http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3aAlpheccaStars&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:AlpheccaStars'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Kinship/lvwwm/post.htm#941261Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:38:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:941261alpheccastarsKinship means an extended family relationship. I've never heard of the phrase "kinship convention." Perhaps it refers to an idea that the closer (or stronger) the blood relationship, and the older the person, the more influence they have in setting the mores, laws and standards of the tribe or enforcing them by doling out punishment for offences. But this is only an educated guess!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Translation/lvjbc/post.htm#941256Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:27:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:941256alpheccastarsThe only google reference to this phrase is an album name: Into the Great Wide Open is the eighth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, first released in July 1991 Is that what you are talking about?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Hi/lcjgn/post.htm#931342Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:56:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931342alpheccastarsWelcome to the Forums! If you want to improve, please post a question! Regards, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/EmailReciept/lcjjn/post.htm#931339Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:53:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931339alpheccastarsIf it is not received, you may get an "invalid recipient," or "address unknown" email from the mail server. As to being opened and read, in general there is no notification. (Of course you can ask the recipient to send you a reply!) There is no equivalent of the "snail mail" registered letter. In some internal corporate email systems, the system is set up so you can tag a message to request an automatic return email generated automaticaly by the system when your email is opened by the recipient.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ConditionalSentences/lcjzq/post.htm#931338Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:46:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931338alpheccastarsHi Please: Conditional sentences have the word "if" with a condition. The degree of the conditional depends on the likelihood of the if-condition being true or not. If you heat water to a temperature of 100 degrees centigrade, it will boil. (true!) If I were your father, I would help you every day. (false!) Please see this LINK for summary of conditionals.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Sentences/lccgx/post.htm#929593Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:47:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:929593alpheccastarsPlease: I think you are using the definition of "reservation" in this sense - an arrangement to secure accommodations at a restaurant or hotel, on a boat or plane, etc. The prepositions are shown in these examples: I make a reservation at the Grand Hotel for the week of Feb. 19. I made a reservation with the ABC travel agency for an all-inclusive vacation package next summer.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ThePresidentRodeIntoOfficeTide-Discontent/lbpdg/post.htm#929444Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:29:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:929444alpheccastarsHi Tinanam; It "The president rode into office on a tide of discontent" This is a wonderful metaphor, as aonther poster beautifully explained concerning the physical tides of the oceans and seas on earth. Have you seen surfers on surfboards on the coast of California or Hawaii where the waves are very big? They "ride the waves on to the shore". The "shore" in your sentence is the office of president, and the tide is the sentiment of the voters, who figuratively carried him into the office by the force of their votes in the election. The force of the votes is the energy of the tides, driven by the voter's sentiment of ill-feelings toward the existing political situation.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyAmIInGrey/lcczz/post.htm#929412Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:59:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:929412alpheccastarsHi Bemol: Welcome to the Forums! If you upload a picture to your profile, you will be more colorful... Enjoy! A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ThreeVagueSentencesPlusQuestion-QuestionItself/lcbzv/post.htm#928970Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:52:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928970alpheccastars1.Somehow this sort of traditional Hamlet aspect in the untraditional character he was playing didn't seem to fit together. 2.The people who want to play with the cards that have goods trains on have to sit here. 1) It is a very obtuse sentence. The reference "together" mentions only one thing - a feature in the character "Hamlet". Together always means two or more things (Hamlet is the protagonist in Shakespeare's play of the same name. He is a young prince who is visited by his late father's ghost. The ghost told that his brother murdered him, took his throne, and married his wife. The rest of the play concerns Hamlet's struggle with avenging his father.) 2) A "goods train" is a...http://www.englishforums.com/English/QuestionAboutAint/lbqdg/post.htm#928389Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:07:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928389alpheccastarsHi: I seldom, if ever use "ain't." I use it only in circumstances when I am deliberately chosing to epeak in a "slang" language. The general frequency of usage in conversation is highly dependent on the local dialect and socio-economic factors. Best regards, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowToPronounceSaturday/lbpmp/post.htm#928287Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:26:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928287alpheccastarshttp://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=saturday&submit=Submithttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PleaseRightNowwwS/lbppz/post.htm#928282Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:23:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928282alpheccastarsAnon: I have made some suggestions. The essay would be more logical if you made an outline of your main points. For example, you say in the conclusion that people want security, but that point is not clear in the body of the essay. Best regards, A- s CAN WE TRUST PEOPLE? I strongly believe that trust between people is based on the perception that efforts between the parties will be reciprocated. About trust, the key word is SECURITY, is the motivator in developing trusting relationships, so w e distrust someone when we know that (missing subject of "conceals") conceals its (it refers to objects, not people) intentions. (this sentence has many problems. The subject is not clear.) How can we believe...