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How to choose the word ?

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Hi, I always notice when reading using some words in a context and not using them in another context.Though, they are pretty much close in meaning.

1) ( nocking on the door ).Hi, I'm John.

- come on in

- come in

2) Many plastic containers are flung in the world's seas everyday.

Many plastic containers are thrown in the world's seas everyday.

the two verbs are a like, but what would you prefer more to say and why?

3)

- There is a discrepancy between what I got and what you had.

- There is a difference between what I got and what you had.

4)

- Interest rates seesaw every year.

- Interest rates fluctuate ever year.

Maybe I shouldn't dig in deep, or I'm going to sink

Rolling Eyes

Rolling Eyes

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Re: How to choose the word ?

navigator wrote:

1) ( nocking on the door ).Hi, I'm John.

- come on in

- come in

Both are acceptable. "Come in" is a bit more formal than "come on in."

navigator wrote:

2) Many plastic containers are flung in the world's seas everyday.

Many plastic containers are thrown in the world's seas everyday.

the two verbs are a like, but what would you prefer more to say and why?

"Flung" refers more specifically to a particular action ("flinging"). "Thrown" can be considered more general. Both are acceptable. On the other hand, "everyday" is an adjective meaning "commonplace" or "ordinary." You should use "every day" instead.

navigator wrote:

3)

- There is a discrepancy between what I got and what you had.

- There is a difference between what I got and what you had.

"Discrepancy" and "difference" are distinct terms. We can say, for instance, that they have "different" meanings, but that they do not have "discrepant" meanings.

navigator wrote:

4)

- Interest rates seesaw every year.

- Interest rates fluctuate ever year.

"Seesaw" is much more informal than "fluctuate."

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Seesaw must be up and down. Fluctuate could be up and down or irregular (less commonly regular) movement in one direction.

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I read that discrepancy is between things that should be the same maybe,

There is a discrepancy between what I got and what you had.

( We should have the same thingy ).

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navigator -- right, if you mean to say that we should both have the same thing. If we don't, then there is a discrepancy. If it is merely a matter of not having the same thing, then there is a difference. 'Discrepancy' is generally used when a mistake has been made somewhere along the line, when two things should agree but don't (are different). The word clearly implies that something is amiss (wrong). But there can be a difference between two things without any implication of a mistake having been made.

As for the others, joefromchicago and flyboy have pretty well covered those.

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Thanks Merry Andrew

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Re: How to choose the word ?
1) ( nocking on the door ).Hi, I'm John. should be knocking

- come on in - used to welcome friends in happy tone of voice- come in equally correct in informal situation but also used in more formal ones

2) Many plastic containers are flung in the world's seas everyday.

Many plastic containers are thrown in the world's seas everyday.

the two verbs are a like, but what would you prefer more to say and why?

flung is a more vigorous and dramatic action than thrown

3)

- There is a discrepancy between what I got and what you had.

- There is a difference between what I got and what you had.

yes Andrew said this perfectly - discrepancy implies that things should have been a certain way (ie equal) but aren't

4)

- Interest rates seesaw every year.

- Interest rates fluctuate ever year.

seesaw is up and down, fluctuate means change, not quite the same meaning - seesaw could imply dramatic ups and downs whereas fluctuate could be a more subtle, smaller change

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Sorry, it's knocking Embarrassed

Embarrassed

.Thanks Vivien, I like what you said about come on in.

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Connotation vs Denotation
The difference in some of these is in connotation. There is some implied baggage on some of these words independent of the definition.

Thrown vs Flung is the best example. Thrown is fairly neutral, Flung implies a thoughtless disregard of consequences. You generally throw something to someone, but fling it at them.

Difference in fairly neutral and could be good or bad, but discrepancy has a negative connotation, implying an error, possibly malicious.

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yes that's true

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