Conversation started Jul 14, 2015 at 11:46.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Jul 14, 2015 11:46
0
A: I want to replace "take place" with occur and happen

GlorfindelThere are online tools for this, e.g. For Better English. "execution took place" results in 0.077 hits / million. "execution occurred" (note the extra r) results in 0.016 hits / million. "execution happened" results in 0.003 hits / million. So 'occurred' is used less often, but ...

This site sucks. I type the most common phrases and it does not find them. — Justyna Nogala 2 hours ago
:D
BTW, I take it that this site means "that" site. :P
In any case, that site seems to be useful, too.
​
Somehow the availability of corpora all over the web, here and there and them some, reminds me of stock trading.
I remember I've read somewhere that a professional trader once said that when a taxi cab driver gives you a stock tip, it's time that you should get off the market.
I take it that he meant it's a time when everyone acts as if they know but they really don't.
I wonder how much these tools have an impact on language usage, particularly English.
I also remember that someone said "Collocation is overrated".
Can't find that on the web, so maybe it was in a book.
​
Still, one fact remains. Corpora are useful.
They're not only useful. They are extraordinarily useful, if used properly.
But if we always rely on the most frequently used pattern, isn't it true that we just follow the herd behavior, and we always try to stay at the center of the herd?
BTW, it's very safe to be at the center of the herd.
But everyone cannot be there.
And perhaps we the human race wouldn't make it this far if all of us always avoid being at the "edge".
 
Conversation ended Jul 14, 2015 at 12:05.