In-house vs out-of-house

What word or expression would you use to describe an employee who is contracted by a company on a project-by-project basis but who cannot be considered a freelancer as he or she works exclusively for this company? In other words, what'd you call a specialist who is not on the payroll, works from home, gets paid per project but is commited to one company? Is it possible to use the expression "an out-of-house specialist" to denote a staff member who is not an in-house employee but cannot be really considered a freelancer? Thanks.


The difference between “We’ll ever be back to normal,” and “We’ll never be back to normal.”

Time magazine (Aug.2) reported that Toledo Mayor instructed city residents not to drink tap water polluted with toxin caused by algae bloom under the headline: Toledo, Ohio without drinking water for second day. > “In a Saturday press conference, Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins called upon > residents to stay calm. ' **I don’t believe we’ll ever be back to normal** > ,' he said, the Toledo Blade reports. “But this is not going to be our new > normal. We’re going to fix this. Our city is not going to be abandoned.” > http://time.com/3074318/toledo-water/?xid=newsletter-brief I’m drawn to the line - “I don’t believe we’ll **ever** be back to normal,” which sounds like to me as if the Mayor doesn’t believe the water will get back to normal. What is the difference between “I don’t believe we’ll ever be back to normal,” which is simple negation and “I don’t believe we’ll never be back to normal,” which is double negation leading to affirmation? Actually, this morning AP news reported that Ohio Governor, John Kasich declaired yesterday that toxin level in the water supply has gone down significantly .


What does 'dispensation' mean in this particular context?

I was reading this article and stumbled upon this line > First, presidential dispensation is useful, but it's not remotely permanent. > White House occupants change. A more authoritarian chief executive than > Obama won't be bound by what he does. The author comes up with this statement while discussing about a draconian and outdated law which many feel can be "overturned" by President Obama. I looked into the dictionary meaning of the word "dispensation", but nowhere it means "overturned". The dictionary quotes that _dispensation_ means to make special exemption for someone or distribution of stuff. Can someone help me clarify the meaning of _dispensation_ in this context and is it an oft used meaning of the said word?


Complex question starting with 'I wonder'

I want to ask about some plans, which I want to define in the question. And I want to start with _I wonder_. So something like: > I wonder what the plans for the next steps regarding the topic we discussed > yesterday are. Admitting the sentence is not beautiful, I wonder if it is grammatically correct. It seems to be, according to the British Council. But the verb in the end looks too much disconnected from the _plans_ to me. However having a long immersion into German, where it would be correct, I can neither find a better form nor actually recall whether it's correct to do the same in English. So, is the phrase above correct?


"to suspect" vs "to be suspicious of"

What's the difference between "to suspect someone" vs "to be suspicious of someone"? For example, what's the difference between these two sentences:   1. I'm sorry for suspecting you.   2. I'm sorry for being suspicious of you.


What do R-rated and X-rated mean here?

From a course website for Brownian Motion and Stochastic Calculus > Recommended Reading: R-Rated > >   * Stochastic Differential Equations: An Introduction with Applications > (6th edition) by B. Oksendal >   * Brownian Motion by P. Morters and Y. Peres > > > Recommended Reading: X-Rated > >   * Continuous Martingales and Brownian Motion by D. Revuz and M. Yor >   * Brownian Motion and Stochastic Calculus by I. Karatzas and S. Shreve > I was wondering what R-rated and X-rated mean here? I only know a little that they are normally used for film ratings. But I suspect the reference books are rated according to their rigorousness and/or difficulty?


What is the plural form of "zero"?

I tried looking on Google, but there are some fairly contradictory results. I thought I'd ask you guys so we could get an authoritative answer on the subject!


What is meant by "thank you" in quotes?

In two different emails, I have seen _"thank you"_ placed in quotes. The first was a response to an email notice regarding an address change: > “Thanks” for the e mail, I updated our system. And the second was a response to a purchase order: > "Thank you" for the order, we will ship (1) case on Thursday. Why would someone use quotes in such a fashion? Normally I would assume sarcasm, but it seems a bit rude (and therefore unlikely in a business email) sarcastically thanking someone for an order.


Is there a word or phrase for the "log ride face"?

Is there a special word or phrase for the act of making an incongruent face or pose, during the final drop in log flume rides? ![log ride face](http://i.stack.imgur.com/iNKMX.png) Log flumes are a very common ride found in many amusement parks, with a long history. Patrons ride in a log boat that travels along a water flume, and the ride culminates in a final, steep drop. A common feature is that just before the drop, a hidden camera takes a photo of the riders, who are usually in a state of shock. The photos are then shown for all to see after the ride, where one may purchase those photos. This has spawned a practice where some patrons will deliberately make an inappropriate face or pose for this camera, which sometimes produces hilarious results.


Using the "ex" prefix on a multiple word subject

What is the proper way to use the "ex" prefix to more than one word? Examples: >   * He is an ex- **school bus driver**. >   * My ex **baseball coach** taught me. >   * I am an ex- **Fish and Game Warden**. >   * **"ex-school"** seems awkward. It looks as if he is a bus driver for ex-schools.   * **"ex"** by itself (no hyphen) doesn't seem right either. Is it?   * **"ex-Fish"** just sounds ridiculous. Is this correct usage? Can each part be hyphenated, or the hyphen dropped altogether? Is there another way to make this more clear while still keeping the "ex" prefix?


What's the meaning for 'de' in "Tour de France"?

What's the exact meaning for 'de' in Tour de France? Can I describe an riding event like 'Tour de Hainan Island'? Assuming I riding around Hainan island by cycling.


Help with a modifier: "Combined"

I am hoping for some help with the following statement from a construction contract: _The amounts of all subcontracts, provided that such amounts shall include a maximum of 10% mark-up for overhead and profit combined (including management, supervision, insurance, bonding, as-built and warranty costs) for those Subcontractors and their suppliers._ Does the word "combined" refer to "overhead and profit" or "Subcontractors and their suppliers". I work in construction, and have a situation where someone is trying to tell me that my company, our sub-contractor, and all of our suppliers are only entitled to share a total markup of 10%.


Cheesy fake grins and all!

What is the good word to describe 'comedy movies' and 'ads' that seem very fake and tacky, and which failingly try to draw emotional responses (with fake grins and all) (like some but _not all_ Robin Williams films _where he acts like a kid etc._ ). I thought of the word 'cheesy' but that doesn't connote 'trying to draw emotional responses from the audience'. So any good words or a word for that? I am also not thinking about the word: _low budget movies_ here.


Which is correct: "bored of", "bored by", "bored with"?

I have been asked by a young friend, "Which is correct: bored by, bored of, or bored with?" My instinct is to say that "bored of" and "bored by" are fine, but "bored with" sounds like she is being bored alongside someone else who is also bored. My trusty Dictionary of English Usage has failed me. Any thoughts?


"Nation": place or people?

I’m trying to sort out the full meaning of the word _nation_ , specifically the degree to which it means a _place_ versus _a group of people_. The question and answers here are specific but divided. User waiwai933 reports that nation is the people ( _“identical to State [a group of people where at least one person has power and authority]; alternatively, a group of people identified by one culture (less common).”_ ). User kiamlaluno quotes the NOAD that a nation is “people … inhabiting a particular country or territory.” Finally, user T.E.D. quotes Wikipedia saying that “The state is a political and geopolitical entity; the nation is a cultural and/or ethnic entity.” So already there is disagreement. Various dictionaries I’ve consulted seem divided on the matter. If I write that a small child “fills his tiny nation” will it be read as “he fills his territory” or “he fills his ethno/cultural group”? Or could it be read either way?


What is the difference between “here goes” and “here it goes”?

I’m wondering what the difference between _here goes_ and _here it goes_ is. When something is going down and I want to express my feeling of “I’ll make it!”, which expression is correct? For example, when my job interview is going to start, would I write the first or the second? >   1. I got ready for the interview. Here goes! >   2. I got ready for the interview. Here it goes! > If these expressions are same, please tell me which expression you natives often use.


Why do you say "square" in "Be there or be square"?

I've known the saying > Be there or be square! for a long time, but never really understood - why "square"? Where does that come from? Why not > Be there or be rectangular! :-)


Word for "does not exist"

Is there a single word for the text within quotation marks in the citation below? > All such statements [entity doesn’t exist] are casual short-hand for a more > elaborate and technical statement: “this alleged entity has no place in any > scientific equations, plays no role in any scientific explanations, cannot > be used to predict any events, does not describe any thing or force that has > yet been detected, and there are no models of the universe in which its > presence is either required, productive, or useful.”


what does " which way does this go, now?" mean?

I am reading a play, in a coversation one of characters refered to table setting and ask " which way does this go, now?" what is that about? about eating ? or cleaning the table?


Apart from place names, are there any Native American words used in English?


A single word meaning to abide in a place for a long time

Can anybody give me a single word meaning to abide in a place for long time? I'm thinking in the context of "to remain in prison" (or elsewhere, against one's will).


Escapism or escape

I am not a native speaker. Recently, I came across the following sentence. _They promise escapism. Escapism from the mundane and into the challenging and extraordinary._ Is the use of escapism correct on both occassions?


Structure of persuasive and explanatory sentences

I recently attended a workshop on academic writing. The workshop organiser advised that persuasive sentences should present the conclusion followed by evidence. In contrast, sentences that provide an explanation should present the evidence followed by conclusions. Is anyone else aware of this structure? Is it commonly used in academic writing? Is it a standard sentence structure?


How should I punctuate the "Shocked" line from Casablanca?

I'm writing something that mimics the famous "Shocked" line from Casablanca, but I can't find a good way to punctuate the phrase without it looking odd. Any ideas please? > I'm shocked, shocked, that StackExchange would answer my question. That just looks like I'm listing all my reactions.


How closely synonymous are “forward” and “straightforward”?

