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当前位置： Language Tips> Columnist 专栏作家> Zhang Xin
In the news, I read that the trial of Saddam Hussein in Iraq was often called "a shambles". I'm wondering, like, why "shambles"? Why plural? Why not "a shamble"?
When the Houston Rockets signed Greek star Vassilis Spanoulis over the summer, they hoped he would be "a rotation player"...
In a writing composition, I wrote this line: 'He was febrile and weak.' My writing professor changed it to 'He was feeble and weak'.
Is 'endorse' the same as 'support', only that 'endorse' is more formal than the latter? Give usage examples, please.
BJ asks: ...That may also be the case among the rank and file - what is 'rank and file'?
What's the difference between a fable and a parable? How should the Chinese 寓言 be put into English? Is it a fable, or a parable?"
Ingrid writes: "I have a problem with these two words - solution vs. resolution. I've read that...
The English language is specific in comparison with the Chinese, which tends to be vague. English is explanatory, whereas Chinese is conclusive.
"Judge" is a word used more widely and loosely in conversation. "Adjudge", on the other hand, is much formal and less flexible.
Reader ZBC asks: "What's the difference between 'doubt' and 'suspect'? In the English-Chinese dictionary, both are explained as '怀疑'."
A reader with a coded name of 007ccmmzz writes:
"I can't understand 'a pet vice'. Please tell me. Thanks a million."
A tautology in logic, or rather warped logic, refers to a proposition that is either true by definition, or is necessarily true (which makes its statement redundant).
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