What does it mean "Within everything are meanings crystallized from the hues in the corona of that magnificent artwork-the human and her dignity."

I am reading the following paragraph and I can't quite understand what the bold text means. > And the depth of the inner world of a person has such rich potential to > develop, and the potential to keep developing dimensions within; a > complicated brain and a spirit with an elusive essence that evades material > measure; and then the perfectly harmonious relation of these two phenomena- > the physical and the spiritual together. . . mysterious beings... **Within > everything are meanings crystallized from the hues in the corona of that > magnificent artwork-the human and her dignity.** It starts with "within everything" but continues with "are meanings crystallized" and that's the place I failed to understand since I don't know which type of grammar rule I should follow to decipher what it means.


Usage: to which?

I found the following sentence while reading technical documentation but the use of "to which" doesn't seem right, which expression would you use here ? > Returns a list of lists where the elements **to which** function is true are > grouped together.


"Partner you" vs. "partner with you"

Can I say for instance _dynamic enough to partner you in facing new_ or must it be _partner with you_ I'm specifically asking whether you can say _partner you_ as opposed to _partner with you_. Here's an example; _Opportunities and innovations often mean new legislation. We're a team of lawyers with expertise and experience, dynamic enough to partner you in facing new hurdles_.


Meaning of "get off the hammock"

Is the phrase _get off the hammock_ idiomatic, and what does it mean if it is?


Is there a word or expression for someone who takes an over-optimistic view of things?

Someone who takes an over-optimistic view of himself, his own country and all other things that have meaning/value to him. And who doesn't see or admit the smaller, yet not insignificant, things. E.g. as well in an attempt to win other people over of something or give them the impression of his own greatness (by leaving out whichever isn't going to benefit that impression he wants to make.)


Do women tend to use the word "lovely" more often than men?

Do women tend to use the word **_lovely_** more often than men do? And also, should men rather avoid using this word when describing something they liked? _meta_ : I hope this question doesn't sound too sexist (though to an extent it is, of course).


My English translator capitalizes every noun. Is it correct?

I'm developing an Android/iPhone application. My translator for English localization uses a lot of capitalization. For example, in the app menu, it suggests:               |Export Data to Folder|     |Prevent Screen Lock  |      I would simply use               |Export data to folder|     |Prevent screen lock  |      What is the best choice?


"There is no A or B" vs "There is no A and B"

If A doesn't exist and B doesn't exist either, what is the correct form below? > There is no A and B. or > There is no A or B. What if the sentence is long, such as > There is no bound on message delay or relative process speed. Would this construction be correct?


Issues with predicate nominative

As far as my understanding goes, English does have a predicate nominative for the copula _to be_ as well as semantically related words (to become, to seem) if the entity in question plays the role of subject in the activity it is involved in. > It is I who stole the hen's eggs. It does use the oblique case if the entity has the role of object > It is me whom you saw. However, the following defeats that rule > You are me There are a bunch of songs with that title. Same for > He was me.   * Would it be correct and idiomatic to say "You are I? /"He was I?"   * Is there any mention of that behavior in grammar references?   * Is the predicate nominative on the decline in general (have there been tendencies over the centuries)?


Any exception with commas before and after "for example"?

I know that usually there should be a comma after "for example" and "for instance" but in the following sentences the commas would seem odd, wouldn't they? > While it is common practice to do recalibration between trials, for example > in reading research, this is not always possible or feasible (for example in > studies where task completion time is measured or where an interruption > might impact on contextual information or the participant’s thought > processes).


Female equivalent of "creator"?

Female equivalent of " _creator_ "? Or is it unisex? I'm a programmer and I named a variable "creatingFunction", which sounds even worse than "creatorFunction".


Origin of "toffee-nosed"

What's the origin of **toffee-nosed** (snobbish, disdainful, stuck-up)? Is it related to "toff" (upper-class)?


Difference between "best dress" and "best dressed"

So it goes like this: “Sally, you look groovy. You aim to win at the best _DRESS_ competition tonight, don’t you?”   "Sally, you look groovy. You aim to win at the best _DRESSED_ competition tonight, don’t you?” I've heard people say best dress cannot be used in the context of boys because they do not wear "dresses". But what if the context if a girl? Is one sentence more grammatically correct than another?


Latin pronunciation

(You may well say this doesn't fit into an "English language" site, but the scientific Latin terms could be said to be part of English.) My young daughter loves snails; I would like her to learn the scientific name for the common garden snail, or Grove Snail: _Cepaea nemoralis_ , but how do I pronounce the word _Cepaea_?


"Course in/on/of/for nursing specialty"

Which preposition would be the correct one? > the course **in/on/of/for** nursing speciality


On reading Allie Brosh's book

There is a question/answer paragraph with misty meaning: > Q:Are mom and dad still alive? > > A:Actually, you turned out to be Batman, so we had to have them put down for > story-line purposes. What does the last phrase mean?


Curious about "but with" in a sentence

Please explain how we replace the first sentence with the second one. I do not understand the rule. Could we use "with + noun" for any situation in this kind of context? >   1. Thursday will be colder, but we will have less rain. >   2. Thursday will be colder, but with less rain. > Thank you very much.


How is "lay bare" sexual?

In the latest _Futurama_ episode, there was a scene with the dialogue: > Professor: Now, for the first time, we may be able to see the infinitesimal > fabric of matter itself, laying bare the most fundamental laws of the > universe. > > Leela (whispering): **Hey, Fry, I know something you could lay bare.** > > Fry (obviously not getting it): Leela, shh, I'm trying to listen to a > physics lecture. > > _... a few seconds later in the episode ..._ > > Professor: Now, to penetrate its deepest mysteries. > > Leela (whispering): Hey, Fry. > > Fry: Leela! No means no! Obviously, in the second scene, where Leela was cut by Fry, she meant to say, _"Hey Fry, I know what you could penetrate."_ The irony was in Fry not getting it all the time. What I don't understand is: what does the first Leela's proposal mean (marked bold in the dialogue)?


Is the expression "see you when I see you" impolite?

Once, I have received feedback that using "see you when I see you" is not very polite. Do you have the same opinion? What other expression should I use in case I have no clue when I will see the other party?


What is the meaning of 'SO' in Denali is SO last month?

From this article, I guess that the name 'Denali' isn't used any longer for Microsoft SQL Server 2012, which now seems to be the official name. But I want to know, what is the meaning of 'Denali is SO last month'. I found these Wikipedia sites SO nor so. But I can't get the answer from them.


what is the difference between employee and staff and worker

I am reading Human Resource(HR) book, and I can not understand `employee`, `staff` and `worker`. Please explain in detail, thank!


Is there a semantic difference between relevance and pertinence?

The dictionary defines relevant as being > Closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand whilst pertinent is defined as > Relevant or applicable to a particular matter. Both of these definitions seem to me to be the same, and the dictionary also defines pertinence and relevance as synonyms. However I feel that in my normal usage I apply a further meaning (something I can't quite articulate) to pertinence. For example, I see a difference between a relevant question and a pertinent one. Perhaps it's that I see a pertinent question as one which maybe alights on some previously unexplored aspect of the matter at hand, whereas a relevant question explores more familiar ground. Almost as if pertinence requires more insight than relevance. Does anyone else feel that there is a difference between the two? * * * **Update** So, we're agreed that there is a difference, but I'm still not definitely clear on what that difference is. I think there's maybe more to it than Guffa's suggestion that frequency of use causes pertinence to feel more important. I feel that Robusto might be on to something with impertinence being _definitely not the same_ as irrelevance. I will look into this more when I get the time, but in the mean time I appreciate your help. * * * **Update 2** I've accepted Ghoppe's answer, because I think that one sums up what I'm feeling the best. However (as pointed out by Noldorin in the question comments) I appreciate there's not any real difference at all in their meaning.


"Do the media..." or "Does the media"?

I saw a headline: > Do the media exploit personal tragedy? This sounds wrong to me, I would've have written "Does the media exploit personal tragedy?". Which is correct?


Can you say “hyperbolizing”?

When you are expressing something in an exaggerated and ironic way, often to prove a point, can you say that you are _hyperbolizing_? Could it be used in a way where you could end the statement with it? For example: “No, I'm just hyperbolizing (but there’s some truth to it)”. Any synonyms for this? > **hyperbolic** > > 2 (of language) deliberately exaggerated. (Oxford Dictionary)


How should one make "man in the middle" plural?

Usually, when a phrase acts as a single word, the noun in the phrase gets made plural. For instance, "mother in law" becomes "mothers in law" when made plural. When discussing "man in the middle" attacks, it is common to call the attack a "man in the middle" or "a MITM." The rule above would suggest that the plural would become "men in the middle." But unlike "mother in law," the noun in the phrase is not actually the thing that gets duplicated — it is instances of the whole phrase. That is, saying "men in the middle" seems to indicate a single attack perpetrated by multiple people; but in this case the intent is to refer to multiple attacks carried out by a single person. As a result, I'm confused as to whether one should use "man in the middles" or "men in the middle" when referring to more than one man in the middle attack. (Yes, I know the best solution in this case would probably be to avoid the problem and say "man in the middle attacks" which is unambiguous. But I'm curious anyway)


Is "analeptical" correct? Form of "analepses"

My teacher was editing my essay and change `analepses` (plural of `analepsis`) to `analeptical`. I'm trying to use the definition of a flashback. Here is the context: Original sentence: > Analepses in the characters is inspired through the cellist's music. Edited sentence: > The cellist's music inspires analeptical moments for the characters. What I think I should finally use: > The cellist's music inspires analepses for the characters. Is the edited sentence more correct, or the final one I think I should use?


Word for one's pursuit of deadly obligation?

Maybe, 'duty' or 'faith' is also applicable instead of 'obligation'. When one is doing self-sacrificing acts to follow his/her obligation, what word can describe one's frame of mind best? Suppose NAVY SEAL team members say "No one left behind", what emotion or resolution will appear in their mind?


a good job (of / in / at) doing something

Are the following sentences correct? If so, which is the most common? > 1) You did a good job raising your children.   >  2) You did a good job of raising your children.   >  3) You did a good job in raising your children.   >  4) You did a good job at raising your children.


