How to punctuate combinations of 'and' and 'or'

For this question, please bear in mind that **or** denotes [[ **either or both** ]]. I need to express that Mary will go to the movies with, either one of, or both of, Jane and John. > **Jane or John and Mary will go to the movies.** Aside from adding punctuation, I cannot amend the sentence. How should I punctuate the sentence?


Articles and prepositions in a series

I am writing a technical report. After finishing the first draft, I asked my friends, who are native English speakers, to proofread my writing. They found and corrected several errors in my report. For example, my original writing was: > The bound scales with the aperture size, coherence width, spatial spread, > and signal strength. One guy corrected it like this: > The bound scales with the aperture size, the coherence width, the spatial > spread, and the signal strength. On the other hand, another friend corrected it as > The bound scales with the aperture size, with the coherence width, with the > spatial spread, and with the signal strength. To me, both look OK. But, I am not sure which one is better. Problems related to repeating or omitting articles and prepositions in a series of items always confuse me.


Can "modality" mean "having modes?"

A widget has one button. This button performs different functions depending on the widget's mode at the time the button is pressed. Can this be said to have _modality_ , or a _modal_ design?


Origin of "bug" in reference to software

What is the origin of the expression _bug_ when used to refer to software? Wikipedia says it's from 1843 in Ada Byron's notes on the analytical engine. Another source I found was on dictionary.com: > The latter observation may explain a common folk etymology of the term; that > it came from telephone company usage, in which " **bugs** in a telephone > cable" were blamed for noisy lines. Though this derivation seems to be > mistaken, it may well be a distorted memory of a joke first current among > _telegraph_ operators more than a century ago! It seems to me that nobody really knows and that it's just a reference that came into being maybe through another domain than software and eventually creeped into it when computers and software were born. I've always thought that it might have been because an actual bug (insect) went into a mechanical calculator and got jammed somewhere which messed the process.


Impel and compel and the finer nuances

I was contemplating over the two words - impel and compel. consider the examples: 1\. she impelled me to take the job 2\. she compelled me to take the job. is the word compel somewhat derogatory or coercing something against one's will? Can one be used in place of the other. someone ratiocinate please.


Usage of Phrase 'Hit the Bricks'

Can we use the phrase 'Hit the bricks' at the context of asking people to work hard?


in early am or at early am (time)

> Sexy, let’s go to AC for the whole night this or the following Friday night. > We can leave around 8-9 pm and come back **in early am.** Is this correct?


Which is correct: "web host" or "web hoster"?

Which is the best way to refer to a **company that hosts your website** : > My **web host** supports Ruby. or > My **web hoster** supports Ruby. or > My **web hosting service** supports Ruby.


When should I use "Would",  "Would have", "Will", and "Will have"?

I hope someone, once and for all, can clarify (with examples) the difference in usage of _will_ vs. _would_ vs. _would have_ vs. _will have_.


Is there a common word for floor and ceiling?

Walls divide rooms but what do you call what divides stories? Looking from below it would be the _ceiling_ , looking from above it would be the _floor_. But when looking at it from the outside? Is there a common word? I am looking for a word which describes structures that divide a space vertically as opposed to _walls_ which divide the space horizontally.


More concise word or phrase for "people who have been taken advantage of"

I’m hoping for a single descriptive word for “people who have been taken advantage of”, but a shorter phrase would be ok. These are people who now have a lack of trust and are in need of loyalty in their relationships.


I don't tell you or I won't tell you

Is it correct to say I don't tell you or shall we use I won't tell you ?


How to refer to "mainland Europe"

As a Europhile living in England, it really bothers me when journalists refer to mainland Europe as "Europe". We're _in_ Europe! But I appreciate that it offers a neat shorthand for referring to the continent. Is there an alternative that doesn't offend my inclusive sensibilities?


Is there a word for the use of a nationality to change the meaning of a noun?

In phrases such as _Russian Roulette_ , _Dutch Courage_ and _French Letter_ the nationality changes the meaning of the noun. Is there a word for this?


When a person replies with a sentence starting with "then"/"than", should it be then or than?

I've heard people sarcastically respond with sentences of the form "then [effect of persons actions]" even though the person was not soliciting for advice. For example   Joe: "I wrote my paper on why George Bush was a good prime minister for Canada"   Jane: "Then you are going to get a bad mark" Should it be "then" or "than"? Initially I thought "than" as it shows the relationship between writing a poor paper and receiving a poor mark, but since it's talking about something hypothetical that may happen in the future it would be "then".


Meaning of ‘silvan game’

Does anybody know the meaning of italicized phrase? > Fye upon your name!   >  In wrath, for loss of _silvan game_ ,   >  Saint Hilda’s priest ye slew. It's passage from Walter Scott's Marmion, Canto Second. Something about ‘silvan’ I found here, however the phrase ‘silvan game’ still makes no sense for me. > Then Whitby’s nuns exulting told,   >  How to their house three Barons bold   >  Must menial service do;   >  While horns blow out a note of shame,   >  And monks cry ‘Fye upon your name!   >  In wrath, for loss of _silvan game_ ,   >  Saint Hilda’s priest ye slew.’—   >  ‘This, on Ascension-day, each year,   >  While labouring on our harbour-pier,   >  Must Herbert, Bruce, and Percy hear.’ This is whole text of complete thought, but it brings nothing useful, I think. Thanks.


"Vision For" or "Vision Of"?

I'd like to know which of these is more correct: > ... a vision **of** the company for the future or > ... a vision **for** the company for the future (I do realise that the phrase 'for the future' could be redundant here, so it could be changed to some other construct, such as 'for the next year' etc. I just want to find out which sounds better in a usage like this.)


WHY should I put comma after a dependent clause?

For example, > If you vote, you can have a say. Or you'd also have to put a comma after any other dependent clause beginning a sentence. So we should put a comma after dependent clause—why?


What is the difference between "maybe" and "may be"?

What is the difference in meaning and usage between _maybe_ and _may be_? Are they synonymous?


"Local crumbed scallops", or "crumbed local scallops"?

Recently I was in a fish and chip shop in Mandurah, WA, selling local crumbed scallops.   * Is _local crumbed scallops_ the correct form?    * Is _crumbed local scallops_ more appropriate?    * What if "nonlocal" scallops were also available?   * [optional] What form would a native German speaker find more natural, and why?


How do you properly pronounce 'mall'?

In America, it's pretty much universally pronounced "moll" but in the UK, I have heard a few different ways of pronouncing it:   * Mall (rhymes with pal)   * Maul (rhymes with ball and hence the American pronunciations match up)   * Moll It may depend on accents but which is the correct way?


What is the meaning of this quote?

I heard this in a movie. What does it mean? > My time, as does most time, comes with a price. You make time.


what is the meaning of competing alternatives

does it mean that in a company, for instance, the most probably hired interviewers left in the second round of testing? does it have to do with competent and still remaining . then if it is solved, can you guys give me some sentences to illustrate it?


Could "totally implausible" mean "impossible"?

The question "What is the difference between 'impossible' and 'implausible'?" has generated an interesting discussion on the differences, if any, between "totally implausible" and "impossible". More precisely, the debate arose from the following statement: > Probably, in some contexts, "totally implausible" could mean "impossible." Since it seems that there is controversy on this matter, as the following comments show,   * "there's certainly scope for disagreement about what exactly totally implausible means. There's no doubt in my mind that the negating im- prefix is doing something subtly different when applied to “plausible” vs. “possible”. Even if not everyone (or perhaps no-one) agrees with me on that point."   * "implausible is often used thus, as if implausible and improbable were synonyms; and what is "totally improbable" is, by definition, impossible. But I think this is a misuse: "not seeming probable" is not the same thing as "not probable". Plausible speaks to perception, probable to fact."   * "Not sure I agree that totally implausible could mean impossible. Why does the addition of the adverb change the meaning of implausible to impossible?" I wonder: could "totally implausible" mean "impossible?"


What is the meaning of being politically monochrome?

I recently read an article about how a state had become politically monochrome. I know what monochrome means. But I am unable to associate it with the phrase "Politically Monochrome"


Is “Know how to cook leeks”an idiom? What does “Read “Hamlet” and know how to cook leeks” mean?

There was the following sentence in New York Times’ article (February 28) titled “What you learn at 40s.”: > "Victor Hugo supposedly called 40 “the old age of youth.” - - The > conventional wisdom is that you’re still reasonably young, but that > everything is declining: health, fertility, the certainty that you will one > day **read “Hamlet” and know how to cook leeks**. Among my peers there’s a > now-or-never mood: We still have time for a second act, but we’d better get > moving on it." http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/opinion/sunday/what-you- > learn-in-your-40s.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0 What does the line -“Read Hamlet and know how to cook leeks” mean? Is “Know how to cook leeks” an idiom, for instance, to mean to get 'the worldly knowledge'? Readers English Japanese Dictionary at hand carries “eat the leek” and “not worth a leek” as idioms, but don’t include “know how to cook leeks.”


Popular novelty books for intermediate reading

I've bought George R.R. Martin's The Game of Thrones book today, but the vocabulary in it is too complicated for me. Please suggest me some books with a lot of dialogs and more common vocabulary


Broad word covering preferences and dispositions

I'm looking for a broad word to cover preferences and dispositions, such as 'I'll work on weekends' or 'I don't mind scut work'. As you may have guessed, it's to phrase a question on a job application form, which is currently phrased as 'Is there a reason why we should hire you that you’ve not had a chance to tell us about in the CV or application forms? For instance, skills and experience relevant to the roles you’re applying to.' I realise it may be hard to find such a word; I only need a word to use in the above question that will elicit a broader range of reasons than just those related to 'skills and experience'.


Word meaning: "to make one reconsider"

I am looking for a one-word synonym (or short phrase) meaning "to make one reconsider" or "to make one rethink". This would be used in the context of explaining how an event makes one step back and realize what has passed them by over time.


One word for simplicity, expressiveness, and error avoidance?

Is there a good word to describe all three of them? Currently, I'm writing my thesis, and it's about designing an API. So one of my goals is to achieve all of these: simplicity, expressiveness and error avoidance. Meaning, that the API should be self-explanatory, be expressive and help the programmer to produce less errors. Any ideas how to combine all of these in one word?


Participle phrase — what can it modify?

Must a participial phrase always modify the subject of a sentence, or can it modify the object?


"You have ... " vs "Your .... is ". What's the difference?

For example: "You have a beautiful smile" vs "Your smile is beautiful". What's the difference between these phrases?


Question marks at the end of statements

Do either or both of the two sentences below require a question mark? >   * Just confirming that we are still on tomorrow for our 3 pm meeting with > S&P management **?** > >   * I am free to chat this evening as well, if that works better for you > **?** > >


Differences between summary, abstract, overview, and synopsis

Are there subtle differences in meaning between the nouns _summary_ , _abstract_ , _overview_ , and _synopsis_? Which would be the most appropriate term for a one-page "executive summary" of a research report? From Wiktionary:   * summary: An abstract or a condensed presentation of the substance of a body of material.   * abstract: An abridgement or summary.   * overview: A brief summary, as of a book or a presentation.   * synopsis: A brief summary of the major points of a written work, either as prose or as a table; an abridgment or condensation of a work.


Did the slang term "The Bomb" meaning "Very Cool" come from the American Jazz scene?

Searching Google for the history of the slang term "the bomb" (as in "That song is the bomb") yields a number of results in 40s/50s jazz glossaries, but they tend to at best give an artificial example of usage, nothing about the actual history behind the usage. Here's one such glossary (there are numerous others): Jazz Slang. I'm wondering if this is based on some actual history of the term, or if a bunch of "jazz glossaries" are just copying from each other, especially since there are some other comprehensive glossaries that do not include the term. I also very much thought the term was more modern than the Jazz Era, but I could be falling for the recency fallacy there. Then again, considering that the atomic bomb was dropped in the 40's it's feasible that the term originated in the Jazz scene. The oldest reference I could find of this usage is from 1973 here, but I don't have access to the OED, so I'm not sure if there's an older reference in there. Several regular dictionaries include this meaning, but either don't list any origin or only say "Origin: US". I found an article on dictionary.com, Lexical Investigations: Bomb, which mostly focuses on a different related terms (just "bomb" not "the bomb"), but in passing says "the bomb" originated in Great Britain and rubbed off on Americans in the 90's. But it doesn't give any citations or references to support that. Related question about the term "cool", which did originate in the Jazz scene: Where did the slang usages of "cool" come from?


When can you omit words in a parallel strucutre?

First of all, I am not a native English speaker, so this is always confusing. I wrote the following sentence: > Due to its hydrophobic property, beta-carotene in carrots is more easily > absorbed into the system if digested with fat-based diet than eaten raw. Somehow I feel like there should be 'if it is' after 'than'. In this case, what should I do? Is there any general rule that I can follow?


Is "SSA triangle problems may have zero or two solutions." an ambiguous statement?

A test I took included the question > True or false: SSA triangle problems may have zero or two solutions. SSA triangles, as was taught in the lesson, can have zero solutions, one solution, or two solutions. I was unsure if the question asked if zero and two solutions were possibilities with SSA triangles, or if SSA triangles were limited to zero or two solutions. I went with the former (that is, answered True) and got it wrong. Is it just me, or is the test-question ambiguous?


What are the differences between "inverse", "reverse", and "converse"?

What distinctions can be made among the meanings of the words "inverse", "reverse", "converse", and, for good measure, "transverse" and "obverse"? Is it ever possible to use some of them interchangeably? Are they the same for purposes of casual discourse? Do the differences become more salient in a particular technical context, such as engineering, math, or linguistics?


What are the 'distances' among the major English dialects?

Yes, I admit, as an AmE speaker, that all non-North American accents sound the same: BrE, Irish, Scottish, Australian and South African. Or rather, I can tell they are different if placed side by side as in the excellent 21 accents but I can't name them off in isolation, unless I pick out one very specific feature (e.g. he said 'bairn' for 'baby', must be Scottish, she said 'bruvvah' for 'brother', must be London). Is there some way to say objectively, comparing them all to each other, that, say, dialects A and B sound more similar than A and C or B and C? And really, with specific dialects...To Australians, for example, does AmE and, say, BrE actually sound alike? I see a distance matrix:                    BrE  AmE  IrE ...     BrE   0    7    2  ...     AmE        0    4  ...     IrE             0  ...     ...                ...      (of course the off diagonal numbers are picked out of thin air). Is there some less subjective comparison of distances (like how many people of one kind misunderstand those of another)? Which ones are the most 'out there'? Do the accents in the British Isles share lots of similarities but the former colonies have little with each other or the isles?


Which is the correct spelling: “fairy” or “faerie”?

_Fairy_ vs. _faerie_ -- which is the correct spelling?


What's a positive phrase for "stating the obvious"?

This is somewhat of a dual to Word for "stating the obvious?", but what would be a good word selection to say that someone's point is obvious in hindsight, but without any sort of negative connotation that the idea is trivial? > His idea to fund prevention versus treatment is [obvious in hindsight]


Correct use of IN compared to FOR when describing an action

I find it rather odd when someone writes that an item was used "in prediction" of _'X'_ , however I don't know whether that is my own preference or it's actually incorrect. Personally, I think that 'for' is much more appropriate. To illustrate my point, here is an example of a sentence and how I would correct it: 1 : "Y is a risk factor **in predicting** cancer recurrence" 2 : "Y is a risk factor **for predicting** cancer recurrence" I feel both sentences convey the same point, but "in predicting" just sounds weird to me; I prefer option 2. Is there are difference between 1 and 2, or am I just being picky?


"something that the author is praised for not permitting"?

The sentence is from the Official Guide for the GRE General test: > Here, we must determine what word should indicate something that the author > is praised for not permitting. I can not fully understand this sentence. I tried to rephrase it into two shorter sentences, but I failed to manage the second one: > We must determine what word should indicate something.   >  Something ... How should I understand the clause "the author is praised for not permitting"?


When ordering coffee, do you say "two milks" or "two milk"?

I've already searched the site if this question had been asked before however I didn't find anything related to my question. Every time I order coffee some people sort of correct me by saying 2 milks some others use 2 milk. Can someone explain which is the correct form and why?


Late/early for numbers other than age/year

When referring to age or to periods in time, it is quite common to use expressions such as > He is in his _late twenties_ or > The best music was produced in the _early eighties_ I have recently heard somebody use it in the sense of > The number of shoes I own is in the _late thirties/early forties_. Is that an acceptable use of late/early?


What is a word for "the desire to be considered a victim"?

I'm wondering about this in relation to the notion of a "culture of victimization", when people want to garner sympathy and/or discharge their guilt by being considered victims. The phrase "culture of victimization" refers to the situation of many people having that desire and not to the desire itself. "Masochism" is close I suppose, but somehow not quite right.


How is a' in mathematics pronounced?

It often happens that two or more similar values are distinguished with the `'` symbol, e.g. `a, a', a''` and similar. How is this pronounced?


What is the exact phrase of Shakespeare’s for the phrase meaning “It’s not yet the worst when you are saying it’s the worst (situation).”?

I once posted a question in this forum asking what is the counterpart saying to Japanese proverb, “There’s no wild pig larger than the mountain (from where it emerges)” and am thankful for receiving many answers from users. Today I found the quote from Shakespeare’s work to the effect of “It’s not yet the worst when you are saying you are in worst situation” in “Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” a columnist’s column of the Asahi newspaper. The essay simply says it from Shakespeare, and doesn’t show English text of the phrase, nor what part of Shakespeare’s work it came from. After experiencing the M-9 earthquake and tsunami that devastated coastal and inland area of Eastern Japan, and watching many people going through tough time before our eys, I keep telling myself and others, “My heart goes out to you, but believe me, “There’s no wild pig larger than the mountain.” Can somebody tell me the exact wording, and what work of Shakespeare this axiom quoted in “the Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” came from?


Word meaning "not normal, but relatively normal in context"

Here's a passage from a story I vaguely remember: > The ritual involves gruesome acts like self-mutilation or sacrifice, but > also some __ steps like standing on a skyscraper and humming for three > hours. I'm looking for a single word that I can fill in the blank. I've been suggested phrases like "relatively normal", but I am pretty sure that this was a single word.


How to interpret the meaning of "I am surprised that..."?

When somebody says "I am surprised that...", does it mean to express not only surprise but also some level of disappointment or disapproval? If somebody uses that expression when speaking with me, I feel somewhat annoyed and guilty. It feels like there is some subtle expression of disapproval and even annoyance on the part of the speaker that they can't openly express. Would a native speaker of English interpret this expression the way I do? Or would it depend not only on the expression but also on the manner of expressing it?


Difference between distinctness and distinction

I want to say "the clear distinctness/distinction of the two formulas implies ...". Please could you tell me how to select the word?


Where to place "among other things"?

I'll be placing a short introduction on a web site and the introduction includes a sentence similar to this: > I'm - among many other things - a hobbyist coder. I'm unsure about the position of "among many other things". Other scenarios I can think of > Among many other things, I'm a hobbyist coder. > > I'm a hobbyist coder, among many other things. Which one should I be using? Or is there a better way to put it? * * * "Many" in "among many other things" is optional.


"Foos are menace" vs. "Foos are a menace"

One of my friends has this in one of his E-mail signatures: «"Kosher" Cellphones (cellphones with blocked SMS, video and Internet) are menace to the deaf. They must be outlawed!». Is this sentence correct or should it preferably be "a menace"? Comparing the Google results for "are a menace" vs. "are menace" and "is a menace" vs. "is menace" shows that the variations articulated with the "a" are much more common, and I also think an "a" is missing, but I'm not sure.


Are collective nouns taught at school (and one has to learn them) or are they just a fun thing?

I speak English as a foreign language and find it unique in several aspects. One of them is the large number of collective nouns, especially for groups of birds. Such high degree of specificity reaches the point where you have several nouns for a single species, just depending on whether the group is on land, flying together, or just flying at random. We say there is a parliament of owls, a murder of crows, a company of parrots, a plump or moorhens, a clutch of chickens, a kettle of hawks, a watch of nightingales, a covey of partridges, a pod of pelicans, a sedge of cranes, a flock of geese on land, a plump of geese flying close, a skein of geese in flight, and so on. The list is indeed very long. My question is – Are these nouns standard in every English Speaking Country ? Are they treated seriously so native speakers have to learn them at school ? Or is it just a fun thing ? Can these collective nouns take both a singular and a plural verb - depending on context ?


what is the term when the kingdom ruler changes through an assassination

In the ancient times ,there was periods they changes the ruler of a kingdom or empire by assassination him .   what do we call that? changing the king in a quick time through assassination? do we call it a coup ? overthrown ?   Then, what is the term when the army take a step and take the command of the empire or kingdom and throw the king in jail.


Is 'read' still synonymous with 'majored' in BrE?

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_American_and_British_English#university "She read biology at Cambridge." That doesn't mean 'she read a book or something about biology at Cambridge'?


where- and there- compounds

Are these lexical formations considered archaic or can they still be used without fear of appearing extravagant or even old-fashioned? **... the book _in which_ I read that...   ... the book _wherein_ I read that...** Strictly in terms of stylistic clarity, which model is considered more efficient or even more beautiful? (Personally, I always prefer the latter to the former, but what do I know? I am not a native English speaker, though I am a pretty educated speaker of English).


Is there a single word for "Making a mistake just to make a point"

Google Chrome released an improved spell check option today. This is how the feature is described: ![bettar spell chek](http://i.stack.imgur.com/TmKTx.png) > Chrome as auto-updated with bettar spell chek. Try the "Ask Google for > Suggestions" feature in the right click menu of any text area. As you see, _bettar_ and _chek_ are deliberately misspelled just to make the point. Is there a single word or phrase to describe this? (I couldn't think of a better title. Feel free to edit)


Meaning of "with a steel ride that sends chills up her back"

I would like to know the meaning of the following phrase: "with a steel ride that sends chills up her back".


Is there a semantic difference between "pedophile" and "pederast"?

If I understand the etymology of _pedophile_ and _pederast_ , both mean _child lover_. Is there a difference in their connotation? In some recent local news stories that discuss changing sex offender laws, the controversy has centered around dividing the pedophiles and the rapists from the more questionable cases of older teens having sex with younger teens. In a lunchtime debate, I contended that we should not worry so much about the pedophiles as we should the pederasts. Which brings me to the crux of it. My understanding of these words is that > A pedophile is sexually attracted to children. > > A pederast has sex with children. Therefore, one can be a pedophile without having sex with children, and as a matter of fact, once a pedophile has sex with a child, then that person is a pederast. However, given the reaction to my statement, I feel I may have a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning of the word _pedophile_. Does this word imply more than just attraction? I thought _-phile_ indicated an affinity for something, not necessarily an indulgence in it. **Update:** There are some great answers here. I was inspired to look deeper and found that in the English language, there are only four words ending in -erast. These are _pederast, paederast_ (alternate spelling), _philerast_ (the boy in a pederastic relationship), and _federast_ (merging "federalist" and "pederast"). It looks like _pedophile_ and _pederast_ may be unique in the English language for this -phile/-erast distinction.


Is there a known reason that English has so many short words?

Anyone who has played scrabble-like games in English and other languages cannot help but notice that English has an extremely high number of two and three-letter words. Is there a known historic-linguistic reason that English has so many short words?


What are the differences between simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentences?

These two sentences came up in a English Comp class and there was some discussion if the book was correct on whether they were simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. >   * Whatever pizza Lucy orders is a meal in itself. >   * You can choose whatever crust you prefer and size you prefer. > I feel that the sentences are unnecessarily contrived; but could someone explain how you should properly parse them and define if the sentences are simple, compound, complex or compound-complex? A simple sentence has one independent clause.   A compound sentence has more than one independent clause.   A complex sentence has one independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.   A compound-complex sentence has more than one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.


Which is correct — "complaint by a customer" or "complaint of a customer"?

Which is correct usage? >   * complaint dated 01.02.2013 **by** a customer >   * complaint dated 01.02.2013 **of** a customer >


"There was some attempts" or "there were some attempts"?

Is the grammar in the following Alice in Wonderland quote correct? Would it be more appropriate to use _were_ given that the noun phrase is plural? > There was some attempts at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the > officers of the court,


What does "dish" mean in this context?

In this article about male friendships, there are two references to "dish": > "Well, what do you have for me?" Dish, she meant – like maybe some of that > marital strife. and: > "What do you got for me? Any dish?" I'm a pretty confident non-native speaker, and I know it refers to neither food nor plates and bowls nor antennas. Nor this sexist talk. I'm pretty sure this is about gossip or something in that area but I couldn't find any sources.


What does "The Pink Elephant in the Room" mean?

I know someone who keeps using the phrase "The Pink Elephant in the room". I know that phrase "The Elephant in the room". Is this the same thing? Does it mean something different?


Use of "had" in this sentence

This sentence pertains to a movie I watched:   1. I wish I watched it with subtitles.   2. I wish I **had** watched it with subtitles. What effect does adding **had** have on the sentence? Are both sentences correct? Is one form preferred over the other?


Which one is correct? "I have work experience in " or "I had work experience in"?

Which one is correct? > I have previous work experience in IBM in PHP domain during the period > 2009-2010. OR > I had previous work experience in IBM in PHP domain during the period > 2009-2010.


Is there any word for a person who gives the contract to murder to someone else?

Is there a word for a person who doesn't commit murder himself but gives the contract to murder to someone else?


How should I parse the name of the UK?

I've grown up in the UK and always considered that it is a United Kingdom of four countries: the three countries on the island of Great Britain and the country/province1 of Northern Ireland. Everything I've ever read supports it. But then an Irishman the other day said to me that he thinks of it as a United Kingdom of three countries, plus Northern Ireland. He was quite adamant, though this seems like a very strange way to form the name of a sovereign state, especially since the constitutional monarchy presides over all four constituent states. So, which is it? And can you _prove_ it?               The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  [^^^^^^^^^^^^^  +  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^]          The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  +  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^      * * * 1 Sources disagree on how NI should be officially described.   † I suppose this is geography or history in a sense, but I think we can also call this an etymology question.


Is "To say which method is better, it's a relative thing" correct?

Is "To say which method is better, it's a relative thing" correct to express that a method is better depending on the circumstances? Or is there a better way to express that? The context is: > Q:Which is the more preferred method now (method 1 or method 2)? I know > method 2 is newer but is it better? > > A: **It is a (relative?) thing to say which method is better.** Method 1 can > fulfill Kevin's request with minimal change to the current script that we're > using; in the contrast, method 2 can provide some more functions in addition > to fulfilling Kevin's request. So either one can be better, depending on > what you want. As you can see, there is comparison between method 1 and method 2, And either method can be better depending on the need. What word would be proper to replace "relative", which has similar meaning of "relative"?


What is the meaning of "down-level"

What does the word _down-level_ mean? I read an article here and it says: > But the versions for some browsers (like IE 10) aren't within those ranges > any more. Therefore, ASP.NET sees them as unknown browsers and defaults to a > down-level definition, which has certain inconveniences, like that it does > not support features like JavaScript.


What is the difference between "combine A with B" and "combine A and B"?

I wonder the difference between **_combine A with B_** and **_combine A and B_** so that I can use the phrase correctly. Thanks a lot!


Is “sand off the sharp edge” a well-established idiom?

I came across the phrase “ _sand off the sharp edges_ ” in the following sentence of Washington Post’s (January 23rd) article titled “Obama’s State of the Union is crucial balancing act.” “Obama’s senior advisers say he does not intend to shy away from his recent attacks on Congress or of the economic policies promoted by his Republican rivals, although he may _sand off the sharp edges_ he has employed outside the Beltway in recent weeks to make his case.” Though I guessed “sand off the sharp edge” means “blunt the edge,” I checked the meaning of the phrase on Cambridge, Oxford, Merriam-Webster online dictionaries to make it certain. None of them registers this expression. However, www.mojosells.com provides definition - The concept of “sanding off the edges” means that you decide to please some people less in order to please others more. There is no entry of “sand off the sharp edge” or “sand off the edge “in GoogleNgram. What is the exact meaning of ‘President Obama may sand off the sharp edge he has employed outside the Beltway? Does sharp edge mean straightforward, aggressive, and relentless rhetoric he used before? Is “sand off the sharp edge” relatively modern usage?


What do you call that sound uncouth people make by gurgling the snot in their sinuses?

There may not be a word for it, but maybe there is a better or more concise way of describing it.


Why does the Strait of Hormuz sometimes get pluralized?

On the map, there only seems to be one Strait of Hormuz, and I'd say about 50% of the time, I have indeed heard it referred to as the 'Strait of Hormuz', but the other half of the time people will refer to the 'Straits of Hormuz'. Is this an arbitrary, incorrect pluralization? If so, how did it originate?


What is a "cross over floor"?

While taking the stairs during a fire drill, I noticed that door to some floors were labelled **_cross over floor_**. Later I went to one of these floors, but didn't notice anything different. My searches so far have proved fruitless (I keep getting suggestions for _crossing the floor_ ).


"Past" or "passed"?

There are a few questions about past vs. passed, but it seems to me that this is very much a subtle matter, where small changes can change the answer, so here is yet another one. If you were to say, "Go past/passed the store, then take a left.", would it be _past_ or _passed?_ A friend of mine insists that it is _passed,_ but I disagree. She is so convinced that it is _passed_ that she believes I am being willfully ignorant. I am not an expert in the English language, so it's possible that I'm wrong, but it would be a surprise to me if I were. So, StackExchange, what's the verdict? Who's right?


What does "whip-snap" mean?

What does _whip-snap_ mean? > Lured by its splashy fight scenes and **whip-snap** dialogue


The phrase "were strong from"

I want to make a sentence like the following: > His arms were strong from lifting weights. I'm not sure if it's grammatically correct though. When I googled "were strong from" only 3 pages came up. Why is that? If it's not grammatically correct, then what could I use instead?


What is a single word for the capability of a theory, for example, to generate further thought and theorizing?

There are a few words which I blank on quite frequently. Perhaps my "advanced" age has something to do with it. I don't know. One such word for me is _euphemism_. There is another word I am blanking on right now. In my answer to this question I also blanked on the same word. It is a word which describes the power of a quotation, or memorable words, or a theory to stimulate further thought and perhaps research. The word is similar in meaning to prolific, which can denote having the power to generate many further thoughts and ramifications of the original quotation, words, or theory. If you would be so kind as to supply this word for me and perhaps give me a mnemonic device to make it accessible to me, I'd be very grateful.


You are waking up the whole house

My wife used the expression "you are waking up the house" when my son was making a lot of noise. Now that is actually wrong, I think - that would imply that the house as an entity was being woken, which is wrong as the house is brick. However, "you are waking up the entire house" is acceptable in British English. So why does adding "Whole" change the meaning so much? My only thought was that it could be a corruption of "Household". Any thoughts? [edit] Just for clarification, I do understand that "waking up the house" carries the same meaning, but the interest was that the normal usage is the whole house. And I am interested in why this "whole" makes a difference.


Where does the word "bravo" come from?

Where does the word "bravo" come from? In Spanish, it can be related to bravery but I fail to see the connection with the congratulatory mode it's used today in spectacles and related activities.


"Convenient for you" vs "convenient to you"

Is there a difference between "convenient for you" and "convenient to you"? And if it is, could you explain it?


meaning and usage of 'teh'

> “I wouldn’ say no **teh** a bit o’ yer birthday cake, neither.” > > “He usually gets me **ter** do important stuff fer him.” > > — _Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone_ Hagrid’s pronunciation of _to_ is spelled _ter_ in the book, so _teh_ seems to be an article, at least according to Wiktionary. However, it seems to be an uncommon usage, so I would please like to know its meaning, plus when this particular usage may be safely adopted.


Guidelines for the use of the slang term "cise"

I heard an unfamiliar regional slang word used thusly: > I'm gonna go cise (rhymes with ice) me a sandwich and then I'll be back. When I questioned the user, the speaker insisted it has been around a few years at least, and that it has to do with overdoing something and something that makes one happy. According to Urban Dictionary, def 2, it is a regional slang for my area. And according to def 4: > word used when asking for something in place of whatever other verb one > would use. It looks like it means everything. I've attempted using this term in response, but kept getting corrected. What am I missing? Are there guidelines1 to use the word _cise_ (at least in the DC area)?   1: By _guidelines_ , I mean in order to use the term idiomatically, what contexts are not allowed, and for what terms can or cannot the word be used as a substitute


What is “non-guideline sentence” to allow the accused to serve as a diplomat instead of a prison term?

I read New York Times article (May 13) titled "ex-Senator gets 21-month prison term in tax evasion case." It says in abridgment: > The former Republican senator, Vincent L. Leibell III had faced 18 to 24 > months in prison, based on sentencing guidelines. > > His lawyer, David L. Lewis asked the judge to take into account Mr. > Leibell’s "life of public service" and urged him to consider a "non- > guideline" sentence allowing Mr. Leibell to do community service by letting > him serve as a diplomat to the Middle East instead of a prison term. > > "We don’t have public stocks anymore, where he can stand with his head and > arms in stocks," Mr. Lewis said, trying to convince the judge that Mr. > Leibell’s crime would be forgotten in jail, but that doing some sort of > "social restitution" would be more humiliating for Mr. Leibell and would > offer a broader, more public lesson. More than being puzzled with the logic that servicing as a diplomat can replace prison term, and to serve as a diplomat to Middle East is a humiliating work, I am interested in knowing what the word, "non-guideline sentence" to make it possible, and the phrase, "we don’t have public stocks anymore, where he can stand with his head and arms in stocks" mean. Can anybody tell me?


Verb preposition for "be at odds"

I found "be at odds" in some examples and in each example the proposition -which is used for it- is different: >   * They're at odds **over** the funding of the project. > >   * Her version of events was at odds **with** the police report. > >   * The liberal-left are at odds **on** Libya. > >   * EPA, Eco groups at odds **in** climate change case. > >   * A man's at odds **to** know his mind cause his mind is aught he has to > know it with. > Does it make a difference which preposition comes after "at odds"?


Dissimilarity vs Difference - What is the correct usage?

I am confused as to the appropriate use of _dissimilarity_ when the word _difference_ means practically the exact same thing. Are there any unique cases when _dissimilarity_ is a preferred term over the other, or is it down to the author's personal preference?


"in the same vein as" vs. "in a similar vein to" vs. "along a similar vein"

Which of these three are valid/accepted idioms? Is one of them the "original" one, and others variations on it? Do they have slightly different shades of meaning?


In a sequence of words where the "ends" are opposites, what do you call the middle word?

For example, in the sequence _late - on time - early_ , _early_ is the **antonym** of _late_ , and _delayed_ would be a **synonym**. But what about **_on time_** , the "neutral" word in the sequence? What is the relationship of _on time_ and _early_? Is there a word for this?


What's the meaning of the expression "bed burning" or "bed on fire"?

There's a song by Midnight Oil called _Beds Are Burning_ , and the song _Psycho Killer_ also says that "my bed's on fire". What do those expressions mean (if they mean the same thing)? _**update:** Some friends suggest they're talking about drugs effects. What do you think?_


Can we say "on the brink of off-topic"?

I recently learned _on the brink_ in context of _to teeter on the brink of disaster_. Now, when I want to mention that something is marginal or borderline I remember _on the brink_. > This question is on the brink of off-topic. > > The testimony is on the brink of truth. Are these acceptable, or does _on the brink_ only refer to negative circumstances? Note: The latter example works very well in my native language whereas the first one is awkward.


Please explain the meaning of the word "distance" in the sentence

**Distance** sometimes lets you know who's worth keeping and who's worth letting go Unless the **distance** is playing games with the vision and its all a mirage, a vagueness of a dream


Which mood is created with "everyone should visit"?

Which mood is created with the sentence, "Everyone should visit..." with the use of the auxiliary verb? I have decided already that it is not the imperative mood.


"Did/would he eat something?"

Do both of the sentences have the same meaning? > **Did** he eat something? > > **Would** he eat something? I've heard _would_ can also be used to refer to things that happened in the past.


Which tense when talking about books?

Which tense should you use when talking about a book if it is narrated in both the past and present tenses? I am asking this because in _To Kill a Mockingbird_ (Can you underline book titles here?) Scout uses both the present and past tenses when narrating the story.


Can you call a cheeseburger a hamburger? I am eating self-made ones.


Word for country in which parents were born

I am looking for a word that refers to the country in which one's parents were born. Something similar to mother-tongue except for location instead of language?


Word related to hosting

I recently had to thank my hosts and said, "Thank you for the host-age." 'host-age' is obviously my own coinage and if one were to stick to the dictionaries, it is incorrect, as hostage means something entirely different. Could someone provide me with a crisp alternative in "Thank you for the **_** "


What does “balls” mean as a reply word or interjection?

Here’s a question again in Jeffery Archer’s _The Prodigal Daughter_. Richard (husband of Florentina Kane, the heroine of the novel) finds in The Wall Street Journal that Jake Thomas, chairman of Lester’s Bank, took a countermeasure to block Richard’s cornering the stock of the bank in an attempt to take over the chairmanship. It goes: > Richard swore uncharacteristically as he left the table and walked toward > the phone, leaving his coffee to go cold. > > “What did you say?” said Florentina. > > “ **Balls** ,” he repeated, and passed her the paper. She read the news > while Richard was dialing. > > “What does it mean?” > > “It means that even if we do acquire 51% of the present stock, Thomas’s > authorized issue of further two million shares make it impossible to defeat > him.” > > – The Prodigal Daughter, Page 244. I don’t know what “balls” means as Florentina asked back to her husband. I looked for definitions of “balls” pertinent to the usage in the above quote in CED, OED, and Merriam-Webster without success. What does “balls” mean? Is it used casually in daily conversation?


Take advantage of - positively

The phrase "take advantage of" is usually perceived as negative. Is there a word or a phrase with a similar meaning which would convey a more positive meaning? Akin to "make use of the situation" but more refined.


Meaning and usage of "stuck in the craw"

Can you please explain the meaning and give some usage examples for "stuck in the craw" expression? Just come across this expression in following sentence (a bit lengthy): > **But what stuck in the craw** of those early biographers was a body of > material found in Newton's vast library and within his huge collection of > papers and notebooks that made it very clear that the most respected > scientist in history, the model for scientific method, had spent more of his > life intensely involved with alchemy than he had delving into the clear blue > waters of pure science.


"Summoning something into life" vs. "summoning something to life"

What is the difference between the following? >   * Summoning ... **into** life >   * Summoning ... **to** life > If it helps, I want to use the word _idea_ in the place of dots so it's like: >   * Summoning your ideas **into** life. >   * Summoning your ideas **to** life. > _Summoning_ in this context is supposed to mean that someone is creating, building, rising someone other ideas; bringing it to reality, crafting it. I wasn't able to find an answer to this question. What is the difference between these two versions and which one is correct (or perhaps both are?) Is one more American English and one British English?


Word for a person who likes to torture himself by learning something difficult

I want to describe myself as someone who likes to torture himself by learning something really difficult and not very useful. I know there's such a word for describing someone who likes to be tortured sexually. But it's not what I'm looking for.


What is the one word for doll witch

There are stories where children find a doll on the road. They take it home, and then all sorts of problems start in their families. What is one word for such witchy dolls ?


Is there a phrase for not arguing about taste?

In Hebrew there is a phrase that roughly translates: > On taste and smell there is no point in arguing. This is of course because both are very subjective.   Is there an English phrase that passes the same sentiment? (That it is senseless to debate tastes).


What is the origin of the phrase "needle in a hay stack"? Initially I thought it was a game once played but I haven't found any mention of it outside of it's idiomatic use.


Alternative, more commonly accepted parlance for "currentness"

The following two sentences are identical: > Ensure that X is current. > > Ensure the currentness of X. However, the word "currentness", while present in the dictionary, represents a very uncommon usage of the phrase. Are there any alternative ways to phrase this sentence while avoiding the "is current" construct?


A better way to phrase "his masterwork" or "his epic"?

In the context of an artist. Like, let's say, Dali's "melting clocks" painting; we would call that his (blank), AKA his most recognizable/meaningful/popular/"epic" work. I think there is, perhaps, a French/Latin term Americans use? I'm not sure...


"in a word" vs "in a sentence"

>   1. In a word, you are wrong! > >   2. In a sentence, you are wrong! > > Which is more natural? I feel "in a word" is more common than "in a sentence", but "you are wrong!" consists of three words rather than "a word"; so it seems "in a sentence" is more correct. Am I right?


Word for "to use someone's own tactics against them"

I'm looking for a word to describe using someone's own tactics against them. A formal word is preferable but a colloquialism will work as well.


What is currently the most obscene word in British English?

In a recent question, I realized that while I know what's currently considered the most obscene word in American English ("cunt"), I am told that word is much more unexceptional and workaday in British English, and I do not actually know what word _does_ bear the distinction of most obscene in that vernacular. So, what is it? Looking for current rather than historical usage, obscenity rather than taboo for reasons other than obscenity (as with racial slurs in the United States), and obscene _words_ rather than obscene _concepts_ \-- that is, the taboo attaches to the _word itself_. If it varies between major British English dialects, give me whatever flavors you know. For purposes of this question, "most obscene" means that somebody using the word in a context where obscenity is not normally expected will _most commonly_ be thought to be performing the _greatest_ violation of social convention _for reason_ of the word's obscenity.


counterpart of "Shall I/we ..." in written English

See my title. I am looking for a word or expression to replace the way of "Shall I/we ...?" The context is I am asking for permission or suggestion but it is not in conversation. I want to apply such sentence in written English. The dictionary says, that is the spoken English.


Which is correct: "on two weeks" or "in two weeks"?

In below sentence it's mentioned "on two weeks": > They'll quite happily squander a whole year's savings **on two weeks** in > the sun. whereas so far I learned to speak in this way: > They'll quite happily squander a whole year's savings **in two weeks** in > the sun. I want to know which one is correct. In my opinion "in two weeks" means within two weeks which seems more likely correct.


Usage of "a" and "the" in titles

Which one should I use for page title? >   1. Apple — Tasty Fruit >   2. Apple — A Tasty Fruit >   3. Apple — The Tasty Fruit > The article is only about tasty apple.


a single decisive word for a "positive result"

It says: > The sweeping prevalence of technology is an undeniable fact today. Both > fruits and repercussions of such prevalence have reached epidemic > proportions. Can fruit mean a positive result, here? and if yes, is it because of the context (mainly due to its contrast to repercussion) or it independently sounds that way? Dictionaries are not forthcoming enough about this, attributing fruit to both results and consequences(implicitly conveying a negative result). So my question is: What's really a decisive, yet general word for a positive result? I'm saying "general" to rule out the words like harvest[n.] which mean "result of an **effort** " I also came across similar questions here on the website, but they seem fail to be frank enough. Thanks in advance


Is a "choice" the result of choosing or something to choose from?

If I have to choose between three things, do I have three choices? I have always thought of a "choice" as being either the act of choosing or the result of said choosing, but **not** one of the options from which to choose. If someone tells me I have two choices, I tell them "No, I have one _choice_. I have two _options_." Am I right?


Should I reformat this sentence?

I kind of feel like the first comma in the sentence below should be a semi- colon. Does anything else in there read funny? > As you’ll see in my enclosed resume, I have the educational background, > professional experience and track record for which you are searching.


What's the difference between "adviser" and "advisor" -- are both interchangeable?

I work for a financial services provider and we deal with "Financial Advisors" all the time. Increasingly, I'm seeing people send emails and so forth with the term "Financial Adviser" and the terms _adivsor_ and _adviser_ seem to be increasingly interchangeable. Which then raises the question: what is the difference between _adviser_ and _advisor_?


"People" or "the people"

What is the most correct way to say: > People in the list above will also receive product update notifications. Should I use _the people_ or simply _people_? Is there a more formal way to express the concept above?


Do I refer to the previous month or to the last month

I'd like to ask about the difference between "last month" and "previous month", if there is any. I am a software developer and I use those relative words as a search input values for date search. I am wondering, whether last month is correct if I want to refer to the previous month or not.


"To use" or "to be used"

Which one is the right sentence for a paper? > We believe that our method can be an informed choice **to use** as starter > program for... > > We believe that our method can be an informed choice **to be used** as > starter program for...


Why don’t people ever say “I have wanted to ask”?

Why do people never say the following: > I have wanted to ask. . . . Maybe it would be better to ask whether it’s correct to say: > I have wanted to ask. . . . But really I think I’ve never heard that form. Usually I hear people say (for example): > I wanted to ask how you spent this morning. I’m talking about the situation when, for instance, one person is discussing something with other people. Suppose in the middle of the discussion, the person realises that they need to get some complementary information from the speaker. They wait for their turn to have a word, and when their turn comes, they say: > I have wanted to ask you, how do you make pastries? That is, they wish to ask the question which occurred in the mind of the person, and they retained the thought until the moment they asked the speaker. Is it formally correct for them to use present perfect there? Of course, there is another situation when you say: > Yesterday I wanted to ask you about your health, but you had fled. How are > you now? And here it seems quite okay to use the simple past.


"Don't condescend to me" or "Don't condescend me"?

I've recently heard that the correct usage is "Don't condescend to me", but I've always used "Don't condescend me". Google has mixed quotes. Which is the correct usage? The dictionary has this entry: > to stoop or deign to do something: He would not condescend to misrepresent > the facts. Now, in this sense, it makes sense to have the "to" at the end. But the definition is slightly off... with the phrase "Don't condescend me", the usage is synonymous with that of `patronize`. "He would not patronize to misrepresent the facts" does not make sense, so unless there is another definition of condescend that I am not finding, does that mean that "Don't condescend me" is incorrect? I certainly hear it being used a lot, in TV / movies and everyday life.


What's the word which means something that can be used in many different situations?

I've been trying to think of this word for hours and it's really annoying me!


First printed use of the word "diagram" in English

I’m trying to track down the first printed use of the word diagram in English. Can anyone tell me the name, author, and date of the publication in question? It would be especially valuable, on top of that, to have an excerpted passage containing the word, in order to infer its intended meaning from its context.


Inversion or no inversion after "only"?

>   * Only now you can even get them on top of wrinkles. >   * Only infrequently does it happen. > As one of our members has said, inversion happens when a sentence starts with "only" and never otherwise. So why does no inversion happen in the first sentence?


"Confined in the case", "confined on the bus"

The preposition “to” is widely used in the phrase “be confined to”. My question is, can I use “in” or “on” in the following sentences? >   1. Someone is confined in the case. >   2. Someone is confined on the bus. > Are the two sentences correct?


Is there a word to describe mature or adult plants?

I know that adult is most often used to describe a mature human-being, and that mature is a broader usage word, describing everything form animals to cheese. Also that a young tree is a sapling....is there an equivalent word for a mature plant, tree or shrubbery? Or are we stuck with using mature/adult? Is there a technical terms for when a plant has stopped growing in height, and is _first_ able to produce fruit/flowers?


Are there any differences in meaning or nuance between ‘suffocation’ and ‘asphyxiation’?

There was a lot of news about a fire in a nightclub in southern Brazil, where 233 people were killed. I found some newspapers wrote that most of the victims died from ‘suffocation’ and other media e.g. AP news reported that they were killed from ‘asphyxiation.’ As I was ignorant of the word ‘asphyxiation,’ I consulted an English-Japanese dictionary at hand. It says ‘asphyxiation’ means ‘suffocation.” I confirmed that Merriam Webster’s _Dictionary of Synonyms_ also shows ‘suffocation” in the top of the list of the synonym to ‘asphyxiation.’ However, as I checked the origins of both words, they are different. Based on Merriam Webster English Dictionary, ‘asphyxiation’ was originated from Greek “a – without” +σφύξις (sphix) meaning heartbeat,” while ‘suffocation’ was made up with Latin “Sub +fauces meaning throat.” The former is associated with _heart_ / _pulse_. The latter relates to _throat_ / _breath_. Are ‘asphyxiation’ and ‘suffocation’ exactly the same in both meaning and nuance? Why did they use different words for the cause of deaths in the same incident? As I said I didn’t know the word, ‘asphyxiation.’ Is it as popular as ‘suffocation’?


The true meaning of "did not immediately respond to requests for comment"

This expression is included in almost any negative news story - stock price decline, corporate scandal, criminality, you name it - but to me, it's frustratingly vague. I see these as "weasel words" - some journalist leaves a voice mail for someone, waits 10 seconds for a callback then goes to press saying there was no immediate response. Does this imply intent to not respond? Hardly. From a journalistic perspective, what is the true meaning of this expression, or is the meaning deliberately vague to sensationalize the news?


What is an adjective for a very large negative number?

A number that is very large (but not infinite) such as 1,000,000,000,000,000 could be called _huge, enormous, large, big, gigantic_ , etc. A number that is very small such as 0.000000001 could be called _little, small, infinitesimal, minuscule_ , etc. But what is a word that can describe a number that is large in the negative, such as -1,000,000,000,000,000? If we were talking about dates, I might use the word _early_  — but is there a term that applies to numbers generically?


A better way of expressing "burst like a soap bubble"?

So the other day my friend was telling me about this employment contract which he said would "burst like a soap bubble". It doesn't seem to be a common idiom in English, but he seemed to mean by it that the contract would fail miserably, or 'fall through'. As he is German, he may have gotten inspiration from the idiomatic German phrase (which also means "burst like a soap bubble"): > wie eine Seifenblase zerplatzen Is there a good analogous English expression? The only one I can think of is "fall like a house of cards", but that implies that the thing that will fail was weak to begin with, which I don't think the German expression implies.


Search for a new "name"

My last name in Chinese spelling is Fang, but I find that it has a bad meaning as an English word. I tried to change it to Feng, but since they are not quite distinguishable on the pronunciation, it still may remind people of that meaning... I was wondering whether you could help me look for a "name" that is related to Fang, but does not have a too similar pronunciation. ("Fang" means square in Chinese.) Thank you in advance.


Last (count) entries

I am currently documenting a web interface. What would you recommend as a more friendly way of saying: > This will display the last _n_ entries. Where _n_ is the number they have entered. I've been trying without success to find a solution that is not too wordy, yet remains clear.


Different pronunciation between Thomas and Theodore

Disclaimer: I'm no native speaker. _Thomas_ gets pronounced with a starting "T" (the "h" is silent), while _Theodore_ with a "Th". What rule is followed here?


Why is "Conquer" pronounced /'kɔŋkɚ/ but not /'kɔŋkwɚ/

In English QU is always used as a digraph. _Que_ pronounces the sound [K] at the ending of many words:unique, technique, antique, physique, clique, grotesque. However, the combination QU has the sound [kw] instead of [K] at the beginning and in the middle of many English words: queen, quarter, quite, quiet, question, squad, squirrel, require, inquire. Then, why is the **qu** in _Conquer_ pronounced [k]? Would it be C+on+qu+er or C+on+que+r? Is there anything to do with its Middle English form? Origin of " _conquer_ ": 1200–50; Middle English _conqueren_ < Anglo-French _conquerir_ , Old French _conquerre_ < Vulgar Latin * _conquērere_ to acquire (for Latin _conquīrere_ to seek out).


What is the origin of the place name "Abbottabad?"

We know that Abbottabad is named after Major James Abbott, an officer in the Indian Army who founded the town. But where does the "...abad" come from? Does it have any relationship to the English word _abode_?


What's the etymology of the noun "temper tantrum"?

Can anyone tell me where the phrase **_temper tantrum_** came from? I found a couple of my usual online sources that just say "origin unknown".


Is "Sent to say" proper?

Is it incorrect grammar to say that someone "sent to say" something? As in "Joe sent to say that he would love to join you all for the pic nic". I know that I don't have the greatest grammar skills in the world, but I thought that that was a proper saying.


What is the origin of "cr*p on a crutch"?

Where did the saying "Crap on a crutch" originate? My mother used to use it a lot and I find myself using it also.


Why is "oh" spelled "oh" and not "o"?

> Oh my! In the above example, to me, "oh" seems to suggest one should pronounce "o" as a short vowel, whereas "o", seems to suggest one should pronounce "o" as a long vowel. In other words, I would expect it to be spelled as: > O my! I would expect "oh" to be used in this example, meaning to express "oops": > Oh o! ... or used an an expression of excited amazement, when watching beautiful fireworks for instance, like this: > Oh! So why is "Oh my!" spelled this way?


Writing large percentages

So, I have a reason to display percentages in the thousands and greater 1000%, 20000%, etc should they be written with or without thousand separators? 1,000%, 20,000%, etc I have been Googling and can't find an answer; I keep ending up on sites talking about Excel number formatting.


What's a good word to describe adults who are not yet parents?

Just read this in Emma Donoghue's book "Room". Is there a word for adults who are not parents?


'Provided that' followed by two conditions

In a sentence where 'provided that' is followed by two conditions, is a second instance of 'that' required, optional or wrong? > 1: [statement A], provided that [statement B] and [statement C] > > 2: [statement A], provided that [statement B] and that [statement C] For example: > Manchester United will win the title on Saturday, provided that Aston Villa > beat Liverpool and [that] Arsenal beat Chelsea.


they point their finger(s) at the tree

What is the difference between: > they point their finger at the tree. and > they point their fingers at the tree. Do they have different meanings?


Is it grammatical to have "why" and "to" together?

Is the following sentence grammatical? > Why to use page-level permissions * * * From Google Support: > **Why to use page-level permissions** > > Page-level permissions allow you to.. It sounds weird to me, however the words were from a Google support page so I'm suspecting that it may actually have been grammatical after all.


Wid = Widow or Wid = With

In the 1800s the abbreviation "wid" is used in city directories.   The first speculation is with a female listed first at an address, the term is used to designate a Widow with the male name following. For example: Scott, Matilda wid Robert = Widowed? One contemporary site lists wid = with. Hence Scott, Matilda with Robert. Which is it?


Good online thesaurus?

Does anyone know of a good online thesaurus? I've used http://thesaurus.com/ and http://www.merriam-webster.com/. Especially something that's good with phrases, figures of speech or idioms.


"Principle" or "Principal"?

I was solving a grammar exercise from the book, _Word Power Made Easy_ , when I came across this question > A feeling of one's worth is one of the **principle/principal** goals of > psychological therapy. Going by the same rule which has been taught in every school that: > Principle : Rule, standard   >  Principal : Head( Usually a person) I marked principle which is wrong, _the correct answer according to the book is Principal_. Pondering over the question for a few minutes, I came to this conclusion that principal is not always a person and can refer to the "head or main" point, as in referring to the sentence "the main goals of psychological therapy" I also looked at this question here "Principal” or “principle”, but it didn't help me either as it says principal usually refers to a person. My question is, is it necessary to use principal as a person or it can mean something else as well?


"Ann's friends and herself" -- is this correct?

Is the sentence: > Ann's friends and herself were really nice to us. grammatically correct?


"Lessen, poisoned gulls, ditcher wander hair annulled furry tell a boarder Slipping Booty?"

This is the prelude to an article published in Sports Illustrated magazine on August 17, 1959: > Lessen, poisoned gulls, ditcher wander hair annulled furry tell a boarder > Slipping Booty? Hoecake? Wail, heresy starry. As a nonnative English speaker, I don't quite understand what is going on in the article, but I guess this is some kind of style which uses the same pronunciations of words with different spellings. My question is, what is this technique called? Where and on what purposes is it used?


Single word for "at one's wits' end"

While there often appears to be a word that could replace an idiom or a phrase in meaning, this one seems to be an exception (for me that is). I've tried:   1. Confused : Less powerful, isn't it?   2. Dearth : Needs completion by _of something_.   3. Vacuous : Close, but complete absence of thought isn't the case, I suppose.   4. Speechless : Don't know if lack of ideas or happy, shocked etc. I'm not sure if these words could be ignored because of the reasons I have mentioned, but you can clearly see that I'm at my wits' end on this one!


What is a PSI faceplate?

An electronics engineer wanted to order a multimeter with a PSI faceplate. Does anyone know what it is ?


What is "there" in expression "Are you out there?"

What does _there_ signify in expressions like "Dude are you out there?" or "I am there for you"? It is not referring to any previously mentioned location, right?


Does a student own, hold, possess, or something else a transcript?

Does a student hold, own, possess, or something else a transcript? My wife just asked me a question for which I do not have an answer. She asked me, "holder or owner of a transcript?" I wasn't sure about either. Might anyone here have the definitive answer to this question?


"If you or your colleague has" or "If you or your colleague have"?

Which is correct out of the following two sentences?   1. _If you or your colleague have any questions, let me know_   2. _If you or your colleague has any questions, let me know_ I was originally thinking that #1 was correct because the sentence would be the following, if **the colleague** wasn't involved:   * _If you have any questions, let me know_ But then my mind was telling me that perhaps the "or your colleague" bit changes the subject or something, so the sentence could be written as follows, if **you** weren't involved:   * _If your colleague has any questions, let me know_


What is the meaning of "I am humbled"?

From a recent article on CNN: > Aboukhadijeh, who is from Sacramento, California, said he's been blown away > by how quickly his tool went viral and is grateful for all the supportive > feedback. > > "I'm amazed and **humbled** by all the attention it's received. So thank > you," he said. TheFreeDictionary shows the definition of "humbled" as: > hum·bled, hum·bling, hum·bles   >  1\. To curtail or destroy the pride of; humiliate.   >  2\. To cause to be meek or modest in spirit.   >  3\. To give a lower condition or station to; abase. See Synonyms at > degrade. None of these definitions seem to apply:   1. Being the author of something that is widely appreciated would seem to be cause for pride, rather than to curtail or destroy it.   2. His "modesty," or expectation that he would only have a small audience for his work, seems to be a pre-existing condition that is merely **revealed** by the event, not something that is **caused** by the event.   3. He created a tool that was rapidly used and appreciated by many, with the result being that he found himself in a higher condition or station than he was before. Is there a subtlety I'm missing here?


Why does English use definite articles before certain proper nouns, such as the names of ships?

Over on English Language Learners, a non-native speaker asked a question about adding "the" before movie titles. I wanted to tell him or her that the rule in English is not to add a definite article before a proper noun, but to keep the article if it's part of the title, so you would have, for instance: > I went to see **_The Big Sleep._** but > I went to see **_Sleepless in Seattle._** But it occurred to me that there is an exception to this rule: boats, trains, and other means of transportation. My question is, why is it idiomatic to say: > Tomorrow morning we set sail on **the** _Titanic_. or > The murder took place on **the** _Orient Express_. when we would never use an article in that context with the name of a person, a city, or a country? Are there other categories of proper nouns that take definite articles, and if so, what if anything is the rule?


Does this expression: "it can make us think that we are actually..." clearly showing a negative implication?

I wrote this sentence: > Living a busy life, full of stress, sweat and sacrifice, can make us think > that we are actually doing something worthy with our lives. Which is actually saying is that being busy can give us the illusion of doing something worthy with our lives. Is it clear enough or ambiguous (is it possible for the reader to misunderstand this sentence as "being busy really makes our lives worthy"?)?


Word or phrase for the heir's heir

What is a more succinct way of saying "the heir's heir"? No-one says it like that so there must be a real word. I looked up the meanings of heir apparent and heir presumptive. Heir presumptive can refer to several situations and is generally a kind of weaker, lesser version yet it doesn't fit for the heir apparent's future heir. For a real life example, in the UK Prince Charles is the heir apparent and Prince William will be his heir. William could be called "the second in line to the throne". But what if you're talking about something different being inherited like a family company, where there's no throne?


Etymology of the words "narky" and "narked"

Anybody have any idea where the word **"narky"** comes from? I speak British English and I understand the word to mean _irritated_ or _bad- tempered_. Similarly I've heard the phrase **"narked off".** > ## Examples > > _He got really narky with me when I pointed out that he'd made a mistake > again._ > > or > > _I got really narked off when my little sister lost my favourite necklace._


What is it called when we use "through which" "about whom", "whose", etc

I would like to know how to refer to the sentance structure that is used in formal contexts, when "through which", "for whom" etc. are typically used. Are these non-defining relative pronouns? Sometimes they can can be combined: > implicates a world amid and with which it proceeds And often they make sentences more confusing: > The understandings of action through which doings and sayings are linked in > practices encompass the understandings of action against the background of > which doings and sayings constitute specific actions. Any ideas?


Suit up with a ...?

For a party, the dress code is formal dress with an element in pink. On the flyers, I want to write " **Suit up with a pink touch** " but somebody told me it is not correct and advised "suit up with a touch of pink" but I'm not sure. What do you think ? Thank you


Is "deliberation" or "deliberations" correct when done over multiple topics?

Are these sentences correct?   1. Contemporary deliberation on American culture, economy, politics in the 20th and 21st century?    2. Contemporary deliberation* _s_ * on American culture, economy, and politics in the 20th and 21st century.


What is meant by the "benefit of the doubt"?

I think doubt is a negative emotion, so I find it difficult to know what is meant by "benefit of the doubt". How does this phrase work, and how did it arise?


What does "You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." mean? And if you know what it means, can you also specify the origin of this phrase? To be more specific about the context, I've heard it here: http://youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s


The correct usage of "too" and "also"

I always have problems in deciding whether to use "too" or "also". For example, if the previous sentence is: > Peter ate the cake. Which of the following should I say?:   * He ate the pie too.   * He also ate the pie. And what about?:   * He drank the juice too.   * He also drank the juice. Another scenario: > Jack forgot his homework. Which is the correct way to say "me too"?:   * I forgot my homework too.   * I, too, forgot my homework.   * (I have a feeling that "I also forgot my homework." is simply wrong in this case) I guess I can sum up my question as follows:   1. If two sentences share the same subject, should I add "too" after the predicate or add "also" after the subject of the second sentence?   2. If two sentences share the same predicate, should I add "too" after the predicate or after the subject (with the commas)?


"If the bowl had been stronger, my song had been longer."

In the original version of the nursery rhyme, _The Wise Men of Gotham_ , the word 'had' is used in the main clause of a sentence where it seems modern English would commonly use 'would have'. The full rhyme is: > Three wise men of Gotham,   >  They went to sea in a bowl,   >  And if the bowl had been stronger   >  My song had been longer. What is the grammatical tense, and semantic sense, of the second 'had' in the rhyme?


Boundaries for a person's name - danah boyd

How could the name danah boyd come to pass? Why isn't it Danah Boyd? Would it be inappropriate or incorrect to refer to this person as Danah Boyd?


What does "the height of inhumanity" mean in the context?

> Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for the victory which > is decided in a single day. This being so, to remain in ignorance of the > enemy's condition simply because one grudges the outlay of a hundred ounces > of silver in honors and emoluments, is the height of inhumanity. The paragraph above is taken from The Art of War. I have a hard time understanding what "to remain in ignorance..., is the height of inhumanity" means.


"I am trying to learn" vs "I try to learn"

What is the difference between present simple and present progressive when it comes to actions like the following? > At school, I am trying to learn a wide array of subjects. > > At school, I try to learn a wide array of subjects. > > At school, I am studying Human Physiology. > > At school, I study Human Physiology All the actions are not happening at the time of speaking. They all are somehow temporary.


"A force is acting on a box until t = 10 seconds". Is the force still acting on the box at t = 10 seconds?

I have a difficulty to digest any sentence using the word _until_ , especially when it is used to express something related to a point of time or space. In the physics examination, I have a sentence as follows > A force is acting on a box until t = 10 seconds. What can we infer from that statement whether or not the force is still acting at t = 10 seconds?


Why does the name 'John' have an 'h' in it?

I have always wondered this since I was little, and nobody seems to have asked or answered this before anywhere on the internet. What is the origin of the 'h', and why is it still with us?


When should types of cheese be capitalized?

Does this recipe call for _Cheddar cheese_ or _cheddar cheese_? Does pizza have _mozzarella_ or _Mozzarella_ on it? Heck, I'm not even sure if this sandwich contains _Swiss cheese_ or _swiss cheese_. Is there a convention here, or is it a matter of taste? Does it depend on whether the word was originally a proper noun ("Cheddar"), a proper adjective ("Swiss"), or something else ("bleu")?


Use of "and especially"

Is _and_ in the following sentence optional? > He disliked nearly all women, **and** especially the young and pretty ones.


Word for "mindlessly entertain"

Sometimes I get done working and my mind is utterly exhausted. I want something to entertain me mindlessly. Is there a good verb to describe this action?


If someone is an expert in written (rather than spoken) language, can they still be called a "linguist"?

When I think of "linguistics", I typically think of the study of spoken languages, particularly phonetics. Compared to "language", which of course is used of writing systems, it carries to me a stronger association to the original literal meaning of "lingua" being "the tongue". Wikipedia's article on linguistics speaks mainly of language concepts in the abstract: things that apply equally to written and spoken language. It has a small section comparing writing to speech, which says: > Most contemporary linguists work under the assumption that spoken (or > signed) language is more fundamental than written language. […] Nonetheless, > linguists agree that the study of written language can be worthwhile and > valuable. So consider a hypothetical person; let's call him "Jim". Jim can read and understand Ancient Greek texts, and he is an expert translator. Jim may not know the IPA, and he may not even be able to pronounce Ancient Greek words all that well, but he's definitely the guy you call when you have a piece of written Ancient Greek that you need made readable by Americans. Can Jim properly be called a "linguist"? Specifically, will other linguists scoff at the idea of a mere translator being called a "linguist"? Or does being a translator by definition _make_ you a type of honest-to-goodness linguist?


In English, is there an established prefix for "mostly"?

For half, I could use _semi_ , _demi_ , or _hemi_. While _semi_ does mean "half", it sometimes has a connotation of "some". _Demi_ is often found with French roots. According to this link, _hemi_ is the least often used of the three but can also mean "half". On the other hand, I could use something like _toti_ or perhaps other choices to indicate all. Pardon my mathematical nature, but is there a prefix which would mean "mostly", that is more than one half but less than the full unit.


dependent vs dependant

I find so many different "rules" on the internet that it is really hard to understand when to use these words: dependent and dependant. In the below examples, what would you pick and why:               a) "Your dependants ..."     b) Is your dependant over the age of 12?     c) Are you a dependant of John Smith?     d) What is the name of your youngest dependant?


Is there a single word meaning the same as "to pull the rug out from under one's feet"?

I'm sure there was one, I just can't remember what it is, and the ones I keep coming up with (like "challenge") don't seem to fit.


English equivalent of the expression “a longer arm than résumé”

I've heard a non-native English speaker use the expression "in this place, having a long arm to scratch someone else's back is more important than having a long résumé", conveying the idea of favoritism in a place influencing the promotion of people within. I would like to know if there is an equivalent in English to such expression.


Calendric vs Calendrical

When choosing an adjective to refer to the nature of a calendar system, such as how we have months of varying length, is it more appropriate to use _calendric_ or _calendrical_? Is there any difference, perhaps in context? Or is it a British vs American English thing?


The real tense of "I'm going to be talking about"

I just listened to a video in which the speaker said "I'm going to be talking about....". Can we change that to "I'm going to talk about..."?


Synonym needed for "teetotaler"

Is _teetotaler_ still an acceptable term for someone advocating alcohol abstinence? If not, what is a better word to use?


From Latin prefixes and suffixes and its usage, does "absolute" denote "freedom" or "away from freedom"?

First of all, I would like to apologize for my title's awkward formulation. English is not my mother-tongue. I am looking at the word "absolute", which, according to Dictionary.com, has the definition > (4) free from restriction or limitation; not limited in any way: absolute > command; absolute freedom. > > (5) unrestrained or unlimited by a constitution, counterbalancing group, > etc., in the exercise of governmental power, especially when arbitrary or > despotic: an absolute monarch. and > Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English < Latin absolūtus free, unrestricted, > unconditioned (past participle of absolvere to absolve), equivalent to _ab-_ > ab- + _solū-_ loosen + -tus past participle suffix I understand that the Latin prefix **_abs-_** means "away from" or "opposite to". However, when **_abs-_** is combined with **_solū_** , or "loosen", the meaning seems to become "away from being loose" or "restricted" -- the opposite of being free. I also understand that words like absolutism or absolute power imply the object has ultimate freedom to rule even though its subjects are restrained, but then, say, if we describe the "law of conservation of energy" as an _absolute_ principle of physics, then there is neither _freedom_ for interpretation nor an "absolute ruler" who possess the "freedom" to legislate. (After all, it is commonly regarded as the universal truth and none "arbitrarily made up" the law.) Then where does the freedom in "absolute" go, since there is no recipient to the freedom and everyone else is subject to the restriction? I am still confused about whether **_absolute_** conveys freedom or its opposite.


"Sally & Rhod's Wedding" - where should the apostrophe go?


Appositive phrase, participle phrase, gerund phrase and noun phrase. English is confusing

> "Every English-speaking country is extremely sheepish towards mega- > corporations and their puppet-governments. In continental Europe, France > being an example, people stand up for their rights and protest, violently if > needed, on the streets." The little phrase "France being an example" is for a non-native English user very hard to categorise. I believe it's an appositive phrase, but I wonder which one: participle phrase, gerund phrase or noun phrase? If I have to guess I would say it's a noun phrase with 'being' being a present participle modifying 'France'. Or am I completely wrong in this?


When I write any sentence in English every native reader can tell I am Europen, how?

Can you conclude that just by my writing the question?


Past perfect usage?

In the following sentence, > That task was not added to the TODO document because at that time it **had > not yet been added** to the main document. What I mean here is that back then, during the TODO document outline, one task was missing but was added in the meantime.   1. Is this sentence grammatically correct?    2. Is this past perfect usage correct or given the idea that is being conveyed a more suitable tense would be advisable?


Should I use "one" or "it"?

Which is correct: > I think I need a better kind of gun. But where can I get **it** from? I > can’t find it anywhere in this maze. > > I think I need a better kind of gun. But where can I get **one** from? I > can’t find one anywhere in this maze.


Is the usage of "after the break" before the start of a commercial and in an article related?

The phrase "after the break" is sometimes used before a commercial. It can also used in an article. e.g. "watch the video after the break". Are these two usages related to each other, apart from having the same three words in the same order?


Describing the preference of some time period's being closer to another time period that it forgoes

Just asked this question on "Christianity", but feel asked it in a very awkward way: > Do we have any evidence that Martin Luther considered some individuals of > the Roman Catholic clergy living in some **centuries close to Luther's time > (the closer centuries are preferred)** to be the part of the Universal > Church? I am especially concerned about the part in bold. How do I express that with proper English? After receiving a comment, and an answer, I am thinking to re-write the sentence as the following one: > Do we have any evidence that Martin Luther considered some individuals of > the Roman Catholic clergy living in some **centuries before Luther's time > (the latter centuries are preferred)** to be the part of the Universal > Church?


Book's name in plural and verb

When I speak of one book titled _Acts of the Apostles_ , should I say: " _Acts of the Apostles_ contain" or " _Acts of the Apostles_ contains" ?


What is “the spirit of aloha”?

I’ve read this expression in a news article related to a Hawaiian politician: _“He is well-regarded in both Washington and in the islands for his gracious manner and **spirit of aloha**.”_ I understand that _aloha_ is a Hawaiian greeting and, as such, I understand the expression in the quote above as “his gracious manner and openness”. I tried to look up the entire expression “spirit of aloha”, but search engines’ results are polluted by commercial uses (including a Disney show). How would you express this sentence to exclude the Hawaiian-specific reference (if at all possible)? What are the cultural elements that I am missing (as a European who doesn't know much about Hawai, except that it's a popular holiday destination).


'furniture of their pockets"

> There are many pleasant fictions of the law in constant operation, but there > is not one so pleasant or practically humorous as that which supposes every > man to be of equal value in its impartial eye, and the benefits of all laws > to be equally attainable by all men, without the smallest reference to the > **furniture** of their pockets. > > — Charles Dickens, “Nicholas Nickleby” What does **furniture** mean here? With which of these definitions does it comport?


If I Were You and You Were I

These are song lyrics, so there's poetic license--yes. However, it raises a grammar question that some friends and I have wondered about for years. Song goes: > If for a moment I were you, and you were me, how would it be?   >  Would you fall apart as I walk by?   >  Hang around to catch my eye?   >  Be jealous of another guy?   >  If I were you and you were I?   > It's the last line: is it wrong? If one can say, "If I were you," why can't he flip that around and write, "If you were I?" Does it _have_ to be "If you were me?" Or is _that_ even correct? "If me were you" certainly isn't right. So why is it correct (if it is correct) to say, "If you were me?"


What's a more common term for "penny jumping"?

In securities trading, we have a particular term which I think has broader applicability, so I'm **seeking a more common** (or at least more universally comprehensible) term for it, that I can use in casual conversation (outside the industry). The term is **_penny-jumping_** , and applied literally, means "taking advantage of the knowledge that someone else's order will move the market, by placing a similar order at a trivially improved price ahead of his", thus "riding his wave" to your benefit and his expense. But we apply it more liberally than that: it essentially means a kind of **obnoxious parasitism** ¹, and apply it to a variety of situations. More common example: > Imagine standing on the curb for 15 minutes trying to hail a cab, only to > have another person jump in front of you (by a few feet or a single block), > and flag "your" cab down at the last minute. While you've waited for 15 > minutes, they've only had to wait a few seconds, and they were able to > benefit (to your detriment) by making only a trivial "improvement" over your > "bid" (those few feet they stepped out in front of you). Of course, the analogy isn't perfect, but analogies rarely are, and that's how we use it. Another term of art for this, in the industry, is _front-running_ (though the nuances are different and front-running more explicitly refers to the illegal practice) , though I think _penny-jumping_ captures the same idea more descriptively: _the parasite **jumps** ahead of you for a cost which is trivial to him (a **penny** ), thereby capturing an outsized reward at your expense_. * * * ¹ If done using non-public information, particularly information derived from a privileged relationship with a client (to whom you owe a fiduciary duty), penny-jumping is illegal and is usually termed "front-running" (which is the name of the crime, historically committed by brokers who intermediate between clients and markets). But I'm not concerned with this sense of the word; I'm seeking something which is **sleazy** and **obnoxious** , not illegal or fraudulent: think "parasite", not "criminal".


What's meaning of "hauled off" in a particular phrase

I'd appreciate help of native speakers. There's line in a poem: > Water and Gold > > by Michael Burch > > You came to me as rain breaks on the desert   >  when every flower springs to life at once,   >  but joy is an illusion to the expert:   >  the Bedouin has learned how not to want. > > You came to me as riches to a miser   >  when all is gold, or so his heart believes,   >  until he dies much thinner and much wiser,   >  **his gleaming bones hauled off by chortling thieves.** > > You gave your heart too soon, too dear, too vastly;   >  I could not take it in; it was too much.   >  I pledged to meet your price, but promised rashly.   >  I died of thirst, of your bright Midas touch. > > I dreamed you gave me water of your lips,   >  then sealed my tomb with golden hieroglyphs. > > Originally published by The Lyric My understanding (and common sense, I believe) is that poor fellow's tomb was literally stripped to the bone of anything valuable, and only bones were left. My opponent says, no, it's bones that the thieves, being merry people, no doubt, took with themselves. Who's right? All dictionaries, including those that provide examples from literature and media, seem to prove I'm wrong, that something being hauled off means it was dragged, carried, etc. away.


Is there a single word for a "unit of time"?

If I were to have a text box for someone to enter an integer and dropdown list from which my user would select _day(s), hour(s), minute(s)_ or _second(s)_ , is there a single word that would describe what is selected in the dropdown list. The best I can think of is "time unit", but was hoping for a single word to describe an arbitrary unit of time.


Neither or nor in this sentence

I have a sentence: > I do not ride a bike (neither/nor ride I a horse) What is the correct word here and why? EDIT: I would like to keep the form of the sentence, I mean the brackets. > I do not ride a bike (neither I ride a horse) Is this correct?


Form of government (-archy/-cracy) where the strongest rules

I'm doing some research for a story and I'm trying to find the correct word for a form of government where the best fighter or the strongest person leads the rest. The usual words for forms of government are derived from Greek words suffixed with -archy (ἄρχω, _árkhō_ , "to rule") or -cracy (κρατέω, _krateo_ , "to have power over"), as in:   \- Monarchy (rule of one)   \- Oligarchy (rule of few)   \- Plutocracy (rule by the wealthy)   \- Theocracy (rule by God)   \- Anarchy (without rule)   \- etc. The only existing word that is close to what I want is 'Stratocracy' (from στρατός, _stratos_ , 'army'), which is rule by the military, but that seems like a different concept. The Greek word for power is _kratos_ , but 'Kratocracy' seems like a ludicrous word ("power power"). 'Might' or 'Strength' may be more appropriate, but that would be something like _dynamis_ -> 'Dynamocracy', which also sounds silly. Is there a proper word for this form of rule? If not, what would be an appropriate word to invent, in line with the current convention?


When is it appropriate to use "see you later"?

Most of the references I found online simply note that "see you later" is a farewell or parting phrase but nothing discussed when it is appropriate to use the phrase. Is it acceptable to use "see you later" in each of the following circumstances?   1. When you will be seeing the person again later that day   2. When you will be seeing the person soon (e.g., in a few days)   3. When you will be seeing the person again at _some_ point in the future (e.g., next year at Christmas)   4. When you are suggesting that you want schedule something specific   5. Whenever you say goodbye, regardless of whether or not you will ever see them again


Hyphenation of "prerequisite"

I'm proofreading my thesis, and found that TeX in its infinite wisdom had decided to hyphenate _prerequisite_ as pre-req-ui-site. I've replaced it with pre-re-qui-si-te, but I'm a bit unsure what the proper hyphenation is and couldn't find any good sources. Anyone know what's the correct hyphenation?


What do you call each individual component of a number: a "digit", a "figure", or "place"?

What are the individual 0, 1, 2, "letters" etc. in numbers called? I know the word "digits", I've seen "n-figure salary", and Google translation (from German "Stellen"), when used in a sentence, yields "places" ("How many places does this number have?"). And exactly when is the English cognate of our German word "Ziffer", "cypher", used? Because "Ziffer" really means "digit" in English, I think.


"brought some horses, real heelers.." : what is "heeler" here?

I quote from An Evening in Dandaloo (1891) by Banjo Paterson:               It was while we held our races --      Hurdles, sprints and steplechases --      Up in Dandaloo,      That a crowd of Sydney stealers,      Jockeys, pugilists and spielers      Brought some horses, real heelers,      Came and put us through.      I wonder what is the meaning of the word "heeler" here. It seem to refer to "horses". My initial guess had been "someone who is able to hit it (i.e. run) very fast, striking the road with their heels". But I doubt this sense. "To heel" may also mean "to follow one closely, keeping at one's heels". Then I've read that in Australia it may mean "a cattle dog", possibly a derivation from the previous sense. I'd like to read your guesses.