What is the difference between “packing” and packaging”?

I think this is a simple question, but it confuses me when I am creating sentences. I make a few searches on Google and find out that the words are not synonymous. But in what context I will use “packing” and “packaging” in the correct way? Answer You’ll often see P&P as an additional costed … Read more

Meaning of “was born into a country”

He was born in 1966 into a country with a great mathematical school. A native speaker wrote it, and there are examples on Ngram. Does into simply mean in or there is additional meaning? into is more suited for movement, direction or attention. I know that you can say “he married into this shop,” and … Read more

What is the meaning/role of the -ine suffix?

What does the suffix “-ine” mean? How it modifies the meaning of the root word? Examples: medicine caffeine bovine Answer The suffix -ine for adjectives has a Greek or Latin origin. Reference Dictionary mentions it. -ine -a suffix means “of or pertaining to,” “of the nature of,” “made of,” “like”: asinine; crystalline; equine; marine. Furthermore, … Read more

How to talk about people you know?

In French the word I’d use is mes connaissances. But this word also (and mainly) means the things I know, and then the traduction I find is: my knowledges. Is this double meaning exists in English and what should I say to talk about people I know and who know me without being my friends? … Read more

Flammable or Inflammable

I am reading The Elements of Style and get stuck at the word flammable. There is the statement about the word: An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning “combustible” is inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in- and think inflammable means “not combustible”. For this reason, trucks carrying … Read more