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Help/lbpjb/post.htm#928162Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:26:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928162alpheccastarsAnon: Besides a dictionary, you can also try Google. I am sure you will instantly get millions of sentences for each word!http://www.englishforums.com/English/InventedOrderNormalOrder/lbpdj/post.htm#928078Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:49:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928078alpheccastarsWhy are most questions asked in invented order rather than normal order? We distinguish the mood of the sentence grammatically by the structure of the sentence. For interrogative mood (asking questions), the helping verb is inverted with the subject. Also, the sentence can start with an interrogative pronoun. The sentence ends with the question mark punctuation. This signals for us to raise our tone at the end of the question instead of lowering it as in the end of a indicative sentence.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AnEssaySomeoneCheck/lbvkm/post.htm#925664Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:06:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:925664alpheccastarsJaycee Yes, I understood your points. They are clear. A discussion essay does discuss the positive and negative aspects of a theme, so yours qualifies in my opinion. But you should ask your teacher, because his (her) opinion might be different - and that is what counts! All the best, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/AnEssaySomeoneCheck/lbvkm/post.htm#925012Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:24:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:925012alpheccastarsTQ. Here are some suggestions for the first paragraphs. It would help your essay at lot if you would make an outline of the points you are trying to make, and then follow the outline with your paragraphs. Question; Celebrities like Miley Cyrus have become famous overnight. what are the advantages and disadvantages of being rich and famous? Nowadays (only now? People did not belive this 5 or 10 years ago?) , it is widely believed that famous and rich people have a wonderful life with no worries or problems, and this ("this" is a very vague reference; do you mean the belief about rich people?) also is the wish of all the people. One of the easiest ways (for what?) is to take part in of the competition (what...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PaulAndJohn/lbdjv/post.htm#924854Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:26:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924854alpheccastarsI think that the song requested by Chris and Val is "Searchin'" Some of the words in the song are: Gonna find her Searchin' every which-a-way You know I'll bring her in some day. 2nd part- ...To sum up the whole thing, I've chosen one of John Lenin's records "double fantasy". Which I think's a beautiful song, it's very moving to me, anyway so to sum up the whole thing, I'd like to play the song Beautiful Boy.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Hi/lbvcb/post.htm#924846Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:05:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924846alpheccastarsHi Please; In this case you have a helping verb (did) to make the past tense of "have". "Have" does not change in 3rd person singular. I did have. You did have. He did have. We did have. They did have. The main verb (have) does not change when a helping verb (modal) is present. Everybody should have fun. (modal "should") Everybody has fun at the park. Regards, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Feelings/lbvcj/post.htm#924844Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:59:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924844alpheccastarsHi; Either one of these expressions is fine. Regards, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/StatementPurposeReviewFinance/lrcgq/post.htm#924826Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:48:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924826alpheccastarsSome suggestions on your statement are in line below. All the best for your success! A- s It is my ambition to study a finance program which is highly structured and provides the right (perhaps " a judicious", since the "the right" would be different per personal preference) balance between theory and practice. Your post graduate program in finance comes with this advantage (characteristic?) and would help me develop a greater understanding of finance topics and the financial industry as a whole. In addition, the UK provides a conductive environment for holistic development of an individual as a professional. The reason I have decided to pursue a specialist program at this point of my career rather than an MBA...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Measurements/kxnqz/post.htm#908117Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:07:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:908117alpheccastarsHere are 2 expressions you will hear: I am a 5-foot 2-inch tall woman. I am 5 feet 2 inches tall.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Comparison/kxnlz/post.htm#907978Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:47:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:907978alpheccastarsMy friend 's life is not simple as mine and he has a more expensive house and more expensive vehicles. You might want to use a different word for "expensive" to avoid repetition. (e.g. luxurious) Cheers, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ManyAGreatDealOf/knnpc/post.htm#903250Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:41:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:903250alpheccastarsHi Christanford; "Many" and "a lot" are the most general adjectives. The others are used in particular contexts, or for extra emphasis. For example. "a multitude of sins" is a set phrase, "a host of angels" is from the Bible (meaning a group of indeterminant numbers) "an array of numbers" is in formal mathematics, where the ordering is significant.