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Questions tagged [word-choice]

This tag is for questions about choosing the best word FROM A GIVEN SELECTION for a particular context or meaning. The selection to choose from must appear in the question. If you do not know the word already, use single-word-requests.

11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why do we say "commit" a crime?

How did the word "commit" become so associated with performing a criminal act ("he committed a crime", "she committed a robbery" - also generally applies to errors, ...
Rabbi Kaii's user avatar
2 votes
5 answers
415 views

Formal written form for a 2x something? [closed]

In a sentence where I want to say a title or position that has been awarded twice, how do I phrase it? For instance "He was a 2x runner-up for the Champion title", would it be "two time&...
sarahh's user avatar
  • 29
1 vote
1 answer
39 views

serviceman / servicewoman / serviceperson etc (US)

What's the generally accepted way to refer to someone in the US military whose gender is not known (as the precise individual concerned is unknown)? I notice that the USAF uses/used Airman as a rank ...
Dan's user avatar
  • 4,562
0 votes
0 answers
23 views

When to use the possessive with 's in "Contact photo" or "contact's photo"? [duplicate]

"Click on a contact photo" or "click on a contact's photo"? "The contact photo is there" or "the contact's photo is there"? "It means the contact updated ...
jsmith's user avatar
  • 1
-1 votes
0 answers
24 views

Reasons for doing something and reasons to do something :do that make a difference? [duplicate]

You attended a XXX workshop...Your teacher has asked you to write a review… The content should include: … The reasons for joining it … This is my writing task and I am pretty confused about ...
sativaoryza's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
49 views

Is the statement, "pursuant Bachelors of Science: Computer Systems Engineering" proper English?

In a resume does it make sense to simply add the word pursuant in front of the degree to indicate that the degree was not obtained?
Jesus Gonzales's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
106 views

When is a person referred to as a 'scout'?

One meaning of the word scout is "Informal An individual; a person: a good scout" according to the American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed. I wonder in what context is this meaning used and ...
Wei Shi's user avatar
  • 21
0 votes
1 answer
57 views

Correct usage: "Which" or "that" in a trailing em dash clause

In the case of a trailing em dash clause, should one use "which" or "that" to add qualifying detail about an object that has been previously introduced? To make use of a concrete ...
nah's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
0 answers
24 views

Is it more grammatically correct to ask "When do your exams end?" or "When do your exams finish?" [duplicate]

If neither of these sentences are correct, what would be the correct way to ask this question?
hifromdev's user avatar
  • 101
0 votes
0 answers
19 views

summer holiday or summer vacation [duplicate]

When school ends in summer what starts then: summer holiday (BrE) or summer vacation (US English) or both can be used interchangeably in Britain and the US, or the term summer holiday is "...
english fan's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
64 views

What's the meaning of "QTY"? [closed]

I found the abbreviation "QTY" in an assay (not essay!😊). Can you tell me the meaning of this abbreviation? How can I paraphrase/explain it into ordinary words?
POP POP's user avatar
  • 131
1 vote
3 answers
155 views

What is the difference between "endless July" and "eternal July"?

What is the difference between "endless July" and "eternal July" and which one is correct or is preferable? It's a metaphor, it's about happiest month in a person's life, so he ...
Alina's user avatar
  • 21
0 votes
1 answer
31 views

Usage of “Effects” [duplicate]

I came across this sentence: “This new patch commit can be cherry-picked directly to the main branch to fix the bug before it effects more users.” I find the usage of “effects” here to be weird. Is ...
Uri Greenberg's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
46 views

What pronoun should I use, "by we who" or "by us who"? [duplicate]

He will be yelled at by we who hate him. He will be yelled at by us who hate him. After by you use us, but in this case I'm confused. Which one of these sentences is correct?
James's user avatar
  • 19
13 votes
9 answers
4k views

The words to describe a slave's mentality

I am trying to translate a Chinese word 奴才 into English. Quite often it is translated to slave. But 奴才 is more about a person's mentality, e.g. obedient servant and being numb, timid, apathetic, and ...
Qiulang 邱朗's user avatar

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