This tag is for questions relating to proper style or a specific instance of style in English.
style is for questions relating to proper style or a specific instance of style in English.
Questions tagged [style]
229 questions
37
votes
13 answers
Is the language of The Economist artificially complex?
I wonder whether reading the articles of the journals similar to The Economist (including Time, etc) are in a style that make them difficult to flow even for native-readers?
Is the effort to read them is as smooth as other every day text for a…
Real Dreams
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5
votes
2 answers
"A and B and C" or "A, B, C"
This is an excerpt from my English textbook
Their parents take care of everything, from A to Z, not to mention tuition and room and board. Though many students work part time after school or during vacations, the money they earn is for their own…
Taro
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5
votes
2 answers
"process used to manufacture Atinumab" vs. "manufacturing process of Atinumab"
Analysis of the stability of the process used to manufacture Atinumab, substance-solution.
Analysis of the stability of the manufacturing process of Atinumab, substance-solution.
Which one is better stylistically?
I prefer the first option,…
CowperKettle
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4
votes
1 answer
Can I start a sentence with 'and'
Is it appropriate to start a sentence with 'and'? We like to do it in my language. It emphasizes that the action in the sentence is a continuation of the previous. And it makes the flow of ideas more softer.
And they lived in paradise. And they…
mosceo
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3
votes
3 answers
'any' vs. 'all' in "the best of 'any'/'all' generation[s]"
All I ask is a chance to prove I'm as good as the best of "any" generation.
All I ask is a chance to prove I'm as good as the best of "all" generations.
Both 1—quoted from The New York Times—and 2—mine—sentences are grammatical, I hope, but…
user114
2
votes
2 answers
Unclear English sentence containing "with was"
Consider:
Disconcerting as the grin he then waited my pleasure with was the cast of his features, not just like any I had seen.
I do not perfectly understand "with was" -- with what? This is rather confusing for me.
I am not a native speaker.
As Vet
2
votes
2 answers
Does the following sentence have redundancy?
"There are loads you can lift by the strength of the natural power with which you are born"
Is the phrase "the strength of your natural power" redundant, or 'too literary?'
Thank you!
asef
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2
votes
1 answer
"just now" vs "only now"
What's more sounds naturally in the following scenario?
A very good friend call me and I saw his unanswered call after 2 hours. Then I want to explain him that I saw his call two hours later. The options are:
I Just saw your call
Just now I saw…
Virtuous Legend
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1
vote
2 answers
Interpreting a Bertrand Russell piece
In "History of Western Philosophy" Bertrand Russell wrote
"The Arabs, although
they conquered a great part of the world in the name of a new
religion, were not a very religious race; the motive of their
conquests was plunder and wealth rather…
user114
1
vote
1 answer
How to use the terms we devise in an article?
In an article I defined a term which may not correspond to its general meaning. I devised the term "context" in order to describe an algorithm on the source of a Web page:
After introducing some anchors, the user specifies the range of the nodes…
Ahmad
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1
vote
1 answer
What's more accepted: "I know that" vs "I know this" & "I know it"?
What's more accepted in the spoken English:
1) "I know that"
2) "I know this"
3) "I know it"?
Context:
1) Q. "Do you know Oxford university?" A. "Yes, I know it / this / that"
2) Q. "There are so many people here"? A. "Yes, I know it / this…
Virtuous Legend
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1
vote
1 answer
Does the expression 'on one's dime' have some usage limitations?
Does the expression 'on one's dime' have some usage limitations?
I haven't found it in the Longman, Macmillan, or Lexico dictionaries so I don't see how I can figure that out otherwise. I found it in the Wiktionary but it often neglects to flag the…
Sergey Zolotarev
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1
vote
2 answers
Joining two sentences. I wrote six versions, but not satisfied
I'm new to writing. English is not my native. I'm so confused. I wrote six versions of the same sentence, but still I feel none of them is good. I don't know what's wrong exactly, but I feel like very poor writing possibly with grammar mistakes…
T2E
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1
vote
2 answers
Does "fundamental essence" sound eloquent?
As essential and fundamental seems to be synonym I doubt whether I can use "the fundamental essence" expression. However I see its usage in the internet. https://daveursillo.com/the-fundamental-essence-of-life-an-incredible-truth/
Does it enhance…
Real Dreams
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1
vote
2 answers
Correct way to use "beholden to"
What of the following two sentences using the phrase "beholden to" is more correct or sounds more like natural English?
I am beholding to you a lot for your helps to me.
I am being beholden to you for your help to me.
Virtuous Legend
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