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MeaningStoreDetails/knjnr/post.htm#902166Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:31:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:902166alpheccastarsHi Mr. P I think it means that the "fine print" (detailed terms and conditions) will be available at the store (birck and morter or on-line) where you buy the product. Cheers, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/InCollaborationVsInTandem/kmlml/post.htm#898983Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:08:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:898983alpheccastarsHi Mr. Tom: Tandem literally means one behind the other - as in a tandem bicycle, or truck and trailer. It can be used figuratively as meaning to work together - picture people pedaling a tandem bicycle. In collaboratio n is much more give-and-take, discussing, helping each other, rather than just being in a "chain gang" with each person doing the same thing in unison. But that is just my sense of these words - try a good dictionary. Cheers, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Friends/kmqkc/post.htm#898980Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:59:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:898980alpheccastarsI'm puzzled by your question. If you don't know the person, how can you call them a friend?http://www.englishforums.com/English/5SentencesINeedHelpWith/kmlwx/post.htm#897559Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:37:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:897559alpheccastarsCould someone take a look at this. i'm having trouble. 1 When is the latest I can come home? Fine. 2 You're Your house is 5 stops after mine. 3 She doesn't look good full face/full frontal. (only talking about face not naked) A frontal portrait of her is not flattering; a three-quarters or profile view is preferable. 4 I'm going to forget you did that only because it's late./just because it's late. Fine. 5 I'd do that before I'd go there . Fine. I'd do that long ("way" is OK, but more informal) before I'd go there. 6 I had a vision that this was going to make me happy. Something told me that this was going to happen. 7 The fact that we have alcohol changes my vision of the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/ImIntriguedToKnow/kmzqj/post.htm#896159Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:59:12 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:896159alpheccastarsTom: Intrigued, I did some investigation COCA and confirmed my feelings. I found that it can be followed directly by the infinitive (i.e. your sentence #1). It is followed by "as to" only to introduce a clause -- "as to" is a conjunction. examples: "intrigued as to how they did it.." "intrigued as to what it means it.." Cheers, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PreIntermediate/kmzmn/post.htm#895893Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:42:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:895893alpheccastarsThe shorter version is OK. If you add "advanced" it becomes more awkward. In that case: He teaches English at the beginning, pre-intermediate, and advanced levels. All the best, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichOneIsCorrect/klplb/post.htm#893855Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:49:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:893855alpheccastarsSix half hides / Six halves hide Well, both can be correct in context. The farmer slaughtered six of his cows; their skins were tanned into cow hides. Six half hides were sold at the market at a good profit. There were six apples cut in half. Six halves hide under a bowl. The other six halves were eaten immediately because they were left on the table.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Tense/klpmm/post.htm#893841Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:42:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:893841alpheccastarswhat tense is this question? They were livng in America last year. Hi, This declarative sentence is written in the past progressive tense. It is not a question. Do you need to make a question from it? Regards, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ShrimpAndPrawn/klmkz/post.htm#892941Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:03:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:892941alpheccastarsWiki distinguishes these as different animals. Here are some quotes from Wiki: Prawns are Decapods, belonging to the sub-order Dendrobranchiata. They are similar in appearance to shrimp, but can be distinguished by the gill structure which is branching in prawns (hence the name, dendro=“tree”; branchia=“gill”), but is lamellar in shrimp. The sister taxon to Dendrobranchiata is Pleocyemata, which contains all the true shrimp, crabs, lobsters, etc. In various forms of English, the name “prawn” is often applied to shrimp as well, generally the larger species, such as Leander serratus. In the United States, according to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, the word “prawn” usually indicates a freshwater shrimp or prawn.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoOrWhom/klkkq/post.htm#892344Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:02:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:892344alpheccastarsWho , not whom is correct here. We ask: Who are you? "Who" is in the subject case, not object case, because it follows the linking verb "be" "Whom" has been slowly disappearing from the language, being replaced by "who" Whom did you call? (formal) Who did you call? (colloquial)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SentenceStructure/klzwz/post.htm#890897Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:09:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:890897alpheccastarsYou are using a reflexive pronoun in a non-reflexive context. The personal pronoun (you) is preferred here. You can do it yourself. (youself reflects on "you") Regards, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PhonecticScript/kldzk/post.htm#890874Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:53:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:890874alpheccastarsSam: Here are some options: 1) Look in the pronunciation key in the front of any dictionary and translate the sentence. 2) Look at the individual words in "dictionary.com" and click on "show IPA" (after the word)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PastTenses/kldch/post.htm#890243Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:15:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:890243alpheccastarsSimple past uses only the past form of the verb. I ran to the park. I walked three kilometers. Continuous past uses the past of "be" followed by the present participle of the verb. He was walking to schoolwhen he heard the siren. (walk) They were sleeping when the alarm rang. (sleep) The perfect tenses use the inflected form of "have" (present, past, future, etc.) followed by the past participle of the verb. She had left for school before I arrived. (past perfect of leave) They had spent all their money on dinner and had none to pay for desert. (past perfect of spend) Click HERE for descriptions of the active tenses.