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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Contrasting words
I'm happy I found this group - please help me!
English is a second language for me.
I'd really like a tool that allows me to compare words and lets me check the one that is correct to the context. For example, I'd like to find out the difference between a "property" and an "attribute".
One alternative is to go to dictionary.com and look-up each word. Then try out the shades of meaning, find the one in each of the words that is appropriate to the context. Then, in this context, select the one that is more appropriate.
This is too much work!
A thesaurus or a word-net is also no help. They suggest multiple words that have a similar "deep" meaning, but they don't tell you how to select the correct one.
An online search engine is also no help. I tried.
Anyone know of such a tool? It can't be that no such a tool exist!
Avi
English is a second language for me.
I'd really like a tool that allows me to compare words and lets me check the one that is correct to the context. For example, I'd like to find out the difference between a "property" and an "attribute".
One alternative is to go to dictionary.com and look-up each word. Then try out the shades of meaning, find the one in each of the words that is appropriate to the context. Then, in this context, select the one that is more appropriate.
This is too much work!
A thesaurus or a word-net is also no help. They suggest multiple words that have a similar "deep" meaning, but they don't tell you how to select the correct one.
An online search engine is also no help. I tried.
Anyone know of such a tool? It can't be that no such a tool exist!
Avi
Top answer
Avi Nahir wrote on 04 May 2004: [nq:1]I'm happy I found this group - please help me! English is a second language for me. I'd really like ...
- Avi Nahir wrote on 04 May 2004: [nq:1]I'm happy I found this group - please help me!
- English is a second language for me.
- I'd really like ...
- also no help.
- I tried.
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28 Answers
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Avi Nahir wrote on 04 May 2004:
[nq:1]I'm happy I found this group - please help me! English is a second language for me. I'd really like ... also no help. I tried. Anyone know of such a tool? It can't be that no such a tool exist![/nq]
Oh, it exists all right, but it can't be bought in any store. It's called a brain. If you haven't read enough high-level English, you'll never know the dif
[nq:1]I'm happy I found this group - please help me! English is a second language for me. I'd really like ... also no help. I tried. Anyone know of such a tool? It can't be that no such a tool exist![/nq]
Oh, it exists all right, but it can't be bought in any store. It's called a brain. If you haven't read enough high-level English, you'll never know the dif
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It exists indeed. It's called "human brain".
The more you use it, the more powerful it gets.
The more you use it, the more powerful it gets.
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Arcadian Rises wrote on 04 May 2004:
[nq:1]It exists indeed. It's called "human brain". The more you use it, the more powerful it gets.[/nq]
We seem to have come up with the same answer. :-)
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, ehziuh htiw rehpycrebyc ecalper.
[nq:1]It exists indeed. It's called "human brain". The more you use it, the more powerful it gets.[/nq]
We seem to have come up with the same answer. :-)
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, ehziuh htiw rehpycrebyc ecalper.
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[nq:1]I'm happy I found this group - please help me! English is a second language for me. I'd really like ... no help. I tried. Anyone know of such a tool? It can't be that no such a tool exist! Avi[/nq]
If a book counts as a tool, 'Practical English Usage', by Michael Swan is a long-established reference, used by teachers and students and useful for commonly confused groups - opening it at ra
If a book counts as a tool, 'Practical English Usage', by Michael Swan is a long-established reference, used by teachers and students and useful for commonly confused groups - opening it at ra
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[nq:1]No tool is going to give you every possible combination of confusable words...[/nq]
It would be interesting if it did exist, though, for all words. How is "banana" not like "earthquake"? What is the difference between "fear" and "sandal"?
SML
Dalg! Glidj! Blimlimlim!
http://pirate-women.com
It would be interesting if it did exist, though, for all words. How is "banana" not like "earthquake"? What is the difference between "fear" and "sandal"?
SML
Dalg! Glidj! Blimlimlim!
http://pirate-women.com
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[nq:1]I'm happy I found this group - please help me! English is a second language for me. I'd really like ... is correct to the context. For example, I'd like to find out the difference between a "property" and an "attribute".[/nq]
Very little, in my mind, except maybe that "attribute" connotes philosophy.
[nq:1]One alternative is to go to dictionary.com and look-up each word. Then try out
Very little, in my mind, except maybe that "attribute" connotes philosophy.
[nq:1]One alternative is to go to dictionary.com and look-up each word. Then try out
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Sara Lorimer filted:
[nq:1]What is the difference between "fear" and "sandal"?[/nq]
People without fear don't run as fast..r
[nq:1]What is the difference between "fear" and "sandal"?[/nq]
People without fear don't run as fast..r
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On 4 May 2004 06:26:12 -0700, Avi Nahir (Email Removed) wrote, in part:
[nq:1]English is a second language for me. I'd really like a tool that allows me to compare words and lets ... suggest multiple words that have a similar "deep" meaning, but they don't tell you how to select the correct one.[/nq]
A thesaurus I have at home (which goes by the title Roget's (Something: 'International'?)
[nq:1]English is a second language for me. I'd really like a tool that allows me to compare words and lets ... suggest multiple words that have a similar "deep" meaning, but they don't tell you how to select the correct one.[/nq]
A thesaurus I have at home (which goes by the title Roget's (Something: 'International'?)
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But you answered two minutes before me.
In case your ":-)" is sarcastic, please be aware that I couldn't possibly read your answer, reformulate it, and send it within two minutes, so like it or not, we were on the same wavelength on this one.
In case your ":-)" is sarcastic, please be aware that I couldn't possibly read your answer, reformulate it, and send it within two minutes, so like it or not, we were on the same wavelength on this one.
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Arcadian Rises wrote on 04 May 2004:
[nq:1]But you answered two minutes before me. In case your ":-)" is sarcastic, please be aware that I couldn't possibly read your answer, reformulate it, and send it within two minutes, so like it or not, we were on the same wavelength on this one.[/nq]
That is a totally unwarranted assumption on your part. I don't use smileys often, but when I do, they
[nq:1]But you answered two minutes before me. In case your ":-)" is sarcastic, please be aware that I couldn't possibly read your answer, reformulate it, and send it within two minutes, so like it or not, we were on the same wavelength on this one.[/nq]
That is a totally unwarranted assumption on your part. I don't use smileys often, but when I do, they
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