchangeably, but I guess there must be a difference in use for both.
What are the differences between those 2 characters? When to use one or another?
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Can you correctly drop auxiliary verbs in writing?
While creatively writing, I found myself dropping an auxiliary verb (I believe?) in a description. The statement went: "He seemed to be a freak of nature, his mutilated feautures artificially ...
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What does the question imply?
What does Ron's question sound like it implies? A or B?
“Wait, you were busy and were going to reply?”
A: "Wait, you were going to reply after all? I thought you for sure missed my message”
B: &...
user125657
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Best way to phrase this?
He grabs the dead cop's legs and drags him away.
He grabs the legs of the dead cop and drags him away.
He grabs the dead cop by the legs and drags him away.
Are all these correct? What is the best ...
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Move off/Head off/Leave
Tom is at a party, hanging at the bar. A guy he knows, Matt, comes up to him to say hi. They talk, then -
Matt: Well, it's good to see you again. Enjoy the party.
Tom: Thank you.
Matt moves off/heads ...
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Use of present perfect "I've gotten up at five o'clock in the morning."
Here is a sentence I wrote:
I've gotten up at five o'clock in the morning.
I intend to convey the idea that waking up at five o'clock in the morning is like a daily routine for me both in the past ...
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Is using "See you soon" as a sign appropriate for a letter to a pen-friend?
If a pen-friend is a person whom you likely won't see in the future, can we write "see you soon" at the end of an informal letter? It seems weird to me, but what would you say? My question ...
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Will the reference word "they" cause confusion in my sentence?
As I write the following sentence, I am wondering whether it will cause confusion:
Don't trust those who leave their friends the moment they get into difficulties.
Based on the meaning, I guess ...
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It is correct to avoid mention explicity the subject here?
Is it better to use Despite she received or Despite receiving here? I am trying to add variety to my writing by avoiding repeating so many times the subject. However, I am not sure whether excluding ...
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Is "as" okay in the sentence?
I'm writing a script. Here's part of a scene:
The plane is accelerating down the runway. Tim (he's seriously scared of flying) is desperately trying to calm himself. But as the plane takes off —
TIM: ...
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Are both versions natural?
Are both versions natural?
1.
He came out onto the roof with a bottle of whisky in his hand. He was about to take a gulp from it when it slipped out of his hand and shattered.
2.
He came out onto the ...
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