One word that refers to a proof of concept for an unfinished video game?

My friend and I are making a video game. Occasionally we want to release little tech demos that demonstrate our progress. A demo would not at all be the finished game, but would rather show off some part of the engine that we have completed. At first we called these demos, but we are afraid that the word demo implies that they represent the finished product. Is there a good _single_ word that refers to a little mini-program that demonstrates progress but is not the finished product?


What is discursive violence?

I have been looking for the meaning behind it but there is no clear definition online. If it helps, we are going over Native American culture in the United States. **Books used** : * * * _Vinland Sagas_ _The Four voyages_ by Christopher Columbus _Storyteller_ by Leslie Marmon Silko _Women's Captivity Narratives_ by Various Authors _Beloved_ by Toni Morrison _Heroes and Saints_ by Cherrie Moraga.


"in most of the world" or "over most of the world"?

I am comparing two S and F datasets against another one B at global scale. Is it right to say: > S was closer to B in most of the world than F. or > S was closer to B over most of the world than F.


Use of "would" (conditional)

Can one use "would" as the conditional in this sentence? Example: If you go to the jungles in Africa, you **would** see a lot of animals.


Word or phrase referring to an author's most famous/noteworthy works

I remember that the most famous/noteworthy works of literary merit are termed the canon,but is there a particular word or phrase that means the most famous/noteworthy works of a particular author? Could I use "canon" here too?


What is the plural of "equipment"?

What is the plural form of the word "equipment"? Is the word "equipment" singular? Context: for tools/objects


Why does my spellchecker vindicate "floccinaucinihilipilification"?

I have heard of this word as cited to contain the most i's of all English words. I had never heard of it before, but when I copied and pasted it into my email program, lo and behold, the picky spellchecker didn't bat an eyelid! Has anyone ever seriously used this word, or any other word of comparable length? How in the world did my spellchecker know about a word nobody will ever use?


What does "I pissed the wall" mean?

What is the meaning of a sentence like "I pissed the wall"?   Is there any difference with "I pissed my pants"?


"Now that x, y," vs. "Now x, y" ("Now" in dependent clauses): British vs. American English

I have noticed that British English speakers tend not to use _that_ after _now_ in certain dependent clauses where American English speakers will almost certainly use it. BE version of two examples: >   * Now the temperature's dropped, we've been using the fireplace more > often. >   * Now I'm finished painting the front door I can rest. > AE version of two examples: >   * Now that the temperature's dropped, we've been using the fireplace more > often. >   * Now that I'm finished painting the front door I can rest. > As in many cases of BE vs. AE, my curiosity is piqued. I wonder if over time AE speakers added the _that_ or if BE speakers dropped it. Is the _that_ "understood" in BE or *misunderstood," so to speak, in AE? More broadly, I suppose I'm asking about the role [that] _that_ plays in sentences like the AE examples above. I'm guessing the answer is related to the fact [that] it would have been acceptable, perhaps even preferable, to leave out the first "[that]" above, but, at least in AE, not the second. Then again, communicating about any specific word presents its own challenges. (I'm aware [that] this may be a duplicate question, but my EU search did not return a match. It's tricky coming up with optimal search terms for this topic.)


What does "from when" mean?

Source Novel Oh, I knew. She was all alone with Vanja during the day, **from when** I went to my office until I returned, she felt lonely, and she had been looking forward so much to these two weeks. Some quiet days with her little family gathered round her, that was what she had been looking forward to. I, for my part, never looked forward to anything except the moment the office door closed behind me and I was alone and able to write. Does this mean "she was alone with Vanja from the time I went..."? "Once I got out to the office, she was alone?"


What is the correct usage of "those"?

I often hear people describe a specific subset of a larger set as " **those** things that are **___ __ ___ ____**." Is this correct English? I mean, you could just say " **the** things that are **___ __ ___ ____**." Something about the first usage always irked me, but what do you all think?


Antonym of 'stigma'

I am looking for a word that has the opposite, positive connotation from 'stigma': For example, > There is a stigma of laziness associated with poor people. What would be the replacement for 'stigma' in this sentence in opposite world: > There is a ??? of industriousness associated with rich people. Using a thesaurus tends towards cleanliness or lack of blemish. But I'm thinking of 'stigma' not as a blemish, but rather a negative connotation, so that the antonym I'm looking for is not the lack of a blemish but a postive connotation (i.e. that 'stigma' -means- 'negative connotation').


"Assignee": doctor or patients

Let's say we have a list of doctors and a list of patients. Each doctor will be assigned to check on some of these patients. Now who are the _assignees_ : the patients or the doctors? I am confused here. Should I say the _assignee_ for these patients is doctor X or the _assignees_ for doctor X are these patients?


Synonym for "in terms of" (of Latin origin)

I am trying to remember a synonym for "being" or "in terms of" ... It is a Latin word that has entered the English language.


Punctuating question tags: A question mark is always required, isn't it. (Well, isn't it?)

Consider the sentence: > You didn't leave the dog in the car, did you? In spoken English, this statement may be spoken with a rising intonation or a falling one. If the former, it suggests that leaving the dog in the car is a bad thing, and might even suggest incredulity and consternation on the part of the person asking. In the latter case, when the sentence ends with a falling intonation, the speaker probably believes that the dog _should_ have been left in the car, and that the person being addressed fell short. It amounts to an accusation. Now, given that question tags are always questions, it seems they ought to be punctuated with a question mark. But in written form, especially dialogue, it feels to me that question tags meant to be spoken with a falling intonation might get by with just a period: > You didn't leave the dog in the car, did you. I've tried Web searches but haven't gotten close to a set of search terms that point me toward an appropriate source. Anybody know of a definitive answer to this question? **Further Reflection** One of the reasons I ask this is that any declarative statement may be changed into a question by means of a rising intonation at the end. > You left the dog in the car. becomes a question if your voice modulates upward at the end. In _written_ English, it is customary to show that by means of a question mark: > You left the dog in the car? I include this information because @FumbleFingers asserts that "punctuation may not be used to differentiate [someone's] two intonations." Yet clearly there are cases in which punctuation is used in precisely that way (though in this case involving the opposite modulation from what I'm suggesting). So I wonder if it might not be possible to move the needle in the other direction. If not, why not? _Note: I almost accepted my own answer to this question, but retracted it. If someone comes up with a better one I'll certainly consider awarding that one the checkmark. I think this question touches on an important concept, despite the scant attention it has received._


"We give brands access to..." or "We give Brands access to..."

Should the world "brands" be capitalized in the following sentence? If so why? > We give Brands access to our database of 100 users. "Brands" refers to advertisers such as Coca Cola and Pepsi.


What is the proper plural form of 'apparatus'?

Dictionary.com claims that the plural of 'apparatus' is 'apparatuses'. Surely that can't be right... isn't it 'apparati'?


What are the usages of the modifier "Many"?

> **Many** of his books are... > > His **many** books are... > > **Many** books of him/himself/John/Alex/etc... Would you kindly tell me the exact difference between these?


Rouge or Rogue?

Is there a difference between the two? I want to write a sentence which says _Users Go Mad_ , and would like to know the correct word to use here. Is this just American/British difference?


Plato(n) and similar masculine names

What is the etymology of dropped -n in ancient (Greek masculine) names ending with -on? I mean Plato, Pluto, etc. Curiously, the "n" is still preserved in derived words, like platonic or plutonic. Another observation that may be related is that some non-Greek ancient names seemed to acquire -n in languages other than English, e.g., Cato becoming Caton.


"having worked" vs "having been working" difference

I would like to have someone explain the difference here:   * Having worked there for a year.   * Having been working there for a year.


"Payments for medicine supply" is an income or an expenditure?

"Payments for medicine supply" is an income or an expenditure in terms of accounts, while making entries in the books of a XYZ medical aid society?


What does “Hold one’s back” mean?

There is the following sentence in the scene Director of FBI, H.A.L Tyson instructs his men in Jeffery Archer’s fiction, “Shall we tell the President”: > “So they (assassins group) think you’re dead, Andrews, and they have now > played their last card. So **we must hold ours back** , you’re going to > remain dead – for a little while longer” > > Mark (Andrews) and O’Malley (both FBI agents) looked at each other, both > puzzled. - Page 296. I lightly took “hold one’s back” for a run-of-the mill idiom, but I couldn’t find this phrase in any of Cambridge, Oxford, and Merrimu Webster Dictionary as an idiom, nor does Google NGram Viewer include. What does “We must hold ours back” mean? Isn’t “Hold one’s back” a common idiom?


Is there a word that describes a pre-wedding party?

So there are many words that describe the event that takes place before the wedding: _stag do, hen do, bachelor party, bachelorette party_. Is there a single word that encompasses all those things?


Meaning of "catch you on the flip side"

I received an email from a coworker, and we're not that friendly. Actually, we're not friends at all, just two good colleagues. In his email, he wrote as his last sentence > Catch you on the flip side! What does this expression mean? Note that I was supposed to get a job, and the answer was no. The email was kind of sad.


How to derive a noun from "up-to-date"?

I'm looking for a noun that would represent the state of being up to date. I want to say this > The documentation is not accurate and up to date. like this > The documentation has problems with accuracy and **__**. Various on-line dictionaries say _up-to-dateness_ but that is kind of clumsy. Are there any alternatives?


How can this be worded better?

How can this be better expressed? > In respect of Anna's written wishes, there will be no funeral.


If I help "evacuate" a building, what am I doing to the people?

