I am looking for triplets of synonyms?

I am looking for triplets of synonyms or words which were close in meaning in the past, but changed their meaning. So, I want a pivot word, such that one word in the triplet used to mean that pivot word, and another word in the triplet _now_ is now close to the pivot word. An example of such a triplet would be car, machine, and computer. Car and machine used to be similar in meaning, but now machine is often used to refer to a computer.


Does America have its Versions of U- and Non-U English?

In Britain and most of Europe, some form of U-speak exists: old-money language has certain features that distinguish it from other language. In Dutch, it doesn't really have a name, but it is still very much alive. I believe the same applies to England. The phenomenon is just very hard to research; that is why not much information about it is available on the internet, except about England, partly because of several famous studies on the subject (see Wikipedia). But even there the few reliable sources are several decades old, while U-speak changes continuously. Do Americans have their version of U-English? How does it differ from British U—or is it very much alike? What are some examples? It might be that the term is just not applicable to American society for some reason (though I doubt that). It would be best to have some references, like scientific articles or interviews or corpus finds, if such are available. **Edited:** Emily Post wrote extensively about what resembles European U-speak to a high degree, in many cases even literally: > People who say “I come,” and “I seen it,” and “I done it” prove by their > lack of grammar that they had little education in their youth. Unfortunate, > very; but they may at the same time be brilliant, exceptional characters, > loved by everyone who knows them, because they are what they seem and > nothing else. But the caricature “lady” with the comic picture “society > manner” who says “Pardon me” and talks of “retiring,” and “residing,” and > “desiring,” and “being acquainted with,” and “attending” this and that with > “her escort,” and curls her little finger over the handle of her teacup, and > prates of “culture,” does not belong to Best Society, and never will! — > Emily Post, _Etiquette_ (1922). Since America has old money too, and a form of U-English existed there in the 1920s that much resembled British U-speak, it would seem highly unlikely for America not to have its modern variant(s). The problem is that it can only be observed by those who know what to look for, because it is an otherwise very inconspicuous phenomenon.


What is a "thread of a bow" called?

Is there an English word (a noun) that is an equivalent to the "thread/string of a bow" from a bow and arrow?


"Would something like to do something"?

We often ask this question: “Would **you** like to do something?”. However, is it grammatically correct to say, “Would _something_ like to do something?” For example: > _Would IBM like to acquire Apple?_


"Non-significant" or "not significant" variable?

I am writing a statistics text and I am not sure if I should either use "non- significant variables" or "not significant variables" (or anything else).


How does one pronounce the '@' symbol?

How can I pronounce `@` symbol: At / At the rate?   Can I use it in a sentence? Please explain with an example.


what do you call this symbol @

do you call it the 'at' symbol or at the rate of or something else? I know the dictionary answer, more interested in the colloquial. Has a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_sign but it just lists many. Context: a requirements document where I'm listing allowed characters for a user name.


Does the "@" symbol have a name?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How to pronounce @ symbol? In Spanish, _@_ is called _arroba_. I saw this question, and it says it's called "commercial at" according to Wikipedia. A lot of languages have a single word name for this. Is there any single word name for _@_?


What's a suffix that means to find something cute or adorable?

"Xenophobia" is being fearful of outsiders, and "xenophilia" would be to love outsiders. To fit in with these words, I'm looking for a suffix to attach to the "xeno~" prefix to in order to create a word that means to find a person to be adorable or cute because they are foreign. "Xenophilia" does not fit, because the implication of the "~philia" suffix is too accepting and desirous of the target. To say someone was a xenophile is more or less to say they would love it all the more if they were surrounded by foreigners all the time. I'm very much looking for something where the object of adoration is simultaneously considered diminutive and not necessarily respected. Like how people might consider a foreign person to be cute because of their accent and behaviour, but still have a sense that they are alien to the host culture. People may laugh along with a foreigner's antics without malice, but still regard that foreigner as necessarily separate. Does such a suffix that means "cute" in the sense of "diminutive" exist?


"to go up the field a ways"

I found this phrase in some Chemical Brothers lyrics: > I thought we were going   >  To go up the **field a ways**   >  To join all the other living souls   >  But you never came English's not my first language and I can't wrap my head around this. First, it looked grammatically incorrect to me, but a quick google landed me on a similar question here, discussing correctness of "a ways to go", but that was too unrelated. I guess my question is: what does that line mean? I mean, without digging into interpretations of the song itself - I'm aware this is not a place to discuss meanings of lyrics. :) Or in other words, what would be a rephrased, grammatically correct alternative form, with the same semantics? Thank you!


How to phrase "analysis into a company"

I want to say : > Analysis **conducted at a** insurance company showed that...   >  or   >  Analysis **into a** insurance company showed that... What is the best way to phrase this?


The sentence, at the beginning of a new paragraph, goes: "A collaboration with Dr. xxx and his colleagues would yyy". Is it "A collaboration with" or "Collaboration with"? Microsoft Word is unhappy with the article.


What is another word for an "insult" when you want to joke or play?

I known that "insult" _(v)_ is the way to offend someone. But, when I only want to make some joke or play with my friends by saying some words that seem to insult them (I don't definitely want to insult them). For example: A: That girl is very beautiful!! B: That means all women in your family are ugly, right? You have to think about your new wife! Ha Ha (B is trying to ..?.. A that A's wife is ugly.) Which the word in verb is suitable to use?


Word for "person living with in-laws" or "feeling awkward and inadequate"

Is there a word for a _Person living with in-law parents_ , by which I mean, a man or a woman who got married and moved to his or her parents in laws' house, in English ? There is a word for it in my native tongue, which is specifically used to express a constant feeling of discomfort caused by social inadequacy. I would like to know a suitable synonym for the word itself or the expression. (For search indexing purposes, the word is: içgüveyisi)


It all started in Australia where the first real black swan was spotted

Definition of 'Black Swan' An event or occurrence that deviates beyond what is normally expected of a situation and that would be extremely difficult to predict. This term was popularized by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a finance professor and former Wall Street trader. Since Lehman Brothers defaulted in 2008, International Finance became the place where a series of unpredictable events started to materialise. Black swans are usually used to denote very rare financial events. But is this saying used also in other spheres of social life or scientific fields?


Is the U.S.A. America?

Why North Americans think America it is only the U.S. and the rest of the continent it is not?


via or by - which one is correct to denote by means of

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "Communication [over, by, through, via, with] email" Which one is more formal - via or by? Send via email or Send by email Also, same in case of... Notify via email or Notify by email or Notify through email


Why is there a fly in my pants?

**There's a fly in my pants!** Why is the zipper on pants called a fly? I searched etymonline for "fly" and found nothing related to pants. Is this a particularly American usage, or more global?


Are these two uses of "think of" in this sentence appropriate?

When you think of the Middle Ages, you think of first castles and knights in armor. (self-made) There are two “think of”, are they all comprehensible? The first is in the first stage of thinking, whereas the second belongs to the second. Can other words represent the two layers of meaning of “think of” more effectively and clearly?


The use of "e.g." at the end of a sentence

I was reviewing an English text as an exercise, English not being my mother tongue, and I came to this sentence: > (...) with the two other articles that conclude several things about > customers e.g.. It is (...) Note the double periods at the end of the sentence. Now I've got a gut feeling that this isn't right, but I can't find any rules about it. Is it even 'allowed' to put 'e.g.' at the end of a sentence, where something like 'etc.' would suffice?


Is this "to be" a loose usage link verb?

> Listening to your speech itself is enough to be a pleasure.   >  Listening to your speech itself is enough to bring me a pleasure. (self- > made) I wonder which one is better. The first “to be” might be vague. Also we should avoid the use of “be”, if it is not necessary, right?


Can I say "sufficient enough" here?

> Your money is not **sufficient enough** to buy my heart. (self-made) Is it redundant or simply incorrect to use _sufficient_ and _enough_ together? Or is it acceptable?


Shall I say "need not" or "need none"?

> I need sleep, whereas you seem to need not. (self-made) When I first say “need”, I use it not as a modal verb, but an ordinary verb. So in the second part of the sentence the “need” is still an ordinary verb. It seems only modal verbs or auxiliary verbs can use the structure like “verb+ not” instead of “do/does not + verb? Therefore I cannot say “you seem to need not” here, and better say “you seem to need none”?


A Vocabulary word meaning: " to completely embody the meaning of a term "

Example:   ( a really REALLY bad situation ) > This situation __ FUBAR Some synonyms I can come up with: > embodies   >  exemplifies


Pronunciation of "Wiki"

We were discussing the merits of buying a team collaboration tool (Confluence) today, when we were completely sidetracked by the pronouncation "wiki". Most of the folks on the team say it's pronounced **"whicky"** ; that's what Wikipedia calls it, Wikileaks, etc. However, a few stalwarts insist that, since its etymology is Hawiian, it's actually pronounced **"weekee"**. They say the "big brands" like Wikipedia who insist upon calling themselves "whicky-pee-dee-ah" don't change the fact that "wiki" is pronounced "weekee". Anyway, given that this is a neologism, what's the proper pronuncation? Is it an accent/regional preference?


Which one is better, "if not consider" or "not considering"?

> You speak good English, if not considering your poor usage of propositions. > > You speak good English, if (we do) not consider your poor usage of > propositions. (self-made) I know that “when” can be followed directly by a present participle, but in this case, I do not know whether it is correct. Please tell me which one is preferable.


"I am going to school" = "I am gonna school"?

If "gonna" is a short form for "going to" Can 'I am going to school' be said as 'I am gonna school'? For clarification here, "school" is a noun.


Use of "very" to modify verb participles used as adjectives - correct or not and why?

I have seen several obituaries with this kind of wording: "He is very missed." It looks and sounds wrong, perhaps because "very" can modify adjectives ("He is very tall") and adverbs ("He walks very quickly") but it isn't used to modify verbs - one wouldn't say "I very miss him," so that "very" modifying a past participle sounds wrong, even though the past participle is acting as an adjective. One might, however, say "I very much miss him", where "very" modifies the adjective "much", and "He is very much missed" sounds more correct. But I haven't been able to find any reference which addresses this point, and automated grammar checkers say it's ok, which I find hard to believe. Is there a reference anywhere that could help?


