Tasteful, tasty and delicious
Dear Dr English,
Are the words ÒtastefulÓ, ÒtastyÓ and ÒdeliciousÓ different in meaning? Please explain and provide some examples. Thanks.
Taweesith Silapa
Even though ÒtastefulÓ and ÒtastyÓ come from the same root, that is ÒtasteÓ, they donÕt bear the same meaning. ÒTastefulÓ has nothing to do with food; the word is used to explain that something is considered to be elegant and of good quality.
The designer has chosen very tasteful furniture for the showroom.
When we talk about food that has a pleasant flavour, then we say that it is tasty.
LetÕs go to the Chinese restaurant on Phaholyothin Road. The food there is very tasty.
This is also the same with ÒdeliciousÓ. The word modifies the food that has a pleasant taste or smell. For example, ÒMy mother cooks a delicious beef mussamun curryÓ. But for sweet foods or dessert, we say that it is delicious rather than tasty.
Auntie Beth always bakes all sorts of delicious Christmas biscuits every year.
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Proper endings
Dear Dr English,
I remember being taught that there is a specific way to conclude a business letter, but I cannot recall now. Could you help?
Malai Kaewlaor
How to end a letter depends on how you begin it; a letter starts with ÒDear Sir or MadamÓ ends with ÒYours faithfullyÓ. If your letter opens with ÒDear Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss followed by a personÕs surname then it should end with ÒYours sincerelyÓ and the less formal letter where you begin with the recipientÕs first name, ÒDear JimÓ, you end it with ÒBest wishesÓ.
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Maths or math
Dear Dr English,
I sometimes see the word ÒmathÓ with an ÒsÓ and sometimes without; which one is correct and is it a plural or a singular noun?
Silapakorn Thongsakda
Both spellings ÒmathsÓ and ÒmathÓ are correct. ÒMathsÓ is used in British English and ÒmathÓ is used in American English. It refers to a subject we learn at school. But if you talk about it as a science, you use ÒmathematicsÓ. All these words are uncountable nouns and are used with a singular verb.
David enjoys studying maths/math.
Math(s) is DavidÕs favourite subject.
According to the laws of mathematics this result is completely wrong.
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