(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: When '~' follows the determiner 'an', it is written as one word: see 'an~'.
1.
You use ~ to refer to an additional thing or person of the same type as one that has been mentioned or is known about.
They were just like any ~ young couple...
The communique gave no ~ details.
ADJ: det ADJ, ADJ n
•
Other is also a pronoun.
Four crewmen were killed, one ~ was injured...
In 1914 he (like so many ~s) lied about his age so that he could join the war effort.
PRON
2.
You use ~ to indicate that a thing or person is not the one already mentioned, but a different one.
Calls cost 36p per minute cheap rate and 48p per minute at all ~ times...
He would have to accept it; there was no ~ way...
ADJ: det ADJ, ADJ n
•
Other is also a pronoun.
This issue, more than any ~, has divided her cabinet...
Some of these methods will work. Others will not.
PRON
3.
You use the ~ to refer to the second of two things or people when the identity of the first is already known or understood, or has already been mentioned.
The Captain was at the ~ end of the room...
Half of PML’s scientists have first degrees, the ~ half have PhDs.
ADJ: det ADJ
•
The ~ is also a pronoun.
Almost everybody had a cigarette in one hand and a martini in the ~...
PRON: the PRON
4.
You use ~ at the end of a list or a group of examples, to refer generally to people or things like the ones just mentioned.
Queensway Quay will incorporate shops, restaurants and ~ amenities...
Place them in a jam jar, porcelain bowl, or ~ similar container.
ADJ: det ADJ, ADJ n
•
Other is also a pronoun.
Descartes received his stimulus from the new physics and astronomy of Copernicus, Galileo, and ~s.
PRON
5.
You use the ~ to refer to the rest of the people or things in a group, when you are talking about one particular person or thing.
When the ~ pupils were taken to an exhibition, he was left behind.
ADJ: det ADJ
•
The ~s is also a pronoun.
Aubrey’s on his way here, with the ~s.
PRON: the PRON
6.
Other people are people in general, as opposed to yourself or a person you have already mentioned.
The suffering of ~ people appals me...
She likes to be with ~ people.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Others means the same as ~ people .
His humour depended on contempt for ~s.
PRON
7.
You use ~ in informal expressions of time such as the ~ day, the ~ evening, or the ~ week to refer to a day, evening, or week in the recent past.
I rang her the ~ day and she said she’d like to come round...
ADJ: the ADJ n
8.
You use expressions like among ~ things or among ~s to indicate that there are several more facts, things, or people like the one or ones mentioned, but that you do not intend to mention them all.
He moved to England in 1980 where, among ~ things, he worked as a journalist...
His travels took him to Dublin, among ~ places...
He is expected to be supported at the meeting by Dennis Skinner and Tony Benn among ~s.
PHRASE: PHR with cl, oft PHR n vagueness
9.
If something happens, for example, every ~ day or every ~ month, there is a day or month when it does not happen between each day or month when it happens.
Their food is adequate. It includes meat at least every ~ day, vegetables and fruit...
Now that their children have grown up she joins Paddy in London every ~ week.
PHRASE: usu PHR after v
10.
You use every ~ to emphasize that you are referring to all the rest of the people or things in a group.
The same will apply in every ~ country.
PHRASE: PHR n emphasis
11.
You use none ~ than and no ~ than to emphasize the name of a person or thing when something about that person or thing is surprising in a particular situation.
He called together all his employees and announced that the manager was none ~ than his son.
PHRASE: PHR n emphasis
12.
You use nothing ~ than and no ~ than when you are going to mention a course of action, decision, or description and emphasize that it is the only one possible in the situation.
Nothing ~ than an immediate custodial sentence could be justified...
The rebels would not be happy with anything ~ than the complete removal of the current regime...
They have left us with no ~ choice than to take formal action.
PHRASE: PHR n emphasis
13.
You use or ~ in expressions like somehow or ~ and someone or ~ to indicate that you cannot or do not want to be more precise about the information that you are giving.
The Foundation is holding a dinner in honour of something or ~...
Somehow or ~ he’s involved.
PHRASE: n/adv PHR vagueness
14.
You use ~ than after a negative statement to say that the person, item, or thing that follows is the only exception to the statement.
She makes no reference to any feminist work ~ than her own...
PHRASE: with brd-neg, PHR n/-ing
15.
each ~: see each
one after the ~: see one
one or ~: see one
this, that and the ~: see this
in ~ words: see word