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AsSentencesCorrect/klccm/post.htm#889937Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:44:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:889937alpheccastarsAlc: I'm not sure of what you are trying to express. By definition, politicians are "into politics" -- that is the definition of a politician! However, there are different motivations for choosing this career - some are in it for wealth (via corruption); some are in it for personal power and prestige; some are in it only to serve their constituents' needs and desires (public service); and finally, others dedicated towards furthering a favored cause. Dedication (in varying degrees) can follow any of these according to the person's motivation and drive to achive the deisred goals.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheUseOfIndicativeOf/kkxmq/post.htm#889525Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:17:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:889525alpheccastarsHi Tom: It's OK with me, a bit on the formal side, such as in a diagnostic setting (medical, mechanical, environmental). Some sticklers - grammar purists - would cringe at the prepositional ending, and prefer "What does this smell indicate?"http://www.englishforums.com/English/ALivingProof/kkphv/post.htm#888921Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:58:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:888921alpheccastarsNo article. The reason is because "proof" is being used as a generality, not a specific instance. Best regards, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/YourLanguageSkillsThing/kkxwb/post.htm#888632Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:11:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:888632alpheccastarsIt sounds very awkward to me. I would phrase it this way: Your superior language skills are what gives you an edge over her.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheMoreYouWatchTheFilm/kkxkx/post.htm#888607Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:54:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:888607alpheccastarsAngiholis: These are common expressions (especially the first), which can apply to any activity. We have an expression "You can't eat just one potato chip"http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheUseOfInfer/kkxlj/post.htm#888594Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:42:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:888594alpheccastarsHii Mr. Tom: I use it more often to mean "deduce" - e.g. "from your enthusiam, I infer that you like sports." But, see the "usage note" from Dictionary.com Usage note: Infer has been used to mean “to hint or suggest” since the 16th century by speakers and writers of unquestioned ability and eminence: The next speaker criticized the proposal, inferring that it was made solely to embarrass the government. Despite its long history, many 20th-century usage guides condemn the use, maintaining that the proper word for the intended sense is imply and that to use infer is to lose a valuable distinction between the two words. Although the claimed distinction has probably existed chiefly in the pronouncements of...http://www.englishforums.com/English/GivingDirectionsPreposition-More/kkxlb/post.htm#888584Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:34:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:888584alpheccastarsHi Soprano: 1) Say "Turn right at the corner of ..." 2) It is not necessary to write the full name, if it is clear. Regards, A- shttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Sylables/khbgk/post.htm#870143Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:11:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:870143alpheccastarsIf you look up these words in the dictionary, it will tell you the number of syllables in the pronunciation key. This comes right after the word. The dictionary is a great tool!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Sentence/khbnq/post.htm#870142Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:07:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:870142alpheccastarsAnon: English is very flexible in the placement of adverbs in a sentence. Most naturally, it can be at the beginning, the end, or near the verb. I would say any of the following: Today both current and former students reminded me of this. Both current and former students reminded me of this today. Both current and former students reminded me today of this. Your version is OK, too.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SampleSponsorshipLetters/khbrq/post.htm#869938Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:36:43 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:869938alpheccastarsWelcome to EnglishForums! A sponsorship letter is a guarantee that your sponsor will bear all financial responsibility for your travel and during your period of stay in their country. The letter will contain your sponsor's name and local address, your identification, the purpose of your visit, the dates of travel, where you will stay, etc. Depending on the laws, the sponsor may have to show some proof that they have the liquid assets to cover this. Your sponsor will sign this letter. Best of luck!http://www.englishforums.com/English/IndefinitePronoun/khbbp/post.htm#869924Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:22:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:869924alpheccastarsBreno: There are many points, this being one of them, on which different grammarians disagree. "Thier" as a gender-neutral pronoun for indefinite pronouns is accepted by some, and not by others. Some accept it in casual, but not formal situations. English is a dynamic language, and the rules change over time...http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatDoesMeanRenderingHere/khrwl/post.htm#869775Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:01:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:869775alpheccastarsHere are a few examples: Cooks render fat by melting and straining it. Judges render decisions in court cases. The cloaking devices in the space fiction stories render ships invisible. Boiling water for some time kills bacteria and renders it safe to drink.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PrepositionsForLegals/khrwg/post.htm#869746Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:53:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:869746alpheccastarsDec27: Here are some minor corrections: ... If you have received this transmission IN error, please notify TO (person's name) AT +(00) (00) 1234.5678 IN City, State. Country. Thank you.http://www.englishforums.com/English/RailwayVsRailroad/khrzw/post.htm#869740Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:48:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:869740alpheccastarsRailway and railroad are synonyms for me. I use railroad more frequently. I would always say: follow the railroad tracks when giving directions.