Questions tagged [word-choice]
This tag is for questions which a dictionary cannot answer about the several possibilities available for a particular meaning, and which one of them would be the most appropriate.
7,524
questions
0
votes
1
answer
16
views
using ignorant as a positive word
"ignorant" simply means "unaware"
Like when I say he is ignorant of the facts, it means that he is not aware of the facts. But in general, the word ignorant has taken up "...
- 643
0
votes
2
answers
26
views
what is the difference between "ship", "deliver" and "send", e.g. "we will ship/deliver/send the item to your house"?
According to my study, it seems "to ship" means to take an item to a carrier who will "deliver" it to your house.
If a shop said "we will ship the item to you/ your house&...
- 24.4k
0
votes
2
answers
39
views
The right word for ___
I'm looking for the right word for the sides of a water body like a pond, tank, and river and NOT sea, where usually the creepers and aquatic plants, reeds and others grow thick.
I want a generic ...
- 643
2
votes
4
answers
311
views
Substitute for "has turned into"
Is there any verb, or even slang, that can be used in place of "has turned into" when talking specifically about something that has changed for the worse, as in the example below?
It's sad ...
- 1,289
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
Individuals vs People. Is it correct to use "individuals" to refer to people of a particular type in a positive light?
individuals (sense 4): (informal, usually disapproving) a person of a particular type, especially a strange one.
I'm trying to know when I can use individuals to replace people to avoid repetition in ...
- 3,410
1
vote
2
answers
61
views
What word would you call something sticking out from a surface? (see photos inside)
What word would you call something sticking out as in the pictures below?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
I found some words in dictionaries: "projection", "ledge". But I don't know which one ...
- 4,951
1
vote
2
answers
62
views
Differences between Solely vs Only as Adverbs
Solely: only; not involving somebody/something else
Examples in the dictionary:
She was motivated solely by self-interest. Selection is based
solely on merit. He became solely responsible for the ...
- 3,410
-3
votes
1
answer
55
views
I’ve already called her four times ________. Why not before?
I’ve already called her four times ________.
today
again
before
yesterday
Why is the answer today not before?
- 4,051
-1
votes
2
answers
59
views
Do you really distinguish the difference between "the shirt's rumpled" and "the shirt's wrinkled" and "the shirt's creased"?
I can not tell the difference between "the shirt's rumpled" and "the shirt's wrinkled" and "the shirt's creased" by just looking at the definitions in dictionaries.
In a ...
- 24.4k
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
Why is it ‘lived’ instead of ‘live’ in: "I'm surprised I lived”?
My first language isn't English, so I'm confused why people use lived instead of live in sentences like:
I'm surprised I lived.
I know that lived is past tense but I don’t understand why they use it ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
Is it correct to say "the baby can walk 4 steps today" or "the baby can take 4 steps today"?
A dictionary says "The baby took her first steps today."
They use "take steps" but not "walk steps".
Another dictionary says we can have a noun after the verb "walk&...
- 24.4k
2
votes
2
answers
132
views
Is it correct to say "don't eat walking around" or "don't walk around eating"?
I want my children to stay in one place and eat rather than walking around while eating.
So, if we want to emphasize a word, we put it before other words right?
I don't know which action I should ...
- 24.4k
0
votes
1
answer
38
views
can we say "the fan turned off by itself"?
Britannica says
2 turn off (something) or turn (something) off : to stop the
operation or flow of (something) by pressing a button, moving a
switch, etc.
She turned off the alarm/heat/lights/water.
...
- 24.4k
0
votes
4
answers
44
views
School of thought VS Notion
Notion: an idea, a belief or an understanding of something
School of thought: a set of ideas or opinions that a group of people share about a matter
Given the increasing rates of deaths caused by ...
- 3,410
4
votes
1
answer
461
views
Is "conversational" used correctly in this context?
I wonder if the 'conversational' used in this context is correct or not:
If you get an interview, study the job description like you're studying for a final exam. If there's anything in the job ...
- 3,581