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Nhật Bình Posted 5 years ago
Vocabulary

Thinly vs Sparsely -- Retain vs Sustain

Could you tell me the difference between thinly and sparsely? (Q8)

Both can collocate with populated (and perhaps have the same meaning), but why is sparsely the correct answer?

Could you tell me the difference between retain and sustain? (Q4)

Both can collocate with support (and perhaps have the same meaning), but why is retain the correct answer?

  

Top answer

Take a look at the ngrams. t1%3B%2Cretained%20the%20support%3B%2Cc0

— Teechr

  • Take a look at the ngrams.
  • t1%3B%2Cretained%20the%20support%3B%2Cc0
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2 Answers
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Nh?t BìnhCould you tell me the difference between thinly and sparsely? (Q8)

'thinly' has perhaps a wider application than 'sparsely'. Where 'thinly' is concerned, natives probably think of 'thinly sliced' and 'thinly disguised' more readily than they think of 'thinly populated', but with 'sparsely' they think of 'sparsely populated' immediately.

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