I remember reading somewhere that to evacuate a person is a medical procedure, and not something to be done during an earthquake. (I thought it was in Fowler, but I just looked and couldn't see it). The point is that it is the _building_ that is being evacuated, not the people. "Evacuate" comes from the Latin word for "to empty out". If this is so, what is happening to the people that are being helped out of a building that is being evacuated? I was reminded of this question during an episode of CSI: Miami (don't judge me) where someone tells flame-haired Horatio Caine that "You helped evacuate me yesterday". What _should_ she have said to him? "You helped evacuate the building I was in" sounds a little circumlocutionary. I should have anticipated answers saying "You can use evacuate like that". As far as I can tell, the OED doesn't allow "evacuate" to be the verb that you do to people when removing them from a burning building. So there isn't quite a consensus that I'm barking up the wrong tree, although the concise OED allows "to remove from a place of danger". Let's say I didn't want to do that for the (perhaps mistaken) reason that it was worth having a distinction between what is being made empty and what it is being emptied _of_. Let's say I'm super-worried about there being some confusion about whether Horatio helped the woman get to the hurricane shelter or whether he helped perform an unlicensed medical procedure on her. Both might be legitimate readings of "He helped her evacuate". I want this to refer to the latter, so how would I unambiguously talk about the former?


"Fine with/by/to you/that"

Are there any differences when asking the following?   1. Would that be fine **with** you?   2. Would that be fine **by** you?   3. Would that be fine **to** you? What if we switch _you_ and _that_ around? Do they still make sense?   1. Would you be fine **with** that?   2. Would you be fine **by** that?   3. Would you be fine **to** that?


What is a word for "known incorrectly"?

I'm trying to organise a series of items, depending on whether these are known, unknown or known incorrectly to the observer. I don't like the "know incorrectly" formulation. Is there a single word describing this? PS: it seems the question was unclear. I am referring here to "known" as in "recognised". So I am categorising the objects as "recognised", "unrecognised" or "incorrectly recognised". (eg. you see the Eiffel Tower and shout "Look! The Bamiyan Buddha is still standing!")


Grade vs. Grades when modifying a range

When I look on Google, I see both of these used. Singular: > ... for students grade 6-12 Plural: > ... for students grades 6 - 12 The plural form has significantly more results on Google and sounds more correct to me because I read the sentence with an implied "in" between the words "students" and "grades". Which form is correct / better (if any)? In particular, if I were to use this on marketing material for an education-saavy audience, which form should I use?


Why is the colour green associated with negativity?

Why is the colour _green_ often associated with negativity? Green is paired with _jealousy_ , _envy_ , _vomit_ , ~~immaturity~~ , etc. Yet it is the colour of growth and freshness. In other words, the natural association of the colour _green_ is with something positive. But, in English, (besides its use as _growth_ ) it is often symbolic of something negative. Why is this? Etymonline suggests that green is the " _color of jealousy at least since Shakespeare (1596_ )" (how/why exactly?). Could this be the source?


Correct punctuation in company names

My father's company is named the following: > Xyz Trading Co. (L.L.C.) I find the use of periods excessive, at the abbreviation of company and the last period in the parenthesis. Is it grammatically correct?


Is there English word corresponding to Japanese “Bureikoh” meaning an occasion you can talk freely disregarding status and position?

Both Japanese and Chinese have words, “無礼講 - Bureikoh”—in Japanese (verb form 無礼講する) — meaning to make no distinction of status and position where you can speak and act freely without considering pressure and authority of others, difference of position, status and class and “不分座次 - bù fēn zuò cì” (in Chinese) meaning no separation / distinction of seating position and class, at a gathering such as party, dinner, banquet, and social meeting,. When we convene an unofficial meeting and after 5 o’clock gathering, we used to say “Let’s have a “Bureikoh” meeting (party). You don’t need to worry about whether your remarks benefit you, or harm you throughout the occasion. Speak up freely anything that comes to your mind” to participants. At Bureikoh gathering, everybody is considered to be totally equal, regardless company CEO and sales clerk, boss and subordinate, senior and junior, coach and player, professor and students. You are not punished by whatever you spoke out in Bureiko gathering. The concept of “Bureikoh” dates back to the warring Middle age (13 Century) when the monarch needed to listen to the voice of his followers on his governance, policy and deeds. Apart from the provenance of “Bureiko” and “bù fēn zuò cì”, is there any English short word corresponding to “Bureiko,” or “Bù fēn zuò cì” in the meaning of equal opportunity of speech and opinion among all? In Democratic western countries where everybody is regarded to be equal, I wonder if the concept of "Bureikoh / Bù fēn zuò cì" is viable or not. **Addendum:** I thought “informal meeting” could be close to “Bureiko.” But if you call your CEO or boss a “nuts” or “F_ you” on spot even if it’s informal meeting, you’ll probably get the backlash. Whereas, “無礼講-Bureiko literally means “No punishment on rudeness,” thus nobody will be punished (theoretically) by throwing abuse to, or criticizing superior in expressing his / her own personal opinion, **once Bureiko is declared upfront** of the gathering, because it’s the rule of Bureiko.


Build, manufacture, produce - differences and contexts

to build, to manufacture, to produce something      Are these synonyms, and what is the appropriate context for each of them? What would be appropriate in context of a complex product built in small series?


How did the term "esquire" come to be used for lawyers?

Esquire, as I understand it means "mister." But in modern usage it is an abbreviated American appendage to names that indicates one is a lawyer, and it is used for men and women. How did that happen?


What does "as poll nears" mean?

I just read The Jakarta Post I've got this: > "Prabowo changes style in campaign as poll nears" what is the meaning of 'as poll nears', I've got some guesswork and I am not really sure about it, does that mean "the method to get the polling"?


How do I say "WWI" out loud?

I know it's written WWI, but when I am speaking should I say "World War One" or "World War First" or "First World War"?


What's an adjective to describe the type of writing found in essays?

You might say that writing found in literature is _literary_ ; language like that found in poetry is _poetic_. What do you call writing found in essays, or writing like that found in essays?   (Not considering _prosaic_ , to head off certain humorous tangents.) Is there a word or short phrase better than _essayistic_? * * * In addition to pieces of writing originating from or destined for an academic group, here are a couple of items that appear to fall into the same category: Errol Morris's blog in the _New York Times_ One of many 'essays' by Paul Graham: Makers/Managers Schedules Also see Paul Graham: The Age of the Essay


Want feedback from someone I've disappointed

What word should I use in the following situation? I have done some work for somebody, but he is not satisfied. I still want the feedback from him, and am trying to convince him to give me some feedback (likely bad); I honestly wouldn't _like_ to get negative feedback, but I would prefer to receive some form of response rather than nothing. Is this a good way to ask? > Please, at least give me feedback ( **maybe** bad). What should I use in place of **maybe** to make it a good sentence?


I don't know if this is an awkward usage of "for which" and an adjective

> The figure of casualties is presumed to be significantly higher, but there > are no specific data _for which_ published. The latter part of the sentence sounds a little awkward to me. I just want to know if it is grammatically correct.


Number agreement of "a thing of the past"

Is the pluralization correct in the following sentences? >   1. To Do lists are a thing of the past. >   2. To Do lists are things of the past. >   3. A To Do list is a thing of the past. > Are they all (grammatically) correct? Which of the three is the best English? Why?


Meaning of ' our collective and collectivist leg'

> This sounds very **fishy**. I think Mr xxx is pulling **our collective** and > **collectivist leg**.


A word or idiom for something that is real but appears fake

A word or idiom for something that is real but appears to be fake. For example "That photograph looks like a painting", or "the sunset looks fake".


What defines a correlative?

I have come across a number of expressions (both...and..., if...then...) which are named as "correlative" in different grammars (namely Quirk et al.). The question: What makes an expression a correlative one? Do you know any definition in the Literature?


Correct way of using 'overtake'

My sentence: > My shop has overtaken his shop in business. Will it be okay if I rewrite it as: > My shop has overtaken his shop's business. ? **Requst: Please consider re-titling the question if necessary...**


Meaning and Origin of "Honky Tonk"

Monday morning. A colleague of mine is blasting country music from his cube...fantastic. After hearing the word "honky" and "honky tonk" quite a few times, I'm intrigued. This is obviously a Southern term, but does anyone have more information on the origin and actual meaning?


Can "vetted" be used to mean somebody to whom some restrictions are not applied?

Using a CMS, I found the following description for a user setting. > If checked, this user will be granted "vetted" status. Vetted users create > full projects and promote existing experimental sandboxes. _Vetted users_ is used to refer to users who can create full projects and sandbox projects; non-vetted users are only allowed to create sandbox projects. Is it correct to use _vetted_ in this case?   If it is correct, what is the meaning of _vetted_ , in this case?


Synonym for "artisan" with a more scientific connotation

Wikipedia describes "artisan" as: > An artisan ... or craftsman ... is a skilled manual worker who makes items > that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, > sculpture, clothing, jewellery, household items and tools or even machines > such as the handmade devices of a watchmaker. Artisans practice a craft and > may through experience and aptitude reach the expressive levels of an > artist. Since the nineties writing source code for software has been looked upon as something that you can only do well through lots of experience, almost like an art. There have been tons of books that suggest it is more of an art than a science. While I get the mindset that people had back then, computer programming has evolved, tools and frameworks have been developed so that it takes less experience to write code of good quality. Right now, I'm writing something on computer programming, and I'm wondering if there's a word equal to "artisan", but with a more scientific connotation. By the way: I'm not sure the word "synonym" is the correct term for this question, so if somebody has a more fitting word, feel free to edit the question.


How should wireless technology names be hyphenated and capitalized?   * "a wireless g network"?   * "a wireless-g network"?   * "a wireless-G network"?   * "a wireless G network"?   * none of the above? Does a formal rule even exist for this?


Does "Fail to understand" have a negative connotation?

As from title, if I say: > XYZ failed to understand the idea that was conveyed by the article. Would you associate a negative connotation to this? What I mean is: does the above sentence give you the impression that the person did not understand the article because he/she is stupid? I want to imply that it may not have been his/her problem, but that it was possibly because the article was not completely clear (which I state before, I am just wondering if the use of `fail` gives a _negative vibe_ to the sentence).


origin and uses of expression "teach one's grandmother how to suck eggs"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Etymology of 'teaching grandma to suck eggs'? I found out about this expression that puzzles me. What is the origin and uses of the expression "teach one's grandmother how to suck eggs"?


Need alternative to "brave smile"

I need to describe someone giving "a brave smile" (for the benefit of others) but that phrase is such a cliche. Is there an alternative that means the same? S.


Shakespeare's "slow as the elephant"

I am reading Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, in Act 1 Scene 2 Alexander gives the following portrait of Ajax: > "[...] he is as valiant as the lion, churlish as the bear, slow as the > elephant; a man into whom nature [...]". Everything seemed quite clear to me (note: I am not a native English speaker). Yet, while reading the Italian version of this passage I noticed that the term _slow_ was translated with the equivalent of the word _majestic_. Precisely, "maestoso come l'elefante". Is this a poetic freedom the translator decided to concede himself, or did the word slow actually have that meaning in the past? I was not able to find any source supporting the latter thesis.


What do you call words that are separated by a hyphen?

What do you call words like _one-note_ that are separated by a hyphen?


Is there one word for knowledge and wisdom that has been obtained from different sources and from experience?

Is there one word for "gathered wisdom", meaning knowledge and wisdom that has been obtained from different sources and from experience?


What is the rule for composing two words, when one of them is hyphenized or has spaces?

Let's imagine we have an organization named EFSMA-EE and another called EFSMA Telecom (EFSMA is an acronym). If I want to compose these with another word (e.g. "time" - as in "full- time"), what should I do? Just add the hyphen? > EFSMA-EE-time and EFSMA Telecom-time?


Gobble gobble - Are the two meanings related?

Turkeys say, "gobble". We also "gobble" down a lot of turkey on Thanksgiving. This is just a bit of idle musing, but are the two meanings of this word somehow related via the American & Canadian holidays?


Is "mother tongue" exactly the same as "native language"?

Someone just told me "mother tongue" is exactly the same as "native language". I may be wrong, but I think the first one is not a good translation. Am I wrong?


"I finally was able" or "I was finally able"?

Is one form wrong or more correct than the other? Or do they have different meanings? I'm a non-native speaker trying to figure it out.


Why is "doing" used here instead of "to do"?

I have read this question: “I like to do (be) something” vs “I like doing (being) something” and I get (although the answer could not be applied to my example) that using "to do" means _in general_ I like to do it. While "doing", means I'm doing it _at the moment_ or soon will be. I found the following example in a grammar book: > Exercise means doing something with the body. Shouldn't it be "Exercising means doing..." or "Exercise means to do..." or maybe "To exercise means doing ..." -I don't get why exercise is used as a noun here. -I don't get why **doing** is used instead of **to do** and if they are interchangeable (without context)


What is the difference between "getting mad" and "getting upset"?

Does _getting mad_ mean the same thing as _getting upset_? Is there any difference at all?


Can a person say "And I you"?

In a film I thought I heard a man say "And I you." I wondered if it were OK because there seemed to be no verb? Another man said to him "I like you my buddy". So why did he not reply "So do I buddy"?


Given a "pledge" to complete each day, what words can represent success and failure in a motivating fashion?

If one decides that they are going to attempt to complete a pledge or task each day, what are two words (one for each) that can be used to represent the number of successes and failures, without being too discouraging? Example pledge: "I'm going to exercise 20 minutes every day."


English Translation of "Umay"

As a Filipino-Canadian, I often go to Filipino gatherings with lots of tasty Filipino food. In some cases, we eat so much food that we become full; however, in other cases, we say that we are "umay"... **we simply feel tired of eating the same food and wish to eat no more, but it's not the same as full**. People become "umay" when they eat so much of the same food without becoming full, but still end up not wanting to eat it anymore Is there an English verb/adjective for this? Something I could say during non- Filipino gatherings? Thanks in advance.


Why is there "Black English" but not "White English"?

African American Vernacular English is shortened to a less precise phrase "Black English". Also, _Black English_ is used in a broader sense: > Black English is a term used for both dialects of English and English-based > pidgins and creoles, and whose meaning depends considerably upon the > context, and particularly the part of the world. > > Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_English Also mentioned is AAVE is not regional anymore: > Although no longer region-specific, African American Vernacular English, > which remains prevalent among African Americans, has a close relationship to > Southern varieties of AmE and has greatly influenced everyday speech of many > Americans. > > Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_English I see the usage of "White English" in some technical sources but I couldn't be sure what is actually meant by that. For example, there is the below explanation from Prof. John R. Rickford from Stanford University: > History of AAVE, exploring earlier examples of African American English, and > its source in African languages, as well as the controversial question of > its possible creole ancestry. Comparison with creole languages currently > spoken in the Caribbean and off the S Carolina coast (Gullah) will be > undertaken to shed light on this controversy. A more recent issue, which we > will also explore, is **whether AAVE is currently diverging from Standard > English and White Vernacular English**. > > Source:http://web.stanford.edu/~rickford/AAVE.html So, why is there a prevalent usage of Black English or Black English vernaculars but not White English (vernaculars)? (Or maybe not the usage of vernacular but the phrase itself... there are of course other dialects and sociolects spoken by White people or both White and Black) For example, there are European Americans also but European American Vernacular English is mentioned in a very few sources. Could this be considered as White vernacular English by linguists in a broader sense? Is there any source that talks about this? Of course this is related with the history of English and American English but maybe someone can shed a light on the specific topic. Also, I would like to keep the topic in linguistic sense (though it is related with races but within linguistic usages).


Term for a similar word that cannot stand for it in every context?

I once learned a term meaning a similar word that cannot stand for it in every context, i.e. a synonym that doesn't work in _every_ instance the original word can ( _not_ a hypernym). What is this term?


Closed -> Closure, Open ->?

Am I right in assuming that the word _closure_ is derived from the word _closed_? If so, I would be interested to know the name of this procedure and what it yields when applied to the word _open_. My motivation is a mathematical one: "The closure of a set is the smallest closed set containing it." For certain topological spaces (Alexandrov spaces) it is true that every set is contained in a smallest _open_ set.


What does this mean: "I'll be with you in a minute"? Does it mean "I'll call you after one minute" or "I'll contact you after one minute" or something else?


Loops vs Laps for runner?

When I read some events map, I found _loops_ used wildly. But some equipment watches like Timex used _laps_. What's the difference, how can I use them correctly? Please also give some sample if possible.


As it is clear from the question title, What does "I'm game" mean and what's its correct usage?


What does this sentence mean by "my cold came out of remission"?

What does the part "my cold came out of remission" mean in the following sentence? > It seems that my cold came out of remission… I'll work from home today and > hopefully kick it before Monday.


What connotation do these words describing "someone who straightforwardly expresses their" opinion have?

The adjective ones I have heard recently are   * _forward_   * _straightforward_   * _forthcoming_   * _frank_ I was wondering if each of them has positive, negative or neutral meaning? What are other similar terms that are used for positive, neutral and negative intention?


Terms to apply to something that leaves strong memory

Do the following terms have positive, neutral or negative meaning?   * _memorable_   * _impressive_   * _remarkable_ What are other similar terms that are used for positive, neutral and negative intention?


What would be a good way for referring to the property of being a Home/Visitor Team?

Is there a word to define the property of being the Home Team? In Brazil we say that the Home Team has the "Mando de Campo" which means "Field Ownership", as in the Home Team HAS the Field Ownership as the Visitor Team does not, I don't know if that helps.


What are other alternative ways of saying "how are you?" in business email

I'm looking for an alternative ways to ask my email recipients about themselves before we go into more serious discussion. I think "how are you" does not sound professional when you are emailing to authority departments/ hotels/ other professional bodies. Thank you.


Word for an attempt which you know is useless

What word do you use when you are trying to say that you attempted to do or solve something which you know would most probably fail? For example, I dropped my Nokia off the highest level of the Eiffel Tower. The screen shattered and the phone could not be turned on anymore. In a [word] attempt, I still tried to repair the phone. In that example, I am not feeling reluctant. I know it's almost impossible to fix that phone but I'm still giving it a shot. What is the word or feeling that I should use?


What does 'Lets himself be swept along like a log of wood by a current.' mean?

I read the following quote by Gandhi when he was describing the actions of a moral man: Source > How can a man understand morality who does not use his own intelligence and > power of thought, but let himself be swept along like a log of wood by a > current? What is he referring to here with this simile swept along like a log of wood by a current? And, how would it apply to a person's characteristics?


Can we use "very" with a "non-" adjective?

Can we use _very_ with an adjective that starts with "non"? For example: > Absolute pathnames should be avoided in #include directives because they > make the program **very nonportable**. For some reason the sentence sounds weird. Is it grammatical to say something is very non _adjective_?


"What need is there to ..." vs "Is there a need to ..."

Is a question that starts with "What need is there to" grammatically correct? For example: > What need is there to tell a lie just to make a joke? If so, is there a difference in meaning or nuance between that clause and "Is there a need to"? > What need is there to tell a lie just to make a joke? > > Is there a need to tell a lie just to make a joke?


Noun for adjective "neat"

I need a noun for an adjective "neat" (or "cool") in the slang meaning "terrific". My logic tells me to use "neatness", but dictionaries don't seem to list the slang meaning for it. I don't mind any synonym, as long as it's short and commonly used. It's intended to be used in a "programming equation": `XAML − XML.verbosity + JSON.neatness`, where verbosity is a property of XML, and JSON language is more readable and concise.


Is "vacuous" offensive?

I am not an native English speaker and I would like to know if the use of the word "vacuous" is offensive. I am writing a reply to a request where I am asked to do something that has no sense at all in a mathematical context. Basically, I was requested to do some calculations on a mathematical object that is provably nonexistent. In my reply I want to be direct and say that trying to do so is useless. Then, I was planning to say that this is vacuous. I also want to be as polite as possible, then my hesitation on using this word. Any pointers to a more suitable word would also be appreciated.


