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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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residue

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "residue" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that means a small amount of something that remains after the majority of it has been used, taken away, or dispersed. For example, "After the visitors had left, there was a residue of crumbs and food scraps on the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The judge described how the CCRC obtained its own scientific evidence and referred George's case to the appeal court on the grounds that there was a real possibility that the evidence of gunshot residue "does not now attract the value attributed to it at trial, and therefore does not support the identification evidence".

News & Media

The Guardian

When emotions are observed, not suppressed or amplified, they filter through quicker, leaving a smaller residue behind.

Perhaps it's related to "emotional residue", which describes the way we can't help thinking of rooms previously occupied by sad people as having a sad vibe.

But thousands went abroad to the United States, Mexico and the Persian Gulf, and to farther-flung places like Malaysia and Kazakhstan.Many headed to Alberta, in Canada, where the tar sands yield a residue that is similar to the heavy oil from the Orinoco belt, which Venezuela is struggling to develop.

News & Media

The Economist

British political parties used to attract the masses too, but are now over-dependent on a residue of ageing enthusiasts who stick by them despite lacking obvious reasons to do so.All three main parties worry openly about the state of their organisations.

News & Media

The Economist

Mr Whitley alleges that Coke fiddled a marketing test for a new product, moved $4m into a slush fund to lower the price of expensive new machines, let those machines leech metal residue into dispensed drinks, improperly capitalised payments to bottlers, mis-stated net operating revenues and then fired him when he reported it all to Steven Heyer, Coke's chief operating officer.

News & Media

The Economist

In addition, both developed and developing countries generate vast quantities of construction and demolition debris, industrial effluent, mine tailings, sewage residue and agricultural waste.

News & Media

The Economist

The 32 men who are now at Woodhill are the most difficult residue out of a long-term prison population of 21,000, of whom 3,000 are housed in high-security prisons.Coping with exceptionally disruptive or dangerous prisoners is certainly an acutely difficult problem.

News & Media

The Economist

But the ethanol industry, which is made up of a large number of private companies, worries about the growing clout of Petrobras.The ethanol industry has an impressive record of innovation, including electricity generation from cane residue and the development of bioplastics.

News & Media

The Economist

The residue acts like a blanket, lowering the soil temperature by a degree or so in the tropics (and thus helping to combat the effects of global warming).

News & Media

The Economist

The amount of pesticide residue in our food is too small to be harmful.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "residue" in scientific contexts, specify the exact type of residue (e.g., chemical residue, pesticide residue) for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "residue" as an adjective. "Residue" is a noun referring to what remains. The adjective form is "residual", as in "residual income".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

92%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "residue" is as a noun. It denotes the remaining quantity or substance after a process has removed the main part. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "residue" acts as the subject or object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "residue" functions primarily as a noun, denoting what remains after a process or event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. While applicable across various contexts, it is most frequently encountered in News & Media and Scientific domains. When using "residue", it's essential to specify the type of residue for clarity and avoid confusing it with the adjective "residual". Related terms include "remains", "remnant", and "sediment", each carrying slightly different nuances. Overall, "residue" is a versatile term for describing remnants, though careful consideration of context ensures its precise application.

FAQs

How is "residue" typically used in a sentence?

The word "residue" typically functions as a noun. For example, "The test showed a pesticide residue in the sample."

What are some synonyms for "residue"?

Synonyms for "residue" include "remains", "remnant", "sediment", and "deposit". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What is the difference between "residue" and "residuals"?

"Residue" refers to a remaining substance or effect, while "residuals" often refers to continuing rights or payments, particularly in entertainment or business contexts.

When should I use "residue" versus another word like "debris" or "waste"?

"Residue" implies a smaller amount left behind, often after a process. "Debris" refers to scattered fragments or wreckage, while "waste" describes unwanted or unusable material.

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Source & Trust

92%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: