Should this word be in quotes or in italic?

Let's suppose there exists a standard that documents fruits. This standard has already accepted apple and peach. Banana has just been accepted as a standard. When I say: **The proposal of banana has just been accepted as a standard.** How should banana be written? In quotes ("banana") or in italic ( _banana_ )? Because it is not the fruit banana that entered the standard, but the word.


Verb agreement with subjects of different grammatical number

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When a sentence uses an optional plural, should the rest of the sentence > treat it as singular or plural? I'm writing a technical guide and trying to define 'reader' as it relates to the subject of the guide. > The **reader(s)** is/are the user(s) who view the content. How do I get rid of all those conditionals? I've also considered, > The **reader** or **readers** are the users who view the content. ... which seems fine, but if we flip it, we get: > The **readers** or **reader** are the users who view the content. I've also considered the most obvious: > The **readers** are the users who view the content ... but I want it implicit that there can be as few as one reader. Am I just over thinking this?


Singular or plural verb when pluralisation is used in parentheses

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When a sentence uses an optional plural, should the rest of the sentence > treat it as singular or plural? Which is correct? > Buy an apple from the vendor(s) that **are** selling fruit. > > Buy an apple from the vendor(s) that **is** selling fruit. On the one hand, the content of the parentheses is supposed to be an aside, or in this case, a possible substitution for the word _vendor_. In that case, which verb should I use, singular or plural?


genitive case (difficult surnames)

When we write difficult surnames, e.g. Novak Djokovic, is it neccessary to use 's in the genitive case? Is it correct to write Novak Djokovic match-ball, or we must write Novak Djokovic's match-ball (that is difficult to pronounce)?


Sentences beginning with "so"?

This also came up on either a BBC or CBC science program, but not as a linguistically-oriented discussion. Over the last two or three years I've noticed a lot more people starting a sentence with "so": "so when we take the ...", "so I have this ...", "so the basic idea ..." and (uh) so on. What _is_ "so" when a sentence begins with it? When did it start? Is it just a "pause" word (and is there a word for that)? Is it grammatically correct? Am I the only one that finds it annoying? _Edit:_ Much of its usage in scientific discussions is as a "therefore".


slope-up or slope-down

Could the words _slope-up_ or _slope-down_ be nouns? I found them just as verbs in the dictionary, and _slope_ as a noun. But then I see sentences such as "That slope-up was amazing." Is it correct to use that as a noun?


Is the phrase "large number core machine" correct?

I would like to use the following phrase for a machine with large number cores. Is this correct? Please let me know. `large number core machine`


Single word for "never fails"

Is there a single word for "never fails"?


What is one word to describe the person being called via phone?

I'm a Customer Service Agent for a governmental assistance agency. We often have situations where clients numbers have changed, and someone else has been assigned the old number. When I want to make a note to my supervisor that the person I've reached is not the client and that the 'person I've reached' has requested in very virile, flammable language that they would like us to remove their number from our calling list/dB, it vexes me that all I can come up with is "the answerer," which sounds dumb, and "the number's new owner..."


What does "defy repetition" mean here?

In the following paragraph, what does "defy repetition" mean? I know what **_defy_** and **_repetition_** mean, but don't know what it means when they connnected. Thanks. > You can create a database under the assumption that SQL looks after all the > problems of concurrency. It will probably work fine under test conditions: > Then, in the production environment, it starts losing data in subtle ways > **_that defy repetition_**. It is every Database Developer's nightmare. In > an excerpt from his acclaimed book, Alex explains why it happens, and how > you can avoid such problems.


Why is "today morning" wrong but "tomorrow morning" right?

I have heard "today morning" being said in the country I am from a lot. However here in the States people never use it and correct others who do. "Tomorrow morning" is acceptable though. What is the correct usage and why?


What is the name of that motion where one repeatedly bows to another with arms outstretched?

What I'm thinking of is usually not performed as a very deep bow as the torso doesn't really move far from the vertical. And when it's done, it's often performed in rapid succession, with kind of a facetious manner. The intended meaning is to pay homage, to say "I am in awe [of what you just did]." Does a specific word describing this motion exist?


Past or present to explain an active state in a past sentence

So, I have a sentence, more or less like this: > "Gil, who HAS a psychokinesis ability, studied math yesterday." or > "Gil, who CAN move things without touching them, studied math yesterday." So, with those sentences, I want to explain something that happened in the past, while explain a little about Gil himself. The thing is that I'm confused with the form I have to use for the "HAS" or the "CAN". I don't think I could use "HAD" or "COULD", because his psychokinesis ability is something he always has, till now (present). But I'm not sure present tense is right one. What form should I use? Sorry for my broken english.


What is the name for the inverse of an aphorism

For example, given a common saying or sequence of words, like > A picture is worth a thousand words One reverses the order and obtains > A word is worth a thousand pictures Is there a name for this kind of wordplay/whatever it is? I seem to hear them all the time, I can give more examples if needed.


Does Santy (Santa) exist outside Ireland?

It's common at this time of year for adults to ask small children _What's Santy bringing you?_ (awkward as this is for those of us who don't celebrate Christmas). Is this pronunciation of _Santa_ unique to Ireland?


Should "office mate" be one word or two?

Should "office mate" be one word, in the same vein as "roommate"? I haven't been able to find any reference that addresses this.


Subjunctives and "am"

Hopefully this one is nice and simple. Which is correct: > I would never say that I **am** superior to a cleaner. or > I would never say that I **were** superior to a cleaner. I'm rather confused -- any answers (and an explanation of the answer) would be appreciated.


Definite or indefinite article in "the/a devil's advocate"

I can't quite figure out which of the following expressions is more correct:   * He is the devil's advocate.   * He is a devil's advocate.   * He is playing devil's advocate. The combination of an article with the possessive is what confuses me. Exactly which word(s) does the article apply to? The first form seems to suggest either that he is an advocate of The Devil -- namely, Satan himself -- or even worse, that he is The Advocate of The Devil. (Kill him with fire!) The second form seems to suggest that he is an advocate of a devil (but not necessarily of The Devil, nor the only advocate out there.) This seems to fit better with the way this idiom is commonly used, but I haven't seen this idiom used very often with the indefinite article. It's usually used with the definite article. The third form suggests that he is playing a role named "devil's advocate", with no article attached to it. Similar examples: The King's speech, the Indian's prayer, the mother's room, etc.


Is "yearslong" a word?

New York Times just published an article where they use the word "yearslong": > Federal agents charged 18 current and former members of the Los Angeles > County Sheriff’s Department on Monday, accusing them of excessive use of > force and obstruction of justice as part of a sprawling, **yearslong** > investigation into allegations of misconduct and abuse of inmates in county > jails, federal law enforcement officials said. Is this a typo? Edit: A day later, NYT changed the paragraph and removed the word in question, but in the process, they have misspelled another word! Here's the new paragraph: > Federal **prosectors** on Monday charged 18 current and former members of > the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department with excessive use of force and > obstruction of justice as part of a sprawling investigation into allegations > of misconduct and abuse of inmates in county jails, federal law enforcement > officials said. This is too funny.


What did "make love" mean in the 1920s?

This 1921 article gives "Ten Pointers for Domestic Happiness". Pointer V reads: > Make love to your wife; continue to be her sweetheart. Neglect begets > indifference that is fatal to married life. Every true wife expects to be a > sweetheart, and rightly. More than bitter disappointment follows > disillussionment. Did "make love" here just mean "be loving; be nice; etc."?


What is the name of the profession "creating layouts for web sites and CSS and HTML" in English?

What do you call this profession in English: > someone who creates layouts for web sites in css and html


Is the expression, “the difficulty Perry has had planting doubts” about Romney right?

There was the following sentence in the _New York Times_ (September 24) article, titled “Perry and Romney set clear lines of attack”: > “His (Rick Perry’s) shaky debate performance Thursday night in Florida > underscored concerns among establishment Republicans and donors about his > electability and his skills as a candidate on a national stage — and _the > difficulty he has had planting serious doubts_ about Mr. Romney. He also > finished a distant second place in a weekend Florida straw poll." I was arrested to the line, ‘His shaky debate performance underscored audience’s concerns about --- and _the difficulty he has had planting serious doubts_ ” about Mr. Romney.’ Is the expression, “have ＋_ing” like “He has had planting serious doubts” common English usage? Shouldn’t it be either ‘he has (had) planted,’ or “he has (had) been planting.” I’ve barely seen the expression “have (had)” directly followed by a gerund or a verb in progressive form.


"Walk the walk" vs. "talk the talk" vs. "walk the talk"

Normally the idiom is as follows: > He walks the walk and talks the talk. Should it not be "he walks the talk", meaning "he does what he says"?


What is a good term for someone who refuses to debate an issue ab initio?

A neologism would be fine. I was thinking of “ruglifter”, as in someone who is wont to sweep dirt under the rug. edit: I was aware that using "from first principles" would render the question ambiguous, but I thought my run-on would clarify it. I was partly trying to avoid using a Latinism ("ab initio"), but I guess it is appropriate, so I've edited to use it.


Is “outpander” a received English word? Can “out” be used to any verb as one likes?

I saw the word, _outpander_ in the following sentence of Maureen Dowd’s article titled, “Liz: Cheney desist!” in March 6 New York Times: > Speaking by satellite to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee > conference here, Romney _outpandered himself_.   >  “I will station multiple aircraft carriers and warships at Iran’s door,” he > said as if he were playing Risk. Not afraid to employ “military might” (or > alarming alliteration), Romney wrote a blank check to Bibi Netanyahu --- I can guess what _outpander_ means from the definition of a dictionary at hand –OAELD defines pander (to sb) as "to do what sb wants, or try to please them, especially when this is not acceptable or reasonable." However, as far as I checked, no dictionary including Oxford, Cambridge, Merriam-Webster, even urban dictionary registers _outpander_ , nor does Google Ngram. Is _outpander_ a received English word, or usual Dowd’s coinage? Or, anyone can fix ‘out’ to any verb as a prefix as he or she likes just as we do with any verb＋able, like outeat, outknow, outlaugh, outsex?


