Things Went South

**If things went south** we better have some plan... Is _went south_ a racial term or it's okay to use it in normal conversation to refer if things went wrong?


The usage of "go south"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Origin of the idiom "go south" My understanding is that "go south" means something fails. I would like to have a post with the title: > My job opportunities have gone south, again. Is it correct? Is there a better way to put it?


Is there a more-accepted synonym to the term "Commonwealth English"?

I've mainly encountered the term "Commonwealth English" in The Jargon File. However, Wiktionary says the term is fairly rare. Are there more accepted terms? Ones that I'm aware of include:   1. British English (as used by EL&U itself!). I don't view this term as ideal, as I'm referring to differences between English in commonwealth countries and the USA, rather than differences between Australia and the UK, for example.   2. Queen's English. Not ideal, because it also suggests a very refined, as opposed to colloquial, form of English. I'm aware that American English isn't just spoken in the USA, but maybe I don't mind that term as much, as I think those countries are often ones where it's spoken as a second language, such as Japan.


Why is this in the past tense?

SourceMore details of the proposal **were** scheduled to be released later on Tuesday. This was published on Tuesday afternoon. So it should be "are." Why in the past tense?


How to say that I am asking you a common sense question?

I said, "My question is of low standard". My teacher replied, "I don't know what do you mean by low standard question". My question is how I should have said that the question is of low standard. Is low standard a wrong way to say? How I should articulate?


Usage of "extensive participation"

What exactly does ' _extensive participation_ ' mean? Can I use this phrase in a sentence like this: > Due to her **extensive participation** she hardly got time for her studies.


What does “yo-ho-ho” mean?

The pirate song “Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest” from _Treasure Island_ contains the expression _yo-ho-ho_. > Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—   > _Yo-ho-ho_ , and a bottle of rum!   > Drink and the devil had done for the rest—   > _Yo-ho-ho_ , and a bottle of rum! Does this signify laughter, a piratical variation of _ho-ho-ho_? It doesn’t seem like an amusing little ditty but then pirates probably would have a dark sense of humour. Or is it simply a more piratey song filler than _na-na-na_?


Aloof proper usage

So is it a good use of the word aloof to say "She is not aloof to their harsh judgements"? The intent is to say that a person is aware of the perception others have of them. Thanks.


Is this a mistake?

SourceThe rules would also effect political activity by conservative and liberal grass-roots organizations, including Tea Party groups whose complaints of aggressive treatment and harassment by I.R.S. employees led to the resignation of several high-ranking agency officials **last spring.** The IRS came to light in 2013. So it is still 2013. So shouldn't this be "this spring?" Why is "last " used here?


I don't like potatoes or ice-cream

I am struggling to find the correct grammar for a fairly simple sentence. > "I don't like potatoes or ice-cream". This appears to be incorrect because it is a contraction of the two clauses "I don't like potatoes or I don't like ice-cream", which has a different (if any) meaning. You can see why it's wrong when you use a different verb such as: > "I hate potatoes or ice-cream". To use "I don't like potatoes **and** ice-cream" would be correct but ambiguous as it appears to imply they have to be served together to elicit dislike. An Oxford comma would be an elegant method of reducing this ambiguity ("I don't like potatoes, and ice-cream") but I'm sure that's incorrect as well. I expect there's a very formal sentence construction involving neither/nor but nobody would ever say that. So what is the correct construction here?


How do you hyphenate 'branches'?

How do you hyphenate the word 'branches'? I'm intrigued between `branch·es` and `bran·ches`.


Open vs Open Itself

Recently I read sentence like                '... section opens with {{^section}} ...'      Here, I guess the verb open does not require ITSELF (just open instead of open itself). Is it some group of verbs OPEN belongs to?


Word for "Workingness"

I know "workingness" is not a word, but I am looking for a word that means it. For example: Evaluate the workingness of capitalism?


What does "negotiate with" mean?

> Marginal populations often negotiate with policies and practices of social > exclusion for rights and protections. What's the meaning of _negotiate with_ in this context? Does it mean "to cope with", or "to negotiate about"?


Is "Goldbrick" commonly used in American English?

I came across the slang term "Goldbrick" in the American WWII cartoon Private Snafu The Goldbrick (Warning: possibly sexist at the start, and possibly racist near the end). I'd never heard the word before, which makes me suspect that it's only found in American English. Is the term commonly used nowadays in the United States, including outside of military contexts?


Is it correct to use "yonder" as equivalent to "those"/"these"

I want to write: "The methods can be divided according to the theories underlying the process and also differ on the statistical methods to evaluate _those_ theories." Would it be correct to use _yonder_ instead of _those_ in this sentence to refer to a word used in the first part of the sentence --> _theories_? On the other hand I am not even sure if _those_ is correct or if any I had to use _these_. I am always confused about the their difference. Thanks for any suggestions!


How would you define "Fluent" level in English?

Most of us heard about such levels as Beginner, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced. As I understand "Fluent" is the highest level when describing someone's English. But how would you describe it? Some people think that "Fluent" is just when you speak very good (relative to other non-native speakers). But I think this is not enough. I think that you can say that you speak fluently when it is hard for native speakers to understand (based on your speech, accent and grammar) that English is not your native language. And if a native speaker can quickly (matter of seconds, or a minute) understand that your are a foreigner - you don't have a fluent level. What do you think?


Is it okay to write an if statement just by itself in an email?

Could we write an _if_ statement just by itself in an email? For example: > I didn't receive the contract. *So if you could ask her to send me a copy, > ~~it would be great.~~


Cite a Powerpoint Presentation

I'm writing my Junior paper and found several powerpoint presentations online. Now, I'm working on the bibliography and my English teacher doesn't know how to cite them and every site I've visited has provided a different response. Anybody know the standard, accepted method? Because, the last time I checked, MLA doesn't provide one. For example, this powerpoint.


Why are nouns sometimes pejorative when used attributively?

Certain nouns can often be used as noun adjuncts in place of a corresponding adjective, with no change in literal meaning, where:   * The noun is not pejorative when used nominatively by itself.   * Nor is the corresponding adjective pejorative.   * But the noun used attributively _is_ pejorative. **Is this a common pattern in English (besides the 2 examples below), and if so, what's the reason behind it?** Also, is the phenomenon specific to proper nouns? # Examples Here are some examples of such usages that should be typical according to what I'm claiming: ## Jew Generally not pejorative when used nominatively (though that may depend on the company you keep...): > Who is a **Jew**? Corresponding adjective is not pejorative: > The Haggadah (Hebrew: הַגָּדָה, "telling") is a **Jewish** text that sets > forth the order of the Passover Seder. But an anti-Semitic slur when used attributively: > I shoulda known they'd stick me in a room with a **Jew** cop. ## Democrat (the US political party) Not pejorative, used nominatively: > President Barack Obama is a **Democrat**. Not pejorative, corresponding adjective: > The **Democratic** Party is one of two major contemporary political parties > in the United States[.] Pejorative, used attributively: > **Democrat** Party > **DEMOCRAT** POLITICIANS' LUST FOR TAX MONEY OUTWEIGHS THEIR SUPPOSED > COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE


Omission of definite article with musical instruments

What is the rule for omitting/including the definite article in the following sentences: > I used to play piano.   >  I used to play **the** piano. I would pick the first sentence, but I've heard people say the second sentence even when they are not referring to a specific piano. Which one is correct?


Differences between "Can you play the guitar?" and "Can you play guitar?"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Omission of definite article with musical instruments Is there any difference between the following sentences? > Can you play the guitar?   >  Can you play guitar?


Pronunciation of "influence"

What's the correct pronunciation of "influence"? Specifically, which syllable is stressed?   I always thought it was _**IN** fluence_, but recently I heard it pronounced _in **FLU** ence_ by some people.   Which one is correct, or is it a matter of accent?


which is correct? you no need to worry or you need not to worry

Can someone plz tell me which is the right one and naturally a better one?   1. You no need to worry about it   2. You need not to worry about it Thanks


Oxymoron Examples

I am trying to write some new oxymoron examples. If a grammar school stops teaching grammar (drops grammar from the curriculum), would this be called _oxymoronic?_


How can we refer a single person from a group of person in single word?

I need to know can we use any single word which refers to the meaning of intended person. For example, in a shop we can have Salesman and Manager. I need to send a mail to anyone of person. I wish to have a single word which refers to intended person(either Salesman/Manager). Regards, Santhanam


Do you often don't know - do I need to use "do" 2x?

Talking to my UK colleagues daily in English, I have had no idea that such a sentence is possible " Do you often don't know where to put your arms". What is the difference between: > Do you often don't know... and > Do you often not know...


Is "litter" correct on waste bins?

I threw some rubbish in a litter bin the other day, when it occurred to me that the receptacle couldn't be a litter bin, because _litter_ is only unwanted things strewn across the road. Anything in a litter bin couldn't be litter, by reason of it's being in the litter bin. Am I right, wrong, or just absurdly pedantic?


Make a billing details default? Is it correct English?

We have a situation where we are asking the user to select one billing details and make it default, from the different billing details that he has already provided to us. The billing details consider of multiple information like: Name, Address, Phone No. etc. What would be the correct sentence for this one? "Make a billing details default?" I feel there is something wrong in this.


When to use commas in a sentence that starts with "finally", "additionally", etc.?

If I have a sentence that starts with _additionally, finally, consequently_ , etc. do I always have to put a comma after it? Or is there a different rule?


What's the difference between the words "plate" and "dish"?

I'm confused about the words _dish_ and _plate_. Could someone please explain the difference?


"Delegated to" vs. "Assigned to"

What is the differences in these terms. I want to use one of them in Task management software. Which term is better for the menu meaning "List of task that was delegated|assigned to me" and "List of tasks that I have delegated to someone else".


meaning of 'play point'

> What made Tinder Tinder was the work of a team: Joe Munoz, who built the > technical back end; Jonathan Badeen, who wrote the iOS code; Christopher > Gulczynski, who created the design; Rad, who played point. What was Rad doing for Tinder? What is the meaning of the the phrase 'played point'? Source article.


Usage frequency for "gambit"

_Not sure if the tag I've selected is appropriate. Feel free to correct._ I've googled gambit and got the definition as depicted below. Then, I folded out the frame to see see the usage graph and it stroke me as odd that the popularity of the term dropped around 1800 and then rearose in mid 1950's. Why is it so? Has the raise any connection to WW2 or the Cold War? Any thoughts on the fall of popularity two centuries ago? Or is it perhaps due to the way that the popularity is computed? # **___________** ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/7PzoA.png)


What do you call someone who's fascinated by machines?

See people who are fascinated by machines like computers, cars, bikes, robots. They adore engines, hardware the visual looks for them the smell of it, everything about it. Such people are hardware maniac.


Must the word after a question mark be capitalised where the question mark does not terminate the sentence?

Here is a sentence: > Before we can examine the implications of neuroscience for criminal law, we > must address two more fundamental questions: Why do we punish criminals at > all? and How severely should we punish them? I understand that question marks normally terminate a sentence, and so the following word should normally be capitalised. In this case, I have a list of two questions within the same sentence, so it seems that the "and" after the first question mark should not be capitalised (since the first question mark does not terminate the sentence). The first letter of each question is capitalised to indicate where the question begins. The sentence seems right to me, but it's a bit unusual, so I thought I would ask for others' opinion.


Alternative word to the new verb "onboard"

Apparently HR folk have taken to using the word "onboard" as a verb, to be used as a synonym for "bring up to speed", as in: > We need to _onboard_ new staff to our dynamic way of thinking. instead of > We need to bring new staff up to speed regarding our dynamic way of > thinking. There is already a question that asks for an antonym, but **is there an existing word that can be used instead of abusing an adjective like that?**


Why is soldier ˈsōljər? Where did the "j" come from?

Just a pronunciation question. Is it a vestige of the spelling battle between i and j, where in English the j lost out to the i, but with soldier we retained the sound?


"When I was in third year at the University".: Is "my" necessary here like "in my third year""

Is "my" really necessary in this sentence : " When I was (in third year,in MY third year) at the university" .If it is then why do we need to use 'my'?


why use "isn't" in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?

Why use "isn't" in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?why English users do not use "weren't" instead of "isn't"?


what's the difference between "trust" and "believe"

What's the difference between "trust" and "believe"? In the sentence such as "Don't ...a man who keeps flattering you. "Should I fill in "trust" or "believe" ?thank you!!


why can't I say " staying alone"

Why can't I say "staying alone" in this sentence: > I like playing with my friends but I also like being alone Why not _like staying alone_?


What is the correct pronunciation of "Caribbean"?

Sometimes I hear the emphasis placed on the second syllable, and other times on the second to last syllable. I myself use both pronunciations depending on context, and it makes me wonder if there is an underlying rule that I can't quite put my finger on.


Confusion in using "due to"

I usually meet "due to" usage in a document or conversation, but in different ways. I did some research and found out that "due to" is adjectival. Thus, the correct sentence should be: > The cancellation was due to rain Instead of: > It was cancelled due to rain But when I looked it up in Longman Dictionary, I found: > She has been absent from work due to illness Can anybody tell me why the above sentence is correct?


"You are right; I'm sorry" — semicolon or comma?

>   * You are right; I'm sorry. >   * You are right, I'm sorry. > Do we use the semicolon or comma? A full stop works. Two independent clauses so perhaps the semicolon should be used.


Addressing email to more than one person

Which ones are correct: 'Hi All' or is it 'Hi all'. (A)ll does not look right 'Hi Peter/John' or 'Hi Peter, John' when you want to specifically address the e-mail to two people, i.e. so they clearly know they are the main addresseess and appear in 'to' and all the rest, if any, are in the 'cc'.


What do you call a sequence of repeating numbers

For example, I have a sequence               77777777777      Is there a word in the dictionary to represent > a sequence of repetitive/recurring numbers


Killer Queen. The usage of noun sequences of length two and more. Ambiguity of nouns phrases in English

I have a question about nouns triplets like "sofa box container" and I'll formulate it at the end. I have some reasoning and I want to make sure I'm correct. First of all consider the following sample. Common sense helps understand the meaning of these words but I want to know the _general rule for understanding the meaning of noun sequences._   1. Spider man — a man who is also a spider   2. Killer Queen — a queen who is also a killer   3. Blade Runner — a man who runs on the blade   4. Tiger lily — lily of "tiger" type These are well-known examples. But I suppose the first two _should_ be written with hyphen: _spider-man, killer-queen_. Following the logic I tried to create sensible examples of 2-nouns combinations: > Killer queen — a queen of killers   >  Killer's queen — a queen, who is killer's   >  Killer-queen — a killer who is also a queen   >  Queen-killer — a queen who is also a killer   >  Queen killer — a killer of queens   >  Queen's Killer — a killer, who is queen's > > Blade runner — 1) a runner who is like a blade (blade as adjective) — 2) > someone or something who makes the blade run   >  Blade's runner — the runner of blade's property   >  Blade-runner — a blade who is a runner (blade and also a runner)   >  Runner-blade — a runner who is a blade (runner and also a blade)   >  Runner blade — 1) something that blades (verb) a runner — 2) a blade of > type runner (what kind of blade? — runner)   >  Runner's blade — a blade of runner's property Suppose we have 2 nouns A and B. The possible combinations of these nouns are: > A B   >  A's B   >  A-B   >  B-A   >  B's A   >  B A **Now the question:** How do I interpret combinations of length more than two? What does "sofa box container" mean? Is it "boxes containing sofas" or "container of boxes where sofas were inside"? And does "sofa container box" mean "boxes which contain sofas" or "a box for a container of sofas"? Any other versions? And finally, how do I say without prepositions "the machines which contain databases"? I'm so confused by noun sequences. Any help is greatly appreciated!


Drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry

Years ago, I heard this phrase (I don't know if it really is a phrase, please correct me if I'm wrong) during a congress from the general manager of a major car production company, but I don't remember the context. What is the meaning and etymology of it?


Meaning of "to become a staple" and other phrases with staple

What does staple mean in phrases? Examples:   * Similarly, the C programming language became a staple of the computer science classroom.   * When did the potato become a staple food?   * http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/staple Is it roughly something like "main" or "basic"?


Why European, South Asian, Arabian learn English much faster than East Asian (Chinese, Korean, Japanese)?

I am Thai and I noticed that many friends of mine who are European (German, French, Russian,...), South Asian (Indian, Nepalese, Bangladesh,...), Arabian (Iran, Lebanese,..) learn English much faster than I do. Most of them can speak English very well when living in English Speaking country for just a few years. I live in Australia for 10 years but I don't think my English can be as good as their one. I did some research, South Asian language is from branch of the Indo-Iranian languages, itself a branch of the Indo-European language family. Of course, The Indo-European languages are the fathers of all European language (English is the one). Meanwhile, East Asian (Chinese, Korean, Japanese...) belongs to Sino-Tibetan languages. Most East Asian people still have many English problem even living in English speaking for long time. The native English speakers can understand quite well English accents of European, South Asian, Arabian, but feel very difficult to the English accents of East Asian.


"Is too" instead of "it is"

The following is a dialogue of an animated movie (A bug's life), I don't understand why one of them says "Is too" instead of saying "it is". Is a this a natural way of responding and insisting on what you're implying? > -Oh, being little's not such a bad thing.   >  +Yes, it is.   >  -No, it's not.   >  +Is too!   >  -Is not.   >  +Is too.   >  -Is not.   >  +Is too.


What qualification you are looking for?

Well this may be a very silly and obvious question but it's bothering me so I am asking it here. I am writing a letter and I asked the question > What qualification **are you** looking for? However my colleague says it should be > What qualification **you are** looking for? Well, some how I think my version is correct but I cannot justify it grammatically, can someone tell me which of the interrogation is correct? and why?


Taking a tenner from neighbour

Let's define the first number as "ab" and the second number as "cd". In "ab"-"cd" proces, if "b" is smaller than "d", we add 10 to "b" and reduce 1 from "a". In Turkish, we called it "taking a tenner from neighbour". How do you use that term in English?


What is one word for only one option?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Expression for a choice which isn't really one What is one word for "only one option"?   I am curious because I have to have an antonym for choice.


Word for someone who "sees the best in others"?

At the risk of being DRY: > What's a powerful word for someone who " _sees the best in others_ "?


"would" and "will"

which one is correct OR what is the difference between the following sentences: > I think the duration of the meeting would be two hours. > > I think the duration of the meeting will be two hours.


"Couple was" or "couple were" married?

I have recently read both: > couple is getting married > > couple are getting married So which is actual usage?


What does (the expression) "to stir the paint" mean?

In today's Family Guy episode, called Seahorse Seashell Party, when Meg was complaining to her mother Lois, her father Peter came to her and whispered something in her ear. Then Meg said: > Meg: (complaining) And you never let dad stir the paint anymore, whatever > that means.   >  Peter: I didn't know you knew that, Meg, but I'm glad you brought it up. Any idea what does the phrase mean? I guess it's sex-related, but I'm not 100% sure. **EDIT/UPDATE** So far the answers say that the phrase means _to have sex while the woman is menstruating._ This sounds plausible and fits, but the answers are backed up by the entry in the Urban Dictionary, which was created right after the Family Guy episode aired. Therefore, I assume people simply guessed what the phrase means and submitted it to the Urban Dictionary and thus I don't consider it to be a reliable source in this case.


Words inherited from other languages

What do we call the words which are inherited from other languages (like avatar,yoga etc)? Is there a single word for the class containing these words? As for example, in hindi, some words are directly taken like school, and we call these _"videshaj"_ in hindi meaning taken from foreign( _videsh_ ).


Add one more level of indirection in ownership description: "Peter teacher's car"?

If I want to describe a car owned by Peter, I will say "Peter's car". But how do I describe the car his teacher owns? "Peter teacher's car" or do I have to be descriptive: "the car of Peter's teacher"?


Usage of "Take a bow"

Well, I always get confused over the use of this phrase. Basically, it means taking credit for the performance done by artists by bowing their heads down, and I know that but what about using it for myself for showing respect to others who have done something great? Just consider a sentence - _" The soldiers have done a tremendous job in rescuing thousand lives,I take a bow"_.Can I use it like that?


Can I say "she made a good baby" to say "she was a good baby"?

I know we can say "someone makes a good leader." But can the same thing be used in past-tense "he made a good leader." ?


What are the characteristics of slang, dialect and colloquial speech?

**What are the different aspects of slang, dialect and colloquial speech?


Something of value that is worthless in the current context?

Is there a word/metaphor/idiom for something that has value, but is worthless (or even harmful) in the current situation? To use a couple of monetary examples:   1. A check for $1,000,000 has _potential_ value, but unless you can get to a bank that value is inaccessible.   2. A duffel bag full of cash is also extremely valuable, but if you try to hang onto it after being thrown from your speedboat in an explosion, it will drag you to the bottom of the Long Island Sound.


Can a dash be used in this instance?

I would like to confirm the use of a dash in this sentence: > My name is Mat, I am a Bristol based designer in the UK - I forge digital > art, illustrations & websites Is this the proper use of a dash, or do the clauses need to be two different sentences?


Rewording of "task with the highest stakes"

> For a mental model, connecting what has just happened with what will happen > in the very near future is the **task with the highest stakes**. That sounds unnatural to me. Can someone suggest a rewording?


A word for someone who loves looking at handwriting - not studies it but purely for pleasure . .

A word for someone who loves looking at handwriting - not studies it but purely for pleasure.


"Would" construction for talking about the past

so I've heard peolpe using would+infinitive when talking about past events. Example: "It was a great time. We would just sit there and play games all day." My question is, is this a proper way to talk the past? If so, when do you use it?


Help with verbs: "is" or "are"?

> Making adult decisions are/is really not fun. What is the proper answer and why? My gut says "is" but I can't explain why.


How meanings of "dis" and "play" construct the meaning of word "display"

In what way do meanings of "dis" and "play" construct the meaning of word "display"? As I understand it, the prefix "dis" negates what follows e.g., _disability_ , and _disadvantage_. But I can't quite get why it should start meaning what "display" means (to make something stand out) when "dis" (negation) is connected to "play" (engaging in enjoyable activity). What is the reason that "display" is composed from exactly these two pieces?


Earthquake As A Verb

Is there a way to use earthquake as a verb, i.e.: It started earthquaking... What's the proper way to express earthquake as a verb?


Is it right to say "my curiosity was intrigued by that strange symbol"?

Technically, it seems wrong as "intrigue" by itself means "to arouse the curiosity or interest of", but I see plenty of articles and books all over the internet with that usage. Please enlighten!


Two verbal nouns with one/two prepositional phrases

I have a question on English style. Take the following sentence: Following the Candidate Shabbat, all participants are mailed an official letter of acceptance to or rejection from the program. When translating into English, I am often confronted with the awkward situation of using two verbs (in this case, acceptance and rejection) with a common object (the program). Is this the best stylistic choice for this situation? Would "Following the Candidate Shabbat, all participants are mailed an official letter of acceptance to the program or rejection from it." sound any better? I'd love to hear your opinions.


Article usage with the word Inspiration, and similar

I'm trying to explain to someone why there's no article in this sentence: > I'm always looking for inspiration What is the rule that applies here? And is there a recorded set of similar words that are normally used without articles? Thanks


How to read “E = (mc)²” so as not to mistake for “E = mc²”

According to one of the questions already asked on EL&U, “E = mc²” is read as > E equals M C squared. How do we read “E = (mc)²” so that it is not mistaken for “E = mc²”?


What word means someone who’s satisfied with superficial knowledge?

I used to know this word but cannot remember it. Basically it’s someone who likes the prospect of being knowledgeable about many things, or at least wants the appearance of erudition, but who is unwilling to put in the time and effort to learn new things. He may put in just enough effort to learn some trivia to impress others. And _pretentious_ isn’t the word I was thinking of.


It was so funny that I 'could not stop laughing'

What other expressions can I use give the idea of " seeming unable to stop from laughing" because of a very amusing joke or a very funny story ?


What does the word "institutional" mean in this context?

> Racism and sexism are examples of institutional practices that result in > discrimination against individuals on the basis of their race or gender. The dictionary definition of institutional is > of, in, or like an institution or institutions and the dictionary definition of institution is > a society or organization founded for a religious, educational, social, or > similar purpose. Putting the two together does it mean that racism and sexism are not though up by a single individual but a society as whole?


Enlightenment, enlightened, Illuminism, illuminist

The Enlightenment was a cultural movement of intellectuals (Europe, XVIII century). It is associated with the Scientific Revolution, the Atlantic Revolutions (American Revolution, French Revolution, Latin American Revolutions, etc.), Romanticism, most of modern Political Science and Jurisprudence, and a lot more. 1) Is "Illuminism" an acceptable synonym? 2) Is "illuminist" the attribute (for both people and ideas)? Would an "illuminist idea" be the same as an "Enlightenment idea"? Would an "illuminist" be the same as an "Enlightenment thinker/intellectual"? 3) If not, is there any alternative to the attributive "Enlightenment"? 4) Is "Enlightened" an acceptable adjective for the attributive "Enlightenment"? In this case how do you avoid confusion with the adjective "enlightened" just meaning "wise"? 5) A single-word adjective for "Enlightenment intellectual", "intellectual who is a follower of the Enlightenment"?


Use of the en dash instead of the hyphen in compound adjectives

I have the following taken from a paper that I am editing: > … proposed a **water-filling factor aided** search method to solve … My question is related to whether I should use an en dash to connect the adjectives here, as in: > … water-filling factor–aided search method … Can anyone please help me out? Is this understandable? Is this the correct way to do it? Is “water-filling-factor-aided search method”, all with hyphens, a little weird?


Is "wot wot" or "what-what" an authentic British expression? If it's supposed to be mocking, what is it mocking?

Some background first: As I was reading some past answers on English L&U, I came across this old question, where the top accepted answer maintained there were distinct class differences in the use of the expression "cheers" amongst the British. Some people disagreed with the tone of the accepted answer; in particular, the answerer was accused of stereotyping in the comments, and his response was challenged by another user who in response gave what he obviously considered a laughable stereotype of upper-class English speaking: "Top drawer, what?!" I remembered then that I'd often seen and heard "wot wot" used in the same mocking way. For example, one of my childhood friends, if he wanted to play mock-Briton, might say something like: "Tally-ho, old bean, wot wot?" Googling informs me this usage isn't just idiosyncratic on his part; evidently, lots of people are interested in the history of this phrase, as Google suggests "wot wot British" as a query, with IMO few helpful responses on the first couple of pages. So is this impression accurate: Did upper-class (or any class, for that matter) British really use to speak like this, i.e. is this expression mocking because it's so archaic that it seems funny now? If not, where did this caricature come from?


Which form is correct?

I found a sentence in a paper which I believe to be wrong, I have couple of questions: Is it wrong? If not, which one is the correct form? The sentence: > ... these algorithms require successive control _messages exchanges_ between > MB and GA ... The part that I have emphasized confuses me.


"Go by foot" vs. "go on foot"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "London By Foot" vs. "London On Foot" This is a very simple question, yet I did not find anybody that could give me a satisfactory answer. I would say “go by foot”, but it seems that “go on foot” is used more often. Which one is right? Are both right? Does it depend on the context? **Edit:** Searching with Google yields 26,000,000 results for “on foot” and 8,000,000 for “by foot”, so it seems that at least both expressions are _used_. However, whether they are both _correct_ is another issue.


Which is the head noun in "noun adjunct"

Is the head "noun" or "adjunct", and which is the correct plural form? "nouns adjunct", "noun adjuncts", or "nouns adjuncts"? "nouns adjunct" sounds the most correct to my ears.


Could you elaborate [S + V + O + Adj + To inf. + O] structure?

I want to find more detailed explanation about the following pattern. For me, this grammatical structure sounds special.   * Windows makes it easier for you to install the program.   * You may find it difficult to locate the bug. > Subject + Verb + Object + Adjective + To Infinitive + Object Please elaborate as complete as you can how to use this structure.


Term for homophones that have opposite meanings?

Is there a term for homophones that have opposite meanings to each other? For instance, **Whole** vs **Hole** Also, are there any more examples of such words?


Is the term "Break Glass Policy" or "Break Glass Procedure" used outside the healthcare field?

One of the defining questions of the Healthcare IT site  uses the term "break glass policy" and from this link I understand what it means in the given context. My question here is, if this term is used in other fields not related to fire alarms and emergency breaks.


Is esquivalience now a bona fide word?

Today, I came across WP's entry for the word esquivalience: > "Esquivalience" is a fictitious entry in the New Oxford American Dictionary > (NOAD), which was designed and included to protect copyright of the > publication. > > The word was invented by Christine Lindberg, one of the editors of the NOAD > and discovered by Henry Alford. > > It was leaked that the dictionary had put in a fake word in the letter "e" > and Alford set out to find the word. It was discovered after review of a > short list by several experts. When the editor, Erin McKean, was contacted > she admitted that it was indeed a fake word and had been in since the first > edition, in order to _protect the copyright of the CD-ROM edition_. > > The word is defined as " **the willful avoidance of one's official > responsibilities**." The first edition of the NOAD was published back in 2001 and two more have since seen print. Eleven years later, the word continues to be defined as a legitimate entry on ODO, Google, and going by the WP article, in the print editions. Is it now considered an authentic word? Or are OUP esquivaliently demonstrating the use of their esquivalience?


How does the hyphen change the meaning in expressions like "high performance" and "high-performance"?

I'm wondering about the distinction between expressions like "high performance" and "high-performance", or "high level" and "high-level" and other similar pairs of words which are sometimes used with a hyphen and sometimes not. Am I right that without the hyphen, the first word is an adjective and the second a noun, whereas with the hyphen, the pair should be used as an adjective and would need a noun to go with it? Also, am I right that some expressions, such as "high-performance computing" have an established meaning and are usually used with a hyphen? Examples:   * High-performance is often desired ... ( _incorrect use_ )   * High performance is often desired ... ( _correct use_ )   * High-performance computing is ... ( _correct use_ )   * High performance computing is ... ( _correct use but not following established norm_ )


What is the opposite of "personification"?

I want a word that means the opposite of _personification_. What is the correct word for describing people with the characteristics of an object/as if they are objects? I found the word _chremamorphism_ on some forums, but it doesn't seem to be included in the two online dictionaries I searched.


Meaning of "she will never get sore" in 1950s

This has been bothering me for a while... in Meredith Wilson's _The Music Man_ , there's a song entitled "Shipoopi" about the dream girl who is neither a hussy nor so prudish she can't be woo'd. One of the good qualities espoused is that "She will never get sore on the way to supper". From context, it doesn't appear any injury is taking place to be literally sore, so what colloquial meaning would this have had in 1957 when this play was first performed on Broadway? I found a couple likely candidates in the dictionary but I couldn't find dates when they became widespread.


Noun for "that which is reluctantly settled for because of the unavailability or impossiblilty of attaining that which was truly desired"?

This happens to me a lot, but I can't seem to find the right noun for it. In the saying "A string is useful until a rope could be found," what would you call the string? That's the noun I'm looking for. In relationships, I don't think I want to end up being someone's ___ because she couldn't find that special someone she truly wanted. O, yes, and adjective form, too?


Is “have a way to go” a just shortened form of “have a long way to go”?

Today’s (August 24) New York Times carries an article titled “Progress has seemed fitful for many at March” with the lead-copy; > “For Daniel R. Smith, 81, who attended the March on Washington in 1963, > **the country has a ways to go in realizing the dream** of the Rev. Dr. > Martin Luther King Jr.” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/us/a-time-to-return-to-and-reflect-on-the- march-on-washington.html?hp&_r=0 I was drawn to the expression, “the country **has a ways to** go in realizing the dream of Rev. King” because first, the infinitive article (a) doesn’t agree with plural noun (ways) in “a ways,” second, I’m unfamiliar with the case that “have a way to go” being used in the same sense of having a lot of work to do as “have a long way to go,” which I’m familar with. Cambridge English Dictionary defines “a long way to go” as an idiom meaning a lot of work to do or improvements to make, but it doesn’t carry the phrase, “a way to go.” Oxford English Dictionary carries neither “a long way to go” nor “a way to go.” Google Ngram shows that usage of “have a long way to go” existed before / since 1840 and it is on a constant rise to a ratio of 0.000054% in 2007. On the other hand, the usage of “have a way to go” emerged in 1920, and its usage remains one digit low at 0.0000014% level in 2007. Here’s my question: Is “have a way to go” simply a shortened form of “have a long way to go”? If it is, doesn’t it get you confused with the other usages of 'a (the) way to go,' such as “If you wish, you have the way to go to college by getting scholarship,” “There should be a way to go in finding the solution.”?


"sallow complexion"

In Isaac Asimov's _Foundation_ series, in several places he describes people having a "sallow complexion". According to Collins dictionary: > **Sallow** > > (esp of human skin) of an unhealthy pale or yellowish colour Unfortunately I'm not a native English speaker, and from the context I can't decide whether he means a very pale Caucasian or rather an Asian. Not that it really matters for the comprehension of the story, but at first sight I thought it was a misspelling of _shallow_ and this aroused my curiosity, now I have to find out.


How to use the “not only . . . but also” construction?

I’m trying to create the following phrase: > It is important not only to `____` but also to `____` in general. But the way I’ve written it above doesn’t sound that good to me. Since I’m not a native speaker, could anyone please help me to improve this?


What is the opposite of free intended as "without"?

"Sugar free, taste ___ _" Which word could I use to tell the opposite of "free" intended as "without"?


Common synonym of tortuosity or antonym of straightness

What is a common synonym of tortuosity or antonym of straightness, as in the following: > Country roads typically have greater **___ ___** than motorways. Tortuosity or tortuousness is technically correct but rather uncommon. Is there a more suitable term in less formal/technical speech, preferably a short word too?


A phrase to mean "an acceptable deal"

I need a phrase that indicates the speaker find a bargain acceptable, but not particularly favorable. The natural expression, in American English, would be "I can live with it" but for reasons too complicated to explain, I cannot use the word "live" or any variation on it. **Edit:** People asked for more detail. I'm writing a story in which one character makes a bargain in which he might very well die. He's trying to explain why he accepted the deal. I don't want to write, "I can live with it" — since literally he cannot — and anything that implies acceptance _over time_ is wrong. If he doesn't die, then it's a great deal, so if he lives long enough to "come to terms with it" or "tolerate it", there'll be nothing to tolerate or come to terms with. I'm looking for a pithy phrase meaning "it's the best deal I could do and it was better than nothing."


Why does my sentence seem to require an adjective?

In the midst of a paragraph, one of my students write, 'They taught us a way of cleaning.' I felt it sounded exponentially better to say, 'They taught us a new method of cleaning,' or 'new way'. Why is that? Is there a grammatical principal?


Omission of agent in active voice

I love writing but grammar is seriously not my cup of tea so please forgive my ignorance. The case in point is: > Henry’s eyes were gouged out by George. Is it possible to write this in active voice and still omit the initiator of the action? In other words, given " **George** gouged out Henry’s eyes", how do I omit _George_ from the sentence? Do I have to resort to words like _someone_ or _somebody_? Is there an alternative?


What do call embedded words?

Example: The word stellar contains the word star. The word sanguine contains the word sun.


Can "sir" be used to address female officers?

The use of the term _sir_ as a form of address for men, especially those of higher rank or status, is discussed in several prior questions including this one. They all indicate that the term is reserved to males, and that there are a number of related terms for females, such as _ma'am_. A review of the first dozen online dictionaries at onelook.com confirms that _sir_ is strictly reserved for male addressees. For example ODO defines it as > used as a polite or respectful way of addressing a man, especially one in a > position of authority: _excuse me, sir_ On several recent television shows in the US, the term _sir_ has been used by a police officer to address his or her supervisor who was female. In the context, the use was sincere and was not objected to by the superior. Has the use of _sir_ when addressing a superior female in a military or quasi- military setting become acceptable, or is this merely literary license?


Institutionalised - Human Emotions

Most of us would be aware of the term **Institutionalised** , from the movie _The ShawShank Redemption._ They generally define it as in Wikipedia: Institutional syndrome. While it refers to something in terms of geographical boundaries, Is there any term to describe that emotion on a person? That feeling, that suffering, when someone very close to your heart is not near you. You cannot live without them. Could anyone point out terms ( _Love_ excluded) describing such emotions?


Are there similar metaphors to “It’s no use for a dojo (loach) to behave like a goldfish”?

Mr.Yoshihiko Noda was inaugurated as the 95th Prime Minister of Japan on August 30th by winning the race among five candidates for Japan’s ruling party --the JDP’s leader election. The phrase he likened himself to was _dojo_ (loach), with which he wrapped up his manifestation address: > I’m like a dojo. It’s no use for a dojo to behave like (or imitate) a > goldfish. This became suddenly a hot word among Japanese electorates, and it was even quoted in many overseas news media such as Washington Post, New York Times and Financial Times. By saying _I’m a dojo. It’s no use for a dojo to behave like a goldfish_ he meant he is determined to pursue for steady, realistic and actionable goals and implement down-to-earth policies rather than chasing after gaudy, dreamy, but unachievable goals (as his predecessors have done in the past two decades and all failed). He borrowed this line from a popular poet called Mitsuo Aida known for the lines of his zen-like poetry. I wonder if there are any (or many) metaphors and popular lines in the English speaking countries that can be equated with the line, _It’s no use for a dojo to behave like a goldfish._ I would like to show off my trove of imported phrases to my English enthusiastic buddies.


Adjective defining a property of an object that is possessed by many of those objects

Is there a word defining an object's property possessed by many similar objects? Something like this: > Tommy bought a red balloon at the circus. Many kids have red balloons there. > Hence ballon's color is <the word I am looking for>.


Why is it not appropriate to appropriate?

When used as a verb, the word `appropriate` means "to take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission". Basically, stealing. However, when used as an adjective, the same word means "suitable or proper" -- which stealing is definitely not. So, why is there such a conflict between two meanings of the word?


In farms or on farms?

1. They live the quiet life on farms   2. They live the quiet life in farms Which is correct?


Comma in "new, difficult role"

I was told to remove the comma when I wrote: > He resigned from his job and took on the new, difficult role. Is this comma optional? Or is putting it up there wrong? As I understand, if the two words can be switched around while retaining the meaning of the sentence, then a comma is required. "Difficult new role" sounds ok to me.


Any synonyms for "left" and "right"?

I'm a technical writer and I tend to use unambiguous words in my tech writing. I find that "left" and "right" (as in "left hand" and "right hand") are both words with other commonly used meanings, and worse, adjective meanings. So, please help. You know, many technical articles are written in English and read by many people around the world. I'm from China and I've seen some quite bad translations of English IT documentation since I've entered the industry. Using explicit words can save time in helping us understand those tech docs.


Is "sore" the origin for "so"?

Most of us are acquainted with this line: "The shepherds were sore afraid." Recently, in reading mysteries by C.J. Sansom, set in the time of Henry the Eighth, I see his characters using phrases like "sore cold" and "sore tired," leading them to request to sit by the fire or suggesting another might offer a place to rest. In other words, it is causal, as in "I am sore disgusted by the smell that I must leave this place." This suggests that these were such uncomfortable times that "soreness" or addressing Maslow's basic caloric need or safety need motivated much human behavior. It further suggests that the word "sore" might be the source of "so." I sorely need to know if this is so.


Is there a term to describe an event which happens every 18 months?

Obviously every year is annual. Every two years is biennial. Does the English language have a term for every 18 months?


"Have to split" in the film "The Running Man"

In the film _The Running Man_ (1987), Arnold Schwarzenegger cut a man into two halves. His name was Buzz Saw. Then another man said: "Where did Buzz Saw go?" And Arnold Schwarzenegger said: "He had to split." In the cinema people laughed to hear this, but I don't understand why.


What does“low wattage” mean in “A politician not being mocked for low wattage”?

Time magazine (October 25) carries the article titled “The Populist Egghead” with a caption: > “ **Sen. Cruz isn't being mocked for low wattage the way Palin and Reagan > had been**. He's being singled out for a lack of common sense born of his > rarefied résumé.” The sentence follows: > The populist claims to possess the horse sense of the electorate and has no > need for fancy schools, with their eating clubs, trays of sherry, and > debating societies. That was Sarah Palin's (and Reagan’s) posture. > http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/10/ted_cruz_is_a_populist_egghead_the_texas_senator_has_elite_credentials_but.html I understand ‘low wattage’ is a figurative adaptation of electrical power, but what does it exactly mean in the above quote? Is it a common expression? Were both Sara Palin and Reagan really ‘low wattage’?


What is the etymology of the adjective "bumper"?

Looking at Etymonline and Dictionary.com only reveals that it was slang from 1759. Why did _bumper_ come to mean _unusually abundant_ , and why is it always paired up with the word _crop_?


Double Adverb Use e.g. *equally shockingly*

Yesterday, my biology instructor said (I'm paraphrasing here): "Shockingly, this cell does blah blah blah, and _equally shockingly_ , the cell blah blah blah." Is this proper grammar (I speak American English incase that is important to know)?


Perfect vs Perfect Continuous

I saw this sentence the other day and it struck me as awkward. I went online and saw many instances of the Present perfect being used in such manner. > She has worked here since 1995 Shouldn't this be written in the Perfect progressive > She has been working here since 1995 The ngram shows the perfect taking over. It feels wrong. Am I justified here? (comments can only be edited for 5 minutes) Really? Who is coding this baby? Is it a chess tournament? I don't but could I help my child if it had fallen on its face? Can't press enter in the comment? Oh the freedom of the humanity!) (meant to be a comment, which I thought over for more than 5 minutes) I don't mean to sound defiant but the "HAS WORKED" gives me the impression that she has just been fired. I might be being over analytical and it seems that "the Present Perfect has become the standard" and that "the Present Perfect has been used / has been being used" since 1980. wouldn't the exception be "subject + have/has + been + adjective/noun" as in "It has been the standard since". I am adding some more sentences to the question and appreciate the help. > He has travelled to São Paulo since the beginning of the year. > > He has been traveling to São Paulo since the beginning of the year. I see it as a convention for the misuse of the verb tense. (http://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=has+worked+since%2C+has+been+working+since&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=) > OXFORD the form of a verb that expresses an action done in a time period up > to the present, formed in English with the present tense of have and the > past participle of the verb, as in I have eaten. > > CAMBRIDGE the form of the verb used for actions or events that have been > completed or that have happened in a period of time up to now: The sentences > 'She has broken her leg' and 'I have never been to Australia' are all in the > present perfect. > > BRITISH COUNCIL We use the present perfect tense: for something that started > in the past and continues in the present: > > WIKIPEDIA The present perfect is a grammatical combination of the present > tense and the perfect aspect, used to express a past event that has present > consequences. The term is used particularly in the context of English > grammar, where it refers to forms such as "I have left" and "Sue has died". > These forms are present because they use the present tense of the auxiliary > verb have, and perfect because they use that auxiliary in combination with > the past participle of the main verb. ... ... English also has a present > perfect progressive (or present perfect continuous) form, which combines > present tense with both perfect aspect and progressive (continuous) aspect: > "I have been eating". In this case the action is not necessarily complete; > the same is true of certain uses of the basic present perfect when the verb > expresses a state or a habitual action: "I have lived here for five years." I wanna say that I stand corrected. And the evidence is here. I will be honest with you and say that I personally disagree. Especially with "all my life" and "since" I guess it is because I learned that the action does not continue but has implications in the present. There is absolutely no need for the Present Continuous if I can manipulate the meaning of the Perfect with the predicate.


What's the antonym for 'word'?

What is the antonym for _word_? I first thought _silence_ , but that doesn't quite fit; you can have written words. My next thought would be _illiterate_. So far I'm on the fence for that one too, because you can have speech. So, what is the antonym for _word_? So far I've checked a dictionary (just gives synonyms) and synonym-antonym finder that gives me _silence_ (I explained why this didn't work above).


Difference between "proscribe" and "prohibit"

For a long time, I've been looking for the difference between "proscribe" and "prohibit". Unfortunately, I couldn't find any exact answer to my question, though I inferred from a passage that "prohibit" is related to law.


As if + would is correct as in idiomatic use?

Is the second sentence grammatically correct? "- I want to drive a Ferrari" "- As if you would be able to drive it" I know the sentence "As if you were able to drive it" is correct, but can I use the other one instead of "As if!", for example? Thanks


Must conditional sentences begin with "if?"

I've been looking at conditional sentences (conditional clauses). Every example I've see is along the lines of, "if [x] then [y]." I've seen alternatives/substitutes for the _if_ part:   * were I you (instead of "if I were you")    * on condition that    * unless    * were  Yet, these still follow the same pattern: "condition [x] then [y]." Is that the only way to have a conditional?   Is it not possible to invert/switch around the structure?   Would it still be a conditional clause (or conditional sentence) if I put the condition after the occurance?   * If he eats that, he'll be sick.   * He'll be sick if he eats that.    * Unless you win this round, you are out.    * You are out unless you win this round.  If those are not conditionals, what are they?   Would they be considered as "acceptable" if I were to be editing/rewriting something, or would it be seen as bad/improper/incorrect/having a sufficiently different implication?


Is there a name for a personality trait (or psychological condition?) for adopting the accent, mannerisms, idioms or traits of others? I mean, unconsciously adopting, not "consciously making fun of". Also, possibly, the case of consciously immitating for the purpose of fitting in, rather than making fun of, might be included in this definition.


Why do you drive on a "parkway", and park on a "driveway"?

I've always been fascinated by these two words, as they seem to have the exact opposite meaning as expected. Is it because of the etymology? Or perhaps the meanings were switched at some point in time?


The Drop - meaning of "get to"

What does "get to" mean in the following excerpt taken from the book "The Drop" by Michael Connelly? The "Get to" is at the end of the excerpt. I have written it in bold. Thank you very much for the help. > “Harry,” the lieutenant said. “Hang back a second.” Bosch looked at Chu and > raised his eyebrows. He didn’t know what this was about. The lieutenant came > around from behind her desk and closed the door after Chu and Marcia had > left. She stayed standing and businesslike. “I just wanted you to know that > your application for an extension on your DROP came through. They gave you > four years retroactive.” Bosch looked at her, doing the math. He nodded. He > had asked for the maximum — five years non-retroactive — but he’d take what > they gave. It wouldn’t keep him much past high school but it was better than > nothing. “Well, I’m glad,” Duvall said. “It gives you thirty-nine more > months with us.” Her tone indicated that she had read disappointment in his > face. “No,” he said quickly. “I’m glad. I was just thinking about where that > would put me with my daughter. It’s good. I’m happy.” “Good then.” That was > her way of saying the meeting was over. Bosch thanked her and left the > office. As he stepped back into the squad room he looked across the vast > expanse of desks and dividers and file cabinets. He knew it was home and > that he would **get to** stay — for now.


What is the difference between "in-between" and "between"?

Do _in-between_ and _between_ have different meanings?   What is the difference between _in-between_ and _between_?


How many spaces should come after a period/full stop?

In the past -- or at least, when I was in elementary school -- periods/full stops were followed by two spaces. Lately, it's become more and more common to see just one space. In the modern world, should we still use two spaces between sentences, or is just one okay? Does it depend on the situation? Or are both acceptable, with the choice simply coming down to personal preference?


> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How many spaces should come after a period/full stop? > Possible duplicate: How many spaces should come after a period/full stop? Is it true that you are supposed to put two spaces after the end of a sentence? If so, why don't you see this in very many bodies of text?


How should I describe a woman who serves food and drinks on a plane?

When I want to speak of a woman who serves food and drinks to passengers on a plane, should I use 'air hostess' or 'stewardess'? What's the difference? And when I take a plane, how should I call her?


Direct object for the verb "imbue" that isn't on this list

I originally posted this question on RPG StackExchange, as my use of the word would be for a custom Dungeons & Dragons class. There weren't a lot of thoughts there, so I thought I'd try here. Fill in the blank: ### Someone _imbues_ a **______** on an object, giving it magic powers. I need a word that serves as the direct object in this sentence, but there are a lot of caveats on the sort of word I need. Some background: in D&D, there are a number of different "types" of magical ability, and to keep things straight each one has various terms associated with it, most importantly a verb and an object. For example, you might say someone   * _casts_ a _spell_   * _manifests_ a _power_ , and may _augment_ that _power_ as well   * _invokes_ an _invocation_   * _initiates_ a _maneuver_   * _utters_ a _true name_   * _infuses_ an _infusion_   * _activates_ a _magic item_   * _binds_ a _vestige_ (in the game, a sort of spirit)   * _hexes_ (someone with) a _curse_ This is just a fairly simple way to keep the different types separate, which is important because they behave differently under the rules. So if we say someone _casts_ something, we know to look at the rules for _spells,_ etc. So I need a word that fits well in this pattern, but doesn't use one of those already-taken words. It also shouldn't refer to, or appear to refer to, existing game-terms, like   * arcana   * artifact   * conjuration   * effect   * enhancement   * enchantment   * sorcerer   * transmutation   * wizard   * witch RPG SE came up with "imbuement," which... I do not care for in the least. I'm not exactly tied to the word _imbue_ so alternatives are acceptable if they come with a good object. For reference, the magic would be used to improve or augment items. Along those lines, RPG SE suggested _endow/endowment_ (which sounds either collegial or phallic and neither is what I'm going for), _empower/empowerment_ (little better than imbuement), _bewitch/bewitchment_ (confusing since there is a witch class), and _ensorcell/ensorcellation_ or _ensorcell/ensorceration_ (again, might be confused with the sorcerer class). Don't let the fixation on having the object be the noun-form of the verb confuse you; that may be a desirable (ish) property, but it's not necessary (see _cast_ a _spell_ ).


Can I express future action without the exclusion of former activity?

Consider the following scenario. Someone is hired for a job and is new to the career field. For instance, a new accountant. After being an accountant for a very short period of time, and doing an excellent job as a novice, someone encourages the worker by stating "You will be an excellent accountant." My question is in regards to the statement "You will be an excellent accountant." Does the statement suggest that if the individual _will be_ a good accountant, which would imply that they are not currently doing a good job? Or, does it mean that the individual will be a good accountant, **regardless** of any good or bad work they have already accomplished? I ask this question because there have been times where I have actually wanted to encourage people who are novices but show great potential for success because of the good work they have done. One person I know personally is quite keen to respond with "Oh, so I _haven't been_ doing a good job?" which would seem to imply that such as statement denotes that previous work does not fall within the category of "excellence". I know this question bridges the gaps of English, logic and etiquitte. If there is no simple answer, I am certainly interested on the community's thoughts and suggestions on how to make such a comment without being excessively verbose or awkward.


Alternative expressions to 'you have to trust me''

In novels, movies etc. especially when someone asks or tells to do something rather risky, new etc. they say 'you have to trust me' which sounds a bit _dramatic_ to me. What alternatives for this expression for everyday, common usage can you suggest?


Is there a difference between “antithesis” and “juxtaposition”?

My question is as simple as the title, is there a difference between the two words. In my searching, I have found nothing yet, and it seems strange to have two words with not even a difference in connotation.


What does Bloomberg's 'concessionary tone' mean?

I found the phrase 'concessionary tone' in today's New York Times: > **Bloomberg Is Criticized on Storm Response as He Tours City Beyond > Manhattan** > > The mayor on Thursday delivered the message that every street had been > plowed, but his **concessionary tone** was met with frustration in the > boroughs beyond Manhattan. What does 'concessionary' mean in this particular context? None of the translations in my English-Japanese dictionaries seem to fit the case. Can somebody give an appropriate interpretation?


**How to write in English for international readers?** I'm not a native English speaker but I've been learning the language for many years in many fields (Mathematics, Physics, Mechanical Engineering and Programming to name some). Every now and then I find something explained in 'basic' English that I just cannot figure out without some search. Along the way I learned some small tricks for writing English for foreigners. Assume that the reader has an **intermediate-high English level** to answer this. The **reading fluency** is the main concern in this question, not the learning of the reader. I also wanted to give my 2 cents in this so I'll answer my own question in community wiki format, so please **add your advice** there. This question came up to me after reading the word 'Jeopardy!' in this stack overflow blog post. EDIT: I read this afterwards (which seems pretty mistaken): > John Saunders: I wonder what proportion of StackExchange users don’t know > what “Jeopardy” is? > > Jeff Atwood (author): @john I suppose the same proportion that don’t know > what “Wikipedia” and “Clicking a Link” is.


What is the opposite of a "one-trick pony" or a "one-hit wonder"?

I'm thinking of "a one-shot gun" vs. "an automatic machine gun", or vs. "an all-purpose tool" (although _tool_ lacks oomph). Any ideas?


"Recommend someone to represent..." vs. "recommend someone represent..."

Looking at the sentence below I have a feeling it is wrong, though I can't explain why: > I highly recommend Dave to represent you in Korea with your software. I have thus rephrased it to the following: > I highly recommend Dave represent you in Korea with your software. Am I correct?


What is the opposite of an electronic document?

I need an all-encompassing term that covers all kinds of written documents, except electronic ones: printed (on a printing press or the result of a computer printout) as well as hand-written documents. I've used various alternatives in the past, documents in writing, documents on paper, documents in paper form(at), but none of them are really satisfactory. When it's obvious that hand-written documents can be omitted, I've usually used the term printed documents. Edited to add: The context involves official documents and specifically the introduction of legally binding electronic documents. However, at times these need to be differentiated from hand-written documents from before the invention of the typewriter.


Usage of "upon"

Is "Let us have the ushers wait **upon** us" proper syntax?


Should I say "more exact"/"more precise"?

My understanding with the words **_exact_** , **_precise_** and **_accurate_** is that they are absolute. Meaning, there cannot be **_less_** accurate or **_more_** accurate. Is my understanding correct? If it's exactly 1 meter, then there cannot be _more exact_ than 1 meter. Also, are these words (exact, precise and accurate) exact synonyms? I have read their meanings in the dictionary and they are, well, the same. I am writing a blog that has a title "Love and Lust". I want to point out that it is _more accurate/precise_ to say that the title should be "Romantic Love and Lust", as there are three kinds of love.


"He grew up around cars that would later become classics."

My question is about the use of _would_ in the following sentence. > He grew up around cars that **would** later become classics. The use of _would_ in this particular sense always looks confusing to me because it's so different from: I _would_ like to know...   I don't think he _would_ agree to that...   _Would_ you mind....   _Would_ it be alright if I...   etc. The above sentence, as I see it, means "he grew up around cars which _were going to_ become classics in the future". Is that correct? If yes, does it also mean that the cars _actually became_ classics later?


Term for "lower numeric bound" - analogous to “capped”

What term should be used for describing limiting the lower range of a number? We (often) use "capped" to refer to a limit on the upper value of a range. What is the analogous term for limiting the lower end of the range? * * * More: I want a past tense word that means "a hard lower limit has been placed (on something)". In the same way that we might say "Your medical costs have been capped at $5000" (that's the most you will pay), I seek a word where I can say "Your medical costs have been XXXXed at $200" (that's the least you will pay).


Nasty way to go

I watched a film with Simon Pegg yesterday. The film is "Hot Fuzz". It is a very funny film I recommend you to watch. There is a phrase which is repeated for several times during the film. > **Nasty way to go** Could anyone please tell me what that means? I google it, but no result found. Thanks in advance. Cheers from Kazakhstan!!!


What is “Who are ya?” and whence it came?

“Who are ya?” seems a popular chant or taunt with English football fans, both on and off the stands. Is it a fair assessment that it means to diminish the opposition as unknown and insignificant? What are the guidelines to its usage? I understand why it is being chanted when the opposition is announced before the match, but I’ve also heard it being used when someone on the opposing team stumbles, or makes egregious error, or otherwise fails conspicuously. Is there specific reason for this, or it was somehow adopted just because it is neat chant? Can it be used against officials? Can it be used against unpopular management (e.g. if the coach or club president present at the game is announced) or players (that had angered the supporters’ community) of own club? Where did it come from? Is it used by football fans only, widely used across different sports, or it varies? Was this used somewhere outside of football/sport context? Is there any date to its origination or when it started to be used profusely?


What is the difference between 'as' and 'while'?

> **As** the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention > was caught at once by a long, thin package carried by six large screech > owls. > > A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling **while** a > thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the > candles in the pumpkins stutter. (Harry Potter book1) In the examples, what’s the difference between ‘as’ and ‘while’? Can each be changed with each other?


How to express reduction from 10 or 100 billion to 1 billion

What word or phrase would correctly describe the reduction of 10 billion to 1 billion, and from 100 billion to 1 billion? I need to have it sound scientific: Reduce an amount from 1010 to 109, and from 1010 to 108.


Word to describe not liking adornments and "frills", liking simple "things"

I am looking for a word that describes a person that does not like to dress things up, whether it be people, ideas, objects. Almost the idea "simple man" but as an adjective?


Nasalization in IPA

I am learning IPA to learn the English pronunciation. When "n" is inserted after a vowel and it is not followed by another vowel, how to know if /n/ is pronounced or it is only a mark to nasalize the vowel? The pronunciation of "dune" in the dictionary is /djun/, and "sun" is /sʌn/. But I listened to those words and "dune" ends with an "n" sound (the tongue moves), but "sun" does not. The IPA does not tell the nasalized phoneme in diphthongs. In "find" /faɪnd/, "a" is not nasalized, but "ɪ" is. In "saint" /seɪnt/, both "e" and "ɪ" are nasalized.


How to say formally 'once he paid off all the debt'

I am translating an article of association from Japanese to English. I am stuck at a sentence which means:               His membership shall be terminated once he paid off all his debt     from the Association, if he owes any.      How to write this sentence formally? As 'pay off all his debt' sounds a bit weird to me. I'm not a native speaker. Please help, and thanks in advance. ;-)


A synonym for "over" in "over a distance"

Could you give me the best synonym for _over_ in this situation? > Aqueduct: artificial channel for conducting water over a distance. I know it is the best preposition for this context. But I wonder if there's a synonym for it and its definition.


Is there a word for the mental state of laughter?

We speak of _madness_ when someone is in a fit of anger, and being _smitten_ when someone is in love(with someone), etc. But what about when someone just can't stop laughing? i.e, when someone is "cracking-up" - is there a more formal word?


Sub edge, sub-edge or subedge?

In fields like geometry and numerical methods for solving differential equations we often use words like _sub-face_ and _sub-edge_ , referring to parts of a geometrical object. For instance, a cube has 6 faces and 12 edges. It is often necessary to refer to parts of these objects as sub-edges and sub- faces.. In the academic literature, all three forms ("sub edge", "sub-edge", and "subedge") are in use.. What would be the correct/preferred form to use? (The word "sub-edge" cannot be found in the Oxford Dictionary, whereas "subface", can be found meaning "The undersurface of a rock formation", which is not the meaning of subface I was looking for..) See also: Should I use hyphens with prefixes like “sub” and “semi”?


Term for "sum of durations"

While writing to a friend, I attempted to ask which web browser they used most. In the end, I asked which browser they used “more frequently”, but this was not the true object of my curiosity. By using _frequently_ , I effectively asked which browser they **turn on** more times within a period of time. I also considered using the term _volume_ , as in, “use with the greatest volume”, but that would have also been incorrect. I would rather use that term solely in reference to cubic measurement. Specifically, I would have preferred to indicate the sum of durations; perhaps: > Over a period of time, which browser is used for the greatest part of that > period? Is there such a term?


Noun for "person with intermediate skill"

I'm looking for the noun form of "person with intermediate skill". For example, in the context of a particular activity, "person with no skill" might be designated a _novice_ , and "person with much skill" might be designated an _expert_. However I know of no such word in between these two extremes. My only thought is _amateur_ , which has a distinct meaning from describing level of skill, although skill level can often be inferred. I'm looking for a better solution. **EDIT** : due to the attention this question has received, I'll try to offer some clarification in order to reduce repeat questions.   1. "Journeyman" would certainly not work. I am a software developer by profession. However the word I'm looking for should hopefully be profession-agnostic.   2. I am trying to designate the skill level of the person that some learning material might be appropriate for. The word that I'm looking for follows the preposition "for".     * `For Beginners`     * `For [word for intermediate-skilled person]`     * `For Experts`   3. Sorry, but even after all the great answers, I'm still learning towards "amateur" even though it is technically incorrect. Also, the word should not be so esoteric that only people with English degrees know what it means. Keep the ideas coming!


Is there an intermediate level between junior and senior?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Noun for "person with intermediate skill" I would like to refer to the intermediate level of a Human Resources Analyst. She is not a Junior HR Analyst anymore, but she is not a Senior HR Analyst yet. What is this intermediate level she is currently in?


Answer or solution to an exercise?

In the context of the word _exercise_ , e.g. in a textbook, is it more common to say _answer_ or _solution_?


Right usage of "undergo" with syndrome

Is the sentence.... XYZ _(n)_ is undergoing ABC syndrome. Right?


Difference between **timid** and **coward**

While I was reading one-word substitutions in R.S. Agarwal's _General English_ book, I came across the following question: > **One who always runs away from danger** > >> a) escapist   >  b) timid   >  c) coward   >  d) shirker They have given **b** as the correct answer. I reckoned that **timid** and **coward** both are the same. Can you please tell me the difference between _timid_ and _coward_?


Noun adjuncts, possessive or using "of"

this is my first time on your site. I have been teaching English for longer than I care to mention (native speaker). I am trying to find a way of explaining to some intermediate students why we can say the Channel Tunnel entrance (in Folkestone) but we cannot say "the Eiffel Tower top" for example. I have seen some discussions on use of noun adjuncts/possessive but not on this example using 'of'. Thanks in advance for your answers. Jennifer


"One plus years experience in..."

My girlfriend is going through resumés and thought this sentence fragment was grammatically incorrect: > "One plus years experience in..." She thinks it should be either: > "One plus years' experience..." or > "One plus years of experience..." Which one is correct?


Capitalization for law of sines

The law of sines is a mathematical formula. I have seen it written as both **Law of Sines** and **law of sines**. Which one of these is correct? Edit: According to Google Ngrams, the lower case option was preferred historically, but the title case version has gained in popularity in the past couple of decades.


"Died in an accident" or "killed in an accident"?

When speaking of someone who lost their life as a result of accidental circumstances are the two phrases below interchangeable? > He was killed in an accident. > She died in an accident. I've seen both used and I'm wondering if there is a rule here. Would we say _was killed_ when the victim was affected by someone or something else? If so would we then say simple _s/he died_ when the victim was the source of the accident?


Why not concatenate two frequently used words into a new one?

I will probably get a lot of flak about this, but why not combine the often used together words "with the" into "withe" which is pronounced _similarly_ , and it much shorter and easier to write? I am sure there are other candidates for such concatenations, which are bound to show up especially in the world of Twitter and SMS messages. PS. English is my 2nd language.


Why is the word "whatnot" a construction of "what" and "not"?

I've done some online etymological research on the word "whatnot", but I've been unable to figure out why it is a construction of "what" and "not". How does the combination of the words "what" and "not" relate to the meaning of "whatnot" (simply, _anything_ )?


How to indicate "now" in storytelling?

The following sentences - > I was humiliated by him, and now he was standing next to me. and > And now, I was looking at him, preparing for his entrance. Are these grammatically correct? I mean, I'm saying "now" but using the past tense. If not, how can I correct it?


Should the word Boolean be capitalized?

I keep second guessing myself on this one. On one hand it seems like it should because the word Boolean is derived from the name of George Boole, the inventor of Boolean logic. However, the term as it is commonly used is not meant to imply something is like George Boole in any way. I suppose the same question could be asked for any technical term that is named for its inventor, for example Cartesian coordinate systems (René Descartes). So the titular question stands; should I capitalize **Boolean** when using it to refer to 2 state logic or variables in a computer program? **Clarification:**   By "...or variables in a computer program..." I don't mean the actual code of a program. I meant in documentation that refers variables in a computer program. For example "Implement a variable using the the Boolean data type for the particular programming language that you are using."


"A half a cup of [something]"

Watching a cooking show a few days ago, the lady that presented it used the expression _a half a cup_ or _a half a teaspoon_ several times during the programme. I've heard _half a [something]_ used before lots of times, but never with an extra _**a**_ stuck at the front as in _**a** half a [something]_. Is this a typical American expression? Is it slang? Is it a dialect? Background:   * It was shown on Food Network UK, but obviously was an American show. (Just checked while writing this, it was presented by Paula Deen).   * I'm not a native speaker, never been to the US, but been to the UK countless times, so I wouldn't necessarily know anything that's specific to the US.


What does "It's not me, it's you?" mean in the phrase, “So why are more of us telling our banks, "It's not me, it's you?"

The article of Time magazine (September 13) titled, “America to Banks: We’re just not that into you” begins with the following lines: > “The number of Americans who have cut the cord with mainstream banking has > risen by 821,000 households in just two years. One in 12 households or 8.3% > are unbanked, while another roughly 20% are what researchers call > "underbanked." We're ostensibly well into economic recovery, so why are more > of us telling our banks, " ** _It's not me, it's you?"_** I guess the ending phrase, "It's not me, it’s you”” means “It’s not me (underbanked / unbanked Americans), but it’s you (banks) who are benefitted by recent economic recovery," but I’m not sure. What does “it” represent for? Why does it end up in interrogative form? Is question mark necessary at the end of this phrase (It's not me, it's you?) ? If it is, isn’t it better to say “Why are more of us _asking_ our banks, "It's not me, it's you?," instead of “Why are more of us _telling_ our banks, “It’s not me, it's you?"?


Question on usage of "clientele"

Between these two sentences, which (if either) is correct in American English: > Our clientele range from a small non-profit to a billion dollar > corporation... or > Our clientele ranges from a small non-profit to a billion dollar > corporation... A collective noun is usually treated as singular. If that holds true here, then "ranges" would be correct. But that just feels wrong. For some reason I can't quite articulate, "range" feels right. Thoughts? Which is correct and why?


Which definition of commitment is correct in this sentence?

According to Macmillan Dictionary, the word "commitment" has these 5 definitions:   1. a promise to do something   2. strong belief in something   3. enthusiasm   4. duty/responsibility   5. use of money, etc. Which one fits the following sentence? > "The manager attributes the Conservancy’s success to having a local presence > and a **commitment** to working with local residents."?


Are 'probably' and 'actually' mutually exclusive?

I had an argument with my acquaintances:               [discussing the same translations of the phrase to various languages]          xxx: the German sentence is wrong, for what it's worth     yyy: the French one is too     yyy: they probably all are, actually     me:  yyy, congratulations. The last sentence, that you wrote is an oxymoron     xxx: how's that an oxymoron?     yyy: probably … actually? Arguably, the actual fact is that it is likely they all are wrong          [this is followed by an argument]      To tell the truth, none of us is a native English speaker, but my knowledge of the language is worst out of the three people. So, I have a question. Is 'they probably all are, actually' sentence an oxymoron or not?


Keep myself right on this train

In _Underdog_ , a song by Kasabian, I have some difficulties to understand the meaning of > Kill me if you dare ok > Hold my head up everywhere   * Is it an ellipsis for "I hold my head up everywhere", meaning that I won't look down   * or is it "Kill me and hold my head up", meaning you kill me and you show my cut head on a spike, like in medieval age? > Keep myself right on this train What does this mean?


English idiom similar to "grab one, hit the other"

In my native language there is an idiom which literally says "grab one, hit the other". It is used to express that a group of people possesses the same negative personal traits, habits, vice, etc. and usually it shows frustration and/or annoyance. My question is: Is there any idiom in English which is identical/comes close to the above meaning?


Meaning of "due" in "when my second child was due"

What does due mean in _when my second child was due_? I would interpret it in three ways:   1. just born.   2. about to be born soon.   3. just got pregnant. Which is correct?


What do you call a person who loses interest after achieving something?

I know about the term _butterfly_, but I am looking for something a little different. What do you call a person that is greatly motivated to achieve a goal, but loses interest the second after that goal is achieved? The difference to the butterfly example metioned above would be the **provided** achievement of said person. It would also be great if anyone could mention a literary reference to such a character.


"I was going to be called Kate if I was a girl"

This is an excerpt from a grammar book by Longman. It was discussing tense and time distinctions and the excerpt is about future time. > As you can see in the next example, the reference can be to a situation that > never actually occurred: > > 'I was going to be called Kate if I was a girl.' What I get from the example is the impression that the narrator is a man and before he was born his parents decided upon the baby's name if it were a girl. What I want to know is shall I use the subjunctive form _were_ instead of _was_ in "...if I was a girl."? Or is the sentence correct?


What's the difference between phonograph and gramophone?

I've been reading about the **Grammy** award, and found that it was named after the invention of _Emile Berliner_ , the `gramophone`, after considering the name **Eddie** (for the `phonograph`'s inventor, _Thomas Edison_ ). I didn't find what's the difference between the two. Sources also mix up the inventors of them. Notice also that the names kind of consist of the same 2 words, written in different order.


Etymology of "nutmeg"?

What's the etymology of the British informal usage of the word "nutmeg" as a verb to mean "kicking a ball through a player's legs", usually used in football? It doesn't seem to bear any relation to the noun.


If a clause is a direct object, its pronoun is nominative because the whole clause is the object

I am sure this has been asked before; I couldn't locate a definite answer (grammar websites on direct objects do not seem to explicitly state the answer). I think it may have been addressed in my previous question indirectly and I was hoping for some clarification. With a clause as a direct object, the pronoun is in the nominative case because the entire clause is the direct object, not just the initial pronoun. Is this statement in anyway accurate? For example:   * _"He intimated [(that)_ **_he_** _would go today]."_ I believe the direct object of "intimated" is within the brackets, and the direct object clause should be treated as a if it were "self-enclosed"; therefore, "he" should be nominative because it is the subject of the verb "go". I think this is true, but I would feel more comfortable with clarification/correction.


Why does 'threescore' mean sixty?

I wonder why _threescore_ means sixty. I only found it means three times twenty, the math is correct, yet what link between twenty and "score" ?


Is "eachother" correct?

I recently saw someone intentionally use "eachother" instead of "each other". In what circumstances would this be correct?


Is usage of the word epitome in a negative sense correct?

Can the word epitome be used in a negative context like in this statement > He is the epitome of corruption. And should I be using _the_ epitome instead of _an_ epitome?


Phrase request for 'Choice Robot'

There is a phrase in Turkish `Tercih Robotu(Choice Robot)` I need the English word for it, let me explain what it is. In Turkey before going to any university you should pass through a set of exams then your point is calculated, there are several point types, then by looking at those points you can estimate which univerity you can go :) And I am developing an application which does that for you in English. What might be the right phrase or word for this?


Is the phrase, onto the platforms below… essential, as I feel the sentence doesn’t flow?

Is the phrase, **onto the platforms below** … essential, as I feel the sentence doesn’t seem to flow? > The waiting room at Leipzig Central Station was cold. Even the stuttering > coal fire burning in a 30’s era fireplace seemed reluctant to continue its > futile efforts to warm the passengers waiting inside. Outside on the streets > of Leipzig it was raining; the day over caste and grey, the light barely > managing to filter down through the soot stained windows in the arched roof > overhead, **onto the platforms below** …


"Atop" versus "on top of"

I'm sure this is silly and won't be terribly difficult to answer: can one climb atop a mountain or is it proper to say climb on top of. Or does it matter? I'm thinking the latter is correct.


The original usage of past participles

I have heard that the origin of the present perfect construction is that sentences like "I have it done" (passive) changed to "I have done it" (present perfect). Is that true at all? If that's the case, would anyone mind giving me an explanation in detail on how the change took place? Moreover, if the passive construction used to be the only usage of past participles, why are they called "past participle" in the first place?


Word for "someone who does the same job as me"

Is there a word that means something like "someone who does the same job as me"? I've thought of **colleague** and **co-worker**. These both indicate that someone works at the same place, or some other kind of work relationship, but they don't indicate that the job is the same. The best I've come up with is **my fellow-X** , but this feels cumbersome.


I appreciate your (advice / advise)?

Which sentence is much better?               I appreciate any advice given.          I appreciate any advise given.      or are there better word to fill in the blank?               I appreciate any ____ given.


Meaning of "Caucasian"

When I search the definition of _Caucasian_ in the NOAD, I find the following definition (it's the first of three definitions): >   1. (often offensive) of or relating to one of the traditional divisions of > humankind, covering a broad group of peoples from Europe, western Asia, and > parts of India and North Africa. [ORIGIN: so named because the German > physiologist Blumenbach believed that it originated in the Caucasus region > of southeastern Europe.] • white-skinned; of European origin. > In a note, the dictionary says also > In the racial classification as developed by anthropologists in the 19th > century, _Caucasian_ (or _Caucasoid_ ) included peoples whose skin color > ranged from light (in northern Europe) to dark (in parts of North Africa and > India). Although the classification is outdated and the categories are now > not generally accepted as scientific (see usage at _Australoid_ and > _Mongoloid_ ), the term _Caucasian_ has acquired a more restricted meaning. > It is now used, especially in the U.S., as a synonym for _white or of > European origin_ , as in the following citation: _the police are looking for > a Caucasian male in his forties_. Is _Caucasian_ understood to have these meanings also in other English dialects?


What does ‘Young Americans are far less “white” than older generation’ mean?

I stumbled on a phrase, _Young Americans are far less white than older generation_ , in an article of today's New York Times titled _In Census, Young Americans Increasingly Diverse_. I don’t think _white_ refers to the color, of course. In a dictionary at hand, there is a definition of _white_ as a slang meaning (1) _fair and righteous_ , (2) _credible_ , (3) _generous, well-intentioned_ , (4) _happy, well-off_. Does the phrase _today’s young Americans are far less white_ here implies they are far less well-off (or happy) than old generation? Is the word ‘White’ used in this notion very often? The text in question reads: > Demographers sifting through new population counts released on Thursday by > the Census Bureau say the data bring a pattern into sharper focus: Young > Americans are far less white than older generations, a shift that > demographers say creates a culture gap with far-reaching political and > social consequences.


Usage of "make up my mind"

Can "made up my mind be used" in context like: > I made up my mind about quitting smoking. I am being persuaded that _resolved_ should be used instead, but it seems to me that both versions are correct but differ in a level of resolution of speaker.


Equivalent of local idiom "The potter drinks from a broken jar"

There's an idiom in a native language which literally means "The potter drinks from a broken jar". _i.e._ a potter will not spend a lot of time making a beautiful jar for himself to drink from, he uses a poor quality one or one that's been broken for himself. It means that someone who is good at a profession usually _sells_ his high quality work instead of using them for himself and doesn't use them for his own benefit. Is there an English idiom that conveys the same meaning? **UPDATE** FYI, I was interested in this idiom because my own website consisted of 1 page displaying my email address and saying "We'll have more soon!" during my many years of web development and making websites for others.


why was there a surge in the name 'Tiffany' in the late 1980s?

Last night Tiffany Porter won a gold medal for Britain in the European Athletics Championships (Womens 100m hurdles). It came as no surprise to discover that she began life as an American. Apart from her accent, I know of no English girl or woman with the name Tiffany. Apparently there were 10,000 Americans per year named Tiffany in the late 80s and early 90s. (Porter was born in 1987.) What interests me is why the name, which is an Anglicization of the Greek Theophania, was so popular. Did it have anything to do with 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'? Is it ever shortened to 'Tiff'?


"A [...] of riches" — what word is missing?

There is a phrase that goes "a X of riches" which suggests that one had so much to choose from, lots of good choices. What is the missing word?


What is the meaning of "clubbed to death?"


How do I spell "subdistrict"?

Geographically, there are voting districts, taxing districts, and school districts. There are also subdistricts. I have found different spellings of this word ( _subdistrict_ , _sub district_ , _sub-district_ ). Which one is correct for the USA?


Word to describe being useful to many people

I am trying to find a word to describe a project I am working on. This project has one function, but will be useful to as many people as possible (as many people as meet the requirements to use the project). I would like to use it in the context of something like the following sentence:               "My application is adjective, adjective, and ______________."      Does anyone know of a word that would fit here? Thank you!


Is there an alternative to the word "coincidence" to describe when two say the same word spontaneously?

Is there a word to describe a scenario where two people having a conversation utter the same word/phrase together, simultaneously, and unconsciously? Something else than just a coincidence.


What's the difference between "stall" and "stall out"?

Can a car engine stall out? It seems to me that a plane can stall out, but a car can only stall.


Gin & Tonics vs Gins & Tonic vs Gins & Tonics

When I order multiple G&Ts which should I ask for?


What are some good books on articulation?

I am fully capable of speaking, reading and writing (British-)English and my native language, but I find that I tend to mumble and muffle my voice. Furthermore, I would love to perfect my speech in all the ways possible, and I find that the science of articulation (articulatory phonetics) would be the best ways to do this. I don't want to hit up random books on Amazon, so do you know which books are the bibles within this areas? Maybe theatre-oriented books would deal with articulation and contain some exercises?


"Event is raised when maintenance occurs or scheduled" vs. "or is scheduled"

Which sentence is correct? >   * Event is raised when maintenance occurs or scheduled. >   * Event is raised when maintenance occurs or **is** scheduled. >


Is it correct to use “increasing” in this context?

I want to use this sentence in my paper. Is it correct grammatically? > Microaggregation, as a Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC) method, provides > lower Disclosure Risk (DR) at the expense of increasing Information Loss > (IL). I’m not sure about the word “ _increasing_ ”.


Usage of "flavour" vs. "version"

Software systems undergo versioning when changes are made to them. E.g.: "Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows RT etc. are some popular versions of the Windows Operating System." Similarly, some software also comes in different flavours. E.g.: "BOSS, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint are some popular flavours of Linux." I fail to understand whether _version_ and _flavor_ of a **software** mean the same thing, and can be used interchangeably. Or are there some not-so-subtle differences?


What does "fiend angelical" stand for?

> Juliet--"Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!" (Act III Scene ii Line 77) When Juliet refers to Romeo as a "beautiful tyrant," she is expressing an oxymoron because the acts of a tyrant will rarely be referred to as beautiful. What does "fiend angelical" stand for?


Should I use a hyphen in the term "in(-)situ visualization"?

The term _in(-)situ visualization_ denotes a visualization or graphics that is depicted in place, for instance, a sparkline that is embedded into text. As the dictionaries tell, the adjective or adverb _in situ_ is written as two words. But for concatenated terms in scientific language, oftentimes, _in- situ_ (with a hyphen) is placed in front of the main noun. Searching for the term in Google and Google Scholar, I find both alternatives about equally frequent. Also, the COCA Corpus lists both versions for related terms such as _in(-)situ burning_. What is the correct spelling of _in(-)situ visualization_? Is there a specific rule that applies?


Replace "follow" in "Something follows the following steps"

The sentence "The analysis follows the following steps" doesn't sound good, but I can't think of a more formal synonym to either of the follow-s.