"Hot Diggity ..."

Ok, perhaps the last one was too easy :) Here's one that a friend of mine uses, and I'd love to know if it's something he coined, or is it a more common expression than I think: > Hot diggity-dag-dong-ding ... sh*t fire and save matches. Given the southern twang that he uses when he says it, I would imagine this is a southern U.S. saying. Any takers on this one?


Proper preposition for "absolve"

Are you absolved _from_ your sins or absolved _of_ your sins?


Why is money called "rhino"?

I was going to the hole-in-the-wall to get some _rhino_ the other day, when I started to wonder why cash is so-called. I hit the books. Farmer & Henley gives no etymology. Partridge says > Origin problematic; there is probably some allusion to the size of a > rhinoceros or the price which almost any part of its corpse will fetch as an > aphrodisiac. This is supported by the related terms _rhino-fat_ , _rhinoceral_ and _rhinocerical_ , all meaning 'rich'. Green thinks > ety. unk.; one suggestion, that it refers to the rhinoceros, then a fabulous > creature 'worth its weight in gold', implies a certain lexicographical > desperation I had no luck with online sources either (here). So, does anyone know why money is called _rhino_?


"Inputs are invalid" vs. "Inputs were invalid"

> Applications send a warning message if the received inputs from the user are > invalid. Is " _are invalid_ " correct or should it be " _were invalid_ "?


fused relatives versus interrogatives

> Would you differentiate which are relatives and which are interrogatives?   >  (And I want to know the sub-category (sub-name) of each below, if they > are.) > > (1) “You can keep it,” said Harry, laughing at **_how_** pleased Ron was.   >  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) > > (2) Disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, he had tried to get everyone > laughing at **_how_** a wide-mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry as > Seeker next.   >  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) > > (3) His questions showed me **_how_** complex and mysterious were certain > institutions of the Church which I had always regarded as the simplest acts.   >  (James Joyce, Dubliners) > > (4) "I don't give a damn **_how_** you lost it as long as you keep it > hidden."   >  (Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man) > > (5) We revenged ourselves on Leo Dillon by saying what a funk he was and > guessing **_how_** many he would get at three o'clock from Mr. Ryan.   >  (James Joyce, Dubliners) > > (6) The duties of the priest towards the Eucharist and towards the secrecy > of the con-fessional seemed so grave to me that I wondered **_how_** anybody > had ever found in himself the courage to undertake them.   >  (James Joyce, Dubliners) > > (7) I noticed **_how_** clumsily her skirt was hooked at the back and (8) > **_how_** the heels of her cloth boots were trodden down all to one side.   >  (James Joyce, Dubliners) As Dr. McCawley says: It is often difficult to distinguish free relatives from interrogative complements, and indeed many examples are ambiguous between the two interpretations.   (James D. McCawley, 1988. p.431) It’s very difficult to distinguish which is relative and which is interrogative. A Korean blogger says, _how_ in “ ** _How_** I spend my free time is a private matter.” is a nominal relative [free relative or fused relative], but in “I want to say **_how_** pleased I am to receive this award.” it's an interrogative. This differentiation is somewhat easy: for the first how functions as CGEL says: “combines the function of head of the NP and precuclear element in a modifying relative clause.” And the latter how functions as not referring to something known, something concrete, which can be specified (source).


What is the shortened version of "Did you forget something ?" is it "Forget something ?" or "Forgot something ?"


Omitting the full stops after middle initials in BrE

In BrE style, can the full stops be omitted in: _C. J. Harris_ (Charles James Harris) Can it be written like this? _C J Harris_ And if we abbreviated just the middle initial, is the following acceptable? _Charles J Harris_


Word for a shop which sells materials used in making clothing

What generic word/phrase can I use for materials like zipper, buttons, threads and needles, etc which are used in making clothes? I want to use this word to describe a shop which sells these things.


The definite article 'The' is necessary for the following bold lines?

Maehara et al, 2011 conducted a research on isolated endophytic fungi/sp from **the quinine bark.** What is the specific reason if I have to omit 'the' in this context?


Rhymes like "feed the man meat" or "butter is better"?

Are "feed the man meat" and "butter is better" both assonance or both consonance, or are they different in this respect?


Can "since" and "wouldn't" be used in the same sentence?

For example: > Since it's raining, wouldn't it be a good idea to bring an umbrella? That sounds OK, but I'm not sure if it is. What about these alternatives? > Since it's raining, isn't it a good idea to bring an umbrella? I thought that this might be grammatically correct because "is" is on both sides of the sentence. It doesn't sound right though. Why? > Since it's raining, won't it be a good idea to bring an umbrella? For some reason this doesn't sound right either, but I don't know why. It sounds better than the second example, but not as good as the first example.


What's a word for someone who has completed an exercise?

I want to refer to people who have completed a short written exercise. "Graduate" would be one way, but that seems a little over the top. "Completer" would be another, but that's ambiguous as a completer could be something that helps you to complete. Any ideas?


Why does the *dirty* in *dirty mind* refer to sex instead of any type of immoral thought?

Why does the _dirty_ in _dirty mind_ refer to sexual-related thoughts instead of any type of immoral thought (including ill will or malice against another)?


Answering or calling in response to a job posting?

Which of this is correct when calling concerning a job opening: Hello Mrs Goodman. My name is ..... and I'm **answering** the advertisement for a ..... that was in ..... paper." Or Hello Mrs Goodman. My name is ..... and I'm **calling concerning** the advertisement for a ..... that was in ..... paper." I saw the first example (the one with answering) on a website but it didn't sound right to me so i decided to create this thread to get the opinion of other members on WR. I would really appreciate your response. Thanks


Apostrophe or not

We are finishing our mission statement and our staff is split on if we use an apostrophe or not. Wild Quail is committed to providing our members and their guests' (guests) with exceptional customer service. is it guests', guests or guest's


Opposite of benefit of the doubt?

"Benefit of the doubt" is a standard phrase in English and is a very useful one in formal discussions. Is there an equivalent expression to denote the opposite of it, formal or informal? For example: > Sara: What do you think of our new neighbour?   >  Sam: I do not know them, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. [they > must be good people] How about an opposite case (I will try to convey it below): > Sara: Will you marry me?   >  Sam: I do not know you, so I have to **__** (I wont risk it, you could be > terrible...) One thing I can think of is _possible risk_. Is that how the English speaking world go about this?


Can "in case" and "if" be used together?

Is this sentence grammatically correct? > **In case if** you see him, please tell him I am looking for him.


Why do we call our lovers "baby"?

It is common in American English and culture to refer to one's lover or significant other as "baby" or "babe", for example: > Come on baby, light my fire! 1 or > I got you, I won't let go. I got you to love me so. I got you babe! 2 Where does this usage come from? What's the history behind referring to one's significant other as "babe" or "baby"? * * * 1 Credit to The Doors 2 Credit to Sonny & Cher


Word for a person who knows two or three languages

A _polyglot_ is a person who is fluent in many languages, but what do we call a person who is fluent in only two or three languages? Is _bi-glot_ a proper term for this? I don't think the words _bilingual_ / _trilingual_ fit the bill, because I am looking for a _-glot_ word.


I went vs I had gone

> I went home on the twenty seventh of last month or > I had gone home on the twenty seventh of last month? the time of uttering the sentence is two weeks after the action was completed.


What is the etymology and literal meaning of 'Cock a snoot/snook'?

I've been using this expression all my adult life but have no idea what it means or where it originates. Google searches lead me to the description of it being to do with putting your thumb on nose and wiggling four fingers. This is not an entirely satisfying conclusion to my quest. Can anyone elaborate?


Metonym Confusion Redux

It seems that I am once again confused about the finer points of metonyms. The example I give my students is the phrase _Today, Ottawa announced..._ , where _Ottawa_ is a metonym for _the Canadian government_ (because the two are closely-associated concepts). But what about _They went to the bedroom and had a good time_? Is _to have a good time_ a metonym for _to have sex_ (aside from also being a euphemism)? Speaking of which—are euphemisms metonymic by definition (or at least a subset of metonymy)? Also, I bought some sort of medicinal drink at Safeway yesterday and it's called "Hot Lemon Relief"—can _relief_ be a metonym for _(medicinal) drink_?


Which is correct? He takes lessons "on Thursdays" or "at Thursdays".


"More drunk" or "drunker"?

I am at a party. I drink wine till I'm drunk. Then I drink some more. So am I more drunk now, or drunker?


What in the world is "neckbeard vomit"?

A user of U&L posted the following comment in response to somebody's answer: > That's some neckbeard vomit right there. Nice. I investigated and discovered that _neckbeard_ , unsurprisingly, means > Facial hair that does not exist on the face, but instead on the neck. Almost > never well groomed. OK, but what is neckbeard _vomit_? Google only returns four hits for the phrase and one of them is the comment in question. To make matters worse, the poster of the comment seems to consider it a compliment, while to me it seems very much the opposite. So, what is _neckbeard vomit_? Is this a geek slang term I have not come across or was it coined by the comment's author?


Is "spaghetti salad" a phrase?

I am (almost) certain that "spaghetti salad" is a phrase. But, I cannot find _any_ references to this phrase in the oracle of Google. Can someone please confirm that they have at least heard this phrase?   And, please state the meaning and etymology?   If someone can find this via Google, please show me the regular expression to use. **my understanding**   def = "a collection of data that has no organization"   ety = "statistics. As datapoint (one strand of spaghetti) moves across the x-axis, it bounces randomly up/down on the y-axis. A "salad" would be a collection of such randomly moving strands of spaghetti." Am I am losing my mind? Google is AWOL on this, right? They can't index everything.


Interpretation, which is desired to open two story lines

Is there a word, which describes a point in a story, that opens two different story lines, which are both conclusive and intended. If there isn't any word, how would you write this issue?


Active vs passive voice with inanimate object as the subject

I have asked the same question in ELL Stackexchange forum. There all the answers and comments I received was really helpful, but still I was looking for something more. So I have decided to ask this same question here also. I have seen some sentences like this - >   1. The film was announced to be released on this coming Friday. >   2. The film was announced to release on this coming Friday. > Both the sentences are used, and I know they are interchangeable and does bear the same meaning. But I have some doubt about the second sentence - why is it "to release", when the film cant release itself. Some other sentences of similar structure that arises my confusion - >   1. The product sells well. >   2. The book reads well. >   3. The glass broke. > The sentences are understandable, but in each of the sentences the subjects can't perform any job, as they all are inanimate object. The verbs are active, but they acts like they are used as passive. Now my question is how to decide which verb to use this way and which not?


Is "a disclaiming" a gerund?

**EDIT** see end of question for updates: * * * The question came up if this is proper English: > Sorry, I felt the need for a disclaiming for some reason. And I think it is but some others say it isn't. I gave a further example to back up my case that that is acceptable with: > "A disclaiming was made by the mayor" And thus was born the question that you see here. I'm not saying it should be used _all_ the time, but as an occasional usage, is this proper? Yes yes, the appropriate word to use there would've been "disclaimer" not "disclaiming" but disregarding that? * * * My proof that this is acceptable is the countless number of books I've read where I've forgotten more than I remember that I've read, but I'm certain I've seen a literary device such as this used before and not heard a great deal of complaining on it. * * * So since I posted it was pointed out to me that this is most likely a gerund. If it is _indeed_ a gerund, then is this a proper use of _this particular gerund_ in this instance?


"It is having time to think that makes me depressed" — grammatical function of "that"?

> It is having time to think that makes me depressed. In this sentence, what is the grammatical function of the word _that?_


Should valedictions be capitalized?

Recently I was proof reading an email that a coworker was going to send to a superior and I pointed out that the valediction wasn't capitalized. He said it didn't need to be because it was the start of a phrase or clause and not a sentence, and that people only do it because other people do it. But in the back recesses of my mind I'm thinking that there is a rule that says that it should be capitalized. Is my coworker right and capitalization is unnecessary in this case? If I'm correct, what rule or guide can I point to, to prove my stance? (T/t)hanks, Jeremy


How can I say in one word "number written in words"?

If there should be numbers written in words, like "one hundred and ten" instead of "110", how can I say it in one word?


Content Performance

What is a right word to describe **Content/Performance**? It is about best and effective content that form a complete artefact. The example text as below: > **5.4.1 Content/Performance** This is about a better user experience, the > effectiveness of the artefact and the context of the contents. It is part of > the critical component for target users to experience, and the aesthetic is > explained in the post-question survey.


What are some phrases used to notify the speaker that you're still listening?

My employer often contacts me on chat and explains me what the next project is about. He does most of the talking, I just sometimes ask questions and throw in the occasional "okay" and "sure". These words get awkwardly repetitive in longer conversations and I'm looking for some other terms of acknowledgement.


"error" or "wrong"?

For example: >   * What's error in this sentence? >   * What's wrong in this sentence? >


Is it wrong to say "The sun's rays are primarily responsible for skin damage."

> The sun's rays are primarily responsible for skin damage. To me this sounds like it means that the primary activity of the sun's rays is damaging skin. However the intention is obviously that the primary cause of skin damage is the sun's rays. Is this sentence actually wrong, or just ambiguous?


Usage of "When doing something"

How to understand the usage of "when/while doing something" in grammar? For example, > I am watching TV, when sitting in my sofa. I think "when" and "while" can never be used as prep.. They are conj. instead. I remember seeing some explanation from a English grammar book, written for people speaking another language, which basicaly said "when/while doing something" is just a shorthand of "when/while somebody is doing something", where "somebody is" must appear in the main clause, otherwise this shorthand usage is not valid. For example, it is wrong to say > I watch TV, when sitting in my sofa. because in the main clause there is no "be". I would like to see if someone can concur or refute this explanation from rigorous English grammar point of view.


Is it possible to use the verb "torture" in a figurative sense?

Is it possible to use the verb "torture" in a tropical sense? I mean not in a physical sense. For example: > Linda: "So what? Did you see Jack?" > > Tom: "Yes" > > Linda: "So did you talk to him about Betty?" > > Tom: "Well, he even met with Betty tonight himself" > > Linda: "He saw Betty tonight! So, did they arrive at any conclusion?" > > Tom: "Well, yes. They even called the office and received some additional > information" > > Linda: "What kind of additional information?" > > Tom: "Well, I would say super important information. Not only so, but I > myself on my way here found out something even more important" > > Linda: "Tell me everything" > > Tom: " Well, can I have a cup of tea first?" > > Linda: "Oh Tom, don't **torture** me like this" Addition: I used the word "tropical" here because the other day I was reading a book written by one Christian expositor (he died only in 1957) who was interpreting some versus from the New Testament in that book. He said there that some words in the scripture must be taken in their literal meaning, and some - only in their tropical meaning. Since he died only in 1957, I thought that using the word "tropical" in this way would still be okay in the modern English. Also, while I was asking this question I had no idea that "torture" could imply only psychological sufferings. I thought it referred only to physical pain inflicted on someone by someone else in order to get some desired results (like getting some information from the one who is being tortured, some confession, etc.)


Ways to say methods of doing things

I saw a lot of usage of machinery, mechanism, to be used with similar meaning as techniques, ways, methods,.... For example, my math teacher said the machinery in the proof of some theorem is not heavy. Mechanism is also used to describe how something works. I have actually been confused if they can mostly be exchangeable. Also are there similar terms that can be used in this kind of scenario? PS: I have asked similar questions before here, but the post got closed. cerberus encouraged me to ask again.


Can someone please explain this pun?

There's a sentence that I keep reading over and over, and I can't quite grasp what's so funny about it. Perhaps, it isn't funny. Or perhaps, there's a meaning of a word in the sentence that I don't understand. The pun is: > She’s afraid that if she leaves, she’ll become the _life_ of the party.   >  ~Groucho Marx I'm not quite sure what the punchline is here. Perhaps it's a concept I don't get or don't know. Can someone please enlighten me?


"Treatment" vs. "therapy"

We are going to establish a company in order to commercialize a stuttering treatment/therapy program. The treatment/therapy is really effective and backed by a lot of scientific research. In our recent discussions, some disagreement has come up whether to market it as the "XYZ stuttering treatment" or the "XYZ stuttering therapy". On one hand, calling our product the "XYZ stuttering treatment" might be advantageous, because in all the research literature it is referred to as such. On the other hand, calling it the "XYZ stuttering therapy" could be better, because all the competition markets/offers their programs as "therapies", and having the term "therapy" appears to be more serious and seems to imply effectiveness. Also, the word "therapy" appears to be more international, which could help if we offer the program abroad. I'm not a native speaker though, so I wanted to hear your opinion and feedback. What's really the difference between "treatment" and "therapy"? Would you rather recommend calling it the "XYZ stuttering treatment" or the "XYZ stuttering therapy"? Why?


"Didn't want to do X until Y happened" vs. "hadn't wanted to do X until Y happened"

Which answer is correct? > Tony _______to have children until his little daughter was born. After she > won his heart, he decided he wanted a big family. > > A. didn't want.   >  B. hadn't wanted. This is a multiple choice question from the Understanding and Using English Grammar Workbook 3rd edition by Betty Azar. To me, both answers are correct as I cannot see the diffrence. Please show me the wrong option to delete.


Usage of colon in English writing

It seems colons are used more restrictively in English than in my native language (German), so I'm having a bit of trouble with it. Do you think the use of the colon in the following sentences is good style in English, or should I better replace the colons (by semicolons)?   * This leads us to the main goal of this work: to define a statistical model for object recognition.   * I am following my father's advice: first I look left, then right, then I cross the street. I'm really using the colon here for ", which is": "This leads us to the main goal of this work, which is to define a statistical model for object recognition" to make it more concise. Is that wrong? Are there any other good ways to make it as concise as possible and get rid of superfluous words like "which is?"


"zh" vs. "j". Are these pronounced in the same way?

I've seen some Chinese words like "YUEZHONG". Also in some other languages like Persian and Arabic I've seen words written with "zh". Are these two sounds pronounced in the same way? Is there any word in English using the same combination of letters? Is it right to use "zh" to imply the letter "j"?


What does 'culture' mean in this sentence?

> ...which is often used when the physician does not (or cannot) perform a > **culture** to determine the actual bacterium.


What is the difference between "synergistic" and "synergetic"? I believe they both speak of the cooperation of multiple things to produce an output, but how do they differ?


What does "putting someone on" mean?

Like in this example: > He was worried that X was **putting him on**.


Is "how to do it" grammatically correct?

If it is, then what is the verb?


What does ‘Need a turn on the butcher’s block’ mean in cutting down the U.S. Government spending?

I came across a phrase _a turn on the butcher’s block_ in the following sentence appearing in an article of Time Magazine (Dec. 19, 2010 issue) titled _Can Washington Tackle Its Deficit Cows_.   I know how butcher’s block looks like with pictures, and I understand Washington must touch on big chunk of deficit sources. But what does this figurative expression _need a turn on the butcher’s block_ really mean?   Can somebody teach me? > The list of reasons for our looming economic disaster is long: a tax-cutting > and spending spree when economic times were good; the financial crisis, with > its blow to tax revenues and massive spending in response; two long wars in > Iraq and Afghanistan. There are also plenty of ways we can get out of hock. > The Bowles-Simpson plan has spotlighted some of our government's long- > standing sacred cows — ones that may finally need a turn on the butcher's > block. Here are three of the most expensive ...   >  — _Spending on Military Machine, Social Security, and The American Dream > Subsidy_


"defined by" or "defined as"?

MY main interest is in the mathematical context, where one defines objects by a formula. I can imagine 2 cases :   1. Direct case, "direct definition": _The function f is defined by/as f=a+b+c_   2. Implicit definition: _The number x is defined by/as a = g(x)_ I would tend to use as for the case 1 and by for the second one.


Gay (homosexual) and gay (happy)

When did the main meaning of the word 'gay' shift from happy to homosexual? How did the meaning evolve, if there is a relation between the two?


Why "Speak of the devil"?

Why is the expression " _Speak of the devil_ " and not " _Speaking of the devil_ "? For me, the -ing would make more sense because you're currently talking about someone, when he/she appears. For example, if you're talking about something, and that subject made you remember something else, you would say something like: > **Speaking** of groceries, I have to go to the supermarket in an hour. but you wouldn't say: > **Speak** of groceries, I have to go to the supermarket in an hour.


Terminology for the sub-structures of laws & legislations

I am working on a paper for Russian history class that deals with emancipation reform of 1861. Basically reform was accomplished through legislature, made of 17 acts, and each act was made of multiple "laws". What would be the correct term for "laws"?


South Park grammar perplexity 2

This is another strange example from South Park I am posting : "How about you come up with the reason why we don’t break your arms?". Why is the present used in the second part of the sentence? How is it called in grammar? Shouldn't it be "we shouldn’t/wouldn't break your arms". Thank you


How different is “Nothingness” from “Nothing,” “Emptiness,” “Void,” “Vanity,” "Vacuum," and “Zero”?”

Pursuant to my previous question on “Fear Factors” in the article of Financial Times (November 23, 2007) -“The ten things everyone should know about science,” there was the following sentence: > “And what does the future (of the universe) hold? One possibility is that > everything will come together again in a Big Crunch, after countless billion > of years. But at the moment cosmologist believe it more likely that our > universe will expand for ever into a cold, desolate _nothingness_.” I was interested in the word, “nothingness” as I don’t think I’ve heard it very often. Is “nothingness” a day-to-day use English word or an academic or technical word to describe such things as an effect of the Big Crunch as being used here? Or can I use it for everything that doesn’t exist? How does it differ from other words implying the state of nothing exists, for instances, “Emptiness,” “Void,” “Vanity,” "vacuum,"and “Zero”?


Using "that" to describe everything.. Is this incorrect, or poor grammar?

I'm not very English literate, but I am annoyed by the use of "that" during the CrossFit games. Announcers, coaches, and athletes all said "that" more times than I can count.   * Move _that_ bar.    * Use _that_ hip.    * Pick up _that_ weight.    * Tell me about _that_ workout...  "That" is consistently used in place of what I feel should be "the". I do not think I know enough to even ask a good question here... What role does "that" play when describing an object?


Complex sentence whose subject is a clause

In Thomas Harvey's _Elementary Grammar and Compsition_ he says: > A complex sentence whose subject or predicate only is a clause, need not be > separated into principal and subordinate clauses in analysis. Later in the section he gives the example, "That he is very sick, is evident," parses the sentence, then gives a sentence diagram. ![sentence](http://i.imgur.com/dgLQJDU.png?1) I'm curious how one _would_ break this sentence into its principal and subordinate clause.


Diplomatic Status of a territory?

What would you call the status of a territory? The territory can be a country, a region, a state, what is the expression that qualifies its status, is it a `diplomatic status` ?


Word similar to "indecisive" but more conflicted

I was trying to describe the facial expression in this GIF and couldn't come up with a single word. ![The GIF in question](http://i.stack.imgur.com/duDRT.gif) On the surface, it looks like the feeling expressed by this character is indecisiveness, but it seems more conflicted. I actually found this GIF when it was a top response on a question on Reddit that was something like "How would you feel if the Westboro Baptist Church was attacked by terrorists?" It summed up the feeling of the entire thread perfectly (e.g. any sort of violence and terrorism is inexcuseable, but... it's one extreme group hit by another). Is there a single word for this specific feeling?


The meaning of the word assumed

What does 'assumed' mean in this sentence? > Practitioners may perceive constraints and challenges to providing high > levels of confidentiality to young people, in the form of _assumed duties_ > to report child abuse, under-age sexual activity, and the need to obtain > prior parental consent for counselling. Is it the verb assume where it means to 'take on a duty' or does it mean 'false, pretended and accepted as true without proof'? Thank you.


How to use "theme"?

When you want to ask for the theme to someone who is dressing up as something, which is the correct English? "what's the theme?","what's the theme of?" or anything else more natural expressions??


What's the meaning of "unplugged"?

English is my second language and I'm wondering what's the exactly meaning of "somebody unplugged"? Such as "Joe Biden unplugged"?


Using source as a verb to mean "to provide a citation"

Recently on the meta for English.se, I used the following sentence: > Personally, I think we should **source** answers if possible, but this is > also sensitive to the level of the asker. My question relates to whether this usage of **source** as a verb is as one person responded "a rather lazy and hence unclear phrase?" The other person suggested that it could admit two interpretations: > we should provide sources in answers OR > we should seek answers * * * google defines source as a verb as follows: > obtain from a particular source. I learned to use source in the way I describe in the midst of university teaching. Specifically, we often say regarding claims that are not original to a student or that state data without a citation -- "you need to source this." Is something in my usage odd, incorrect, or lazy?


'Throne' for a Lavatory

I have come across the usage of 'throne' for a lavatory. Is there any special etymology to this? Is it simply because a throne is a seat? Or does the equivalence have any royal * _under_ *pinnings to it? ;)


Is it correct to use 'Forgot password' or 'Forgotten password'

Many websites use the phrase 'Forgot password?' when prompting users to renew their login passwords. Is this correct usage or should it be 'Forgotten password?'.


"Kebabs, fruit machines, and brasses" -- what do these slang words mean?

More from the British movie _The Football Factory_. In the following dialogue, the main character, a Cockney English speaker played by actor Danny Dyer, waxes philosophical about why he enjoys being a football hooligan and would rather do nothing else on a weekend: > What else are you gonna do on a Saturday? Sit in your fuckin' armchair > wankin' off to Pop Idols? Then try and avoid your wife's gaze as you > struggle to come to terms with your sexless marriage? Then go and **spunk > your wages on kebabs, fruit machines and brasses**? Fuck that for a laugh! I > know what I'd rather do. Tottenham away -- love it! I'm guessing this is slang of some sort, and I'd love to understand what he means by each word.


Intimate and Intimate

I was thinking about the "intimate" word used here: > How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend? How can I differentiate both words? **Edit:** in response to comments, I don't quite understand the meaning of the sentence. What is the difference between the first "intimate" and the second?


What are "a" and "certain" adding in meaning to the phrase "a certain Mr. Ripley"?

Consider the following sentences: > I had my identity stolen by Mr. Ripley. and > I had my identity stolen by a Mr. Ripley. and > I had my identity stolen by a certain Mr. Ripley. In what sense do these 3 sentences differ from one another? How do _a_ and _certain_ modify the middle and last sentences?


Newton Law vs Newton’s Law

Do I need an apostrophe- _s_ in reference to major concepts? For example, I see both versions as in:   * _Planck **’s** constant_   * _Planck constant_ Are both forms considered correct?


Syntax analysis of the sentence

I'm trying to analyse the following sentence. > To understand the importance of this event you should know all the facts. It seems to me that this sentence is complex, and «To understand importance of this event» is dependent adverbial clause. But then, as my grammar book says, it would require a comma before «you», since the dependent adverbial clause comes before the independent clause. So, please help to do the syntax analysis of this sentence and to understand whether the comma is needed.


What's up with the hyphen in "orang-utan"?

For most of my life 'till about a couple of years ago, I had only seen the spelling _orangutan_ written to describe those delightful red-headed apes from the tropical forests of Borneo. Lately, though, I've increasingly been seeing a strange spelling in certain scientific publications I read: _orang-utan_ , with a hyphen. Is there a particular reason why this hyphen was added? It's strange, because usually in English, words evolve to have their hyphens and diacriticals omitted, not added.


What does 'In and out of time' mean?

I've encountered the phrase `I can feel your heart beat in and out of time` in the song `Call To Arms, Angels And Airwaves` and can't figure out what it means. Does it mean that the heart beat is timeless? Or that it is constant (throughout eternity)?


When and why did the em-dash and the hyphen supplant the semicolon?

It seems to me that semicolons are rarely used today in ordinary English writing - even in newspapers and books. They appear to have been replaced, in many cases, by em-dashes and hyphens (the hyphen being used on the Internet and/or in informal communications). In some cases, semicolons have been replaced by periods (i.e. something which might have previously been one sentence would now be written as more than one sentence). Over what period of time did this change take place, and why?


"Menu of services include" or "...includes"?

I'm not sure about the pluralization here: > menu of services includes or > menu of services include Which is correct?


I am currently in the process of collaboratively editing a research paper, and participated in a meeting about it today. During the discussion, the head of the group made a blanket statement about commas, to the effect that it is not fashionable to use too many commas anymore, and that the goal should be to eliminate as many of them as possible. Is this a valid argument? I thought that the rules for using commas were relatively clear and unambiguous. Is the phrase, "Use commas sparingly" a valid piece of advice? Do I need to quote the "Little Brown" handbook every time I insert a comma into this document? Or has the use of commas become more an issue of "common practice" than one of rigid rules? Here is an ambiguous sample from the paper, to which I have added a comma for clarity: > This process makes use of commercially available software to read the data > files, and custom software to convert the files to a different data format. ...and here is a sample that I consider unambiguous (the comma is required to separate two independent clauses): > The organization does not regulate the data products it receives, and the > software application cannot always read the data due to errors resulting > from different vendor implementations.


Term for bowling alley machines that fix pins

What do we call the bowling alley machines that fix the pins after the ball rolls and hopefully strikes them out?


What is a semantic script?

Recently, there was a question about 'semantic roles', and someone explained them to me here. It was great. So, I was hoping someone may also know what "semantic scripts" are. I've tried searching Google and some dictionary websites, but they aren't coming up with anything. Actually, I am only able to find the term used in a theory of humor. I need to have the term defined to understand that theory, though. So, the context is poisoned.


Is there a term for "mains power" in American English?

I'm not sure if this is a case of selective memory, or if it's real. It seems that Americans do not use the term "mains power," which is common in British English. The closest synonym I know is "wall power," which is imprecise. As an American electrical engineer, I don't want to flip-flop dialects, and "wall power" is both naive-sounding and awkward when referring to 120 V inside a device or otherwise far from a wall. Is there a better term I should know, or should I assume that "mains" is mainstream to my fellow Americans? **Edit:** According to Wikipedia: > In the US, electric power is referred to by several names including > household power, household electricity, powerline, domestic power, wall > power, line power, AC power, city power, street power, and grid power. This insinuates that "mains" is not an American term, and that the alternatives are all equally imprecise. **Conclusion:** Americans are likely to use _mains_ as a synonym for _grid_ , which isn't baseless. So really the British style only seemed better because I hadn't yet considered whether the word already has another meaning.


What's the meaning of "on notice" and "under advisement"?

Can someone please give a clear definition and distinction of these terms, as when a public figure is asked a difficult question and says: "I'll take that on notice" or "I'll take that under advisement."


What does "child of reflection" mean?

From _Venus in Furs_ of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (full text): > And yet a restless, always unsatisfied craving for the nudity of paganism," > she interrupted, "but that love, which is the highest joy, which is divine > simplicity itself, is not for you moderns, you **children of reflection**. > It works only evil in you. As soon as you wish to be natural, you become > common. To you nature seems something hostile; you have made devils out of > the smiling gods of Greece, and out of me a demon. You can only exorcise and > curse me, or slay yourselves in bacchantic madness before my altar. ... What does "children of reflection" mean? I'm aware that reflection has meanings like: "careful thought or consideration", "consideration of some subject matter" among others. From the context, it looks like its meaning is close to "modern" or perhaps "children of reason", but I cannot be sure. P.S.: The original German phrase is "euch Kinder der Reflexion" (can be freely downloaded from Feedbooks)


"Oldest son or oldest daughter"

Contract states > Upon the death of the stockholder his interest shall pass to the **oldest > son or oldest daughter**. I am the oldest daughter and have a younger brother. Who gets the interest?


What does “candid” mean besides being honest?

According to various unnamed dictionaries, _candid_ means "being honest, telling the truth". However, when I googled the word, a lot of pictures of women in bikinis popped up! Can someone tell me why Google thinks the word _candid_ is related to pictures of scantily clad women?


What are the common English mistakes that native Russian speakers make?

I've lived in the US for 10 years. I've never learned grammar formally and usually rely on intuition to guide me. What really bothers me as of recently is my tendency to really get stuck on a specific type of grammatical concerns during writing. I have no knowledge of the formal term for this class of mistakes. Can someone point out to me the common mistakes us Russians make? Also, what are the proper terms for these mistakes? Is there a good book or an exercise set to learn from? This is a sample of my writing.


Does a recursive procedure "recur"?

In programming, a recursive procedure is defined as a procedure which refers to itself in the code. The question is, is "recur" the corresponding verb to the adjective "recursive"? Can I say that a recursive procedure "recurs"?


Unusual usage of "do" in "do you follow your path", in a sentence that is not a question

I don't understand the structure of this sentence: > “Well, well, Inspector,” said he. “ **Do** you follow your path and I will > follow mine. It is from _The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge_ , part 2, a Sherlock Holmes short story. Why is there a "do" there? shouldn't it be "you follow", or "you do follow"?


What does "God sends meat and devil sends cooks" mean?

What does the quote **_God sends meat and devil sends cooks_** by _Thomas Deloney_ mean? And if it doesn't have a specific meaning, in which situation can I use it?


Is it correct to say "Me and my friend, we..."?

I know normally to use: > "My friend and I went shopping." But what about when we make it into: > "My friend and I, we went shopping." It seems to me that in this structure, we could or should change it to: > "Me and my friend, we went shopping." My reasoning is that it "sounds correct" to say "Me, I went shopping." What's correct?


What are people who 'flee' called?

So as far as I understand 'to flee' is the verb, derivative noun from it is 'a flight' (as the process of running away), but what are the people who flee called? (And I don't mean cowards and other words of this kind.)


Is this sentence proper grammar?

Is this sentence using proper grammar? - "The money was and is not a loan."


Synonyms to "teach a course"

I'm a non-native English speaker who sometimes teaches topics like programming and development practices but I haven't found a good way to express that in English. "Teaching" and "educating" sound too school-like. The courses are for professionals, typically one or two days long. "Mentoring" sounds like something longer, more continuous, not in lecture/exercise form. "Lecturing" sounds boring and doesn't include the exercises part. And the thing that I teach, is that a "course" or a "class"? I sometimes use the expression "hold a course", but I've found no reference online where it is used for something other than navigation (often metaphorically) so I guess that's Swenglish. What would be the conventional way to say this?


What word is this?

In the film Gangs of New York, what is this word spoken?   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADmX9eMEV9U&t=1m38s It sounds like benay. What does it mean? The subtitles don't have anything for this word.


"Steamroller" to describe a person as very determined

Can "steamroller" be used to describe a person like in the following sentence? > He is like a steamroller; nothing will stop him from getting work done. Or are there any other meanings to the word I don't know of? (English is not my mother tongue.)


How to correctly express “I don't like it too”?

What are correct ways to express that one also feels the same way with statement such as, “I don't like it.” or “I can't do it.”? E.g., do all of these have the correct form and same meaning?   1. I don't like it too.   2. I don't like it also.   3. I don't like it either.   4. I don't like it neither.   5. I also don't like it.   6. I too don't like it. Are there any other ways to express this meaning, which don't change the form too much?


When listing species of plants, what does "var." mean?

Sometimes within the Latin names of plants, I will find the word "var.", which I assume is an abbreviation, e.g. _Ursinia chrysanthemoides var. geyeri_.   * What is the meaning of this?   * Is it sometimes abbreviated in other ways, such as "v."?   * Should it be written in italics along with the other Latin information?


The use of "'rat out on"

To leave or abandon. Can this expression be used to indicate an ordinary instance of leaving or abandoning like: I rat out on the party after midnight. I rat out on the city before noon. Or has this expression a specific meaning with a more restricted use?


Does the etymology of the word "government" mean "to control the mind"?

I've heard some conspiracy theorists say that _government_ , when broken down into its root Latin words, means "to control the mind". I'm wondering if this is really true or not. Is it? **Edit:** My own research. Regarding the _-ment_ suffix, Wiktionary says "from _-mentum_ via Old French _-ment_ ". _-mentum_ doesn't support this claim, but _-ment_ might: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-ment#French Only etymology 1 supports this claim. Etymology 2 links back to _-mentum_. I am unsure whether this morpheme, as used in _government_ , draws from etymology 1 or 2.


What does "suite your self" mean?

I have heard from some of TV series. They are saying "suite your self", what does it mean?


Punctuation usage safe practice

Is it acceptable to use an exclamation point after a question mark to emphasize the question?


"Stop working" vs "stopped to work"

I want to know, is there any difference between "stop + v.(ing)" and "stopped to + v.". These are example sentences. > _I stop working for a month._ vs _I stopped to work for a month._   >  _I stop watching movies._ vs _I stopped to watch movies._   >  _I stop cooking for a year._ vs _I stopped to cook._ I read “I like to do (be) something” vs “I like doing (being) something” but I still don't understand what is the difference or when and how to use them.


Word for "heating food in pot without heat on"

What's that verb to describe "to heat food in a lid-covered pot without heat on"? For example, when preparing food such as pastas you typically boil it in water for some time maybe 10 minutes or so depending on the amount, then afterwards you turn off the heat and just let it sit with the lid covered while it's being cooked inside. What's that word to describe that process, that process of letting the food cook inside the lid-covered pot while the heat is turned off? Like, "boil the pasta for 10 minutes then turn off the heat and [that word] for another 10 minutes.


The couple holding hand with intertwine finger. The couple intertwine their hand. Intertwine hand or finger. Which is correct?


Is it appropriate or polite to say 'I am here to educate you'?

When doing a presentation, is the following introduction > I am here to educate you   >  (or)   >  Let me educate you considered polite to say to an audience?


What word denotes a belief that apparently inanimate objects actually express a malicious, autonomous will?

I came across this word a few years ago, but can't find it now. I do not mean _deodand_ , _animism_ , _pathetic fallacy_ , _scapegoating_ , _anthropomorphism_ , or _personification_ (Word for attaching blame to inanimate objects). If I recall correctly, this particular word sounded like a religion but looked like a phobia; it may well have been coined by the creator of the content in which I encountered it. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.


Can the word 'fluently' be interchanged with 'fluidly' in this sentence, "I see I can't write fluidly either."

I was asking a question concerning the use of the words 'fluently' or 'fluidly' in a particular sentence. I did not mean to post it as an Answer.


What are some old-world alternatives or precursors to 'WTF' (expressions of frustration or surprise)?

Such as 'what on Earth' or 'what in the world', etc. I'm trying to come up with a list of witty alternatives. Note: I'm not looking for alternatives to the letters W, T, and F. I'm looking for alternative phrases such as the ones I listed above.


How to insult a Tory (or people holding a conservative viewpoint in general)?

I am writing a contemporary theatre play where one character - a senior businessman - first introduces himself as a not particularly conservative person. Later in the play, his protégé finds that the businessman is in fact deeply conservative and wants to express his anger over the deception. I'm therefore looking for a british word that can insult Tories or conservative persons in general, emphasising that it is the conservativeness that the insulter takes objection of. I started with "Twit", which might remind of Monty Python's "Upper Class Twit of the Year", but I have the feeling, that this is not a particularly strong insult these days. Since I'm not a native speaker, I have trouble in general estimating the strength of insults.


Pronunciation of UI

I heard someone pronounce UI as _yooey_. I guess this comes from the pronunciation of GUI, which is _gooey_. How common is this compared to _yoo- eye_ and _user-interface_?


Nested parentheticals -- restructuring for clarity

> It's widely known that the name "JavaScript" is trademarked by Oracle > (formerly a trademark of Sun, formerly a trademark of Netscape). What was formerly a trademark of Netscape?   Sun?   Oracle?   JavaScript? How would one recast the sentence to unambiguously give each of the alternate meanings? * * * [EDIT]   The sentence is merely an example. The question relates to correctly structuring a sentence for clarity.


The meaning of "reserve of living"

What might be the meaning of the phrase "reserve of living"   The quotation comes from Maeve Gilmore's, _A World Away_. > How foreign to the spirit's early beauty   >  And to the amoral integrity of the mind   >  And to all those whose **reserve of living** is lovely   >  Are the tired creeds that can be so unkind   >  [...] It is this "reserve of living" what troubles me. I am not sure if "reserve of living" might mean "to keep one's living to oneself", in the sense of not living life as most people do, to remain uninvolved, to refrain from life... PS. I am not a native speaker and I do not know what this "of" does to the "reserve".


Can you use "has" instead of "contains"?

If I say: The new ipad has a 4.5" lcd screen and a microUSB slot. instead of: The new ipad contains a 4.5" lcd screen and a microUSB slot. Is it better or worse? Is "contains" necessary, am I losing some meaning by simply putting a broader "has".


How is justice served?

_Serve_ is a ditransitive verb: “I served him; I served him dinner.” Dinner is served when it is delivered; and a person is served when food is placed in front of him. In which sense is **justice served** in American English? Say for example in the sentence “He was led away for justice to be served” which occurred in an American documentary recently broadcast in the UK? It appeared to mean that he would be served with justice. Does it primarily mean that the offender receives his just deserts, or that justice is honoured by what happens to the offender? * * * Meta: I've tagged this american-english because it seems that using _serve_ with _justice_ is more American than British, particularly when an offender is punished. Brits are more likely to have justice _done_  (“and seen to be done”) or _carried out,_ or even _meted out_. Those verbs make the usage clear: justice is delivered to the offender. If justice is _served_ in the UK, it could easily mean that a defendant is acquitted (that is, justice is satisfied with a just result). The _CSI_ episode “Justice is Served” (Season 1, episode 21) played on this dual meaning.


What is the word for unconsciously blocking out background noises?

What is the word for the phenomenon where your brain blocks out background sounds, because they are constant? For example when you don't hear the air conditioning whirring away until it stops.


"A depends on B and C" or "A depends on B and on C?

I know that, in some cases, it can change the meaning. For instance, > "The delay depends **on** how the cpu handles the processes and the network > load." is ambiguous and could mean that the cpu handles the network load, while > "The delay depends **on** how the cpu handles the processes and **on** the > network load." is more clear. But, what about: > "The travel time depends **on** how fast you walk and the distance to your > destination." Would it be better to put an "on" preposition before "the distance to your destination"?


Source of "-bie" in "freebie"

_Freebie_ means free things. Why is there a post-fix _-bie_? Does it have meaning itself?


To crumple up a paper

Is "crease up a paper" an idiomatically correct expression for the action of taking a piece of paper in your hands and pressing it into a ball? The action you would do, for example, if rejecting something you have written on a paper, before throwing it into the trash can. Are there other idiomatic expressions for the same thing, and when would they be used? Is there a word for the result of this action – the "ball" of paper? **Edit:** The title now reflects the correct expression.


What does “rock on Wayne” mean?

Could anyone tell me what does _rock on Wayne_ mean? The context is > Classes don't usually have data, but if they do, rock on Wayne.


What’s wrong with “… enforce that …”

The following sentence seems grammatically incorrect to me as a native English speaker (should be _ensure_ , not _enforce_ ): > People then create laws to enforce that these regulations are being > followed. That said, I can’t quite figure out what is wrong with it. _Ensure_ and _enforce_ are both verbs, and are often grammatically interchangeable with one another.   1. Is there something grammatically wrong with the given sentence, or is it just a strange wording?   2. What exactly is wrong with it?


Adjective for "terrified yet calm and capable"

What is an adjective to describe the duality of a first responder (such as an EMT responding to a terrorist attack) who is terrified for the wounded, yet simultaneously calm, detached, and capable enough to give aid?


What does "you'll be in your whack" mean?

Another colorful expression from that British movie I mentioned earlier. The context of the quote here is that there are these guys trying to smuggle ecstasy pills, and there's another guy hosting their meeting in exchange for a below-the-table bribe, though he's not directly involved himself. The host is anxious and wants them to move on quickly from the spot he's providing, as he's a civilian -- he doesn't "want to get nicked." One of the smugglers retorts back to him, "Don't worry, you'll be in your whack", in what sounds like a Cockney English accent. So my questions are: What does this phrase mean, exactly? What does the _whack_ add to the meaning? Is it common amongst certain types of British English speakers?


Using "the" before ordinal numbers

When learning English I was told that ordinal numbers should always be used with "the" before them. But I often see that this is not always so strict, for example I heard the phrase "April first" instead of "April the first". Or when installing OS Windows we could see "Setup is preparing your computer for first use" phrase on a screen. When should I use the definite article "the" before "first", "second" and so on?


"Is" with singular and plural nouns

I came across the sentence > My biggest grievance is grammar mistakes. I'd be inclined to write it as > My biggest grievance is _with_ grammar mistakes. or > Grammar mistakes are my biggest grievance. What is the correct way to write this, and why?


What is the correct pronunciation of the name Ceri?

Is it incorrect to pronounce the name _Ceri_ — which is of Welsh origin I think — as _seri_ instead of _keri_?


Is this a subject verb agreement error?

My English teacher says that the following is an "agreement" (which I assume means subject-verb agreement) error. He underlined the bolded parts of the sentence. > **According to** Political Research Associates, who used data gathered by > the FBI, **recorded** hate crimes against Muslims increased by almost 1800% > from 2000 to 2001 (Political Research Associates). I've studied stuff online on subject verb agreements and cant find why this is an error. Could anyone help and maybe suggest a better sentence if this is wrong?


"What could X do besides Y?" or "What could X do, besides Y?"

Example: > But what can a tree do(,) besides turning carbon dioxide into oxygen? Should I place a comma there? Why or why not?


Does English have a name for padded/insulated trousers worn over your regular trousers when outside in extreme cold?

I'm currently travelling in Northern China and Mongolia and about a month ago I spent a few days hitchhiking with some local truck drivers. I've been wearing long johns under my regular jeans because the temperatures are getting to -20 celcius and below. But one of the drivers when he had to be outside for longer periods had something the opposite of long johns, special trousers that were worn _over_ his regular trousers that were padded with insulation. I'm from Australia where it never gets so cold so hadn't seen anything like them before. But I know in other English-speaking parts of the world such as parts of USA and Canada it can easily get this cold. So I have to assume these trousers are also used in such areas and therefore must have a name. **What do we call these in English?** (Sorry I don't have a photo. I don't care if it's a single word or a phrase.)


I find that this monologue is very hard to understand

This is monologue from Caddyshack movie, which's become pretty famous internet mem. And some points of his speech are hard for understanding for me. > So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a > **looper** at a course over in the Himalayas. A looper, you know, a caddy, a > looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they > give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing > robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I > give him the **driver**. **He hauls off and whacks one** \-- big hitter, the > Lama -- long, into a ten-thousand foot crevice, right at the base of this > glacier. And do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga...gunga -- gunga > galunga. So we finish the **eighteenth** and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, > "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you > know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on > your deathbed, you will receive total consiousness." **So I got that goin' > for me** , which is nice. Hard parts are bold.   1. I didn't find that kind of profession 'looper' can mean?   2. Gave him 'driver'? What should that mean?   3. I don't understand that following sentence means at all   4. Finish the eighteenth? Again, no idea. Eighteenth as 1980 or what?   5. And finally what does **I got that goin' for me** mean?


Difference between "get rid of" and "rid of"

What is the difference between the two? Would the following sentence work with "get rid of"? > We need to rid the world of hunger.


Positive and negative clause comparison in the same sentence

What is the right way to perform a positive and a negative adverb comparison in the beginning of the sentence? As an example, which of the following ways is correct:   1. Similarly to yesterday, and opposed to tomorrow, we are eating dinner together tonight.    2. Similarly to yesterday, and as opposed to tomorrow, we are eating dinner together tonight.    3. Similarly to yesterday, but opposed to tomorrow, we are eating dinner together tonight.    4. Similarly to yesterday, but as opposed to tomorrow, we are eating dinner together tonight.    5. Like yesterday and unlike tomorrow, we are eating dinner together tonight.    6. Like yesterday but unlike tomorrow, we are eating dinner together tonight.  I know that like/unlike are not supposed to be used in case of comparing clauses, or am I mistaken?


What are "How to ... ?" questions (errors) called?

I see questions formed like "How to do this?" every day. They are so frequent that I wonder if there is a name for grammatical errors of this kind.


What is the meaning of not in "as often as not" and "as likely as not"?

Am I failing to get a point here? > Collins English Dictionary: > > as often as not: **quite** frequently > > as likely as not: **very** probably Considering the meanings of these phrases, to my eye, they come to have connotations not in line with their real meanings. Before consulting my dictionary I envisaged that **as often as not** would most probably mean **just about never** rather than _quite frequently_ , and that **as likely as not** would be associated more with **impossibility** than with _high probability_.In short, I expected **not** , in the phrases above, to have the same implication as **nothing** does in, for example, **as good as nothing**. Do you think **not** in these phrases is of some connotation different from what its commonplace definitions convey? Do you ever believe the component words preserve their meanings after these phrases are broken down and thus, are we supposed to treat the phrases the way idioms are treated? I found one answer, but with no reference so far.


What is the proper word/phrase for SMS style language? Then one's which are commonly used while sending text messages, containing shortened words, phonetic spelling, multiple punctuations ( _?????????????_ instead of _?_ ) etc. Something like: > i dun feel the same way about any1 else + i kinda hate galz now , ......i > dun want any of em now......my parents want to but i dun ....... I was guessing _improper_ but wasn't sure.


What is the meaning of "pole to pole" here?

In the poem _Invictus_ by William Ernest Henley (Youtube) I failed to grasp the meaning of the line "black as the pit from pole to pole": > Out of the night that covers me,   >  **Black as the pit from pole to pole,**   >  I thank whatever gods may be   >  For my unconquerable soul.   >  In the fell clutch of circumstance   >  I have not winced nor cried aloud.   >  Under the bludgeonings of chance   >  My head is bloody, but unbowed.   >  [...] What does it mean? What does _pole_ refer to here?


Which concept in physics is closest to the general concept of power?

The general concept of power, as in social and political power, but also as in "power levels", is very different from the concept of power in physics (where it refers to the rate of doing work). Since power is a bad fit, which concept in physics is closest to the general concept of power?


X beats Y beats Z

On one of my pages, I have the following text: > If a tie occurs, the tie is broken as follows: Spicy beats Dry beats Sweet > beats Bitter beats Sour, and Spicy beats Sour. This text explains how ties are broken, for example, Spicy wins over Dry, and Dry wins over Sweet. Is it good style or usage to chain each item with "beats" this way? It's not mentioned in Garner's Modern American Usage or in Pocket Fowler's, as far as I can tell. Does the chaining of "beats" make the text confusing or otherwise not ideal? * * * I'm also interested in learning the origin of this form, "X beats Y beats Z", which is a so-called "anti-grammatical" form. When did it start? Why did writers use this form rather than "X beats Y, which beats Z"? Is this form mentioned in any reference works? * * * Here are some examples I've just found:   * http://www.dragonflycave.com/faq.aspx   * http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/11387_SCG_Daily_The_Process_of_Choosing_Your_Deck.html   * http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/joey_ravn/forums/?page=2   * http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/4926492991   * http://www.rpgdl.com/archives/509


Does a laser “etch” things, or does it “engrave” them?

Which (if any) of these adjectives would you use for describing a surface that has been cut using a laser beam:   * a _laser- **etched_** surface   * a _laser- **engraved_** surface   * a _laser- **(something else)_** surface   * a _something else_ surface So far I have found out that _etched_ is generally lighter and made with acid, while _engrave_ refers to a deeper trace, usually done with some physical tool. But in the context of lasers, I have seen both words used. Are they interchangeable, or is there some difference in nuance?


Can anyone come up with two names whose pronunciations are respectively same as "who" and "how"?

I would like to find out occidental names whose pronunciation are close to my names in my native language. The first name and second name contain preferably only Latin alphabet. In order to state the question properly, I already found out two ordinary words whose pronunciation are very close to my names. First name is "how" and the last name is "who". Are there two names whose pronunciations are respectively the same as "who" and "how" in English phonetics? "How" in mandarin means "immense as the sky".


Confusion with alphabetical order

![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/w5NWA.jpg) If my last name was **Lin** , where would I fit?


Is "burst oneself laughing" a valid expression?

My friend recently used the phrase: > She nearly **burst herself laughing**. Is this a valid expression. I've certainly never heard it before, but he insists it is in common use.


What does "pay the graces" mean?

Have the Three Graces actually been paid? Is that the origin? I found it in the lyrics for a song, where it doesn't seem to make sense at all: > I had an impulse to clear it all away   >  oh I used the tactics, make everybody pay   >  just something that I knew I had to do   >  But through it all I kept my eyes on you > > Oh, I keep it all clean   >  I've paid the graces there   >  No Kings of Misuse   >  No sellers of flesh   >  Just something that I knew I had to do. The Song's called "The Kill", so I guess someone's been killed and the killer leaves the scene clean, or didn't kill the person too gruesomely, but how does that have anything to do with paying the graces?


Does the 18th century contraction "on't" survive phonologically in English today?

The February 18th-24th edition of _The Economist_ has an article titled "Neurons v free will" in which the author, Anthony Gottlieb begins by quoting Dr. Johnson's statement about free will: > "Sir ... we know our will is free, and there's an end on't." Gottlieb echoes the archaism (?) in the last paragraph of his article: > Stepping back from investigations of the brain to look at our actions in the > context of everyday life isn't quite the clincher that Dr Johnson would have > liked. But it is a good beginning on't." Clearly the writer uses the contraction _on't_ here as part of a stylistic bookend to the opening quote. Just as clearly, though, the apostrophe was meant in print to indicate the spoken suppression of an unstressed syllable: _ont_ vs. _on it_. From Google NGrams I observe that the printed use of the contraction was never great and is in fact dying out, although it has maintained a surprising persistence nonetheless, waiting till the last 30 years or so before flatlining completely. ![Use of on't vs. on it in English](http://i.stack.imgur.com/jjcdC.png) Still, the large disparity could be due to other factors, such as the arguable preference of book editors and writers to favor spelling out clearly the words involved in many phonological contractions. Consider how often a phrase that is pronounced _it was raining cats 'n' dogs_ is rendered in print as _it was raining cats and dogs_. Even more to the point, words ending in _-ing_ are normally printed with the final _g_ but often spoken without it: _something's going on_ is often heard as _somethin's goin' on_. My question, mainly to speakers of British English since I have never heard the contraction used in the U.S., is whether this phonological "short'nin'" survives in the speech of any British dialect today. Can anyone put an end on't for me?


What word describes a house without anyone inside?

If all occupants left a house for a short period of time (not longer than a day), how can that house be described?


Charles Dickens' "for good and for evil" and "superlative degree of comparison"

Charles Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities" starts with the words: > It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of > wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was > the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of > Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had > everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to > heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so > far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted > on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of > comparison only. I have a problem with understanding the last part of that, _ie_ > the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest > authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the > superlative degree of comparison only. What does he mean by "for good or for evil" and "in the superlative degree of comparison only"? I understand every single word he says but not that part.


Usage of "to find out"

> Your father climbed to some rough rocks near the coast to find out that > under the rocks, our friend Lake lies severely wounded. Is this usage of "to find something by chance (as a result of climbing)" correct?


Listing two opposite opinions in an academic paper

My spouse is writing an academic paper about artificial intelligence. She wants to list some arguments that support the idea that a certain algorithm is intelligent, and some arguments that resist the idea. Each list of argument is about one page long, and every argument is a passage. I think that a one-page gap between `On the first hand` and `On the other hand` would be excessive. What's the appropriate way to start each list in a way that shows the contrast?


Idiom to say something beats something else greatly in a rivalry situation

Say for example we are comparing the hotness of weather of two countries or cities. They are both hot, but one beats another one to a great extent. Lets say we are comparing Dubai to Death Valley. How can we say in short that Death Valley beats Dubai in hotness greatly? Something maybe in the form of:               Death Valley ____ Dubai in hotness!      But not necessarily confined to the form above, if there is a better way to deliver the meaning. **EDIT:** In Persian for example we say something like:               Death Valley is so hot, it puts Dubai in its side pocket!


"Not realizing" vs "not having realized"?

"In a humorous gaffe, President George W. Bush once said that Ian Fleming was the discover of penicillin, not realizing that Ian Fleming was in fact the creator of James Bond." "In a humorous gaffe, President George W. Bush once said that Ian Fleming was the discover of penicillin, not having realized that Ian Fleming was in fact James Bond's creator." 1 is correct. Is it because of the "creator" or because of the "not having realized" thing?


Anglicization from Hebrew

How should one transliterate the well-known Jewish Holiday that usually takes place in December (or late November)?               Hannukah      or               Chanukah


Is "on one hand, on the other hand" a cliche?

> We should find a Way of long peace instead of living just for today. On one > hand, we have to prevent the community from coming apart and suffering the > disasters caused by it, on the other hand, to find a way of long peace for > the society.   >  (my own translation of a Chinese article) An American friend told me that we should sift through more the original structure of the Chinese sentence in order to give a fluent translation. ALthough correct, it is awkard in English.The main problem, he says, is "on one hand..on the other hand". This is really a big problem for me, because in the article I am going to translate, there are abundant "on one hand..on the other hand". I am aware that it comes from English. But now in Engish it has become a cliche? Whereas in Chinese we desperately need it to clarify the logic in our thinking. It seems to me, "on the other hand", if used independently, is acceptable. But when being used together" with "on one hand", is actually boring and dull. I donot know which phrase substitute perfectly for "on one hand..on the other hand".Please give me some advice.


Are there any rules in grammar as to why the letter 'r' is silent in some words?

How do I know when to keep _r_ silent in pronunciation? Examples: Not silent   * cry   * free   * friend  Silent   * German   * iron   * learn


The difference between "look at" and "see"

What is the difference between _look at_ and _see_? For example: >   * Can I look at it?   >  Can I see it? >   * Let's go to look at him.   >  Let's go to see him. >


Difference between "question" and "query"

What is the difference between a _question_ and a _query_? It seems that in certain circumstances, the words are interchangeable: > I have one further **question**. > > I have one further **query**. But, other times they are not: > The police officer **questioned** the man. > > The police officer **queried** the man.


(Inanimate) Nouns being used in a personal sense

Is there a word to describe when a noun is treated as a person, usually in marketing prose, e.g. "iPhone is capable of..." (rather than "the iPhone is capable of...")?


Is 'honest' a suitable synonym for 'sincere'?


> You throw no low blows and rise above the rest. What does it mean?


What are "excess deaths"?

> Study Claims Iraq's **'Excess' Death** Toll Has Reached 655,000 Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp- dyn/content/article/2006/10/10/AR2006101001442.html


When is it appropriate to refer to someone as Dr. [Surname]?

I know that the title _Dr_. is often used to refer to those who practice medicine. For example, _today I am going to see Dr. [Surname]._ But are we in general expected to use the title when we refer to the following other professions too?   * Psychoanalyst   * Veterinarian   * Lawyer   * Any other?


Is "song spoiler" a correct word?

There is a friend of mine who sings the song, she isn't a professional singer. It's just that she likes singing. But she ruins the lyrics, comes up with her own, she sings one stanza correctly but, make up the second on her own. So my question is , what will she be called? A "song spoiler/ ruin-er" ?


Have I correctly use the word RATHER?

**_what is the difference between the following?_** **_I'd rather you went home now. I'd rather you go home ._**


Changing a statement into a question

Consider the following sentences:   * Every day I want to:     1. read a book     2. do my homework     3. go jogging for 20 minutes     4. be nice to my mom To convert these into the following questions:   * Did you:     1. read a book today?     2. do your homework today?     3. go jogging for 20 minutes today?   * Were you:     1. nice to your mom today? You would change:   me --> you and   be --> were I need to write a program which does this, are there any cases where this would fail? What are the general rules? I know for long sentences this would make no sense, but only 50 characters are allowed.


"The" before superlative

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Do I need to put “the” before “most” in this sentence? I've always thought you need the definite article 'the' before the superlative of an adjective, except when the comparison is made within the same subject: The swimming pool is deepest here. Some people say 2 is the more idiomatic. Is this true? >   1. The most tuna are caught in early November. >   2. Most tuna are caught in early November. >


Does the comma here draw special attention to an additional fact?

In the latest issue of The Economist there is the following sentence:- "And in China, unlike India, you can shop at Walmart, most of the time." Firstly, shouldn't it be "...unlike **in** India? Else it could also mean that India, or someone called India is not able/permitted to shop at Walmart. Not that we'd interpret it thus, but just clarifying the technicality. Secondly, with or without the comma, the meaning would be pretty much the same. But it seems to me that the comma seems to additionally draw attention to the fact that Walmart shopping in China is not as widespread. The implication would be there without the comma, but I think the stress then would be only the fact that India hasn't opened up to Walmart yet; here it means that, plus the fact that China itself is no great host to it. Agree?


What is the adjective for the attitude displayed in this situation?

I'll describe a situation that might sound random and sudden, but I'm sure we keep seeing now and then; I'd like to know if there's any suitable adjective that you can think of. 'Oily' and 'smarmy' were suggested by a friend, but perhaps there is a better word? Say I donate an expensive machine to a nearby grocery shop, or I perform some huge and helpful favour that really makes them indebted to me. They, out of gratitude, offer to keep giving me free products. I insist otherwise, that they mustn't be so conscious of me, and that I insist on paying each time. One day I buy something and don't have the whole amount. I sweetly request them if it's okay by them if I pay the remainder in the evening. They know I'm good for it, it's _obviously_ okay with them, a ridiculous request perhaps, and even I know that they'll say yes. Nevertheless I have a polite and humble way of asking for the credit. It's not a genuine query, but I still make it sound like I'm earnestly requesting. Any adjective for the forced humility/politeness in such a situation where one knows one can't be refused? Perhaps similar 'benefit of doubt' is displayed by superstars — say, when Tom Cruise walks up to a hotel rece and says "Excuse me. Hi, my name is Tom Cruise..."


Origin of "Fits [x] to a T"?

The above phrase is something I've known for as long as I can remember, though I don't know from where. What is its origin and usage?


What's the meaning of "down to a T"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Origin of "Fits [x] to a T"? What's the meaning of _down to a T_? > So what about you, what do you do for a living? > > Me, I'm a stay at home dad and do a few odd jobs here and there. Man, that's > me down to a T.


Why do we say 'He is Fred to a t'?

I used to think it was only a British idiom. But I read an article in the New York Times stressing how important tea was to the British army in Iraq. Apparently there is even a special attachment on a Challenger Tank for making a decent cup of tea. But the article was headed, punningly: THE BRITISH TO A T. Sometimes people will say of a child 'He is his father to a t'. Why a 't'?


"To a T" or "To a Tee", and where does it come from?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Origin of "Fits [x] to a T"? I frequently hear the phrase "To a T[ee]", but I'm not sure that I've ever seen it written. What is the correct way to write this phrase, and what are its origins?


What are the differences between "manual", "guide" and "instruction"?

What are the differences between the three, especially in this context: > User manual > > User guide > > User instruction


Word regarding a lyric remembered wrongly

I remember having come across a particular word long ago. This word means a part of lyric that has been remembered wrongly, i.e., a section of lyric that has entered one's memory with the words mangled up in some way (Spoonerism, for example). The word remembered could be differing from the original word in a facetious way. Does anyone know of this word?


Why are integral probabilities read as "n to 1" and not "1 to n"?

Why, when the chances of a certain event are 1/10, it's read as `the probability is ten to one` and not "the probability is one to ten"? Like there's a `10/1` probability of occurrence, which is not possible, since it's limited within `0~1` range. The way it's written in arithmetic notation is pretty straightforward, reading it backwards doesn't make sense to me. How did it come to be like that?


What is the noun for either a file or folder?

We have files, we have directories; what is the noun that we could use to generically describe either of these? For instance, an apple or a pear can generically be described as fruit. Is there such a word?


What preposition to use with "enamour"?

What preposition should follow _enamour_? Is one enamoured with something, or enamoured by something or enamoured of something or is it anything else? If more than one of the above is possible, is there any difference in their meanings? Or is one of them more prevalent or commoner than others?


"By overlooking" vs. "with overlooking"

What the difference is between "by overlooking" and "with overlooking"? Example: > It is calculated with/by overlooking variables with low value.


Words that describe the repetitive sound of machine

I'm looking for words that can describe the repetitive sounds that machine produces (For example an engine). Those droning, looped and long-lasting sounds. Patterned sounds of various parts of an engine or an engine as a whole machine.


Is there a word for accidentally stealing something?

Is there a single English word to describe when someone has appropriated property that doesn't belong to them unintentionally? For example, say I borrow a pen from someone and absentmindedly put it in my pocket after I finish writing. I discover the pen much later. Did I steal it, or is there a term with less harsh connotations?


What is the meaning of 'an expression of such smugness that Harry thought it ought to be fined'?

> Harry took the hint and sat down next to Percy, who was wearing brand-new, > navy-blue dress robes and **an expression of such smugness that Harry > thought it ought to be fined**. (Harry Potter 4 [US Version]: p.415)[Bold > font is mine] I thought at first ‘fine’ in this sentence meant ‘to make somebody pay money as an official punishment’. However, I’m starting to doubt my first judge; I couldn’t find any examples of the ‘fine’ which accepts blamable things, like smugness, as its direct object. Would you give me the true meaning of the sentence?


What does 'a beautifully-proportioned room' mean?

> “Oh I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts’ secrets, Igor,” > said Dumbledore amicably. “Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong > turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in **a beautifully > proportioned room** I have never seen before, containing a really rather > magnificent collection of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate more > closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. (Harry Potter 4 [US > Version]: p.417)[Bold font is mine] A dictionary says proportioned is > (used especially after an adverb) having parts that relate in size to other > parts in the way that is described Considering the above explanation, I tentatively understand ‘a well (or beautifully) proportioned room’ has nicely balanced lengths of each side, as one large box. Also, I’m thinking ‘beautifully proportioned’ is a kind of compliment. To be frank, however, I’m feeling a little strange about my understanding. The relation of three side lengths in a room doesn’t matter so much to _me_ , because Japanese rooms are basically made of unified standard of _tatami mat_ or _fusuma screen_ , which automatically make rooms some-extent-proportioned ones. When I speak my mother tongue, I wouldn’t bother to explain how the room is proportioned unless I am an architect or unless the room is a special art. I would praise not the proportion of the room, the container, but the color or material of the accessories mainly (or only). So, I’m curious about what “a beautifully proportioned room” really means. Here are my questions;   1. Does it mean that the room has golden ratio in three sides?   2. Does it mean the room is a great artwork which you would like to put in a museum?   3. Does it describe (or praise) only a room as a box? (I’d like to know if the concept of a room includes the accessories of the room; furniture, border, curtains, or fireplace. If so, does it refer to only their layout?)


"Why you no...?" or "What that no...?" — are those grammatically correct?

> Why you no come?   >  Why you no talk English?   >  Why you no have a girlfriend? What kind of English are these sentences? Are these types of sentences grammatically correct?


Hyphenation of the word "interferometer" in British English

How is the word " _interferometer_ " correctly split at the end of a line in **British English** , i.e. what is the correct syllabification? I found two contradicting syllabifications:   * " _in·ter·fer·om·e·ter_ " in Merriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interferometer)   * " _in·ter·fe·rom·e·ter_ " in the American Heritage Dictionary (http://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=interferometer). Is there any authority for British English (possibly accessible online)? **Background:** I am writing a scientific article using the typesetting programme LATEX with Babel for British English, which automatically carries out the word splitting at the end of lines. The word "interferometer" is split as > We are using an interfer- > > ometer for our measurements. which apparently follows Merriam-Webster (see above). However the referee of the article is the opinion that the word is "strangely cut".


Which is correct? in my folder/on my folder

So I am writing an email to my peers. So I wrote: "I am having troubles creating files in my folder". Or it should be "on my folder"?


"When all you hear is fear and lies"

The first time I heard it ( _When You Believe_ by Leon Jackson), my grammar instinct screamed "When all you hear **are** fear and lies." But then again, I feel that the phrase "all you hear are" sounds a little odd, "all you hear is" sounds perfectly fine to me. But maybe I am wrong. Would you use _is_ or _are_ in such a phrase?


Natural tendency that adults have to take care of their small ones

I'm looking for a word or expression, either everyday or scientific, for the natural tendency that adults (people or animals) have to take care of their small ones.


Incidences vs incidents

I will analyze the number of incidents of traffic accidents which occurred last year. I will analyze the incidences of traffic accidents which occurred last year. Are these sentences using the words correctly?


What is the word for something that is non-divisible?

I'm looking for a generic word, an adjective, that means non-divisible. Like the opposite of compound. I am looking for a word I can use in the context of programming, where you can have data types that are compound of other data types. I want a word to identify the "indivisible" data types.


Perfect tense usage

When is the Perfect tense used? All examples illustrating Perfect are always answer to the some question. So there is no way when i can simple said:               "I have written a note" or "I had written a note"      ,right? I need to say that instead:               I wrote a note      But if someone asking me, like : "Did you finish a note?", then i need to use Perfect:               "Yes, i just have written a note" or "Yes, i had written a note yesterday"      Am i right?


Looking for a phrase similar to "outlive" but in alcohol drinking context

I'm wondering if there is a phrase that has similar meaning with "outlive" but in alcohol drinking context. Example sentence: "I have a very high alcohol tolerance, I will **[phrase]** you all". Meaning, "You all will get drunk before I do".


'Closest Healing' or another phrase for a book title?

I have written a book and will publish it. I have suffered a lot from a disease over a decade, but after I prayed to God in fasting I found its healing was very close, not far from me. Therefore, I am going to publish the book to help patients not to be suffered as me but to find true healing that is nearby. I just can consider its title such as "The Closest Healing" or "The Nearest Healing." I neither know what others are available nor know which is better among the two above. As English is my second language, I cannot figure out their nuances. Which one is better, or other word? I like to use Healing than cure or remedy as its concept contains Whole Person Healing. Please help me to find out a good English title. Thank you.


What are the reasons that its decision to open itself automatically or not is based on?

Is the following phrase grammatically right? "When Twitter shows a notification, what are the reasons that its decision to open itself automatically or not is based on?" This question is probably banal to most of you, but I'm Italian and I think this phrase has something strange, isn't it?


What is a word to describe the character of someone who plans his actions in advance?

I am looking for a word to describe some individuals who cautiously plan for the future all the time.


Word for an object's "desire"

I'm looking for a word used in interaction design and probably in other fields as well. It's used for the following purpose: > If a door has one handle which is a flat surface and another hanlde which is > a bar then the bar has a _**___ __**_ for being pulled, and the flat surface > has a _**___ __**_ for being pushed. What is this word? It would be used to describe that an object complies with its "desire" or not to be able to make the user experience as intuitive as possible.


Is "what on earth" still commonly used in real life? Is there any alternative that is not cursing or obscene?

I'm a non-native speaker. When I was at school, we were taught that "on earth" is used for emphasis in questions such as: > What on earth are you talking about? However, from my experience (English movies, TV, online discussions, etc.), I seldom see people actually use the phrase "on earth". From what I see, the most commonly used phrases that express basically the same meaning are "What the fuck..." and "What the hell...". I don't like cursing or obscenity (call me old-fashioned), so here are my questions: Is "on earth" still commonly used in real life? Is there any alternative that is not cursing or obscene?


What's the word for the property of being divisible by a particular number?

Example: > Since x is even (i.e., divisible by 2), its _\--word--_ is true.   >  Since y is odd, y's _\--word--_ is false. The description suggests 'moddity', but there was another word for it... BTW, I don't know if I should've asked this on Math on SE, so sorry if this violates this site's FAQ (my first question here).


What is the opposite of ad hominem

What is the opposite of ad hominem. I mean when something is given more credence than it deserves because of who's saying it. "Appeal to authority" comes to mind but is not exactly what I am looking for. Edit: Appeal to authority is not what I am looking for because the person making the statement is not the "authority" on the subject, for example Einstein making a statement about optimal seating arrangement in his office.


Pronunciation of 'desktop'

Could it be that the 'k' in 'desktop' goes often unpronounced? Listen to this example. Although the phonetic transcription clearly shows a k to be pronounced, it is not audible at all in the sound rendition.


What's the relation of the word "fallout" with the hypothesis of a nuclear disaster? There is that famous game called "Fallout", and all the post- apocalyptic environment has its roots and causes in the word "fallout". Is it corret to say: > The ideia of a **nuclear fallout** frightens everyone. ? "fall + out" reminds a nuclear disaster? It makes no sense at all! Maybe the word "fall" carries some negativism by itself (downfall, for example), and the adjective "fallen", and everything related. But it's still strange. What are the meanings and usage of the word "fallout"?


reestablish vs. re-establish

Which form of this word is more appropriate for general use? I would expect someone to misread _reestablish_ more often than _re-establish_ , however it is more consistent in context with _renew_ , _reconnect_ , and _retry_.


Official e-mail

How should I begin an official e-mail if I don't know who I am writing to? I mean, normally I would write "Dear x", but when I have to send an e-mail to an institution, what should I write?


Is there a word for exactly one hour starting on the hour?

The period 10:00 to 11:00 is a complete hour. So is the period 10:08 to 11:08. Yet the first, 10:00 to 11:00 is somehow special in that it covers the exact clock hour of 10. Is there a word or shorter phrase for this? One that I could use in a sentence such as "Only [fully complete clock hours] count towards your hours worked." with the word replacing the bracketed phrase.


What’s the difference between “to VERB” and “to be VERBed”?

What is the difference between these two statements:   1. A new version of Java is ready **to install**.   2. A new version of Java is ready **to be installed**.


Looking for words similar to "lagging" and "ahead of"

In computer networking, assume that I'm waiting for packets which are ordered by sequence number. First I get sequence number 1, and then 2, then 3 … Assume that I now have 99 packets and I'm waiting for the packet with sequence number 100. If I get a packet with sequence number 50, since I have received it already, I say this packet is an _obsolete_ packet or _lagging_ packet. But if I get a packet with sequence number 200, how do I describe it? An _advanced_ packet?


Parenthesis and quotations having punctuation before AND after them

I'll have to come up with some examples to show you my question: I know if a sentence is inside either, the punctuation is inside (I also know I use a lot of comma splices. I think of the way the sentences sound in my head and break them up that way.). I'm stumped. Would when I say, "break them up that way.)." be correct? Or if I say, "break them up that way.).", be correct? Or if I say, "break them up that way.).," be correct? I'm also using the entire sentence as an example, so please take that into consideration. For the paraphrased items at the end of a sentence should it also just be separated into a completely new sentence? Like: "I know if a sentence is inside either, the punctuation is inside. (I also know I use a lot of comma splices. I think of the way the sentences sound in my head and break them up that way.)" I'd also like to know the British vs English(American) rules on this.


What do you call the process immediately after peeing?

Despite a provoking title, I am looking for a word, phrase or _eloquent_ sentence to describe the process a male performs after taking a piss, that is, shaking off remaining pee off the tip of his penis. I apologize for being vague, and I am sure you're getting the drift.


Is it correct to say "a friend of X and mine" if both X and I know each other and the friend?

As I understand it, if X and Y independently have the same friend Z, we should write > Z is a friend of X's and Y's but if X and Y collectively have Z as a friend (e.g., X and Y are a couple), then we should indicate that by making the possessive "'s" refer to "X and Y" collectively: > Z is a friend of X and Y's But if Y is me, how do I write the latter? I think the answer is > Z is a friend of X and mine but it sounds awkward to me (maybe because the possessive in "mine" sounds like it only refers to me, not to X and me). It sounds better to my ear to write > Z is a friend of X's and mine but this loses the subtlety that X and I collectively have Z as a friend.


Position of adverb 'globally' in sentence and meaning of sentence

Please help me make sense of this sentence with regards to 'globally'. > In the global arena, xxxxxx has been described as the solution to the > challenges facing the commodities market globally as a result of the market > situation caused by the current global economic crisis. Would placing _global_ in front of _challenges_ change the meaning of the sentence? > In the global arena, xxxxxx has been described as the solution to the global > challenges facing the commodities market as a result of the market situation > caused by the current global economic crisis. Are there other ways of writing this sentence to make the different meanings clearer?


what is the meaning of these in an academic paper?

I was searching some academic publishes on a site. And their search result are like below. I want to know what the numbers means. For example what is the published date ? What does 2010 Oct;(5):522-5. Epub 2010 Jun 2 mean ? Sildenafil in the management of the failing Fontan circulation. Reinhardt Z, Uzun O, Bhole V, Ofoe V, Wilson D, Onuzo O, Wright JG, Stumper O. Cardiol Young. 2010 Oct;20(5):522-5. Epub 2010 Jun 2. * * * Oral sildenafil for persistent pulmonary hypertension early after congenital cardiac surgery in children. Nemoto S, Sasaki T, Ozawa H, Katsumata T, Kishi K, Okumura K, Mori Y, Umegaki O. **Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2010 Jul;38(1):71-7. Epub 2010 Mar 4.** Free Article


Given "recoup lost ...."; Is "lost" implied/redundant, self-cancelling, or optional?

> Rains have helped recoup _lost_ water. or > I would like to recoup _lost_ time. It seems to me that _recoup_ is to _regain_ something, thus _lost_ would either be implied, or inclusive. So would saying "recoup lost ..." act like a double-negative, in that you're actually re-losing [something]? * * * I guess I am wondering if it is more proper to say: > Rains have helped recoup water. or > I would like to recoup time.


Why "Koran" changed to "Quran"?

According to the article Quran or Koran?, in 2000, AP started to use _Quran_ instead of the more familiar _Koran_. Does anybody have information as to why this happened, and why newspapers today are using _Quran_ instead of _Koran_?