"All our X" vs. "all of our X"

Is the word "of" optional in this instance? Is either of these considered preferable to the other? >   * Taste all our delicious treats. >   * Taste all of our delicious treats. >


Describe the two parts of a 'T' shaped intersection

I have architectural drawings that contains numerous instances of intersecting walls that form a **'T' shape.** To state the obvious, a capital 'T' has two parts:   1. the top line    2. a vertical line that buts up against the T's top What might each of these two connected walls or segments be called? I am asking for word suggestions. The words may or may not be math-based. Short words (short number of characters) that most people understand are preferred over obscure words that few people understand. **Edit:** I'm currently using 'T-Top' for one. That's okay I guess, but I couldn't think of anything short for the vertical piece.


What do you think about using an adjective before a person's name?

For example: James snatched the papers out of the flustered Jenifer's hands. You could say, "James snatched the papers out of the hands of Jenifer, who was flustered," but if the first sentence is acceptable, I think I would prefer it to the second.


What will be the possessive form of the word "Tipsy" used as a noun?

The Microsoft Word grammar check shows "Tipsy's" to be wrongly formed. I thought "Tipsy'" would do the job and it was shown as correct. However, it occurred to me that _Tipsy_ does not end in a 'z' or 's' sound, so now I am confused.


in an evolutionary light

> My observations helped me see human behavior in an evolutionary light.   >  My observations helped me see human behavior in the light of evolution. Do these two sentences have the same meaning? Are in an evolutionary light and in the light of evolution interchangeable?


A French Phrase Similar to "Expertise"

I am looking for a phrase that is used occasionally in English as a **near** synonym of "expertise". For some reason, "coup d'mentarie" keeps going through my mind, but I don't believe this actually means anything at all and it doesn't produce any results on the web. To clarify, I am looking for a word or phrase that sounds similar to this, whilst I am foggy about the language of origin and precise meaning. French is just a guess. :)


Is "voluminous" more commonly used to describe women's (not men's) hair?

Is the word _voluminous_ more commonly used to describe women's hair? What's the male counterpart? Actually I'm not very sure about my statement. But judging from Google Images. It seems like it is more commonly used to describe women's hair. What's the male counterpart of the word?


"What / who do think...." structure

Here's a list of examples I've seen: >   1. What do you think happened? >   2. Who do you think has killed him? >   3. Who do you think he killed? > How does this structure _what/who do you think..._ work? It seems a bit odd that you've got _happened_ after _think_ in the first example, _has killed_ after _think_ in the second. In third, who and what have got nothing to do with the first clause in the sentence but with the second. Can it be used in the past and in the future? "Who did you think (had) killed him? Who do you think will call him?" Apparently it can appear in the middle of any question when someone asks an opinion. Is that so? Are there more structures like this?


Is "plastic glass" as a container a valid expression?

In another question here (sanity of a plastic glass!) the term "plastic glass" is being used which sounds somewhat odd to me, but has not been brought into question by any respondents. Maybe it is has to do with the fact that my mother tongue is German where a "Glass" is always made from glass, while a plastic cup would be be "Plastikbecher". (which would translate into plastic cup.) Can anyone confirm this for me?


To cut capers in the street

I understand that the phrase in the title means "to behave frivolously". E.g.: _A bereaved person does not cut capers in the street, and neither does a failed pupil._ Google gives around 3 links for the phrase, including Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (English edition)  and  Frederique ,  a novel by Paul de Kock . Google ngram  shows no hits between 1700-2000. **Question** Can you give me some idea of the origin of this phrase? And why it has hardly ever been used?


Describing contrary idiom usage

I periodically get emails inviting me to a "free" lunch for the purpose of hearing a sales pitch. Multiple times these invitations have included some quip such as "See? There _is_ such thing as a free lunch!". But the phrase "There's no such thing as a free lunch" describes, almost literally, the advertisement: the lunch is not free because I have to pay the rather steep price of hearing a high-pressure sales pitch. The author of such quips appears ignorant of their own ironic misuse of the idiom. Is there a name for this type of situation? CLARIFICATION: The question is not whether or not advertisers try to deceive. I'm asking if there is a phrase which describes "ironic misuse of an idiom".


Existence of "multi" in US English

I have kept the "Check Grammar" option in my browser **On** , so whenever I write anything wrong as per US English it gets underlined. This is also the case with "multi". When I use this word in combination with other complete standalone words like _multibillion_ , _multimillion_ or _multithreaded_ , the word "multi" gets underlined (in Red) which means it's not considered correct grammatically. But it's not considered an error when used in words like _multitude_ , _multilateral_ , etc. Again _lateral_ is a standalone word here but there seems to be no error. Is "multi" a wrong word in US English? (The said browser software was developed in the USA.) This link here provides the details about the word "multi" but all of the words used above are considered correct here.


Which way is correct "The item that is to be found" or "The item to be found"?

I'm trying to say that the item will be found in the near future, but has not been found yet. Which way of saying is correct in this context?


"Innocent" vs. "immature"

I'm trying to decide how to describe someone. He is not very wise, but that is also due to his ignorance. Should I use "innocence" or "immature" and can someone please explain the difference between these two phrases?


Terminology for a “group selfie”

A **_selfie_** is a kind of casual self-portrait. People often take selfies that include a significant other or multiple friends, and I’m curious whether there is any established terminology or slang for this kind of “group selfie.” The linked Wikipedia article indicates that they are simply known as “group selfies,” but I suspect that there may be an older or better established term. I’m also curious whether there are specific terms for “couple selfies” featuring a significant other or best friend. Formal English, slang, and jargon terms are all acceptable.


What's the meaning of "gas" here?

> Todays Alpha males are MMA/Jits fighters not meatheads who gas 15-30 seconds > after raising their heart rate. This aint the 80/90s bro. Is this some kind of thing bodybuilders inhale? How does it work?


"Exact a price" versus "extract a price"

I recently heard someone use the phrase "extract a price". He was referring to a scenario in which an action had an associated cost. To me, it seems the correct phrase should have been "exact a price". But, given the literal meaning of "extract", it seems his usage could have been correct. What's the deal?


Can "whore" mean "to hoard things"?

We're used to the word "whore" in reference to a prostitute or (less commonly) as a verb meaning to prostitute oneself. Looking in a few online dictionaries, this is the first and only meaning. However, I hear the word used more liberally these days. An "attention whore" is someone who desperately craves attention, which seems quite different from selling sex for money. Last weekend I was at a party and entertaining a 6-month old while the mom socialized. Someone said, "You are such a baby whore." The last two uses seem to imply that people now consider the verb "to whore" as "to hoard". Is this common usage now?


Word for supporter of dictatorship

Word for a **supporter** /believer in the cause **of a dictator** (but is not one themselves), or the concept of dictatorship in the general sense. Dictatorist? Despotist?


past perfect + would have + ed-participle / past simple + would + infinitive

Could you clarify difference between sentences: >   1. If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster > horses >   2. If I asked people what they wanted, they would say faster horses > In a similar vein: >   1. If you had asked me I would have followed >   2. If you asked me I would follow > They're all hypothetical, aren't they?


"Doctor Pérez did some surgery on my knee"?

What is the natural way to say in English that a certain doctor did some surgery on — for instance — my knee? In Spanish we say "El doctor Pérez me operó la rodilla". Is the following grammatical? > Doctor Pérez did some surgery on my knee.


What is the origin/formal definitions of the phrase "pros and cons"?

The phrase "pros and cons" is often used to weigh the positive and negative effects that would result from taking a particular course of action. When trying to explain to someone else why only actions (and not objects or people's reasons for doing things) have pros and cons [e.g. there are no pros or cons for grass; there are pros and cons for _having_ grass], I realized that I have no idea why this seems to be the rule. I have so far come to the conclusion that both "pro" and "con" are probably abbreviations, but I can't figure out what they are abbreviations of. Does anyone know? How does this create the usage rules detailed above?


Is "vapourise" considered incorrect, even in British English?

According to Wiktionary, the British spelling of "vaporize" is _vaporise_ , not _vapourise_ as one might expect from the word _vapour_ (and similarly, the Canadian spelling is still _vaporize_ , not _vapourize_ ). The words "laborious" and "coloration" suffer from the same problem, and yet "favourable" doesn't. Why is this so? * * * And in case you think Wiktionary is a disputable source, the Cambridge Dictionary has no entry for vapourise either.


"ou" versus "o" in spelling words like "color"/"colour"

Often, I have to decide whichever is better in mail, forums, letters. For instance:   * _colour_ vs _color_   * _behaviour_ vs _behavior_   * _humour_ vs _humor_   * _rumour_ vs _rumor_   * _honour_ vs _honor_   * _armour_ vs _armor_ The difference comes certainly from the country of origin of the writer — basically Americans write _o_ and English people write _ou_. Please confirm that. (By the way, all the words left side are underlined in Firefox, since the spell-checker is set to “American English”) What I would like to know — from a non-native English speaker perspective — is if it _really_ matters, nowadays with the new technologies and international exchanges, to make a distinction between "ou" and "o"?   Does it hurt the reader if they are both used in the same text, mixing _colour_ and _honor_ , or even worse, _colour_ and _color_? What is the current trend?


Is this sentence ambiguous?

I was reading my apartment lease recently, and I came across this sentence in the rent section: "Lessee will pay a penalty of $16.00 for rent that is unpaid before the 6th of the month." The paragraph previously states that the due date is the 1st of the month. So with that information, it feels like there are two interpretations, based on what "before the 6th of the month" refers to - the rent, or the paying of the penalty:   1. Between the 2nd and 5th (before the 6th), pay a $16 penalty. After that it increases by $1 per day as stated in the next sentence.   2. Pay no penalty at all until the 6th. This is the correct meaning (they've told me.) Is there really any ambiguity? I think maybe if they meant the first meaning it would have said "that is _paid_ before the 6th." Saying "unpaid before the 6th" may be a clear way of stating that you haven't paid _until_ the 6th, at which point the penalty applies. So is the first interpretation reasonable, or would it be an error on the part of the reader to interpret it that way? Either way I think they should probably reword it.


