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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

tours/trips/travels

Those who are a bit more active enjoy Okinawa's excellent snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, and sea Kayaking. It is even possible to join whale-watching boat tours from February to April.

Hi,

I wonder if "tours" in the above can be replaced by "trips/travels." If not, why not? Thanks.
  

Top answer

My humble opinion: no for both. a trip is generally a short journey, from point A to point B and back to A. "travels" does not exist.

— Tanit

  • My humble opinion: no for both.
  • a trip is generally a short journey, from point A to point B and back to A.
  • "travels" does not exist.
  • As a noun, "travel" is uncountable and has to do with the activity of travelling, not with a specific journey (that is, you can't say "I went for a travel" or something like that).
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4 Answers
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My humble opinion: no for both.
  1. a trip is generally a short journey, from point A to point B and back to A.
  2. "travels" does not exist. As a noun, "travel" is uncountable and has to do with the activity of travelling, not with a specific journey (that is, you can't say "I went for a travel" or something like that).
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Oops, better dust off your dictionary a little, Tanit. Yes, there is the uncountable noun 'travel'. However, the word 'travels' does exist, and is also quite acceptable when used to talk about various journeys and/or trips. (Have you read Gulliver's Travels?)

However, I do agree that neither 'trips' nor 'travels' works very well in Angliholic's sentence. The word 'tour'
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Thanks, Tanit and Amy.

I'm still confused. What if I delete the word "whale-watching" in the context? Do all of the three words fit, then?
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YankeeOops, better dust off your dictionary a little, Tanit. Yes, there isthe uncountable noun 'travel'. However, the word 'travels' does exist,and is also quite acceptable when used to talk about various journeys and/or trips.
Thanks, Amy, I really didn't know that!
(I should've checked my dictionary before posting
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