Is the response "I am fine, thank you. And you?" outdated?

This is what I learned from the middle school English class 10 years ago as the correct way to respond to "How are you?". The textbook was co-published by Longman, I suppose it was British English. When I go abroad I find few people say this. Is this saying old fashioned or outdated?


"Unconscious" versus "nonconscious" in everyday dialogue

These words have subtle distinctions in related research fields, but even there are often considered interchangeable or just an matter of tradition/trendiness in a particular field. Since I am a bit entrenched in that environment, I don't have perspective on what is common outside of academia. In normal, everyday conversation, which is more common? If they are both used, do they have commonly understood distinctions in meaning?


Are "power" and "clout" perfect synonyms?

Is there a slight difference between _power_ and _clout_ in the context of a political influence? For instance: > Asking China to help the euro world would give a non-eurozone nation the > _power_ to decide the fate of the currency Is _clout_ a _perfect synonym_ of _power_ in that context? Is the meaning the same? Is the level of language the same?


Can I have more than one beloved?

Certainly, I can have many relationships that I describe as beloved (adj). "These are my beloved children." But, according to common understanding, can I have more than one beloved (noun)? If I refer to someone as "My beloved," does that imply to to listener that I am speaking of my romantic one-and-only? (Note: I am not asking a philosophical question about monogamy. Only about common interpretation of a word ;) ADDITION (based on comments/answers): Can anyone find a reputable example of the plural "beloveds" used in a context that implies more than one beloved per person?


What is the word for the state of ignoring something? For instance, if I am ignoring you, am I in a state of `ignorance`? Is there a better word with a less negative connotation?


What is this sentence pattern called? Is there are any jargon to describe this?

> "Not only ... But also" What is this sentence pattern called in English grammar? How can I find these patterns?


A short, colloquial way of saying "make up your own mind"

I'm trying to find a short (1-2 word) way of saying "make up your own mind" (as opposed to having other people unduly influence you). I want a positive connotation, so "figure it out" doesn't work. More specifically, a really short way of saying: "examine the evidence about this contentious subject and form your own opinion". "You Decide" is along the right lines. Any ideas?


What is the difference of “Standing rules” of an organization and “Rules” of an organization?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What are the differences among ‘Rules’, ‘Standing Rules’, and ‘Bylaw’? I recently received the articles of an organization (community club) which is captioned as “ _Standing Rules_ ” of the organization. I don’t know why the word “Standing” is necessary before “Rules”? Though the free encyclopedia defines “standing rules” as; “Standing rules are regulations or rules that deal with the procedures and operations of a business or guidance of an institution or administration of a society and are adopted from time to time similarly as any other act of the deliberative assembly. Generally, the standing rules can be amended only by a majority vote." I don’t understand why the word “Standing” is necessary before “Rules” when the organization and its rules were in place for a decade without any change. Can you explain me the difference of “Standing rules” of an organization from “Rules” of an organization, and “The Articles” of an organization?


What's the word for "overly proud of your education"?

A friend and I are trying to remember a word to describe someone who is overly proud of their education. An example usage would be: > Does that email make me appear too **___ __**? Where the **___ __** is the word I am looking for, in case that is not obvious. He thought the word was "erudite" but when that appears to just mean educated, it doesn't convey the sense of condescending pride we are looking for. What is the word I we are looking for?


'Written skills' or 'Writing skills'?

On a CV I want to write `Excellent writing skills`. But for some reason `written` seems familiar. Which is correct?


Polite way to suggest talking about something

Is there a polite way to tell somebody that you want to tell him something, but only if he allows you to? For example, I'm talking to my friend and I want to tell him something about cats, but I'm not sure if he wants to listen to me. Is it possible to use something like this:   \- If you don't mind, I will tell you about...   or maybe   \- I could've told you about cats, if you wanted to...   I understand that my explanation's a bit wierd, sorry.


Is “womb owners” an accepted word?

I was a bit surprised to find a word, “womb owners” in the article titled, “Women can be funny, admits Jerry Lewis (sort of)” in Time Magazine’s online edition (April 15, 2014). The article begins with the following lead copy: > “Back in 1998, Jerry Lewis said he didn't like women comedians. Recently, > the aging laughter legend clarified that Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett were > alright, but he's still very uncomfortable when **womb owners** take the > mic” > > http://time.com/61560/funny-women-jerry-lewis/ The meaning of the word is obvious, but none of CED, OED, and Merriam-Webster carries this word. Is it accepted as being used straight in the leading English language publication like TIME? Did the writer use this word just for embellishment or fun? First of all, isn’t it a politically incorrect word?


When did the term 'microcomputer' become obsolete?

I'm old enough to remember that (around 1980) the first personal computers were referred to, triumphantly, as 'microcomputers'. When did this usage fade out?


Pronunciation of plural form of words ending in "-th"

I have realized that to pronounce the plural form of words ending in **_-th_** , we have to drop the letter "h". e.g. **Months** is pronounced /mʌnts/. But I have never seen this point mentioned in any context. I just want to make sure that this rule is correct and can be always applied.


Using 'to swallow' to indicate having an emotionally hard time accepting a truth

Can 'to swallow' be used to indicate that you have a hard time accepting a truth? Neither a hard time in the sense of being able to understand it nor to accept that it is true, but rather in the emotional sense. Example: > I will show this to you now, but you better sit down. It's pretty sad and > will be **hard to swallow**. I know that I'm mostly transforming this from German, where the direct translation is used in this meaning. However, I am under the impression that I have heard it used in English as well. I can not find it on Merriam-Webster or Macmillan, though. Did I just make it up? If this usage is not valid, can you suggest alternative verbs for dealing with the emotional side of something sad/scary/moving?


Can "few" be used as a substantive?

I feel doubts regarding the usage of _few_ as a substantive. The sentence is: > "Both kinds of literature are the product of the academic few." Is this correct? Now I want to place the adjective _fluent_ to qualify _the academic few_ : > "Both kinds of literature are the product of the fluent academic few." It sounds odd, but that's perhaps because of the f's? What do you suggest?


Is this comma usage correct?

When we hear about eating disorders, such as binge eating, anorexia, or bulimia, I usually don't know about it.


Is ‘arguments for and against’ the same as ‘benefits and drawbacks’?

When there is a question asking for arguments for something, is that the same as asking for the benefits of the point I am taking about?


Why was inversion used in the following context?

> There are many such problems for which a greedy approach provides an optimal > solution much more quickly than **would** a dynamic-programming approach. This is from Page 321, _Introduction to Algorithms 2nd Edition_. I know omitting "would" could convey somewhat different meaning. I thought even with "would" I would place it in the sentence as "...quickly than a dynamic-programming approach would". Does the inversion means an emphasis here?


Use of the subjunctive for verbs other than "to be"?

It is to my understanding that it is grammatically correct to say: > If I **be** [something], then [something]. because 'were' is the subjunctive of 'to be'. However, is it correct to use the subjunctive of other words in a similar way? For example: > If he **jump** , the trampoline will shake. or > I request that he **file** these papers. If it is correct, is it incorrect to use the simple present tense in those contexts?


Meaning of Jo's dialog in Chapter 16 of Bleak House

A portion of chapter 16 of Dickens' _Bleak House_ is shown below. > Jo attends closely while the words are being spoken; [...] and nods his > ragged head. > > "I'm fly," says Jo. "But fen larks, you know. Stow hooking it!" > > "What does the horrible creature mean?" exclaims the servant, recoiling from > him. > > "Stow cutting away, you know!" says Jo. I don't understand either the gist or the details of what Jo says in the above. I've assumed _I'm fly_ means he understands or is agreeable or something; that _fen_ is a noun or verb and _larks_ is vice versa; that _stow_ means stop or quit; that _hooking it_ and _cutting away_ mean getting away. However, I don't understand what he is trying to communicate. Any ideas on Jo's meaning? (I presume it's all explained in annotated versions of the book, but I don't have an annotated copy; and the numerous occurrences of this passage on the web that I've looked at are given as examples of difficult-to- understand parts of Dickens, without explanation of the meaning.)


Answering: "What do you say?"

If used as a salutation, what does "What do you say?" mean? Is it a substitution for "how are you doing"? Perhaps some other question regarding my current state of mind? I really have no idea. Whenever posed with this question I respond "hello", but that doesn't seem correct either. I've tried searching for the origins of this question, and I believe it comes from "what say you", which means to ask what decision/recommendation have you arrived at. If I were to take that meaning, I would assume to respond with some sort of remark on the current location or other obvious circumstance, such as "this is a nice location". But often times there doesn't appear to be an obvious enough circumstance, and certainly no other implied question or decision/study previously made. How do I navigate out of that question unscathed?


Meaning of "if anything"

I watch the TV series Glee to learn English and came across the phrase _if anything_. It's in a sentence Rachel said. > **If anything** , she is gonna kill all of our chances to achieve that > elusive goal (she means nationals by that). The context is that Mr. Shue the teacher wants to recruit Sugar Mota who sings awfully. At first, I thought that meant _if anything happens_ but it didn't feel right. Then I thought of the phrase _if nothing else_ , which means Mota might do a lot of damage to the Glee Choir and killing all the chances was only one of them and probably the most important one. But it didn't feel right, either. What does the phrase mean here?


What does one call the circular head of a side street in the shape of a polyp?

I am repeating my question posed in another thread because I can now offer greater clarity in the form of a picture cropped from a Google Earth shot of the actual street location. A second reason for repeating the exercise is that Google Earth revealed that the paved area I need to name actually has the shape of a polyp - or the circular head of a polyp. A third reason is that despite the highly appreciated suggestions, I don't yet have a workable name for the street area in the shape of a polyp head (when photographed from the air, or from a satellite). I would like to write the following sentence: "I walked across the [ ... descriptive and acceptable name for the polyp head ...] to my neighbour across street." Please help! Here is a picture of what I'm talking about Looking forward very much to possible replies.


