Hi there,
Which word can fill the blanks in the following sentences?
1) Divorce is now ……………… (common/commonplace)
2) Few of these rules are ……………… (applied/applicable) to UK citizens while they are abroad.
Thanks.
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
(1) I know how you feel. If I were studying French or Spanish, I
think I could check with an official language academy to find out
what is good French or Spanish. Sadly, we English speakers do not
have an official body to give us
the ("thee") correct answers.
(2) So may I give you my two cents' worth?
(a) I would say: Divorce is now
common.
(i) My dictionary tells me that "common" = widespread; regular
occurrence.
(ii) My dictionary tells me that "commonplace" = uninteresting; dull;
ordinary.
(3) I would say: Few of these rules are
applicable to UK citizens
while they are abroad.
(i) My dictionary tells me that "applicable" = capable of being
applied; relevant; suitable.
(a) For example, if you do not have any children, then you would
write N/A ("not applicable") if there were a question for you to
give the names of your children.
(ii) I cannot explain it, but I feel a difference between:
Few of these rules are applicable to Britons abroad. = seems to
indicate the possibility that a few of these
may be applied.
Few of these rules are applied to Britons abroad. = seems to
indicate that a few of these are
actually applied.
(4) Mr. Bryan A. Garner is an American expert on usage
("good grammar"). He says quite often the word "applicable"
should not be used. In other words, he MIGHT suggest that
your sentence read:
Few of these rules
apply to UK citizens while they are abroad.