Looking for possible words to describe certain meanings

In order to come up with a good company name in the field of Information Technology, I'm working on compiling two groups of words. **First:** Words that have similar meaning to: improvement, doing things right, success, building well, etc... Something like "Bettering" but bettering itself does not sound good to me. Examples:   * Improvement   * Bettering   * Boosting **Second:** Words that mean: a place where working, thinking, tinkering takes place   * Workshop   * Workroom   * Labs English is not my first language so I was hoping you could help me. Could you help me with suggestions? I'd really appreciate it.


How to explain the name of the author of a work which is a base for a performance

Could you please help me with the following: The context is a printed information about a play. For example:                             name of the play: .........                   playwright: ...............                   director: .................                   cast: .....................                   etc.      And now I want to say that the performance or play is based on, uses motives from the famous work of an author. For example based on Chekhov's work, or Dario Fo or another. And how do I say that correctly? after Dario Fo?   by Dario Fo?   based on Dario Fo?   with motive from Dario Fo?


Perfect tenses in conditionals

Why does one sometimes use the perfect tense in conditions of the first type? Say, > I will do something if you **have done** something. > > I did something when he **had done** something. instead of, > I will do something if you **do** something. > > I did something when he **did** something. For a better example, here is a quote from _The Valley of Fear_ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: > She was preparing to go to bed when the loud ringing of the bell **had > attracted** her attention. Why didn't the author write the following: > She was preparing to go to bed when the loud ringing of the bell > **attracted** her attention. One more example: > Ring for our boots and tell them to order a cab. I'll be back in a moment > when I **have changed** my dressing-gown and filled my cigar-case.


Why do we say "talk about the telephone" but "talk about televison"?

Teachers and native speakers :)   I was doing exercises about passive, came across these two sentences:   "When was **_the_** telephone invented?"   and   "When was television invented?" (without " _the_ ")   And we say "the history of television" not "the history of the television"   We use "the" when we talk about instruments, telephone but not television.   Why is that?


Which article do I use if I'm pointing out an object that both I and the listener know

For example: Upon seeing a cup on my colleague's desk, I say, "you have a very big cup." But the cup is already known to him (it's his and there is only one cup on his desk). Regardless, the above sentence sounds more correct than "you have the very big cup." Which is correct?


What does “Watch the plain clothes” account for in terms of “Cheap liquor nationalism”?

International Herald Tribune (September 30) introduced a commentary of Japanese novelist, Haruki Murakami who is regarded as a favorite for this year’s Nobel Prize in literature on Japan’s dispute with China over the territorial issues of the Senkaku Islands, which appeared in the Asahi Newspaper on September 28. Murakami wrote: > After your drunken rampage you are left with nothing but an awful headache > the next morning. We must be careful about politicians and polemicists who > lavish us with this cheap liquor and fan this kind of rampage. After the analogy of ‘Cheap liquor’ of nationalism, the writer, Marc McDonald adds: > Put another way, by the possible Nobel laureate Mr. Bob Dylan: “Keep a clean > nose / **Watch the plain clothes** / You don’t need a weatherman / To know > which way the wind blows. I can understand 'just literally' the implication of “Keep a clean nose. You don’t need a weatherman. To know which way the wind blows.” But I don’t understand what “ _Watch the plain clothes_ ” implies? To me, the line, “Keep a clean nose and so on” doesn’t relate to cheap liquor nationalism at all, thanks to the lack of my imagination. I think this is a lyric of Bob Dylan’s popular song, but I’m curious to know how it comes that “Cheap liquor of nationalism” could be paraphrased or accounted for by “Keep a clean nose / Watch the plain clothes / You don’t need a weatherman / To know which way the wind blows.”?


Is "let know him" grammatical?

We usually say: > Let _me_ know. > > I will let _him_ know. Could the following be considered grammatical? > I will _let know_ him. > > _Let know_ the guy.


"Spit and baling wire"

I just heard the phrase: "spit and baling wire". I cannot find it anywhere—can you help give me a reference, the origin...and the meaning?


Foreign name usage in conversation

I’m English and confused. Is jalapeno spoken with the sound ‘jal’ or ‘hal’? ‘Hal’ is how Spanish people pronounce it, but I’m English. If the answer’s ‘hal’, do I say I’m going to ‘Paree’ instead of Paris? Do we pronounce differently based on a Person’s name, Country/City or food?


pronunciation of foreign cities

When I mentioned to friends I had recently been to Benalmadena in Spain, I was corrected on its pronunciation. I had chosen to pronounce it in an English way rather than in a Spanish pronunciation. After all, I wouldn't say Paris how a Frenchman would say it. If I use the native pronunciation of a foreign city I might look pretentious. If on the other hand I use the English pronunciation, I might then get corrected with the alternative. Which is the correct convention please? Many thanks.


What does "Combat bundled in cliché" mean?

There was the following sentence in Time magazine’s (November 18) article titled, “Chris Christie Was Born to Run”: > Behind closed doors at a Westin hotel in Boston, where the governor laid out > his not so veiled pitch for the party's 2016 nomination. "I'm in this > business to win," he told the crowd of Republican leaders. > > It was pure Christie, **combat bundled in cliché.** Ever since he ousted > Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine in 2009, he has run the Garden State with > combustible passion, blunt talk and the kind of bipartisan dealmaking that > no one seems to do anymore. http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2156871,00.html#ixzz2k2blMOs4 I don’t get the idea of the word, “combat bundled in cliché.” What does it mean? Does it mean Chris Christie was born to combat? Is “combat bundled” a cliché?


How do you say 'cooked pig small intestine filled with pig blood' in English?

In our culture, we usually serve cooked pig small intestine filled with pig blood in times of feast. Is there a single English word for this? In our language, it's _Sa-thithun_.


"first applied to" - June 12th 1799 Letter by John Marshall

> I do not immediately recollect any others among the old officers whom I coud > name for so high an office as the command of a regiment. I am aware that > those I have mentiond cannot, shoud you on further enquiry approve of them, > be all appointed, but I have namd them because it is possible that **those > first applied to** may be disinclind to enter into the army. (Source) I'd surmise that **those** refers to the old officers named by Marshall. However, could someone please expound on and unravel **first applied to**? Marshall didn't name any of these aforementioned old officers first? Or is Marshall referring to those officers who made their applications first?


What do I do with a narrowboat?

We were discussing the prospect of messing about on the canals yesterday, and I happened to mention that I had spent quite a bit of time, er, doing what exactly with the narrowboat? I wasn't really _driving_ it > To guide, control, or direct (a vehicle). but to say I was _sailing_ it > To navigate or manage (a vessel). when the watercourse is narrower than the narrowboat is long seems to be stretching it a bit. Were the boat in a tunnel I might be _legging_ it > (v. tr.) Obsolete to propel (a canal boat) through a tunnel by lying on > one's back and walking one's feet along the tunnel roof but fortunately narrowboats nowadays are usually equipped with an engine. So, does anyone know what I am doing while in command of a narrowboat?


What does "to give up someone " mean?

Does it mean that you no longer want someone, or that you have to leave someone, like it or not?


Is the second part of dialogue capitalized or not?

i.e. "It is important," his mother replied, "(a/A)nd we will all have a great time."


"Happen to know" vs. "came to know" vs. "got to know" vs. "came across"

Can anyone give use cases and examples for   * _Happen to know_   * _Came to know_   * _Got to know_   * _Came across_ I always gets confused in their uses.


The etymology of the phrase "it's raining cats and dogs"

I was wondering about the phrase _it's raining cats and dogs_ ; I've heard two versions of the meaning of the phrase and I was wondering which one was correct or wrong altogether. The first: with 16th century European peasant homes frequently being thatched, animals seeking shelter from the elements would fall out during heavy rains. The second: that drainage in 17th century Europe was typically poor so they would, during heavy rains, disgorge any of the animal corpses that had accumulated in them.


Difference between "sorcerer" and "wizard"

What is the difference between _sorcerer_ and _wizard_? I know that the nomenclature is unclear. However, the common usage seems to indicate:   1. a wizard is born an ordinary mortal, learns magic and spells from books;   2. a sorcerer is born a sorcerer, but needs to learn spells (possibly of a certain type) from a master. Is this correct, or is there more to it?


What is the meaning of "testotum"?

In the novel _A Day Among The Liars_ by Edward Page Mitchell, there is this sentence: > "My rod creaked and bent double," a stout, red-faced gentleman was saying, > "and the birch spun like a testotum." Please can anyone explain the meaning of "birch spun like a testotum"?


About pronouncing the 's' in plural nouns

A general rule of English pronunciation states that the 's' in plural nouns is to be pronounced as /z/ if it is preceded by a 'voiced consonant' such as /n/ or /g/, and as /s/ if it is preceded by a 'voiceless consonant' such as /t/ or /p/. Therefore, "pens" is pronounced as /penz/ and "cats" is pronounced as /cats/. Now my question is, do native speakers of English always follow this rule? Secondly, and this is what I really need to understand, does this rule apply also to the 's' in the verbs of 'third person singular subjects'?


Article usage in compound predicate nouns

When using a compound predicate noun where both parts would normally be preceded by an article, is it correct to leave one article off? Is it correct to use both? Is it a matter of preference? If so, is one way generally preferred over the other? For instance: > This book is a help and blessing. or: > This book is a help and a blessing.


Can "broken" mean never working to begin with?

Technically speaking can _broken_ be correctly applied to a thing that is not and never was functional? I think there is a connotation that a thing once was functional, but is that required for proper usage? American Heritage Dictionary has simply:   * Not functioning; out of order But dictionary.cambridge.org has:   * damaged, no longer able to work


Politically correct way to refer to a French individual

What is currently accepted as the proper title for a person from France? Is it still the gender-specific Frenchman/Frenchwoman, or is Frenchperson the new term?   (I use French as just an example, obviously. Same question for English folks)


Can I use the word "softworks"?

I see Bethesda Softworks, a well-known video game publisher, uses the word as a part of its name, and I'm pretty sure it's made up, but I like it. I would like to use it in the same sense as they do, to describe what my studio focuses on, software. Am I "allowed" gramatically to use the word as a reference to software work? Is it frowned upon?


In film reviews/essays about a book or film, does the title of the movie/book always have to be highlighted/put in italics? I know that at the start you have to put the title in italics, e.g.: > Director Tim Burton brings us _Edward Scissorhands_ , which is about... But do I need to put the title in italics in subsequent paragraphs too? E.g.: > The film techniques used in _Edward Scissorhands_ are....


is there another way of saying: "shaky structures"?

What expression would an English teacher use to say that the handling of the language is a bit uncertain not with used with precision? In Swedish you can say (translated literally): your wording/structures - are phrased in an uncertain way. Would a native speker use any of theses expressions: *shaky, cumbersome,ungainly, akward ....... or.....


Is it "extreme" or "large" diversity for endophytic microorganism subject?

Do I need to substitute the word _extreme_ to _large_ in this text? > Endophytic fungi are molds that are found in the healthy plant tissues. > Endophytic fungi is mold that exists in the plant tissue systems, such as > leaves, fruits, twigs, or root of plants (Clay, 1988). Endophytic > microorganisms have **extreme diversity** , because they can inhabit the > healthy plant tissue of all plant taxa in the mainland, especially in > tropical timber plants (Arnold & Herre, 2003). **Note: It is a microbiology/mycology field, that's why I posted on the biology site. It is not about a terminology, it is a condition related to endophytic microorganism and its diversity. Pity that they migrated it here.


If a room cannot be escaped, it is inescapable. What if a room cannot be entered?

Suppose there is an automatic door to a room. That door may:   1. simply let people walk in and out as they choose.   2. let people walk in, but not walk out (deathtrap!)   3. let people walk out, but not back in (vacant!)   4. never let anyone walk in or out - the door is always closed. Now in cases 1 & 3 only, the room is _escapable_. And in cases 2 & 4 only, the room is _inescapable_. And in cases 1 & 2 only, the room is 'enterable'. And in cases 3 & 4 only, the room is 'unenterable'. But these aren't real words - what real words can go in their stead? Furthermore, what word covers case 4 only? It should mean 'neither enterable nor escapable.'


Is it okay to omit the space after a comma in square bracket references, e.g. "[45,46,47,64]" in a research paper

Should you still apply the rule that there is a space after the comma, or is it an accepted practice to omit the space in this case?


"Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't"

Okay, so recently I ended up saying this: > Well, that is unfortunate... sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Okay. You know, just saying "Sometimes it happens" already tells you that something happens sometimes and other times it doesn't. But, sometimes, I need to make **very** clear that this "something" doesn't happen always. That's why I say > sometimes it happens, **sometimes it doesn't** But is there a way to shorten this phrase? To make it simpler, but still making **very clear** the fact that this "something" may not happen? Repeating "sometimes" is not very much of my liking...


Gill or Branchia

I am writing a dialog and I need to mention Gills (or Branchias), the respiratory organ of animals like fish. I was wondering which one would be more common or casual in English speech (say, in the US), and if it's a commonly known word. Thank you!


Can I say "something in discussion" to refer to the thing being discussed?

> The paragraph **under consideration** has nothing to do with his moral > integrity. The context is about how to understand a specific paragraph in an article about a rich man.   Can I use “the paragraph **in** discussion" or " **under** discussion” to replace “under consideration”? Can I say "something **in** discussion" to refer to the thing being discussed?


The best book/books for self-education

My level is intermediate or upper-intermediate. I have speaking practice several times per week with native speaker(she is not teacher). I write short essays and my friends help me to check it. I read news/blogs in English almost freely and listen podcasts everyday. And of course I learn words, collocations and idioms. My aim is to find work in an international company(software development). Maybe it sounds strange, but I dislike that it's unsystematic education. Amazon gives tons of various books and it's hard to choose something. Does anybody knows some good book or course of books? Thanks.


What's the difference between perimeter and circumference?

What's the difference between perimeter and circumference when they mean the total length of the boundary of a two-dimensional geometric shape?


"Much of it is" or "Much of it are"?

I'm writing an college-entrance essay and for me it's imperative that I understand and implement the correct one of these two expressions: > "Much of it is" or "Much of it are" If you need context: > I'm having trouble with my writing. The reason I'm having trouble is that > much of it **is** about.... Should there be an "is" or an "are"?


Is "five-yearly" an acceptable usage of an adverb of manner in British English?

Today's BBC News web page has this headline: > New era of **five-yearly** doctor checks starts There's a word that means "five-yearly": _quinquennial_. It's probably too long for headline writers and too difficult for most readers, so I understand why it wasn't used, but shouldn't it have been _five-year_ instead? > New era of **five-year** doctor checks starts


Is "is been" a valid construction?

I have found sentences in some contexts which surprisingly use "is" and "been" together:   * He is been watching too much television lately.   * She is been feeling a little depressed.   * The compiler is been failed to compile the code. Why are these not:   * He has been watching too much television lately.   * She has been feeling a little depressed.   * The compiler has failed to compile the code. A similar use is found in the first sentence of this answer on StackOverflow. That was my question about Java Server Pages (JSP). Do the first group of sentences add some extra meaning, or they are just used in a fashionable manner, or something else involved? Finally, I once saw this:   * The work is been being done by someone else. I was taken aback by this sentence. I found it totally dramatic--it appears to be in the "present perfect continuous tense", which shouldn't have passive construction according to any grammar rules I know. When are such constructions used? I'm a resident of India and don't really understand them.


Is "conversate" a word?

Conversate: To converse, to participate in a conversation. > My parents _conversate_ with me over dinner every night. Is this a word? Spell check says no, but I have heard it used.


Odd, but unoffensive slang or idioms

I'm putting a character in a book who is replacing all typical swear words, exclamations, or name calling with old fashioned or little known words. For instance, exclaiming "Snails" instead of Damn or "Confound it!" instead of something else. What are some other words that I can use? Any time period is fine.


The usage of "the same...as..."

Which one of the following two sentences is more correct?   1. We use the same space as _is specified_ in Chapter 1.   2. We use the same space as _specified_ in Chapter 1.


Get a life | You have no life

I saw this as a mild insult on the Internet, one person tells another: "get a life" or "you have no life". What does it mean literally and what is its meaning as an insult?


What does "meanest flower might blow" mean

> A beautiful woman risking everything for a mad passion. A few wild weeks of > happiness cut short by a hideous, treacherous crime. Months of voiceless > agony, and then a child born in pain. The mother snatched away by death, the > boy left to solitude and the tyranny of an old and loveless man. Yes; it was > an interesting background. It posed the lad, made him more perfect, as it > were. Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic. > Worlds had to be in travail, **_that the meanest flower might blow_**.... Above is an excerpt from The Picture of Dorian Gray. I am not understanding the meaning of the phrase the meanest flower might blow


What do you call someone who makes decisions?

I am looking for a word that means someone makes choices. The choice doesn't have to be good or bad just that they are decisive. I am looking for the word to be in the form of a noun. As an example - "That woman makes many decisions; she is a **(insert here)** ". The only thing I can think of is chooser or decider but I'm not even sure those are words. Thanks for any help in advance.


Change a classification

I heard that sugar is not a spice. I decided this was nonsense and so investigated. A Google search brings this up: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090321182214AAoIEzK (which also links to Wiki) abut the quote is "Sugar does not add flavor it is strictly for sweetening" To note, the question suggests that spice can only refers to food. I disagree - you can put mint, vanilla, cinnamon into tea (just to name a few). Give me tea with white sugar or dark sugar (of equal quantities), I can taste a difference. However, further research then suggested this may not be the case: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spice?s=t There is no mention of food or drink! As this is so ambiguous I decided to look else where. Now, I find the Cambridge dictionary: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/spice_1?q=spice . It states "a substance made from a plant, which is used to give a special flavour to food" It says food! I say this is wrong. Anything which affects flavour is a spice - although the a debate can rise about mud - I would assume that mud affects flavour but is possibly not described as a spice! Any way, if possible, we'll stay clear of this type of thinking :) So, further looking into this results in another site http://www.myrecipes.com/how-to/cooking-questions/dark-or-light-brown- sugar-00420000013175/ which states (and I quote) "light brown sugar, which has a less pronounced molasses flavor". Ah, flavor - not just sweetness although molasses is sweet. So, IMO a spice (which is not going to make 'one' ill) is anything which affects the taste/flavour of food or drink, not just food. How would I go about changing this definition or arguing it?


English for “À l’abordage!”?

Basically, pirates would use the term _À l’abordage!_ as a battle cry when boarding enemy ships like described in the phrase’s Wiktionary entry. Is there a English translation for this, or is it an expression that has no direct English equivalent and should be used in its French form?


Why is a black eye called a "shiner"?

I saw a photograph of Chris Robshaw, the Harlequins captain, in the paper yesterday sporting a magnificent _shiner_ , and naturally started to wonder where the term originated. Consulting Etymonline revealed a date (1904) but no explanation. I also turned up a question on Answerbag stating that it is derived from the derogatory word _shiner_ meaning a black person. The dates given in Etymonline make this quite plausible, but Green's _Dictionary of Slang_ dates the first usage of _shiner_ for _black eye_ at 1797, which would tend to militate against this etymology. The comments also suggest the name derives from the shiny skin of a black eye; I have some personal experience of these things and I can't say I've ever noticed. Urban Dictionary has a different explanation:- > Term is of Irish origin where it was a punishment for not keeping machinery > shiney delivered from the boot of a British officer. I can't say I'm convinced by this. So, does anyone know why a black eye is called a _shiner_?


“Stock pole” vs. “pole stock”

I found this sentence, and it confused me: > Loads may be transferred in one operation from **stock pole** , production > point or delivery vehicle practically to their destination on the building. I looked it up through Google, where what I found most is _pole stock_. I know _pole stock_ means lumber used in making poles for vehicles and agricultural implements. But what does _stock pole_ mean?


Correct headline in scientific pro/contra table

Which words are appropriate for the headline in a table with pros and cons in a scientific paper (physics)?                     PROS        CONS     ice   cheap       cold     fish  expensive   warm


"Broad surface" or "large surface"

When comparing the total surface area of (geometrical) bodies, can I describe it as "large surface" (or "largest") or, as an editor suggested, do I have to use "broad surface"? **Edit:** Example sentence from the article: "Porous, spongy grains provide a large surface for chemical reactions but might hinder the release of the newly formed species into the gas phase." Another example: "Additionally, the significantly larger dust surface in the XX and YY model lead to ..." here XX and YY denote dust models with differen dust size distributions and accordingly with different total surface area of the grains. The editor suggested to replace large by broad.


Is 'somelike' a word?

Never mind the laconic title. It's incontrovertibly a word. What I'd like to know is whether the little bugger has ever been recorded by lexicographers. I've ruffled a dozen dictionaries to no avail, and in COCA there is only one entry \- and it's a scanning error._. I am not interested in the flippant usages of this ilk:   * "something like": _dude thats a glitch or somelike a bug. I already pulled the eye out of the tentacle and know it turn into a water snake or somelike that so please help me_   * "someone like that": _It reminds me of that other little 7-year old or somelike who was all pumped up and freaky.._ (forum post) However, the following usage (as a pronoun and an adjective) is perhaps more interesting. It might even be dialectal.   * "something like that" or perhpaps "somesuch": _Given how big CA is, we may need to split things up into southern/northern or somelike._ (Chris Allen from California, in a Church Music Association of America forum post)   * "somesuch": _always have an axe or a broom or somelike item on the counter_ (Texas Cotton Farmers on the Southern Prairies, Google Books) Ultimately, this source, written in the academic/scientific register, is what led me to further investigation: _Laycock then lauched into fwther speculation based on his ideas related to diathesis and considered the exudates and degenerations in the lung were similar to those of rheumatic origin in which lactic acid played a part, but the lactic acid was further metabolised into carbon dioxide and water. Let us suppose, said Laycock, there was an excess of lactic acid or **somelike** acid and the ordinary decomposition or metabolism interrupted then an irritant is brought into contact with the bronchial mucosa, would be like inhaling chlorine._ (The Life and Work of Thomas Laycook 1812-1876) Yet even I myself have hazarded on a chance occasion the use of _somelike_. I like this un-word. I like it more than _somesuch_ (except when written, as is commonly done, as a phrase, _some such_ ), and think that they are more than slightly nuanced. So, given that the word is clearly used, has it ever been recorded by lexicographers? Can anyone point me to a dictionary that includes it?


What is a word for when you condense a topic into a work that is all that's needed to understand it?

Like when CGP Grey makes a video about the European Union, that video explains everything with details yet clearly and concisely. I thought **_redux_** would have been a great word, but it only means "revived"


Is it correct to say that "John is responsible for Mary"?   If not, what should we say? What I want to denote is a mix of all these senses:   1. Supporting someone, because of sympathy, and also morally   2. Taking care of that person   3. Helping that person   4. Being kind to that person   5. ... And I have no emphasis on legality.


Do I need to add "to" in every clause in a this sentence?

> Working in the field helps us to learn how to apply theories to solve real- > world problems, to apply […], and to […]. Are the "to" after each comma necessary?


News article: "Man sentenced for murdering his 10th wife". What does this mean?

Today I saw this headline for a news article online: > Man sentenced for murdering his 10th wife I can't tell if a sentence of this nature means that the man has murdered 10 people (all of which were his previous wives) or if it means that the man has murdered one person (this person being his 10th wife). In summary, does this sentence imply that the man has murdered 10 people or 1 person?


Would you mind passing by for lunch tomorrow around 12:00 at my place

Is this question grammatically correct?


Usage of "À la carte" on menus in English

On a menu which contains both "family style" dishes and individual items (serves 1 person) would it be correct to name the individual items section "À la carte"?


Allusion about love

In Persian when somebody doesn't like to be “in a certain place” (have a certain feeling) — like a person who is in love but she didn't have that person — we will say “the air is very heavy for her.” Is there a phrase in English you use like that to describe this situation? What do you call this situation?


What is the meaning of the phrase "to this end"?

Here is the entire sentence: > **To this end** , we create two properties files with the correct root > bundle name and the correct locale endings, one for English and one for > Spanish. (Emphasis added.)


Are there words for people who are attracted to a specific gender?

Is there a word for a person (any male or female) who is attracted to a male? Is there a word for a person (any male or female) who is attracted to a female?


Using the word "Phalanx" as a title

Is there a verb for _phalanx_? I searched online dictionaries, but I didn't find it. Can I use _Phalanx_ as a title of my story? I am just wondering whether I should use a verb, or a noun for titles.


It got you paralysed vs It paralysed you

I know "get" has a lot of meanings. But what is this one - to cause something to happen? I do not think it is "have sth done" but not sure of course. > It got you paralysed. What is the difference against > It paralysed you.


Syntactic function of "what" in specific case

See the following sentence: > Be careful what you eat. In this case, "what" is having which syntactic function? I checked the possibilities in the wiktionary: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/what My best guess is that it is a "relative pronoun", but I'm not 100% convinced of that. I feel it could be something other than a pronoun, although I'm not sure how to support that. (second question removed by OP to keep the focus)


Is "misconfigured" a word?

I use the word "misconfigured" all the time, but MS Word, Chrome, and the two dictionaries I checked don't list it as a word. I'm going to keep using it instead of "configured incorrectly" because I believe it communicates an obvious meaning. However, is it a word that I can use formally? If not, why not?


How to quote someone's work

I had someone send me a piece recently that include a few quotes from an interview. The structure was (between the lines, items in parenthesis my addition): * * * Here are a few quotes that support my position from person x: "quote 1 from a person" (partial sentence) "quote 2 list here" (partial sentence, separate from quote 1) This means to me that .... * * * My question is that in the proper way to show this. Are the two quotes fine to be shown like this, or would you separate them with an ellipsis with one set of quotation marks? If they are part of the same or different paragraph, does it matter? Can they be inline in the paragraph Or is this just a stylistic decision for the author/editor?


Using i.e. in parentheses

When a writer uses parentheses to define a phrase or clarify a word in a sentence, is it appropriate also to use i.e. in the parentheses? That use seems redundant to me.


Etymological reference to the "Five woman in London" mentioned in The Picture of Dorian Gray

> My dear Dorian, it is quite true. I am analysing women at present, so I > ought to know. The subject is not so abstruse as I thought it was. I find > that, ultimately, there are only two kinds of women, the plain and the > coloured. The plain women are very useful. If you want to gain a reputation > for respectability, you have merely to take them down to supper. The other > women are very charming. They commit one mistake, however. They paint in > order to try and look young. Our grandmothers painted in order to try and > talk brilliantly. Rouge and esprit used to go together. That is all over > now. As long as a woman can look ten years younger than her own daughter, > she is perfectly satisfied. As for conversation, ** _there are only five > women in London worth talking to, and two of these can't be admitted into > decent society._** However, tell me about your genius. How long have you > known her? Can anybody shed some light as to which five women are being referred to here in this excerpt from _The Picture of Dorian Gray_?


Inversion of Spiritual Successor

If B is a _spiritual successor_ to A, then what would one call A in relation to B? The obvious answer would be **spiritual predecessor** , but that seems inaccurate, since spirit seems to refer to **intent** \- B was intended as a successor, but A is not now intended as a predecessor in retrospect. Are there any alternatives?


Antedecent of "which" in "A man coming out of the backdoor of his house which is facing east"

In a recent quiz there was a question: > A man coming out of the backdoor of his house which is facing east... Now in this scenario whether **Should I consider 'the house is facing east,' or 'the backdoor is facing east'??** **Edit:** As suggested by most people its a ambiguous question, so I am posting complete question if it helps.. _A man coming out of the backdoor of his house which is facing east, walked for one kilometer, turned to his right and walked for another kilometer. Then he turned to his right and walked a kilometer again. Where was he from his house at the end._ a) 1 km away to the north b) 1 km away to the south c) 1 km away to the east d) 1 km away to the west If we assume the house is facing east, the answer will be 'a', and if we assume the backdoor facing east, it'll be 'b'. My second question what would be the interpretation if it had a comma like this: > A man coming out of the backdoor of his house, which is facing east...


Antedecent of "naked" in "I would like to paint a picture of you naked"

> You’re such a pretty person, I would like to paint a picture of you naked. Does this mean "you’ll undress while I get my brushes", or does it mean "strike a pose while I take my clothes off"?


Why don't you say "good work" in English?

I am an Italian student and I am writing a thesis comparing our two languages. I am aware of the fact that you don't say "good job" or "good work", in order to wish someone the best in his/her job. I'd like to know if there is any sociological or sociolinighist explication for that. In addition, are there any references to find out more? Thank you all!


Is it right to say "before since"?

I wonder if "before since" is right in my sentence. If not, could you please help me improve it? > This company provides products since 2010. Consequently, there is no record > of this product before since.


Is there a word or a special phrase in English to describe the curvy upper lip that some people like Rio Ferdinand have?

I don't think many have people have that kind of upper lip (probably 10% of the population). To me personally, that kind of upper lip definitely makes a person more attractive regardless of gender. For example, Angelina Jolie's upper lip is also a little curvy although I believe people recognise the thickness of her lips more. My point is that having a curvy upper lip is a outstanding facial feature and so people must have given it some name. What is it? **Intended usage:**   I want to give compliment to person: "It's wonderful that you have the ... lip" I remember watching Peter Pan on Vietnamese television when I was a kid and Wendy Darling's curvy upper lip were described with a very beautiful (and rare) phrase (in Vietnamese). Unfortunately, searching along that line didn't get me anywhere. Below is Rio Ferdinand's super curvy lip (I count 5 curves there) vs. a Cupid's bow lip which has 3 curves (most people including myself would have this, as I have observed): ![5-curve-lip vs cupid's bow lip](http://i.imgur.com/Eypgwyc.jpg) And this is Rio's original lip without any of my drawing:   ![Rio's super curvy upper lip](http://i.imgur.com/cFAVzE4.jpg)


In past tense use break or broke

I think I should use broke because it is in past tense. Am I correct? If incorrect, can you explain to me briefly which case is correct?   1. I was thinking about punching him and breaking his teeth.   2. I was thinking about punching him and broke his teeth.


"Her water broke" or "Her waters broke"

Which is more correct: "Her water broke." or "Her waters broke." I've been searching online and I've found uses of both "water" and "waters" in various places, but none of them very authoritative. I was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on whether one version is more correct than the other, why, and if it truly doesn't matter. Thanks! David


When do we add the suffix -tter to a word?

Normally we use this suffix for different words Twitter Flutter Emitter Chatter Fitter Is there anything that this suffix "-tter" is used to refer?


Which tense do I use for an on-going event that has a connection to the past

For example, please consider the following sentence: "The site was disapproved for not having enough unique content. The site has mostly links and banner ads that would negatively impact the user experience." The second sentence seems awkward to me and I am not sure if it should be the way it is written or follow the tense in the first sentence. Kevin


Term for a one-time, short-lived, pre-meditated plan of action

It's something that you come up with in advance, a plan of sorts, in preparation of an opportunity arising, such that you may capitalize on it. "Plan" is too long, however; it's not so much a plan as a simple "we quickly do X". And emphasis on quick; this is a rapid, pre-meditated move - it was come up with quickly, triggered quickly, and executed quickly. The situation arose, the action done, and then it passed. It can have had lasting consequence, or done nothing at all. It may be proactive or reactive. Maybe you don't even know why or when you'd do it, but you've prepared for it nevertheless. The effect is simple and singular, not a complex series of events. Just one thing like "everybody wearing a hat run into the basement" - potentially independent of the context that prompts the execution. It may also have a modifying context, like "if it's raining, paint one car blue" - to carry out this while it isn't raining, obviously has no effect. So it's like an instruction of sorts, waiting to be given. What word, preferably on the short side, would describe such a thing? 'Trick' is the best I've come up with, but it has connotations of deception. Need something more straightforward.


Is the use of the quotation marks necessary with expressions like "self-proclaimed", "self-styled", "so-called" and "would be"?

I have noticed in many writings people's use of quotation marks whenever they use the above-mentioned expressions for example: the self-styled "artists" or the so-called "poets". Isn't the use of the quotation marks redundant since the meaning of such expressions is the same expressed by the quotation marks. If so, why do many writers tend to use them anyway?


What's the word for "running with your arms outstretched as though flying"?

I caught this on an 'odd words' sort of program on public radio, but didn't hear the full word pronounced, just that it started with an 'f'. I studied the unabridged OED for a bit, but couldn't find it. Can anybody help me? To be clear, this was a single word. ![Player running](http://i.stack.imgur.com/0xrEf.jpg)


Is “Mind-meld” analogous to “Brainwashing”?

U.S. media are now abuzz about Presient Obama’s remark, “I should somehow do a Jedi mind-meld with these folks” at the press conference after sequestration meeing with Congressional leaders at the White House held on March 1st. The Atlantic complains that President Obama confused the Jedi of “Star Wars” and the mind-melds of “Star Trek,” and predicted that the President shatters his “nerd credibility.” Reference to Jedi mind-meld came in the following statement: > "Most people agree that I’m being reasonable, that most people agree that > I’m presenting a fair deal. The fact that they don’t take it, means that **I > should somehow do a Jedi mind-meld with these folks** and convince them to > do what’s right. ---The Speaker of the House and the leader of the Senate > and all those folks have responsibilities. What I can do is present the best > possible case for why we need to do the right thing.” As I’m unfamiliar with the plots of both “Star Wars” and “Star Trek,” I’m not sure of what “I should somehow do a Jedi mind-meld with these folks.” means. But I guess it means that most Americans think the President should change the mind of both the Speaker of the House and the Sanate leader and other “ramaining on their ass.” What is the exact translation of “Do a mind-meld with somebody”? Does it mean to brainwash somebody? Is “do a Jedi, or do mind-meld” a stand-alone English expression that most English- speaking people understand and use?


what's the structure of a sentence

> The issue was, and still is, hotly debated at the grass roots level, with > children coming to our schools speaking more than 200 languages. In the above sentence, I guess the subject is "issue" and the predicate is "was/is". "hotly debated at the grass roots level" is used to embellish "issue". And I'm confused by "with children coming to our schools speaking more than 200 languages". Is the object "with children coming to our schools speaking more than 200 languages"?


Is there a word or phrase for language and culture combined?

> Mr. Doe is committed to learning and teaching language and culture. Is there a term that embodies both language and culture? I want something concise, as I need to state it multiple times. I considered "linguistics" as a possibility: > Mr. Doe is committed to learning and teaching linguistics. ... but that doesn't really embody the customs and cultural side of the issue. I'm looking for a word that encompasses that aspect, as well as language.


"temporal" vs. "temporary"

Is there any difference between the two? In a technical document I have used a phrase "this is a temporal solution" and my coworker told that he'd use "temporary" in the context. Is one of the two more correct than the second?


Is there any online phrase dictionary available?

I use WordWeb which is available online for vocabulary. But, is there any equivalent for getting the meaning and origin of phrases ?


Is the plural of the electronic mouse "mouses" or "mice"?

Is the plural of that device that you plug into your computer _mouses_ or _mice_? Which of these is correct? > I bought some wireless optical mouses for my colleagues at work. > > I bought some wireless optical mice for my colleagues at work. I prefer the first one though I'm not sure why. The second makes me think there are some weird mutated creatures running around under my desk.


When is it acceptable to use Internet abbreviations such as “u” or “r”?

In my business communication over Internet text messengers, for example Google Talk or Skype, I see that many people often use shorten words like _u_ instead of _you_ , _r_ instead of _are_ and the like. How appropriate is usage of such words in contemporary communication? Is it used in emails also? Should we avoid it as much as possible?


When is it OK to use OK?

I often use "OK" in business and personal emails and phone conversations. But I often feel uncertain if it is appropriate to use it in every type of context. Please tell how universally I can use this word (if it can be called "word") without annoying native English speakers?


Do British speakers have problems understanding Jamaican speakers?

I'm still learning English but I think that, at the moment, my level is becoming acceptable (I can keep a real conversation with a native speaker without problems). The point is that I've been listening to a song by Sean Paul (a Jamaican singer) and I really have problems understanding most of what he says. This is the song, from 1:15 to 1:35. The question, as you may know, is: Do you have any problems understanding what he say?


Non-religious mentions of God (or religious concepts) in the American English language

Reading about an appeal turned down by the US Supreme Court, I see that the majority opinion on phrases such as _“in God we trust”_ and _“one nation under God”_ is that they are not affirmations of faith, but _“a historic, nonreligious recognition of the faith of the nation's founders in a higher power as the source of all rights”_. As a European, I have a hard time understanding this particular view, though that's very off-topic here. More on topic, this reading fueled my curiosity about the existence of other such expressions in English, be them either about God directly or religions in general. My question is: **are there other typical sentences or mottos which, while having a religious meaning if read literally, but are commonly understood as nonreligious?** Maybe among States’ mottos, or those of army units’. I can't see where to start looking. One thing, though: I'm pretty much aware of the large number of phrases, idioms, or sayings which feature the word God and can be used almost without risk in daily language, such as “for God's sake”, “God bless”, “God forbid”, “God help”, “God willing”, etc. I'm not looking for any such idiom.


How to describe narrated action?

Let's say we have a poem that has a first-person point of view and then goes like: > I have eaten the cookies Now, when I write about this poem and want to describe the action in the poem, would it be okay to write the following? > The narrator has eaten some cookies If not, what is the proper way to write about the narrated action?


Archaic vs Historical in dictionaries

At Oxford Dictionaries Online the word alderman is marked as "chiefly historical", whereas ere is marked as "literary or archaic". I've looked around on the ODO site, but I can't find a guide to explain the difference. To me they both mean "old and not really used any more". How does _archaic_ differ from _historical_ in word definitions?


"nibble" vs. "nibble on"

I've been told by a native speaker that the verb "to nibble" can be used both with and without a preposition. So, is there a difference between > I would definitely like to nibble on one of those sweet, sweet rodents! and > I would definitely like to nibble one of those sweet, sweet rodents! See this question on Travel-SE for some context. Which one (or maybe both) are correct? Is there a difference in meaning?


Are there commonly used words to denote different gradations of friendship in English?

In English there is only one word for grade of friendship: friends. All of you agree that _friends_ are different: with some of them you just drank beer few times, other you know for many years and you build strong bonds to them. There should be different words for that! In Russian there are three words for different grades of friendship:   1. You met few times.   2. You meet regularly, spend time, but don't have strong bonds.   3. You are important to each other, bonds are strong. (Usually people have 1-10 friends of that sort) So I am interested, are there commonly used words to denote different gradations of friendship in English?


Is "nuancedly" an existing word?

I was typing the following sentence in Microsoft Word: > This theme is outlined more nuancedly in this novel. but it marked the word "nuancedly" as being non-existent. I did a search on Google and only found ~300 results of this word. On The Free Dictionary, there is no record of the adverb of "nuanced", either. So, is "nuancedly" indeed not an existing word? I do believe one can put "-ly" after any adjective to make an adverb, but this case confuses me a little bit.


Is there a more fancy name for a "kitchen hole"?

Does English have a specific word for a hole between the kitchen and the living room that is used to get food directly to the dining table? German has the nice _Durchreiche_ , which approximately translates to _hand- through_. I am ideally looking for a nice translation of that word. ![kitchen hole](http://i.stack.imgur.com/pg5Ev.jpg)


Stabbing and running, how are they related?

When you literally _run through_ some where, e.g. > I have run through the streets of London it is quite clear what is meant. At a slightly more figurative level one might say, > I will run through our procedures with you. This is also clear. One is teaching another something quickly, as if to make their mind run through the information. But if I were a pirate and I found a dead body, I might say > He's been run through with a cutlass! Now, I know that _to run through_ means _to stab all the way through the body_ , but how has _run through_ come to mean that?


Is it appropriate to write RIP for expressing grief?

I came to this question after I saw a Facebook post about someone who passed away with everyone posting _rip_ as a comment. Wikipedia tells me the following about the abbreviation of RIP: > "Rest in peace" (Latin: Requiescat in pace) is a short epitaph or idiomatic > expression wishing eternal rest and peace to someone who has died. The > expression typically appears on headstones, often abbreviated as "RIP". Possibly it is just me, but is it really appropriate to write RIP to express grief? It seems not decent to use an abbreviation in this case—is there not enough time to write it at least out? Granted, after all the three letters do not root from modern age and internet like LOL, but have a historic background, plus it eases international verbal communication as it is with the word OK.


Adjectives for Calmness levels

Are there any adjectives that indicates the levels of calmness ? Especially, words that would fit between "calm" and "aggressive". Not synonyms but different levels. For example, it can be done like this:   * calmer    * calm   * aggressive   * very aggressive But can we use different adjectives than using comparatives, adverbs etc. ? Or should we stick to my example? Note: For example, I thought using "even-tempered" after "calm" but they are synonyms. (unless there are nuances of usage)


Use of "homeostasis"

> I'm going to say what's on my mind and it just might affect your > **homeostasis**. Is _homeostasis_ correctly used?


Is there a difference between "quicker" and "more quickly"

This is a follow up to this question: What is the difference between "quicker" and "faster"? "Quicker" is an adverb, as are "more" (in this context) and "quickly". So is there a difference besides preference between these?


One who breaks in to show the victim's vulnerability

This doesn't necessarily have to be a physical break in, it can also apply to one who creates and distributes a virus that doesn't collect any information or corrupt any files, but alerts the user that they have a virus and should be more careful on the internet.


"...mustn't have done..": can it mean reproach for a past action or prohibition of a future action?

1. Can " _You mustn't have done that_ " have a similar meaning to " _You shouldn't have done that_ " / " _You were not supposed to do it (but you did)_ "? (not logical probability but obligation)   2. Since we have the imperatives like "Have done with that!", wouldn't it be possible to use **must** to express prohibition of a future action: " _You mustn't have done that (by the time the bus reaches here tomorrow)_ "?


What is a polite form of proposing a fee for a service?

For example I did agree to provide a service to my client and I'd like to tell them, how much I would charge for my services. I can say: "It'll cost $100". But is it the best way?


meaning of "à la Weber"

what's the meaning of: à la Weber in this phrase "Democracy has become, à la Weber, synonymous with equal treatment by bureaucracy"


Difference between "shake", "tremor", "shiver", "tremble"

I put only four words in the title, but I know there are more. Right now I remember _jerking_. I know the difference between _shaking_ and _vibration_. But I don't have any idea about the usage of others. It seems their meaning is almost the same but their usage is different. I heard _tremor_ a few times when someone described a earthquake. So could anyone explain the difference with examples?


The meaning of "I can't agree with you enough"

I know what is the meaning of "I can't agree with you more", but what about "I can't agree with you enough"? What does it mean? Does it mean that I agree with you, or I don't?


Does the word, ‘peruse’ have a single meaning of ‘attentive reading,’ or double, contradicting meanings of ‘attentive’ and ‘cursory’ reading?

I’m confused to find opposite definitions in the same word, ‘peruse’ in Readers English Japanese Dictionary published by a leading foreign language dictionary publisher in Japan. It defines ‘peruse’ as: > vt. > >   1. Read carefully and attentively. Examine carefully. > >   2. Read cursorily, quickly. > > As I thought ‘read carefully’ and ‘read cursorily’ are contradicting definition, I checked OALED. It defines ‘peruse’ singly as: > vt. to read sth. especially in a careful way. Oxford Online English Dictionary single-mindedly defines ‘peruse’ as: >   1. read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way: >   2. examine carefully or at length: > with a specific note: > Note that peruse means ‘read’, typically with an implication of thoroughness > and care. It does not mean ‘read through quickly; glance over’, as in > documents will be perused rather than analyzed thoroughly. Cambridge Online English Dictionary similarly define ‘peruse’ as: > to read through something, especially in order to find the part you are > interested in: However, Merriam-Webster English Dictionary comes with dual meanings of ‘attentive reading’ and ‘cursory reading, or skimming.’ > a: to examine or consider with attention and in detail. > > b: to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner. Obviously, both Oxford (including OAELD) and Cambridge English Dictionary give a single meaning of ‘attentive reading,’ and both Merriam-Webster and Readers Dictionary give dual meanings of “attentive and casual reading.” What is the absolute interpretation of the meaning of ‘peruse’? If it has a single meaning - only attentive reading -, there’s no problem. But if it has dual meanings as seen in Merriam-Webster and Readers Dictionary, how can I find which way the word is used in mutually conflicting meanings of ‘deep- reading’ and ‘quick-reading’ in the context? In other word, how can I tell whether the sender wants me to make a thorough and meticulous study of his writing, or to have just a quick run-through when he sends it to me with a note, “for your perusal?” **Addendum:** I checked American English dictionaries at hand, which again come in both a single and dual definition(s). Oxford American English Dictionary (1980) defines ‘peruse’ singly as to **read or examine** printed material, **especially with great care**. Webster’s New World Basic Dictionary of American English (1998) defines the word separately as; 1\. to read through carefully as in peruse report on employment. 2 to **read in a casual way** as in peruse the Sunday paper. In net, four English dictionaries provide a single definition purporting ‘attentive reading,’ and three other dictionaries provide dual meanings of ‘attentive’ and ‘cursory’ reading. However, all three Oxford brand dictionaries adopt uniformly a single ‘attentive reading’ interpretation.


"the element of imprecision" and "casual and bold"

Ran into this: > For the hundredth time he resented **the element of imprecision** , _the > margin of guesswork that entered into the business_. The project as he had > worked it out was **casual and bold** , the risks were considerable. For context: here 1)Is the _the margin of guesswork that entered into the business_ the appositive of **the element of imprecision**? 2)Could you kindly rephrase the whole 2 sentences? I mean if you were to say it with different simpler words while the meaning would not change, how would you say it?


Comma placement

Ok, just for fun, this sentence makes perfect sense when spoken, but in print, where would you put the commas? I say at that that that that that that that refers to is not that that at all.


The structure of the second half of this sentence

> The dot is placed in a position that is relative to the other dots and the > timing as to when the item was posted I'm okay with the first half of this sentence (the part before _and_ ). I'm wondering if the second half is a legitimate ellipsis here. If so, how does it interact with the first half? In other words, what could be the full form of the entire sentence?


Would the word "tween" be considered a portmanteau or is it just a truncation?

Is it the word "between", but truncated, or a portmanteau of "in between" and "teen"?


What is a lemma?

Psycholinguistically, a lemma is an abstract conceptual form of a word. However from a lexicographic perspective, the lemma is merely the aorist or canonical form of a word. In English, the lemma of a verb is the 3rd person singular form; for a noun, it's the singular form. However for multi-word expression, we might need to use the plural form of a noun within the expression, e.g. "kick_one's_heels". Even if we don't consider multi-word expression to constitute a lemma, we have other inconsistencies of the criteria to give lemma status to a word, e.g. `hooved`(adj) vs `hoofed`(adj). What is a notion of lemma? How is it scientifically defined? Citations will be much appreciated.


Differences between "very" and "very much" as adjective modifiers

The following examples are clearly wrong: > × I am very much tired   >  × She is very much clever But the following sounds fine (at least according to OALD): > I am very much afraid that ...   >  I am very much aware of ... Worse, the following sounds awkward to me: > × I am very aware of ... I wonder some sound ok while the others do not. Does it have to do with the type of adjectives being used? Or is there a subtle nuance between "very" and "very much"? Is "very much" the same as "extremely" (I would guess not, at least in the "afraid" example)? When should/can one use "very much", as opposed to "very"? Are there differences between spoken and written uses?


Is there a better phrase / word choice than 'jealous of' when a man looks and smiles at my wife?

One of the meanings of 'jealous' as mentioned on dictionary.com is:   1. solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something: 'The American people are jealous of their freedom.' Now, if a man looked and smiled at my wife I would become very jealous but if I described this and said: 'I'm jealous of my wife.' it would not reflect the situation or my feeling. It would suggest that my wife has something that I want but don't have. Also, it may imply that my wife did something to make me jealous - which in the above situation never happened because it was the man that looked and smiled. In Arabic there is a specific word and preposition to reflect these types of situations as opposed to the use of jealousy to mean wanting something someone else has, which in Arabic has yet another different word. The above example from dictionary.com about Americans being jealous of their freedom does not leave any room for misunderstanding or multiple meanings because it is not possible to be jealous of an inanimate object (albeit an abstract one like 'freedom') but it is ambiguous when it comes to people like my example above, hence the possible misunderstanding and lack of accuracy in expression.


Can the word “off-label” be used for other than medical application?

The New York Times article (March 4) introduces top 10 ramen destinations in New York under the title, “Ramen’s Big Splash.” I was amazed to find that ramen acquired so much popularity among New Yorkers, in retrospect that I was unable to find a single ramen shop in Manhattan in mid-70s when I visited New York for the first time . After returning home, I recommended the owner of one of the largest Chinese restaurant chains in Tokyo to open rahmen shop in Manhattan. He scowled, and declared that there’s no way of ramen shop’s becoming a good business in U.S. Idle talk aside, I was drawn to the word, “off-label” in the following sentence of the article: > “Another **off-label** use for ramen has been gathering strength in Japan > and is a good bet to take off in New York: mazemen. Ramen without the slurp, > mazemen has no broth, getting its flavor elsewhere. At Ivan Ramen, this can > be from a mash of eggplant and chiles or, in my favorite example of the > genre, caramelized garlic pulp.” > > http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/dining/ramens-big-splash.html?hp&_r=0 I understand “off-label” here implies “non-standard.” But as far as I’ve checked major online English dictionaries, definition of “off-label” is highly medicinal specific, and pretty serious. For example; CED: used to describe a medical drug that is used for a different purpose than the one it was originally intended for: Off-label uses may include giving a drug for a disease other than the disease it is approved for, or for treating a child when the product is approved to treat adults. OED: relating to the prescription of a drug for a condition other than that for which it has been officially approved: Merriam Webster English Dictionary: of, relating to, or being a drug used to treat a condition for which it has not been officially approved: Wikipedia: Off-label use is the use of pharmaceutical drugs for an unapproved indication or in an unapproved age group, unapproved dosage, or unapproved form of administration. - - It does carry health risks and differences in legal liability. Can the word “off-label” be used more broadly on anything such as foods, electric appliances and smart phones as used in the above article other than medical reference, just as a figurative expression?


Which of the variants is more correct in (American) English, "which usually is the case for ..." or "which is usually the case for ..."? For example > Some people don't speak perfect English, which (usually is | is usually) the > case for me. The Google search seems to return twice as many results for the first variant, but the second one feels bit more easy to say.


"Big budget" vs. "large budget" — which one to use?

What is the difference between _big_ and _large_? I am trying to use one of these words but I'm skeptical which one is the right one. The context I intend to use one of these words in is: > Small companies don't have big/large budgets. So which one is the better choice?


Is there any shorter way to say "military medical personnel"? I mean by that: all the people in the armed forces that are allowed to use medical equipment on a daily basis.


How do we differentiate long vowels from short vowels in English

I was finding a school for my toddler. I saw this new theory called long vowels and short vowels The teacher talk about _apple_ , which she read something like "eiple" and the _hat_ , which she claims use short vowels. She says that some vowels are long vowels and some vowels are short vowels. Now I know where I got my accent. I never knew about it. In Indonesian language every vowel have just one spelling. That being said, she does sound like native speakers. The question is: How do we know when we should use long vowels and when we should use short vowels. For example, is a in apple short or long? Is the _a_ in _hat_ short or long? Do we sort of just memorize that or is there a rule.


What is it called when a letter is within another letter? For example, the letter O within the letter L: ![Example 1](http://i.stack.imgur.com/b5yeM.png) **Edit:** Or the first C in the Coca-Cola logo: ![Example 2](http://i.stack.imgur.com/fVtss.png) Does this arrangement of type have a name?


A word or phrase to say something reminds or hints or brings up another idea

I want to tell that something reminds/hint us of another thing. For example, in an application, a sorting method used in it has similarities to bubble sort but not completely the same. In this case, when reading about the sorting method used in the application reminds or hints me of, or brings to mind the idea of bubble sort. So, I tried to put this idea into a sentence this way: > The sorting method used in the application _reminisces_ bubble sort. But in this sentence, is the word _reminisces_ used appropriately? So I thought of phrasing it the other way: > The sorting method used in the application _is a reminiscent of_ bubble > sort. I seldom hear the word _reminiscent_ being used in this context and it sounds weird when I use it this way. Is it correct? Since it also feels like a hint, I thought maybe I could use the word " _allude_ ": > The sorting method used in the application _alludes_ bubble sort. Here, again, _alludes_ doesn't sound like a right word to use. What word or way of phrasing should I use to get this idea across clearly?


"peered out the plane" vs "peered out the plane window"

Is it OK to omit _window_ in the following sentence: > **Mary relaxed her body as she peered out the plane.** Clear turquoise water > and miles of white sand started appearing on the horizon. Is it apparent that the person is peering out of a airplane window?


Theatrologue: what are peoples' opinions on the use of this word in English?

I often edit texts that have been translated from Slovenian language and it is common that the Slovenian word _teatrolog_ gets translated into English as "theatrologist", a word to which I find I am quite allergic. Today I saw on the _Slovenian Dictionary of Theatre Terminology_ the following translations: _**teatrológ** -a m strokovnjak, ki se ukvarja z zgodovino, estetiko, teorijo in družbeno funkcijo gledališča_ ang.: theatre scholar, theatrologue fr.: théâtrologue m. ita.: studioso del teatro m. nem.: Theaterwissenschaftler m. In the past I have been quite relentless in changing occurrences of "theatrologist" or even "theatrologue" (also a bothersome term to me) to "theatre expert". It's not my favourite option, which is why I decided to post a question here. What do others think is the most appropriate term: "theatre expert", "theatre scholar" or "theatrologue"? Thanks in advance for your input.


Is 'overreach' just a verb?

Reading an article on the _New York Times_ website, I came across the verb 'overreach' functioning as a noun. I immediately looked it up on the net and apparently it's just a verb, so I wanted to know what's going on here: is it a translation issue or does it have to do with some dialectical/sociolinguistic/idiolectical affair (which I doubt, because the text is supposedly standard American, right?)? Thanks.


Can this sentence be ordered differently?

> John and Tom, working together effectively, were gathered in the basement. I don't believe there's a problem with this. But what if you change the order to: > The ones gathered in the basement were John and Tom, working together > effectively. In this case, I am hoping to begin the sentence with "The ones..."


Are "y", "m", and "d" the singular and plural abbreviations for "year(s)", "month(s)", and "day(s)"? Examples: _1\. The project took exactly 5y 2m 18d to complete._ (If this is in fact correct, would 'm' be confused for 'meter'?) _2\. It was a 5y 2m 18d project._ Again, I was asked for exactness and specificity with regard to accuracy. I don't know why the boss likes this format, but for some inexplicable reason he does. Any help is greatly and deeply appreciated. You folks on this site are amazing. (Sorry, but I had to give you your props.) :-)


Can "crepuscular" and/or "twilight" apply to morning half-light as well as in the evening

I know that's "sorta" two questions in one, but I'm stuck in an argument with a guy who says _both_ words can apply to morning half-light. I disagree and think both only apply in the evening. I think both can only be used about dim light in the evening, but I have to admit I don't know any equivalent words for dim light in the morning. EDIT: More votes needed! I get the feeling I'm losing here!


Placement of "off the beaten track" in context

I know that "off the beaten track" means "unusual". Can it be used before a noun and after a verb? For example, >   * an off the beaten track place >   * This holiday is off the beaten track. > Is it used only when talking about things?


Does the verb “unpublish” exist?

I use a CMS (content management system) where a post or comment is visible to all the users (if there aren't other restrictions) when it is flagged as _published_. What verb should I use to mean that I changed the status of a post from _published_ to _unpublished_? The dictionary reports that _unpublished_ is only an adjective; therefore, I could not write _I unpublished the post_. I usually write _I marked the post as unpublished_ , but it doesn't sound right to my ears (and it seems using more words than needed).


Is there a name for someone who owes a debt?

I'm currently writing fiction about a firm that collects debt from citizens who owe money to various places, such as banks, or government agencies (involving government loans or unpaid taxes). Is there a word to describe someone who owes a debt, specifically money, or does it vary depending on where the money is owed to? If a person who collects debt is a debt collector, perhaps a debt collectee?


"Whatever for?" vs. "What for?"

From _Watership Down_ , by Richard Adams: > Chervil: “It’ll have to be reported.” > > Bigwig: “ **Whatever** for?” > > Chervil: “Because it’s unusual. Everything unusual has to be reported.” I think saying _“What for?”_ would work there as well, so is there an added meaning when using **_“Whatever** for?”_ with _whatever_ instead of just _what_ there? Is this a colloquialism?


Whats in a title?

As a member of the executive board for my local camera club, we were standardizing the titles for consistency and uniformity. Previously, Vice President of Competition and Vice President of Programs were not consistently named and caused confusion. In some places it was Vice-President vs. Vice President and in others it was 'for Competitions' vs. 'of Competition' as well as 'of Programs' vs. 'for Programs'. Is there an appropriate way to specify this?


What does “much to his chagrin” mean?

What does _much to his chagrin_ mean? If _chagrin_ means feeling of embarrassment, then can we write “I felt chagrin” or the like? What about “I was chagrined by”? Then what does _much to chagrin_ mean in a sentence, or is this the way we put it?


Difference between “thesis” and “dissertation”

Is there a difference between _thesis_ and _dissertation_ in a British academic context? I saw that _thesis_ was more used at Masters level while _dissertation_ at PhD level but would like a confirmation.


Did the "We shall fight on the beaches" speech mainly use words from Old English? If so, why?

I read today that Churchill's "We shall fight on the beaches" speech mainly used words from Old English. Wikipedia's article states that Melvyn Bragg claimed in "The Adventure of English" that only seven words in his speech weren't from Old English. A similar claim is made by Robert Lacey in "The Year 1000: What Life Was Like at the Turn of the First Millennium": > “When Winston Churchill wanted to rally the nation in 1940, it was to Anglo- > Saxon that he turned: "We shall fight on the beaches; we shall fight on the > landing grounds; we shall fight in the fields and the streets; we shall > fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." All these stirring words came > from Old English as spoken in the year 1000, with the exception of the last > one, surrender, a French import that came with the Normans in 1066 I've got two questions: 1) Is this claim true? I'm a little cautious about the claim, because it sounds like something that'd be popular with Francophobes. That one of the few exceptions (according to the claim) is "surrender" would be consistent with this. (This is a good example of anti-French sentiment, if you need one) 2) If the claim is true, and assuming that the choice of Old English was deliberate, why was this done? Did Churchill expect people to notice that he was using Old English words? Or was he expecting Old English words to produce a different emotional response than words from French?


Is there any grammatical mistake in "web designers and developers required?"

I am going to publish the requirements of some local developers, however, someone said that there is a grammatical issue in following sentence: "web designers and developers required." Is there?


Question regarding the use of "rather than"

Can you please tell me whether the following sentence is correct? Would you improve it (for example using appropriate punctuation)? > Hence several attempts have been made to cope with rather than eliminate the > presence of cancer cells.


"Shot" or "shooted"

Which is correct: _shot_ or _shooted_? Where and when is the form _shooted_ used?


Does the expression “web technologies” have a euphemistic/promotional character ?

In German, I sometimes come across the expression “Webtechnologien” as a direct adoption of “web technologies”, which usually relates to software, programming, web development. I've always found the use of the word “technologies” slightly odd here – it seems to have a somewhat promotional character to me, whereas something like “techniques” would come closer to a 'sober' choice of words, though maybe not a perfect one, either... I'd like to know if this is in fact an impression that is shared by native English speakers.


Is there an English word for a person who shares your name?

In Sweden, if your name is Sven Andersson and there is a person of interest (for any reason) that has the same name as you, there is a slightly affectionate word you can use where you say that this person (that you often don't know at all) is your **namne** ( _namn_ means name). Is there a similar word in English, and how does the usage differ, if at all?


How do I spell a word that sounds like "reh-par-tay" and often used with "witty"?

Clever conversation, aka "witty [reh-par-tay]" ... can't for the life of me remember how to spell that loan word, though I use it in spoken English from time to time. I am pretty sure it's not _repertoire_.


Using "champion" as a verb

John McCarthy, Father of Artificial Intelligence, just passed away. I just read an article about him, which stated that > he **championed** mathematical logic for Artificial Intelligence. I am not sure of the meaning of _champion_ , although I have seen it used in several similar occasions. I just looked it up and assume that it means to defend or to support. My intuition is that _champion_ could be the very word we should think of in the first place in this context. Is that true? Could any other word be a better alternative here?


Difference between "extremities" and "extremes"

What is the difference between _extremities_ and _extremes_? Which is more appropriate when attempting to convey that someone blows things out of proportion or is a bit hyperbolic? For context, this is the title of a sub-chapter.


Difference between "election fraud", "electoral fraud" and "voter fraud"

What is the difference between _election fraud_ , _electoral fraud_ and _voter fraud_? An example of usage for each word would be great.


"Help save the planet with your mobile phone"

Does "help save the planet _with_ your mobile phone" have a different meaning or connotation than "help save the planet _using_ your mobile phone?"


Word for "Raccoon-like" or "Raccoon-esque"?

I am looking for a word like lupine only for raccoons. Is there a word that means “raccoon-like” or “raccoon-esque”?


Payment to be due within three months "of" that meeting

Does the word "of" in the context of an established point in time refer to before or after that established point in time?


What is the exact meaning of “blood-dimmed (tragedy),” and how does it pass current among Anglophones?

I was drawn to the word, “blood-dimmed tragedy” in the following statement of Maureen Dowd’s article titled, “Peeping Barry” in June 8 New York Times: > You could see the fear in his eyes, the fear that froze him in place, after > Andy Card whispered to W. in that Florida classroom that a second plane had > crashed into the twin towers. The **blood-dimmed tragedy** of 9/11 was > chilling. But instead of rising above the fear, W. let it overwhelm his > better instincts. I know ‘blood-chilling’ and ‘blood-curdling’. But as I don’t know the word, “blood-dimmed,” I consulted English dictionaries at hand and online. None of OED, CED and Merriam-Webster includes this word and nor does Google Ngram register any incidence of “blood-dimmed.” However, I found that “blood-dimmed tragedy” is a twist of “the blood-dimmed tide is loosed,” in William Butler Yeats’ “The Second Coming.” > "Turning and turning in the widening gyre > > The falcon cannot hear the falconer; > > Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; > > Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, > > **The blood-dimmed tide is loosed** , and everywhere > > The ceremony of innocence is drowned;" I wonder why Dowd – I know she loves flowery expressions - doesn’t plainly say ‘the tragedy of 9/11 was blood-chilling / curdling’ instead of ‘the blood- dimmed tragedy of 9/11 was chilling.” How does the word “blood-dimmed,” which I cannot find in any of mainstream English dictionaries, pass current among average English speaking people? Will I be frowned on, or not, if I say “I saw a **blood-dimmed car accident** in my neighborhood yesterday” to my English speaking friend?


"It stands without reason" or "it stands to reason"

This question appeared in a previous question.   Should I write " **it stands without reason** that accuracy is of utmost importance" or " **it stands to reason** that accuracy is of utmost importance?" The latter is the only I can find in online dictionaries.


Equivalent of sarcastic song "non ti preoccupare, l'importante è partecipare" among Italian football supporters

Is there an equivalent in English or American sports culture of the sarcastic song that originated among Italian football supporters, that they sing to the losing opposition team? It's like this: > [Milanista/Interista] non ti preoccupare, l'importante è partecipare which can be roughly translated to: > Don't worry, the important thing is to participate Any ideas?


Is "either" being properly used in the following sentence?

I'm not a native English-speaker. For some reason, I'm not sure about the usage of **either** in the following sentence: > And it's not that I’m against traveling or studying abroad. It's just that > I'm not against staying in a same place **either**. Is it being used correctly?


"By the Bye": Etymology and Usage

In India we frequently use this term as a substitute for 'By the way'. Is the usage as popular in other countries? Can someone throw some light on the etymology?


Meaning of "For, as to their own happiness, it is but trash"

What is the meaning of the sentence in bold? > I don't think happiness is important. **For, as to their own happiness, it > is but trash.** To what end is happiness?, I say. Henry Jacobson (Happiness)


structure or phrasal verb?

I think I understand what he wants to say, but cannot figure out the sentence structure or I just don't know such a phrasal verb. "I thought of the Lake Como what I had thought of Lugano."


Comma in "Before I go I will return the book"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When do I use the comma? > Before I go I will return the book. Do we have to use a comma in the above sentence?


Is there a word for a person who is able to focus on multiple tasks at same time?

I thought of the word 'multi-tasker' but is there a better word which can express focussing on multiple tasks with equal efficiency? For instance, it is said that Leonardo Da Vinci, a polymath, was able to write and draw at the same time.


Alternative to "typo"

I often write and see written something like "Fix typo" in commit messages, when the fix was not in fact for a "typographical error". It might have been a duplicate word, a small grammatical problem (perhaps have/has, they're/their), an awkward construction, or a mistaken identifier. Is there a good, compact word or phrase that would describe this more accurately, but perhaps isn't as pretentious and hollow as "Fix minor linguistic problems"?


Is this an adverbial clause?

I see a sentence in this site: > But both can be quite strong depending on how they are spoken. Is _depending on […]_ an adverbial clause?


Differences in uses of efficient and effective

I am really confused when **efficient** and **effective** appear in a sentence. I get quite confused about the whole meaning of the sense it pulls of.


Is there any difference in meaning between 'efficacy' and 'efficiency'?

I feel that there is a subtle difference in meaning between 'efficacy' and 'efficiency', but I couldn't find any authoritative sources that could help me confirm or refute this. Is there any difference between the two words, especially in scientific context?


Meaning of "My friend, who lives in Paris, is a teacher" with and without commas

Can anyone help me understand the difference in meaning between these two sentences? >   * My friend who lives in Paris is a teacher. >   * My friend, who lives in Paris, is a teacher. > To me it seems they convey the same meaning, however the latter better structures the sentence. I came across this in the following question: > How would you explain to a learner of English the difference in meaning > between the following pairs of sentences?


What are the differences in meaning between a-b, and c-d?

a.The travellers who took another route got lost. b. The travellers, who took another route, got lost. * * * c. Mary, who always sits in the front row of the class, got 'A' today. d. Mary who always sits in the front row of the class got 'A' today.


What are the metaphorical ways to say that someone has died? For example "He has gone to the far country where he will be happy for ages". P.S. There is this question, but it focuses on mentioning the person, while this question is more about mentioning the fact. * * * > This question exists because it has historical significance, but it is no > longer considered a good, on-topic question for this site, so please do not > use it as evidence that you can ask similar questions here. > > More info: http://english.stackexchange.com/faq


Why are present participle and infinitive equally acceptable for some verbs, but not others

This question about "started teaching/to teach" made me realise that even though the present participle and infinitive are both acceptable after _"started"_ , that's not the case with other superficially equivalent "auxiliary" verbs... > She began crying/to cry. _(both okay - and to me, mean exactly the same > thing)_ > > She ceased caring/to care. _(both okay, but the infinitive seems slightly > more "natural" to me)_ > > It commenced raining/?to rain. > > It stopped raining/*to rain. > > He quit gambling/*to gamble. > > We gave up trying/*to try. What is it about those last four that prevents the infinitive form being acceptable? I have a vague sense that in some usages the infinitive might have been more acceptable in the past ( _"It commenced to rain"_ sounds a bit "Victorian" to me), but I can't square that with my preference for _"I ceased to care"_ over _"I ceased caring"_.


Crenulator - What is the exact meaning?

I understand that after cremation, the remains are put through a crenulator to reduce them to ashes and to sift out metals. I assume it's a sort of shaker/sieve.


Is the sentence "Whose your daddy" interchangeable with "Who's your daddy"?

Me and a friend are arguing about this case and I'm trying to make the point that a sentence such as: > Whose your daddy Is incorrect because the pronoun `whose` means `of which` and not `who is`.   My friend, on the other hand, is trying to make the point that the usage of `whose` in the sentence shown above is correct. Which one of us is correct?


Full of (piss|pith) and vinegar

Re: the expression: > "Full of (piss|pith) and vinegar" Are both correct/acceptable? Is one preferred?


Is it grammatically incorrect to follow the abbreviations *ie* and *eg* with *etc*?

Is it grammatically incorrect to follow the abbreviations _ie_ and _eg_ with _etc_? My daughter's English teacher told her that this in an absolute no-no and is never permitted under any circumstances. He also said that this could warrant an F on an English submission. This must be an egregious grammatical error! Consider these examples. _Mike brought the goodies (eg chocolate fudge, lemon meringue pie, etc) to the party._ _When eating a squirrel taco, Bigfoot always added extra condiments (ie ranch dressing, ketchup, pepper, etc)._ Good or bad?


one's way of V-ing / one's way to V / a/the way of V-ing / a/the way to V

There are some options when you use the word _way_ and some verb together: (1) a. There are some way of writing.         b. There are some way to write.  Is there any difference between (1a) and (1b)? However, it seems that you cannot use _way_ plus the possessives and "to Verb" together: (2) a. I'm used to their way of doing business.         b. **?** I'm used to their way to do business.  Do you agree with this judgement? If so, why is it impossible to use _way_ plus the possessives and "to verb" at the same time?


What is the correct English word for a person who always suspects other people without any valid reason?

What is the correct English word for a person who always suspects other people (like colleagues, wife, and, so on), whose habit is to suspect people around him, without any valid reason?


What is a symbol [an expression or idiom] for a word of great length in English?

Is there any symbol [expression, figure of speech, metaphor] for something long in length in English? for example, in Persian we say for a long word: > "the letters are set like train" train mostly plays the role in Persian.


Use of "never" in questions

I was taught that _ever_ should be used in questions ( _Have you ever...?_ ) and _never_ should be used in negations ( _I have never..._ ). But reading " _A wizard of Earthsea_ " by Ursula K. Le Guin I spotted such a sentence: " _Have you **never** thought how danger must surround power as shadow does light?_" Is that grammatically correct? What does the author want to say by this?


Where can I find information about the history of the study of Old English?

I'm curious about when the English, in early modern period, first found out about texts such as Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon chronicles and realised it was an old version of English? Or did they always know about the history of the English language? When did linguistic studies of the English language begin? I mean, today we can pick an Old English word and say which word it developed into in Modern English; when did this study first begin? Thanks


Notes folded into paper airplanes

Do the notes that are folded into paper airplanes and thrown across classrooms by kids, have a special name?


A person who chooses one of two opposing sides of an issue

Is there any single word for a person who chooses one of two opposing sides of an issue?


Adjective of "ignore"

The primary meaning of _ignore_ is to disregard somebody. _Ignorant_ is synonymous with unlearned and uninformed. _Ignorable_ assigns somebody or something a low priority. I'm looking for an adjective that describes an action towards the object, such that I can rephrase the following sentence: > He ignores me. into > He is [adjective] towards me. Possible candidates: _inattentive_ , _indifferent_ , _unresponsive_ , _invisible_ and finally _uncaring_.


A word in Business terminology

I'm trying to describe the action of taking one-time customers and have them pay for a subscription product. So for instance if I own a coffee shop and I get money from customers coming at all times, but I also get money from customers paying a monthly subscription for coffee. How would I best describe the way/method of the second option, basically steady cash-flow instead of having to depend on new customers. Hope it's not too vague, certainly something in business terminology


Ek kaan se suno aur dusre kaan se nikaal do in English proverb?

I know a Hindi proverb, but I would like to know translation of same in English. How will we say in form of proverb/idiom > Not listening or paying attention to the words that come out of your mouth


"Insert on a chain"?

I have some chained methods in my experiment like A→B→C . What is the best of way of expressing putting something new on this chain? Suppose that I want to add D to have A→B→C→D. Do I say I add D on the chain? into the chain? to the chain? etc. Any suggestions are appreciated.


Is “closed press (remark / ceremony / meeting)” a popular English word?

I saw the word, “closed press” in Time magazine’s (August 15) article titled “Chris Christie lays out argument for 2016.” > “Christie spoke at length about his record in New Jersey, emphasizing > accomplishments like teacher benefit reform and bringing down the Garden > State’s budget deficit. Christie’s remarks were **closed press** , but > multiple guests provided quotes and recordings.” And I saw “closed press” in the following instance: > “Obama Accepts Transparency Award **in Closed Press Ceremony**. March 30, > 2011\. President Obama finally and quietly accepted his “transparency” award > from the open government community this week — in a closed, undisclosed > meeting at the White House on Monday.” https://www.facebook.com/notes/michelle-malkin/perfect-obama-accepts- transparency-award-in-closed-press-ceremony/10150138535190677 From the above sentence,’ I was able to easily surmise that “Closed Press” means a meeting / event shutting out press / reporters, and I checked Cambridge, Oxford, and Merriam-Webster online dictionary to make sure of it, and found that none of them carries “closed press” as a heading. I wonder why none of them carries the word. On the other hand, Google Ngram shows emergence of “closed press” in 1870s. The currency peaked in 1940 at 0.00000016% level, and has tailored off to a low 0.00000004% level since 2000. But I can’t tell whether Ngram shows “closed press” as V+N, or a noun. With that said, here are my questions:   1. Is “closed press” a well-established English word?   2. What is the alternative word to “closed press” e.g. unofficial remark or meeting?   3. Though I don’t find any problem in the line, “Obama accepts Transparency Award in Closed Press Ceremony,” the statement, “Christie’s remarks were closed press” sounds somewhat foreign to me, because it appears to me as if saying [Christie’s remark = closed press]. Is it rhetorically and logically a perfect line?


Is there a word for this behaviour?

Well I use a lot of.. I'm vulgar.. very very perverse (just the language!) at that.. But I value the feelings inclusive of that I honour my enemies (I don't suck up but I value them) whose feelings I value, under their uncouth exteriors - in short, I respect, value and am very sensitive about how others/anyone feels. I'm not genteel for sure. The freedictionary.com specifies that:                     genteel: 2. Free from vulgarity or rudeness.      Now I'm not in the former (I'm far from "free from vulgarity") but I detest rudeness. So how would you describe me? What is the exact word/words? Has my condition ever been addressed in the English vocabulary? (It could be crack or nut but I can't be sure. There should be a more colloquial term shouldn't there? Thank you immensely!


XOXO means "hugs and kisses" but why?

What's the reasoning behind abbreviating hugs and kisses as X's and O's? Some say X is for hugs and O is for kisses, and some say the other way around; but why X and O, and why are they doubled?


Word/phrase for parent whose children have grown up and left home

Is there a single word or phrase that means a parent whose grown-up children are not living with them?


Verb for "I wish I were" him?

Is there a verb to describe a person who you wish you could be? For example, if you wish you were Bob, then > I **__** Bob.


What is the grammatical role of a word like "Thus" at the beginning of a sentance

What is the grammatical role of a word like "Thus", "Therefore", or "So" at the start of a sentance? I was born in the US. "Therefore" I am an American citizen. It's not an article... it's not a preposition... is it a conjunction?


What are representative examples of exaggerated simile like “I never in a million years thought I’d see this.”?

I found the expression, “ _I never in a million years thought I’d see this_ ,” in the New York Times’ article (November 9) commenting on pedophiliac harassment scandals of Penn State under the headline, “Paterno is finished at Penn State, and President is out.” The phrase appears in the following sentence: Kathryn Simpson, 20, a junior studying graphic design, was weeping as she walked away from the university’s administration building, Old Main, with a friend. “This is devastating for us,” she said. “ _I never in a million years thought I’d see this.”_ I’m not sure of whether “I never in a million years thought I’d see this,” is popular expression or not, but it reminds me of a universal pattern of exaggerated expressions that we imported from Chinese classics and turned them into colloquial metaphors, for examples, “白髪三千丈- an old man with 99,000 feet gray hair, describing a reclusive old man with long gray hair and beard,” “万石之涙 - shed 1,800,000 liters of tears, describing deep sorrow,” and “万里之長城 - the Great Wall of 40,000 km.” I’m curious to know what kinds of popular, exaggerated formats of English expression you have other than “I never in a million years thought I’d see this.” Would you give me just a few examples that I can use it tomorrow, because there would be hundreds or thousands?


What exactly does it mean to "mug somebody off" in British English?

I tried looking this up at the Urban Dictionary, but it gave only one net- upvoted definition, and that definition wasn't even clear. The background for my question is coming my watching from a movie with lots of Cockney English sounding speakers; somebody says something to another a bar, and the person being spoken looks upset and yells back, "are you trying to mug me off?" What does it mean?


Is "Windows-based PC" a correct term in American English?

I am writing a support message to a customer support of an audio hardware vendor. I need to describe them that I am running Microsoft Windows as the main OS on my computer. Is "Windows-based PC" term it correct to describe a computer with say Windows XP installed? An example of using the term:   * I am using the Audigy card with onboard firewire controller to connect my audio device to a Windows-based PC.


Differences between slang words for breasts

What is the difference between “tits” and “boobs”? P.S. I'm not sure if this question is appropriate but as English is not my native language I really would love to know the difference.


Is a question the only thing that can be asked?

I will admit that I am clueless about all grammar-related terminology (prime example right there), but I'll try to explain as best as I can. Conceptually, there's a difference between these two forms:   1. To ask for something   2. To ask a question For the latter form, is a question the only thing someone can ask? It bugs me that I cannot think of a single other alternative!


Is “Can I persuade you?” a common word to expect acceptance from somebody?

I came across the phrase, “Can I persuade you?” in the following sentence of Jeffery Archer’s popular novel, “Kane & Abel” in the scene a Harvard graduate, ex-marine Bostonian, Henry Osborn invites the young widow of Boston millionaire, Anne Kane to concert: > > " She is delighted, though not entirely surprised, when he telephoned her > the following morning. ‘Boston Symphony Orchestra, Mozart, conducted by > their flamboyant new maestro, next Monday – **Can I persuade you?** ’” Is “Can I persuade you” a common or well-used word for asking someone for the consent or positive answer, or just an ad hoc expression invented for this occasion? Can I say “Could I persuade you?” instead of asking somebody “Do you agree with me?” after haranguing him?


Guidelines for interpretation of "all but a few"

For a clause of the type [all but a few X] [Y], there seem to be two possible interpretations. The first one is "Y is the case for all things/people/places, except for a few X," as in the following quotations: >   * Moammer Gadhafi says his regime is still alive in Libya and is calling > his opponents takeover of all but a few pockets of the country a charade.   > >   * Stating the obvious to all but a few Supreme Court Justices, quoting an > earlier decision, Scalia wrote, " We are a religious people whose > institutions presuppose a Supreme Being. "   > >   * After launch, the spacecraft began its voyage through the void of space > and was promptly forgotten by all but a few scientists and space > enthusiasts. > The second one is "Y is the case for all X, except for a few of X," as in the following quotations: >   * All but a few entry-level, low-cost models with screen sizes greater > than 40 inches have the 1920-by-1080 resolution of " full HD " (1080p).   > >   * Vazquez outperformed all but a few NL starters.   > >   * But Ismail never lets his political convictions get in the way of his > business. He supplies most government agencies and all but a few foreign > embassies in Washington. > What exactly is the semantic difference between the two variants, and how can their occurrence be predicted?


Does "precluded from" require a direct object?

In a copy-editing job I'm doing, I came across the following phrase: "a man is precluded from all women except for his wife" \- i.e., his sexual relationship with her is (should be, anyway) exclusive. This doesn't really seem correct to me, since I'd think that "preclude" requires a direct object, like "precluded from marriage with" or something like that. Am I correct, or is this sentence fine as is?