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Thread: crunch or crack?

  1. #1
    blue_aurora is offline Newbie
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    Default crunch or crack?

    Hi!
    Which expression is correct in this context:
    There was no doubt in my mind that I had broken my leg. The excruciating flash of pain and the sickening _______________ of the bone told me the ugly truth.


    1) crunch or
    2) crack

    Please advise and explain. Thank you!

  2. #2
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    Default Re: crunch or crack?

    Quote Originally Posted by blue_aurora View Post
    Hi!
    Which expression is correct in this context:
    There was no doubt in my mind that I had broken my leg. The excruciating flash of pain and the sickening _______________ of the bone told me the ugly truth.


    1) crunch or
    2) crack

    Please advise and explain. Thank you!
    Both are possible.
    5jj likes this.

  3. #3
    blue_aurora is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: crunch or crack?

    Quote Originally Posted by bhaisahab View Post
    Both are possible.

    Hi,
    But if there can only be one option, which would be better? Why? TIA!
    emsr2d2 likes this.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: crunch or crack?

    If I had to choose one, "crack" comes closest to what I imagine a breaking bone sounds like. Personally, I would use "snap".
    Last edited by emsr2d2; 24-May-2012 at 18:42.
    bhaisahab likes this.

  5. #5
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    5jj
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    Default Re: crunch or crack?

    Quote Originally Posted by blue_aurora View Post
    But if there can only be one option, which would be better? Why? TIA!
    If there is only one option it's a bad question.
    bhaisahab and emsr2d2 like this.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  6. #6
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    Default Re: crunch or crack?

    I agree - it's a horrible question. It depends on the nature of the injury. There are crushing injuries, where "crunch" might be right, and there are other injuries where a "snap" or "crack" would be right. How could a test taker guess what type of injury the test creator had in mind?
    emsr2d2, 5jj and bhaisahab like this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

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