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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Use of the word 'insert'
Hello, I would like to know if there is anything wrong in saying ' The stone is inserted into the cylinder half-filled with water.' Is the word 'insert' used only when the object fits snugly into something else or touches the sides? I have seen sentences such as:
1. The gemstone is inserted into the bottle.
2. Insert plants into bottle and secure firmly in the soil.
3. The crane inserted its neck into the flaggon.
Hope someone can help. Thank you.
1. The gemstone is inserted into the bottle.
2. Insert plants into bottle and secure firmly in the soil.
3. The crane inserted its neck into the flaggon.
Hope someone can help. Thank you.
Top answer
Hello Anon, This is one I never thought about before, but "insert" would be used when the object being "inserted" will touch or come close to touching the sides of something, at least during some part of the insertion process. Any container that has a "neck" (like a bottle) will have a narrow entrance so even if the final placement isn't close to the sides, you have to insert it through the narrow opening, coming close to the sides. It would sound absurd to say "insert the pebble into the bucket," for example, because at no time is it necessary to pass the pebble close to the sides.
- Hello Anon, This is one I never thought about before, but "insert" would be used when the object being "inserted" will touch or come close to touching the sides of something, at least during some part of the insertion process.
- Any container that has a "neck" (like a bottle) will have a narrow entrance so even if the final placement isn't close to the sides, you have to insert it through the narrow opening, coming close to the sides.
- It would sound absurd to say "insert the pebble into the bucket," for example, because at no time is it necessary to pass the pebble close to the sides.
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4 Answers
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Hello Anon,
This is one I never thought about before, but "insert" would be used when the object being "inserted" will touch or come close to touching the sides of something, at least during some part of the insertion process. Any container that has a "neck" (like a bottle) will have a narrow entrance so even if the final placement isn't close to the sides, you have to insert it through t
This is one I never thought about before, but "insert" would be used when the object being "inserted" will touch or come close to touching the sides of something, at least during some part of the insertion process. Any container that has a "neck" (like a bottle) will have a narrow entrance so even if the final placement isn't close to the sides, you have to insert it through t
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at no time is it necessary to pass the pebble close to the sides.
What's at no time mean here?
What's at no time mean here?
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at no time means never.
You never have to have it close to the side.
You never have to have it close to the side.
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Thanks for the clarification. I presume that the sentence 'Insert the stone into the cylinder.' is correct as those used in the science labs are narrow although they do not have 'necks' as bottles do. The dictionaries say put in, put into or put between. At times, the word 'put' is overused. Thank you.
Sathia
Sathia
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