Let English English you

Today I saw an advertisement saying, "Let English English you." Near the second _English_ , there were _own_. What does this phrase really mean? Is it just a slogan? (This is an advertisement of an English school.)


Rule vs. Principle - What are each of them [not]?

I'm quite confused about these two concepts and I often interchange them. I was recently told that it's only a principle if it universally holds true or right, and that nobody gets to make up principles - they just happen. I think both are guides that are often deciding factors of whether we end up doing/saying something or not. A rule just comes across as a stated "do not" or "you have to", and a principle sounds more "noble" like a quote. So I say "I don't smile in pictures because I don't want to fake to be happy." Rule or principle or otherwise? For now, I call it a principle. Someone told me it's a rule. Confused.


Usage of 'would' in the future tense?

Is there anything wrong in this sentence? > "I would go to work tomorrow if the buses were plying." I know it is not wrong to use 'would' in _hypothetical sentences_ in the past and present tense: > "I would finish the project by today if I were you."   >  "I would have made the necessary changes had I been the leader." But what about the future tense, as shown in the first sentence?   Is it incorrect? And if it is, what _would_ be the correct way to say it? P.S: See what I did there? ;) :P


When did the the apostrophe become common for shortening the Year in a date?

My theory is related to the Y2K crisis My theory is that it wasn't very common to shorten the years in the 1800's, 1700, 1600; but that using the apostrophe for the year of dates became common after 1931, when two-digit years wouldn't be confused with days, and when writing was moving towards efficiency, and was then followed by the digital data entry period. Incidentally I see that Google isn't Y2K compliant or consistent in how they write dates. I have tried to look a old documents and registries, but I need to do some deeper digging. Thanks


How to describe these movements?

If one takes this head-rope and pulls it back and forth, one can control the movement of all the threads of the net, and the whole net will be unfolded or collected accordingly. I do not know how to describe the openning and closing of this fish net. It is made up of a head-rope. Can I use "unfold" and "collect"?


Confusing rule about subject-verb agreement

I am currently working through "The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation" by Jane Straus. In the section on subject-verb agreement the author describes a rule for sentences that begin with "there" or "here" which claims that the true subject in these sentences will follow the verb. In the exercises, there are two sentences where I am supposed to identify the subjects and verbs as well as correct any issues. There is one sentence in particular that is confusing me. The sentence "There's lots of food left" has the subject "lots" and according to the rules given should have the verb "are" but the book states that this is incorrect. The correct verb according to the book is "is". Why is this the case when there is a plural subject?


There was the following sentence in Maureen Dawd's article introducing a Denber couple who are catering to marijuana tourists at their inn under the headline, “Now playing in Denver: Reefer Gladness” in New York Times (January 26). > “There is something not cool about a 22-year-old,” the 31-year-old Brown > admits, “who has to wait in line for an hour with **people his parents’ > age**.” Much less his grandparents’ age.” > > [source] Is “at” or “of” unnecessary in “people his parents’ age”? Is it considered redundant, or even ungrammatical, if we add “at,” “of” or “who are” between ‘people’ and ‘his age’?


what does "time and again" mean?

What does "time and again" mean in the following example? > Time and again, I have seen a very good opportunity follow right on ...


Is there any circumstance we should cut off the "Y" when adding the "ING" to a verb?

This question raised when a colleague told me that the correct way of writing _bully_ \+ _-ing_ is _bullying_ , rather than _bulling_. Initially I thought that the _-y-_ should be kept only when the verb ended with in consonant-vowel-consonant. My assumption was based on the verbs _enjoy_ and _say_ whose present-participle forms are _enjoying_ and _saying_. However, some time later I realized there were other verbs, not ending in consonant-vowel-consonant, that kept the _-y-_ , such as _studying, applying, crying and trying_... Currently, I imagine there is no such grammar rule and I mixed the plural rules with verb rules. Nevertheless I'd like to get a confirmation. Can anyone help me clarify (another example: _clarifying_ ) that?


What is it called when one word in a sentence "downplays" another?

In sentences such as "I'm a little devastated" "He's a little obese" We tend to think of obese and devastated as being on the more extreme end of the scale when describing something, but what is it called when another word is used before it that sort of "downplays" it? Would calling these contradictions be appropriate, or is there another term?


Are frozen pizzas countable or uncountable?

As you know pizzas are countable But when you add another word like, frozen, does it remain countable? Generally, when you add an adjective to a countable word are there any changes?


Are there slanguages counter to “puff piece”?

I was interested in two word”, “puff piece” and “on the dance floor” both of which are shown in quotes in Maureen Dowd’s article titled “Reince is right” in August 7 New York times. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/opinion/dowd- reince-is-right.html?hp It reads: > "Films can dramatically alter the way famous people are viewed, making them > cooler, more glamorous, more sympathetic — and the reverse. Clever > filmmakers can offer up delicious soufflés of propaganda and storytelling, > putting a new imprint on the historical record. (The chairman of the > Republican National Committee) Reince Priebus has complained to NBC and CNN > executives about plans for what he calls **Hillary Clinton “puff pieces” > while Hillary is “on the dance floor.”** We call ‘puff piece’ a ‘lantern (holer) article’ – 提灯記事 in Japanese by comparing the article and news a meek servant carrying a lantern ahead of his master and guiding him on the street in the evening. I'm interested in the opposite expression. Are there colloquial expressions counter to “puff piece” that lets down / harms public figures’ reputation through media?


"Never" and past tense

Considering these two sentences in the past tense, using "never": > The film has never been released > > The film was never released Are they both correct? If so, is there a difference in the meaning, or usage?


Is "prepone" being used outside India?

"Prepone" is a great word - it's the opposite of "postpone". I was wondering if it was beginning to spread around the world at all.


dash to connect two thoughts

How can I use a dash to correctly connect two `and` thoughts in a sentence? Is the following sentence correct with the dash in `from` or should I remove it? > An S database allows access from – and can be opened by multiple > applications at the same time. I am not familiar with the English grammar jargon and don't know how to properly call what I am attempting to do with that dash. ### EDIT Although I still want to learn about the dash, would the following alternative sentence be correct? > An S database allows access from, and can be opened by, multiple > applications at the same time.


Is "how much ever" grammatically correct?

Is the phrase _how much ever_ grammatically correct?


The role and the meaning of the “of”

Consider the two sentences below > It is of crucial importance that we make more use of technology if we are to > make progress. and > It is crucially important that we make more use of technology if we are to > make progress.   1. What is the grammatical role of "of" in the the first sentence?    2. What is difference between the two sentences in meaning and emphasizing?


Is a person "under contract" or "contracted" to do something?

Which is the better choice, and why?


What does “you and the rest of the world” mean?

I sometimes see ‘you and …’ in English, for example “you and the other nine”, “You and your big mouth!”. This makes me sensitive to _you and something_. > “Okay,” said Harry slowly. “But … are you saying Karkaroff put my name in > the goblet? Because if he did, he’s a really good actor. He seemed furious > about it. He wanted to stop me from competing.” > > “We know he’s a good actor,” said Sirius, “because he convinced the Ministry > of Magic to set him free, didn’t he? Now, I’ve been keeping an eye on the > _Daily Prophet_ , Harry –“ > > “– **you and the rest of the world** ,” said Harry bitterly. > > “—and reading between the lines of that Skeeter woman’s article last month, > Moody was attacked the night before he started at Hogwarts. (The rest is > omitted.) (p333, Harry Potter 4, US edition) **NB** \- Harry doesn’t like anyone to be interested in the _Daily Prophet_ because Skeeter, a news reporter of the paper, is always inventing stories about Harry. Does this ‘ **you and the rest of the world** ’ mean just a literal meaning? If Harry says “The other people, too”, is there any big difference in what Harry means to say?


Why do you call it “the produce aisle”?

I came across the word, “the produce aisle” for the first time in NPR’s news introducing 'Eating on the Wild Side – A field guide to nutritious food,” writen by Jo Robinson. It goes: > “Our modern fruits, grains and vegetables aren't nearly as nutrition-packed > as their wild counterparts were thousands of years ago, says health writer > Jo Robinson. Her new book offers advice on how to shop **the produce aisle** > to select for foods that offer the best nutritional bang for the bite.” None of Cambridge, Oxford, and Merriam-Webster online English dictionary registers- “produce aisle.” But Google Ngram indicates that the word emerged in / around 1960 and its usage is on a sharp rise. What does ‘produce aisle” specifically mean? Why has it come current? Isn’t it simply an in-store aisle? Why is it ‘produce” aisle, not “product / merchandise aisle?


What is a term or expression for a very imaginative person?

Someone who has a lot of ideas and different (efficient/productive) approaches in dealing with various situations. Someone who always comes up with some/another different, unexpected way for doing/approaching things/situations. Often with interesting and/or beneficial results. I am not looking for a "dreamer". Though, this imaginative person may often, easily, "switch" between realistic and fictional topics (and mix them together as well.)


Is a comma in this sentence required?

In the sentence below, is the comma optional or should it (not) be there? I can hear it there when this is spoken, but I am not convinced it needs to be there in written form. > In order to pass [...] data protection, the customer must correctly answer > [...] As one could simply reorder the elements of the sentence: > The customer must correctly answer [...] in order to pass [...] data > protection. and no comma would be needed.


Should there be a comma after "Thank you"?

Should there be a comma anywhere in the following sentence? > Thank you Annie for making us proud.


Origin and meaning of the "-tar" suffix in photography

A very large number of photographic products have names ending in "-tar." Most of these are camera lenses, but there are examples of film and even camera brands that follow the same pattern. The practice dates back to the nineteenth century, with the Zeiss Protar lens being possibly the first example. Others have included:   * Kodak Ektar lenses and film   * Vivitar cameras   * Leica Summitar lenses   * Schneider Xenotar lenses   * Kern Switar lenses   * Keystone Keytar lenses (yes, before it was an awesome musical instrument, it was a lens)   * Zeiss Triotar lenses   * and many others. "-ar" alone is also seen, with the Zeiss Planar and Tessar lenses being early examples. And while we're at it, we might as well throw in Nikkor, Nikon's name for its line of SLR camera lenses. I've looked into this and haven't uncovered much in the way of definitive answers; the best guesses I've seen have been along the lines of "Zeiss started it and the other lens makers copied Zeiss because they thought it sounded cool." I thought I'd bring the question here to see if the community's etymology expertise can provide any insights. (That this is strictly "English- related" is debatable, I suppose, but I believe the question belongs here because of the familiarity of several of these brand names in English contexts.)


