95 Answered Questions for the topic Word Usage

Word Usage Italian Word Meaning

03/25/19

Using vicino or vicina?
Can someone explain if there is a difference in meaning or usage between vicino and vicina. As far as I can tell, they seem to be interchangeable, yet I've seen both used.
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Word Usage Reading

03/24/19

How do I use the word "obtain" together with mathematical formulas?
.What would be the correct version?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/21/19

On the usage of "etcetera"?
In Spanish, we use the word _etcétera_ at the end of an enumeration to imply there are more things to mention, which may (or not) be important, but they will be omitted. Thus, I was fairly... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/20/19

Come si dice "Shut up, and get in the cart" as a strict command with the "lei" form, not "tu"?
Come si dice "Shut up, and get in the cart" as a command with the *lei* form, not *tu*? I want to convey a strict command to GET IN THE CART, like a parent might do with emphasis, as a last resort,... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

03/19/19

What does "le barchette di carta" mean?
Is there a specific idiomatic meaning for "barchette di carta" (in English). I'm trying to translate the following sentence but it refuses to make sense.> "Montale 'fanciullo invecchiato' vede... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Word Usage Italian Verbs Difference

03/19/19

What's the difference between "cominciare" and "iniziare"?
Recently, an Italian friend of mine corrected my sentence, "Sono a dieta, **l'ho cominciata** tre giorni fa", like this: "Sono a dieta, **ho iniziato la dieta** tre giorni fa." Is there any... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2
Word Usage German Meaning Usage

03/19/19

Usage of "zwar"?
Can anyone explain how the word *zwar* is generally used? I see it a lot and it doesn't seem like it usually translates very well into English, if at all. Here's an example sentence:>Frage:... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •2

03/19/19

Is there a difference between "anschalten" and "einschalten"?
Is there a difference between *anschalten* and *einschalten*?If I turn on the TV, oven, heat, start the car etc., can either verb be used?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

03/18/19

How would you translate the word "About" in a blog menu option?
I have to translate a site for a client and I came to the word "About". I could translate it as "Riguardo a", but is it the right translation in the context?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

03/18/19

Additional meanings of 'se'?
The sentence "*Scusa se non mi sono fatta più sentire*" means, as I understand it: "*Sorry if I didn't get in touch with you anymore*". Or is there a better translation? Anyway, what seems strange... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/18/19

Commonality of specific romantic phrases in Italian?
I was talking to my Italian professoressa and we were basically discussing how couples in Italy interact. Raised in Italy, she insisted that the phrase `Ti amo` is actually very uncommon in Italy... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1
Word Usage Italian Word Meaning

03/16/19

What is the difference between “ti amo” and “ti voglio bene”?
Can we use “*ti amo*” for expressing love between siblings?And we use “*ti voglio bene*” for expressing love between two passionate lovers?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •3

03/15/19

How to disambiguate the meaning of "ricaricare" when talking about mobile phones?
It seems to me that in Italian the word for "carrying out a mobile phone top-up" (UK) or "carrying out a mobile phone refill" (US), i.e., adding credit to a mobile phone's network operator account,... more
Follows • 3
Expert Answers •2

03/15/19

Should I use contracted forms in scientific presentations?
In a scientific paper am I right in believing that one would write “it is” instead of “it’s”? In a scientific presentation, would one use contracted forms like “it’s” instead of “it is” or is... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

03/15/19

Is it considered good style to use “relatedly” to start a sentence?
I sometimes like to start sentences with “Relatedly,”, as you might start them with “besides”, “however”, “furthermore,” and so on. (“Like” in that I find the word practical and concise. It could... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •3

03/14/19

Correct usage of the verb "divertirsi"?
I was talking to my Italian professoressa and we were basically discussing how our long weekend went. Being an Italian class, she expected me to describe the whole endeavor in Italiano. However,... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •2

03/14/19

What is the difference between “ändern” and “verändern”?
I'm still confused about the difference between *ändern* and *verändern*. I have read something about *ändern* only being used with small changes and *verändern* when something changes totally. But... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

03/13/19

Can I say 'around the 1800s'? How do I read '1800s'?
Tasmanian wolf died out around the 1800s.Q1. Is the above sentence correct? (I'm not sure whether I can use 'around' here.)Q2. How do I read 'in the 1800s' aloud?Thank you!
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

03/13/19

Where can I find a list of common padding words?
Like a lot of people, I actually have the habit of actually adding a lot of actual padding words when I actually write. A common one I use is _actually_. These are actually rarely worth keeping,... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1
Word Usage

03/24/16

Is it incorrect to say "we've found the cure to cancer," rather than, "we've found the cure for cancer?"
I feel as though I've always used them interchangeably, but my boss is arguing that it's grammatically incorrect to say "the cure to" and that it should always be "the cure for." "For" is obviously... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1

Still looking for help? Get the right answer, fast.

Ask a question for free

Get a free answer to a quick problem.
Most questions answered within 4 hours.

OR

Find an Online Tutor Now

Choose an expert and meet online. No packages or subscriptions, pay only for the time you need.