Pledge (pledʒ) pronunciation

I'm wondering if 'pledge' could be or is somewhere in the nowadays English world pronounced as 'plidʒ'. As I found (though seems not to be very reliable as it is only one source) pledge had the synonym pleedge but seems to be gone. Though, WordReference only proposes two main pronunciations. Thank you for your help.


What to call someone who is able to hold a conversation?

So, think about being involved and present in the dialogue, but also someone who puts forward ideas and tries to look for ways to keep the conversation smooth and going, just like a flowing conversation. Who looks for solutions too and who is flexible to talk about something else.


Would it be possible to note similarities with in comparison with?

_In comparison with_ is used to show contrasting ideas. I wonder whether this phrase could be used to note similarities as well, especially with words like: similar, the same, alike. Would you, for example, consider the following? _In comparison with each other, both of the girls seem similar._


Why "face by" in the following

In one of today's nydailynews headlines, the writer writes the following: > India reminds world of cross-border terror **faced by** Kabul. The **face by** usage doesn't seem to convey the right meaning here because it assumes that Kabul is the performer or initiator of the action. However, that doesn't seem to be the case as the article goes on to state: > Tokyo, July 8 — In a veiled reference to Pakistan, India Sunday told the > international community of the "existential threat" Afghanistan faces from > terrorism emanating from across its borders. Is this the right usage?


Hypernym for "webinars" and "podcasts"

I'm looking for a single word that describes both _webinars_ and _podcasts_. Any ideas?


When should I say "thee"?

If I want to be posh, old school, when I'm writing, and decide to use "thee" then what is the correct technical usage for it? Does it simply replace "the" ?


When does the name prefix "Mc" take stress?

_Mc_ (or _Mac_ ) is often used as a prefix in Gaelic-derived names. In one class containing most such names, prefixing _Mc_ does not affect the position of the accent somewhere on the base name. Thus _Mc_ is unstressed. For example:   * McDonald /mɛkˈdɑnl̩d/   * MacArthur /mɛkˈarθr̩/   * McCoy /mɛk̚ˈkoj/   * McGill /mɛˈɡɪl/   * McMahon /mɛkˈmæn/   * McCarthy   * McLeod   * McDonnell   * McCormack   * McEwan   * McAllister   * McOrmond   * ~~McNuggets~~ But sometimes _Mc_ takes stress:   * McIntosh /ˈmækɪntɑʃ/   * McIntyre /ˈmækɪntajr̩/   * McAfee /ˈmækəfi/   * McAvoy /ˈmækəvoj/ All of these I could think of contain a vowel-initial base name, but that's not a sufficient condition. How can you determine which class a particular name belongs to, and what is the etymological reason for the distinction?


What is the word for a good work?

I am helping a charity and I need to invite my friends to join in. We're not asking for any money or valuables but just their time for some feedback on few questions. I am struggling at the opening line of the invitation message—what I want to say is that "I need your help in this great work / noble work" but it just doesn't sound that impressive/catchy. Jihad or movement both describe something too big to describe "answering a few questions." Please note that it is for non-native English speakers.


"The idea of the X came from Y" vs "The idea of the X raised from Y"

I'm confiused a little bit in a correct usage of the word **idea** in sentences. Wich one of the following correct? > The idea of the system design came from the knowledge acquired in literature > review and analysis of the current trends of workplace learning. or > The idea of the system design raised from the knowledge acquired in > literature review and analysis of the current trends of workplace learning. If both are wrong, the any other suggestions are welcomed.


Is "yesterday night" acceptable?

I catch a lot of grief about this from family and friends, so I figured I'd settle the score once and for all. In verbal context (though not written), I tend to use the phrase > ... yesterday night... rather than _last night_. Is this grammatically correct, regardless of how uncommon it might be?


How can I say "girl" in archaic English?

I'm looking for an archaic replacement for the word _girl_ ?


What's the meaning of "Acme developers for IPhone"?

I have recently heard the term "Acme developer of IPhone." I was just wondering what it stands for? I think I know the meaning: Is it when a developer goes to a client and presents his/her ideas for the app?


A word which comes with meaning like "something that works in parallel"

I need to write about a technology which works with another in parallel. What is a single word which means something like "something which works in parallel" or "works in parallel"?


Is this usage of "now" correct?

Consider this piece of a poem: > Crouched at the elder's feet, the knight > > Now kissed his hand in exultation. > > The world before his eyes turned bright, > > Forgot his spirit's sore vexation. Is this usage of the word "now" correct? Is there a name for this usage?


In what ways is Appalachian speech closer to Elizabethan English than contemporary British?

I read this question in the sample questions section. It hasn't been asked yet, now I'd like to know. I have heard that regional dialects of English are often more closely related to provincial dialects because the comparatively well-to-do Londoner did need or want to move to a strange new land and instead people from the countryside went abroad.


How to abbreviate “compare”, “see”, “refer to”

In my native language (Italian) there are convenient abbreviations for _compare_ ( _cfr_ ) and _see_ or _refer to_ ( _vd_ ). Is there anything similar in English? Or should I just use the complete words _see_ or _refer to_ in these cases? I am referring to something that I can use in an informal note, where citations and bibliography seem an overkill. E.g: The method they developed gave better results respect the traditional methods ( _cfr_ “Traditional methods for the task”) The results for those experiments ( _vd_ paragraph “Those Experiments”) show a direct correlation between A and B.


Describing the type of family a person belongs to

Okay, trying to come at this from a different angle... I need a more concise way to say "Families for which you are a child and therefore show your siblings and parents" – something that would be suitable for a title of a table/listing. Additionally, I need a more concise way to say "Families for which you are a parent and therefore show your spouses and direct descendants." Again, something that would be suitable for a title of a table/listing. Ideally I'm looking for a single word to precede "Families" for both titles, but 3 or 4 words at most would be okay as well. I just don't want to put a full sentence as a title. * * * Originally Asked: I'm listing two types of families. One where the person is a parent and the other where the person is a child. The title for the section listing families where the person is a parent I'm using "Parental Families". I'm not sure what to use for the title for the section listing families where the person is a child. I really don't thing _Childal_ is a word :) Per Bradd Szonye's comment: > Are there specific terms for your immediate family including your children, > versus your immediate family including your parents? If there are no specific terms, what the best way to title the two grouping on a report? Example 1 (Parental Families):               *Person* & Spouse 1 (divorces)         Child 1         Child 2         Child 3          *Person* & Spouse 2 (so there are 2 families)         Child 4         Child 5      Example 2 (??? Families):               Spouse 1 & Spouse 2 (first marriage)         *Person*  (biological)         Child 2   (biological)         Child 3   (biological)          Spouse 1 & Spouse 3 (2nd marriage)         *Person*  (adopted or step)         Child 2   (adopted or step)         Child 3   (adopted or step)         Child 4   (biological)


Is "what a pity" used as often as "what a shame"?

As an ESL speaker, I'm puzzled by these two phrases... Is "what a pity" used as often as "what a shame" in an English-speaking country? Is there any difference between them in meaning or usage?


When to use a comma before "and"

I often see people on the Internet using a comma before _and_ in many cases (not adversative cases). Is it ok? In my language it is stricly prohibited to use a comma before an _and_ except for adversative cases or when an apposition is in the front of that _and_. Examples (which I consider **not ok** ): > He is a great player, and he prefers to play _Counter-Strike_. > > John joined the Army, and George joined the Marines. What I consider exceptions: > Yes, and what is the problem? > > I called John, my brother, and now I’m speaking with him.


Usage of uncountable nouns

Which option is correct to use in this sentence and why? > I have ( _much_ , _many_ , _an_ ) orange juice.


Look to the south vs Look south?

Reading some grammar rules for this topic (points of the compass), there was one saying that if it is "where - asking for direction, not position, 'the' should not be used". E.g. Go west, the river flows south. But when I google for "Look north" and "Look to the north", the latter has much more hits.


Usage of "there follows"

I wonder if it is correct to say:   * From A there follows B  if you want to say that A entails B (or B is a consequence of A).


Meaning of "take title in"?

> Tomorrow around 3:30, I need a ride from the 7-11 to the quick cash place, > gonna take my title in for some funds. I take it _title_ here means the legal right to own something? And _to take your title in for some funds_ means to get some funds in your title?


"I know that that that school that is famous because of its rules." — Can this sentence work?

This is the sentence: > I know that that that school that is famous because of its rules. I think the first _that_ is a relative pronoun, the second also and the third is a demonstrative pronoun, the fourth _that_ is a relative pronoun again. The problem is that I cannot add punctuation, I was hoping to add a comma after the first that but he says this is not allowed or that it is not needed.


what does 'the roll of duck tape' mean?

what does ' **the roll of duck tape** ' mean ? Would you please give me some examples to know how to use it?


Please explain the statement

> In fact, Brian Lara and Bravo's mother are first cousins meaning Bravo and > Brian Lara are first cousins once removed. Source: Darren Bravo Wiki


Using the word "deadbeat" as an adjective

BBC quotes President Obama: > America is "not a deadbeat nation", US President Barack Obama has said, as > he warned Republicans unconditionally to approve a rise in the US debt > ceiling. It appears to me that _deadbeat_ in this context is an adjective. The definition of deadbeat lists it solely as a noun. Has President Obama used _deadbeat_ incorrectly?


Is there a word that describes the separation of dollars and cents?

Take the following amount: > $ 12.54 I am looking for a term that describes the separation of dollars and cents. Of course there is a term that describes the character that does the job which most people would call decimal or period. Another example: > John, Adams, Male This is a small comma-separated list of values. In this case, a comma separates the values "John", "Adams", and "Male". The comma is also called a _delimiter_. **Is there a term that describes the decimal point as a separator? Is it a separator?**


How does "among" vs "between" affect the meaning of this sentence from the Times?

I realize that this has been discussed elsewhere on the site, but I was interested in the use of the preposition "among" in a sentence from a story in yesterday's New York Times: > Research done by Emmanuel Saez, left, and Thomas Piketty has shown that > inequality **among** the middle class and the rich is nearly as acute as it > was before the Great Depression. My first impression was that the sentence was incorrect, and that "between" should have been used instead. After thinking about it for a minute, however, it seems like the use of either preposition may be valid, but that the sentence would mean different things depending on the choice. With "between", the sentence is referring to inter-group differences between the incomes of the rich and the middle class. With "among", the sentence is referring to intra-group differences in income among the individual members of each particular group. Honestly I have no idea if this interpretation is correct. Can someone please clarify this for me?


What is the best term to categorize a lolcat image and text?

I've seen the captions described as a dialect, patois, "kitty pidgin" and language play which is well and good but doesn't get to the key visual aspect (silly/cute/adorable cats). Wikipedia offers _image macro_ , a term with hazy etymology but looks like the best candidate at this point. I suppose one could just call it an _internet meme_ but that lumps it in with a vast number of other things that are less well-known.


"Winter sales" vs. "winter discounts" vs. "winter offers"

We have a service, and we provide season discounts at this time of the year. Which of the following is the most preferable? >   * The winter sales started at "Company X"! >   * The winter discounts started at "Company X"! >   * The winter offers started at "Company X"! >


Direct Object. Is there a rule?

> _rain_ : verb, [ **no object** ] (it rains, it is raining, etc.) > > _fall_ : verb, [ **no object** , with adverbial] Are the following sentences grammatical? (a) The package fell a great distance. (b) It rained cats and dogs. My doubts arise from the fact that "a great distance" and "cats and dogs" seem the objects of _fell_ and _rain_ respectively.


"More twisted than a neurotic pretzel"

What does this phrase mean: " _more twisted than a **neurotic** pretzel_"? I remember reading an article in cnet.com with the above phrase used in the first sentence. I can understand the phrase "twisted as a pretzel" as pretzels are twisted by design. But, what does "neurotic" have to do with this phrase? If someone could add the origin details too, then it would be even sweeter.


Is it correct to say

Is it correct to say "There used to be abandoned cotteges and now it was replaced with nice hotels."?


Is this correct grammar — "which feature in C/C++ don't you like?"

The question in question is this: > Which feature in C/C++ don't you like? Just wanted to know if that is proper way of asking. Not sure if "don't you like" is the right way there.


Was the word for the BDSM costume "gimp suit" coined by Tarantino in Pulp Fiction?

I recently read the opening chapter of _Middlemarch_ and was surprised by the appearance of the word _gimp_ in relation to articles of clothing. In this context it meant > twisted silk, worsted, or cotton with cord or wire running through it, used > chiefly as upholstery trimming However, I was only familiar with the gimp from _Pulp Fiction_. According to wiktionary this is : > A sexual submissive, almost always male, dressed generally in a black > leather suit. This is apparently derived from another meaning of _gimp_ that OED dates to the 1920s (origin unknown). > a physically disabled or lame person Wiktionary suggests that the word is a mutation of _limp_ and therefore unrelated to gimp fabric. But what about the BDSM sort of gimp, when and where was the first such usage and which came first, the gimp or the gimp suit? Does the 'sexual submissive' meaning originate from the Tarantino film?


What is a "local preposition"?

1. I bought a sweater for myself.   2. I don't have any money with me. My books tell me that I cannot use a reflexive pronoun in #2 because the preposition in that sentence has "a purely local meaning." What does that mean?


Is it correct to write "He takes part in a project"?

I searched for an answer at this site, but didn't find it. Is it correct to write "He takes part **in** a project"? Is "takes part **in** " correct in the aforementioned sentence? Or should other preposition be used instead of " **in** "? The meaning of the sentence is that someone works **on** a project, i.e. he is a member of the project's team.


What does "people of the concrete steppes" mean?

I read this on an economics blog (http://econlog.econlib.org/archives/2014/02/in_the_1930s_it.html) and tried to google it, but the results seem to just be people using it, no one explaining it. Thanks for any help!


What do you call a person who gets hungry easily?

Is there a word to describe a person who gets hungry easily? If there is, are there any antonyms for it?


Usage of "Do you know x?"

I'd like to say something like "You do know grappa, don't you?", intending to mean "You have indeed heard something about (or tasted) grappa (an alcoholic beverage), haven't you?" Does this (the first quoted sentence) sound weird? Is there a better alternative?


Term for sentences using multiple repeated words

Is there a term to describe the repeated usage of the same word in a sentence. Repetition is probably too broad for this, as it does not quite capture the deliberate and multiple nature of the repetition. Some examples include ELU favourite > "Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo." (covered > here) and > That that exists exists in that that that that exists exists in. > > James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect > on the teacher. > > Time times time times time squared equals time times time times time times > time Some of these were listed here What are some examples of awkward sounding but grammatically correct sentences? but the question/answers don't refer to what this deliberate structure is called. Murray Walker was always great for > and and and and... he's into the barrier. But I think that's slightly different.


A word for something similar to persistence

For example, sometimes if I am working on something and it doesn't seem to be working out as it is supposed to I will just keep at it just because it annoys me so much. Another example can be assume that someone tells you not to do something and you do it anyway just because you don't want to be told what to do. Someone does something bad to you and you can leave it. But you can't just because it annoys you that he goes with out any response. You get the idea I guess. Now is there a specific word for this behavior?


> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How obsolete is the word "overmorrow"? Is there a one-word English term for the day after tomorrow? Perhaps a term that has fallen out of modern English usage. One that would complete the sequence of: today, tomorrow, ...


Which is correct, "summiting" or "summitting"?

This form of the word is not very common but does see some use as the present participle/gerund of "to summit" as in "Upon summit(t)ing the mountain we took photos but had to begin our descent immediately to make it down before dark". Wiktionary only includes "summiting" but of course its publicly editable so no guarantees it's right. Google suggests "summiting" as a correction when you search for "summitting" but there's not really many Google hits for either to be truly conclusive. Google Ngram Viewer shows "summiting" in the lead recently... ![all time](http://i.stack.imgur.com/crdDL.png) ... but "summitting" has the highest peak in the graph around about 1910 and was also in the lead from 1974 to 1980... ![1974-1980](http://i.stack.imgur.com/2vYrl.png) So I'm interested in whether any of the style guides, usage guides, or trusted English dictionaries such as OED or Websters Third have anything to say.


What is the correct use for "practised"?

Which use of _practised_ is correct, if any? > I **practised** my singing. > > I **practised** at singing. > > I **practised** singing.


Capo = Cheerleader?

I noticed that the demi-official USA national (soccer) team supporter's group has a name for the folks who lead their section of the stands in chants/cheers; a word I'd never seen used for that before: "Capo". I'm curious if this is just something they came up with on their own, or is this an actual common use for this word? The proper English word for this role probably really ought to be "Cheerleader". However, while that's probably what cheerleaders did in the 1920's, these days cheerleaders are essentially glorified dance/gymnastic troupes. So I suppose I can see where a new word for the actual act of leading the fans in cheers would be required. Is this that word, or just American Outlaws' attempt at it?


usage of indefinite articles

I am writing a title and I was wondering whether I can skip the second article just like you would say a pen and pencil. Can I say, "A cap and tie for Zed," or must it still be "A cap and a tie for Zed?" Have been searching the net and books for some answers but have been unsuccessful. Would appreciate a quick response from some Grammar Genius! Need clarification here to finish up my work. Thanks ya.


"Thanks for having me"

Recently, I finished my phone job interview with the phrase "Thanks for having me". It was a reply to the other person's "Thank you for your time". So, does "thanks for having me" sound alright in this context?


A word or phrase meaning the opposite action of embedding

When I want my document to be displayed the same on different devices, I can embed used fonts in the document. But sometimes I want my documents to take less space so I want to remove previously embedded fonts. How should I call the action in the second case?


Is there the word, “Fortunity”? If there is, what does it mean?

I "think" I clearly heard the word, _“Fortunity_ ” in the following statement of the Wall Street Journal Report of this week (November 5th), introducing the unique service of Sanchez Delta Airline via Far East Network Radio broadcast. > "Airlines Sanchez Delta, a charter company caters to teams with tricked-out > jets, hand-picked flight attendants, meals from some players’ favorite > restaurants. Team charters often used to amount a _fortunity party_ \- beer, > pizza and junk food. But the airlines say the days of raucous party flying > have gone. Many teams ban alcohol, have nutritionist’s select menus, and set > up plane chairs so coaches can study games when some players can sleep.” As I’ve never heard the word, “Fortunity,” I checked both Cambrigde and Oxford online dictionaries, neither of which carries “Fortunity.” Spell checker keeps recommending me to correct “Fortunity” into “Fortuity” or “Fortunate” while I’m typing this question. On the other hand, I see a lot of captions including the word, “ _Fortunity_ ” on Google Search, though none of them provides its definition. Is “Fortunity” a current English word? If it is, what does it mean?


Inverted conditional sentence using 'can' and 'will'

On this page in Wikipedia!, it states for first conditional sentences: > The condition can also be expressed using the modal verb _should_. This form > can be used to make an   >  inverted condition clause without a conjunction:   >  If you _should_ make a mistake, ... (equivalent to "If you make a mistake")   >  _Should_ you make a mistake, ... (inverted form again equivalent to the > above).   >  Otherwise, the condition clause in a first conditional pattern is not > normally formed with   >  a modal verb, other than **can**. On English Stack Exchange many people write about _should_ replacing _if_.   For example on this page called 'A special use of “should”?' the sentence   'Wilkinson is contesting the release, and threatened to sue **should** it be released.'   is given as an example. But are there usage for other modal verbs in an inverted   conditional sentence such as _can_ and _will_ , as opposed to the more commonly used _should_ , _had_ and _were_? We know the following four pairs are equivalent: If you feel hungry, ...(usual condition clause)   Should you feel hungry, ... (inverted form) If she were here, ...(usual condition clause)   Were she here, ...(inverted form) If you shot, ...(usual condition clause)   Were you to shoot, ... (inverted form) If he had written, ...(usual condition clause)   Had he written, ... (inverted form) But is this pair equivalent?   1). If she can be here, ... (usual condition clause)   Can she be here, ...(inverted form) And what if you use it in the second part of a sentence?   2). Only with good teaching practices **can** you make the biggest impact in the classroom.   3). Only with more practice **will** you become better at it.


Which possessive pronoun should be used with "assignment"?

I am a little confused by the word "assignment". The dictionary says it refers to a piece of work that is given to someone as part of their job. For example, Tom assigns something to me. In other words, I am going to do the assignment. When I communicate with Tom, which possessive pronoun should I use? The task is assigned by Tom; I think it is reasonable to say "Tom's assignment" or "his assignment". On the other hand, I am supposed to handle this task; I think it makes sense to say "my assignment". It beats me.


What's the meaning of "all too often", for example, in this sentence?

What does "all too often" mean in this sentence? > A poorly designed distribution system can ruin the performance of any water- > based system. **All too often** , people, including heating professionals, > focus their attention on water-based heat source selection and simply assume > that heat source ...


Is "Most of the world does not distinguish captions from subtitles" true?

In the wikipedia article about _closed captioning_ one reads > Most of the world does not distinguish captions from subtitles. In the > United States and Canada, these terms do have different meanings, however: > "subtitles" assume the viewer can hear but cannot understand the language or > accent, or the speech is not entirely clear, so they only transcribe > dialogue and some on-screen text. "Captions" aim to describe to the deaf and > hard of hearing all significant audio content [including] music or sound > effects ...   >  The United Kingdom, Ireland, and most other countries do not distinguish > between subtitles and closed captions, and use "subtitles" as the general > term—the equivalent of "captioning" is usually referred to as "Subtitles for > the hard of hearing". Questions: Are these assertions about the respective meanings in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and "most other countries" correct? If so, on what authority? If not, what meanings are correct?


How much time must elapse for an item such as a book to become classic?

Mentioning a book to an individual to include in their list as _classic_ was met with... > I wouldn't call "Book Name" a classic - it's less than 11 years old. This got me thinking about when a book or other item (car, slang, recipe, etc...) becomes a _classic_. In my initial investigation I stumbled upon this description... > A novel can be called a classic when there is a significant time period > between its publishing and the current age we are in. In other words, it has > to be old, as well as critically renowned as a good novel. Then, it can be > called a classic. While the above may help define what constitutes a classic, it doesn't define the amount of time that needs to pass before that criteria is met. Does the designation _classic_ truly imply that a significant amount of time has passed since the work's creation, and if so, how long must that period be to qualify as "significant"?


Prepositions for "Wednesday night" and "the night of Christmas Eve"

Which of the following prepositions would be most appropriate to be used before _Wednesday night_ and _the night of Christmas Eve_ when referring at exactly during these time(s) (not before or after)?   * _at_ the night of Christmas Eve   * _on_ the night of Christmas Eve   * _in_ the night of Christmas Eve


"Son-in-law" or "son-by-law"

Why is there _in_ in _-in-law_ instead of _by_ or something similar? Simon Jester, in his answer to this question, quotes the Oxford English Dictionary which says that it originally applied to step-relatives rather than those now considered in-laws, but I still don't know why we use _son-in-law_ instead of _son-by-law_.


Two single word (if possible) each to describe two different Leave types

There are two scenario as follows:   1. Person who receive "Leave Credit" when attending some events.   2. Person who "Request Leave" when they want to take time off. I was thinking of using "Credit" to replace "Leave Credit" and "Request" to replace "Request Leave but to the user, they find it quite "ambiguous". Some more, they want single word instead of two words to describe the type of leave they are applying. So, may I know if there are single word each to replace "Leave Credit" and "Request Leave"? **Update** Let me rephrase my question: I am looking for a single word alternative to replace the following words:   * Leave Credit   * Request Leave **Update** Insert the table below describe my questions further.               |------------------------------------------------------------------------------|     | Name               |   Leave Type           |        From    |       To      |       |------------------------------------------------------------------------------|     | Jack               |   Leave Credit         |  2010 06 06    | 2010 06 07    |     | Jill               |   Request Leave        |  2010 07 16    | 2010 07 17    |     | John               |   Leave Credit         |  2010 08 20    | 2010 08 21    |     |------------------------------------------------------------------------------|           Based on Hugo, it is difficult to use single word like 'Credit' or 'Request' (as shown in the table below) as it will increase confusion.               |------------------------------------------------------------------------------|     | Name               |   Leave Type           |        From    |       To      |       |------------------------------------------------------------------------------|     | Jack               |   Credit               |  2010 06 06    | 2010 06 07    |     | Jill               |   Request              |  2010 07 16    | 2010 07 17    |     | John               |   Credit               |  2010 08 20    | 2010 08 21    |     |------------------------------------------------------------------------------|


What does "quick parts" mean?

The following is from _Pride and Prejudice_ : > Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, > and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been > insufficient to make his wife understand his character. What does the phrase _quick parts_ mean?


More formal way to say "just in case"

I thought "provisionally" was what I was looking for, as in:   **"As a provisional measure, I'd like someone with Volkswagen Corporate to follow up with me next week."** What I really mean is:   **"Just in case anything remains unresolved, I'd like someone to follow up."** But "just in case" sounds too informal. By this I mean, "just in case all my car's issues aren't solved by then." But when I looked up "provisional" in the dictionary, the closest I could find was these: \- "accepted or adopted tentatively; conditional; probationary." \- "providing or serving for the time being only;" \- "existing only until permanently or properly replaced; temporary" These make it sound like, unless something comes into conflict or I don't actually need them, then contact me, otherwise forget it. What I'm trying to say is that "I want them to contact me no matter what because it _might_ be that my issues are resolved, but I still want them to call me and that will not change." Maybe I would be better to say, "because of something uncertain that may turn out good or bad," I _definitely_ want them to contact me to make sure everything is ok.


What does the phrase by Sloterdijk mean?

"A session of a carnival club" - what's that? What kind of club is it? Any synonyms? Descroptions? Examples? Anything?


Origin of "off-color"

What is the origin of "off-color", as in "an off-color joke"? I can't think of an obvious explanation, and fishing the internet produced conflicting explanations (gems, choleric moods...).


What's the right punctuation for the following list?

> Many cases of animal suicide were discused. A duck drowned itself after the > death of its companion. A school of dolphins stranded on a beach with no > reason whatsoever. A deer threw itself from a cliff to avoid being eaten by > hunting dogs. And the list went on and on. Should I use comma, semicolon, or just leave it as it is? If I chose the semicolon, where should it start?


"the oxygen concentration" OR "oxygen concentration"

SITUATION: I've carried out a thorough chemical analysis of Thing X. It underwent heating, cooling, bending - you name it. In conclusion, should I say: _"No increase in **the oxygen concentration** implies that..."_ OR _"No increase in **oxygen concentration** implies that..."_ Should the "oxygen concentration" here be a general phenomenon, or a quality specific for Thing X and its analysis? Maybe both are OK? And the difference is a question of preference, that is whether I wish to sound academically accurate, or go out on a limb with it and claim to have discovered something universal?


"Share me" or "Share with me"?

I heard people saying: > Can you please share me the slides? or > Can you share me the note, etc.? I think it should be: > Can you please share the slides with me? or > Can you share the notes with me? which one is correct?


Is there a word for someone who has a flaw?

I'm not asking "what do you call a person with a problem". It's close, but the question there is too broad for what I'm looking for. I'm trying to describe a Superman-esque character, where this character is good at everything but has one flaw. The word superman doesn't work because it doesn't make people think of a flawed person, and I need this word to mean something like "a flawed individual". And saying "a flawed individual" doesn't get across how perfect the character is outside of their flaw. Someone told me I wanted the term "tragic hero" but I'm looking for a word for someone who's good at everything except one thing, not really someone destined for failure. But that's close... I just don't particularly need a "fatal flaw". As an example of what I'm looking for, imagine two people were talking about Tom Cruise, in a conversation like this: > A: Tom Cruise is great. I love all of his movies, he's generous, he's [list > of positive traits]. > > B: Yeah, too bad he's crazy. How could a third person say "He's perfect except in one area" in one word or phrase? > C: Tom Cruise is **[word]**. > > A: What? He's great in movies, he's funny, he's [list of positive traits]. > He's perfect! What could possibly be _wrong_ with him? > > C: ...He's crazy. > > B: _Exactly_. It doesn't have to fit this sentence structure. > Tom Cruise is not perfect in the slightest.


> How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? > > A woodchuck would chuck all the wood he could if a woodchuck could chuck > wood! What is the origin of this tongue-twister and what exactly is meant by **woodchuck** here? * * * **Details:** Woodchuck is used as an alternative name for groundhogs. The etymology of woodchuck suggests that the word is not related with "wood" and "chucking" and I think the tongue twister touches on this in a humorous way because woodchucks cannot chuck wood actually. (Can they?) From Etymonline: > **woodchuck (n.)** 1670s, alteration (influenced by wood (n.)) of Cree > (Algonquian) otchek or Ojibwa otchig, "marten," the name subsequently > transferred to the groundhog. How did this word emerge (alteration because of similar-sounding?) and how did it end up in this tongue twister? How is the name transferred to the groundhog? Bonus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q6Ti9xCX_M#t=14


Punctuation in a series of verb phrases

> A youngster literally pulls himself up by his bootstraps; finds a hero; > establishes a dream; and then goes for it. Is a semicolon the correct punctuation here?


What does this actually mean?

'...Conferred on the whole country its name of China' I'm reading it but I'm not quite sure I understand what it means. Is it saying they told the country they they'd name it China?


Word for where speakers and honoree sit at a comedic roast?

I've heard this word a few times when watching roasts, and was never able to look up what I thought I was hearing. I don't know the IPA so I will link to a clip of someone saying it: @3m11s (word start with "d").