# Part 1: Introduction In the U.S., we have a game show called _Jeopardy!_ , where contestants answer trivia questions in certain categories. This television program, which has aired for a few decades now, has an interesting gimmick, where "answers" are given, and contestants must provide the right question. For example, in once recent episode, in the category "The Story of English", one answer was: > In Chaucer's day, "boot" was pronounced "boat"; the change to modern speech > is called the GVS, "great" **this** "shift" and the correct response was: > What is _vowel_? Also, categories with quotation marks embedded in their name require those letters to be included in each response. For example, in the category "RR" CROSSING, a clue was > To lose assets in large quantities, or to bleed profusely and the correct response was > What is _hemorrhage_? Every once in a while, a contestant's response is initially ruled incorrect, but a panel of judges will override that initial ruling, deeming the answer sufficiently correct. (Perhaps there's another valid word for something that the framers of the question didn't anticipate.) In these cases, scores are adjusted. Since negative scores are given for incorrect answers, these corrections can have a fairly strong impact on the competition. For example, a $1200 question reversed causes a $2400 swing for one contestant. # Part 2: The Debate The January 10th episode had a category called: > "WARD" OF THE DAY One clue was: > It's the opposite of _leeward_ and the correct response was: > What is _windward_? Now, the part of the game that prompted a lengthy debate between my wife and I, and my question here. The clue was, quite simply: > Honest & direct to which one contestant replied: > What is _forward_? But the host responded, "No," and then gave the correct response: > What is _straightforward_? As we watched, we were pretty sure that we'd see a scoring change after the commercial break, and we were surprised when we didn't. This prompted us to start looking up both words in the dictionary (actually, more than one dictionary; I'll give a few excerpts here):   * from Macmillan:  > **straightforward** ( _adj._ ) clear and honest > > **forward** ( _adj._ ) very confident and direct about saying what you > think, in a way that is not socially suitable   * from ODO: > **straightforward** ( _adj._ ) (of a person) honest and frank: _a > straightforward young man_ > > **forward** ( _adj._ ) (of a person) bold or overfamiliar in manner: _I am > not usually a forward sort of person_ In the end, the debate between my wife and I ended in a split decision: one of us thought the contestant had been given a raw deal, while the other thought the judges had made the correct ruling. # Part 3: My Question What do you think? Is _forward_ close enough in meaning to _straightforward_ , that the judges should have accepted that response? Or do the two words differ enough that you would stick by the judges in their refusal to deem that response correct?


Origin of the phrase, 'Look the other way'?

Does anyone know the origin of the phrase, "look the other way"? It is generally used today in any situation where one person allows something to happen without acting. They need non literally _look the other way_ , so when and how did that non-literal usage come to be?


One word for "happily surprised"

Is there one word for “happily surprised”?


One word for the type of smile which suggests "I’ve got you! Now you can’t escape!"

Is there one word for the type of smile which shows the following type of emotion: > I’ve got you! Now you can’t escape! For example, a detective smiles this way on finding an irrefutable piece of evidence that will convict a notorious criminal.


Sounds which seem to express a particular quality in whatever words they appear

I noticed that in the English language words ending in "ip" often suggest a brisk, quick movement, as with _clip_ , _flip_ , _skip_ and _tip_. In other terms, the closing part of these words seems to be suggestive of the meaning itself. Presumably, that circumstance helps advertisers in promoting their products, as, for example, one can see in the picture below. ![](http://i.stack.imgur.com/uH0JH.jpg) I'm wondering if there is a name for sounds, like the above mentioned, which seem to express a particular quality whatever words they appear. Obviously, there are a lot of other cases. For example, it seems as if "sk" at the start of words such as _scoot_ , _skip_ , _scuttle_ expresses the quick movement implied in all of them, while "sl" suggests either a falling or sliding in movement as in _slip_ , _slither_ , _slouch_ , or something slimy or slushy, as in those words and in _sludge_ , _slobber_ , and _slobby_.


'computer programming is quite literally black and white'

I was thinking about this in the context of creating task requirements, having having to explicitly define how a program is to function. One might say: > Law is often described as black and white, for most cases it is quite clear > whether something falls within the bounds of the law or not. However, unlike > law, computer programming is quite literally black and white, there are no > areas that are open for interpretation. What I'm meaning, isn't that computer programming is literally the colours black and white. But that it is binary and deterministic, there's not room for interpretation. Whereas for other fields, even though law can be described as 'black and white' there are areas that are open for interpretation. I think you could argue that the use of literally here is correct - that is, computer programming literally matches what the idiom 'black and white' is expressing. If literally isn't correct, what phrase can one use here instead?


What do we call quality management system software?

Is there a specific name for all kind of software related to quality management system, i.e. ISO 9001. being more specific, when in business someone talks about an ERP, everybody knows what does that mean, or a CRM.


An alternative to the word pray, without a religious connotation

When I write, I try my best to leave religion and words that carry some divine connotation out of it. I recently stumbled upon the phrase in one of my texts _"[...] but pray it never happens."_. I was wondering how to rewrite it, removing the connection with deities but keeping the same _effect/meaning_. Any ideas?


En dash with compound adjectives (problem)

I frequently encounter cases, such as the ones below, where you seemingly have two hyphenated compound adjectives modifying a noun. I know that in such cases that you should join the compound adjectives with an en dash. However, in case (1) the author later wrote "...dual-hop MARNs...", using the initialism to denote the noun; thus, illustrating that "Multiple-access" is not a hyphenated compound adjective. Hence, my problem is what should be done in case (1). Should the noun be hyphenated right the way through to show that it is indeed one unit, as in "Dual-Hop Multiple-Access-Relay-Networks", or is their another way? (1) Dual-Hop Multiple-Access Relay Networks (2) Semi-definite Programming-based Approach If you write (1) as "Dual-Hop( **en dash** )Multiple-Access Relay Networks, then I think this implies that "dual-hop relay networks" exist and that "multiple-access relay networks" exist independently of each other, which may not actually be the case. Please help me out here because these things crop up so often in my work.


Past participle of "flaw"

According to Wiktionary, the past participle of "flaw" is _flawed_ , and _flawn_ is not mentioned as being a valid alternative. However, the past participle of "draw" is _drawn_. I know that Modern English is irregular with regard to many forms and conjugations (for better or worse), but at first glance it is logical that the past participle form should be _flawn_ , and not _flawed_. In short, what is the correct conjugation of the past participle for the verb _flaw_?


Word meaning "initial and annual"?

In my business, we accept monthly payments however the first monthly payment is higher than the 11 following payments. When the service renews the next year we change the higher initial fee again. I want to say something like this: > $20 per month after an initial payment of $100 But that makes it sound like the initial payment is a one-off, but it recurs annually when the policy is renewed. Is there a more succinct way to say "initial but recurring"?


What is the opposite of a monopoly?

There is an "oligopoly", which is the dominating of the market by a select few businesses. Then there's **__** , which is when no single business dominates their respective market. What's that called?


Designators, quantifications and predicates in Predicate Logic

So, I got my Predicate Logic exercises back, and I had apprently made one mistake. What is annoying is that I don't know why. The taks was to identify all the designators and predicates in a certain number of sentences. The one I got wrong on was this: > "Everyone tells the officer to keep an eye on City Hall" I identified two designators here, and three predicates, like this: > Designators: > >> >>      the officer   >>      City hall >>   > > Predicates: > >> >>      Everyone tells x to keep an eye on City hall >>      Everyone tells the officer to keep an eye on y >>      Everyone tells x to keep an eye on y >>   Where I had gone wrong was apparently in the last predicate ("everyone tells x to keep an eye on y"), for there my teacher had crossed out "Everyone" and put "z", like this > > >>      z tells x to keep an eye on y >>   My questions are: > > 1) Why is everyone substituted for z, when I have explicitly learned that > "everyone, each, some, all, none, etc are **not** designators", and I though > one could only remove designators to make predicates ... >> >> 2) Why is it only substituted for z in the last predicate and not in the two first one? >> >> 3) Why is it "everone" not listed as a designator, when it is removed for the sentence? Thanks!


cat eye vs. cat's eye

I was reading another thread here and came across a technical term _rheum_ that I didn't know. I went to wikipedia for more information and saw a picture there where the caption says > Rheum in cat eyes. Shouldn't it be **cat's** eyes with the possessive _'s_? Or either is possible? If so, can you please explain why?


Fair or Fare? - Which is right in this sentence?

Recently in a newspaper article, I read this line phrase "to conduct a fare probe". Shouldn't it be "to conduct a fair probe" ?? If the former is correct grammatically, can you explain why ?? The context of the above phrase was about conducting an unbiased probe into a crime committed by a criminal.


Idioms that mean making decision between two good options

I am looking for expressions that mean "to decide between two good options." For example, you have to choose between getting a car that you like or a super car that's very expensive but you are not sure if you like it. I searched on Google and there are some phrases that mean to make decision between two **unpleasant** options so, I am not sure if there such an expression in English or not.


'At' vs. 'On' when referring a temperature

Assume you have a chemical solution and you want it to be frozen and kept at a temperature of -4 degrees, or you want an action to be taken on the solution at -4 degrees, what would you use then? Would you write 'freeze at -4 degrees' or 'freeze in -4 degrees', would you write 'execute the action at -4 degrees' or 'execute the action in -4 degrees' I know I have kind of answered myself inside my question but I want to know that I'm not mistaken, as I'm writing an academic article and I don't want to hassle my professors with grammer.


What does "week" mean in place names?

I visited darkest Devon recently, and happened to pass through a couple of places named "Week". On studying the map I found several others, such as James Week, Mary Week, Chawleigh Week, and so on. Does "Week" had a special meaning in place names, and if so, what is it?


Please help me understand the meaning these sentences

We have a call about it tonight. We're trying to close it as a bigger project. I'll let you know soon. I would like to understand what 'close it as a bigger project' means. Does it mean the project is being shelved or does it mean that project is being made as a bigger one. Sorry , I am weak in these things!


What do you call a woman who is crafty, employs ingenuity in a general range of things like sewing, baking, paper crafts, etc

I'm trying to find a noun that embodies a range of crafty skills. This word would ideally follow my adjective "craftiest" and would describe someone (typically a woman) who could be seen as someone who covers range of titles such as seamstress, homemaker, baker, and general crafts like that. Is there any such word?


"What's going on?" vs. "What's happening?"

