Author Topic: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?  (Read 1460 times)

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Offline Deque

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English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« on: November 05, 2014, 10:06:12 pm »
What is the difference between applicable, suitable and suited? And when do I use "for" or "to"?
E.g.
The property is applicable for/to heuristic analysis.
The property is suitable for/to heuristic analysis.
The property is suited for/to heuristic analysis.

Which of these versions is the most appropriate? How does the meaning change for these versions (if there is a change)?

Additionally: Can I qualify the statements? Can I say the following?

The property is more applicable for/to heuristic analysis (than another property ...)
The property is more suitable for/to heuristic analysis
The property is more suited for/to heuristic analysis
« Last Edit: November 05, 2014, 10:08:15 pm by Deque »

Offline Matriplex

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2014, 12:18:43 am »
Take my post with a grain of salt; I'm no English major.

For is meant to express a purpose while to is meant to express some sort of movement (ideas or something physical).

The property is applicable for/to heuristic analysis: both sound a bit off actually. I would say "Heuristic analysis can be applied to the property." but even that hardly makes sense in that context. I just wouldn't use to apply in that scenario.

Once again I'm not certain, but as a native English speaker these 'sound' correct:
The property is suitable for heuristic analysis.
The property is suited to/for heuristic analysis.

The property is more suitable for heuristic analysis than...
The property is more suited to/for heuristic analysis than...

To indicates more of a direct action while for can indicate an indirect thought.
I'm likely completely incorrect on most of this.

Tl;dr English is weird and we should probably all just speak some non-romance language.
« Last Edit: November 06, 2014, 12:19:37 am by Matriplex »
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Offline shadowwolf

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2014, 12:31:36 am »
Suited and suitable are two different adjective forms of the same word. Suited- compatible with. Suitable- similar/matching
Applicable is an adjective meaning applying or being capable of being applied

I would take out more for applicable and suitable.
More suited to
Better suited for


We should all speak Latin, cuz Latin. Or Japanese...
« Last Edit: November 06, 2014, 12:46:30 am by shadowwolf »
"On one hand... you're a total cock.
On the other.. you're an active, loyal, somewhat knowledgeable cock.

I think that's an approval from me, we need the right kinda cock around here."- HTH because cock is good, as long as it's the right kind of cock.

Offline Deque

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2014, 09:30:01 am »
Thank you. That's helpful.

Can I say:
I test the applicability of a property for heuristic analysis?

Or should I rather say:
I test the suitability of a property for heuristic analysis?

Offline Phage

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2014, 10:21:20 am »
Thank you. That's helpful.

Can I say:
I test the applicability of a property for heuristic analysis?

Or should I rather say:
I test the suitability of a property for heuristic analysis?

I would use applicability.


We should all speak Latin, cuz Latin. Or Japanese...

Latin master race.
"Ruby devs do, in fact, get all the girls. No girl wants a python, but EVERY girl wants rubies" - connection

"It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law."

Offline silenthunder

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2014, 07:22:26 pm »
Suited is a bit more specific than suitable is.

To say that the property is suited for heuristic analysis would be to assume or imply that the property may have been build with that specific purpose in mind. To say that the property is suitable is to say that the property is able to be suited for heuristic analysis, but there's a chance some changes will need to be made.

Using 'applicable' in that context wouldn't make any logical sense.

As for the for/to statements, in that type of sentence I would use 'for'. Neither one is wrong though, they both make sense and nobody will question you. However if you want to get very specific, usually 'to' is used only when a an adjective or adverb is following. For example:

The property is suited for heuristic analysis.
The property is suited to his needs.

In context, you could replace the words "his needs" with "his use of heuristic analysis". I typed it the way that I did to more clearly show the point that I was making. Qualifying the statements by adding "than another property" is perfectly logical and would be entirely correct.

For the other question between applicability/suitability, applicability would make more sense, but both would be recognized and unquestioned. But I think there are better words that you could use, or maybe even just a better way of saying it. I'm having trouble of thinking of synonyms right now though, "usefulness" is the only word that comes to mind but even that really isn't much better.

However I do believe there are much better ways to say that. To say something like "I test this", or even if you used different words like "I check this", would be an incorrect form of participle in this context. To say that you test the applicability of the property would be to say that you do it often, say as if it's your job. So, if it's something you're currently doing or will do, then it would make more sense to say "I'm testing" or "I will test".