'irritated' vs. 'aggravated'

Which is more correct? > The constant itching over the last week left him quite _aggravated_. > > The constant itching over the last week left him quite _irritated_. > Merriam Webster > > irritated : subjected to irritation; especially : roughened, reddened, or > inflamed by an irritant > > aggravate : to produce inflammation in


What is the opposite of "interesting" in "This person is interesting"?

During a conversation yesterday, I couldn't come up with the opposite of _interesting_. > "Initially she was very interesting, and I enjoyed her company. However, a > few months later, she became [BUM] _not interesting_." _Not interesting_ is what I came up with. What is the opposite of _interesting_ that I should have used?


Does a nominative sentence suggest that a characteristic is more of a permanent feature?

Scenario: Someone steals a pen and is asked: 'Did you steal the pen?' They reply: 'No' It is said to them: 'You are a liar.' Does this nominative sentence not suggest that they are a liar as a habit or that lying is more of a permanent characteristic of their personality more than a verbal sentence such as: 'You have lied.' Thus, based on that, would it be wrong to describe a person using a nominative sentence when a person does not possess a certain attribute as a permanent feature? So if somebody did something foolish, which was not their habit, and it was said to them: 'You are a fool.' it would not be as reflective of the situation as using a verbal sentence such as: 'You have been foolish.' or are the two interchangeable?


Shorter way to say "split [user story] into tasks"

In scrum (a project management methodology often used for software development), there are **user stories** (or _items_ ) which team members split into smaller **tasks** when they start working on them. To describe that "splitting into tasks", in Finnish I'd simply say something like "Taskitetaan se." ("Let's split it into tasks." And yes, that's a horrible anglicism.) What would be a shorter way to say that in English? I'm tempted to just "verb" the noun, and use something like "Let's task it". How acceptable or understandable would you find that?


"Drupal Planet" versus "Planet Drupal"

Between _Drupal Planet_ , and _Planet Drupal_ , which one is correct?   I would think _Planet Drupal_ is correct, in the same way _Planet Earth_ is correct. Which one would be the interpretation of _Drupal Planet_?


When we thread a bead, what are we doing to the thread?

What is the word for what we are doing to the thread when we "thread a bead"? Are we "beading" the thread? The closest word that I could find was "extrude" but I think that this is more of a manufacturing term than an arts & crafts term.


Can "backup" be used as a verb in the context of data management?

I have heard _backup_ being used as a verb in the sense of > I have to _backup_ my hard disk by non-native English speakers (the English noun _backup_ is also used in other languages, for example in German, so it may be a false friend). The correct expression seems to be > I have to make/create a backup of my hard disk. I know that "to back up" is correct English, but has a different meaning. Microsoft uses "back up" in the above sense, see here, but the Oxford and Miriam-Webster dictionaries do not seem to support this use. Has _to backup_ (or _to back up_ ) become part of the English language?


How does a dash end the sentence? Is the sentence supposed to be loose?

How does a dash end this sentence correctly? > It did seem to me that life was just too lovely to— From _A Dog's Tale_ by Mark Twain


What is "o-matic"?

I found "o-matic" in my dashboard of wordpress.com. There is "Read-o-Matic". And there are some news from staff. What does it mean? I feel it's "recommended to read", isn't it?


What kind of construct is 'would that that were all'?

There is a place in Bram Stoker’s _Dracula_ where I can’t quite parse the grammar: > 8 May. — I began to fear as I wrote in this book that I was getting too > diffuse. But now I am glad that I went into detail from the first, for there > is something so strange about this place and all in it that I cannot but > feel uneasy. I wish I were safe out of it, or that I had never come. It may > be that this strange night existence is telling on me, but **would that that > were all!** I understand the meaning of the text in bold (it’s equivalent to _if only that was all!_ ), but I don’t understand the grammar being used. What kind of construct is this?


What is the best way to mention a word: italics, quotes, or single-quotes (apostrophes)?

If I want to mention the word "furlong", for example, should I use _furlong_ , "furlong", or 'furlong'? Also, am I correct in putting the punctuation outside the quotes?


In my example, do I use quotes around the terms I'm referring to?

In economics literature, the IV approach uses what is commonly referred to as the “first stage” and the “reduced form”. Should I italicize them instead? I'm not sure what to use because I have not written many economics research papers.


Should I use italics or quotes to highlight a single word?

> He looked as though he had never heard of the word patience. Should the term patience be in italics or quotation marks?


Is there a difference between Quotes and Italics?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the best way to mention a word: italics, quotes, or single-quotes > (apostrophes)? Would it make a difference whether I put a word in quotes or in italics? Is this... \- Yesterday, I saw an interesting type of flower called an "eggplant" ...the same as this? \- Yesterday, I saw an interesting type of flower called an _eggplant_ Here is another example... The word "apple" is a noun. Vs. The word _apple_ is a noun. Also, are "s the same as 's?


Bleed *at* the arm or *from* the arm?

I have, to the best of my recollection, only ever used or heard: > He was bleeding **from** the arm. ... but my student informs me that she learnt it as: > He was bleeding **at** the arm. The latter sounds a little off to me, but I couldn't tell you (or my student) why. I did a quick Google search, and found numerous instances of both. So my question: **Are both usages interchangeable, or is there a subtle distinction I'm not aware of?** I'd especially like to know why the former sounds so much more "correct" to my ears, though I'm willing to accept that it is just me being weird.


"Bring 6 eggs. If there are potatoes, bring 9."

This is with reference to this comic, called _A Programmer's Life_ (translated from Portuguese): > Programmer: My wife asked me to go to the market and said: “Bring six eggs. > If there are potatoes, bring nine.” There were potatoes. But she got mad > when I arrived only with the 9 eggs… The intended joke is that the programmer has stereotypically interpreted the instructions over‑literally, and has got into trouble with "normal" people who communicate less precisely. Which is fine (ha ha), but I feel that the actual over-literal interpretation here would be to bring "nine" somehow. The programmer has actually done a bit of correcting-for-ambiguity that is necessary for understanding human speech. Specifically, he has supplied "eggs" to "bring nine", interpreting it as "bring nine eggs". (He should have supplied "potatoes" instead, of course.) My question is twofold:   * Is there a name for this process, in which a missing object (referent?) is inferred?   (Does it have some fancy linguistics name, like "coreference resolution"? Are there some good articles / book sections about it?)   * Are there contexts and sentences like "[Verb] _n_ X. If there are Y, [verb] _m_ " (both "[verb]"s stand for the same verb) whose natural interpretation would actually be "[verb] _m_ X", even though both "[verb] _m_ X" and "[verb] _m_ Y" are perfectly meaningful in isolation?   (This would make it clear that the interpretation is not a grammatical issue alone, but very much situation-driven.)


Another word for "fraction" that fits in conversation like "percent"?

In programming I use values between 0 and 1 to represent percentages but the word `percent` means "one part in every hundred" (0-100). I've also heard people use `permil` for 'one part in every thousand" (0-1000). In the past I've used the variable name `perun` in my code which is a made up word and most likely wouldn't make sense to others without being explained. So my question: **Is there a word that represents a value 0-1 similar to how percent represents a value 0-100?**


Looking for a gender neutral equivalent for "dairyman"

What would be the gender-neutral version of the term "dairyman"?


What are the subject, verb, object, complement and adverbial all types of?

Is there a noun that groups these five objects, in the same way that the term "noun" describes "apple", "bottle", "curtain" and "procrastination". Would you just call them sentence components? Note that I'm not asking about what you'd call the words themselves, but how you describe their function in a sentence, in the same way that you describe a group of words predicated around one part of speech as a "phrase".


Does the phrase that one "keeps their head down" have a negative connotation

Does the phrase that one "keeps their head down" have a negative or derogatory connotation in regards to the person whose head is kept down?


Is there a word for taking a (possibly undeserved) authoritative tact?

I feel like there's a word that I know but can't locate in my brain for regarding someone from a position of authority. The word, in itself, is neutral (not negative or positive) so it's not really synonymous to condescending, but it's in that family. Specifically, it would be the way a teacher would approach a pupil. Provided that that is the relationship, there's nothing negative about the interaction. However, if one were to take the same tack in a situation where the party being addressed is not assuming a lesser expertise or authority than the speaker, then the speaker comes off as... [ this word ]. Any thoughts?


What is common between "going Dutch" and "Dutch door"?

**Meaning** > "Going Dutch" is a term that indicates that each person participating in a > group activity pays for himself, rather than any person paying for anyone > else, particularly in a restaurant bill. It is also called Dutch date, Dutch > treat and "doing Dutch". **Etymology** > One suggestion is that the phrase **"going Dutch" originates from the > concept of a Dutch door**. Previously on farmhouses this consisted of two > equal parts (Sullivan 2010). **Dutch door** > A Dutch door (American English), or stable door (British English), or half > door (Hiberno English), is a door divided horizontally in such a fashion > that the bottom half may remain shut while the top half opens. _reference_ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_Dutch Help me connect the dots.


What is a good synonym for "devil"?

If a person is very evil some would say he is a _devil_. Can anyone give me another word— _devil_ sounds a bit strange to me.


Explain the phrase "allowing what is"

Today I read from a book the phrase “meditation is _allowing what is_ ”. Can anyone explain what this phrase means in other words? Context: > So let’s keep it simple. Our definition of meditation: Meditation is > allowing what is.


Is there another interjection that can be used in this example?

'O people!' Can anyone give me an alternative interjection for 'O' in this example?