Is there a semantic difference between `What's going on?` and `What's happening?`. Can they be used interchangeably?


Alphanumeric abbreviations in English

I've been running across some interesting abbreviations on the internet. For example: > **b4** : before   >  **w8** : wait I find it clever because you use just 2 letters to express a longer word. What's the origin of these abbreviations? Can you please provide a full list of them?


What is right way to write this (break-down)

> I prepared report on total spending in month along with break down by items.


How to address a female interviewer

So just had a phone interview, the interviewer was a lady, now that i want to write a thank you letter, how should i address her, Ms or Mrs, because i am not supposed to know she's married or not


Using "of" before "whether" and general usage of "whether"

I was reading a mathematics text, and I came across a phrase which I thought was written incorrectly. There was a part of a sentence: > ... it begs the question whether or not A=B. and I feel this is incorrect, but I'm not sure. I think it should be written like this: > ... it begs the question of whether or not A=B. Or maybe there that's also incorrect, and there is a better form altogether? Maybe taking out the "or not" would make it even more correct, but I'm still not sure. My main problem is that I think there should be an "of" before the "whether" but I don't know why. So, what is the correct form of this expression?


Business English Semantic Shift of "Abreast"

My coworker just sent out an email asking someone to _[please] keep **abreast** for a response_. My understanding is that the phrase is _keep abreast **of x_** , and that it is used to mean actively keeping up with **x** , which is supported by the idiomatic definition. ( **Edit for clarification:** The intended meaning in the email is _"wait for a response"_.) I am aware of the phenomenon of words taking on different meanings in business contexts, but this is not one that I have come across before (in my admittedly short time in the corporate world). Is this commonly used elsewhere?


"which had return'd to the inheritance of Fortinbras"

Here are some lines from _Hamlet_ , Act 1, Scene 1 (The Arden Shakespeare edited by Harold Jenkins) > Against the which a moiety competent > > Was gaged by our King, which had return'd > > To the inheritance of Fortinbras, > > Had he been vanquisher; I think "which had return'd" should be "which would have returned" in Modern English. Was "which had returned" regular at Shakespeare's time? Or was it irregular even at that time?


Origin of “sick to my stomach”

Where does the phrase _sick to my stomach_ come from? Never stopped to think of it before. It doesn’t even seem grammatically correct.


Is there a word to describe what someone is worth, economically?

Is there a word that describes what someone is worth, economically? For example, if Joe has gone to school for five years and has a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, there is a certain minimum value on him. He can easily make more than $15/hour, so that would mean that he is minimally worth $15/hour.


Help in deciphering the meaning of this convoluted sentence

I was reading an answer on one of the sister sites of this site and came across this line : > A common question, glad you asked it. Here is all you never thought you > would ever not want to know about it. I read the second sentence three or four times but still confused at what it means. Can someone break down this convoluted sentence and help me understand the idea behind this sentence?


Is there a single word for a person who overreacts?

I'm looking for a single word that describes a person who often overreacts to things.


"any" versus "arbitrary"

Which of the following sentences are correct? The relation between any two nodes is associated with a real number that indicates the probability. The relation between two arbitrary nodes is associated with a real number that indicates the probability. The relation between two nodes is associated with a real number that indicates the probability.


"Less" and "fewer" in English

English uses two lexemes to denote that something is smaller in number or size/amount: "Less" and "fewer". "Less" is used for uncountable nouns ("I needed _less_ time to mow the lawn today"), while "fewer" is used for countable ones ("I needed _fewer_ attempts to get the lawnmower going today"). However, sometimes "less" is used with countable nouns (famously the "X items or _less_ " register in supermarkets). When can countable nouns be used with "less"? Consider these examples:   * I'll only need five minutes or _less_ to mow the lawn.   * A lawnmower may only go 5 mph or _less_.   * You may only use my lawnmower if you weigh 75 kg or _less_. These sentences sound correct to me, while the use of "fewer" in these contexts seems incorrect or at least odd to me (as a non-native speaker of English):   * ? I'll only need five minutes or _fewer_ to mow the lawn.   * ? A lawnmower may only go 5 mph or _fewer_.   * ? You may only use my lawnmower if you weigh 75 kg or _fewer_. Which of these do native speakers prefer? Could it be that "less" is acceptable, when the countable noun refers to an uncountable entity (such as time, speed or weight)? If so, is this restricted to units (minutes, mph, kg)? Also: Would this explain the use of "less" in "X items or less", as "items" as a countable noun refers to an abstract, uncountable entity (i.e. "shopping")?


Why not 'to effect'?

> To give effect to something or to carry/bring/put something into effect is > to make it begin doing what it was intended to do. Are these verb phrases ('to give effect...', to + verb + into + effect) containing 'effect' prolix and tortuous? Why not simply use 'to effect'? They transpire to suggest that there may be differences?


Does saying "he uses" imply volition?

A recent L.A. Times brief mentioned that the horse California Chrome's qualification for a race was in question because "he uses nasal strips." The phrasing caught my eye because, to me, saying "he uses" implies that it is the horse's decision (as opposed to that of his trainers or other people). Was the paper correct?


How many times do you have to do a thing before it becomes a tradition

I recently heard an advertisement proclaiming that Bar-B-Q was a tradition at a local bar/restaurant. This seemed a little ludicrous to us and we began discussing how many times a thing had to be done in a row before it was a tradition. Is there a specific rule? Is three times enough? Does it have to be done for a generation at least?


Does "C follows A" apply to "ABCDE"

Given the sequence: > ABCDE I think it makes sense to say "B follows A", but what about "C follows A"? I mean, is "follow" limited to the case where something comes _right_ after something else? Does it imply immediate neighborship in the string?


What is the verb for the action of a coward?

I wonder what the verb for the action of a "coward" is. I remember there seems to be a verb form similar to _coward_ , but _coward_ cannot be a verb.


Plurality of a group also referenced using we/our/us

This question (migrated to _writers.se_ ) uses an example sentence along the lines of > ABC is expanding our operations overseas. As a Brit, I'm quite comfortable with either **ABC is** or **ABC are** in most contexts, but in this particular construction the switch in plurality from **is** to **our** in a single sentence really grates. Curiously, I find I don't have this problem if those two words are in separate sentences. > ABC is a dynamic company. We are expanding our operations overseas. Is this just a personal hangup of mine? Or there a US/UK divide on the issue? I don't think this is a question about whether companies are singular or plural (as covered here). I'm asking about attitudes to using both **is** and **our** in the same sentence like this.


"More precisely" usage

After describing a certain issue in a more general manner I want to outline the inner details of it. Is it correct to start the paragraph whose purpose it is to give to the reader the detailed explanation with the following expression? > More precisely,... Or are there other expressions which would fit better given the above scope?


What do we call people who go to the gym?

A group of people who regularly attend gym classes or work-out. What are they called? Is there a single-word for this particular group? Apart from my calling them _fanatics_ , _mad_ (BrEng)/ _crazy_ (AmEng), _body- obsessed_ , _vain_ or _dull_. Seriously, what are they? **_Devotees_**? **_Learners_**? **_Practitioners_**? I'd also appreciate any equivalent popular/recognized expressions that haven't yet entered any standard dictionary but have been _buzzing_ around for a few years. _**Trivia_**   In Italian, a gym is called _palestra_. Italians are very body conscious and tend to look after themselves very well, in fact it is true to say that it's quite difficult to find overweight, unattractive, or unfit men or women who attend these almost daily sessions. The men, in particular, can get carried away and so the expression _palestrato_ has been coined in the Italian language. A **palestrato** is someone who **frequently attends the gym** , but is also an exhibitionist, self-obsessed, extremely vain, and very very muscular.


What is the meaning of "tap dance to work"?

I know what tap dance is. But the book "Tap Dance to Work" by Loomis seems imply doing something joyfully or easily. Where is the phrase originating?


what does "Left off" mean?

Has anyone help me to understand meaning of "Left off" for example in below sentence: > Where We Left Off and What’s Next


Is this a dangling modifier?

Was just reading _The $100 Startup_ and came across this sentence: > Happily, the launch was successful. Is this a dangling modifier (not sure if that's what it's called)? Or some other error? It seems to me that it's the launch here in the sentence that's going about its business happily, not the author.


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

This is a comment from a forum discussion: > This is OT. You must cook every meal to perfect macros. You then must buy > tupperware and drag it into work the next day. That is all you are allowed > to eat for lunch. If you do not bring leftovers you must only eat at a local > restaurant. What does the poster mean by _drag it into work_? Is he using _drag_ figuratively, or _drag something into something_ is a phrasal verb for something else?


Term for changing a word to fit another word inside it

Ska does this all the time. The Skatalites Eskanol (spanish ska) Skatastrophic I can't seem to think of a single other example, but I know I've seen it other places.


What is the origin of the idiom "tearing hair out"?

What is the origin of the idiom "tearing hair out" or "pulling my hair out"?


What is the meaning of "some" in this sentence?

What does `some` mean in the following sentence? Does it has a meaning similar to `hardly any`?               Some consensus has been reached regarding the theoretical basis for     measuring the cost of travel time.


Meaning of "Material career"

> The only events worth noting in his **material career** are his installation > at Toulouse at the age of 30 (14 May 1631), as commissioner of requests; > > from Eric Temple Bell's _Men of Mathematics_ The sentence is about Fermat (A mathematician). Does material career mean "Non-Spiritual" , "Non-Mathematics" or "earthly" ?


"do the dishes" vs "wash the dishes"

Are there any difference in the meaning between do/wash the dishes? Are they used in different situations or are they synonyms? For example 'mountain hiking' would not say 'hiking mountain' ... This question was asked by a friend, and I don't know either, English isn't my mother tongue, so if somebody knows it, please help me.


Can one be "convicted" if one has a strong opinion?

Can "convicted" be used to qualify somebody who has a conviction (in the sense of strong opinion)? In that context it would be a close synonym of convinced or opinionated for example. It possibly makes etymological sense but I don't know if it is (or has ever been) an accepted usage of that word in English.


Why is it that John Chrysostom is almost never referred to as "John Golden Mouth" in English?

