Can we say "extremely cold winters"?

[Rosalisa]

HI teachers,

1. Can we say "extremely cold winters"? I think,extremely shouldn't be used.

2. Is it right to say "minor errors" and "serious mistakes"?

thanks
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[canadian45]

1...Yes, you can say "extremely cold winters".
2...Yes, they are correct and you can also say "minor mistakes" and "serious errors".

[Rosalisa]

Thanks very much for your helpful answers.

But could you tell me what's the difference between "extremely cold " and "very cold"?
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If you want to change the world, be one of the change.

[Yankee]

Hi Rosalisa

I'd say 'extremely cold' is colder than just 'very cold'.

If the temperature outside is - 5° C, I might say it's very cold.
If the temperature drops to - 20° C, that would be extremely cold in my book.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tamara]

Amy, just out of curiosity, what word does your all-knowing book use for -40° C winters? (if any)
'Siberian'?
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[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

Since the coldest temperature I've ever experienced was approximately - 30° C, I'm not quite sure what I'd call - 40°. But -30° C is wicked cold and might also be described as colder than a well digger's butt in Idaho.

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tamara]

Thanks, Amy.

hard/harsh winter – perhaps, it would be more close to the expression that is used in the areas where people in –40° C go to work and cities normally function.

By the way, in Siberia and Transbaikalia people have a very special 'winter culture' – being in the street they attentively look at faces of other people and let you know if you’re about to get your nose frostbitten.
The reason is that you yourself can’t feel that moment – parts of your face just looks white.
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[prezbucky]

In northern Wisconsin:

0 F is very cold. (-17.78 C)

-30 F is extremely cold. (-34.44 C)

As others have said, "extremely" generally implies a somewhat greater degree of the adjective than "very" does.
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[Pond969]

Hi ... I live in the high arctic... cold here is pretty cold

Saying 'extremely' vs 'very' is only a question of degree and relatine to the place/speaker. I person from Florida might say it was extremely cold even though water does not freeze.... In the arctic we might say it is a nice mild day even though in the south people would describe the temprature as extremely cold.

[Tamara]

Hi

[Yankee]

Morning Tamara

There isn't anything wrong with saying 'cold temperature'. However if you were talking about the weather with someone, all you need to do is say 'It's cold'. In that context people would be more likely to use the word 'temeprature' to talk about what the temperature is, has done or is forecast to do. I think any use of 'cold temperature' would be in some other sort of context in which the collocation 'low temperature' doesn't work well.

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tamara]

Morning Amy

Is ultra-cold temperature only technical/scientific expression?

[Yankee]

Srory fro the tpyos.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Conchita]