This tag is for questions about how to use a particular phrase. If your question is a request for a phrase to use, you should use the "phrase-request" tag.
2
votes
1answer
29 views
When can I remove the word “that” in a sentence?
I have this bad writing habit, I use the word 'that' so many times. I know it is grammatically valid, but using 'that' too often is not good. But I don't know in which sentences I can remove the word ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Appropriate phrase for the expression “get something made”
I see "get something made" used a lot in Indian English, for example in sentences like the following.
Do you have any idea how do I get my passport made?
What is the procedure of getting ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
Does dawned on me actually have a tense?
Does the phrase "dawned on me" actually have a tense or is it just an expression?
"I know why you have been unable to do it. The reason is that it is physically impossible for you. It dawned on me ...
4
votes
1answer
43 views
Are 'by the time' and 'when' interchangeable?
Let's say I am missing my novel and I think that my friend might have taken it after I left the place.
1: By the time I left my apartment, my friend was still there, so he might have taken it.
...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
On the usage of “of which”
How do you use "of which" correctly after a comma? I saw a similar example in a textbook and tried to tweak it a little:
"Our cost of A has been decreased from B to C just like the other ones, the ...
-1
votes
1answer
38 views
Ever since--present perfect?
Is present perfect possible in "ever since [present perfect]"? I guess my question wasn't clear.
It's been a long time since I've read an interesting book.
Isn't this usually
It's been a ...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
In the north of the country?
I want to say I come from a city in the northern part of the country. Would the following be correct?
I come from X, which is a city in the north of the country.
It sounds unnatural.
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Is “prefixed by” correct?
When I write the following sentence, the grammar/spelling checker running on my Mac always suggests me to use prefixed to or prefaced with.
Functions implemented by a module should always have ...
3
votes
1answer
34 views
I forgave all of you
I forgave all of you.
I forgave some bad thing that my friends did to me. Later after a month, I'm telling them the above sentence. Is this the way a native speaker will say?
3
votes
1answer
55 views
'User Manual' or 'User's Manual'?
I see the usage of both 'User Manual' and 'User's Manual' in daily life. I am wondering if both of them are grammatical and idiomatic? If 'User Manual' is grammatical, is 'user' used as an adjective ...
4
votes
2answers
62 views
Making phone calls with someone
I know you are supposed to introduce yourself on the phone by saying something like "this is so and so", but how do you introduce yourself when you are calling with someone? Do you say
"This is A ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
I'm running twenty four hours
I'm running twenty four hours
What do you understand by the above statement? In my languages it means I'm very busy with lot of work 24 hours a day, no time to relax. But I don't see this ...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
Graduated high school in top 10%?
I have a question regarding how to write your school grades. If you want to write someone saying that you graduated high school in the top 10%, should you write it like this?
"Graduated high ...
1
vote
1answer
25 views
wind whips on the faces of the soldiers
A dusty wind whips on the faces of the soldiers.
I see sentences like "the wind whipped their faces" But I'm not sure whether the above sentence is valid. I don't see any matches in google or ...
3
votes
3answers
118 views
Is 'take out' phrase idiomatic in this context?
Let's say I am in airplane, my luggage is in the overhead compartment and very heavy. I want to request the person adjacent to me
If you don't mind, can you please take out my bag from the ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Outdated food vs. expired food
My understanding is there is a 'recommended sell by' date beyond which the food is considered 'not so fresh' and an 'expiration date' beyond which the food is potentially spoiled and should not be ...
4
votes
2answers
48 views
Derisive laugh - usage context
When can I use "derisive laugh"? What does it mean? Is it the way when a villain in movie laughs at hero who almost lost the fight?
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Is this construct 'acting opposite to' idiomatic?
Consider this expression
He has been acting very weird lately. He is acting opposite to how he usually does.
What I am trying to say here is that 'He is usually very calm and relaxed, but he has ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
How to say your English/language is wrong, strange, artificial, wooden, direct copy of your language?
How will native speakers say about strange English?
If you English is artificial (When I am using valid words but anyone is not use such words).
If you English is wooden (When I am using very ...
2
votes
2answers
54 views
A healthy disrespect for authority
To to mind, the collocation "a healthy disrespect for authority" means that we ought to respect experts normally, but in some rare cases they might also make mistakes. So it implies that we should ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
How to say about waiting time change “waiting time was …”?
I want to use some phrase with waiting time and not sure if they are valid and not artificial:
waiting time was reduced by 10 minutes - was 20 minutes and now is 10 minutes
waiting time was extended ...
3
votes
3answers
34 views
What is the correct construction for 'as was my hunch'
Let's say I want to say
'X team did not win and that was my hunch.
I want to write this expression in the form of as I said, as I expected,
1 : As was my hunch, X team did not win.
2: ...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
How to say about money “money will appear on account ” or “money will be on account” or else?
How to say money will appear on account or money will be on account or else?
Full context example: We transferred money on account - it will appear no later than the next working day.
What is more ...
2
votes
2answers
51 views
What is better/shorter phrase “phone is on blacklist” or “phone is blacklisted”?
I found two different translations for this phrase. Which is more correct, or is more commonly used by native speakers?
That phone is on the blacklist.
That phone is blacklisted.
Context: I wish ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
How to “apologize for the inconvenience” customer and invite to restaurant again - in the most short way? [duplicate]
How to say apologize for the inconvenience customer and invite to restaurant again - in the most short way?
Consider such case - restaurant has some emergency and you want politely ask customer to ...
-2
votes
2answers
146 views
How to “apologize for the inconvenience” customer and invite to restaurant again - in the most short way?
How to say apologize for the inconvenience customer and invite to restaurant again - in the most short way?
Consider such case - restaurant has some emergency and you want politely ask customer to ...
3
votes
1answer
41 views
Are “due to” and “because of” equal?
Are "due to" and "because of" equal - i.e. due to something and because of something?
Can I use it with context of reason?
3
votes
1answer
35 views
What is the difference between “I run” and “I do run”?
Sometimes I read sentences like "I do run...", "I do love.." or "I do write..". What is the difference to "I run..", "I love..." or "I write..."?
Is the using of "do" in this cases a way to make the ...
-1
votes
2answers
65 views
Describing delivery, route, travel, distance, duration? [closed]
I found some phrases in dictionaries but I do not know if these words/phrases are really used by native speakers. Sometimes my dictionaries make me choose the wrong word and I don't have a feeling for ...
-1
votes
3answers
35 views
What is better between “after no contact” and “after lack of contact”?
What is better between the following sentences?
After no contact system withdrew order.
After lack of contact system withdrew order.
Are they significantly different?
3
votes
1answer
55 views
What does 'just like that' mean?
I was watching a movie the other day, and I saw this expression just like that in one of the scenes, the implied meaning was 'for no particular reason'.
The situation was something like this
Guy ...
1
vote
2answers
44 views
Can I say “You always use my car.” as exaggeration for “You sometimes use my car.”?
Suppose that somebody uses my car, and I don't like that. When I find him sitting in my car and starting the engine, can I tell him "You always use my car." as exaggeration for "You sometimes use my ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Can I say “Have a good week.” to somebody I know I will see every day of the week?
When speaking with a co-worker of mine, who doesn't work during the weekends like me, I could tell him "Have a good weekend." before returning at home. If I tell him "Have a good weekend." on a ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
Using “as much […] as”
I have a question about using "as much [...] as", because I can't figure out how much is supposed to go inside the brackets.
I'm wearing sun screen to cover up as much [surface sun rays might hit] ...
2
votes
1answer
31 views
Is this use of “oppose” to express a contrast correct?
I believe that movies have caused or created a false perception about a certain group of people. Instead, I believe that this group of people is exactly the opposite of how movies show them to be. I ...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
Can “in front of” be followed by an abstract concept?
Above, the square in front of the entrance to the bank's headquarters in Siena.
Reading several occurrences of "in front of" in The New York Times, I observed that this phrase is always followed ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Is 'some other time's' expression correct?
Let's say my friend is reading a book or an article and wants to know how old it is, assuming there is no date printed on it.
Say he asks
Is this last year's?
I reply
No it is some other ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
Usage and meaning of 'up front'
When should I use the phrase "up front"? Can anyone explain giving some examples?
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Are any of these expressions inherently condescending
I know it depends on the context but I want to get a general idea of whether the following expressions are inherently/likely condescending, in most cases, when used before or after answering a ...
0
votes
4answers
79 views
What is another way to say “have a wedding ceremony”?
If I want to inform a friend I'm getting married, could I use this sentence in the letter? What I'm trying to express is an alternative way to say I'm getting married.
I'm writing to tell you I'm ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
While reading an article online I found a sentence:
Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2013 is to be held on 14th April
2013 has been postponed and now will be held on 28th April 2013
...
4
votes
1answer
22 views
Is “works out of” correct English?
I have seen people using following in corporate emails
He/they work(s) out of (city name)
He/they is/are based out of (city name)
He/they operate(s) out of (city name)
If someone is residing in ...
6
votes
2answers
59 views
How is “any more than” used to compare two different situations?
In the following quote by Billy Sunday
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.
Can anyone please explain/elaborate the usage and ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
Is this construction correct?
Let's say I am talking to my friend, he asks me
Do you have any idea where X (another friend) is?
I reply
He has gone to get some Y.(assuming I don't know where he is going to buy it ...
5
votes
1answer
119 views
Is 'slip out of my mind' correct in this context?
Let's say my friend asks me to buy something form the grocery store but I forget about it.
Friend: Did you get that thing?
Me: Oh, so sorry, it completely slipped out of my mind.
Is the ...
4
votes
1answer
61 views
Differences between 'till now', 'as of now','yet', 'up till now'
I have seen phrases like the following:
Till now
Yet
Up till now
As of now
Is there any difference between their usage and meaning, or do they have the same meaning?
3
votes
2answers
45 views
Is it demeaning to say “There is life in the old dog”?
I have an old member in my team. Usually we do not expect any interesting idea to come from him. But one day, he made a very useful and interesting remark. This prompted one of my friends to quip, ...
4
votes
2answers
47 views
Does the adjective “mute” apply to “Light”?
I learned the meaning of mute is "characterized by an absence of sound; quiet" from Oxford Dictionaries Online. From the above meaning I understand mute is an adjective or attribute which is ...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
What is the difference between the pronunciation of these sentences? [closed]
What is the difference between the pronunciation of these sentences?
My dad is deaf.
My dead is deaf.
My dad is death.
My dead is death.
3
votes
2answers
52 views
Is saying 'which team's game is it/today' correct?
Let's say my friend is watching a game of soccer or something else and I want to know what the teams are. Can I say
Which team's game is it/are you watching?
Is this construction correct? It ...