When are "if" and "whether" equivalent?

Are _if_ and _whether_ equivalent in sentences like the ones below? > How to determine if my saddle is too high?   >  How to determine whether my saddle is too high? > We should check if everything is okay now.   >  We should check whether everything is okay now.


Is this proper English?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When are "if" and "whether" equivalent? As a non-native English speaker, I would use the following sentence: > I am wondering if you have seen that movie. Is it correct to use _if_ here?


What does "Let me know if the problem persists" exactly mean?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When are "if" and "whether" equivalent? Which one is the correct meaning of _"Let me know if the problem persists."_? Or is it ambiguous?   1. If the problem persists, let me know.   2. Let me know whether the problem persists or not.


Use of "if"/"whether"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When are "if" and "whether" equivalent? I was told that one can use _if_ in constructions like: > ... if A, then ... But that whether should be used when there is more than one option, like: > ... whether A or B, then ... Is it good practice or common to use whether when giving only one implicit or explicit option? > ... whether A (or not), then ... > > ... whether A, then ...


“If” vs. “Whether”

Is there a grammatical rule that governs when we use “if” and when we use “whether”? Examples: I don't know if I want to go. I don't know whether I want to go. I don't know whether _or not_ I want to go. How do we know when to correctly use “if” and when to use “whether (or not)”? Thank you!


“whether” vs.  “if ”

How can I know when should I use _whether_ or _if_ in a sentence? I can not see any difference between _whether_ and _if_. When should I use each? For me, they are the same and I am not sure if there is a difference.


To determine if or to determine whether?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When are "if" and "whether" equivalent? Do these two have the same meaning:   1. To determine **if** something is correct.    2. To determine **whether** something is correct.


Referring to the work introducing the idea

When making relations of my contribution to the work of others, I sometimes deliberately want to avoid detailed description of the related work and state: "For details on derivation, see the **original** work." However, I'm not sure if the term _original_ is appropriate here, and I kindly ask you to provide some alternatives. Or, is the term actually the most appropriate?


Discrimination on the basis of profession

I was wondering if there is any particular word for 'discrimination on the basis of profession/professional rank'.


I'm currently specializing in Urology

If I'm currently studying to specialize in Urology, for example, is it correct to say, I'm specializing in Urology, or does it imply that I already did my exams and specialized in Urology?


"Referer" or "referrer"

First of all, I'm speaking of webpage referral. Second, let me quote Wikipedia: > The misspelling referer originated in the original proposal by computer > "scientist" Phillip Hallam-Baker to incorporate the field into the HTTP > specification.[1] The misspelling was set in stone by the time of its > incorporation into the standards document Request for Comments (RFC) 1945; > document co-author Roy Fielding has remarked that neither "referrer" nor the > misspelling "referer" were recognized by the standard Unix spell checker of > the period.[2] "Referer" has since become a widely used spelling in the > industry when discussing HTTP referrers; usage of the misspelling is not > universal, though, as the correct spelling of "referrer" is used in some web > specifications such as the Document Object Model. > > * * * > > [1] Hallam-Baker, Phillip. "Re: Is Al Gore The Father of the Internet?" > alt.folklore.computers, 2000-09-21   >  [2] Fielding, Roy. "Re: Referer: (sic)." HTTP-wg, 1995-03-09 It seems even the W3C isn't completely consistent:   1. http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=referer \- works   2. http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=referrer \- fails   3. http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/check?uri=referrer \- works What is the correct spelling to use ( _referer_ or _referrer_ ), either in general or specific situations?


Term for same root word but words with different meaning

Some words have the same etymology, root, but mean different things, such as mysterious and mystical. What are some other pairs (or more) that fall into this category, and what exactly is this category called?


Comma Usage in Dialogue

When I read novels, I've noticed many use a comma if it is followed by words denoting who said the words (like the second example). If what the character said is a full sentence, do we use a comma like the second example or a period like the first? "The boy jumped and we were shocked." John said. "The boy jumped and we were shocked," John said.


Is there a name for somebody you’re jealous of?

I'm trying to describe King Saul's suicide out of fear of his rival David, of- whom-he-is-jealous. Is there a better way to describe this?


Can I use misput?

Is it common to say "He misput his book in my mailbox/drawer"? If not, should I use misdeliver here? Any other expressions? Thanks!


Origin of @name convention

When people refer to me on stackexchange websites they call me @broiyan. Where did this convention arise from? If it were taken from my email address, the @ symbol would be at the other end of my name so that does not appear to be the source of this convention.


"At Amararaja Batteries Limited" vs. "in Amararaja Batteries Limited"

>   1. I have done my internship **at** Amararaja Batteries Limited. >   2. I have done my internship **in** Amararaja Batteries Limited. > Which of the above sentences is correct? I want to know when to use _at_ and when to use _in_.


In vs At "Place Prepositions"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Which one is right? He works at XYZ company or in XYZ company? I always get confused while using prepositions. Should I say" It doesn't matter whether you work in X company or ..." or "" It doesn't matter whether you work at X company or ...."


"Ear doctor's" vs "Ear doctor"

In one of Stephen King's books titled "On Writing" he writes: "The next week my mother called another taxi, we went back to the **ear doctor's** , and I found once more lying on my side with the absorbent square of cloth under my head. The **ear doctor** once again produced the smell of alcohol..." Can someone explain what is the difference between the possessive and non- possesvie usage of the word doctor?


Is "I am at the doctor's" a correct usage?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Store names & possessive Is the following sentence a correct usage to tell someone that I'm in the clinic to see the doctor right now > I'm at the doctor's


When do I use the possessive with "Tiffany & Co"?

Is there a grammatical reason for Tiffany & Co being made possessive in _Breakfast at Tiffany's_?


Why is Tesco often pronounced Tesco's?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Store names & possessive   >  "Ear doctor's" vs "Ear doctor" I have often heard members of the British public pronounce the name of the supermarket chain Tesco as "Tesco's" or "Tescos". Thinking that it was formerly called "Tesco's", as many old British companies are, I looked up its history and learnt that it is a concatenation of the initials of its early tea supplier's name (T. E. Stockwell) and the first two letters of the founder's surname (Cohen), and was never called "Tesco's". Is it because of confusion with other supermarkets such as Sainsbury's and Morrisons? If so, why have I not heard "Asda's", "Co-op's" or "SPAR's"?


Store names & possessive

Observation: It seems that it's common to turn a store name into a possessive, for example a store named "Palisade" gets transformed to possessive in speech like, "Hey how about going to Palisade's for breakfast?" Another example is Chutneys Grille in Seattle. Many (most?) store names do not get this treatment. It seems most common if the store name is:   * Abstract: "I saw a great concert at BOOT's last night."   * A person's name, or what looks like a person's name: "I got this at JC Penny's"   * Totally unknown word: "I get my hair cut at Foofum's"   * [UPDATE] Is it ungrammatical to do this? My assumption is that it's a short form of saying "BOOT's performance venue" (nonsensical though?), "JC Penny's shop", or "Foofum's salon". Questions:   1. Is this common, or is it just my home town or something? Or my imagination?   2. Why must we do this instead of simply calling the store by its rightful name? To me "I saw a concert last night at BOOT." is no less clear, and no more difficult to say. * * * Inspired by a previous question


"I worked in a chemists" vs "I worked in a chemist's" vs "I worked in a chemist"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Store names & possessive What is the correct grammar for saying that I worked for a chemists (that is, a shop that sells medicine)? Is it > I worked in a chemist or > I worked in a chemists or perhaps > I worked in a chemist's ? Had I been working for multiple different chemists, would it be correct to say > I worked for chemists during my first two years of university


Should I write Orwell's '1984' in full?

Should I write 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', when discussing George Orwell's novel in an essay, or '1984'? Is it considered unconventional, or overly colloquial to use the latter form? This question applies for any book title consisting solely of a number, although I can't call to mind any.


What do electricians and mechanics "do"?

* A carpenter does carpentry.   * A scientist does science.   * An engineer does engineering.   * A blacksmith does blacksmithing. (The grammar of these sentences may be poor; the point is to get the idea across.) So then:   * What does an electrician do?   * What does a (car) mechanic do? Or are there perhaps really no such words?


Academic writing: "one's"

Is it allowed to use the word "one's" in academic writing? For example: It can help improve one's vocabulary.


When to use "pending" vs. "impending"

Although someone has previously answered a question as to the difference between "pending" and impending", I'm still struggling on when to use which word, and if one is preferred in a more formal context. For example, I was talking about the upcoming FIFA World Cup Semifinal Match, and that I was awaiting one team's _"impending victory"_. Was that an accurate use? Should I have used _"pending victory"_?


Can "Be under no illusion" have both positive and negative connotations?

In a recent email I received was this line: "Be under no illusion that 2011 is Our Year." From what I understand "Be under no illusion" means the same as "Don't be fooled". So I would expect that it would be followed by comments such as "It's going to be tough, but we can do it together" or some similar sentiment. However, this statement is then followed by a positive statement. To me this contradicts the use of "Be under no illusion". Do I have the meaning wrong or is this one of those crazy phrases that can be used both as a negative and as a positive?


Are things embedded in a "bed"?

Consider: > "The identity process is culturally embedded." Is the following then possible? > "Cosmopolitanism constitutes the cultural **bed** of this identity process."


Syntactic problem on "wh" questions: grammaticality

I strongly need someone's help to solve this problem of grammaticality: I have to say why these examples are ungrammatical   * *Which book did you make the suggestion that the children should read?   * *Which book did you make the suggestion that the children should keep? In relation to this, we have the grammatical counterparts:   * Which book did the children read?   * Which book did the children keep? I am blocked because I think it is not a problem of subjacency, since it is only one bounding node being crossed (book). Maybe it is a problem of the type of verb, or maybe it deals with the issue of the relative clause [that the children should read].


Is this sentence a run-on sentence?

> The milk having soured, Martha drank her coffee black. Is this sentence a run-on sentence, or is it an (grammatically) acceptable sentence?