Why is it that the sainted John Chrysostom (b. 347?, d. 407; Archbishop of Constantinople, 397–407) is almost never referred to as "John Golden Mouth" in English? ("Chrysostom" means "Golden Mouth" in Greek.) Would "John Golden Mouth" sound somewhat inappropriate or somewhat weird in English? Compare how we change Vlad Țepeș to Vlad the Impaler.


What's the most common word refer to the after death letter?

I am confused between : Will, legacy, Commandment, Precept, Behest, Testament and more. Which word refer to the declaration or the message by which a person ask the world to do certain things after his death, like his recommendations and the distribution of his property..etc.


Different ways of saying Aluminium

this is a very short question but me and a couple of friends have been discussing this for a little. Does anyone know why Americans and British people especially insists on saying "Aloominum" and "Aloominium" respectively?


Something similar to "plepentry envoy"

Long time ago I heard a word that to the best of my recollection is "plepentry envoy" I have googled a few variants, but "pleopentry envoy", "pelepentry envoy" etc. but nothing similar is coming up. This is a long shot, but the word was suppose to mean something like an envoy that was dispatched by a royal with full mandate without requiring to approve their decisions by the King himself as they would have been acting on behalf of the King ( Of course if later King find out or decided that they did not act as he would then off with their heads). Anyone has any hints on how to chase up this word?


What does "matriculated" mean in following para?

The Doctor, seeing his client more attentive than alarmed, was greatly surprised. **He must be _matriculated_** , said he to himself— ' A h ! ah!' added he aloud; 'you have been obliged to shave off the lock. You have been prudent; however you need not have done so, when putting yourself under my hands. The case is serious; but you don't know what I have courage to do in a time of need.' To understand this mistake of the Doctor's, it must be known, that at that time, bravoes by profession, and villains of every kind, used to wear a long lock of hair, which they drew over the face like a visor on meeting any one.


Saxon Genitiv or of-genitive? - e.g. 'the family's' vs 'of the family'

If you look up the rules for the use of the Saxon genitive, grammar textbooks will tell you that it is used with nouns that refer to persons or animals. However, a search on google yields the following results: site:ac.uk "the family's wealth" = 581 hits - site:ac.uk "the wealth of the family" 44,400 hits site:edu "the family's wealth" = 18,000 hits - site:edu "the wealth of the family" = 219,000 hits site:ac.uk "their daughter's death" 50 hits - site:ac.uk "the death of their daughter " 9.540 site:edu "their daughter's death" 6.740 hits - site:edu "the death of their daughter" 153,000 hits. Granted that ac.uk domains reflect educated British English usage and that edu domains reflect educated American English usage, is there a rule that can explain the preference for the Norman genitive in these and similar cases?


Is there a word for a comment which makes no sense or adds nothing to the current discussion?

Consider this conversation: > John: I am giving free chess lessons.   >  Mary: Nice! You’re a true teacher.   >  John: How so?   >  Mary: A true teacher imparts knowledge without a price tag.   >  John: But what if teaching is his only source of income? Would he not be a > “true” teacher then?   >  Mark ( _in response to the question above_ ): **You clearly mentioned “free > chess lesson”**. I don’t see how Mark’s comment adds anything to the discussion or makes sense in the current discussion. It is “redundant” — that’s one word for it — but is there a more fitting word?


Salary comes from salt, but where does salt come from?

OK, this was a trick question. :-) The first part of the question is about etymology but my real question is about vocabulary. I would like to know the name of the place where sea salt is harvested. Is there a specific name for it in English? I have found salt pan - alluding to the technique of boiling sea water in a pan to collect the salt at the end - or salt (evaporation) pond. In Portuguese we have the single word "salina" to define such place.


What does “the little guy” in “(Larry Summers) would be an enthusiastic enforcer of bank regulation to protect the little guy” mean?

In New York Times’ (August 13) article titled, “Summers of our discontent,” Maureen Dowd manifests her objection to the possible nomination of Larry Summers by President Obama by asking, “Does the fact that we’ve had no female Fed chairs and no female Treasury secretaries mean that Summers was right when he said women are less likely to have the kind of brains that would allow them to get top jobs requiring math skills? http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/14/opinion/dowd-summers-of-our- discontent.html?hp&_r=0Summers And she asks; > “But the idea that it is somehow historically inevitable that the > chairmanship of the Federal Reserve should go to Summers, that it belongs to > him, that he would be an enthusiastic enforcer of bank regulation to protect > **the little guy**? I have my doubts.” Who is “the little guy”? Does it mean the weak, or small loan borrowers? Is it a single person or entity? Why is it in the singular form when it refers to guy, a countable noun - I mean, why it is 'the guy," not "the guys" when it indicates guys in a social group or class?


Can "divest" mean "strip or deprive"?

Is the word _divest_ used in the meaning "strip" or "deprive"? This word is in the GRE high-frequency word list, and my workbook says that it means "strip or deprive". Also, Wiktionary has an article with the same meaning. But I've checked a couple of dictionaries (Cambridge and Collins) and I've failed to find this meaning of the word _divest_ , only "to sell something, especially business, part of business or to stop taking part in a business activity". In which meaning is the word "divest" usually used?


"Typical of" or "typical for"?

### Background Reading this post, I realized that I had a tendency to use _"typical **for** "_ rather than _"typical **of** "_. After a quick research, reading through several sources on the web, I found that the more I read, the more I got confused. I felt like there is no established rules to state which one is more appropriate, in which occasion. I even found the two usages in the same BBC's article, > "The painting is a little a-typical **for** Van Gogh because of the many > people appearing on it but also very typical because of the prominent role > for the mill." > > "But he added that other elements of the the work, with its bright colours > lathered roughly on the canvas, was typical **of** Van Gogh's style at the > time he was living in Paris." The searches for "typical of" and "typical for" here (EL&U) both returned substantial results, though "typical of" appears to be in favor. ### Confusion Trying to make sense of it, I was about to conclude that I should use "of" when the typicality is something _intrinsic_ (a property or a character of what was talked about), and use "for" when such typicality should be viewed _extrinsically_. As these two examples from Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, > _This meal is typical of local cookery_. (intrinsic)   >  _A typical working day for me begins at 7.30._ (extrinsic) But soon I felt abash when I found someone mentioned question 7 in this English Grammar Test, Elementary Level # 71, > Such bad behavior is typical .......... the spoiled child.   > > > a) for   >  b) with   >  c) about   >  d) of The question was listed under _"british vs. american english"_ , implying that each dialect prefers one usage over another. But I have a feeling that it might turn out to be untrue. Is there any good rule of thumb for the usage of **typical for** vs. **typical of**?


Word for someone who is hungry for power and control

What do you call someone who's running after power and is hungry of controlling everything/everyone, all the time? Somehow like ~~a moderator~~ Darth Vader.


Word to describe pushing a chair under a table

Is there a word or a short phrase to describe the action of pushing a chair under a table?


Is "the" required in "Welcome to [the] premier issue of"?

In the premier issue of a new magazine I saw today, the first line reads "Welcome to premier issue of Vegas/Rated." I was thrown by the lack of some other word preceding "premier". It could have an article like "the" for "the premier issue", or it could have also said "our", as in "our premier issue". So is the sentence, as it stands, correct and simply an esoteric usage of grammar? Or is it an actual error? In an answer below, a rule about not using the article before the name of a city is brought up. However, I'm not sure this applies as "Vegas/Rated" is a proper noun, and the name of a magazine, regardless of a portion of it being a city name.


Where does the phrase "possession is ( nine points | nine-tenths ) of the law" come from?

I've seen dozens of arguments for the correctness and/or precedence of one version over the other, but have not come across compelling sources or well- documented explanations for either. Does anyone have solid information on which came first, and how it was derived?


Do two people have "breaths"?

In some books, I see the use of the word "breaths" in the phrase "they held their breaths". Is this correct? And if it is, should I go by the Ngram (below) in spite of grammaticality? ![](http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/chart?content=held+their+breath%2Cheld+their+breaths&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=0&smoothing=3) Or are both correct? (If so, I would go with the more popular "held their breath".)


What Exactly is the Meaning of "Fatal"?

My understanding is that in its normal usage, it means "deadly." But the root word of "fatal" appears to be "fate," rather than anything that has to do with "death." In this regard, "fatal" resembles "fateful." Could "fatal" be a variant of "fateful," perhaps with the "deadly" connotations alluded to above?


Is there a difference between "continual" and "continuous"?

They are very close in meaning, I know, but I want to know if there are any subtle differences. Let me give you an example of a subtle difference in meaning between synonyms: > _Deceitful_ vs. _deceptive_ At first glance, these seem to be perfect synonyms. However, in putting them into sentences, one finds a pattern - _deceitful_ is almost always used of persons, and _deceptive_ is always used of situations or things. So the "perfect" synonyms cannot always replace each other. My question is: is there a similar subtle difference between _continuous_ and _continual_?


When it's OK to omit "where?"

When it's OK to omit "where?" For example, is it OK to omit it in the following sentence? > This is the one of the few places (where) you can breathe real air. In which situations one's not allowed to do this?


Why "like doing something" or "like to do something" but only "dislike doing something"?

At a further education course for teachers, in Switzerland, (given by two native speakers of English), someone came up with the question of whether you could say "dislike doing something" and "dislike to do something", just as you can say "like doing something" and "like to do somehting". The answer was you could not, and that it was a question of usage. Period!/Full stop! Just learn this by heart and stop asking silly questions! Will keeping your whys to yourself make you… wise?!


How should I capitalize "Clean Up the Tags and Branches" as a title to a section?

Specifically, I am wondering how "Clean Up" should be capitalized. I have three plausible options:   1. "Clean Up"   2. "Clean-up"   3. "Clean up" It all really depends on what part of speech "up" is and whether it requires hyphenation. I was thinking that "clean up" is a phrasal verb and... I don't know...


How to comprehend the phrase "put them in affluent group of people"

I've heard this phrase in Steve Jobs presentation about Apple's 'mothership' building plan in Cupertino. The two ways I can come up to understand:   1. literally put them in the rich people   2. make them affluent enough which one is correct in this content?


