0
Hhtt Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

severe v. sharp v. violent

Context: It was winter and there was a severe wind outside. The trees were as if collapsing down because of this wind and some did. This severe wind continued a few days, even making people walk difficultly.

Original: It was winter and there was a severe wind outside.

Which of the following would be correct, in the same sense and idiomatic?

1) It was winter and there was a sharp wind outside.

2) It was winter and there was a violent wind outside.

Would you please reveal the nuances which might be?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Hey. Some adjustments to the first part. hhtt Context: It was winter and severe wind blew outside.

— Fandorin

  • Hey.
  • Some adjustments to the first part.
  • hhtt Context: It was winter and severe wind blew outside.
  • The wind bent the trees and some already toppled.
  • It (redundant details) continued for a few days, making people's walk clumsy and strained.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

9 Answers
0
Hey. Some adjustments to the first part.
hhtt Context: It was winter and severe wind blew outside. The wind bent the trees and some already toppled. It (redundant details) continued for a few days, making people's walk clumsy and strained.
Original: It was winter and there was a severe wind outside.Which of the following would be
0
0
1) Shouldn't it be a severe wind?


2) What does "it is more of a hurricane"mean? Does it mean "It is more stronger than a hurricane" ?

Thank you.
0
0
hhtt1) Shouldn't it be a severe wind?
That would be more idiomatic, yes. However, I wouldn't call it wrong without the a.
hhtt2) What does "it is more of a hurricane"mean? Does it mean "It is more stronger than a hurricane" ?
No, it means it is like a hurricane, it resembles a hurricane.
0
0
1) If you are looking to the word in your context, then severe or sharp wind will be your choice. Actually, the difference between the two is quite small because sharp wind that goes in strong gusts and can take trees down. It is not strict science and the choice is up to you as an author.

2)'More of' is informal way of saying 'it has more qualifications of the latter'. So, it is almost e
0
0
What can "extreme wind" mean for this context? What could be the nuance for "extreme wind" ?

Thank you.
0
0
Well, almost the same as severe wind. Extreme puts more emphasize on the power it carries but it depends on what you want to convey. The thing is that one adjective cannot change the meaning of the entire excerpt that much. Auxiliary descriptive words mean more to the context.
0
0
I agree with everything the Experts have said.
hhttWould you please reveal the nuances which might be?
These word choices all describe strong wind but have different levels of figurative language:

severe wind -- professional/factual description; doesn't really paint a word picture; could describe a warm-weather storm
sharp wind -- wind
0
0
SoSaysSunnysevere wind -- professional/factual description; doesn't really paint a word picture; could describe a warm-weather storm
Most simply what do you mean by "factual description" and "paint a word picture" ?

Thank you.
0
0
hhttMost simply what do you mean by "factual description" and "paint a word picture" ?
All sentences contain information (facts).
Some sentences also communicate pictures and emotions.
NOTE: Please forgive me for my violent example sentences below. Violence can be described factually and professionally (in a police report) -- or figuratively a
0

Related Questions