"Bother and do" for "bother doing/to do" in colloquial speech and writing

As far as your English variety goes, does it sound acceptable to say "bother and do" instead of "bother doing/to do" in colloquial speech and not so formal writing? E.g. _Please spend a moment of your time to **bother and read_**... http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-416-640-3489/2 _It impressed you enough to **bother and reply_**... http://www.flickr.com/groups/capturenx/discuss/72157634028025270/ _If you are black and voted for Barry, did you **bother and look_**... http://darrenyancy.com/2012/11/07/you-were-forewarned/


What does the British idiom "taking the piss" mean?

I most recently heard this in the context of a business deal: > Sorry gents, looks like we'll be taking the piss on that one. I understood that the business had suffered a financial loss, although I expected I was missing some nuance. In entirely different scenarios, I've heard _piss_ used in British idiomatic phrasing that suggested a lack of concern, or carelessness. Those phrases are difficult to reconcile with the previously mentioned usage. Are there multiple idiomatic meanings for this word, or am I missing some kind of unifying theme? **Updated:** I might not have a perfect recollection of the quote. But given the typical meaning of the phrase, I wonder if the speaker's intention was along the lines of "We'll be laughing about this later." Or maybe I just missed the real meaning.


What is the meaning of "He did not have that gift with her"?

What is the meaning of "He did not have that gift with her" in the following paragraph? > No, Kelsey did not "remember the culture." She could care less about the > culture. However, Robert, the history professor, was obviously enthralled by > the contractor's findings. He had an innate way of understanding other > cultures and other people that amazed Kelsey. **He did not have that gift > with her**.


What is the origin of "cross country skiing"?

I was speaking of skiing when I was in USA, and I discovered that one type of ski is called _cross country skiing_. What is the origin of that phrase, which is not really referring to skiing through countries?


Is the use of "ignorantly" correct in the context?

> Person A ask a question person B.   >  B answers something.   >  A argues with B.   >  B ignorantly says (thinking its no issue arguing person like A) hm, people > like you won't understand. Is _ignorantly_ the correct word here? Look at that word _hm_ ; it’s like _hmmm_ but not uttered to that level stress but uttered very quickly to express the dissatisfaction or thinking other persons’ argument is wrong. My question is whether _ignorantly_ is the correct word to use.


How does "have to" function in this sentence?

Usually, I think "have to" indicates obligation, which is pretty similar to "must". But today I found this sentence and its usage of "have to" confused me: (it is from NYTimes.com) > Long-term forecasts seem to me rather like time capsules, designed more to > provide retrospective amusement for those who eventually **have to** read > them, than to be taken seriously as they are first uttered. It would be uncomfortable to interpret _have to_ as _must_ since we are not "compelled to read them". Can anybody explain this for me?


What does "Take the disguise" mean?

I was reading this particular sentence: > She **_took the disguise_** of an old woman and came to Eleusis, where she > was welcomed by the family of King Celeus. _Disguise_ means costume. So, does it mean she took an old lady's clothes?


What are some of the most influential or obscure phrases and literary constructions drawn from the Bible?

I was reading through some English L & U SE questions, and happened across one asking about the origin of the phrase "Through a Glass, Clearly / A Scanner Darkly / In a Mirror, Darkly / etc" — apparently derived from 1 Corinthians 13:12 — and came away with a profound realization of how influential the Bible has been in making prominent certain literary constructions and phrases, even as perhaps its practical influence in society is declining. Every so often I've thought I've chanced across most of them, but as I keep reading, I keep finding more. So I thought that perhaps I might start the "definitive" collation of famous Biblical phrases and constructions on English L & U SE, with (metaphorical) bonus points given for examples that are obscure and ill-remembered, or ones that give an engaging account of the usage's history. Of course, the example I'll seed this thread with, the "time to kill / time to heal...time to build / time to tear down" construction, from Ecclesiastes 3:3, is familiar enough to almost be hackneyed; can anyone else do better? **EDIT:** I think it would make for a richer thread if everyone limited themselves to one phrase or construction at a time, and provided a little background that exemplifies how that example provides shared cultural context. See my comment below for a brief example.


Is the word Concurrence synonymous with the word harmony

recently I sat for an exam where I was asked this question - Concurrence means all of the following except: A. Agreement B. Accord C. Consensus D. Coincidence E. Harmony What could be the correct answer ? I opted for D. Coincidence. Was I right ?


Why are people from Sunderland called "mackems"?

In the north-east of England, if nowhere else, people from Sunderland are called "mackems". Does anyone know why this should be? Wikipedia suggests a number of possibilities. Are any of these correct?


Using "and" to combine two sentences

I would like to combine these two sentences. > Have significant experience of managing office and warehouse. > > Have experience of managing people at office and warehouse. Can I use _and_ to do that? > Significant experience of managing office and warehouse, **and** managing > people in them.


Complex sentence using "instead"

I would really need help with the following sentence. > The significance of culture and identity in development has to do not so > much with the cultural factor in the process of development as with > abandoning Eurocentric development thinking, i.e. development as catching up > and imitation, and instead conceiving and conceptualizing development as an > inclusive, liberating process, in which different worldviews are > accommodated and constitute a dialogical process. The _and instead_ part confuses me. Instead of what? I cannot understand what it relates to. I read that _instead_ can be used without _of_ but still means _of that_. It does not make any sense in this case.


"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream"- Is there a term that describes this 'word play'?

What is the term that describes the word play found below? > “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream” Another example might be the punchline: "Orange you glad to see me"?


Correct usage of "The" within this sentence

A client has requested that I put a notice in the form of               ALL THE PRODUCTS ARE FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY      on a web page. However, the word "THE" in the sentence appears unnecessary in my opinion. Is this phrase correct as is? Would it be better phrased as               ALL OUR PRODUCTS ARE FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY.


"Request was made" or "request has made" or "request has been made"

Which of the following sentence is correct/apt to notate the past action which was not executed till date? Sentence 1: > A request was made for grant of permission to X on April 2013 but it was not > done yet. Sentence 2: > A request has made for grant of permission to X on April 2013 but it was not > done yet. Sentence 3: > A request has been made for granting of permission to X on April 2013 but it > was not done yet.


Does 'soi-disant' have a close English equivalent?

I considered 'self-proclaimed' but that, I believe, suggests an element of self- _promotion_ (the proclamation aspect) whereas soi-disant, at least as I think of it, is more about self-presentation and in some contexts self-deceit.


Cleft sentences

Let's assume that **John gave me a cat**. I can rephrase the fact with: > _What John did was to give me a cat_   >  _What John did was give me a cat_   >  _What John did was, he gave me a cat_ But can I say the following phrase? **_What John did was gave me a cat_**


When is it allowable to elide "is"?

In an article in _The Economist_ , I have observed the following sentence: > The less positive point out that human rights are routinely abused, freedom > of speech is restricted and corruption endemic. Clearly the following modification is unacceptable: > The less positive point out corruption endemic. Can someone explain why the first sentence is acceptable but the second is not? Is there a theory that describes when this kind of elision is acceptable? Is there a name for this phenomenon?


Another meaning of the vulgar word "slut"

I guess people who speak American and Philippine English will unanimously agree that the word "slut" is a very offensive term referring to a promiscuous woman. However, Merriam-Webster and Oxford Advanced Learner's also attach another meaning to the word--a slovenly woman--and this is supposedly chiefly British. slut: a lazy, careless, or slovenly woman : slattern (that slut of a housekeeper — Margaret Kennedy) --Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary To speakers of British English: how often would one use the word "slut" in reference to a messy or untidy woman? Is this usage current or obsolescent?


Denotation of Paradox

Google defines paradox in three ways, the first two being:   1. a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory.   2. a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true. These are almost opposite definitions. My English book defined it as the second, but I've always understood it to mean the first. Which is the most common usage?


At this point, are “military” and “armed forces” synonymous?

Looking at the free definitions online, and not including too much history, it seems to me that at one point the Navy was not directly associated as _”military”_. Or rather, that the Navy included not only military ships, but all ships of a nation. Today the terms at top seem synonymous. Only perhaps that the word _military_ carries more weight, and can be used for either a more powerful sentiment, or more pejorative, depending on the context. Likewise _”armed forces”_ , and even more so _”armed services”_ seem to be softer representations of otherwise exactly the same thing. (..not unlike _”dead”_ vs. _”deceased”_? [Sorry, couldn't resist.]) Is there any technical difference, or situations today, where these are _NOT_ interchangeable?


Meaning of "Y-o-u-u Tom!"

In the opening chapter of Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom's aunt Polly calls out to him in a rather peculiar fashion: > She went to the open door and stood in it, and looked out among the tomato > vines and "Jimpson" weeds that constituted the garden. No Tom. So she lifted > up her voice at an angle calculated for distance and shouted: > > **"Y-o-u-u Tom!"** > > There was a slight noise behind her and she turned just in time to seize a > small boy by the slack of his roundabout and arrest his flight. What's with this "Y-o-u-u" business? How is it meant to be read? Is it perhaps an antecedent of yoo-hoo?


using "the"+adj without a noun

Is the following sentence good/legal/understood English? > Meditation melts the coarse and solidifies the subtle. If it isn't, how can this be otherwise expressed, in a neat and concise way?


What is the difference between "what do you think" and "how about"?

These two sentences seem to be the same to me. Is there any difference between them, and are there circumstances in which I can only use one of them instead of the other?


Usage of "ain't"?

As far as I understand, "ain't" can mean either "isn't" (ain't no sunshine) or "hasn't" (you ain't seen nothing yet). Are there any rules when "ain't" is used? Does it have a different meaning than "isn't" or "hasn't"? **Edit** : Maybe asking for rules was not the best idea. A better question would have been: when do _you_ use "ain't" instead of "isn't"/"hasn't"?


The computer has 48GB memory (or memories?)

What's the correct form? If both are correct, what's the difference?


Origin of the phrase "Oh, Dear!"

When something bad happens, sometimes you'll hear _Oh, dear!_ or _Oh, dear me!_ Why is this? Is it a shorter version of another phrase that makes sense in these situations?


Thanking you in anticipation

Is this correct to use **Thanking you in anticipation** to say thanks?