Meaning of "In 1995, Eric Cantona was at the height of his powers."

> "In 1995, Eric Cantona was at the height of his powers." Does it mean Cantona made great achievements in 1995? Or could it mean he possessed powers because it is his footballing heyday?


How can I describe the use of "you" when referring to a group of people rather than the second party?

I have used the pronoun "you" instead of the more appropriate word "one" in the position of the pronoun when referring to a generic group. Then when realizing the slip, I've qualified the statement with "When I said 'you', I meant you in the pejorative, not you specifically". What is the correct word or phrase to use instead of "pejorative" in the above? I discovered that "pejorative" has a more negative connotation than I intend.


How should I greet two people sharing the same first name in an email?

I'm sending an email to two persons with the same first name (Steve) Greeting them by saying "Hi Steve, Steve" seems totally awkward. Is there a good way of writing this, apart from the obvious "Hi" without mentioning any first name ?


Where does the term "my bag" come from?

What is the origin of the term "my bag"? As in, > That's just not **my bag**. I know what it means. Essentially, for the example above, it would mean "That's not my sort of thing." I know it's been around a while, since 60s hero Austin Powers was always saying it. So I'm guessing it's 60s slang, that's still hanging on today. But why a "bag"? Did "bag" get used to mean a generic thing in other context? Is it short for something, or rhyming slang. Any ideas?


What does the phrase "tell us what you really think" mean?

What does "tell us what you really think" mean? It seems to be used when someone _is_ telling us what they really think...


Switching from present tense to future tense

> Probably one of the most important decisions a writer can make is to decide > on (and stick to) a narrative voice through which to tell the story. The > narrative voice **will** include two elements, each of which must be > consistent throughout the story-telling process. The first is point of view, > and the second is verb tense. I recently read the above paragraph, and I'm confused about why the author used "will" in the above paragraph. Is the above paragraph written in narrative mode? If I had to write the paragraph, I would write the following instead. Would my choice of verb in the paragraph below be incorrect? Thank you for your help! > Probably one of the most important decisions a writer can make is to decide > on (and stick to) a narrative voice through which to tell the story. The > narrative voice **includes** two elements, each of which must be consistent > throughout the story-telling process. The first is point of view, and the > second is verb tense.


Correct names for lycanthrope species with abnormally named base creatures

It's normally easy to name a lycanthrope species: just place "were" in front of the name of the base creature, i.e. "werewolf", "werebear", or "weredragon". Sometimes, though, the base creature's name is an open compound word, i.e. the komodo dragon. The "komodo" part of the name is crucial to the identity of the creature; komodo dragons are not remotely regular dragons. Is the lycanthrope form a "werekomodo dragon"? The sounds like a dragon species with "werekomodo" as a qualifier. Someone once suggested "komodo weredragon", but that doesn't sound right to me, either. That sounds more like a dragon-based lycanthrope (which it is not), with "komodo" as some sort of qualifier. The final option I suppose would be "werekomododragon", which I favor most, but I still don't feel right about it. How about the Mongolian death worm? This one not only has spaces in its name, but "Mongolian" is capitalized. Does the lycanthrope form end up being a "wereMongoliandeathworm"?


"Disappointed in" versus "disappointed with"

I'm aware there are different prepositions possible after _disappointed_ : _with_ , _in_ , _of_ , _at_. I'm particulary interested in the difference between _with_ and _in_. >   * I'm disappointed **with** you. >   * I'm disappointed **in** you. > Which one is correct? Or do they have a slightly different meaning?


How do you say 'self-important' when applied to a group of people?

I am writing a text about how the team "Leopard Trek" (Tour de France) is perceived by people in Luxembourg as a 'luxembourgish' team, even though it has an international roster of multiple countries. The only thing it has to do with Luxembourg is the few luxembourgish drivers it has and the fact that it is registered in Luxembourg. The term I am trying to use is 'self-important', since I think it is kind of arrogant when people here speak of 'Team Luxembourg' or 'Team Schleck'. However, I think that the word would put the critic on the team (which is innocent) instead of the fans. How would you describe _a group of people_ (or a general situation), that only see their part of a common struggle/team/collaboration instead of thinking of themselves as a part of a whole.


Guide to living well vs guide to live well

For Example: > Your guide 'to living' well with diseases. 'To living' your dream life. Why use living instead of live? I would like to know how to use and why to use a gerund instead of an infinitive following to.


"Access to..." or "access of..."?

Translating a title of a paper from another language, I’m debating between   * Remote Access _to_ a Computer System   * Remote Access _of_ a Computer System This is a title, so it should stand on its own, without extra context. Which is correct? If both are valid English, what’s the difference in meaning?


What is the  structure of "Long time passing"?

> **WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE**   >  words and music by Pete Seeger > > Where have all the flowers gone?   >  _Long time passing_   >  Where have all the flowers gone?   >  Long time ago   >  Where have all the flowers gone?   >  Girls have picked them every one   >  When will they ever learn?   >  When will they ever learn?   >  ..... What is the exact meaning of "Long time passing"? What kind of construct is it? NB: Of course I can infer an approximate meaning, but I can't recognize the structure   **[adj] [noun] [present participle]** as a stand alone one.


What is the "group name" for students who entered / left university in the same year?

For example, I entered my university in 2006, so I am a student of "grade 2006" (a direct translation from my own language). What is the proper English? Besides, I need the word for students graduated in the same year, for me, 2010.


Semantic difference between “if I did not want” and “if I wanted”

I was reading My Antonia and came across this line: > [She] asked me if I did not want to go to the garden with her (12) And was wondering why Cather chose _if I did not want_ over _if I wanted_. Are these two phrases the same in meaning? Is there a subtle difference between them? For example, if I said: > I was wondering if you want to go to the park Would that be the same as saying: > I was wondering if you _don’t_ want to go to the park


HTTP-port or HTTP port?

Should I use dash in a port name, e.g. http-port, ftp-port, or it's more correct to omit the dash, like "http port", "ftp port"?


can we use 2 " 's" in a sentence like this?

I wonder if this sentence is rightly or wrongly punctuated : 'It's "How I Met Your Mother" 's time'.


Adverb form of "sustainable"

I'm translating a sentence to English, and want to use the phrase: > All material is produced sustainably. But my spell-check doesn't like the word `sustainably`, so I looked it up, and have found mixed results as to whether this is the best word to use. Dictionary.com doesn't list any adverb form of sustainable. Miriam-Webster _does_ have an entry for sustainably. Should I use this word, or is there a better, more accepted way to convey the same meaning?


English Homonym Nouns

Recently I had a discussion with a friend about the "solidity" of the English language in respect to Chinese. (By "solidity" we meant the reduced possibility for interpretation errors and misunderstanding - for which the Chinese language is nutritious and can actually be considered one vast homonym.) This conversation triggered a question in my mind about homonyms, and when I wanted to search examples for myself, I could only find one or two. By homonym for this question I mean **_nouns_** which have the same pronunciation, exact same spelling, but totally different meanings, e.g.: **NOT:** **Flour** \- **Flower** (different spelling, same pronunciation) **Desert** \- **Dessert** (similar/different spelling, different pronunciation but accent dependent) **Wind** (air movement, noun) - **Wind** (to coil, verb) (same spelling, different pronunciation but one is a verb) **but more like:** **BOW** (weapon) - **BOW** (ribbon) (I intentional exclude the **_verbs_** for the purpose of this question because they are influenced by the time tense, and it is easy for something to occur like "DOVE" (the bird) and "DOVE" (past of dive).) So my questions are:   1. How many of these exist?    2. Please give me more examples (or point me to a comprehensive list if it exists - I could not find one for some reason).   3. What is the REASON for the existence of those homonyms, except the obvious reasons of foreign-language-imports and historical similarity in use ? (I know it is a difficult question, but still - I try :-) - feel free to ignore that part.)


"Ain't ... no more" is "am not ... [any more]"?

First of all, I ain't a native speaker.   And one of the most confusing sentences to me is > I ain't going to this place no more. _Ain't_ in this sentence basically means _am not_ , so it translates to _I am not going to this place no more_. What exactly does _no more_ in this sentence mean? Does it have the same meaning as _any more_?


Does the negative enhance the sentence?

When saying, for example, "Isn't that your mother?" versus "Is that your mother?" Is the former sentence more effective because of the negative?


Does "use X, Y, or Z" mean use *one of* or *all of* the options?

This is the text supposedly providing the parameters for creating acceptable usernames for a particular website: > The username is case sensitive. Choose a username that is 6-74 characters > long and must contain a lowercase or capital letter, a number, or one of > these symbols _.@/- In other words: A username for this site must consist of from 6 to 74 characters **and** must contain **one** of the following:                -any upper or lower case letter      -any 6 to 74 digit number       -any one of the following symbols _.@/-      Therefore, any of the following should be acceptable usernames:   * @@@@@@    * 99999999999999999999999999999999999    * /////......///    * dar2zen None of those, however, are actually accepted by the website. Therefore, the parameters, as stated, do not state what they mean to state. What they do mean to state is not clear. When the system rejects a username, no feedback on what requirement that username is failing to meet is given. **My question here is whether I am correct in believing that the username requirements, as written, state what I say they state.**


“Choose a username that is …and must contain”: phrased incorrectly or just awkwardly?

The following parameters are given regarding creating acceptable usernames for a particular website: > The username is case sensitive. Choose a username that is 6-74 characters > long and must contain a lowercase or capital letter, a number, or one of > these symbols _.@/- The phrase "Choose a username that is... and must contain..." seems to me to be incorrect, or at least quite awkward. I believe the instructions ought to say: > The username is case sensitive. Choose a username that is 6-74 characters > long and _contains_ a lowercase or capital letter, a number, or one of these > symbols _.@/- (without the italicizing.) Is my objection correct?


Does etymology have a word like cladistics?

A recent question on EL&U about a current hip-hop expression led my research into a meme that is evolving faster than drosophila. This expression and its variants have gone viral on internet videos, and are morphing quickly. Urban Dictionary lists several dozen closely related variations. Of particular interest is how this meme is attaching itself to other "loaded" expressions to spawn combination phrases. In trying to wrap my brain around the complexity of this cultural phenomenon, I imagined trying to draw a sphere-of-influence graph of this meme. Which leads me to my question. Biology has cladistics. Does etymology have something similar? Is there a standard means of diagramming the evolution of a word or phrase, and, if so, what is it called?


phrases where opposite words can be used to mean the same thing

For example   * "1 in 20 Americans suffer from..." and "1 out of 20 Americans suffer from..."   * "it is down to you" and "it is up to you"  They seem like great ways to add to creative writing. Are there any other examples of such phrases?


Difference between Guise and Disguise

What is the difference between Guise and Disguise? They sound like antonym word for each other, but they aren't!


Is ‘marquee chefs’ casual word?

I found the word ‘marquee chefs’ in an article in today’s New York times in the following context. ‘From new offerings by marquee chefs to more modest openings in out-of-the-way spots, here are 10 restaurants around the globe to keep an eye on in 2011.’ I consulted Oxford English Dictionary at hand to check the meaning of ‘marquee,’ which it defines simply as 1.a large tent used at social events. and 2. (AmE) a covered entrance to a theater, hotel, etc. Often with a sign on or above it, both of which meaning are irrelevant with chef, if take literally. I interpreted “marquee chefs” here means chefs of well-known restaurants or hotel restaurants. Am I right? Is ‘marquee chef’ commonly spoken in your daily conversation? If not, why did New York Times writer use such a word?


Sports: opposite of an upset

What's the opposite of an upset in sports. Maybe "expected outcome"... Terser would be better, but I'd hear anything that came to mind.


Alternative word for "honed"

Is there another word describing the process where you've polished your skills through experience - apart from "honed". I don't think it's the best word somehow.


Word for "extinct", "eradicated" that sounds like "reserved"

In the Czech language, there's a word play with copyright notice. We say "vyhrazena" for "reserved" (as of _rights_ ) and "vyhlazena" as for eradicated (eg. Indians). I used that pun on my mini site footer and now I don't know how to translate it, to keep the joke in it. So far, I just translated it: " _All rights erradicated, copy and let others copy too_." Do you have any ideas for similar wordplay in English?


What does "to bleed something" mean?

In Bloomberg magazine, I saw this sentence: > Rust Belt states that have bled manufacturing jobs. Does it mean they have lost the jobs or gained more jobs?


Difference in meaning and prononciation of urbane and urban

I encounter these two words pretty often, both orally and in writing. What is the difference between two, and how to pronounce, say in USA?


"And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?"

Here's from Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2 (The Arden Shakespeare edited by Harold Jenkins) > Hor. Hail to your lordship. > > Ham. I am glad to see you well. > > Horatio, or I do forget myself. > > Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. > > Ham. Sir, my good friend, I'll change that name with you. > > And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? > > Marcellus. I'm wondering what is the subject of the sentence: > And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Is it "what" or "you"? It seems to me that "what" is the subject, because Horatio answered: > A truant disposition, good my lord. However, I wonder why the "make" is not "makes" in that case.


"Will be like" or "would be like"?

> I'm making wild guesses about what the future would/will be like. Is either legitimate? If so what's the differences in meaning?


Alternative structures for "not only ... but also ..."?

I'm trying to write this essay and I find myself writing too many "not only ... but also ..." structures. Can you guys help me come up with some alternatives? Basically, I want this kind of **progressive** effect: > Doing this is not only fun, but also one of the most important activities of > human beings. How about this one: > He is not only a teacher, but also one of the greatest educators in history.


Is "coachee" even a word?

If I am Rita's coach, is Rita my *coachee? (yikes) Is that even a word? Would it be correct instead to say she is my ward? What about terms for people at the other end of a mentor, sponsor relationship?


Complicated sentence in the past: did vs. would do

Consider the following: On my way back home from work I recalled what my boss had asked I **did** \- **turned** off the lights before I **went**. Hence unfortunately I had to drive all the way back to the office. On my way back home from work I recalled what my boss had asked **I'd do** : **turn** off the lights before I **go**. Hence unfortunately I had to drive all the way back to the office. Which is the correct form? Would you use a dash, colon, comma or a semicolon after the first statement? How about the conjugation of the verbs in bold?


Regarding present tense and future tense

In this sentence "Look at the timetable. Hurry up! Flight 4026 takes off at 6:20." Can I replace "will take off" with "takes off"？


Is destiny ever used in the plural?

Compare these two sentences: > They would have had the chance of choosing their own destiny.   >  They would have had the chance of choosing their own destinies.


What is the plural form of the word "Demiurge"

What would be the plural form of the word "Demiurge", (the Creator~). **One Demiurge.** **Many Demiurges?**


What does this sentence mean - "He was a capitalist who appropriated the rhetoric of the commune where he had lived"

This sentence comes from a book that describes Steve Jobs. Here is the context: (taken from Amazon.com) > In the summer of 1985, when Steve Jobs was stripped of power at the company > he cofounded, when his office was moved to a vacant building he called > Siberia, he didn't know what to do. He was thirty years old, and he owned > more than $100 million worth of Apple stock. He didn't have to work, not for > the money, at least, and not for the fame. He had appeared on the cover of > Time and had accepted the National Technology Award at the White House. His > niche in economic history was already secure as the preeminent popularizer > of the personal computer. His mention in American cultural history was > certain as well. In an era when commerce was equated with conformity, when > industry was seen as the staid and soulless province of balding older men, > he was an unprecedented phenom. He was a businessman posing as an idealistic > revolutionary, striving for social change. **He was a capitalist who > appropriated the rhetoric of the commune where he had lived.** He was a > barefooted chairman of the board who took his girlfriend to Grateful Dead > concerts and quoted an entire verse of Bob Dylan lyrics at a shareholders > meeting. He was a "young industrialist," as he preferred to call himself, an > epithet that sounded delightfully unlikely. He was a pop-culture icon, a > media hero, a role model, a sex symbol, and teen heartthrob.


Reason for the strange meaning of "for any length of time"?

Consider the sentence [emphasis mine]: > Foreign producers cannot sell all commodities at lower prices than domestic > producers **for any length of time** because the depreciation (or pressures > for depreciation) of the importing country’s currency ensures that trade > will flow in both directions. Intuitively, the sentence should mean that foreign producers can _never_ sell commodities at lower prices than domestic producers, because even one day is "a length of time," and the sentence asserts that it cannot happen for _any_ length of time. Of course, that's not what it's actually saying. A more literal phrasing would be "for a very long time" or "for any **great** length of time." This interpretation of "any _quantity_ of **X** " does not carry over to other values of **X**. For instance, > I would not sell that to you **for any amount of money**. means exactly what it looks like it means: that any quantity of money, either very low or very high, is not appropriate. So my question is, where does this strange use of _"any length of time"_ come from, and are there any other things besides time to which it applies?


"Scholar" vs. "scientist"

I mainly associate _scholar_ with _scholarship_. But what's its etymological origin? On scientific websites both _scholar_ and _scientist_ seem to be used with the same meaning; A graduate working actively on a scientific topic. Is it a AE/BE thing or does scholar imply the graduate is doing a phd/postdoctoral degree or gets financial aid (scholarship). Also, how do these terms relate to _researcher_? You don't need an academic degree to be a researcher, e.g. a journalist does research before writing an article. But in my opinion _researcher_ also often implies someone has an academic degree. Is this right?


Understanding U.S. President capitalization

I was taught at an early age in the USA that when we write about our President, we are supposed to capitalize the title in order to signify that it's on the federal level. Is it correct to always do this? And what about saying "the presidency" -- should that be "the Presidency"?


When should "Mom" and "Dad" be capitalized?

I am trying to understand capitalization rules with Mom and Dad. I believe I have it correct below, but please let me know if I do not. > The one thing I learned from my dad was that it was good to earn the trust > of one's children. Dad has shown me how good that a dad can be. One day when > I went to his house, and Dad wasn't there, I ran outside.... The above passage is just made-up just so that you would see what I mean about capitalization. Let's put numbers by each one, like so: > The one thing I learned from my **dad(1)** was that it was good to earn the > trust of one's children. **Dad(2)** has shown me how good that a **dad(3)** > can be. One day when I went to his house, and **Dad(4)** wasn't there, I ran > outside....   1. This is one where I'm not certain. I believe in this sense I'm showing possession here with "my", and it just didn't seem right saying "my Dad". I don't know what the grammar rule is here, or if I even have it right.   2. This one is obvious—it starts the sentence.   3. In this case, I'm using Dad like a name instead of saying "Larry". Therefore, it should be capitalized.   4. Again, just like 3.


Word that means "Something only a philosopher would argue with"

I remember reading (apparently not on the internet) a lighthearted definition of the word I want to use. This noun means a kind of quibble that is so trivial that only a metaphysician or similar flibbitigibit would point it out. To all normal people the matter is resolved. Can anyone help me get this word off the tip of my tongue and into electronic ink? I think it begins with the letter "p" and has at least three syllables.


How to properly use "reference database"?

Does it make more sense to say > a reference database of [somethings] or > a [something] reference database For example, by replacing [something] with "library" we get: > a reference database of libraries or > a library reference database So which is more proper? Or does it matter?


"burnt/burned out" vs. "frazzled" to describe a person

What are the differences in connotation and meaning between these two? > A. She is burned/burnt out from all of this work. > > B. She is frazzled from all of this work. Does one have a more negative connotation than the other? Does "frazzled" have a stronger sense of "disheveled" to it? Does "burnt out" imply a sense of permanence or severity? Which would you rather be called, between the two? Does one offend or insult more than the other?


antiquarian (adjective) misuse re: dictionary definition

multiple choice ... "antiquarian book" refers to: 1\. an antique book about anything 2\. any age book about old books 3\. a book about people who deal in old books 4\. a book in the antiquar language or from the planet antiquar in any language 5\. this week's NYT bestseller on the works of Plato (multiple answers ok .... current usage vs dictionary explanations appreciated!) George


Is "Please be reminded to ..." a valid construction?

