Moving jaggedly?

It sounds odd. Use staggered; moved unevenly; wobbled-- there are other words. depending on the context.

Mister MicawberIt sounds odd. Use staggered; moved unevenly; wobbled-- there are other words. depending on the context.

Hi Mister Micawber,

To me, jaggedly is a very powerful word that has no exact synnonym. Moved jaggedly paints a picture of a sawtooth motion side-to-side. Taking a chessboard as an example, if o

Jaggedly is indeed a unique and very graphic word... but it does not collocate well with 'moved'. A chess knight does not move 'jaggedly'; it moves very specifically, in an L-shape or somewhat diagonally. An important part of becoming fluent is learning through reading or experience how the words of the language collocate. Collocation is often the only way of distinguishing synonyms.

Mister Micawber, you know a lot abot collocation, but I wonder how you would feel if you asked a foriegner if you could use a certain adverb to describe the movement of a chess piece in their native language, and you received a little speech about collocation as a bonus. Maybe every language has collocation. Maybe this guy could teach you about it.

I suppose you might argue that he asked

Mister MicawberJaggedly is indeed a unique and very graphic word... but it does not collocate well with 'moved'. A chess knight does not move 'jaggedly'; it moves very specifically, in an L-shape or somewhat diagonally. An important part of becoming fluent is learning through reading or experience how the words of the language collocate. Collocation is often the only w

Could I say that, "the knight on the first chessboard was moved jaggedly"?

You can say it if you like, Hoa Thai, but it does not sound natural-- it does not even sound poetic. In the case you have presented, I would say that the knight advanced in a zigzag fashion. Of course, that is only my personal opinion as a reasonably well-educated native speaker.

Mister MicawberIn the case you have presented, I would say that the knight advanced in a zigzag fashion.

I know you don't mean to be harsh. And if you did, you would find I am rather stubborn.

Is it OK to say "moved jaggedly" or does it sound stupid to a native English speaker? How could I say it in another way?

moved jaggedly doesn't sound stupid; it would be understood. However, I think zigzagged is the more usual choice.

The farmer zigzagged across the field looking for signs of damage to the corn.

CJ

and others may profit from my little speech, just as they may profit from your little speech!

CJ

Wolfheart Is it OK to say "moved jaggedly" or does it sound stupid to a native English speaker? How could I say it in another way?

As a professional chess player but a poor English Speaker I would say "moved diagonally". This is a commonly used chess term.