What's a clinical or all encompassing term for whether a person is alive or dead?

Male/Female comes under the category 'Gender' What category does Living/Deceased come under? I'm writing a webservice that clients will use, and data will come back like this:               person.Name = "Jeff"     person.Gender = GenderEnum.Male     person.Alive = AliveEnum.Alive or AliveEnum.Deceased      I need to use a clinical and non-offensive word instead of 'Alive' that is professional and makes sense, but I can't think of anything. Also, `person.Alive = AliveEnum.Deceased` is a weird way to phrase it because Alive means what it means.


Is there a name for the final section of a letter?

When writing a letter it typically starts out "Dear..." and then has the content, then before you sign it you might have a formal or informal (depending on who you're writing to) sign off, for example: > blah blah blah letter content blah blah. > > Kind regards/Many thanks/Best wishes/Cheers!/etc Does this final closing portion of your letter have a name? For comparison, the middle portion of the letter is the body and the opener could be described as a greeting or, more accurately, the salutation. but I don't think this last bit could be called a farewell as such. So what should it be called?


Are there nouns that embody adjectives+verbs? (Not asking about attributive nouns)

I'm not sure if there's a better way for me to word my question. I've sorted through "noun" + "adjective" search results here on SE, but found nothing approximating what I'm after. I'm trying to think of an example of a word that means something like "person/role who is so closely associated with adjective X that there is a specific word for such a person/role". In other words, it's a noun that's the quintessence of an adjective + verb combination. In particular, I'm after adjectives closely related to emotional states, but with nuances about behavior — such as "uninhibited" in the context of being direct and not backing down when challenged about one's wishes. For example, "person who is courageous". Which I can't think of a noun for. Edit: I found one! _Braver_ is an adjective-verb ("exhibiting greater courage; facing danger/pain/fear courageously"), and a noun ("one who acts bravely"); where the noun is so closely tied to the adjective and verb senses that it's an embodiment. This kind of noun is exactly what I'm looking for. _Ingenue_ is close to the type of word I'm looking for, as it's a noun closely associated with several characteristics — some of which are descriptive of personality or emotions. For comparison, consider "person who repels enemy attacks" as being _defender_. (What I'd describe as a verb giving rise to a noun.) We have these kinds of words for psychological states in some cases (e.g. "manic" for someone with very high energy, erratic behavior — which is indicative of psychological struggles), in which the word seems to be a mix of noun, adjective, and verb. That is, we can say "She is a manic." or "She is manic." — and be referring to an idea of a type of person: a description of what someone is (noun; medical term), a description of what someone does (verb; actions), and a description of the type of behavior they have (adjective; degree). Words like "paladin" may be associated with specific adjectives, but they don't seem to _embody_ them — which is what I'm after. Does anyone know of any, or better yet what the term for them is? Or does anyone know of a site that has lists of them, or a way to search for them? (Thanks to RegDwigнt for the punctuation standardization. This is my first time visiting the site.)


Can adjectives always be used as nouns when they denote a plural and are preceded by the definite article?

An adjective appears to be used as a noun when denoting an animate plural and preceded by the definite article: > 'The successful are those who strive.' > > 'The foolish are those who procrastinate.' Is this always the case?


What is a single word for "Out of our control"

I'm looking for a word that defines that something is out of our control in a business sense. For example, we can't control the postal delivery time, so it is... (out of our control). Needs to be ONE word, please. EDIT - not uncontrollable. It is also not chaotic, like "the children are out of control". EDIT2: - to further explain, in my thesis I have a number of dependencies. Most of them our company can control as we manage them. However, a few of these dependencies we are not able to control because they are managed by someone else. So I'm looking to see if there is a word that can explain this other than saying "dependencies that are out of our control".


Correct punctuation in song lyrics that aren't necessarily good English

Lots of music contains repetitions, incomplete sentences, and slang. I want to know if there's a "correct" way to add punctuation and breaks when transcribing the lyrics. Take for example an excerpt of "Make It Up As We Go" by Jason Derulo: > so so sweet like candy   >  you're so sweet like candy   >  what we got   >  what we got   >  let's make it up as we go I've left out all punctuation and capitalization as not to lead any answers, but put line breaks for readability. Those too may be incorrect. Any guidance is appreciated.


Is "workflow" a word?

I'm trying to reference a business process in which a document has to be approved by several different people before it is finalized. I want to be able to say things like: > We've modified the **workflow** to include an additional step. and > The **workflow** currently requires approval by three people. Merriam-Webster Unabridged does not have an entry for "workflow", but I see many people using it anyway. Is it a word or not? If so, is there a good dictionary definition of it?


What is the etymology of "…kick ass and take names"?

Inspired by What is this idiom?, but that question doesn't actually ask for where the expression originated. I Googled around, but couldn't find any reliable source. Surely the expression originates in a major or cult movie or literary work of some kind or another?


Is “ain’t” slang, or is it colloquial instead?

Does using the word _ain’t_ in a song make it slang, whereas using it in a speech make it colloquial?


Is using the last name of a person without a title an accepted way of addressing?

I always heard people use _Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms_ before people's names and that is how, I thought, it was done until I watched one of those Harry Potter films in which Malfoy (Sr) addresses Albus Dumbledore as just **Dumbledore**. I noticed later that even Rubeus Hagrid was addressed as only **Hagrid**. (I have actually read all the seven Harry Potter books but it never occured to me while reading.) Is this way of addressing people common and considered polite?


Expression: Bag of hammers

I know that there's a film with this title, but is it also a common English expression with stable meaning?


Synonym for "without signature"

I am looking for a one word synonym for the notion "Without signature" for the domain of computer science, where "unsigned" usually means "a numerical data type which proscribes negative values", so I do not want to confuse my users. For my specific scope, the "Without signature" means that a component failed to provide a signed identification (the signature itself) which was signed by a central authority (signing: The component provides an identification text, some operations are performed on it by the central authority in order to generate a unique and valid ID which is the signature)... A very specific use case (as per David's comments), and I am sorry for the deep technical details:               if(component.signature() == unsigned)     {         // do something with unsigned components     }     else     if(component.signature() == company)     {         // do something with company signed components     }     else     if(component.signature() == consultants)     {        // do something with components singed by consultants     }      but `unsigned` is a reserved word in most programming languages :(


Is "to practice volleyball requires stamina" grammatical?

Is the sentence "to practice volleyball requires stamina" grammatically correct? As opposed to the sentence "practicing volleyball requires stamina"? Another example: >   * To ensure safety requires strict observance of rules. >   * Ensuring safety requires strict observance of rules. >


Cellar door and Indo-European languages

Where I grew up (UK) there was a pub called The Drysalters. I always liked this name without having any idea what a drysalter was, or having any association or emotional connection to the pub itself. I have just heard a BBC Radio 4 programme discussing drysalters which said exactly the same thing; that the word is evocative and pleasant to the ear (and ought to be reclaimed - it has fallen out of use). I know JRR Tolkien famously said _cellar door_ was the most beautiful combination of sounds in English, and this has already been discussed on this site. This has led me to a potted history of phonoaesthetics on Wikipedia. There seem to be combinations of sounds or words which are pleasant (or unpleasant) to the ear. Although it might sometimes be because of association (Wikipedia has some interesting reasons why the door to the cellar might be evocative), this cannot be the only reason (as in my case with drysalters). My question is this: Certain words can find their origins far back in the roots of Indo-European languages, the most obvious one being the _ma_ sound of so many words meaning 'mother'. Is there any traceable reason why phonoaesthetic words are so attractive? Do those particular sounds have their roots deep in the first languages?


The opposite of "rights" — "obligations" or "responsibilities"?

Lead SA composed a Bill of Responsibilities to complement the South African Bill of Rights and express those rights in a practical way. I think it is an inspirational idea, but I expected the corollary of rights to be _obligations_ rather than _responsibilities_. Is there a difference between my _responsibilities_ and my _obligations_ , and which term is the most accurate and appropriate in this context?


"Grit" vs "gritted"

Dictionary sources tell me that the past tense of _grit_ is _gritted_ rather than _grit_. Why does that sound weird to me? Am I delusional, or is this one of those words changing in current usage? _Pet_ is a similar case - I rarely hear _petted_ used as a past tense.


What is the aerial equivalent of bathing when one enjoys the breeze?

To wash by immersing one's body in water is called bathing. Then what is the verb for lounging in a breeze enjoying the wind washing through your hair, your underarms and your toes? I'm trying to translate this phrase. I would like a verb for air bathing that is equally poetic and languorous. “浴乎沂，风乎舞雩，咏而归" A direct, unpoetic translation might be: > To (water) bathe in the Yi river, to (air) bathe by the Wuyu altar, to sing > back home.


"That's the idea that someone does" vs. "it has the idea of someone does"

I'm trying to explain what something means. Is it correct to express that using the word "idea" as follows? >   1. He pulls up next to him. To pull up (pause). That's the idea that > someone does X. >   2. He pulls up next to him. To pull up (pause). It has the idea of someone > does X. >


What do you call a note that is "in" the given chord?

I'm trying to find a word that describes, for example, any one of the three notes in a C major chord. Would I just call it a "chord note"? Or is there a more fitting word or phrase to refer to that?


"Location of the windows to be opened" vs. "location of windows to be opened"

>   1. I have redefined the size and location of the windows to be opened. >   2. I have redefined the size and location of windows to be opened. > Which one is correct?


Can "immigrant" be used to mean "person who moves from rural area to city"?

I have looked up the word 'immigrant': it says that it refers to people who come to live in a different country. Can I also use this word to refer to people who move from rural areas to the city?


A ligature "og"

I met a ligature "og" in one of the manuscripts. It is hard to see this ligature there (look at the word "logicae". Have you met anything similar? Is there a better manuscript with this ligature or it's just a particular handwriting? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/5OZAs.jpg)


Looking for an idiom to describe "a misunderstanding"

Can you suggest an idiom or common expression that can be used to describe a misunderstanding? The typical case is when Mr. A is talking about something and Mr. B understand something else. Mr. A can say, "sorry you have misunderstood me," or "sorry what you have understood is **__** "


Articles in English, the use of "the" and "a"

The following are sentences I picked up from newspaper articles.   1. "A smiling Ichiro Suzuki(a popular baseball player) talked at the interview through an interpreter."   2. "The 22-year-old XXX (a popular golf player) is a 12-time champion on the International Golf tour."  I don't understand why they put an article "a" in the sentence 1) and "the" in the sentence 2). Please help me understand why. Thank you in advance.


Is "a" mandatory in "I'm a whole new (Name)"?

Let's say, your name is Kate and you say "I'm a whole new Kate!" Now, can you drop "a" and say "I'm whole new Kate!"? Or is it mandatory to keep it?


Why ; is called semicolon and what is its history?

Semi- is a Latin prefix meaning "half" and colon is another punctuation. Should I therefore say that semicolon is a halved colon?


Question on "Out of"

In "out of", is the "out" considered a preposition or an adverb?


What is the difference between "simulate" and "emulate"?

The words clearly have a similar meaning. But I think there must be a subtle difference. e.g. You get a "flight _simulator_ ", but an "ipad _emulator_ ". Both are pieces of software for replicating the behaviour of something. So why are the words not interchangable?


What does "the rib place" mean?

I am reading a play and I have problem with some word combinations, especially with this one: "rib place". > This was from Longhorn's, the rib place. Over on 22nd.


Difference between the terms 'famous' & 'infamous'; 'valuable' & 'invaluable'

Question in Short:   Why is it that the terms _valuable_ and _invaluable_ mean almost the same thing while the terms _famous_ and _infamous_ are almost semantically opposite in meaning? That is, one is used to describe something/someone well known for their good qualities, while the other is used to describe something/someone well known for their bad qualities? Question in Detail:   One of the answers to the question titled Difference between “valuable” and “invaluable” [closed] suggest that the term valuable is almost synonymous with invaluable, although the preferred answer points out their subtle differences as being _costly_ and _priceless_ , respectively. That is, something that can be bought or sold ( _valuable_ ), as opposed to something that cannot be bought or sold ( _invaluable_ ), yet is treasured. Why is it that the terms famous and infamous are not semantically synonymous according to these online references?


What is the meaning of "Twice yet, carle, I'll come to Spain!"

The phrase "Twice yet, carle, I'll come to Spain!" occurs in the obscure fairy tale Molly Whuppie (more original version?) after a princess tricks a giant by stealing his sword. Contextually: > "Woe worth you, Molly Whuppie! never you come again." > > "Twice yet, carle," quoth she, "I'll come to Spain." This is the second time the giant has been tricked, which I believe may link to "twice." It's an idiom, though, so I can't be certain. What is Molly trying to communicate, and where does this idiom come from? Edit: I think "twice yet" is a reference to the fact that she'll show up twice more - though I have no idea how she would know this.


What do these two sentences mean in Time's Sports?

> Manning has enraptured the rapidly growing ranks of the formerly young in > places far beyond the valley of the South Platte River. I hardly understand what this sentence means in this context; "enraptured the...ranks of" what? > Wherever the guile and lore of age fights its valiant, doomed battle against > encroaching youth, the Manning banner flies rampantly. Fights what? Is "flies" a verb here or "banner"? Can anyone provide a syntax analysis of these two sentences?


English word equivalent of 膩 (sick of something due to overindulgence)

The chinese character 膩 (nì) is often used to describe when you are sick of something because it's too excessive in some way. Google translate converts it to "greasy" which is true in the sense that yes, if you eat too much greasy food you get sick of it, but it's not just restricted to oily stuff. If you have a giant steak but there are no accompanying vegetables, then you may not be able to eat much of the steak because all that meat is too "nì." The concept can be used outside of eating as well. For example, if you play the same game for several hours every single day you may exhaust your interest in it because you've played it to the point where it is now "nì." I know such a word exists in English because I remember coming across something with a very similar meaning on dictionary.com, but it seemed to be a rather obscure word that I've never seen used in everyday English, and I neglected to write down the word, so I've completely forgotten. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!


What is correct: 'I did' or 'it did'? (In the given context)

Which would be the correct way to form the following sentence: > "I just had piss shivers so hard that I almost dislocated my jaw."   >  OR   >  "I just had piss shivers so hard that it (they) almost dislocated my jaw." Also, would it be correct to write it this way: > "I just had piss shivers so hard that my jaw almost got dislocated." The problem that I have with the first sentence is that piss shiver isn't something that I did, it's something that happen to me, so is it still "I dislocated my jaw" or do they dislocated my jaw/it got dislocated? "I dislocated my jaw" sounds like I was doing something- eating, talking, piss- shivering. Not having experienced something.


Why is a transportation by road called a "Shipment" but a transportation by seaways called "Cargo"?

I was just reading an article concerning a product trade and transports between countries and came through these words that made me wonder about their differences.


What are alternatives to the verb “study” (in the meaning of “research”)?

When writing scientific discussions (articles, book chapters, reports, ...), I frequently feel short on synonyms of the verb **study** , which I use extensively in sentences such as _“in the next section, we study the influence of ... on ...”_. The alternatives I frequently use include **investigate** , **research** , **look into** , and **shed light into** (with a slightly different meaning). What I like in **study** and its synonyms is its rather generic meaning: it does not actually specify the type of research being done, which is desirable in some occasions. As a consequence, I am looking for other alternatives to this verb, or constructs similar to the example quoted above ( _“in the next section, we study the influence of ... on ...”_ ), to improve my writing.


What is the difference between "skeptical" and "cynical"?

Both the words "skeptical" and "cynical" refer to a doubtful mood, but what is the basic difference between them?


Evolution of 'deign' and 'disdain'

_This question just popped into my head yesterday. I guess it might be too basic (or too impossible) for EL &U; but I thought I'd give it a shot._ How come these two words managed to evolve to different spellings? Surely in the days when the grammar nazis ruled the earth with their gimlet eyes and blood-red pens, they should have caught this? From etymonline.com: > deign - c.1300, from O.Fr. _deignier_ (Mod.Fr. _daigner_ ), from L. > _dignari_ "to deem worthy or fit" (cf. It. _degnare_ , Sp. _deñar_ ), from > _dignus_ "worthy" (see _dignity_ ). > > disdain (v.) late 14c., from O.Fr. _desdeignier_ "disdain, scorn, refuse, > repudiate," from _des-_ "do the opposite of" (see _dis-_ ) + _deignier_ > "treat as worthy" (see _deign_ ).


When should we use "can", "could", "will", "would"?

Most of the people says _I wish I could_ , _I wish you would_. Can't we use _I wish I can_ , _I wish you will_? I'd like to know what the main difference between the usage of _can/will_ and _could/would_ is.


What is the difference between 'would you' and 'could you'?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How to use would or could in English? This question is about English grammar. I am an absolute Chinese, I can read, write, and speak English, but sometimes I am confused about the difference between _would_ and _could_. Can anybody here explain the difference and provide examples of each?


Differences between using "Would you" and "Can you" when making requests

Is there a difference between asking a question with "Would you..." and asking the same question with "Can you..."? For example, > Would you take the trash out?   >  Can you take the trash out? Both can be answered with either "Yes/No" or by actually taking the trash out. Are the questions used in different circumstances? Is one more "correct" than the other?


When to Use "Could, Would , Will and Can"?   1. Could you please send me that email?   2. Would you please send me that email?   3. Will you please send me that email?   4. Can you please send me that email? Please tell me the major usage difference in spoken and written English. Thanks in advance!!


“Is there a way you could/would accept?”

Is it correct to write this in a formal letter: > My certificate is not valid anymore. Is there a way you could accept my > expired certificate?" Or should I use _would_ instead of _could_? And what is the difference between those two?


Does "none the more..." mean "far from (being)..." in American English?

I'm familiar with the somewhat colloquial turn of phrase "nowhere near as ... as" / "not anywhere near as ... as" to say "far from being as ... as". However, I'm _a little_ less familiar with the idiom "none the more …" meaning, I gather, "far ... from being". And so, I wish someone would tell me whether the expression "none the more ..." is safe to use interchangeably with "far from ..." in formal and not so informal contexts, or definitely belongs to informal, colloquial usage and, as such, should be best avoided in formal style. E.g.: > They only half believed us and were **none the more** friendly... [source] > > ... to my taste, it was **none the more** becoming for being fitted over > broken stayed-bones... [source] > > ... the individual returns home poorer and **none the healthier**. [source]


How prevalent is "I'm game" compared to "I'm in"?

Is it common to say "I'm game" in place of "I'm in" or "Count me in"? Is it used often in American English?


Terms for game mode depending on number of players

Suppose you have a game with following modes:   * a human player with no opponents   * a human player with a computer/AI opponent   * multiple human players The third mode is referred to as _multiplayer_. The term _single-player_ could apply to both first and second one. How one usually differentiate between the two? If there is no established practice, what terms would at least stronly suggest this difference? The Wikipedia has an article on "single-player" games. Google search yields mostly "single player" results. Are both correct and is "singleplayer" acceptable (similarly to "multiplayer")? **Update** The best I could come up with was "solo" or "solitary mode" for the first option (only because it brings to mind "solitaire" or "peg solitaire" games which are just that: games without opponent). "Puzzle mode" (as suggested in comments) in the case of logic-strategic game sounds OK, because you usually don't solve puzzles against someone. Most of the other suggestions would be acceptable only if paired with the term for single-player mode against computer, which is most problematic here for me. I'm beginning to think that there are no appropriate terms for that. Perhaps it's because there aren't that there aren't that many games with no-opponents options. The only ones that come to mind are simulations or economic games with a never-ending or long running "free-play" modes.


What are some expressions that can be used to end an email?

At the end of every email, we use ending expressions like   * Best regards,    * Kind regards,    * Yours sincerely,    * Yours faithfully,  What other expressions can be added to this list?   Which ones should we use/not use in which cases?


Signing off with "Best" instead of "Best regards"

I'm active on many different online forums and platforms and do much communication with my own customers and customers of a company I am employed at. The signature I used to sign off a post or email changed from time to time. But for about a year now, I got used to signing off with > Best,   >  -Niklas which I obviously derived from > Best regards,   >  -Niklas Is this a very strange form? Can I continue to use this form or could people get false pictures from it? What do you interpret or feel when reading this?


What is the preferred way to end an email?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What are some expressions that can be used to end an email? What is the best way to sign off in an email? I'm using 'Best Regards'. Is it right to use this, or should I use one of these alternatives:   1. Regards,   2. Warm Regards,   3. Thanks & Regards,


Common ending lines for formal emails?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What are some expressions that can be used to end an email? I know a few, > Best regards   >  Best   >  Sincerely   >  Eagerly Think of it as an email for first impression for a potential client. Formal but flexible.


How to express the willingness to learn things necessary on the job?

I am applying for a job in finance where I think I am just a beginner. So there are a lot of things I will learn on the job. I want to express that I am ready for it and to make clear that I am an career entrant. I thought about something like:               "I am willing to enhance my knowledge in finance."      I am not happy with this and I do not know how to express what I want in a nice sentence. So I want to state that I am ready to expand my knowledge where it is necessary and that I am eager to learn new technologies (which are necessray for this) job on the job.


Word for letting something pass through unmodified

I'd like to phrase the sentence "The system lets certain inputs pass through unmodified" more directly. Could anyone suggest a word to replace the parenthesised 'phrase' below? "The system (lets-pass-through-unmodified) certain inputs".


Japanese "verbal nouns [suru verbs]" ("suru-meishi")

I am participating in a Japanese-English translation, and 've come across one of many loose boards. This question ONLY pertains to a word index. In accordance with my Japanese principal's teaching method, for who I am doing this translation, there is a special class of nouns called "suru-meishi" in Japanese, literally translating as "'to do' verbal nouns." These "suru-meishi" only function as true verbal nouns with the assistance of "suru" (to do) following a noun. Actually these "suru-meishi" cannot always translate to "to do," but often do, and as this translation is only for a Beginner I course, I thought it best to keep it simple. I think maintaining the 'to do' nuance is important as a temporal cushion, or something! So, I am trying to maintain it in the English translation. Below are the definitions I HOPE to use (I realize aren't all correct): (p.s. must maintain the noun.) to do self-introductions to do greetings to do shopping to do work to do a meal* to do studies to do the cooking to do (make) an inquiry to do (hold) a meeting to be in absence* to be in attendance* to be leaving early* to be late coming* to do (hold) a marriage* to do jogging* to do walking* to do laundering to do cleaning to do part-time work to do a move* to do a yawn* to do traveling to do an order to do exercising to be smoking* to be quitting smoking* to do school enrollment to do repairs Any corrections are appreciated! Thankful for any help on this, Shakai


Comma placement in a sentence like "A small but juicy fruit."?

How does comma placement work in a sentence with adjectives joined with something like "but"? For example, "A small but juicy fruit." And what about a more complex example, like "A small but juicy tropical fruit."


A single word for someone who is loved quickly by everyone?

If someone who loves quickly can be called openhearted, what do you call someone who is loved quickly? I can only think of the words which are probably reasons to someone being loved, such as **adorable** , **kind** , or maybe **famous**. I know some friends who are loved really quickly by people around them. They include ladies, and gentlemen. So, apart from the condition of the people around that someone (which are probably openhearted), or that someone is an adorable human being, what do you refer to someone who is loved quickly?


What does "something eats into somebody" mean?

What does **it eats into you** mean? I have read this in a play > It eats you, which is normal I like to know what the meaning is and how many meaning I can consider for it.


What is this symbol called: “¶”

I'm trying to find out what this symbol means and if it has a name: > # ¶ I've seen it being used in word processors.


Why are identical rhymes inferior in English poetry?

From “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath: > Generals gathered in their masses   >  Just like witches at black masses In English poetry, a perfect rhyme has identical vowels but different onsets, like _come_ and _sum._ An identical rhyme has identical vowel and onset, like _come_ and _become._ Pairs of homonyms and homophones are identical rhymes but not perfect rhymes, and most people consider them inferior. Holorime, where entire lines rhyme, is likewise stigmatized in English poetry: > For I scream   >  For ice cream Most consider this a trifle at best, doggerel at worst. This judgment makes some sense for the mere repetition of a word as “rhyme,” which may indicate a lack of creativity. However, that makes less sense to me for examples like the wordplay in holorime and in the Black Sabbath song. Furthermore, some other languages value identical rhyme, like rime riche in French poetry. Did identical rhyme fall out of favor at some point, or was it never well- accepted to begin with? Was there any period where it was in fashion in England as in France? Is it considered low poetry for the same reasons that puns are considered low humor in English? Are there forms of English poetry or song where it's more highly regarded – perhaps in limerick or rap, which value wordplay?


Wording: closest date vs nearest date?

Which sounds more natural? > The closest date is ... or > The nearest date is ... Context: It is a variable name in a software application I rewrite, which - in short - expresses the most close date to a given date. * * * _closest date_ yields 55k results of Google, vs 33k for _nearest date_. ![](http://i.imgur.com/fV0negC.png) ![](http://i.imgur.com/45ygsNb.png)


Unsure which possessive form to use

If I say > The first *groups presentation was on insects. is it **group's** or **groups'**?


"An age" vs. "the age"

Which one to use with "age", should it be simply "age" or "the age" instead of simply "at age 13" as shown in below sentence: > He became a very rebellious boy, but grew up to be an incredible man. He > began his writing career at age 13 as a "mountain reporter" for small town > newspapers and went on to become America's most beloved motivational author.


Deriving nouns and adjectives from place names

When describing people we often use adjectives based on their place of origin. (I'm asking about people only for simplicity.) 1) She is American.   2) He is English.   3) They are Canadian. You can also describe people as nouns based on their origins: 4) She is an American.   5) He is an Englishman.   6) They are Canadians. It doesn't always work this way. You can say "He is a New Yorker", but to the best of my knowledge, there is no adjective for "New York". It seems to me that in items 4 & 6 the last words are adjectival nouns. Item 5, on the other hand, is just a noun. That seems curious to me. * * *   * Why is it that not all place names have adjectival forms? (Or at least that none are used, like for New York?) (Actually, I realize we do use "New York" as a noun adjunct (like in "a New York minute"), but not as an adjective.)    * Why are some of the nouns used to describe people in this manner adjectival nouns, and some are not? (Or at least, they appear to be just plain nouns (New Yorker, Englishman).)


Word for someone who is extremely up-to-date with the latest facts (news or research)

I seek a word for one who is up-to-date, enlightened, and extremely well informed about the latest developments or research in a particular field. An example is a person who complains about a recent encyclopedic book publication, criticising it for being out-of-date despite its recent publication date. I want to be somewhat ironic and say something about his or her obsession with "up-to-date-ness" and his failure to appreciate this truly magnificent book. Any suggestions?


Pronunciation of “Jan. 3”

Is a date written “Jan. 3” pronounced _January **third_** , or is it pronounced _January **three_**?


Mixing British and American spellings in writing

I like _color_ more than _colour_ , but I like _favourite_ more than _favorite_. For me it is better to write > My **favourite color** is blue. Is it wrong to mix British and American spellings in writing, and if so in which contexts shouldn't I?


Should I use 'that' 'which' or 'who' in this sentence?

> Boys don't play with dolls **that** they know for a long time, unless they > see another boys playing with them. Well it means that boys sometimes boys are not interested in a girl they know for a while until they discover the girl has someone. In this sentence, dolls is a symbol for girls. I'm a bit confused if I should use **that** , **which** or **who**? (by the way, should use **'until'** instead of **'unless'**?)


Dickens: meaning of “preserves” in “preserves of loaves and fishes”

What is the meaning of _preserves_ in the opening passage of Charles Dickens' _A Tale of Two Cities_? > There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the > throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a > fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than > crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that > things in general were settled for ever. Is _preserves_ a place that is kept for private hunting, or an activity regarded as being reserved for a particular group? I cannot figure out this sentence grammatically. I understand its allusion to Biblical references, but since I am not a native speaker, I'd also like to be clear about the sentence structure; is there a way to paraphrase this sentence?


Simple present vs. present continuous

What is the difference between saying: > Are you still working there? > > Do you still work there? Which is more common in spoken vs written English? Google books returned results for both of them.


How to express that simplicity should not mean to exclude necessary features?

I come from a software development background. One of the goals is to make tools easy to use. On the other hand one must/should include certain features. Now I want to argue that in order for our tool to work, we must include certain features necessarily for it to have additional value. I am looking for a idiomatic way to say it. To pep it up. Yet "do not sacrifice features X on the altar of simplicity" sounds too melodramatic, and "if you design it to be fool-proof, only fools can use it" too crude. Can you propose any other options?


How to represent a link in an APA style?

I was reading more on the `APA` style but somehow I got stuck that how can I represent a link in an `APA` style. Below are the links I have -               http://www.mcdpressoffice.eu/downloads/Economic_footprint_Report_Exec_Summary.pdf          http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~eakharu/Positive%20Effects%20of%20McDonalds.htm          http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/content/dam/AboutMcDonalds/Investors/Investor%202013/2012%20Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf          http://www.unescap.org/tid/publication/indpub2565_chap1.pdf          http://s3.amazonaws.com/mcdbestof-section-pdfs/2/MCD_072_BOSS_FINAL.pdf               http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/Ourworld/Environment/Energy.html          http://www.powersines.com/var/56/522535-CS%20ComEC%20McDonald's.pdf          http://www.bestofgreenmcdonaldseurope.com/casestudies_detail.php?cat=2          http://www.bestofgreenmcdonaldseurope.com/downloads/Energy_all_case_studies.pdf      Can anybody provide an example how can I represent a link in an APA style?


Is there a clean version of "no sh*t, Sherlock"?