I received an email today with the following sentence: > Please be reminded to bring your basketball gear in. He was subsequently made fun of by a co-worker: > 'Please be reminded' - Will you be doing the reminding, or should I expect > somebody else to be reminding me? I am wondering if:   1. the original sentence is valid and unambiguous, or if   2. the interpretation made by his co-worker is valid due to ambiguity in the semantic meaning of the original sentence.


Origin of the expression "Dead to rights"?

I was watching a TV show and this term was used. I am familiar with the definition, but I was wondering the origin of the phrase. It does not make sense to me if taken literally. Reference


When in connected speech do we read 'r' after the end of a sentence or a passage?

For example in policy debates, in continuous reading or for example an interruptive briefing - there is a dot (.) > It was summer. A strange shade was moving. Before the turning of the street > there was a red car. > > Andrew saw himself in the mirror. It was dark in the room. summe* _RA_ *strange ? ca* _RA_ *ndrew ? And if there is the case which regulates largeness of applicability of "connected R" and in which circumstances?


Verb to refer to objects that are orderly positioned side by side?

Like, say, books in a bookshelf. Example: > The books were [...] perfectly side by side. If objects are orderly positioned vertically we say they are _stacked_. What's the word to use when they are positioned horizontally?


What is the correct term for "rubbing statues' parts for luck"?

What is the correct term for the habit or action of rubbing statues' parts (noses, fingers, feet etc.) for luck or other superstitious reasons? I mean a learned word, like 'philately' for 'collecting stamps'. I'm fairly certain there is such a term, but for the life of me I can't recall what it is, and my Google-fu proved unequal to the task.


What's the origin of "with flying colo(u)rs"?

What's the origin of 'with flying colours', e.g. > "Great job! You passed with flying colours." I've always assumed it was something to do with flags in the navy, but I'm not entirely sure on this one...


Importance of writing down Mission Statement in improving English proficiency, Do I really need to?

The Asahi, one of leading Japanese newspapers carried a half page feature article titled “Brush Up Your English Proficiency This Year!” on its January 5 issue. In this article, a well-known English teaching expert emphasized the importance of setting the goal and roadmaps to reach the goal for mastering English, which sounds reasonable to me. And he also stressed importance of writing down a “Mission Statement”, for an example, “So little done, so much to do” which is a quote from British politician, Cecil Rhodes, and very similar to Japanese old saying, “The sunset is near. Yet there’s long way to go.” What is the difference between “Goal” and “Mission Statement”? What does “Mission Statement” exactly mean? Can an epigram or axiom like “So little done, so much to do” be a mission statement at all? Maybe I should ask this to the English teaching expert, but can somebody give me the definition of “Mission Statement (I thought it a marketing term),” how effective to have it in improving English capability, and propriety of using somebody’s witty phrase as a mission statement?


Reflexive pronouns and understood "to be"

So, I've got a fairly straightforward sentence: > Poe did not think himself a writer of inferior material. It is my understanding that "a writer of inferior material" is the object of the understood infinitive "to be," and that the sentence is saying that, in simpler terms, "Poe did not think that he (Poe) was a writer of inferior material." But _how does one break this sentence down into parts of sentence_? What I've got so far: _Poe_ is the subject; _did think_ is the simple predicate. My teacher said that "himself" was a reflexive pronoun serving as the direct object, or in other words that...erm..."Poe thought himself." This doesn't make much sense to me, since it seems like Poe is serving as more of an "indirect-object-esque-but-not-really" thing. Could someone please explain (and tie that infinitive in there too ;) )? Thanks!


Is "starboard" used for land vehicles?

Is it correct to use "starboard side" to refer to the "right-side" of a land vehicle (e.g. cars / trucks / lorries / motorcycles) ? Wiktionary seems to accept specifically ships, boats, and aircrafts, but I've seen people using it to describe trucks (link, expand the comments).


A word/phrase for an "I-should-have...." kind of feeling?

I am trying to find a word for a feeling in a scenario that goes something like this: Suppose I was shopping for a watch at a place. I found the watch in Shop A and bought it at $30. Hours later, I saw a similar watch in Shop B selling at only $10. That is $20 cheaper. I felt like "oh my god, I should have not bought so early!". In the example above, I felt devastated? No, I don't think I feel devastated. It's not that bad. I probably just felt "shucks _only if_ I had....". But what's a proper word/phrase to describe this? Is there a word or a phrase for this ahh-shucks-I-should-have-done-it- differently feeling?


Correct preposition to go with "inquiry"?

I'm trying to figure out which preposition to use together with "inquiry". For example, take the following sentence: > I have asked Bob, but he doesn't know. Now I'd like to express the same using "inquiry": > A previous inquiry [insert correct preposition here] Bob did not yield any > new insights. What is the correct choice? If the object was an institution I'd probably use "at", but that doesn't sound right for a person.


Use "scope" to refer to a book's sections

I would like to know whether it is correct or not to use the word "scope" to refer to a book's section, subsection or paragraph. For instance               We will address these matters in the next scope.


"Has given a martyr to Christ"

The following was taken from a book. > ...and it may be that on the list of martyrs will yet shine the name of some > faithful little reader of this story of St. Dorothea, on whose feast-day > priests will offer up the Holy Sacrifice in blood red vestments, thanking > God that America, and the United States, **has given a martyr to Christ**. Is this a correct way of saying it? Is there a better way of saying the same thing?


humor phrase meaning "I enjoy making my life harder"

How can one make some humour by the following Q/A pair, Q: Cosa fai nella vita? ===> what do you do ? A: Me la complico ===> ? (I enjoy making my life harder)


An aeroplane, when it leaves the ground, 'takes off'. What does a bird do?

My daughter recently had the experience of a large bird hitting her car windscreen, and smashing it, when she was doing about 70mph on a motorway. Fortunately the bird did not come through the screen, and there was no damage to life or limb (other than presumably to the poor bird). As she was near Liverpool her first thought was that it had been a seagull, and later a pigeon. But the person who fitted a new windscreen said he thought it was a pheasant, as they are apparently notorious for this problem. The reason, he explained, is that pheasants have a shallow 'take-off' path. They run along the ground to get airborne. But it made me wonder whether birds 'take-off'. Is there no other way of describing their going from rest into flight? Should it be 'take flight'?


What is the word for the person who dislikes "Phony" people?

I want to know the word which can describe the personality trait of disliking "Phony" people. Misanthrope is too extreme and generalizes hating human race. P.S: Any word which can suit personality of Holden from "Catcher in the rye" will do.


"drop the penny"

I was wondering what "drop the penny", "help get the penny to drop", or things similar mean? All I can understand is that it must be a metaphor. For example: > simply trying to repeat things in perhaps a slightly different way may help > get the penny to drop (think about the student coming to office hours who > has read the book but doesn't get it; just going over it again in different > words can help). How to use such an expression in life generally. Can you give other examples?


Why the opposite meanings of the word “bollocks”?

The phrases _the dog’s bollocks_ , _the bee’s bollocks_ , and _golden bollocks_ are used to mean something or someone excellent, fine, or well thought of. But if one were to say _a load of bollocks_ , or _bullock’s bollocks_ , it would mean something not very good at all. Does anyone know why _bollocks_ has this opposite meaning according to the phrase it is used in?


How to describe strength of keeping things simple and beautiful

I'm writing performance review of one of my colleagues that includes describing his strengths. For example, one of his strengths is _Communication_. He can quickly resolve conflicts with co-workers, and effectively explain policy changes to vendors. One thing that I'd like to mention is, he has some kind of aesthetic feeling, he enjoys keeping things simple and beautiful, and had designed relatively exquisite and user friendly interface. Which word should I use to describe this strength?


Is it correct to say “Let this be a year where . . . .”?

Is it correct to say the following: > Let this be a year where there will be joy. Or is there some more natural phasing for that sentiment in English?


"Memorial" as a non-sad word?

Can one use the word "memorial" (noun or adjective) without the negative/sad connotation of commemoration of the dead?


Are these terms considered uncivilized to native English speakers?

One of my friends is preparing to go to America for higher studies. So he needs some suggestions regarding _proper language usage_ out there. He needs opinion on usage of slang words. I am posting the question for him. Following are the terms, I assume, are not considered severely impolite or uncivilized to speak to the elders by the junior. They are: > B* _t, A_ *, F* _k, D_ *k, Gay etc etc Being not a native to English speaking country, I came under this impression watching English movies. I have seen they are considered **_slang_** in those countries when the speaker talking to the elder, is smaller in age i.e. until he is not an adult, but it is okay to speak, when the junior person is an adult. Back here in India, they are considered offensive and uncivilized when the speaker is talking to a senior person, regardless of the speakers age! Here they are used only with friends or when a brawl takes place! So how should we use them? Casually if we use them in conversation within a family of a natives friend there, would it considered uncivilized? Or if we speak to a random guy who is aged than us (say >15yrs senior), would he consider it as **offensive**?


Anglicize for Japanese

English speakers will change pronunciation and spelling of foreign words to make them easier to manage and we call this Anglicization. Japanese do this too, adding extra vowels to foreign words to make them roll off the Japanese tongue more easily. Is there a word for this, like "Japanization"? All I can find is "transliteration into Japanese", but that is awkward and sounds too mechanical.


A fraction less than something?

I encountered a question which is phrased: > A book store stocks 1/5 of its books as fiction works, and **1/3 less than > the fiction books as self-help books.** What fraction of books are fiction > and self-help books? I have a problem with the highlighted part. The (1/3) just seems to hang there, without explicitly applying to the number of fiction books. The solution manual interprets this as:               number of self-help books = number of fiction - (1/3 x number of fiction)      Is this question phrased correctly?


What is the origin of the word "dead-tree"?

What is the origin of the word _dead-tree_? I know that it basically refers to the print edition of a book that is also available in electronic format but would like to understand of the etymology the word _dead-tree_. In particular why the combination of the terms _dead_ and _tree_ to refer to books?


