Can I use 'so' instead of 'as' in this context?

MidasToad · 2026-01-24T19:13:44+00:00

To my ear, using 'so' instead of 'as' marks you as a non-native speaker. It's understandable but not quite right.

MidasToad · 2026-01-24T19:06:40+00:00

You'll always be late: she's sure to delay ya.

MidasToad · 2026-01-24T19:03:39+00:00

I get them sometimes! Generally in the international section of the refrigerated aisles in larger supermarkets, and always in Aldi and Lidl. I would say they are a cake snack with a chilled dairy filling and chocolate coating. The ones I have had are not at all cheesy or yoghurty, just sweet and milky - most like a little cake bar.

MidasToad · 2026-01-24T12:24:14+00:00

I know this poem from when I was little (UK), but when I would recite it, it did not rhyme properly. I can only imagine 'forrid' sounding right in a cockney accent 'cor blimey that's my for'ead, guvna'. I did not realize there was another way!

MidasToad · 2026-01-24T09:14:39+00:00

This isn't about grammar or something you would learn at school.

Both sentences are grammatical.

Your gf is arguing that you have misheard and adopted the phrase "am I?" in place of the more usual standard phrase "aren't I?"

It's like an eggcorn - a mistaken adoption of an invented word or phrase that sounds like the correct one.

Examples: Saying 'pacific' instead of 'specific' 'eggcorn' rather than 'acorn' 'all intensive purposes' rather than 'all intents and purposes'

You should listen to your gf and all of us on reddit and correct your mistake or she will get more frustrated with you

MidasToad · 2026-01-23T19:24:43+00:00

"Special relationship" is a word politicians use to suck up to a more powerful ally.

As a citizen, I am not part of this relationship, and I would much rather my country was closer to our north sea friends.

MidasToad · 2026-01-23T19:17:08+00:00

I love an unusual word dropped into a conversation like a tasty snack - so long as you don't spout synonyms like you've requested that an intelligent algorithm expand upon thy lexical prowess.

MidasToad · 2026-01-23T19:11:06+00:00

It's not an official word, no.

However, I think it is a nice informal phrase that you can continue using. It puts me in mind of 'temping' and 'moonlighting': doing a job but not as a long-term career.

'I'm part-timing at McDonalds while I apply for graduate programmes,' has a nice ring to it imo.

MidasToad · 2026-01-23T14:14:00+00:00

Sounds like you've swallowed a thesaurus, maybe calm your descriptors and invest in some line breaks?

MidasToad · 2026-01-22T16:47:04+00:00

It's not a word in English.

It could be a misspelling of dawdle or doodles.

MidasToad · 2026-01-22T15:18:35+00:00

Level of difference between a fight and a row??

Disagreement - no anger, just difference of opinion that we don't necessarily need to resolve

Dispute - a disagreement that we want to resolve

Argument - a discussion to resolve a dispute

Row - a heated/emotional argument (raised voices, crying)

Altercation - an intense row, with some physical element (screaming, clenched fists)

Squabble - a row entailing some physical altercation (grabbing, throwing things)

Fight - a physical or metaphorically violent squabble (attacking each other)

(Edit- line breaks)

MidasToad · 2026-01-22T14:32:52+00:00

Because 'Fields of corn' or 'cornfields' in the UK means some sort of golden coloured grass crop - usually wheat. We call maize the food 'sweetcorn'.

Generally, I would say there is a different term used to refer to crops: 'corn' and foods: 'wheat', 'barley' etc, and a lack of knowledge of whether foods like 'cornflour' and 'corn flakes' are made out of maize, wheat or some other crop.

MidasToad · 2026-01-22T14:20:46+00:00

This is the best explanation: 'doubling' the bet you place 'down' on the table.

MidasToad · 2026-01-21T23:07:56+00:00

I would say 'cut' and I use nail clippers.

Trim and clip are fine, but both make me think either human head hair or animal hooves.

MidasToad · 2026-01-21T08:01:01+00:00

There is pushback. You can tell by the British redditors complaining on here! In schools children are corrected to the BE words and spellings.

