Thank you all Pieanne, Julielai and CalifJim!

I think "win the bidding (bid?)" and "win the auction" are fine. You can also outbid other candidates.

Hi, Vincent. To me the two examples call for different words. The first thing that came to my mind while reading your first sentence was "to buy something on credit . Do you think it fits? As for the second sentence, "upfront payment/payment in

Oh, yes, CalifJim, I didn't think about that point. A did not deliver the cargo until Jan 1 = It was not before Jan 1 that A delivered the cargo. Right? Frankly speaking, I too tend to use that "before", though I clearly recognise it in

You say "He left for New York last Friday" without "on", but you say "Let's meet again on Friday" with "on". When you have last/next/this etc. don't put "on". This is the simple rule.

Oh, it surely is an interesting point. I often think about how culture affects people's perceptions, understandings and - of course - language, which reflects all this. It is not only the Chinese who think differently. I think you can come across

Hi, Vincent, The following is my personal opinion. To me, until suggests continuity. It sounds as if A had to secure repeated deliveries of cargo to B until Jan 1. Therefore in this case I would use by : A did not/failed to deliver the cargo

Yes, Vincent, I think you are right. The Webster's gives the following for deduction: 1. the act or process of deducting; subtraction. Something that is deducted. 2. the act or process of deducing. Something that is deduced.

Hi, Vince, The simplest way to put it (ignoring other meanings of the words) is that canal is an artificial waterway, while channel is a natural bed of a river or other waterway. Hope this helps.

It's because music is uncountable. You cannot have a good music, nor musics.