Use of "many good wishes 'to carry with you'"

In "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" there is two times this phrase: "many good wishes to carry with you":   * And the Winkies gave them three cheers and many good wishes to carry with them.   * But he at once unlocked their spectacles, which he put back into the green box, and gave them many good wishes to carry with them. I think is not a so common phrase to listen to. Googling for that it seems to be nowhere out of that book. Are there some regions where is used or other similar expressions? Of course I mean the second part 'to carry with you/him/them'


Abstract noun for solecism

I am looking for the abstract, non-count form of solecism, if it exists. Just as "brevity" describes the _quality_ of being brief, I am looking for an abstract noun to denote the quality of being incorrect, such as "incorrectness", but geared towards speech. Is solecity/solecisity a word, or is it, itself, a solecism? If none exists, perhaps there is one for malapropism? Thanks


Why is it "grandfather", but "great-uncle"?

I know that there are six forms of this word, but "great-uncle" is most common ("great-aunt" has a similar graph). Why is this, if "grandfather" and "grandmother" are common? ![](http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/chart?content=great+-+uncle%2Cgreat+uncle%2Cgrand+-+uncle%2Cgranduncle%2Cgreatuncle%2Cgrand+uncle&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=0&smoothing=3)


What's the meaning of the word "spitters" in The Chemical Worker's Song?

Amongst the different versions of this song (Known by various names including "The Chemical Worker's Song", "Process Man" and "The ICI Song") that are floating around, there seem to be two variations of the second verse. > Well I've worked among the **spitters** and I've breathed the oily smoke and > Well I've worked among the **spinners** and I've breathed the oily smoke What could be the meaning of the word spitters? Is it just a mangling of the lyrics, or is it an antiquated term for some kind of occupation or machinery? I doubt it would mean "people who spit". I have a feeling it might have come about from a miss transcription from the recording by Great Big Sea (in which it is _very_ difficult to distinguish between a n and a t sound, they may even be singing "spitters"), and that mistake has then propagated. But I was curious to know if it was a variation that had some other legitimate meaning. The original recording by Ron Angel with the word "spinners"


Why "magnetic properties"?

Why do we talk about a material or metal having magnetic properties (as opposed to having a magnetic property)?


Word order of participial modiﬁers and proper nouns

This is a follow-up to this earlier question. I want to say that I met a person and they were drunk at the time. Which should I use:   1. I saw intoxicated John.   2. I saw the intoxicated John.   3. I saw John intoxicated. I know I could say _I saw John, who was intoxicated_ , but I want to say it with one clause. How does it work for present participles?   1. I found sleeping John.   2. I found the sleeping John.   3. I found John sleeping. Any rule of thumb for that?


"Easy to explain, here is an example for you:"

Here I present you two scenarios of mine: > This can be explained very easily, with this example: > > _example here_ and > This can be explained very easily: > > _example here_ On the first situation, I am telling I am _about to give you an example_ , while on the second situation, I don't. Yet, the two points make it quite clear already. Which situation is more correct? You see, on the first situation, the "with this example" part looks a bit too useless, however, without it, it looks a bit incomplete.


...Capital letter after period(s)?

Excuse my terrible English knowledge, but I have been wondering this for some time already: What is correct for the next phrase?: > And he was there. alone. sad. and crying... or > And he was there. Alone. Sad. And crying... or > And he was there, alone, sad and crying... On the first and second cases, I use periods for separating the state of the subject. For some reason, I like it to give better suspense. Given the way I am using the periods, should I use Capital letters after them, or not? These periods are pretty much like commas... ... But maybe I am terribly wrong and should never use periods for such purpose? Should I always follow the third case? Just using commas?


"A lost cause, that is."

I tend to finish with a ", that is." in a couple of situations: _I come in and see a heavily damaged machine, and I say_ > A lost cause, that is... And it is not always with the "that is" phrase, it also happens with "I say": _I am discussing with someone, and I say:_ > Your arguments are baseless, I say. Is this kind of "ending" for my phrases correct, or is it some kind of absurd bad habit I developed?


What kind of accent is this?

What kind of accent is **this**? Is the speaker there speaking American English or Canadian? It is quite obvious it's not British or Australian accent. If it's American, can you, please, say what part of the USA it is?


Pluralization: backward and backwards in context

Unless I'm using "backward" and "backwards" wrong, I can pluralize it when the subject is not plural and vice versa. For example, correct me if I'm wrong: One movie. > If you watch your favourite movie backwards, what is the plot? More than one movie. > If you watch your favourite movies backward, what are the plots? I've never stopped to think about this before and am looking for some quick enlightenment as to its validity. I've seen this question based on the same words but believe it's a slightly different context.


Word or phrase for making something seem better by comparison

What is a word or phrase that expresses the idea of purposely making something seem better by comparison? For example, lemon Starburst was created to make the cherry flavor seem that much tastier.


How to say "I vaunt a broad knowledge of the subject" without bragging?

How can I say > "I **vaunt** a broad knowledge and understanding of the subject" without sounding too arrogant? The verb `to vaunt` implies bragging, in my humble opinion.


Is there a word to describe a phrase such as "it is what it is"

For example > "it is what it is" This multi-word statement has no real meaning if read literally (or at best a circular meaning), but it does express a meaning that is meta to its lexical meaning (a sense of helplessness and resignment).


How are bracket ellipsis [...] used in quotations?

I see this type of syntax often, but I do not know how, when or where they should be used. > "It is the case that [...] the inconvenience is altogether imaginary." Is it okay to use if I need to insert a quotation into an essay, but the quote is long and I want to omit the irrelevant parts? Am I allowed to use the syntax multiple times per quotation ?


Is lolspeak bad English, or just a different English?

Is lolspeak / internet speak (such as "plz send teh codez") bad English, or a different English? I can't really describe what'd be "bad", but a lack of consistency would be an indicator it's bad.


"I am going to have a walk"

My teacher said "I am going to _have_ a walk" today in class and to me it seems incorrect. Correct variants that I know are:   * Going for a walk   * Going to take a walk   * Going to walk    * ... Is this correct? If so, why?


"Hitler will send no warning" vs "Hitler won't send warnings"

As in this WWII poster: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/7VcXk.jpg) Are they the same thing, or are there differences in expression？ Why do native speakers choose the first one?


What's the meaning of 'sorry lot' in Albert Einstein's quote?

I just came across this quote by Albert Einstein when I was leafing through the book 'Super Cooperators: Altruism, Evolution, and Why We Need Each Other To Succeed': > If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, > then we are a sorry lot indeed What does 'sorry lot' mean here? I'm thinking sorry might mean pathetic/sad/loser and lot means group. Am I right?


Adjective describing possession by someone else

Is there any adjective in English that would describe a quality of belonging or being in the possession of someone else who is not the speaker? In short, what adjective would you substitute for the words in bold below: > What's inside of this bag? > > I don't know. This is **not my** bag. or > What's inside of this bag? > > I don't know. This bag is **not mine**. or > Jack, don't touch that toy car. > > Why? > > Because that toy is **not yours**.


What's the term for untapped capacity or inventory that is brought to market by rising prices?

I want to answer this question on Homebrew.SE, but I'm at an uncharacteristic loss for words. One example of the concept I'm trying to describe is gold that had heretofore been sitting in people's jewelry boxes or bottom drawers. With skyrocketing prices, more people became more aware that they were sitting on a valuable resource, and thus brought that resource to market. For some reason, my brain is trapped on the metaphor of **dark matter** , which is not apt. What would you call that untapped inventory? "Untapped inventory"?


Won't followed by noun

I try to understand the song 'Sober' by band Tool. And there are couple of sentence with won't followed by pronoun or noun and without verb. For example:               'Jesus, won't you f*cking whistle nothing       But the past and done.'          'Mother Mary won't you whisper nothing     but the past and done.'      Also, I've seen same sentence in the 'Passeneger' by Deftones:               Chrome buttons, buckles and leather surfaces     These and other lucky witnesses     Now to calm me     **This time won't you please**     Drive faster     Roll the windows down      Maybe in Tool's lyrics it is interrogative with dot instead of question mark, but sentence by Deftones I can't understand at all. How should I interpret this?


Word to describe bringing up pets

What is the word to describe _bringing up_ your pet?   * _Raise_ sounds odd.   * _Breed_ sounds weird.   * _Rear_ seems to be more for farm animals.


What does "I can prove it on an abacus" mean?

I've got a feeling it means "I can prove it in a very simple and an ostensive way". Is this so? Update: The context. http://www.laddertheory.com/commoncriticisms.htm Search for "abacus".


Adjectives that can used with certain nouns

Is there a limitation on the kind of adjectives that can be used with particular nouns? For example, can I use the adjective _lovely_ to describe food in the following sentences? > The food was lovely, was it not? > > The food cannot be lovely, can it?


"Recommend you [do something]" or "Recommend you to [do something]"?

Will anyone make a clear comparison between "recommend + subject + to infinitive" and "recommend + to + subject + to + infinitive"? As an example:   1. We recommend you to buy a new car.   2. We recommend to you to buy a new car. Are both sentences correct?   Which one am I most likely to hear in a native atmosphere?


Hypernym: Word that means 'window' or 'door'

There's the Italian word _serramento_ which means "a window or a door", used in this way for example: > Our company produces [ _serramenti_ ] in aluminium. Is there an equivalent word or expression that refers to doors and windows in general in English?


"Effect a friend" in advertising?

Toyota is running a Super Bowl campaign called: > THE ‘CAMRY EFFECT A FRIEND’ GIVEAWAY Every Camry has a story. Yours could > start on February 5th. I see some Twitter comments mentioning this is grammatically incorrect or obscure. I understand advertising campaigns may juggle the English language to create an effect (no pun) however in and of itself, is "effect a friend" proper usage in any context?


Phrase Request: Bank account statement, name for payee/charger

I'm trying to think of the appropriate word for someone that charges you or that you pay. If you have a bank statement, what would you name the column that contains the name of people you paid money to or charged you? Does anyone have any idea what that is? * * * An example statement:               Your suggested word | Value     -------------------------------     Dave                | +£10     WalMart             | -£14.99     WalMart             | +£14.99   (an example of a refund)     PC World            | +£99.99


What is the exact meaning of "English"? Why this language identified as "English"?

It struck me while searching for the meaning of the word _English_ : what could be the meaning of the word "English", and why is this language called "English"?