Is ‘Yes-ish’ a perfect alternative to Yes, or is it 'Yes ‘on condition’? Is it received English?

I found a word ‘Yes-ish’ in the answer (from PLL) to my question about the meaning of ‘Stuck to the script’ I posted today. As it is quite new to my ear, I consulted with Wikipedia before logging out the forum, which says: (Yesih) is yes with a condition or limitation, and similarly Noish (but this of course tends more to a .... Is ‘Yes-sh / Yessh’ often heard in day-to-day conversation among American people or found in casual writings. How ‘Yes-sh’ is different from ‘Yes’ in its implication, supposing it’s an informal or colloquial expression.


Comma before "and"

I read this sentence on an educational website: > Now times have changed and you are ready for situations involving forces in > two dimensions. Shouldn't there be a comma before _and_ , since the subject of the sentence has changed ( _things_ vs. _you_ )? > Now times have changed **, and** you are ready for situations involving > forces in two dimensions. What is the exact comma rule for joining two clauses with _and_?


Eliminate to be verb

How can I eliminate the weak "to be" verb (DOES) in the following sentence:               She does not assist in accomplishing...


Difference between mug, jug, jar, etc

When I try to translate the German word "Krug" into English, LEO shows me without further distinction:   * flagon   * jar   * jug   * mug   * tankard   * pitcher But as far as I know, they cannot always used interchangeably, right? What are the differences (maybe also regionally)?


Word that conveys being absent from an appointment

Is there a word that conveys being absent from an appointment? The closest words I can think of are "ditch" and "dump," but both are rather informal. I want to say something along the lines of: > I went in the office at 3pm to meet Bob, but Bob ditched/dumped me. I realize that it's perhaps more common to say, "Bob did not show up," but I want a stronger expression that connotes a willful act of neglect or carelessness.


How to refer to a list?

I have a list containing some information and I need to refer to that list. Is a sentence "From the list above ... " ok? Example:   * item 1   * item 2   * item 3 From the list above is obvious there is a variety of items.


Word for when something wrong is made to seem normal because it is common?

Someone made this statement: > You found the perfect partner (looks, finance, personality) but the sex is a > bust, would you cheat? I found it offensive that she was making the question 'would you cheat' look very normal but I didn't really know how to describe it. I pointed it out but she claimed there was no need to brush such a present day reality under the carpet. I considered it logically and eventually used the term _Argumentum ad populum_ to express the fallacy in her statement but **what I actually wanted was a word to use in describing her action** i.e. _making something wrong appear normal because it is common_. I couldn't come up with anything, any help?


Some, others and again others?

If I want to add a third option to the construct "Some..., others", what is the best way to put it? Some, others and again others? So: _Some people like apples, others like oranges and again others enjoy bananas._ This sounds a bit off, or not?


Why does "agree" only have one "g"?

According to Webster, "Agree" comes from Latin's ad + gratus. However there are other words such as "aggregate" and "aggression" that also come from ad + [something], and these words have a double "g" while agree only has a single "g". Why does "agree" only have one "g"?


The difference between Cool and Cold

I am not a native speaker of the English language but have been living in United Kingdom for last couple of years. Once I was with my friend who was an Irish and I said "Its cold outside" and he said that I was wrong and should have said "Its cool outside". I am still not sure why I was wrong? Could someone really differentiate the use of word "cool" and "cold" in that case?


How to pronounce "sheet" properly?

How to pronounce _sheet_ to minimize the risk of confusion with _shit_? Usually what one means is clear from the context, but it'd still be very awkward if it accidentally sounds like _shit_.


"He all but [did something]"

> **Possible Duplicates:**   >  "All but" idiom has two meanings?   >  "to be all but X" > He all but ran out of the building If I understand it correctly (English is not my native language), this sentence means "he ran out of the building", and the "all but" is here to stress the fact that he didn't do anything else (besides running). That being said, the first time I came across this construction, I understood it the other way round. Eventually, I inferred from context the above meaning, but even today, I still have a feeling that it's somewhat illogical. Where does this construction come from (and what does it really mean)?


What does the phrase "all but" signify in following text?

What does the phrase "all but" mean in this sentence? > Interpol has all but ruled out terrorism.


Can you clarify usage of "all but..."?

**Example sentence:** "As the concert ended, the atmosphere was _all but_ ecstatic." **Replace words with synonyms:**   * all = everything   * but = except **The sentence would appear:** "...the atmosphere was everything except ecstatic." Meaning, "the concert was _not_ ecstatic". It was all feelings _except_ ecstatic. I regularly hear similar sentences used in the way where "all but" means the exact opposite of my interpretation. The last straw of "curiosity : need-to- know" ratio broke when I heard it used in Band of Brothers--which very clearly implied the use of "all but" as a similar meaning to "very". There's undoubtedly a hole in my logic. **Edit:** Band of Brothers quote: "He was just one more casualty in a war that was supposed to be _all but_ over."


Does "but one" mean "only one" or "except one"? This phrase shows up in the song "Love is an Open Door" from the movie "Frozen". The relevant line is "Our mental synchronization can have but one explanation". EDIT: Shouldn't it be "Our mental synchronization can't have but one explanation"?


"All but convinced" as a way of saying that one is, in fact, convinced?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "All but" idiom has two meanings? It seems kind of counterintuitive, but saying that: > I'm all but convinced that ponies eat leprechauns. means > I'm **absolutely** convinced that ponies eat leprechauns. It seems that this is backwards; it would seem to mean "I'm everything except convinced that ponies eat leprechauns," meaning that I'm not convinced, but open to the possibility. What does this "all but _(adjective)_ " conjunction mean?


What does all came fine but 2 means

I sent an email to a client with this sentence: > Tried sending 39 packets this afternoon, all came fine but 2. I meant 37 packets processed fine but 2 were unsuccessful. Did I convey right?


"All but" idiom has two meanings?

Here's two ways I've seen the "all, but" idiom used: **"Close all tabs but this one"** (Any modern application with a number of tabs might have this as an option.) It means "close all the tabs, but not this one". **"With that goal, the championship is all but decided".** This seems to mean "you can say/do whatever (all) you want, (but) it won't change who wins the championship." Is one of these usages more correct than the other?


Is an indentation needed for a new paragraph?

Is an indentation (Tab button in Word) needed for a new paragraph when you start one? I was told to do that a long time ago but 3 years after I stopped doing it and have done it since. Are you meant to indent when you start a new paragraph?


What role does 'in' take in this sentence?

> Father: “It may not be exactly the car you want but..”   >  Daughter: “It’ll be rubbish, some old wreck that I’ll look totally stupid > **in**.”   >  (BBC, The Archers, 2013-04-26 Friday, 8’55”~9’01”) Does the ‘in’ make adverbial in the text, a supplementive as an adjective, or something else? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/ur3Cu.jpg)   source: The Lexicogrammar of Adjectives: A Systemic Functional Approach to Lexis, p201)


Are there any English sayings to the effect that little changes may lead to big changes?

Can you think of any sayings about change, especially ones expressing   * how a big change must begin with a little change?   * how certain institutions, ideas, or God remain eternally unchanged? * * * Note: the above is an edited version of @lovespring's question. See edit history for original question.


Let me pull up your account

Every time you call a customer service center they say: let me pull up your account, please. Is it correct to say that? Oxford dictionary explains **pull up** a little bit differently: > pull up 1 (of a vehicle or its driver) come to a halt: he pulled up outside > the cabin. 2 increase the altitude of an aircraft. > > pull someone up cause someone to stop or pause; check someone: the shock of > his words. Ideas?


Term for writing a number as "five" vs "5"?

What I mean is, if I said "Write the number **_** ", then you would write "5", "27", etc. Whereas if I said instead "Write the number **_** ", then you would write "five", "twenty-seven", etc. I'm not just looking for the oft-used expression "write it out"....I'm wondering if there are proper terms for these two options, possibly obvious ones I'm not thinking of.


Meaning of the word 'en'

While reading Paulo Coelho's novel, I came across a word that left me doubting whether it was of English origin. Following is the sentence: > She fell in love for the first time when she was eleven, en route from her > house to school. What is the meaning of the word _en_? Please elaborate on its meaning, origin and usage.


Meaning of a sentence using the perfect continuous tense

> a. They have been throwing papers. > > b. They have been throwing papers since the teacher left. Does the sentence (a) have the same meaning as sentence (b), even though the period of time is not stated in sentence (a)? Or is it that sentence (a) can only mean that they threw the paper and have stopped now?


How do I ask the question "Where is it made?" or "Where is it made in"?

Sometimes I feel confused about if I should add a preposition, like "come back to Seattle" or "come back Seattle". If I want to ask a question about where something is made, how to say the question "Where is it made?" or "Where is it made in"?


Measurements without a dimension (raw number)

I'm translating some documents to English which deal with some measurements. Most of the measurements have a unit dimension (length is in meters, weight is in kilograms, etc) but some of them do not have a specific dimension, e.g. Number of samples. What word to use to describe such measurements? The direct translation of the original terms leaves me with "undimensional", but I don't think that's it.


Do "download" and "upload" only refer to networks?

I know what it means to download something from a website or upload a video to YouTube. But do the terms "download" and "upload" only apply when referring to one device transferring data to another remote device over the Internet (or LAN even)? Say I was transferring a file to my USB flash drive or copying a file from one HDD to another HDD. Would this technically be considered downloading/uploading?


Meaning and origin of "at bay"

> The thief waded through the stream hoping to keep the policemen's dogs **at > bay**. > > The captain sailed knowing that the weather would keep the ill-equipped > pirates **at bay**. What is the source of the idiom _"at bay"_ , is it anything to do with baying dogs, or ships in harbour?


Did the word "literate" originally have religious connotations?

In an excerpt from a forthcoming popular science book I found this claim: > As Villarreal points out, the word literate originally meant “one who can > read holy scripts.” Really? I went and looked in the OED, and that was no real help, as it just said that it's from "classical Latin litterātus". The American Heritage Dictionary entry online has a usage note, which tells me something interesting in a usage note: > For most of its long history in English, literate has meant only "familiar > with literature," or more generally, "well-educated, learned." Only since > the late 19th century has it also come to refer to the basic ability to read > and write. _[...]_ but not only does this not mention "holy scripts", it pretty much seems to be a contradiction. Is the quoted claim completely off-base, or is there an argument to be made for it? (Note that the article excerpt doesn't explain who "Villareal" is, but I think it's this guy.)


Term for something similar to vetting, but when a decision is not necessarily involved

Whats the term for profiling someone or doing background research on somebody before you meet them. A reference to the behavior is Gary Walsh in the TV show VEEP where he whispers seemingly random information about somebody into the Vice Presidents ear before she meets the person. Then she is able to talk to them about their kids, dogs, hobbies, etc. I imagine diplomats are briefed like this before they meet other foreign dignitaries. I think it's both a verb and a noun, but I'm not sure. It's not vetting, but it's something similar. Vetting happens before a decision, this would be just to gain knowledge about the other person.


"Have been with for" vs. "Have been with in"

What is the difference between the following two structures? > Have you been back home **in** the last ten years? > > Have you been back home **for** the last ten years? Could we also replace the present perfect with simple past as in the following: > Did you go back home **in** the last ten years? > > Did you go back home **for** the last ten years? _(this one doesn't seem to > be in accordance with the law of the books, but I don't see any problem with > the structure assuming the person has visited once in the past 10 years at a > particular time)._


Etymology of "medicine" and its Native American usage

What is the etymology of the word _medicine_ and how did it come to be used by Native Americans to describe something that does not strictly meet the denotative meaning of medicine? Or is that just a Hollywood piece of nonsense?


Use "the" before a scientific method name?

I'm writing a paper about an algorithm that I have developed. Just for illustration, I will say that the method name is "quicksort". My question is about the usage of _the_ in the following context: > This paper proposes quicksort, a novel and fast algorithm. The advantage of > quicksort is that... My question is whether I should use "The advantage of _the_ quicksort..." or "The advantage of quicksort". I am also looking for resources explaining the usage of _the_ in this context. * * * [Meta]   Usually, to check if a certain sentence is correct, I search Google using wildcards. However, in this case, the correct answer is depends on the context. I have also tried to find a answer in the following book but without success: Science Research Writing: A Guide for Non-Native Speakers of English.


Single Quote Marks to Denote Plurals of Letters and Words

I heard that the plurals of letters, numbers and words could be punctuated - with single quote marks on both sides - in this manner (especially in Britain): 'X's 'd's '5's 'thank-you's 'maybe's 'his's 'as's I am sufficiently aware that we could italicize the letter, number or word and follow it with an unitalicized apostrophe 's'. We could also use just one apostrophe: x's, thank-you's, maybe's. This makes 'thank-you's and 'maybe's look possessive, not plural. In the two examples I just used in the previous sentence ('thank-you's and 'maybe's), the insertion of a single quote mark before and after each word (followed by an 's') definitively defines the plural of the word as a word. The same logic is applied to individual letters and numbers ('9's, 't's). Bottom line, is my usage (albeit probably somewhat antiquated) correct?


Italics used for the plural treatment of words?

Do these look right to you? I'm pluralizing the following words. In doing so, I'm italicizing the word to be pluralized but not the 's': _and_ s (instead of and's)   _wherefore_ s (instead of wherefore's)   _his_ s (instead of his's)


A word for a book or list of people that you need to contact

> I have to remember to contact Sarah sometime this week about the party, so I > add her to my _person-listy-thing._ I think there may be a (somewhat archaic?) concise term for this along the lines of 'datebook'. Thoughts? **EDIT** : To clarify, this is a to-do list but with contacts' names; not simply a list of contacts.


Jane Austen use of triple negative in Pride & Prejudice (Chapter 28)

Jane Austen once said: > When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be > ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her eye > on Charlotte. Now readers of the book will know Mr Collins is pretty shameless and socially inept, yet if we remove the double negative it becomes > When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be > ashamed, which certainly was seldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on > Charlotte. which is certainly not what the author intended (I assume). Does anybody have an explanation for this ?


Will marry vs will get married

I have seen both sentences below: > I will get married. > > I will marry. So what is the difference? Which one is recommended? Is there any difference in meaning or just grammar?


What is the proper hyphenation of "and a half" in the context of age?

I'm trying to write "3 and a half year old," as in, "He is a 3 and a half year old dog". I know a hyphen or two is supposed to go in there somewhere. Per Ways to write "2000 year old" , I suspect it should be "3-and-a-half-year-old", but that reads like death-by-hyphen, even if it is correct. What's the proper way to hyphenate "# and a half year old" in this context?


Not "schadenfreude", but related?

I'm thinking that there must be a word that means, rather than "feeling pleasure in the misfortune of another", "the pleasure of feeling superior to another". This certainly seems (at least) as common a phenomenon as schadenfreude, but has it been condensed into a single word? Addendum: I see that I ought to have been much more specific in my question. Feelings of _smugness_ or _self satisfaction_ do not require another person to whom one feels superior. _Elitism_ , is far too general and is usually applied to groups or classes, not individuals. Naturally when you feel superior you feel " _Superiority_ ", but I was looking for a word that means _taking pleasure in_ superiority, not the feeling of superiority itself. I intended a specific instance, such as when one person has just bettered another in a game. I believe schadenfreude is usually also applied in specific instances / for specific events - as when one sees someone get what is viewed to be their "comeuppance", for example. It's not something one goes around feeling more or less continually, which in many cases might validly be applied to superiority, elitism, or arrogance.


Adjective clause with 'so'

I can't find any grammar reference to the correct usage of a specifying adjective clause. Consider an example: The physical activity, **so vital for the developing body** , is often overlooked by the child's parents. Is it grammatically correct? Am I right to surround the clause by the commas? Thanking you in advance for any help.


Can a software name that uses combination of different words be called an english word?

When a new software is developed, often it is named using a combination of different words, which may or may not me in English, or be partly English and partly in other language. Example: WhatsApp made from the words What's Up and Application Can such a word be said to be in English?


Can a person be described as fugue?

Can a person be described as "fugue" or is it reserved only for a state? Can the word be used as a modifier for something other than a living thing's state? **Fugue:** (from merriam-webster.com) > a disturbed state of consciousness in which the one affected seems to > perform acts in full awareness but upon recovery cannot recollect them


"Airfoil" - why it is called "foil"

What is origin of word airfoil (e.g. wings of the airplane)? Why it has part "foil", which is a very thin metal sheet. "Dictionary.com Unabridged" says only "Origin: 1920–25; air 1 + foil 2" (© Random House), and "foil 2" is defined by them exactly as thin metal, e.g. aluminium foil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foil_(metal)).


What is the story behind the word "hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia"?

Was someone just trying to be funny by being ironic?


Words with opposite meanings in different regions

I can't recall it, but there is a word in American English which now means the opposite of itself in British English. What words are there that have opposite (not just different) meanings in different regions?


"cross this line" versus "cross the line"

This is written on a railroad platform: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Prxur.jpg) Is the English text OK? Or "cross the line" is better? Or both are equally correct?


Which comes first:  cat or  dog?

Which comes first in a sentence? I know some word pairs such as _bacon and eggs_ , where _bacon_ always comes first. E.g: > Make me bacon and eggs for dinner, honey. Cats and dogs are the two most common pets I know of. What is the preferred order?   1. Dogs are superior. > Don't put dogs and cats together, they might fight!   2. Cats are superior. > Don't put cats and dogs together, they might fight!


Metaphoric meaning of "racket"

How does the original meaning of _racket_ lead to the following metaphoric meanings?   * an illegal or dishonest scheme for obtaining money   * a person’s line of business or way of life


Word that means "reduce to unique parts"

I'm working on a program that essentially removes all duplicates from a list, i.e. reducing the list to its unique components. Is there a single word or small compound word that conveys this transformation?


Is it considered proper English to say "You best be..." or "You'd best..."?

Often, I hear people say something like this: > You best be going. Or: > You'd best sweep the floor before you leave. Essentially, _you'd best/you best be_ just means _you should_. Is it grammatically correct to use these phrases?


Is “Lend a cachet” popular phrase?

I found the phrase “ _lend a cachet_ ” in the following sentence of the New York Times’ (November 11) article, titled “Picking brand names in China is a business itself”: > “For some products, having a foreign-sounding name _lends a cachet_ that a > true Chinese name would lack. Many upscale brands like Cadillac (Ka di la > ke), or Hilton (Xi er dun), employ phonetic translations that mean nothing > in Chinese. Rolls-Royce (Laosi-Laisi) includes two Chinese characters for > “labor” and “plants” that more or less have become standard usage in foreign > names - all to achieve a distinct foreign look and sound. “ I understand “lend a cachet” implies “give prestige, or add prestigious image” from the context of the above statement. I checked both Cambridge and Merriam-Webster online dictionaries to find neither of them registers “lend a cachet.” On Google, I found the following examples of the phrase in use.   * Her presence _lends a certain cachet to_ the company. – The Free Dictionary.   * Where's the party? Sun Bowl _lends cachet to_ Camino Real's New Year's bash. - El Paso Times.  From the above, I realized “lend a cachet” is a simple combination of “lend” and “cachet,” not an idiom that I first conceived. However, is “lend a cachet” frequently used phrasing as opposed to other plain expressions, say “give prestige or “add a fashionable (Western) image”?


Commas around "which"

I was talking about a new logo with a friend and I asked him why there's so much white. He told me that it's not white, he just doesn't know what colour will it be. I replied: > Then use transparent background, which, unlike white, couldn't end up in the > final logo. The question is, are the commas properly placed in the sentence?


Antonym of "Device" in computer terminology

How would I talk about something that is either a laptop or a desktop, but not a smartphone or tablet? Is "computer" ok, even though technically speaking, smartphones and tablets are or contain computers? For example, how would I say something like "If you're on a [computer], click on the arrow to see the relevant chat message"?


Can you use the abbreviation 'ID' as a verb?

Although I could substitute ' _identify_ ' in place of 'ID', would it be considered improper to use 'ID' as a verb? Here's what I mean: > That boy looks underage, I think we should ?ID him.


Meaning of "paddling hell-for-leather away from a harmless seal"?

I'm reading The Inflatable Volunteer by Steve Aylett, and I'm stuck with this sentence: > Last week I was flooding the banks with saliva, slivers of gill and drifting > snot, paddling hell-for-leather away from a harmless seal. It's a pretty bizarre novel, so I don't know if I don't understand because of my bad English or if this was the author intention.


"They slipped from my hands the moment I picked them [up]"

> They were like puzzle pieces that slipped from my hands the moment I picked > them [up]. Is the _up_ necessary? Why or why not?


How do I pluralize "horsepower?"

Should I say that an engine can output 552 horsepower or 552 horsepowers? I've heard people use both. If it is just "horsepower", what is the justification for the nonstandard pluralization?


Are "egotistical" and "egocentric" synonyms?

Depending on where you look, people state that the words "egotistical" and "egocentric" are and are not synonymous. There is certainly some overlap, but are the two words technically interchangeable?


Is there a difference between "seemingly" and "apparently"

In the context of a business report would there be a difference (albeit subtle) between writing of "a seemingly unambitious plan" and "an apparently unambitious plan"? To me the first seems to suggest that in reality the plan is ambitious, we just can't see it. Is this also the case for the second? **Edit** — more explanation: One of my difficulties is the differences in definitions (seemingly doesn't appear in most dictionaries). The definitions from Google: > _seem_ : > >   1. Give the impression or sensation of being something or having a > particular quality: "Dawn seemed annoyed". > > > _apparent_ : > >   1. Clearly visible or understood; obvious. >   2. Seeming real or true, but not necessarily so. > Definition from Merriam-Webster: > _seeming_ : outwardly or superficially evident but not true or real So the MW definition of _seeming_ seems to closer to the definition of apparent in Google to me. My query really is whether and to what extent does either word imply that the reality is or may be different to the appearance.


Better phrasing for "year we started working with [them]"?

I'm making a database, establishing the fields where data is entered. The database stores a list of school systems that our company has worked with. So there's a field for the year we started working with them; but I'm drawing a blank as to how to summarize that in a small phrase. Is there a better phrasing for the title of the field, rather than "YearWeStartedWorkingWith"?


Which is preferred, "On the other hand, if ..." or "If, on the other hand, ..."?

Suppose you were presenting two different conditions. Which of the following is preferred? Does it matter? > If the flower is red, it may be a rose. On the other hand, if it is blue, it > may be a violet. or > If the flower is red, it may be a rose. If, on the other hand, it is blue, > it may be a violet.


"Obvious" vs. "Evident"

Are _obvious_ and _evident_ totally synonymous? I've noticed that both are generally translated to the same French word. However, as a native English speaker I kinda interpret them differently; _obvious_ indicates that something should be known to people already because it is common knowledge, or because it doesn't require complex thought to determine, whereas _evident_ suggests that something is obvious because there is a lot of evidence showing its truth. Do others make this distinction or am I alone here? :-)


What is the one word expression for 'wayside grass'?

I knew a word that meant wayside grass in English; but now I can not remember.


Meanings for "tea"

I would love to know the different meanings of "tea" in current usage in the U.K. I know that it can be the usual lovely cream tea one takes at four, while at the same time it means a light dinner around 5 or 5:30. I wonder about different class meaning of the expression.


Catchall term for "Junior", "Senior", "the late", "widow", and the like?

I'm analyzing a bunch of late 16th century Hungarian names, and I need a word for those extra bits that sometimes get appended to names, like _junior, senior, the late_ and the like. My "working title" has been _prefix_ (because they generally come first in Hungarian), but that's inaccurate, because they're not actually attached to anything. I thought of _appelation_ , but that's just another term for "name", and as such is too broad. Suggestions?


Is there a word for an acronym which spells out one of its component words?

The example I am thinking of is GNU, which stands for "GNU's not unix". It may be that there are no other examples. And maybe that's the whole joke. I was just wondering.


What is the name for a collective noun for a group of words or acronyms, that is a member of the group it describes?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  The same word used to define itself For example TLA is a three letter acronym; Antepreroxitone (words with the stress on the third from last sylable) is an antepreroxitone; Noun is a noun.


Does this situation have a name?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is there a word for an acronym which spells out one of its component words? My coworker's wife is Margaret Elizabeth G... (I'll withhold the last name to protect the innocent). The joke is that the shortened form Margaret is Meg and her initials are also MEG. I hope this doesn't get closed as a stupid question but this situation feels like it might have a real name in the flavor of a palindrome (obviously not a palindrome, but in sense of a word or phrase having transmutable qualities).


What is/is there a word for singing through your nose?

I recall there being a word for nasal singing, I might be imagining things, but haven't had any luck finding that word on Google. Does any one have any suggestions?


Semicolon use: a quick question

Is the following sentence correct, and is its use of the semicolon correct? Note that the use of the word 'concurrency' is meant to indicate a computer science term. > A host of design issues are encompassed by concurrency; that of interaction > amongst processes, the sharing and competition for resources, the > synchronisation of the activities of multiple processes and the allocation > of processor time to processes.


Should I use 'I said to him' or 'I told him' in this dialogue?

I wonder if I should use 'said' or 'told' in the following dialogue: > I waited for too long. He took her away. > > I said to him crying, "I saw her first!" > > He said to me smiling, > > "finders keepers." (by the way, is it correct to use "finders keepings" in this situation?).


What does the word "rolling" mean in "rolling grassland"?

I found the following definition of "prairie" online: > An extensive area of flat or rolling grassland, especially the large plain > of central North America. I understand what "flat grassland" means, but what does "rolling grassland" refer to? I couldn't find my answer using Google. I do get different sets of images for each search phrase in Google Images, but can't figure out the difference between the two.


Is "annoyedly" a word?

I want to say: "Michael annoyedly turned to face his brother." I haven't found any solid evidence that the word "annoyedly" is an actual word, but I like the way it sounds for some reason. How _wrong_ is it if I choose to use this word in writing I'd ideally like to have others read?


How do I say "to record" meaning "to audio and video record" (in contrast to "to audio record")?

The context here is "You should record your speech". I mean you should record both your audio (the speaking) as well as the visual (gesticulation, etc.), but the context of this sentence strongly suggests that only audio is intended. This sentence appears in sales copy and so word count is limited. "You should video record your speech" sounds clumsy. How can I phrase this smoothly and succinctly?


Would you insert any hyphens in these?

Are hyphens needed in these? If so, where would you insert them? >   1. Joel applied for the assistant store manager position.   >  (Not: assistant-store-manager position, right?) > >   2. Joel was enrolled in the assistant store manager trainee program.   >  (Not: assistant-store-manager-trainee program, correct?) > >   3. Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream   >  (Not: chocolate-chip-cookie-dough ice cream, correct?) > > Do you support my original versions without the hyphens?


Using "trade-off" in a right way

I'm writing a paper and would like to know whether my quoted sentence is right or not. To add more information, I have an improved algorithm which needs a threshold size. If we set that threshold size to a low value, algorithm 1 plays leading role, and if we set it to a high value then algorithm 2 plays leading role. > From what was said, it is clear that it could be argued that what is the > best threshold because of trade-off between using algorithm 1 and algorithm > 2.


Does the word "wireable" exist?

My current work is creating a kind of node that is connectable to other nodes. However, since the connection is made by wiring these nodes I always use the word _wireable_. > This node is wireable to other nodes that are exposing the required > interface. While creating a presentation I recognized that the spelling checker does mark the word as wrong. I first thought that this could be one of the words in which the _e_ is dropped but in none of the dictionaries (several Oxford Dictionaries, Merriam Webster, Urban, Wordnik) I found _wireable_ or _wirable_. I can only find some unreliable sources, so I wonder if this word does really exist or is just a kind of neologism. Is it appropriate to use the word _wireable_ or should I go with _connectable_?


How to describe the phenomenon of "small" people being ignored on the Internet

I live by Internet, as both a user and a developer. This dual role gives me a chance to observe. Every time I try to ask something in communities like StackOverflow, I always pick words carefully and provide sufficient information, hoping that my questions will be answered in a short time. But even so, sometimes my questions still get ignored. Maybe StackOverflow, or even the whole Internet, is too big a world, filled by floods of information. Small people try to fit in, but end up being swallowed by Twitter and Facebook, without even a sound. So, enough of complaining, I just want to know: Is there a word or a phrase to describe this phenomenon where people find themselves lost in the the great Information Age, ignored by others?


What does "Thundering typhoons" mean?

What does "Thundering typhoons" mean? Actually it was in the 2011 movie The Adventures of Tintin.


Descriptive word to describe nonprofit organization

Looking for a descriptive word or phrase to describe a nonprofit organization that includes the essence, values, mission and promotion of social reform. Not a place, or agency, business, but a word that describes more of the efforts, people, community, etc. Could be a word that suggests growing, building, promoting change, movement. An all encompassing word describing the entity. The sentence is in a letter to volunteers and supporters that starts with "without each and every one of you, we would not be able to create this amazing (need word).


"No point in" vs. "no point of" vs. "no point to"

_Point in_ , _point of_ , _point to_. ( _Point_ in the sense of "purpose".) What are the differences among these -- in meaning? in usage (each is used in certain constructions or with certain collocates, say)? in dialect? in register? etc. Some examples (though I'm asking more generally than just about these examples): > (1a) There's no point in going.   >  (1b) There's no point of going.   >  (1c) There's no point to going. > > (2a) Is there a point in his action?   >  (2b) Is there a point of his action?   >  (2c) Is there a point to his action? > > (3a) What's the point in that sculpture's being there?   >  (3b) What's the point of that sculpture's being there?   >  (3c) What's the point to that sculpture's being there?


What is the etymology of the word teeter totter?

Seesaw and teeter totter are two names for the same piece of playground equipment. I grew up using the word teeter totter mostly, but was aware of seesaw, as it was used in books. I was wondering whether it is a regional difference or a generational difference. From thefreedictionary, I found that there are even more terms used for this equipment: _tilt_ or a _tilting board_ , _teedle board_ , _dandle_ or _dandle board_. _Teeter_ or _teeterboard_ , and _teeter-totter_ , which is probably the most common term after _seesaw_. So it is indeed a regional term, which also explains why Google Ngrams has no recorded use of teeter totter in British English:   Link to Ngram for seesaw teeter totter in British English Yet, if seesaw was in use since before 1800, how and why did teeter totter come into use seemingly all of a sudden just before 1920?   Link to Ngram for seesaw teeter totter in American English Link to Online Etymology Dictionary for seesaw


Are the rules regarding absolute modifiers too absolute?

A common grammar lesson that was taught to me in the US and that I've had to teach abroad in EFL classrooms is that we're not to use adverbs of emphasis with absolute modifiers, just as we're not supposed to use them as comparatives or superlatives. Classic egregious examples of this mistake include _very unique_ and _more perfect_ , which seem obviously flawed to me. Other instances of further modified absolute modifiers are similarly meaningless or contradictory in nature. I wonder, though, if the rule that I learned isn't overly broad, and whether it's taught similarly in the UK and elsewhere. I find myself modifying absolute modifiers quite regularly, and in some circumstances I think it's not only logical and correct, but quite meaningful. Phrases like _almost exactly_ or _virtually all_ or _practically infinite_ possess a specific meaning that can't really be replicated using nonabsolutes like _very nearly_ or _most_ or _quite long_. In my own speech and writing, I use such phrases exactly as I see fit, so this isn't a request for permission, per se. I'm more curious about whether there's a more appropriate rule regarding absolutes that you rely on (and might be used in a classroom).


Use of "unique"

UNIQUE should not have a qualifier? Does it not mean "one of a kind" and thus it is incorrect to say, for example, "more unique'? One sees this misuse in advertising frequently. Is it now acceptable as sloppy but common usage?


Is certain absolute?

Can you be more certain about something or is certain absolute? I have always understood that the word certain is absolute.


Use of "very unique" flawed?

This is a word choice question. Can something be very (extremely) unique? Or is it either unique or not unique?


Is "more optimal" correct grammar?

As a math and computer-science person, I use the phrase "more optimal" quite often, such as _"This algorithm gives more optimal results."_ However, I was recently corrected, and told that _"more optimal"_ is incorrect grammar, since "optimal" means "best," and something can't be "more best." I searched online, but this doesn't appear to come up very often. In this pointless flame war, someone suggests that the correct phrase is _"more optimized"_ or _"better optimized,"_ while this page suggests using _"more nearly optimal."_ However, aside from the fact that "more optimized" wouldn't actually mean the same thing to a computer programmer, Google NGram suggests that neither of these alternative phrases are widely used: ![ngram](http://i.stack.imgur.com/sCuVD.png) So, am I using the phrase correctly, or am I (from the first link) _"showing my ignorance of the basics of English grammar?"_


Can something be *slightly* critical?

I overheard someone at work describing a task as "quite critical", and then describe another task as (direct quote) "über critical". Forgetting for a minute the colloquial nature of the conversation, is it acceptable in English to use the word _critical_ with a magnitude or degree? In short, can something be more _critical_ than something else? Or are things simply _critical_ , or _not critical_?


Looking for words or phrases to fit the idea of this form of hierarchy

I'm using text as follows to categorize some information. It goes from the general to the specific much as is done in libraries with books.   * `languages/english/spelling`   * `science/biology/genetics` What I'd like to find is a word to describe the line above and also each individual word. There's `path` like in the computing world but that doesn't quite convey the idea.


Reading out decimal numbers in English

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How to write decimal values in words How do you read numbers like these? 0.12 "oh point twelve", "zero point one two", "zero and twelve hundreds" And these ones? 0.345, 12.45


How would you call a picture where all the main characters are together?

For example, in this picture: ![tableau from Friends](http://i.stack.imgur.com/J9dPv.jpg) How would you call this kind of picture?


How does one decide whether an adverb of manner should precede or follow the verb? In some cases, it seems to be more natural to have the adverb follow the verb, as in:               “She moved slowly and spoke quietly.”      But in other cases, it seems to be more natural to have the adverb precede the verb, as in:               “The minister solemnly addressed his congregation.”      But I can’t work out why this is the case. Is there a general rule to follow to decide where to place the adverb? Does it have anything to do with whether the verb is used transitively or intransitively?


Does this sentence make any sense to you?

"Never play the podcast from anywhere but the start" What does this sentence mean to you? By podcast I mean a house music episode that is one hour long.


Start a sentence with "even though"

I was told by my thesis advisor not to start a sentence with "even though". Does anyone agree? May I know why?


What is the difference between "happy to hear that" and "happy to hear this"?

Let's say I've sold a product to a customer. A bit later the costumer tells me "wow, this is fantastic". Now, do I better answer with "Thanks, I am glad to hear that" or "Thanks, I am glad to hear this"? What's more correct?


"On the grasping hand"?

I understand _on the other hand_. But what's _on the grasping hand_? Source: Stack Overflow blog.


What is the meaning of "Set us up the [noun]"?

Why would someone frequently say "Someone set us up the (thing)" when referring to things done to or for them. > For example: > >   * "Someone set us up the breakfast." > >   * "Someone set us up the game." > >   * "Someone set us up the fail." > > Is this a common phrase?


A word that means 'excessive encouragement'

I'm looking for a word that means excessive encouragement. Example: "We encourage our kids to study - but when does encouragement become excessive encouragement"? punishment? overzealousness?


What is a term describing offensive word replacement with made-up slang?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What term describes a non-offensive substitute for a swear word? Is there a term for replacing one slang word with another made-up slang word? For example `f*cking` => `fricking`, `fracking`, `smurfing`, `frelling`, or `freaking` At what point do the made up words turn into recognized/official words? For example I'm pretty sure I can use most of the above replacements and people will know what I mean, `fricking` and `fracking` being most used. Even if a replacement becomes commonly used, at what point would it end up in say the OED?


Why "horseback riding" and not simply "horse riding"?

As a German _horse riding_ seems to be to the point. Why is it _horseback riding_ in English? Isn't it obvious that you ride on the back of the horse? Is there a difference between British and American English on this point?


Is this sentence using Subjunctive Mood?

Here is the sentence I'm confused about: > If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on > my shoulders. > > (Hal Abelson, MIT Professor) My difficulty is to understand the verb _were_. I know we can't use _are_ because that is not the truth. However, why _were_?


"Who doors wins"

What does this expression mean? > Who doors wins Is it an idiom? Or is it a typo? Apparently, it makes no sense.


When and why did competence become "competency"?

I don't remember ever hearing "competency" until circa 1970. When I first heard that form it sounded very silly, as if someone was trying to sound lofty via the addition of superfluous syllables. Is there a context where "competency" is correct usage, and "competence" wouldn't do just as well? Is it a recent (last 40 yrs) permutation, or is it my sheltered background that made it sound that way? (Is anyone here old enough to know?) Okay, that's _three_ questions, sorry!


What is a term for words that are both homophones and homographs?

While there are homophones like bear and bare, and homographs like sow, the pig, and to sow a seed, is there a term for words that cover both categories? The example that comes to mind for me is to cleave. Is there a term for when they overlap?


Strange use of the past tense by Dr. Watson in the Sherlock series

I’m trying to correctly identify the reason why the past tense of ‘’to be’’ is used in the following context: Sherlock Season 3 Episode 3 The scene: Dr. Watson is about to enter a drug den. His wife spots some kind of weapon tucked into his trousers and the following dialogue takes place: > – What is that?   >  – It’s a tyre lever.   >  – Why?   >  – ‘cos there **were** loads of smack heads in there and one of them might > need help with a tyre. The only guess I’ve got is that ‘were’ is used to express uncertainty and therefore add sarcasm, and the intended meaning is ’’there is a slight possibility that there may be a lot of smack heads in this drug den’’. But I’m not sure if this is the right interpretation, as I’ve never come across this kind of tense use before.


Is the following use of however correct?

> There was no way, however; my mind was still wide awake. I always see however after semicolons but never like the case above. Is the example grammatically correct?


Best way to phrase a sentence with parenthesis

I'm not sure exactly how to ask this question without giving an example, so here it is. What's the best way to phrase something like this: > Found 3 errors (and gave 2 suggestions) for 'Some Book' If these were to be written separately, you would want to write "Found 3 errors **in** 'Some Book'" and "Gave 2 suggestions **for** 'Some Book'". However, I want to write it as tersely as possible, in a single sentence, but all these ways seem awkward to me:   1. Found 3 errors (and gave 2 suggestions) **for** 'Some Book'   2. Found 3 errors (and gave 2 suggestions) **in** 'Some Book'   3. Found 3 errors in (and gave 2 suggestions for) `Some Book' I think the first is the best, but is there a correct way to have a compound statement like this?


What do you mean by "in production form"?

The contexts of the usage of this phrase is given below. _SAP Business Suite customers can now run the software **in production form** on Amazon Web Services, the companies announced this week during the Sapphire and Tech Ed conferences in Madrid._ Source: http://www.cio.com/article/721825/SAP_Certifies_Business_Suite_for_Production_Use_on_Amazon_Web_Services _After being displayed as a thinly disguised concept model at this year's Auto China Show in Beijing, the revamped Seat Ibiza Cupra has now been revealed **in production form**._ Source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/seat-ibiza-cupra-facelift- appears-in.html How is this phrase different from saying "generally available" or "generally released"? I appreciate all your intelligent answers.


What is proper grammar for a question that ends with a colon?

> "Would you mind completing the following?:" Is the above correct?


plural of compound nouns

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the plural form of “iPad 2”?   >  When can an adjective be postposed? I'm curious particularly with iPod Touch and iPad Mini The plural would be iPod Touches and iPad Minis, or iPods Touch and iPads Mini


What is the plural form of "iPad 2"?

With the introduction of the iPad 2, I find myself hesitating when trying to refer to several of them. Is it iPads 2 or iPad 2's?


Suffix order: -lessness vs -nessless

What is the correct order for combinations of suffixes `-less` and `-ness`? Are they combined in any order, or is there any rule governing a proper usage? > hope **lessness**   >  help **lessness** But: > weak **nessless** A side point; not sure if it is related to above. Although the suffixes `-less` makes an adjective while `-ness` makes a noun, it seems that people treat `-nessless` words as nouns:   * **Eventfulnessless**. Guys, I was serious about my running out of ideas.   * Office staff needs work, lack of **timelinessless** than expected follow through listening skills need attention... What am I missing?


Word for fruitless effort?

What is a good word for describing how a pursuit or occupation requires a lot of effort without there being much reward or recognition? > eg. So much of his time and effort went into practicing the piano. He was a > mildly depressed person, knowing at the back of his mind that a career in > classical music is always difficult and often **___ __ ___ ___**.


"Would remain" vs. "would have remained"

What's the difference in meaning between the following two sentences? >   1. He thought that he **would remain** young. >   2. He thought that he **would have remained** young. >


In 'large herds of elephant and buffalo', why elephant not elephants?

I found the following expression in dictionary. > large herds of elephant and buffalo A herd must be more than one, why using singular not plural?


Biden Got Out ‘Over His Skis,’ Says Obama

I read the above headline in the New York Times. From the context, I understood that it means that Biden was a little too hasty. I would like to know the origins of this expression


Is “Open kimono with somebody” a popular English phrase?

According to AP and other news sources, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase acknowledged that his bank slipped-up $2 billion losses incurred by their trading and that the matter is now under investigation by regulators. Dimon told in NBC’s “Meet the Press”: > “Of course, regulators should look at something like this. It’s their job. > _We are totally open kimono with_ regulators. And they will come to their > own conclusion and we intend to fix it, learn from it and be a better > company when it’s done.” I am interested in the phrase, “We are totally open kimono with regulators” as I understand ‘Kimono’ is Japanese equivalent to dress. Is “ _Open kimono with somebody_ ” a popular English (or American) idiom or phrase? Can I say “open dress with somebody” instead of using “Kimono”? If not, what are alternative idioms meaning “open up one’s mind”?


Using 'would' to form reasons

In the following examples:   * Why would anyone want to eat something so horrible?   * Who would live for forever?   * Why would I ever lie to you? Is 'would' being used to refer to time in future or past Or Is it just being used to form facts and reasons or arguments?


Is there a single word for date of death?

Since we have a single word like _birthday_ , is there a corresponding term for the date of someone’s death?


Did 'fornication' ever mean vaulting?

The following dialog is an excerpt from Terry Pratchet's _Making Money_ : > “Isn’t the fornication wonderful?” > > After quite a lengthy pause, Moist ventured, “Is it?” > > “Don’t you think so? There’s more here than anywhere else in the city, I’m > told.” > > “Really?” said Moist, looking around nervously. “Er . . . do you have to > come down here at some special time?” > > “Well, during banking hours usually, but we let groups in by appointment.” > > “You know,” said Moist, “I think this conversation has somehow got away from > me . . .” > > Bent waved vaguely at the ceiling. > > “I refer to the wonderful vaulting,” he said. “The word derives from fornix, > meaning ‘arch’.” > > “Ah! Yes? Right!” said Moist. “You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if not many > people knew that.” I do not dispute the origin of the word which is confirmed by this definition: > Sexual intercourse between partners who are not married to each other.   > > > Word History: The word fornication had a lowly beginning suitable to what > has long been the low moral status of the act to which it refers. The Latin > word fornix, from which fornicti, the ancestor of fornication, is derived, > meant "a vault, an arch." The term also referred to a vaulted cellar or > similar place where prostitutes plied their trade. This sense of fornix in > Late Latin yielded the verb fornicr, "to commit fornication," from which is > derived fornicti, "whoredom, fornication." Our word is first recorded in > Middle English about 1303. My question is whether the word _fornication_ ever actually meant _vaulting_ in English as opposed to Latin. The definition above states that 'our' word first appeared in 1303 but did it carry both meanings or only the modern one? For that matter, does it carry both meanings today? None of the dictionaries I checked has that usage.


How do I represent the "-ed" in "witnessed" phonetically?

How do I represent the - _ed_ in _witnessed_ (or any other similar word) phonetically? Is there a reference sheet somewhere for these? I notice that other endings do not get shown in most dictionaries either (for example _-es_ in _phrases_) I use Word web which has a pronunciation guide for the root of the word, but I can't find anything to write the _-ed_ part phonetically. It does not seem to be on this Wikipedia page. I would prefer the same format as Word web. Many people could probably figure this out for themselves (without a direct reference), but I do not trust myself.


What is a word for implying someone else is wrong?

For instance, if someone says to you, "I like cake," and you reply, "I like to take care of my body," your response is a passive-aggressive way of implying that they don't like to take care of their body because they eat cake. I'm looking for an adjective to describe this type of response, something akin to passive-aggressive but more specific to the situation.


Another term for "instant feedback"?

I'm looking for another term for "instant feedback". Something perhaps similar to how common the phrase "instant gratification" is used to mean instant results from an action. For context, I'm trying to describe the way a video game's camera will capture and immediately display a player's movements on screen so they can react/correct their movements.


"Partially correct" vs. "partial correct"

>   * It's partially correct. >   * It's partial correct. > Which of the following is grammatical?


Do I need to use a comma before 'but' where the subject is not immediate?

For example, "This doesn't cause any crash but later it can cause unknown memory-crashes." I see here that the subject 'it' is not immediately after 'but'. Do I still need to use a comma before 'but' as it links another subject?


It's hard to pronounce some consonant combinations in English

I can't figure out any ways to speak fast and smoothly some sound combinations. Would you nativer speakers provide any help? Could you tell me how your tongues move while speaking them?   * The dental fricatives must be the damnedest, because it make me push my tongue forward to much. And they're even harder to speak if they're preceded by an alveolar sound such as /d/ or /n/. Some people (especially black American people) speak them like they're dropped, but I'm not sure speaking that way would be a good idea.    * A dental fricative followed by a labiodental fricative could be hard to speak fast, since they're pronounced in the same manner and they both require using upper teeth. I have to put my tongue blade after the my upper teeth instead of right under them to produce the dental one, because that's the place I've just used for the labiodental one.   * The /sts/ combination or any other alveolar ones like that are really big challenges. I can only speak them seperately, or sometimes I have to drop the /ts/, or replace the /t/ with a short i (which is how black people do it).    * An alveolar flap is a problem if it goes after an /n/ and a vowel, as in "don't I" or "can't I". After all, sorry about my bad English.


Should I write "any question" or "any questions"?

Are they both correct? Should there be singular or plural that right after "any"? If they are both correct, what's the difference? Here, I quote some sentences from the Internet and I wonder if the word "problem" can be changed into "problems" or vise versa. >   * I don't think there was any _question_ she wore the pants. >   * I can ask you any _question_ , and you will answer? >   * We were never asked any _questions_. >   * Any _questions_ about what is happening in mine are put aside until > dessert is served. >


Is there a word to describe curiosity in a positive way?

I'm looking for a word that describes a curious, interested state of mind- open minded, exploring, wondering, but without being nosy.


Proactive vs Preemptive

I need to explain the difference between "proactive" and "preemptive" and come up with a sample of the proper context of each word. Can someone point me to a previous post or give me their thoughts?


A word to describe the color of hair that is nearly jet-black, but slightly brown?

What is a word to describe the color of a person's hair whose hair is nearly jet-black, but slightly brown? For what it's worth, the person whose hair I have in mind is female with long, straight hair.


Does "peculiar" imply "unusual"/"hard to expect"?

When something is called _peculiar_ or _having a peculiarity_ what does that mean? Does it just mean it has some specific features or does it mean that those specific features are unusual, not normally expected?


Should I acronymize "Health, Safety, and Environment" as "HSE" or "SHE"?

Which abbreviation is most used for "Health, Safety and Environment"? I keep seeing different abbreviations, and a quick search on Google shows that they are all used widely. But does anyone actually know if there is one "correct" abbreviation?


Equivalent word which represents 'Team' or 'Individual'

I am developing a coding contest project with multiple contests. The participants can be a team or an independent individual, depending on the contest setting. I want to define only one model for the participant which could understood as a team or an individual. Is there a word that can be used for _team_ and _participating individual_? ### Update I am thinking to chuck the idea of implementing whole project based on smart team management complicating it whole and decided to implement separate team management and complicating that. But I would be very happy to change my mind if I could get a word, maybe even in some other language for this.


'(death) throes' - countability?

In my Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary the word 'throe' is not listed, only 'throes'. With other nouns, the dictionary clearly indicates whether nouns are countable or uncountable, however, with 'throes' it only indicates that it is plural. I am sitting with a term paper in which I have to comment on the countability and number of a set of given nouns from a text. 'Throes' is one of these words and although it is 'death throes' in the context ('This sudden burst of activity was actually the Expedit in its death throes')only 'throes' is underlined as the one I should comment on. Is the word 'throes' simply neither countable or uncountable? Is that possible? Or why does my dictionary not indicate it, as if it does not know it either? Has it something to do with 'death throes' being part of an idiom? I am unsure of the word and how I should comment. Hope someone can help me :)


Is there a common English phrase for the 'so absurd it must be true' logical fallacy?

There are various common (often Latin) phrases for various logic fallacies, such as _post hoc ergo propter hoc_ , _argumentum ad populum_ , _slippery slope fallacy_ , etc. Is there a common phrase used to describe the fallacy of saying that because a claim seems so unusual or specific, it must be true, because 'nobody would ever make something that unusual up'?


Term for marking stating the date or year something was built or established

An arch might be engraved with "MCMLXII". A company logo might say, "since 1873". A sidewalk might be stamped with "08/2012". What do you call these markings?


Does not or Might not?

This is the message: > The user might not fall under the scope of this policy. It denotes that a setting is not applied to the user because the user is not part of the policy. He's surely not part of the policy. In this case, which is more appropriate to use? >   1. The user might not fall under the scope of this policy > >   2. The user does not fall under the scope of this policy > >