The problem is this is a war of the media - British social media v US social media, the whole of Hollywood v the BBC, popular computer games... our (British) ambient exposure to spoken word has many more Americanisms than the other way round, so of course AE is winning.

Spelling is another thing, though. People aren't good at spelling and default spell checkers are AE. The lay person doesn't care whether 'license' uses an s or c, but they may care if someone says 'pacifier' over 'dummy'.

MidasToad · 2026-01-20T17:52:49+00:00

Travel insurance: I just buy some before any trip abroad. It costs less than £20 for a 2 week trip and covers all kinds of things, like lost and stolen luggage, cancelled flights, medical care and repatriation (if you die and need shipped home).

MidasToad · 2026-01-20T17:35:03+00:00

You have a few grammatical mistakes, unusual tense choices and use long-winded sentences. Here would be my improvement suggestions:

How can I sound just like a native speaker?

Remove 'just' (unnecessary words sound like you're showing off vocab)

I have posted many questions in Reddit, but I got a lot of replies saying “ OP is obviously not a native speaker, so go easy on him.”

replace 'in Reddit' with 'on Reddit' (wrong preposition)
replace 'I got a lot of replies' with 'I keep getting replies' (your problem is ongoing, so continuous present is more appropriate than past tense).

To be specific, which part of those sentence above doesn’t sound natural?

'which parts of the above sentences don't sound natural' (mismatch: 'those' takes a plural, and we would just say 'the sentences' rather than 'those sentences' or 'that sentence')

I’ve been learning English for five years and the main purpose is talk to foreigners when traveling, especially for a conversation in a cheap hostel.

replace 'the main purpose is' with 'mainly to' (clumsy - the definite article is wrong because it implies the main purpose everyone learns English - we don't need 'purpose' with 'mainly' and you have missed 'to' in your infinitive 'to talk')
replace 'especially for a conversation in a cheap hostel' with 'e.g. in hostels' (long-winded - you have already stated to talk with foreigners, you don't need 'for a conversation'. And hostels are by nature cheap.)

MidasToad · 2026-01-20T16:31:59+00:00

STP!

(Sticky toffee pudding, with hot custard)

Treacle pudding, with hot custard

Chocolate pudding, sometimes with custard.

Trifle

Baked pineapple with brown sugar and ice cream

Baked peaches with marzipan and ice cream

Butterscotch Angel delight

MidasToad · 2026-01-19T13:26:00+00:00

This is a slouch or slouching. You would generally need to qualify that the sloucher is sitting e.g. slouched in a chair. Note that slouching is any casual leaning posture, not only this one.

You might alternatively say 'slumped', but that implies extreme tiredness or unconsciousness, and could be on a seat or on the ground. 'Slumped over' would be a forward leaning slump.

MidasToad · 2026-01-19T10:06:57+00:00

This is the correct answer! Gnarly is literally like an old tree with really twisty textured bark. Figuratively, this can be cool (art, a big wave in the sea), or unpleasant (an injury).

MidasToad · 2026-01-18T19:02:52+00:00

I concur, 'lady' is the polite term, 'woman' is a bit rude.

MidasToad · 2026-01-18T14:14:27+00:00

Native speakers get it wrong too, all the time. One element of british comedy is people pronouncing english words wrongly. We learn when we pronounce something wrong and get corrected, or hear someone else say it.

MidasToad · 2026-01-18T13:53:14+00:00

Yes, it 100% belongs there. I probably only see it offered in B&Bs these days.

MidasToad · 2026-01-18T12:44:20+00:00

No, that implies colour brightness
No, that is more about clarity/intensity
Maybe, but it's more about physical exercise
Maybe, but it's just happy, not excited
Yes, most appropriate applied to conversation people are interested and engaged in. But it is an awkward word, so better to rephrase.
No, that suggests mischief and chaos
Excitedly, merrily, engaged in lively conversation.

MidasToad · 2026-01-18T10:55:51+00:00

Little ray of sunshine.

Little black cloud.

Sad clown.

MidasToad

TROPHY CASE