There is the phrase "talking without saying anything", which implies idle chatter and not a lot of meaning. So for me, speak is more formal and more precise than talk. (That applies both to …

Aug 23, 2019 · In the words of one writer, “As the custom died out, this kind of ‘talking through one’s hat’ may have seemed to a younger generation to have savoured of Pecksniffery.” …

Apr 27, 2017 · Stack Exchange Network. Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for …

Jun 5, 2020 · I see, I think. You want to know when to use past tense in indirect speech when talking about something that's still true. It's just a construction, like I wish I was when you really …

Dec 20, 2015 · Her eyes widened. "Jonathan," she cried, "what happened to you?". The reporting verb, to cry suggests that the speaker spoke instantly and showed deep concern at the same …

Specifically, I would say that it is fine to use either "that" or "who", but "who" can only be used to refer to people, while "that" refers to things and people. One should favour the word "who", if …

What is the difference between “speaking” and “talking”? I'm often befuddled when I am reading an article and the author uses talked with when referring to a conversation he/she had. I've …

I looked at a bunch of style guides to see what they have to say on this subject. The vast majority of them dedicate at least a paragraph to the distinction (or nondistinction) between "in behalf …

Mar 28, 2012 · Talking to is an old-fashioned verb form (or nounification, if that's a word*) that reflects the idea that superiors talking to a junior were talking to them, not with them. Hence, if …

Feb 18, 2015 · I'm looking for a single word that means talking with a raised voice, but still a few decibels short of shouting. Imagine for example the beginning of an argument: "I sold our cow …