Given that I just changed both your verbs and direct object, you might as well change up those prepositional phrases as well to make it even easier to understand. The original "I test the applicability of a property for heuristic analysis" is just as correct, though it might linger in someones mind for a second longer (because 90% of people are stupid imo), and so it'd be better to just dumb it down some. Assuming you had a specific property in mind, you could actually make more sense by using the word I said no to, 'suitability', as long as you changed the entire rest of the sentence as I said.

I will test the suitability of this property for the use of heuristic analysis.

Obviously that's a lengthy sentence and would get in the way of a normal conversation, so here is where the use of English contractions and other forms of informal compressing become useful. Try it like this:

I'll test this property's suitability for heuristic analysis.

And there is how that sentence would be said in a normal conversation. Granted that you are from another culture, you might think that "informal" methods of compression like that are to be avoided in formal situations, but that's not what I mean by informal here. What I mean is that those rules or methods of compression aren't typically written or taught in length, they're just assumed when speaking. The only 'rule' that English culture has for formal speaking is to speak clearly and avoid all types of slang, which if you're a native English speaker, slang is very hard to avoid.


"Hacking is a lifestyle, a specific mindset, and it really is a lot of work." - Daemon

"Just wanted to state that this is just wicked social engineering at its best." - proxx

Offline Deque

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2014, 09:38:57 pm »
Wow, great reply, silenthunder. Thanks, man. (+2)
« Last Edit: November 06, 2014, 09:39:09 pm by Deque »

Offline shadowwolf

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #7 on: November 07, 2014, 01:20:34 am »
On the topic of slang and informality whether or not you use slang and informal grammar depends on whether you are talking or writing. When talking it is fine to use slang and horrific grammar because, sadly, that is how people commonly talk. When writing, with the exception of dialog, avoid it. Always. Unless you want to be strangled by an English major.

Oh and avoid the word "very" and the use of overused similes like the plague. :P
"On one hand... you're a total cock.
On the other.. you're an active, loyal, somewhat knowledgeable cock.

I think that's an approval from me, we need the right kinda cock around here."- HTH because cock is good, as long as it's the right kind of cock.

Offline Deque

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #8 on: November 07, 2014, 07:40:27 am »
Thanks. The question is directed at formal use, my master thesis to be exact.

Offline Deque

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2014, 01:47:20 pm »
Another question, consider the following sentences:

A overview on/of the semi-automated test results is in table 2.
The section starts with an overview on/of the main structure of PortEx.
An overview on/of the anomalies recognized by PortEx is in appendix B.

Is it "overview on" or "overview of"?

-----------------------------

And how can I write the following sentence properly (it sounds arkward to me, but I don't know what to do differently):

The author introduces the booster score as measurement how well file properties
can be used for heuristic analysis.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2014, 02:30:11 pm by Deque »

Offline shadowwolf

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2014, 02:40:36 pm »
Not sure about the first one.

The author introduces the booster score as a measure of how well the file's properties
can be used for heuristic analysis.

« Last Edit: November 08, 2014, 08:19:41 am by shadowwolf »
"On one hand... you're a total cock.
On the other.. you're an active, loyal, somewhat knowledgeable cock.

I think that's an approval from me, we need the right kinda cock around here."- HTH because cock is good, as long as it's the right kind of cock.

Offline Deque

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #11 on: November 07, 2014, 02:54:28 pm »
Not sure about the first one.

The author introduces the booster score as a measure of how well file properties
can be used for heuristic analysis.

Thank you.

Offline silenthunder

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Re: English Language--applicable, suitable, suited?
« Reply #12 on: November 08, 2014, 07:07:03 am »
Lol shadowwolf was correct but he had his words a bit mixed up, probably just the random stupid mistake that everyone makes. Switch "the" and "file" around is all.

As for the first, "an overview" is always followed by "of" if you're describing what the overview is about. Not sure why that is, it just seems to be a common rule of syntax. "Summary" basically means the same thing as "overview", but you can use both "on" and "of" when using the word "summary".

Stupid implied rules like this are why this is the hardest language to learn.


"Hacking is a lifestyle, a specific mindset, and it really is a lot of work." - Daemon

"Just wanted to state that this is just wicked social engineering at its best." - proxx