Anonymous  +  518062 Fri, 23 May 08 07:26 PM Hi, Are 'trapped' and 'stuck' interchangeable and mean the same here? The only bridge across the river was destroyed, therefore, they were trapped/stuck. Thanks! Anonymous

	Grammar Geek  +  518076 Fri, 23 May 08 07:54 PM Trapped has a sense of "no escape" while something else bad can happen. Stuck just means, more or less, that you can't make further progress. You can get stuck working a Soduko problem, but not trapped. If your front door is jammed shut, you may be stuck inside until someone comes to fix it, but you're not "trapped" unless there's a house fire or some sort of homocidal maniac in the house with you. With the enemy closing in on three sides, and the only bridge across the river destroyed, they were trapped. If you're on an island and the bridge goes out, you're stuck there. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,660 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Grammar Geek  +  518232 Sat, 24 May 08 04:09 AM Sudoku is a number puzzle. (google Sudoku) Homocidal maniac - this is a crazy person intending to kill you "The bridge went out" - the bridge was destroyed or, at least, no longer passable. I really don't think either trapped or stuck works in your example. There is no imminent danger and they can always go drive in another direction. Only if they were on an island so that they could not get off the island would they be stuck. And thank you for the birthday wishes! Grammar Geek