English usage and grammar
pglpm
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1 year ago
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83%
Sometimes it's necessary to make clear that an item is singled out for some reason, for instance if it's been specially chosen. I often use the words *specific* and *particular* for that. Example: > "She is going to buy a specific book" Omitting *specific*, the sentence could otherwise suggest that she just wants to buy any book; she'll decide which after browsing some at the book store. I was wondering if there are any differences that I should be aware about among *specific*, *particular*, *certain*, and similar words in this context. Giving your opinion about their usage is OK, but I'd also like to have some references if possible.