The phrase "no shit, Sherlock" or just "no shit" is a reply used when someone else points out something obvious. I was thinking about it the other day and I realized I don't know if there is a clean version, i.e. something you could say in polite conversation or in front of children. I guess saying "no way" or "no, really?" sarcastically works, but is there a better phrase?


Where did the saying "Bite the dust" come from?

_Hypothetical example usage:_ > "Another one bites the dust." He said as he watched another building burn to > the ground. It just means that something is destroyed. What does biting dust have to do with destruction? Where did that saying come from?


Word for hope-instilling?

What's a good word for hope instilling, as in "it is (hope instilling) to see that the first thing we teach our children is to say hello"..


Use of the adjective "spurious" to indicate properties of that which flows from a noun

While chatting with a co-worker, a repeated assertion was made (in the pithy style of Inigo Montoya to Vizzini) that my usage of the term _spurious_ was incorrect when conveying that the output of an implementation of a mathematical function was "fake or false" in the context of the function itself. For example: > I believe [this tool] is _spurious_ because its output is non-conformant > with this function. > > That _spurious_ tool does not correctly conform with our analysis. We should > fix it. I am aware of the dictionary definition of the term, explicitly leaning on the subdefinition of "of a deceitful nature or quality" (that is, that the described object may give a false impression because of its incorrect results). However, I am unsure of the verifiable or validatable qualities of this usage of the term. Is this form of the expression in current accepted use? Some cited examples from reputable sources would help.


Words with the suffix -duce

> deduce = 1. arrive at (a fact or a conclusion) by reasoning; draw as a > logical conclusion: > > educe = 1.1. infer (something) from data: > > induce = 4. Logic derive by inductive reasoning: Would someone please explain how [each prefix + suffix -duce] induces or implies their modern meanings (assuming no etymological fallacy)? Since their prefixes differ, I scruple to believe in the equivalence of these particular definitions. For example, **de = from**. Does this comport with deduction as a top-down approach ?   Whence does **from** originate? Moreover, based on this suffix, what general lessons or patterns or shared properties can be deduced about all these words?


Does the phrase "fully n percent" have real meaning?

For example: > Fully 46 percent of the recipients polled in the social sciences had... Is this simply a way to avoid starting the sentence with a number? As in: > Forty-six percent... I understand that, mathematically speaking, percents can be fractional. In the context of this example - and many others that I've seen - it just seems superfluous.


Ways to express "Thank you" in English

I am wondering how many expressions in English can express "Thank you" (I am just running out of them)   1. Thank you (very much) or Thanks.   2. Many thanks!    3. I appreciate it indeed!    4. Thanks a million!   5. I can't say enough thanks to you May I know more?


Present continuous or simple present? and is "it's decided" English?

I hesitate a lot between four alternatives. Could you help me by telling me which one is the more correct please? >   1. I've made my mind up, I leave you. >   2. I've made my mind up, I'm leaving you. >   3. It's decided, I leave you. >   4. It's decided, I'm leaving you. > The idea is to say to someone (orally, so no need to be formal) that I've made a decision which I'm _very_ sure of. I have the impression that the expression "It's decided" isn't used a lot, is it?


"Call it a day" — is it positive?

I'm not a native speaker. Someone told my boss about my work, 'He called it a day'. Is it a rather neutral expression about ending some day work, or does it mean 'he's lazy and didn't finish it'?


Word for a person who is overly profound?

Dramatic somewhat fits my word choice. However, a person can be dramatic without being profound.


You yourself - double pronoun

> **You have made it up yourself.** This is obviously ok. But if the pronoun **_it_** should be repalced by a long noun-phrase: > **You have made up the illusory world in which you move yourself.** It would sounds very ambiguous and will be misunderstood. But can this be correct? > **You yourself have made up the illusory world in which you move.** Is it considered "good" English? Can it be used formally? If not, why? And what are the alternatives?


One 'increase' or two 'increases'

I happened upon the following sentence in a textbook: > 'An **increase in the number and size** of islets **is** characteristic of > infants born to diabetic mothers. I get that, as the sentence is presented, the singular noun 'increase' is governing the singular verb 'is', but aren't two different 'increases' being described, one in size and one in number? On another note, I would probably see nothing wrong with 'The love of money and power was his undoing'. I'd imagine a single 'love' that embraces both 'money' and 'power'. So, what's the rule in matters like this?


Are there any patterns to observe in choosing the correct negation prefix to use?

Are there any patterns to observe in choosing the correct prefix to use? There are other prefixes as well, but these are usually the ones I mix up. As in _unbelievable_ , _disproportionate_ , _asymmetric_ , and _intolerable_. Un and In are probably the ones I more most frequently mix. Is there anything to look for there? Like _untolerable/intolerable_ , _unedible/inedible_ , _unexact/inexact_ , _unappropriate/inappropriate_ , ... I realize these are all _in-_ , but why?


Rule to determine when to use the prefix "im" vs. "un" to negate a word starting with "p"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Negation prefixes: un-, dis-, a-, in-, … The prefix _un_ is commonly used to negate a word, but is is quite rare with words that start with the letter _p_ ; the prefix _im_ seems more common. For example:   * Impossible   * Implausible   * Imperfect But there are certain _p_ words whose opposite is prefixed with _un_ , such as:   * Unpolluted   * Unpolished   * Unplugged Is there any rhyme or reason as to when to use _un_ versus when to use _im_?


"Authorize up to $3000 payment" vs. "authorize up to $3000 in payment"

Does there need to be a preposition in this sentence? It just feels awkward… > The Commission may authorize up to $3,000.00 payment for expenses of an > eligible person or an eligible dependent family member. When I read it, it feels like there should be an "in" after "$3,000.00." Or alternatively, the article "a" should be before "$3,000.00." This is something that I've been asked to edit and this just feels incomplete. How would you rewrite this?


Accents in Pacific Rim

In a smililar vein to the question Accents of characters in Downton Abbey: I recently saw the movie Pacific Rim. One of the conceits of the movie appeared to be that the main characters were all from countries around the Pacific Rim (as those were the countries being attacked). Thus we had pilot teams that were Americans, Russians, Chinese, Australians, and one Japanese. However, the ex-pilot head of the department was a bit of a mystery to me under this scheme. My first impression based on looks was African-American, but his accent sounded British to me. I know England had a lot of colonies in SE asia, but I don't know of any that have any kind of large Afro-English communities. I know its just fiction, but for my own mental purposes, what exactly was his English accent, and what Pacific Rim country could he reasonably have hailed from? After looking into it a bit more, the actor playing the part is in fact British, but that doesn't mean he was trying to do his own native accent.


Is "can it" used to express meaning like "shut up"?

I'm reading Peter Orner's _The Raft_ and find a sentence as this               I told the boy to can it.      From the Chinese translation, it seems "can it" means "close your mouth" just liking "shut up". Is it truly? And what is the difference of "can it" and "shut up"?


What is the word that describes the group mentality against changing the status quo?

I am looking for a word that would be used to describe a person (better if a noun) or a group of people who refuse to even consider anything other than the status quo. I would like something that conveys that the status quo may be iffy at best and that the person or population wouldn't even have dialogue other than disparaging anyone who questioned the current "rules" or operations.


"Above"/"below" before/after a noun

I have seen sentences similar to the following: > (1) See the reference _above_. > > (2) See the reference _below_. And, > (3) See the _above_ reference. But not, > (4) See the _below_ reference. Are all these forms acceptable? Which is/are preferred in formal writing?


Can "above" be used as an adjective?

I've read in some English grammar books that the word _above_ can only act as an adverb. It can never be used as an adjective in any context. For example: > 1) The above example explains it well.   >  2) The above given example explains it well. Which one is correct?


which is correct - in section below or below section

We have given detail description of these tools in below section. or We have given detail description of these tools in section below. which one is correct?


When you use the term stereotype in this context, are you implying it's true or relatively accurate of a group?

When someone says something along the lines of: > Well I don't agree with you, because you're a typical so-and-so _X_. _X_ being the culture/group of people. If you make a reply along the lines of: > Wow, what a stereotype! I can't take you seriously. Are you implying it's "sort of" true? Because the definition of a stereotype seems to state there's some accuracy to a stereotype, unless I'm completely interpreting the definition wrong. > a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular > type of person   >  or thing.


What is the difference between these two sentences?

Consider these two sentences: "I gave him a pencil," and, "I gave a pencil to him." Is it correct that the important part of the sentence is placed at the end? When we want to emphasize the pencil that I gave him, must we say, "I gave him a pencil?" When we want to emphasize that it is him to whom I gave a pencil, must we say, "I gave a pencil to him?"


What is the correct title for someone who gives podcasts?

I'm looking for a word analogous to "blogger," but for someone who gives podcasts. "Podcaster" doesn't seem correct - the only thing I can think of is "host of a podcast." Is there a single word that better describes this profession?


"I run in the subway"

Is _I run in the subway_ grammatical? Does it mean _the action of running, done inside of a subway_?


Use of semi-colons vs commas when listing items with colons

I have a list of classes (titles) which have colons as a part of the titles, in this list should I use commas or semi-colons to separate them? (there are no items which have commas internally to them)


What syllable is stressed in "complex"?

I've read somewhere that if _complex_ is an adjective, its second syllable is stressed (com- **plex** ), while for noun, the first one ( **com** -plex). But e.g. this link says that adjective can also sound as noun. I also remember that my teacher (many years ago) said " **com** -plex object", although _complex_ is an adjective here. I guess stress depends on context of usage. So, what are the cases for stressing first or second syllable in adjective _complex_? How do I determine which syllable has to be stressed? For example, how are "complex numbers", "complex object", "complex problem" pronounced?


Is there a single noun in English for 'jerry-rigged?'

_Gambiarra_ in Brazilian Portuguese means a device, solution, or means to an end made impromptu, usually in a sloppy way and lacking care. I was wondering if there was a single word in English for such a concept. The closest I found was the two-word verb 'jerry-rig,' but I couldn't find a noun for it.


> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Awkward sounding but grammatically correct sentences? Why is the following statement valid, and how can I break it down so that it is easier to understand? > Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo