How often do people say "gotta", "wanna" or "gonna" in English speaking countries?

I learned these three words from _Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner's English Dictionary_. >   * got|ta /g'ɒtə/   >  Gotta is used in written English to represent the words 'got to' when they > are pronounced > informally, with the meaning 'have to' or 'must'.   >  Prices are high and our kids **gotta** eat. > >   * wan|na /w'ɒnə/   >  Wanna is used in written English to represent the words 'want to' when they > are pronounced informally.   >  I **wanna** be married to you. Do you **wanna** be married to me? > >   * gon|na /g'ɒnə, AM g'ɔːnə/   >  Gonna is used in written English to represent the words 'going to' when > they are pronounced informally.   >  Then what am I **gonna** do? > > Here are my questions:   1. How often are these words used in oral English?    2. Are they only used in informal speech/conversations?    3. Do educated people also use these words?


Pressed his fingers against/to the window

Which one is correct: "pressed his fingers against the window" or "pressed his fingers to the window"? Or is there no difference in meaning?


What does "thot" mean and when was it first used?

The word **_thot_** is all over Twitter. The @lovihatibot Twitterbot routinely finds it in searches for "I love the word [X]" and "I hate the word [X]", in fact it's the most hated word and third most loved word (presumably use in one category feeding the other). Similarly it's the second most common in @favibot's searches for "[X] is my new favorite word" (up from number 5 in October). What does _thot_ mean? Where does it come from and when was it first used? Was there a single person or event which popularised it, and when was it?


"his or her head in the clouds" meaning

> Horoscope: You'll make a risqué comment to a boss who lately has had his or > her head in the clouds… From the above sentence I can understand that a person is going to make an indecent comment to his/her boss. I couldn't get what the rest of the sentence meant. The above sentence is taken from an email I got.


"I would often tell you."

Can you have a sentence like > _**___ ___ __ ___ __ ___ __ ___ ____**, I would often tell you. and the part that's left out isn't in quotes?


Origins of the gaming term "cheese strategy"

In a gaming scene the word _cheese_ is used to describe strategies or ways of playing that are really powerful and do not require much skill from the players side at the same time. The term is widely used both in video games and tabletop games alike. It _is_ extremely subjective, there's no strict definition of what is "cheese" and what is not, but that's besides the point. What are the origins of it? What has cheese to do with "undeserved" victories, cheap strategies, etc.?


What's the etymology of "when the shit hits the fan"?

Where did this come from? It makes no sense to me...why is the shit even near the fan?


"Would" means something different in the past than in the future?

If you use _would_ to describe your action in the future, it means that you plan to do it. But if you use it to describe something in the past, it doesn't mean that in the past you planned to do it, it means you actually **_did_** it. Is that correct? For example: > Whenever I would go there I would often notice many suspicious things. It has nothing to do with planning or intention, even back then in the past. It's not even the past tense form of the present form. Am I right that the meaning changes? Also, is there any difference at all with that sentence and this one? > Whenever I went there I often noticed many suspicious things.


Is asking "come again?" to a complete stranger over the phone rude?

My Irish colleague told me that when talking to a customer over the phone asking:"come again?" is considered rude and even offensive since it is very informal and almost demanding. Now I did not really believe him, since I think there is more to words than just the words themselves, like the context and the tone of voice. Was it not 90% how you say it and 10% what you say? Anyway. In Ireland I witnessed several ways to ask a person to repeat themselves. Starting with "aha?" Or the "he?" Used by the Irish-man I talked to myself quite often. Next I'd put "what?" Compared to these I'd classify "come again" not as impolite and rude especially when I say it in a polite almost deferential tone of voice. For comparison. In Germany we have the "Was?" = "what" and the "Wie bitte?" = "How please?" the latter being the official polite way of asking to repeat. Which is quite short and since I find it awkward to say: "Can you repeat that please?" several times in a phone conversation over a bad line, I find "come again" quite similar to "Wie bitte?", just lacking the please, and appropriate. What do you guys say about this? PS: Compared to How do you decide which phrase to use when asking people to repeat what they said? I'm not asking about a ranking. I'm more asking if "Come again?" is more like "Fuck you" or more like "You are brilliant". The difference being, that one of them you probably have a hard time of making sound polite or appreciating. Though it can be done, but I guess not to a complete stranger.


Does this sentence remain grammatically correct?

If I change this sentence > We could not communicate through the phone. to > Through the phone, we could not communicate. Does it still remain grammatically correct? Is it OK like that? What's the difference?


What is the correct spelling: "filterbank" or "filter bank"

On Wikipedia, the usage is "filter bank" exclusively. A search on Google Scholar returns essentially the same number of both spellings. This is for a scientific document about digital signal processing, so I want to know which is correct.


What does “Has it come to this?” in “Republican leaders quickly voiced horror at these tactics. ‘Has it come to this?’ said John Boehner” mean?

There was the following sentence in July 19 New York Time’s editorial titled “Democrats Gain the Upper Hand”: “Senator Patty Murray, a member of the Democratic leadership, said Monday that her party was prepared to let all the Bush-era tax cuts expire on Jan. 1 if Republicans refuse to raise taxes on the wealthy. Republican leaders quickly voiced horror at these tactics. “ _Has it come to this_?” said Speaker John Boehner, accusing Democrats of holding the economy hostage for the sake of high-end tax increases. ” I don’t get the meaning of “ _Has it come to this_?” Is it a popular idiom? What does “it” represent for? Isn’t it just a typo of “How it come to this?”? P.S. I got many answers from you. I realized “Has it come to this?”? is not a typo, but I'm still not very clear. I feel like ‘scratching an itch through the sole of shoe’ in our local expression. What is the brief and clear-cut translation of this phrase? Can you paraphrase it just in a few words? Is it like an exclamation, “What’s a hell of this!"?


This / that week

In response to: > Only one week till I leave again. I'll miss you guys so much. Is it: > \--Let's just enjoy **that** week and not think about the goodbye or > \--Let's just enjoy **this** week and not think about the goodbye


Meaning of 'save as regards'

The following line is from a passage that I was reading: > If the Italian peninsula had been submerged in the Mediterranean after the > fall of Rome, we would still have been in possession of much documentary > evidence concerning growth and ascent of Roman empire, although the > ponderable remains of the civilization and its architecture and the soil > upon which the empire flourished would have been lost forever **save as > regards their colonial manifestations**. What is the precise meaning of _save as regards their colonial manifestations_?


"I used" or I've used"?

Which is the correct way of saying the following sentence (if there is a "right" way)   * I used different symbols to make it great.   * I've used deifferent symbols to make it great.


To refer back to "one or more", should I use "it" or "them"?

In one computer program, there is an option to specify one or more arguments (software packages in this case). I am writing the help documentation, so I'm wondering what phrase to use to explain that fact: > This option allows one to... > >   1. download one or more packages without installing them. >   2. download one or more packages without installing it. >   3. download one or more packages without installing it/them. > Is any of them the above three options correct? Are there better alternatives?


Word or phrase for a story that takes place over several years

What word or phrase should be used to describe a story that takes place over a long period of time (e.g. a few years, a few decades, etc.)? For example, Gabriel García Márquez's famous novel _One Hundred Years of Solitude_ takes place over seven generations of the Buendía family. What word or phrase could be used to describe the story? > _One Hundred Years of Solitude_ is a **____** , that is, it occurs over a > long period of time.


A term or phrase expressing the cheapening of a quality by measuring it in monetary terms

I am looking for a term that expresses something along the lines of _to measure something of value (especially an abstract, often positive quality such as bravery or effort) in monetary terms_ in a derogative/pejorative fashion. Essentially as a result of such a measurement, the value of such a quality's perceived to be cheapened.


Is “Thisness” an established English word? What is the alternative expression that sounds more natural and familiar?

I came across an unfamiliar word to me, _thisness_ in the following sentence of New Yorker magazine’s (April 19) article titled, What We’re Reading: Buzzfeed, “Pulphead,” Chekhov, and More” > James Wood explains why the selection and elaboration of seemingly > irrelevant detail is what makes fiction real. Details that appear true, he > writes, have a quality of “ _thisness_.” > > By thisness, I mean any detail that draws abstraction toward itself and > seems to kill that abstraction with a puff of palpability, any detail that > centers our attention with its concreteness…. > > By thisness I mean the moment when Emma Bovary fondles the satin slippers > she danced in weeks before at the great ball at LaVaubyessard. Thisness is > often used to puncture ceremonies like funerals and dinners that are > designed precisely to euphemize thisness; what Tolstoy calls making a bad > smell in the drawing room. Though none of Oxford, Cambridge, and Merriam Webster English dictionary registers the word, _thisness_ , I found the definition of _thisness_ , in Wikipedia which defines it as the translation from Latin, _haecceitus_ meaning the qualities, properties or characteristics of a thing which make it a particular thing. Is _thisness_ , a popular English word? If _thisness_ has currency, can we say _thatness_ , _theyness_ , or even _I-ness_ , _we-ness_ , _here-ness_ , _there- ness_? Isn’t there smoother and more familiar word than _thisness_ , which sounds somewhat crude to me?


Is there a difference in meaning between "from the beginning" and "since the beginning"?

> He’s been with us **from** the beginning. Is there a difference between _from_ and _since_ in the context of the above sentence?


Which of these two should be preferred: "sinification" or "sinicization"?

Which of these two options would be considered most elegant / correct? Personally I think Sinicization (or Sinicisation) has a more natural ring to it, but I have seen Sinification used also. Also, can anyone give an answer as to when either of these neologisms came into usage?


When independent clauses are not truly independent

If I write _My car can go pretty far and it gets good mileage_ I have combined two independent clauses to create a compound sentence. I might just as easily write _My car can go pretty far. And it gets good mileage._ But if I write _Surprisingly, my car can go pretty far and it gets good mileage_ , meaning that it is a surprise my car has both of these attributes, then the independence of each clause seems diminished, because one without the other is not surprising. In other words, I cannot write _Surprisingly, my car can go pretty far. And it gets good mileage._ Is there a way to describe this difference? Is there an overriding term for two or more independent clauses that actually do not mean the same thing when not joined?


