Help me proofread them!Thank you!

Question

Hi! I need English teachers tell me which one is correct or revise it if it's incorrect.

1.What are the differences between an ape and a monkey?

What is the difference between an ape and a monkey?

ps. I need to know when should I add an "s" after difference to be plural.

2. Proof of vaccination/ Certificate of vaccination/ Vaccination Certificate?

ps. I need to know which one is correct or formal. The other question is, when do I use certificate and certification?

Don't they have the same meanings?

3. Assistance to elders and people with disability who are out on (a) business/ Help the elders and people with disability who are out on (a) business.

ps. The first sentence was revised by a person who grows up in Canada. I wrote the second one, but I don't understand why she/he rewrited it for me.

Thank you!!

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

nikoer301271.What are the differences between an ape and a monkey?
What is the difference between an ape and a monkey?
ps. I need to know when should I add an "s" after difference to be plural.

In the plural, you are asking for a list of the differences.

In the singular, you are asking for one thing. Typically, it is the start of a joke. There are lots of these jokes, most of them a little off-color:

Q: What's the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers?
A: Mechanical engineers build weapons, Civil engineers build targets.

Q: What's the difference between roast beef and pea soup?
A: Anyone can roast beef.

nikoer301272. Proof of vaccination/ Certificate of vaccination/ Vaccination Certificate?
ps. I need to know which one is correct or formal. The other question is, when do I use certificate and certification?

Both are used, and one is not any more formal than the other. Use the term that the certifying agency uses.

nikoer301273. Assistance to elders and people with disability who are out on (a) business/ Help the elders and people with disability who are out on (a) business.

Assistance to elders and people with disability who are out on business.

This is not a sentence. It is a fragment.

Help the elders and people with disability who are out on business.

This is a complete sentence, but I would rewrite it a little:

Help the elderly and people with disabilities who are out on business.

Nikoer30127 · Answer

Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for the entire excellent answers.

But I still didn't quite get few of the answers, sorry to ask you again.

1. So if I ask "what are the differences between A and B?" .The answer should show a list of difference things. Is this right?

If I ask "What's the difference between A and B?". The answwer should show one thing that is different from each other. Is this right?

2. I understand what you said about using the term that the certifying agency uses. But in my dictionary, "certificate" and " certification" mean the same thing. So let's just assume that I haven't seen the one that the certifying agency use, how do I know which one "certificate" or "certification" I should apply to?

For example, Jewellery Certificate? Jewellery Certification?

3.The elders is not teh same as elderly? When should I put a "the" before elderly, and to use the elderly instead of using elders

AlpheccaStars · Answer

nikoer301271. So if I ask "what are the differences between A and B?" .The answer should show a list of difference things. Is this right?
If I ask "What's the difference between A and B?". The answwer should show one thing that is different from each other. Is this right?

Yes. If it is one thing, it should be the most important thing. But most often A and B will have more than one difference, so the plural is better.

Question: What is the difference between a red circle and a blue circle?

Answer: Its color.

Question: What are the differences between monkeys and apes?

Answer: Apes are larger and heavier than monkeys.

Monkeys, especially chimpanzees, are more intelligent.

Monkeys have tails, apes do not.

Apes spend more time on the ground; monkeys spend more time in the trees.

Monkeys live in larger groups.

etc.

nikoer301272. I understand what you said about using the term that the certifying agency uses. But in my dictionary, "certificate" and " certification" mean the same thing. So let's just assume that I haven't seen the one that the certifying agency use, how do I know which one "certificate" or "certification" I should apply to?
For example, Jewellery Certificate? Jewellery Certification?

If you are printing a document:

Certificate of Authenticity (e.g. a gold chain of 18K gold)

This chain has been examined by XXXX and is certified to contain more than 1.0 oz. of pure gold.

nikoer301273.The elders is not teh same as elderly? When should I put a "the" before elderly, and to use the elderly instead of using elders

Elders and the elderly are sometimes used in the same way, but there is a distinction.

Your elders are people who are older than you in your family or community and people who you respect. I have two elder brothers. The oldest of them is 23 years old. Your elders are your parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents. Your parents might not be considered elderly - they might still be young or middle aged. Your greatgrandparents are most probably elderly.

The elderly are the old people in a society. My grandmother is elderly. She is 90 years old.

The percentage of the elderly is higher in Japan than in Iran.

Nikoer30127 · Answer

Thank you very much, AlpheccaStars! I was very confused about "elderly'' and "elder", because their definitions in my dictionary are the same. And you gave me excellent examples to all the questions I have asked. I understand now! :-)

Help me proofread them!Thank you!

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