Words like "do/does/did" to emphasize, but for "am/is/are"

So X said to Y: > I did tell you yesterday! As far as I know, the word _did_ there is to emphasize my point or tell him that I'm so sure I've told him the story yesterday. What I want to ask is, what's the word we may use to emphasize our point like that in a sentence with no verb? Like > You ARE the one who breaks it! For emphasis, I capitalized the _ARE_ , but is there any word that functions like _did_ does in the previous sentence?


"I and others" or "others and I"?

I have traditionally learned that a first-person pronoun should always come last in a list, e.g. > Bob and I found this to be interesting. However, it sounds awkward to me when this rule is used with 'others': > A couple others and I found this to be interesting. I would be more inclined to go with: > I and a couple others found this to be interesting. Which sentence is (more) grammatically correct?


What does "not even close" mean?

I was watching a Matt Damon interview on YouTube. In it, the interviewer asked Matt > Do you remember? Can you speak any of the languages you spoke? Matt replied > Not even close What does that mean? Of course, I can guess that it means "never" or "not at all". Is my guess right? Can I use another word or sentence instead of that? Lastly, is it slang?


Is there a term for "capable of transferring"?

I am a software developer and am having trouble with naming an entity. In my project, by convention, we give our code objects capabilities by extending them with a module named with an "-able" suffix. This implies: > capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to Some examples include:   * Movable   * Trashable   * Visible I need to express a capability meaning " _able to transfer_ ". Transferable doesn't seem to fit because I'm not transferring the object, rather the object is doing the transferring. **What is a good term for " _able to transfer_ " ending in an -able suffix?**


what does "lost a shilling and found a penny" mean?

I am translating a British story and I came across this expression "you look like you lost a shilling and found a penny". I am not sure I understand what it means.


Word meaning "has ability using physical objects"

Looking for a word to describe ability using physical objects. For example, someone who is particularly adept at using a computer, or nunchuks, or any physical object, could be said to have a lot of -----.


What is the proper English term for polycopié (de cours)?

In French, several universities use _polycopiés_ instead of course books for teaching. The term _polycopié_ can be translated as _handout_. Is it correct to use it in this case, in which a _polycopié_ constitutes a thin paperback book, with bound cover? I've only seen the term _handout_ used for small sets of sheets, usually stapled. By the way, if there are specific American/British variations of the term, I'd be interested in both.


Should there be a "were" instead in "till there was you"?

Rachael Starr has a song titled "Till there _was_ you". Shouldn't it be "Till there _were_ you"? Why did she use it that way?


An expression meaning the feeling you get seeing something so beautiful it hurts

I'm trying to find an expression (a single word, not a phrase) that means simply that! I'm sure I can't be the only person to feel this. I'm sure I heard it mentioned in a radio programme once but now I can't remember! This is particularly in relation to something rather than someone - like looking out at a beautiful view of the mountains and feeling that ache in your stomach. (Although I have been known to get it over a pair of shoes!)


What is a clustermug?

What is a clustermug? I could not find the word in a dictionary. > Duke stopped laughing, but he was still smiling. Unabashed. "It's a > clustermug," he said. The quote is from the novel _Under the Dome_ by Stephen King.


Is the phrase "Traffic Revision" generally used to describe temporary or permanent changes of traffic flow?

When I first moved to Washington state, I would see mystifying traffic warning signs that would announce "Traffic Revision Ahead" as I was driving and then be in the midst of roadwork and lane changes a few seconds later. I don't recall exactly what signs said in my home state of Nebraska for this situation but I think they would post a sequence of signs, a "Roadwork Ahead" followed by a "Lane Changes Necessary" indication. Either that or a display of "Detour Ahead" before the work. Once I understood by context what I was in for when I saw such signs, I used to imagine a civil engineer sitting at a desk thinking "I have a vision; No... I have a revision". Is this usage of "Traffic Revision" known anywhere else in the English speaking world, or is this a coinage specific to Washington state in the United States?


Usage of italics in writing

In which cases is a word, or a group of words written in italics?   Is italics used in specific contexts, or it is quite normal to write words in italics?


What is the popper's business?

What is the popper's business? I don't know what the popper is. I heard somewhere the phrase. "He's in popper's business." please let me know:)


Does anyone know where “crack down” comes from?

There’s _crack up, crack down,_ and _crack on_ (?). I am curious about the origin of the phrase _crack down_. Also, what does it literally mean?


Why did "sceptical" become "skeptical" in the US?

Compare the following two Google Ngram Viewer charts for _sceptical_ vs. _skeptical_ in American English and British English: **British English** ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/OW9WF.png) **American English** ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/3PqRP.png) My interpretation of these charts is that:   1. Before the 1910-1920's, _sceptical_ was used in both American English and British English more than _skeptical_.   2. Something happened in the 1910's in American English that made the usage of _skeptical_ become much more common than _sceptical_. This change never happened in British English. Why did this change happen in the US? What was its trigger? Note that while etymoline.com states that the _sk-_ spelling is preferred in the US, it does not explain why it became so more common than the _sc-_ spelling, in particular since the 1910-1920's. > **skeptic** also _sceptic_ , (...) The sk- spelling is an early 17c. Greek > revival and is preferred in U.S.


mixed functional and non-functional requirement

Some background. Functional requirement of a web service is concerned with the correctness of the web service's function — say, the service will always return a number that is less than two. The non-functional requirement of a web service is concerned with the performance of the web service — say, the service will respond in 5 ms. Now, given the phrase: > The mixed functional and nonfunctional requirement concerns both — say, the > service will return a number that is less than two in 5 ms. Is "the mixed functional and nonfunctional requirement" grammatical?


Word for something that is available/accessible all the time

I was just wondering if there was a single word to represent the phrase "something that is available/accessible all the time"


Who verbally uses the title "Miss" with a female's first name (regardless of the female's correct title) and why? Example: > Meet with Miss Debbie in the conference room at 2 o'clock.


What’s the meaning of ‘we will emerge’?

One of ‘we’ is under his Invisibility Cloak, not both of them. It seems I can’t see the meaning of ‘emerge’. Or is it ‘we’? I’d like to know the meaning of ‘we will emerge’ in the following context. **What’s the true meaning of the part?** > ”It was carefully planned. My father led me and Winky up to the Top Box > early in the day. Winky was to say that she was saving a seat for my father. > I was to sit there, invisible. When everyone had left the box, **we would > emerge.** Winky would appear to be alone. Nobody would ever know. ( _Harry > Potter 4_ [US Version]: p.686)[Bold font is mine] **N.B.:** The speaker was a wanted person. He is confessing the truth after arrested **N.B.2:** He went watching the World Cup of a magical sport with his father and a servant called Winky while at large. **N.B.3:** The speaker was wearing his Invisibility Cloak, but Winky wasn’t. ## Why am I asking? A dictionary defines _emerge_ as 1-3. Italicized lines are my thought. >   1. to come out of something or out from behind something > _Likely, but wait a sec, the sentence says ‘we’, not ‘I’._ >   1. to stop being involved in a difficult situation or period of time > _Likely, but I don’t know for sure what the whole sentence means. Does it mean, by any chance, everyone’s leaving the box means their emerging from the difficult situation?_ >   1. to become known > _Impossible_


Other ways to say "I'm rooting for you?"

What are other ways one can say that have the same meaning as, "I'm rooting for you?"


Does ‘dislodge’ mean removing accidentally or intentionally?

I’d like to focus on one of the meanings of ‘dislodge’, to remove something. A dictionary says it means _forcing_ or _knocking_ something out of its position. What I’d like to know is if the word of itself contains two meanings, removing intentionally and accidentally, and waits for a specific context. ## Here are my collection of examples for ‘dislodge’ that means removing something. Italicized lines are my thought. > a). The wind **dislodged** one or two tiles from the roof. (From a > dictionary) _It might be accidental, but if the wind is personified, strong wind would intentionally remove the tiles. So the meaning seems vague to me._ > b). Ian **dislodged** a few stones as he climbed up the rock. (From another > dictionary) _Either is likely. Maybe accidentally._ > c). When Hermione returned from the trolley and put her money back into her > schoolbag, she **dislodged** a copy of the _Daily Prophet_ that she had been > carrying in there. ( _Harry Potter 4_ [US Version]: p.726)[Bold font is > mine] **N.B.:** Hermione is on a train. She just returned to her compartment after buying something. _I have no idea._ ## Questions   1. Which are correct in the above three examples, accidentally or intentionally?   2. What determines the meaning (accidental or intentional) of ‘dislodge’? Or is there no point worrying about it because ‘dislodge’ is undifferentiated in terms of the two meanings, like a stem cell? ( _Um, what should I say… I’m not sure if I can make myself understood._ ) ## Why am I asking? My mother tongue requires different words respectively for removing accidentally and intentionally.


Term for "Free to play" Videogame that Isn't Free

What is a term for a videogame that, while labeled "Free to Play", is impossible (or **extremely** slow/tedious) to progress in without spending money on in-game content? Edit: Freemium is a decent answer, but I'm looking for something with more of a negative connotation. To further elaborate, an example of the type of game I'm thinking of might be an MMORPG that, without purchasing a special stat boosting potion for real world money, requires an excessive/unrealistic amount of grinding/leveling in order to progress through the game.


Comma or semicolon?

Which of the following is correct? >   1. This not only produces higher success rates, it increases our energy > and morale instead of depleting them. >   2. This not only produces higher success rates; it increases our energy > and morale instead of depleting them. >


Can "kitchen" be used as an adjective? eg: Mother painted the kitchen wall

My little sister was to identify the adjective in this sentence: "Mother painted the kitchen wall purple and green". I understand how _kitchen_ can be an adjective as in _kitchen sink_ , but I'm not sure if kitchen describes the wall.


What is the proper/formal names for these rooms?

Question 1: We just moved into a new house with a very unique layout. I'm wondering how to describe some of the rooms using formal definitions. The main floor has an open-air space that is pretty versatile — it could be a living room, or it could be a dining room, we haven't decided ourselves yet — and extends upwards two floors. The term _atrium_ seems to fit as there are windows that go up one whole side of the area, but I wasn't sure if that term was traditionally reserved for non-residential uses. _Great room_ also seems to apply, though it's not necessarily a vaulted ceiling and therefore doesn't fit Wikipedia's definition. What is the difference between an atrium and a great room, or is there another word that would describe this room more formally? Question 2: The upper level of our house contains three separate areas — a landing/den, a wide space used as a bedroom in the past, and another space that is currently my office. These upper rooms are bordered by a half-wall on the sides that face the great room/atrium/whatever. This area seems too big/complex to be considered simply a _loft_. Is there another term to describe it?


What's the linguistics term for "Schubertiaden" and similar words?

What's the linguistics term for "Schubertiaden" and similar words (that refers to a group of people based on a person's name)? "Schubertiaden" refers to the group of people of similar interest and activity with musician Schubert. What are some other examples?


What is the appropriate punctuation to indicate the final phrase applies to both of the preceding requirements?

What is the appropriate punctuation to indicate that the phrase "or agency- recognized equivalent" refers to both _instruction_ and _examination_ in the following phrase? > X has successfully completed Y instruction and passed the Z examination or > agency-recognized equivalent.


Term for people not in any way involved in a crime/incident

I'm looking for a word that refers to the people (general population) who were not involved in an incident. To be particular let's say the incident is a "crime". That is, one you take away the perpetrators, the victims, the witnesses, lawyers, judges, cops, etc. you're left with the greater part of the population that has nothing to do with the incident or the surrounding proceedings. Is there a term for this group? _Something similar to, but not quite "party", as in "party to the crime", as that wouldn't include the people who are part of the proceedings._


Past-tense of "concept"

What is the past tense word of the word _concept_? In MS Outlook, I used this sentence and it's complaining to me. > The peer tool was initially **concepted** in 2006 for Dr. T.


A thesaurus with archaic and obsolete words

Can you point me to any online thesaurus that contains obsolete, archaic, out- of-use synonyms for contemporary words? Google search is horribly unhelpful, yielding hundreds common thesaurus and dictionary entries for the word _archaic_ , usually in dictionaries that have been pruned of obsolete words.


Article usage on word 'default' when the context is known

This question excludes 'default' used in court or 'a default' for an indefinite future (e.g. setting a default option). My question pertains to circumstances where the context behind the question or sentence is known and 'default' means using one option over other options. I found that sometimes people use indefinite articles, but I could not figure out the reason behind it. For example, how would you interpret these three questions differently? > 1) "Is this a default behavior?" _vs_. > 2) "Is this the default behavior?" _vs._ > 3) "Is this default behavior?" What if I were to drop the the noun? Is that going to change anything?


Serial commas in quotations

If the publication you are proofing for uses the serial comma, and an essay you're proofing includes a quotation from a biography that does _not_ use a serial comma, is it permissible to silently add serial commas for readability? The relevant rule in _The Chicago Manual of Style_ (13.7.5) explains: > Obvious typographic errors may be corrected silently (without comment or > sic; see 13.59), unless the passage quoted is from an older work or a > manuscript source where idiosyncrasies of spelling are generally preserved. In my case it is not. Obviously this is ultimately up to the editor. The essay is a work of history and literary criticism.


What does this quote by Anaïs Nin mean I think I know but I'm not sure

> There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful > than the risk it took to blossom.


Is "the photo I had taken" correct?

Which of the following sentences is correct: > I've just uploaded the photo I had taken on Monday. > > I've just uploaded the photo I took on Monday. I guess that this sentence > Yesterday I uploaded the photo I had taken on Monday. is correct but has different meaning than the first two.


Phrase for costs/ consequences so abstract/ distant/ high you cannot reason about it

I hope you intuitively understand these examples:   1. A person who starts with a small credit card debt believing he can keep the **consequences down to a few months** ; but within a few months faces unmanagable credit card debt, **without being too aware**   2. A software project where the spec-writers pile on too many features and otherwise make it too ambitious; that its **many times more complex and costly** than if they had designed it properly, minimally and with checked ambitions. But the spec-writers cannot **forsee the consequences** of their unchecked ambitions.   3. A person who believes a white lie can make him escape a **small situation** , but unforseen to him, he has to manage a **snowball of lies** to many individuals   4. A country decides to arm mercenaries to **quickly fix** a temporary strategy, but decades later the mercenaries evolve into terror outfits, drug cartels and warlords, making a **costly war** necessary In all examples, the person takes an action (take on debt, add gratuitous features) that seemed innocent enough, but soon proved to be extremely costly to him. * * * Please suggest phrases for:   1. an **action** that seduces you as being innocent and quick, but later causes serious harm   2. future **costs** so abstract (credit card debt in future, development time and mistakes for clumsy specs) that the person cannot reason about them and the harm they present to him   3. **blindness** to such costs and **ability** to wisely avoid such actions


A good word for additions to a written work that is already published

Let's say I have already published a book. Now, on the website for this book, I want to post additional documents, numbered like 1, 2, .... What word is best to use to describe each of these documents? Would "Addendum" work? Like "Addendum 1", "Addendum 2", or is Addendum more for things at the end of the book itself? Feel free to suggest other words. I suppose "Supplement" is another alternative.


Rationale for expression “Fixer-upper”

I have encountered the expression _fixer-upper_ : > A fixer-upper is a real-estate property that will require maintenance work > (redecoration, reconstruction or redesign) though it usually can be lived in > as it is. But why is it called _fixer-upper_? I imagine the expression means that ‘fixing’ will ‘up’ the value of the property, but does it relate to other similar expressions with the same double-word construction?


Justifying one wrong thing by comparing it its opposite which is also wrong

Is there a word or name for the phenomenon or syndrome in which people try to defend one wrong thing by comparing it something that is total opposite of it but also wrong? For example: > Drone attacks are the right thing because they are against terrorism which > is wrong. A more general but abstract kind of example could be: > I want to kill all the sharks because they are dangerous for human beings.


Monthly , bi-monthly , quarterly and

Is there a word to define a period of four months?


Can Whilst only be used in mid-clause?

According to this entry in the Urban Dictionary on "Whilst" (2nd definition on this page: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=whilst), it can only be used in mid-clause. I have skimmed other questions on this exchange regarding the use of "whilst" and "while", but they more or less arrive at the conclusion that they can be used interchangeably, with the only distinction being in style. Nowhere have I found anyone pointing to a distinction in correct semantic placement. However, come to think about it, I've never encountered a single sentence that starts with whilst. You always find it in the middle.


"Lodged a complaint to the Authorities" or "Lodged a complaint with the Authorities"

I have a question regarding the usage of the words _to_ and _with_ in the sentence "He lodged a complaint to/with the Authorities". Which is correct? Note: _Lodge_ in this context is "to present (a complaint, appeal, claim, etc.) formally to the proper authorities". I have been told that, in the said sentence, _with_ is correct and not _to_. But, I am confused as to why _with_ is correct and used more often than _to_ , especially since the definition of _with_ is "accompanied by (another person or thing)", while _to_ is defined as "identifying the recipient or intended recipient of something". How could someone lodge a complaint _with_ the Authorities? In my mind, _with_ denotes that a person is lodging a complaint together with the Authorities. Could someone explain this to me?


The meeting IS TO take place at 10 pm

The meeting **is to** take place at 10 pm Should "Is to" be mean here as "have to" or "going to"? Another example: Those of you, who sign up **are to be** commended. This kind of sentences confusing me a bit) What rules in action here?


"Methods to do" vs "Methods for doing"

I have to write a title for an article. Which will you choose beetwen these two options:   * "Methods to do something"   * "Methods for doing something" Thanks.


What is a person who hallucinates called?

What do you call a person who sees illusions or hallucinates?   * _Crazy?_   * _Hallucinator?_ (Is this even a word?)   * _Insane?_   * _Freak?_   * Something else?


What's the meaning of "present" in this context?

The following is a tip from a poker strategy article: > When it comes down to it, poker is always going to be about making the best > out of situations that present themselves, and not about forcibly creating > profitable situations where they otherwise would not likely exist. What does _present_ mean in this context? From OALD, there are four definitions I think that could be related, but I'm not quite sure which one is the most appropriate. They are: > Def. #2: to show or offer something for other people to look at or consider > >   * **present something (to somebody)** _The committee will present its > final report to Parliament in June._ > >   * **present something (for something)** _Eight options were presented for > consideration._ > >   * _Are you presenting a paper at the conference?_ > >   * _He presents a convincing case._ > >   * _The banks will begin to present their arguments today._ > > > Def. #3: to show or describe something/somebody in a particular way > >   * **present something** _The company has decided it must present a more > modern image._ > >   * _It is essential that we present a united front_ (= show that we all > agree). > >   * **present yourself + adverb/preposition** _You need to present yourself > better._ > >   * **present something/somebody/yourself as something** _He likes to > present himself as a radical politician._ > >   * _The press presents this as a kind of victory._ > >   * _The article presents these proposals as misguided._ > > > > Def. #4: to cause something to happen or be experienced > >   * **present somebody with something** _Your request shouldn't present us > with any problems._ >   * **present something** _Use of these chemicals may present a fire risk._ > >   * _Irradiation presents environmental dangers_ > > > > Def. #5: (of an opportunity, a solution, etc.) to suddenly happen or become > available > >   * Synonym: arise > >   * **present itself** _One major problem did present itself, though._ > >   * _As soon as the opportunity presented itself, she would get another > job._ > >   * **present itself to somebody** _Thankfully, a solution presented itself > to him surprisingly soon._ > > Or does _present_ here mean something else that's not included in this dictionary?


The article: communicative function

Okay, this might come across as a fairly stupid question, yet I have to know this. Does anyone know what the communicative function of 'the article' is? For example, if we consider 'must' and 'have to', the communicative function could be 'Talking about obligation'. I need something similar to this for the article, but I can't come up with anything. Any help is appreciated!


Can semicolon be used between interrupted quotations?

This is my last question for this week. Are both sentences punctuated correctly below? _'It cannot be done,' he said; 'we must give up the task.'_ (Can we use a semicolon after 'he said' above, and then resume the quotation with a lowercase 'we'?) _'It cannot be done,' he said. 'We must give up the task.'_ (I'm assuming this is correct as written.)


Near, near to and nearby. What's the difference?

Why isn't _near_ , _near to_ and _nearby_ always interchangeable? They can precede the noun.   * I live **nearby** the railway station    * I live **near** the railway station    * I live **near to** the railway station When they are _adverbs_ they can follow _noun + be_   * The railway station is **nearby** (my house)   * The railway station is **near** my house   * The railway station is **near to** my house But we don't normally say: > ?Meet me at the **near** railway station   >  or   >  ?Meet me at the railway station **near (to)** The accepted version is: > Meet me at the railway station **nearby**   >  Meet me at the **nearby** railway station Why?


Why and when did the practice of successive punctuation marks such as periods (...) originate in English sentence structure?

Ex. "* The MS. is here deficient; but ....b for 'byrig' is discernible." ---Ingram. Source: Bede's Ecclesiastical History and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle; Edited by J.A. Giles D.C.L.; London: George Bell & Sons, 1890, p.506


If you use a prefix for the first item in a list do all item in the list keep the prefix with out stating it for each one

If you use a prefix for the first item in a list do all items in the list keep that pre fix or should each item restate the prefix. This is my example. "This excludes pre-approved sick, vacation, compensatory time, and personal leave." Should all items that need to be pre approved be stated clearly, or is this ok?


Dropped the pen and threw up the sponge

This was said by one of my mates while retelling a story. The story runs that there was a court being held, and there was a recording-clerk as well. But this was a humor story, and the story continued that everybody was telling the recording-clerk to take out what was previously said, to the point that the clerk lost his temper and "dropped the pen and threw up the sponge." Does this saying mean that he resigned?


"May I come in?" is misleading?

Yesterday I saw a lesson of English on TV. The teacher asked to some people to translate (from Italian) some expression. One is: "What can you say to a person to invite him into your office?" and lot of people answer: "Can you come in my office?". The teacher said that it is wrong, because it sound like an erotic invite and the correct sentence is "Can you come to/into my office?" Is it correct? Because here: What do I have to say when I enter into a house? someone answer me to say "May I come in?". Is it misleading?


"To which extent?" vs. "To what extent?"

Is there a difference in meaning between "to which extent" and "to what extent"? Are they used in different geographical areas?


Correct usage of (n)fold, where n is any integer greater than or equal to one?

Writing a rhetorical piece for my high school english class, I wanted to emphasize the sheer increase from 10 million to approximately 2 billion. Conveniently, 10 million is 200 times smaller than 2 billion. That makes a nice, clean number to work with, even though it really doesn't have any significance on the quesiton I'm asking here. What I wanted to do is to say something like this:               two hundredfold      or               two hundred-fold      Just as               twofold      means two times as many. The pattern appears to be placing the number before `fold` like `threefold`, `fourfold`, `fivefold`, etc. Yet, with something like two hundred, how should I space, hyphenate and spell it correctly? Just wondering because I'm a little ocd about this and would like to get it right.


Scottish vs. scotch

I looked up the dictionary, and both gave me definitions that refer to a people from Scotland. Is there a difference between these two words?


Is there a word for someone who you've not physically met but know well?

I have met many people online, but not physically. Like a boy who's like my brother. They're no less than my real-life buddies. So I have to create a group of contacts devoted to those people only. What can I name that group? Virtual people would be geeky, I need something that's also respectable.


What is the antonym of 'virtual machine'? A virtual machine ( **VM** ) is a piece of software pretending to be a piece of hardware. There can be virtual servers, virtual desktops... I googled around a bit and did not find anything. I am creating a list that has Servers, Desktops and Virtual Machines; where Servers & Desktops are understood to only include non-VM's I need to add two more items to the list   * Severs VM & ( _virtual machine antonym_ )   * Desktop VM & ( _virtual machine antonym_ ) I need a word to replace "( _virtual machine antonym_ )" I was thinking "Hard" but not sure that is appropriate. The Audience is IT Professionals.


"After-midnight" as adjective

A recent CNN report reads: > In an **_after-midnight_** session the U.S. Senate passed a bill Saturday > ... Google returns few results for _after-midnight_ , other than references to a certain horror film, (another earlier film), a Clapton song, and things related to one or the other of these. _**Q_**. Has _after-midnight_ been used in this sense in popular writing? Will it be considered ungrammatical/ incorrect to do so? CNN uses it again down the report "In a previous _after-midnight_ vote, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution ..."


What does "I'm sure you understand" mean? Is it rude?

This expression seems to be used even when the speaker does not expect the other person to agree with them. What would the intention of the speaker be? Is the expression considered rude?


"in" vs. "on" a YouTube channel?

Which one is the correct term, or can I use both?   I want to use it in a sentence like: " _Please stay on/in the channel_ "


Is there a word for false false friends?

How would you call a translation which resembles a false friend, but is acutally correct? A false friend resembling translation here is one where the target-language word or phrase:   * is not frequently used    * parallels the word or phrase in the source language very closely (or vice versa) Here are some examples of false false friends (German/English):   * to hinder -- hindern   * to stutter -- stottern   * to heave -- hieven   * to flutter -- flattern   * to swindle -- schwindeln   * to cower -- kauern and examples of translations which parallel the way in which the words are used figuratively:   * gaping emptiness -- gähnende Leere   * ~~sth falls flat -- etw. fällt flach~~   * writing sth off -- etw. abschreiben   * sth is in order -- etw. ist in Ordnung


"Even though" vs. "even if"

Are these two totally synonymous? Can one be used in place of the other anywhere? Are there any differences in nuance, or anything at all?


Why is it "The King's Speech" but "Le Discours d'un Roi"?

In the movie's Wikipedia article, there is a French poster of the movie, which says "Le Discours d'un Roi". This is interesting to me because the French title uses the indefinite article "un" to refer to the king, which in my view makes more sense because he's just a king and from the title alone it's not obvious which king we are talking about. Is it more appropriate that the English title use the definite article? Is it because the king is British?


Change is the only constant – antithesis or oxymoron?

* * * _Change is the only constant_ – Isaac Asimov * * * Can the above quote be called an example of _antithesis_ or that of _oxymoron_ , or neither of these? I am confused because both _antithesis_ and _oxymoron_ have a _contrasting effect_. > **Antithesis:** A rhetorical term for the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas > in balanced phrases or clauses. > > **Oxymoron:** A figure of speech in which incongruous or seemingly > contradictory terms appear side by side; a compressed paradox. > > Source: About.com


what does this "from" mean?

What does the bold part mean? Thank you. http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/closeread/2013/08/going-to-congress- obamas-best-syria-decision.html Or it might go badly. Obama is certainly taking a risk, but that’s what the Presidency should be, and this one is worth it. The worst outcomes would involve either Congress or the President dodging this moment and its meaning. Congress might do so by constructing some legislative monstrosity, as it did during the debt-ceiling crisis, that relies on a complicated series of mechanisms that assure nothing—except that whatever happens is Obama’s fault—or too-sweeping powers. And the most disastrous thing that Obama could do is not admitting that he’s lost if he does, and bombing anyway. **Perhaps it’s too optimistic to say that today’s decision might be what keeps some future President, our country, and who knows what other nation and people from the sort of tragedy that destroys cities.** But it will certainly help, in an area where the world needs all the help it can get. And that makes this a morally important moment for the President as well.


When is creating punctuation appropriate?

I recently saw the character '‽' (the interrobang, a mashing of '!' and '?') in an answer's comment and it got me thinking about another character I've seen recently: the sarcmark. In my estimation neither are 'official' punctuation characters; nevertheless the former must be part of Unicode for it to be used in my browser so easily. At what point is the creation of punctuation appropriate? Is it a matter of popularity, or is necessity the mother of invention?


Rules for forming adjectives from Latin nouns

I read a paper today that kept using "multistrata" to describe an object with multiple layers. For example: > I love multistrata cakes. This sounds wrong to my ear, I think "multistratum" sounds better, even though the plural of stratum is strata. Certainly "multilayer cakes" sounds better than "multilayers cakes", which is the analogue to "multistratum" and "multistrata". Are there definitive rules for forming adjectives from Latin nouns?


"Room" versus "space" (in the sense of unoccupied volume)

> **Space** : Place, having more or less extension; room.   >  **Room** : Unobstructed space; space which may be occupied by or devoted to > any object (…)   >  (from Webster's) The general guiding his troops wants _space_ to manoeuvre, but most people want _room_ , breathing _room_. There's no _space_ for a new file on my hard disk, but no _room_ for a new book on my shelves. Maybe there's _room_ for argument here. (Are my examples idiomatic? I am not a native English speaker.) What guides the choice between _room_ and _space_ in this sense? Are there other words to consider (such as _place_ , which I would have thought to be a Gallicism)?


Synonym for a specific usage of "after all"

Is there any other word or phrase that could be used instead of "after all" in a case where it comes at the end of a sentence? For example: > Running away was in his nature, after all. (If you can think of a better example sentence, please let me know.)


Why do many forms ask for initials instead of full names?

I have seen a lot of forms that ask for the name (first name, middle name, last name) and then **initials**. Why does anyone want to ask for initials? Isn't initials the first letters of the name? For example, `name = john doe => initials = J D`. Isn't this always true?


Difference between "synopsis" and "plot"

After commenting on this question, I started wondering what the difference between a _plot_ and a _synopsis_ is, or if they are exactly the same. I'm mainly looking for common usage, but anything else (such as dictionation) is also welcome.


Is the word "wareful" archaic?

I have a sentence that runs, "My sense of reassurance was wareful." Is this word archaic? Should I use _wary_ instead? Or is the meaning of the sentence just plain ambiguous to begin with?


What is the origin of "Robbing Peter to pay Paul"?

I know what this means: "To pay one debt by incurring another" or other variants of it, but where did the saying come from. I'm not aware of any biblical instance of this. Deep down I want this to somehow involve Peter, Paul and Mary... :)


What Emotion Do You Experience When You Feel "Honored"

There are a ton of situations where it would be appropriate to start a sentence with the phrase "I'm honored." For example, "I'm honored to receive this award." "I'm honored to be a guest at your wedding." Etc. However, try as I might, I can't put my finger on what emotion the person who feels honored is actually feeling. Is there a better way to refer to this feeling other than "feeling honored?"


Can 'area' be called 'plot'?

Can _area_ from mathematics be called _plot_?


When should we expect an answer

What is the proper way to ask this question? When should we expect an answer or When can we expect an answer


Difference between "acquire" and "own"?

I read an article about the difference between _get_ and _have_. There is a explanation: > This is a major difference between the two verbs ‘have’ and ‘get’. The verb > ‘get’ gives the meaning of ‘acquire’ as in the sentence ‘I want to get it > now’. The sentence actually means ‘I want to acquire it now’. On the other > hand the verb ‘have’ gives the meaning of ‘own’ as in the sentence ‘I want > to have it right now’. The sentence actually means ‘I want to own it right > now’. However, I don't still understand it because I don't know the difference between two sentences: "I want to acquire it now" and "I want to own it right now". What's the difference between the two sentences? * * * sorry! I supposed that my question might be unclear. I know the meaning of the word acquire and own and the difference, definitely. But I don't know the difference 'want to acquire' and 'want to own' If you were a native speaker, you might not understand how I can't understand the difference between 'want to acquire' and 'want to own' although I know the difference between acquire and own. But in my first language, there is no difference between 'want to acquire' and 'want to own(or have)'. That's the reason I have a trouble to get it.


Complaint of vs Complaint for

Another one _of_ vs _for_ question, here _for_ would be the right choice, because its use denotes the function of purpose as I think it's the case here, right ? > When customers complaint _of_ an error scenario.


Singular and plural forms of abbreviations of expressions with "of" in the middle

Is it grammatically correct to abbreviate expressions with _of_ in the middle? If so, what will be the singular and plural forms of such abbreviations if the word that changes is not the last one in the expression? In particular, I am interested in _quantity of interest_. My guess is _QoI_ for singular and _QoIs_ for plural. And here is yet another question: should _o_ for _of_ be capitalized as well?


Meaning of "I am not for you to look into all issues"

A question asked by a team member to a party outside team.. In response to that.... **Manager:** (Addressing me) This is the area where we need to be self sufficient. Please think about this, how to achieve this. **I:** Sure. I was busy looking into another issue. I’ll look into this now. **Manager:** I am not for you to look into all issues. I am looking at how we get people to look into issues themselves. In last sentence, "I am not for you to look into all issues", Does she mean, she is looking into all issues and she can't do it anymore?


Is "great" used by native speakers to describe calamities any more?

I know that "great" used to be used to indicate "very large" for disasters and other calamities, such as the Great Fire of London, the Great Chicago Fire and the Great War. Is it common for native speakers of English (as opposed to say, the government of Japan in using the term "Great East Japan Earthquake") to use "great" for calamities these days?


What does "reeling" mean in "difficulties have left budgets reeling"?

After reading this sentence: > A near-decade of two simultaneous foreign wars, topped off by the most > brutal recession in two generations, has left federal and state budgets > reeling. I was left wondering about the meaning that was intended to be given by "reeling" in the sentence. From the definitions in Google, I don't know which one to choose (1 and 2 don't seem to apply):   1. Lose one's balance and stagger or lurch violently   2. Feel very giddy, disoriented, or bewildered, typically as a result of an unexpected setback   3. Walk in a staggering or lurching manner, esp. while drunk


Is "iterate over" being used correctly in "we briefly iterate over related work"?

Is this a correct use of the phrase "iterate over'? > In Section Three, we briefly iterate over related work.


Punctuation of a dependent clause for strong emphasis

Which of the sentences below is correct if I want to strongly emphasize that the pencil is not is **not white**? >   * This is a black instead of a white pencil. >   * This is a black, instead of a white, pencil. >   * This is a black—instead of a white—pencil. >


What is the origin of the phrase "Too busy chopping wood to sharpen the axe"

I am writing an article and would like to attribute the phrase correctly.


Why does "big cheese" mean someone important?

This is one of those common phrases that I have never really questioned until now. According to the free dictionary, "Big cheese" means an "important person". But what on earth does "cheese" have to do with being important? Where did this phrase come from?


If the prefix "a-" means not, shouldn't "await" or "awaiting" mean, "Not waiting?"

If:   * _Apolitical_ means "not political"  and   * _Amuse_ means...well, it should mean, "not thinking"  then why does _await_ or _awaiting_ not mean "not waiting?" I read this earlier question (Is there a real difference between wait and await?) but this seems interested in the meaning. One co-worker passed it off as "another example of why English makes no sense." I'm hoping for a better explanation or at least some literary historic context.


What is the plural of proof of concept? Is it proofs of concept, proof of concepts or proofs of concepts?

Can someone please clarify what is the plural form of proof of concept? Is it proofs of concept, proof of concepts or proofs of concepts?


Is it ok to use "Why" as "Why do you ask?"

Is it grammatically correct to use one-word sentence "Why?" as "Why do you ask?", for example in such context: – Did you visit that shop yesterday? – Yes. Why?


“rather than” vs “as opposed to”

> We do not know whether X will have an effect on element Y as opposed to > others.   >  We do not know whether X will have an effect on element Y rather than on > others. The first version is the first one I wrote, but it doesn't convince me at all. The second one should be more correct, but it doesn't sound too natural. Is one preferred over the other? Is there another way to express the same thing?


Is “of” indispensable to the sentence, “’Is it true,’ asked Josef of his mother ‘that he is not our brother?’”

To non-native English speakers, usage of preposition is always a headache. When I consulted the definition of “of” with an English Japanese dictionary at hand, it gives 16 different patterns of usage starting from 1. possession, 2. attribution / belonging, 3. relationship / contents / limit, 4. equality / apposition, to 13. distance / range, 14. subject of action, 15. object of action, 16. causes / motives. It's far beyond my ability to master all of them. With that said, I was interested in the function of ‘of’ in the following paragraph of Jeffrey Archer’s “Kane & Abel”: > After the feast Wladek enjoyed distributing gifts from Christmas tree, laden > with candles and fruit, to the awestruck peasant children –a doll for > Sophia, a forest knife for Josef, a new dress, a new dress for Florentyna – > the first gift Wladek had ever requested **of*** the Baron. ‘Is it true,’ > asked Josef **of**** his mother when he received a gift from Wladek, ‘that > he is not our brother, Matka? ‘No, she replied, ‘but he will always be my > son.’ I can understand the use of ‘of*’ The dictionary gives an example – He requested of his guests that they sit down. But with the second ‘of,’ the Kodansha’s English Japanese Dictionary defines “ask A of B” as “demand A (thing) to B (person) as in ‘That’s asking too much of John.’ However, in the above quote, Josef is simply asking a question to his mother, not demanding a thing. Is ‘of**’ indispensable in the sentence -‘Is it true,’ asked Josef of his mother ‘that he is not our brother? Doesn’t it make sense at all, if I wrote ‘Is it true,’ asked Josef (to) his mother,’ by omitting ‘of’?


Abbreviation for current

I am looking for an abbreviation for the word "current" to match the similar abbreviation "prev" for "previous" (it is being used specifically in the context of a sequence of items: previous --> current --> next). I'm considering "cur" and "curr", but the former brings to my mind the slur and the latter, as far as I can tell, isn't in widespread usage. I'm also aware of "cnt" occasionally being used, but it doesn't really match the style of abbreviation in "prev", and it can be ambiguous as to whether it abbreviates "current" or "count". Am I just being paranoid about "cur"?


" I don't know what you are saying"

During my seminar when my teacher asked a question, rather than saying that "I am not able to understand what you are asking", I said > "I don't know what you are saying" due to anxiety of being on stage. Was I totally offensive?


English compound

Is there a grammatical rule to compound a set of words such as a single one? _e.g._ word1 word2 --> word1word2 or word1-word2? Bye.


Name for the cognitive bias of seeming to not need something when you have it, but needing it when you don't?

An example of what I'm talking about is buying a snow blower because the past few winters have been very snowy, only to find that the next several winters after buying have hardly any snow, i.e. "it stopped snowing because I bought a snow blower". Another example is finding yourself often carrying an umbrella just in case it rains, but forgetting it once it actually does rain, i.e. "it rained because I forgot my umbrella today".


Word meaning "nearby in time"

I am looking for a word that has a similar meaning to "adjacent," except referring to time instead of space. For example, maybe I'm at a film festival and I'm watching three movies in a row, and I want to refer to the three "adjacent" films. "Subsequent" gets close to the meaning I want, but that word focuses on one thing following another in time, whereas I would like a word meaning "next to," either before or after.


Passive auxiliary verb or progressive one?

> Uncle Vernon made another funny noise, like a mouse **being** trodden on.   >  — _Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone_ Is ‘being’ a passive auxiliary verb or a progressive one?


Can we use should /would and /could in Future perfect tense

I would have finished my home work by evening . He should have been more careful. Can these be used as future perfect tense ?


Use of couple and meaning

Couple - Can I say I have a couple of kids meaning that I have a girl and a boy, or it is only for number, not gender?


From Etymonline > "Showing the fig" was a vulgar gesture made by sticking the thumb between > two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, itself symbolic of a > vagina (sykon also meant "vulva"). What does "fig" mean in "showing the fig"? I looked up the dictionaries, which say either a kind of fruit or nothing, which doesn't fit the context.


Alternative word for "flame"

What word is used as an alternative to _flame_? The word _flame_ sounds negative and violent, but what I want to convey is like the flame that appears on the candle, which is polite and peaceful. In short: > A flame of love - incorrect > > A ------ of love - please fill in this blank. What are some links where I can search for some equivalent words?


An exception to The past perfect?

> Before he could shoot I knocked the gun out of his hand, and the next > instant **had kicked it into the sea.** > > (my emphasis)   >  _The Lighthouse on Shivering Sand,_ J S Fletcher (1865-1935) Gutenberg > Australia The last part "had kicked it into the sea" This is obviously not prior to the preceding actions. This action happens after the preceding actions. But the past perfect tense is used here? Is it possible? If so, to what effect?


Flog meaning to sell in "Flogging a dead horse"

I saw an article recently where the author used the term "flogging a dead horse" where the term flogging was meant in the UK slang sense of "to sell".   It was accompanied by a drawing of a stuffed horse being sold at market with a sign along the lines of "fast, living horse for sale". (I can't find the article again). Is this usage of the phrase valid? I always thought that the phrase was a slight rewording of "beating a dead horse" where "flog"/"beat" would mean to physically hit.


What is the numb sensation in the mouth caused by some fruits called

There are some fruits* that cause a peculiar (unpleasant) numb sensation in the mouth. An unripe perssimon or a quince are two examples that come to mind. I can't describe the feeling any more eloquently so my bet/hope is that you will know what feeling I am talking about. Is there a word in English that describes the mentioned quality of these fruits and/or the sensation in the mouth? *I don't know that only fruit can cause it, but I can't think of anything else at the moment.


What's a non pejorative way of saying that a woman is bigger?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Euphemisms to replace "fat" In French you could say that a woman is _plus en chair_ , _plus ronde_ , which are not necessarily pejorative. How can I say the same thing in English? > Lindsay Lohan was cuter when she was […].


Should a note be addressed with "Hi all" or "Hi All"?

It is common to begin an email with the greeting "hi all" when the note is addressed to multiple recipients. What, however, is the correct capitalization of "all" in this context? Does it become a proper noun?


What does "would be in" mean in this sentence?

I have been learning Python programming from a book and I came across a sentence which I can't understand! > When you enter this code in the IDLE, it will automatically indent, so be > sure to press the backspace or delete key once you’ve typed each print > statement, so that your if, elif, and else statements will start at the far- > left margin. This is the same position the if statement would be in if the > prompt (>>>) were absent. I just don't get this part: > This is the same position the if statement would be in if the prompt (>>>) > were absent. What does "would be in" mean?


"emmet-butt" - Westcountry dialect

My grandfather's family were from Somerset in the southwest of England and one of his favourite pieces of Westcountry dialect was 'emmet-butt', which apparently meant/means a 'mole hill'. However, I can't seem to find any reference to this term online. The closest thing that I have found is 'emmet- batch', which apparently is an 'ant hill'Dialect of the West of England Is it possible that my grandfather got confused? Or maybe I have made a mistake in my recollection? Any Westcountry dialect specialists out there?


Synonym for "a tuple of" time and place

Is there an elegant one-word english term for datums made of a combination of (meeting) time (span or point) and place? Naturally you could say "time and place of ...", but when you speek of a meeting, you normally want to refer to them both at a time.


What do you call a person who is given money to cash your check, usually using force, when the indebted people refuse to give your money back?

There are times when you have received a check from somebody, but there is no money (or not enough money) in their account to cash it. Then you have to resort to asking someone (criminal or something) to tackle the problem and hopefully get the money (or part of it) one way or another. Is there a word to refer to such a person (criminal)?


> I’m gonna open a can of whoop ass on you if you don’t come with me now! I know that "whoop someone's ass" means to beat someone's ass And "open a can of whoop ass" means to beat someone Is there any relationship between this "a can of whoop ass" and the really whoop ass can? ![a real whoop ass can](http://empowermentexperience.com/wp- content/uploads/2011/06/whoopass.jpeg)


Why do german speakers use word "moreover" more frequently than others?

This is a thing I have noticed among german speaking groups when they write in english. Almost every time I see someone using the word "moreover" I find out that person is german. And on german forums, they all use it _all the time_. So, what is with that word, why is it used so frequently among germans? Or is this just an illusion created by my mind, and the word is actually used as frequently among all groups of people? Moreover, what is the correct usage of that word? Are there cases where you can use only that specific word and not any other words in that place? PS. I'm not native english speaker.


Battery is flat

I was born and raised in some anglophone Asian country where people use the word "flat" to describe a battery when no electrical current can be generated by it. Some would even use the word "flat" to describe their phone when its battery is dead (although their phones are three dimensional). So one day I looked up OED and realised > **flat** > > _British_ (of a battery) having exhausted its charge. but I couldn't find this definition of flat in the New Oxford American Dictionary. So here are my questions: If I go to the States will people understand me when I say "My battery is flat"? How about "my phone is flat"? Is this usage of flat even common in the UK?


Is there a term for spelling errors that occur when heterographs are mixed up?

For example: "I am quitting this job with immediate affect."


A word for someone who is unwanted, a pariah, someone left to fend on their own?

I'm writing a book and I need a word to call a character who is punished for becoming part of a group of people who are socially rejected and unwanted. They are left to fend for themselves on the street.


The difference beetween 'nasty' and 'horrible' or 'terrible'

For the most situations adjectives 'horrible' and 'terrible' are synonyms. But I often come across with word 'nasty' with similar meaning like 'nasty cough', 'nasty smell'. Is there any difference or 'nasty' is the same like 'terrible' (or 'horrible')?


guests young and old vs. young and old guests

I came across the following sentence in an American newspaper. "Guests young and old ended up loving the fun socks they were given at the party." Does it make any difference if they say "young and old guests" instead of "guests young and old?"


Where to place the word shop, in the extract below. A question of grammar, or are both correct?

Which of the two examples works better, and why? Example 1: > Hilary Hummingbird- Smyth’s, “Bonnets and Bows,” was without doubt, the > prettiest shop on the Parade, and what the crooked, half-timbered cottage > lacked in symmetry, it made-up for it with its olde worlde, charming > quaintness. Or, Example 2: > Hilary Hummingbird- Smyth’s shop, “Bonnets and Bows,” was without doubt, the > prettiest on the Parade, and what the crooked, half-timbered cottage lacked > in symmetry, it made-up for it with its olde worlde, charming quaintness.


Is 'f-bomb' interchangeable with 'f-words'?

I found the word, “f-bomb” in the Time magazine’s (March 20) article titled with “Why insults exist–and Why one man wants to end them” introducing philosophy professor, William B. Irvine’s latest book on gains and losses of insults - http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/03/20/qa-why-insults-exist-and-why- one-man-wants-to-end-them/#ixzz2OPuYu26f It starts with a lovely joke and an agile ripost when a baldheaded guy was ridiculed by his friend, “Marc, your head feels as smooth as my wife’s ass,” and follows: > “To come up with a good insult requires a certain degree of intellect, and > if those things start disappearing, then the nature of the insults are going > to change. - -We live in an increasingly narcissistic society where people > really are quick to unleash insults and are easily hurt by insults directed > their way. The really disappointing ones are those that just drop the > **f-bomb**. That’s one level up from a barking dog. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word, f-bomb. Does this mean ‘f-word’? Is it interchangeable with 'f-word,' or it has extra meanings tantamounting to the figurative impact of N-bomb?


Racial connotations of the word "uppity"

I was told that the word _uppity_ has some racial connotations originating from the times of segregation in the South. I never thought of it as such. I kind of like the sound of the word but was wondering if it should be avoided in the presence of black people.


"Take care with" something

Recently I had a deep discussion with an American person born and raised in the USA who said that when I say "take care with something" it makes absolutely no sense. That was said because she had never heard "take care with" (meaning "be careful") , but only "take care of" (which means something completely different from what I want to convey).   * May I use "Take care with the cars" instead of "Be careful with the cars", for instance?   * May I use "Take care!" instead of "Watch out!" ? Or will it make no sense to USA North Americans? What about to British people?


One word for act of anchoring an event/seminar

I feel it's pronounced "camp-our-ing"(not correct) I tried searching a lot but couldn't find the exact word. Could someone please help me


Should a translated quote be delimited by double quotes?

My understanding is that all quotes must be delimited by double quotes, and that a quote must be _exactly_ what was said. This raises the problem of how to handle quotes made in a foreign language. My assumption is that a translated quote is never placed inside double quotes. All translations are interpretations, _not what was actually written / spoken_. So, is this a big deal? **yes**. When translating into one's native language, you can easily spin a translation to make it seem like it has meaning that is not really there. And then, by delimiting it with double quotes, you can make it look like that poisoned quote is _exactly_ what a non- native speaker said. Readers don't stop to think about the possible agenda of the translator. These days, I've started reading the news. And, I am seeing a lot of quotes in doubles quotes assigned to people who I assume cannot speak English at an advanced level. When I read an article in _The Economist_ , _The New York Times_ , etc. and I see a quote, in double quotes, attributed to a foreign leader, was the leader speaking English, or is that double quoted quote really a translation? In my own translation work, might it actually be better to use double quotes to delimit translated quotes because that is the expected standard?


'Spree' as a figure of speech

I came across the following sentence in a book by the English nature writer Robert Macfarlane; > Sunlight fell in bright sprees on the floor (of the wood). What part of speech is 'spree' in this context. It's a noun of some sort, but can anyone help more specifically?


"Let A be a set, [let] B [be] a group"

Math proves often start with "let". For example: > Let A be a set. This is easy. But what about introducing several things in that manner? >   1. Let A be a set, B be a group, and C be a number. >   2. Let A be a set, let B be a group, and let C be a number. >   3. Let A be a set, B be a group, and let C be a number. >   4. Let A be a set, B a group, and C a number. > Which is the most correct one?


When can a redundant "respectively" be dropped?

Over the years I've stuck fast to a possibly self-invented rule that enumerating pairs of things in an out-of-order fashion requires a "respectively": > …where x, y, and z are "ecks", "why", and "zed", respectively. But I begin to tire of this redundant usage where it's clearly obvious (or is it?) that the pairs match up n-to-n in the lists. Is this rule I follow a real rule? Can I drop it in what seem to me, the writer, to be patently obvious cases?


What's the conventional style for writing a conversation taking place in another language?

I'm writing a story and I'm having a bit of trouble with styling conversations that take place in another language. I want the reader to be privy to this conversation, so it has to be communicated in English somehow. I've considered a few styles but I'm at a bit of a block. Here are the styles I've considered:   1. **Direct quote, in original script** : Useless if the reader doesn't know the language, which in my case, they definitely wont.    2. **Direct quote, in transliterated script, translation in footnotes** : I do this for the first couple of sentences to introduce the fact that they're not speaking English, but this really makes the story unreadable for large amounts of dialogue.    3. **Translated sentence, in unquoted italics** : This is what I've been using since it acknowledges that the translation alters what they're saying and introduces inaccuracies/idioms/colloquialisms. However, in long exchanges it doesn't look like speech.    4. **Translated sentence, in quotes** : Flows most naturally and is what the reader is accustomed to, but I'm against quoting specifically because that's not what they're actually saying.   5. **Passive speech** (e.g.:"Foo asked Bar about Baz."): I'm also against this because it's hard to develop a character when it's entirely up the reader how the dialogue unfolds. Is there a preferred style to how this is done?


Is the phrase "Like many another" correct in standard English?

I've come across "like many another" in a GMAT question. Its use is similar to "Like many other" e.g. "Like many another in his class, John is thirteen years old." It has 1M hits in google (compare to 135M for "like many other"). I would like to know if it's a mistake or an uncommon but standard phrase.


"the best you could say" vs "the best you can say"

One want to ask a question in regard to a person's suggestion to contribute: Tina: "You should get laid more than once a year" Tom: "the best you **could** say? should I use **can** or **could**?


Use of article in front of product names

In English, a definite article is not typically used in front of company names, except if you want to refer to some particular building (e.g. _I went to the McDonald's around the corner_ ). However, does the same thing hold for product names? For example, which of the following sentences would work better?   1. Logitech's new S30 is an improved version of the S29.   2. Logitech's new S30 is an improved version of S29. The former sounds much better to me, but that may be because we throw around a lot of definite articles in my native language :)


What does "What are you into?" mean?

I personally don't use this question in spoken language but I usually see it in written language. I also frequently see that when someone asks this question, it elicits in turn the question "What do you mean?".   * Is this an ambiguous question?   * What are the different meanings of this question?   * It can depend on the context but in a casual conversation, does it usually mean "What are you interested in?" or can it mean "What are you up to?" also?   * What about sexual connotations? * * * I'm also not familiar with the usage in the below contexts: From the book "The Pillars of Solomon" _By Jon Land_ : > Man: "What the hell is going on?" he demanded...   >  Woman: “I don't know what you're talking about.”   >  Man: “If you don't, you're a bigger fool than I am. **_What are you into > here?_** ”   >  Woman: “This is about the man I asked you to identify" she realized.   >  Man: His eyes blazed at her from driver' seat. "You're damn right it is, > and somebody's going to catch hell for it!"   >  Man: "What are you — "   >  Woman: "You sent me to check out one of our own men!" * * * From the book "The Twelfth Insight: The Hour of Decision" _By James Redfield_ : > I stopped and he stopped, and then I saw something familiar in his posture. > It was Wil! When I got to him, he pulled me down and looked back at the Pub.   >  “ **What are you into here** , my friend?” he asked in his customary half- > humorous tone. “I don't know,” I blurted. “I saw several people watching me > inside. What are you doing here, Wil?" * * * From the book "Reflection: Behind the Rain" _By Robert Clayton Buick_ : > Waehauf returned to his station and called out his cocktail order in > flawless Spanish. As he waited for his drink order, he turned and continued > to stare me down. I continued to stare back at him, and with willing > confrontation, I calmly asked him, “What's your problem Fat Guy, and **what > are you into here**?” His face turned into a bright red flashing light and I > could hear and his feel breath increase in rapid succession. Does it mean "What are you doing here?" or "What are you pulling here?" in these contexts? Did this question gain a new meaning in these contexts?


Usage of "such that"

I am having issues with the wording of the following sentence: > Overall our research shows an overreaching commonality, such that, social > media has a significant impact on our physical well being and emotions. I am unclear if the words "such that" are proper connectors between the two thoughts (should it be "in that"?). I have tried separating the two parts, but then the first sentence before the connector just sounds "empty". Any suggestions?


What is a good replacement for "ununderstandable"?

I want to tell a colleague of mine I'm doing something that will prevent her from getting "ununderstandable" errors. I have: > ...so that you will not get unnecessary, [ununderstandable] errors. After googling "ununderstandable", I see that there is no such word, but I'm still looking for something that sounds better.


He still thinks that what he sees in the TV and movies is real

Is the verb agreement correct in this sentence ( _... is real_ and not _...are real_ )?


Use of "manifest" as an active verb

Recently I completed an English creative writing exam in which I used the phrase > files and papers manifest, as if by some unholy magic at the tray on his > desk. My teacher stated that my use of _manifest_ was incorrect. She said that it should be used as "manifest themselves". Howeverm I still believe that _manifest_ can be used here as an active verb. Can anyone help explain this to me?


Combining numbers and text

In the following sentence I am using a combination of numbers and words in a sentence: > The greatest loss in accuracy for the method is between a rate of one and > two hours where, on average, the accuracy of the method dropped from 2.5 to > 7 days. Is this correct? I have to use _2.5_ in the last part of the sentence as this wouldn't really work with _two and a half_. So, my question is: is the _one_ and _two_ OK as it is, or should it be written as _1_ and _2_?


Is it correct to ask "can talk?"

Whenever I hear my boss asking a colleague through the phone whether he or she is available to talk, his question is " Can talk?" I feel it's quite annoying and something not correct, but please correct me if I'm wrong, and advise what the correct way to ask whether someone is available to talk is? Thanks, guys.


What does "dot" mean in this sentence?

My first language is Spanish and I can't understand this question about a book (The butterfly lion): > What dot did he have at school? The story is about a kid who have some troubles in school with his professor and colleagues, that's all what I can say after reading two pages. Does the term 'dot' make sense here? Or is a mistake? I'm sure this is not referring to the school marks.


What is the origin of "odds and ends"?

There's already a question (and answer) for "bits and bobs", which I believe is a Britishism, but what is the origin of "odds and ends"? "Odds" I have some reckoning for (as in, "odd items", meaning leftover). Why is this specie of miscellanea paired with "ends"? Additionally, is "odds and ends" an Americanism?


Is "I am going for walking" right?

Every evening my friend appears at my door dressed up like Carl Lewis and announces "I am going for walking". I was wondering - is that expression right?


a hard close look

Are "close" and "hard" the same below? > He took a **_close_** look at the cat.   >  He took a **_hard_** look at the cat. Or are they subtly different? For this particular usage, web dictionaries appear to define "close" with "hard" and "hard" with "close".


Meaning - 'the sword and the purse'

> Because it lacks the legitimacy and accountability that come with election > and the power that derives from **the sword and the purse** , the Supreme > Court’s authority rests on public acceptance of its status as a nonpartisan > arbiter of the law. I hazard that "purse" refers to monetary influence and that 'sword' = might and main? But why 'sword'? Source: P301, America on Trial, Alan Dershowitz


Please explain the pronunciation of "indict."

The word _indict_ is not pronounced as it is spelled (big shocker in English, right?). It looks like it should be pronounced _in-dikt_ , but it is pronounced _in- dite_. Why is it pronounced like this? Are there other words that combine _ict_ to make an _ite_ sound? I can think of others that are, instead, pronounced as they are spelled (eg. _edict_ ).


What is the correct way to respond to sender with full name

I recently received an email I need to respond to, but I am unsure of the correct way to address the sender. > Dear Mr Sayse, > > [ . . . _email body_ . . . ] > > Regards > > Joe Bloggs Is it correct to respond with the sender’s first name, or should it be in the same format as it was in the original email? That is, which of these should it be:   1. Dear Mr Bloggs    2. Dear Joe This is a **formal** email to be sent to someone I will be paying quite a substantial sum of money. I suspect it should be the former but would like to make sure..


"vest" as a phrasal verb

Rather than memorising the definitions, how could I intuit and rationalise them:   1. **vest in somebody/something = to belong to somebody/something legally**.    2. **vest something in somebody** = to give somebody the legal right or power to do something For example, in 2, the order of **something** and **somebody** is reversed; **something** precedes **somebody** in the phrase but vice versa in the definition? An example of 1: > The Independent Counsel Law—which **vests** the selection **in** a panel of > judges—having lapsed when the Lewinsky matter surfaced, Attorney General > Janet Reno at first decided that she would have to appoint a special > prosecutor to investigate President Clinton. Source: P294, America on Trial, Alan Dershowitz


what's the meaning of "to place on the edge of"? Important for understanding displacements and borderlands associated with global transformation is growing insecurity as the “free market” devalues labor by challenging “local” wage rates and relations and nationally constituted environmental and labor laws in ways that place economically vulnerable populations on the edge of legal protections and secure rights is it meaning that people has no rights?


How to correctly express a successful job (where others failed) in a cover letter

I was working on a project where the two other person before me failed to get the job done as expected. Basically that was the reason they hired me, and fortunately I did it better than expected. How can I express it in a proper English in the cover letter when I'm applying for a new job? Just in the case that it might help, the first person lost the job (employer didn't renew the contract) however he's still promoting himself using the project name and saying he were working on the project. The second person got fired, however he is also doing the same like the other one. I think, I have to mention it somehow that it was my effort to make the project successful, because that could potentially land me the job, but I really don't know how should I express that that doesn't sound negative, etc. P.S. I know that I have to discuss it while they are interviewing me, however I prefer to increase the chance by putting that in the cover letter first.


"I and Jane" or "me and Jane"?

So I know that it's correct to say: > Jane and I are going shopping I shouldn't use _me_ here because (as stated on Oxford Dictionaries Online) _I_ is what I would use in the singular form of the sentence: > I am going shopping But does this same rule apply if I want to (impolitely) put myself first in the sentence? Should I be saying: > I and Jane are going shopping Because this just sounds incredibly wrong. It _sounds_ much more accurate to use _me_ here.


Meaning of "misuse of the word 'only'" in context

I am reading the book _Learning Python_ by Mark Lutz, in which there's a passage I don't understand: > I also want to thank my original editor at O’Reilly, the late Frank > Willison. This book was largely Frank’s idea. He had a profound impact on > both my career and the success of Python when it was new, **a legacy that I > remember each time I’m tempted to misuse the word “only.”** Emphasis added. What does he mean?


Classification - There is/are

What is the official 'name' for the 'there is' / 'there are' construction? Is it a verb phrase or a lexical verb? I'd say possibly a verb but it must be the most difficult term to Google.


What does 'disk box' mean here?

![What is a 'disk box' here?](http://i.stack.imgur.com/QUWu0.jpg) The expression is mentioned under the number 1 of the list at the bottom of the picture. The search over the internet hasn't given me a more or less clear idea of what it could be for it to match the context. Please, help.


Pleasure of watching someone work

Is there a word that the describes the pleasure of watching someone else work? For example, my mother enjoys watching me hard at work because generally she is the one working hard.


Why does impugn = oppugn?

Their definitions look the same—impugn vs. oppugn—yet they have different prefixes. Why don't they have opposite meanings? Would someone please explain this discrepancy?


Intuition - short shrift

Would someone please explain the intuition or connection behind the definition of shrift and short shrift? How does the former imply the latter?


Single word for "unqualified truth"

Suppose someone (let's call him Alex) is bad at playing soccer, but he does not want to hear that. Now if someone says to Alex in his face, "you are a really bad soccer player", what would be an apt word for that? In my mother tongue it is called "unqualified truth" for Alex. Is there an equivalent English term?


Difference between "Call into" and "Call"

I was reading a text in which the author used "call into" when explaining Templated Razor Delegates within the following sentence: > Note that the delegate that’s generated is a Func. Also, the @item parameter > is a special magic parameter. These delegates are only allowed one such > parameter, but the template can **call into** that parameter as many times > as it needs. I am wondering what "call into" means here and what would the difference be if he used "call" instead. I've done a small research and I found this in which it says "call into" means "to call to a person or a pet to come into something or some place." and well, it doesn't make much sense in this context I believe. Note the complete text can be found here at: http://haacked.com/archive/2011/02/27/templated-razor-delegates.aspx


Is there an expression for a principle that is only a first approximation?

Is there an expression for a principle that is a close approximation to the truth, but quite possibly has exceptions? For example, "Do not kill". This is a good first approximation, but almost everyone would make allow except for self defense. I don't like the word "general", because it is often used in the sense of meaning universal, such as "The general theory of relativity". I don't like "first approximation" or "heuristic", as they could be unfamiliar to people without a scientific background. UPDATE: Another word I though of is "preliminary"


What are meant by “August pick, October pick, and January pick” in the Presidential running mate selection?

There were words, ‘ _August pick, October pick, and January pick_ ” in the article titled “Biden’s Brief - Obama picked his running-mate to help him govern,” appearing in New Yorker magazine October 20 issue. The article deals with the character and political records of Joe Biden who made a name in the recent vice presidential debate by making for President Obama’s lethargic representation in the preceding presidential debate. The words appear in the following statement: > In 2004, when John Kerry was conducting his search for a running mate, he > divided his options into three groups, based on the electoral calendar. > “Kerry said you can pick either _a Mr. August, a Mr. October, or a Mr. > January,”_ David Wade, who was Kerry’s press secretary at the time and is > now serving in that role for Biden, told me. “In a perfect world, you have > someone who is all three.” > > By Kerry’s logic, Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor, whom John McCain named > as his running mate, was an _August pick_. An _October pick_ tends to be > political—someone with strong, even strident campaign skills, Kerry’s > choice—John Edwards—may have fallen into that category.” As I’m totally ignorant of political affairs in U.S., I have no idea about what August, October, and January pick mean, though I understand _Mr. August, Mr. October, and Mr. January_ mean respectively those who are picked up as the presidential running-mate according to the political calendar. Are they political jargons, or just an application of greengrocery terms? What do they mean?


Aptitude to learn proprietary systems/applications quickly and easily

Updating my resume and I am trying to make this "resume highlight" make sense. I originally had it written as "Able to learn proprietary systems/applications quickly and easily" but I was looking for a better word first or rewritten sentence. I was researching this word/sentence using "Google search" and that is where I found you. The Aptitude word was found on this website but I don't think it makes sense, but I need a word that looks good on a resume.


Should "culture"  in "Somali culture" be capitalized?

Should I capitalize _culture_ in the following sentence? > I am proud to share Somali culture with the community. I know that proper nouns should be capitalized, but _culture_ seems to be a generic noun with a proper modifier. Hence, I am unsure of what to do.


Synonym of "s--t eating grin" suitable for polite company

Can anyone think of a synonym for "shit eating grin" that would be usable in polite company? This definition from the OED captures the meaning I'm looking for perfectly: > A broad grin expressing uncontrollable delight or (self-)satisfaction, esp. > characterized by awareness of having got away with something normally > considered outrageous or improper. As pointed out in this Metafiler comment, an important nuance is that this sort of grin is uncontrollable.


How to group the words in following sentence

Shall I group the words as "the cause of [mankind before the sages]" or "[the cause of mankind] before the sages" in the following sentence? Why? > I shall therefore maintain with confidence the cause of mankind before the > sages, who invite me to stand up in its defence; This sentence comes from A Discourse Upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality among Mankind


Use of word "Greetings" instead of morning and evening

I have a query regarding the use of word only "Greetings" instead of good morning or good evening in the email. As we will be working in different time zones and we will not be sure when the recipient will check the email. So what you suggest whether using the word only "greetings" is better instead of using Good morning or Good evening?


Ordinal 3: 3rd vs 3d

What is the most correct form for _3_ in ordinal form: _3rd_ or _3d_? I know both are valid. But I heard that _3rd_ is something like spoken form and it's grammatically correct to use _3d_.


Is it correct to write "..., so..."? Is it formal to use "so" in writing?

Is it correct to write "..., so..."? e.g.               You are handsome, so you are appreciated.      Is it correct to use "so" in formal writing? If not, what are the alternatives?


Pronunciation of verbiage and foliage

To my ear, the former should be pronounced "vurb-ij" and the latter "fohl-ee- ij" (the endings may vary among "aj", "edge" and "ij"). I occasionally hear people say "vurb-ee-ij" and often hear "fohl-ij". Are they interchangeable? Regional?


Third alternative to "between" and "among?"

I want to express possibilities on a scale while providing 3 common examples.               blue-----------------------orange---red      If I say "Houses in this neighbourhood vary among blue, orange and red," this means it can be any of the three, but not values in between. If I say "Houses in this neighbourhood vary between blue, orange and red," this is incorrect because _between_ should be used only for two items. Is there another word that can be used to represent variance across the entire scale while allowing me to provide three concrete examples, or must I say something like "Houses in this neigbourhood vary in colour; most are blue, orange or red?" * * * ### update Of course, now that I've asked the question, this option occurs to me: "Houses in this neighbourhood vary from blue to orange to red." Is that clear?


"Subpage" vs "sub page" vs is it even a word?

I would go with subpage, but the corrector on stackexchange thinks it's a mistake and shows a red underline. You can try it yourself. Click on "Ask Question" link and type subpage in a sentence to the body textarea. Why is that? I don't understand. Is subpage a word? Because according to this: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subpage or http://dictionary.cambridge.org/spellcheck/british/?q=subpage or http://thesaurus.com/browse/subpage?s=t It's not even a word! I don't understand it at all. I and millions are using this term everyday.   Could somebody, please, explain that to me? Btw. Microsoft is using "subpage" word for Office products instead of "sub page": http://office.microsoft.com/en-in/onenote-help/about-pages-and- subpages-HP001112525.aspx


An adjective to describe a substance consisting of smaller-size grains

What adjective you would use to describe a substance consisting of grains of smaller size compared to those of another substance? For example, "Milk powder is **___ ____**_er than sugar". Addition: And if it's possible, please, come up with an antonym of that word.


Infinitive of purpose or "for verb-ing"

> The chambers inside the pyramid were closed **(to/for)** visitors **(to > clean and repair/for cleaning and repairing)**. Which is the correct alternative in both the brackets, and why? Please explain in detail the correct usage and grammar. The essence required is: > The chambers were closed so that no more visitors would come inside them and > because the chambers needed maintenance.


Children were sitting on their parents' lap or laps? Can _lap_ be used in plural form at all?


Looking for the inverse -- not the opposite -- of "zero-sum game"

If I have 5 dollars, and I exchange them for your banana, that's a zero-sum game. If I have a candle, and I use it to light yours, that is not a zero-sum game. It could be said to be the opposite of a zero-sum game, and I'd like to know if there's a more apt description. Now, what if there's some really infectious disease? Eradicating it in one case curbs the macro-epidemic, and spreading it to another is likely to cause an exponential rise. This seems to me the inverse of a zero-sum game. How is it this concept best generically referred to?


Which is the correct form: "Parameter set", "parameters set", or "parameters' set"?

I have sets of parameters like `(1, 2, 3, 5)` or `(3.14, 2.73, 1.44, 1.73)`. They are named, but I do not think it makes any difference. Which form is the correct one to call one general case or example of such things?   1. Parameter set.   2. Parameters set.   3. Parameters' set. I would opt for choice 2. but I am not really sure. That would impose the plural so maybe choice 1 is correct. Choice 3 sounds really off to me in English, but that would be the direct calque from my native language.