How to teach a child using phonics in a different accent?

This is one of two questions regarding teaching my child to read using phonics. The **other** related question is: How to teach the difference between "go" and "got" using phonics? I am a parent of a four year old boy who is starting to read at school (UK). The school is using a phonics system to teach the children to read. We live in the north-west of the UK - Manchester, to be precise. My wife and I are from New Zealand. While our New Zealand accent is not particularly strong, we have occasional trouble making ourselves understood with native english speakers who speak with a Mancunian accent. For instance, when I ask someone for a "pen", I occasionally get a confused look and a question as to why I should want a "pin". Sigh. Phonics, as a teaching system, is rather alien to both my wife and me. However, we are both very keen to consolidate and reinforce what our son is learning at his school. I anticipate problems when teaching our son to read using phonics, particularly when we are teaching vowel sounds. Should I: (i) not worry - peer pressure and teaching will overcome whatever his silly parents are teaching and how they speak, or (ii) try to emulate the sounds as he is being taught them?


Origin of the expression "his/her face is a map of the world"

What is the origin of the expression "his/her face is a map of the world"? Bonus points to a literary origin (as in, the first written usage of the phrase in the English language). The phrase is found in two popular modern songs: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858555496/ http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858541508/ This poster on askville claims her grandmother already used it "50 years ago": http://askville.amazon.com/expression-face-map- world/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=743266


"Who is that for?"

Showing a baby bottle to my son I ask him "Who's that for?", obviously waiting for a "That's for me!" answer (which turns out to be just "Me!") But I am not a native speaker and I kind of translate from my mother tongue but is this correct? How would a native speaker say that?


"He has WiFi" vs. "He has wireless"

I came across the picture below (http://comics.likeyou.me/he-has-wifi/1586/). Despite the fact this is a comic, I'm wondering if the word "WiFi" is being used correctly here. Shouldn't it be "wireless" rather than "WiFi"? I have done some searches before asking, with this results (Merriam Webster): > _**WiFi_** : used to certify the interoperability of wireless computer > networking devices. > > _**wireless_** : having no wire or wires. Has "WiFi" become synonym of "wireless" in some informal contexts? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/U0Wpq.jpg)


A case that exhibits all the possible conditions a subject can suffer from?

We have this Hungarian phrase "Állatorvosi ló", which literally translates to "Veterinarian horse". It originated in 19th century Hungarian literature, when someone created an illustration of a horse that exhibited all the possible external and internal sicknesses a horse can have. Nowadays it is used to describe all the possible (negative) conditions something can have. In our concrete case, we're doing software testing for a CAT (Computer Aided Translation) software that has a QA module; and we're going to build a special project (the 'vetenarian horse') that exhibits all the possible errors the QA module can throw at us. What would be an idiomatic word or phrase to express that?


Why do we use "the" in "the British" but not before "Canadians"?

Why do we use the definite article before most nationalities such as "the British" but we say "Canadians" without _the_? Specifically, why is it that, for example,... > _Canadians like maple syrup._ ...is a normal/unremarkable statement/sentence, but... > * _British think they put on a "jolly good show" for the 2012 Olympics._ ...is "incorrect" without a leading definite article?


sprung into actions or sprung into action?

My question here is which is the correct phrase to use? _Action_ with the S or without the S, and why?


What does “They nick the Emmy show during the Emmy show” mean?

Today’s (September 25) Washington Post’s article in its Style column - “ _Emmys 2012: Number up, but repeat winners were, too_ ” - introduces Washington Post TV writer Lisa de Moraes’ comment on the redundancy of the 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. She complains: > “If the members of the Hollywood creative community had any good sense, they > would stand down as Candace Bergen did after winning several consecutive > Emmys for best comedy actress, to give others a chance... Instead, they > continue to submit themselves for consideration, and then, when they win -- > a 10th time in a row, _they nick the Emmy show_ \-- during the Emmy show -- > for being so redundant.” I don’t understand what “ _nick_ ” means in the last line of the above comment, and I don’t find any definitions of “nick” which seems to be relevant to such a usage of “nick” in any of major dictionaries, for example: Cambridge English Dictionary defines “nick” only as a noun meaning “small cut in a surface or an edge.” Oxford English Dictionary defines “nick” as a noun meaning small cut or notch, and verb meaning “make a notch.” Merriam-Webster English Dictionary defines it as a noun meaning “a small notch, groove or chip,” and verb meaning 1. jot down, 2. cut short (e.g. cold weather), 3. catch at the right point of time, 4. cheat, overcharge. None of the above definitions seems to be applicable to Lisa de Moraes’ usage of “nick.” What does “they nick the Emmy show during the Emmy show” mean? Is the usage of “ _nick_ ” in this manner well-received as English, or is it an American slanguage?


Is the expression "yesterday afternoon" correct?

Is it proper to use the following expressions > I started to London yesterday afternoon . > > I started to London yesterday morning I ask because it is supposedly correct to say 'last night'. Why don't we say 'last afternoon' or 'last morning'?


What is the word for someone who checks ID cards before permitting entry?

What is the word for someone who checks ID cards (to verify a person's age) before permitting entry to an event or venue? Obviously, the word most commonly used in the context of a bar is "bouncer", but that seems very specific to bars/clubs and the word carries its own baggage. What about in non-bar contexts? In San Francisco, the Sundance Kabuki is an upscale movie theater that serves alcohol for some screens, and they have a person checking IDs at a checkpoint. The word "bouncer" just sounds wrong to me in that context, but the only alternative I can come up with is "ID checker" (which sounds equally odd to me). Is there a better word for the person who does this job?


Difference between "term" and "period"

What is the difference between _term_ and _period_ in meaning _distance in time_? Is it possible to use one or both of them when we describe a point in time ( _We have time till 1st of December so we have to finish the project within this term/period_ ) and when we describe duration ( _We have two weeks so we have to finish..._ )?


What does "shine on" mean?

I've seen some use "shine on" to close a letter. What does this mean?


What's the difference between "cabinet" and "cupboard"?


What is the meaning of this sentence: "He can can a can"?

What does this sentence mean? For me, it's more like "He is capable of opening a can," but according to some, it's not that simple. What does it exactly mean?


Appropriate word for "intermediate approach"

In a paper, I need to mention something meaning "intermediate approaches" and looking for a suitable word or phrase for that. For example: Approach 1 is ... Approach 2 is ... (Approaches 1 and 2 are the two opposite extremes of the possible approaches) We have studied many intermediate approaches [between approach 1 and approach 2] and the results are shown in Fig. 1.


Method of forming verbs

In my exams a type of question is coming like - "Change into verb forms" and questions are given below. Are there any methods of forming verbs, or do we have to learn all the verb, adjective, adverb, noun formations?


Is "form" an abbreviation, or has it ever been?

The word _form_ as in "web form" or in my case "XML form" would be translated as _Formular_ in German and _formulaire_ in French. Which leads me to the question, though the entry of Wiktionary and Etymonline seems to point to the contrary, has it ever been an abbreviation of a longer word? And if it is the case, is this longer word still in use? If not, is there better alternative to this word in the following example? > Please backup all the corresponding forms before applying the patch.


When to use "is" and "was" for thing that has happened?

I've found some sentences that seem odd for me such as, "She is married" instead of "She was married" or "This transaction is approved" instead of "This transaction was approved" I want to know which one is correct? (from those example) and Are there any rules for "is/am/are" and "was/were" in this case?


What's the meaning of "he walked away a free man"?

I am reading a grammar book. There is an example sentence I can't understand. There is a special pattern where a complement occurs with an action verb, not a linking verb. The related example sentence is this: > He walked away a free man. What's the meaning of the example sentence? "Walked away"?


What is the section in a business card that shows home contact details called?

On my business card I have the contact details of my office, however I want to include the contact details of my home. I want to make it known that the above details are my home's. How can I write it? "Residence contact details"?


1st:What is the difference between University vs college vs academy vs institute vs community college?   2nd:and what are degrees people can get (in order)?   3rd:What are the other type of schools? (e.g primary school, kindergarten)


What is the origin of the phrase "stand on your head and spit wooden nickels?"

Where does this phrase come from? Was there a time in which it was in popular use? Is it an American English phrase?


What is a "kinetic" military operation?

General John Allen reports US soldiers killed a group of Taliban: "We dealt with them in a kinetic strike." What's the meaning of "kinetic" here? Timothy Noah says the word is used to designate actual warfare (guns fired etc.), not just countermeasures and deployment. Does Allen mean just that or is there more to it? (My first thought was that the US actually deployed an orbital bombardment platform à la 'Thor's Hammer', but I guess the press would have picked up on that already.)


Meaning of "makes no sense"

Which of the following has the closest meaning to "This makes no sense"?   * "I do not understand this"   * "This has no meaning" **Update** I will try to explain: My friend has proposed a solution to some problem. I believe that his solution will not help. Is it possible to answer him with "This makes no sense"? Is that a correct usage of the phrase?


"Grizzly status"

In a Youtube video I was watching yesterday I heard some young kid shouting "grizzly status!" over and over again. According to urban dictionary, it applies to extremely extraordinary achievements which demonstrate high skill. What I'm curious about is what the origin of "grizzly" is. Anyone know? By the way, the video was a compilation of amazing feats in the video game "Call of Duty Modern Warfare".


"Pongo absolutely-ed heartily."

What is the meaning of " _absolutely-ed_ " in this sentence? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/x74jT.png)


20's Slang and idioms

What are some of the most common idioms and phrases of speech in the 20's? Specifically what are a couple different terms for bars (I already know speakeasies)? What were taxi's and cab drivers known as? How brutal were racial slurs at the time?


Why do we use different prepositions in "no point in" and "no reason to"?

I am wondering why in "There's no point **in** doing that" we use the preposition _in_ but in "There's no reason **to** do that" we use the preposition _to_?


What does the phrase "money ahead" mean?

From You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown: > At the bike shop, they purchase a poor-quality bike with what they can > afford. When Charlie Brown asks if it runs, Linus replies that "even if the > bike walks, we'll be **money ahead** ". What does it mean?


Synonym for "cluster" in a technical context

We're looking for a suitable synonym for **cluster** as in " _a cluster of applications_ " within our enterprise architecture. We don't want to use "cluster" itself since this can be _misunderstood_ to mean a cluster of physical servers. Our _rejected_ options are   * bunch   * bundle   * set   * pack   * platform   * constellation Edit to add more technical context: These are **not** desktop applications or products, but elements within the overall enterprise such as a JMS application, a web portal, a CMS and so on. What should the synonym be?


What is the difference between owned and pwned?

People have been using pwned on a lot of youtube videos and i have NO clue what that even means?


A name for the tendency to criticize those who don't succeed

This could apply to a single person, but also to a group of people or even a nation. Is there a word for the widespread tendency to express disapproval towards someone who is unable to accomplish something or succeed at something? Examples include criticism of a politician who loses his/her election, or disapproval of a sports team that doesn't qualify for an official competition, but also ridicule of an ordinary person who fails an examination or cannot obtain a job. These are instances where people often tend to become hypercritical and unsympathetic. What expressions can best define this attitude? P.S.: I am not saying that people are bad by definition; nonetheless, I think that the attitude that I am trying to describe exists!


Origin of the meaning of "à la mode"

In American English, _à la mode_ means:   * in fashion, up to date.   * with ice cream.   * (of beef) braised in wine, typically with vegetables. While the first meaning matches the French meaning, the other two meanings are different. Why does _à la mode_ have also the last two meanings, in English?


How "yank" came about in vi and Emacs

How did the word _yank_ come to mean copying a text in vi and Emacs?


What does “Stick it up one’s jumper” mean? Why is it funny?

I saw the phrase “Stick something up one’s jumper” in Jeffery Archer’s short story titled “Member’s Only,” in which Robin Chapman, the hero was kept waiting for 5 years and has to wait for another unknown number of years for being admitted to be a member of the distinguished Royal Jersey Golf Club in the birthplace of Harry Vardon. The phrase appears in the following conversation between Robin and his wife before Robin attends his second interview by the Club committee after being listed on the waiting list 15 years ago: > ‘Good luck, and don’t even hint at how angry you are. It’s not their fault > that Germans destroyed all the club record.’ > > ‘I shall tell them they can stick my application form up their jumpers,’ > said Robin. > > They both burst out laughing at the latest expression they’d picked up from > the mainland. > > ‘Do they have any idea how old I’ll be in 15 years,’ he added. From the nuance of the context, I guess “stick something up one’s jumper” is similar to “carry it with oneself always.” But why is this phrase so funny that they burst into laughter when uttered? Does “Picked from the mainland” mean the phrase hasn’t yet established as the currency for a received English phrase? Yahoo answer defines “stick it up one’s jumper” as > It was a catchphrase of the comedian Jimmy Edwards. In the 1950s it was > considered quite rude because it included the words 'stick it up'. It has > died out since then. I don't know if it applies to the present case or not.


Is 'learn' the new 'teach'?

With seemingly increasing frequency I come across a phrase using 'learn' when I think it should be 'teach'. The classic example is 'that will learn them!', as in "Shoot all criminals - that will learn them!". I thought this was being deliberately wrong for comedic effect, in keeping with the general sentiment of the sentence. Another example from a Stack Exchange site (http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/53880/stuff-you-should-have- learned-in-school-but-didnt-pay-attention-to-at-the-time) > I don't know if you can learn someone to write at this age Am I being overly fussy/old fashioned or is this just wrong?


Is "divine" acceptable as a verb?

Most definitions I find refer to the noun or adjective "divine" as "of or like God" or "very pleasing; delightful" but these definitions do not list the word as a verb. I can find a definition for "divination", which is the noun for the meaning I'm looking for.


Is 'unwind' an appropriate term for describing the shrinking phase of a recursive process?

Can we say, for instance, that once the base case for a recursive procedure is reached, the recursive process consisting of the evaluation of the procedure 'unwinds'? Here, the term 'unwind' would roughly mean "collects all deferred values until the entry point of the recursive procedure is met." I understand that 'unwinds' may hint at a 'winding' process occurring beforehand, which happens to be the evaluation of the procedure up to the point of reaching the base case, however, I would not feel comfortable with using 'unevaluates' in order to maintain linguistic symmetry.


Double negative: "Didn't I say that I didn't want any trouble?"

Does the above sentence make sense? It's meant to be rhetorical.


What is the meaning of "Good Grief"?

What does this mean: > Good Grief! Is it a formal or informal expression?


How To Pronounce "IFRS"?

How to pronounce "IFRS," International Financial Reporting Standards? Anybody knows its phonetic symbols with IPA symbols?


Is there an idiomatic equivalent of "I really loved what you said"?

In Armenian, we have an expression which literally can be translated as "You talked|told|said from my heart", and means "I really loved what you said", "I really excited about what you said, since I thought the same" and expresses an emotional solidarity. In English, what is the idiomatic equivalent for it?


And/or in total negation: "Some people are not able to interpret and/or analyze"

In the following sentence, the “and/or” seems odd in a case of total negation: Evidently some people are not able to interpret and/or analyze at that deeper level. Because the sentence says “are not able to”, total negation would seem to unambiguously require “or”. In a positive sentence, “and/or” is sometimes used to mean inclusive OR (although perhaps OR alone could suffice), but is there any possibility of ambiguity in total negation? In other words Not X and not Y = Not X or Y Would “not X and/or Y” ever be required? Or does such use merely reflect the increasing proliferation of superfluous “and/or”?


"Guess dress brand" or "Guess clothes brand"?

In case of process of guessing brand names while looking on logo. Thank you.


Why is it that denuding something means you strip it rather than dress it?

When we _denude_ something we strip it, like the branches of a tree. That seems a bit inverted to me, shouldn't it be to _nude_ -something?


Good English grammar textbook for students?

I need a well-organized, systematized textbook that explains all the English grammar rules deeply and precisely. Advanced level. For US or GB students that might study English. Can anybody suggest an appropriate book? Thanks!!! I already have and really like:   1. http://amzn.com/B001B7D50I   2. http://amzn.com/0582403839


What is the correct sentence? Please, help!

may I say: temperature was higher than average from May to October?


Proper use of 'forestall'. Is this allowed?

> Your attitude always forestalls us from enjoying. Does the above sentence make sense?


Better usage of "lighter barge"?

There is a maritime term “lighter” which refers to a unpowered barge that was used to unload ( _lighten_ ) larger ships anchored at roadsteads, unable to enter shallow harbours, or to facilitate transfer of cargo via inland waterways. Nowadays, LASH (Lighter Aboard SHip) system is used with standardised lighter barges loaded on board of larger ship (similar idea to containers) to be released at destination. In a strict context of (technical) maritime writing/usage, it seems that the term is perfectly understandable. However, writing for non-technical audience I ran into a problem where I had a passage describing various types of vessels used during Arctic navigation. Rough shortened quote: “…bulk loaders, container ships, tankers, and _lighter barge ships_ ”. Obvious issue is that for uninitiated that would likely mean ships that are lighter (smaller) than the other listed ones. In Russian, where the term “лихтер” is a calque of the Dutch “lichter”, there is no confusion whatsoever. I am not sure that the same issue as in English would not arise in Dutch or German, languages that use same term. What is the better way to handle this situation? Best without avoiding using the term. Is there a substitute? Is there a way to ensure the audience know that writer talks about specific maritime term, not just a common adjective of one thing lighter than the other?


Terminology for items made by recycling craft

_Recycling craft_ is the art of making usable items from recyclable stuff. What would be a suitable term for the items produced by this craft?


What is the adjective equivalent to "content"?

For example, how does one say the equivalent to "a day which made me content" or a "contenting" day?


Is "very less" correct English?

Is using _very less_ correct English? My friend suggests it should be _very little_. Are they both correct, or is there a difference?


Is there a term similar to "hypochondriac" except more externally based?

By "external" I mean a person who has a fear or worry of things that could cause serious illness, rather than the fear of already having a serious illness itself. For example, say you worry about things like contaminants in your drinking water, or lead in the products you own or buy that were made in China, and so on. Is there a term for such hypochondriac-ish people like that?


Need audio short stories wrote in all tenses

First I apologize for my weakness language Second Sorry if this topic I put it in wrong place I read in effortlessenglish course for Aj Hoge that the best way to learn Grammer not to study it but read more stories and every one story must be wrote in all tenses so please anyone can give me links to download a lot of audio & test stories and every one of this stories are wrote in all different tenses and thank you


Can anyone tell me the word or phrase that means 'someone who things are done to'?

I am looking for a word or phrase for   1. someone who has things done to them and   2. someone who does things to people. I.e. someone with no power and someone who has all the power. Would be really great if you brainy people could help... to stop my brain from exploding!


Formatting two adjacent footnote indicators in the body of the footnoted text

I've run into an issue using Microsoft Word 2013. In the following example, there is no way to know whether or not there exists one reference to footnote 12, or two references to footnotes 1 and 2: > This line of text is a footnote reference example.12 It's an issue because I'm adding multiple footnotes to the same section of document body text in a "wiki" style document with multiple URL examples used as reference, for example: > The television character's name was Guy Characterburg.1 2 > >> ¹ He was named Guy after Guy Fawkes. _en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_ >> >> ² And Characterburg because I am not very creative. _en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laziness_ In that example, I've placed a space in-between the 1 and the 2 to make it easier to see. And at the end of an isolated sentence, a few extra spaces are certainly not the end of the world. But it adds a lot of awkward white space when done in the middle of a paragraph, for example: > Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec aliquam > lectus eget rhoncus aliquet. Duis mollis, ligula quis dapibus mollis, magna > velit aliquet mi, nec lacinia erat nulla nec dui. Nunc nec imperdiet1 2 3 > quam.4 Aliquam iaculis5 6 7 non tortor nec vestibulum. Curabitur accumsan > bibendum tristique. Morbi ac felis massa. Donec eget mauris enim. Phasellus > tristique8 9 mauris ipsum, ac euismod felis sollicitudin vitae. If I put a superscript comma in-between them, for example: > This is the last example, I promise1,2. > >> ¹ This was a lie. _en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie_ >> >> ² _brutereason.net/2011/09/23/on-people-who-think-theyre-so-damn-funny_ This confuses Microsoft Word, because its proofreading function ignores the footnote references and only sees: > This is the last example, I promise,. ..and puts squiggly red lines everywhere (well, in the dozen or so places it's an issue). If I try to add hard brackets, à la Wikipedia: > This[1][2] is another example. This also confuses Word. It thinks I'm bunching up parentheticals and uses squiggly blue lines to suggest spacing them out: > This [1] [2] is what Word would prefer. That would be annoying to have to type in a bunch of superscript brackets and extra spaces, and it's not exactly aesthetically pleasing: > Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec aliquam > lectus eget rhoncus aliquet. Duis mollis, ligula quis dapibus mollis, magna > velit aliquet mi, nec lacinia erat nulla nec dui. Nunc nec imperdiet [1] [2] > [3] quam. [4] Aliquam iaculis [5] [6] [7] non tortor nec vestibulum. > Curabitur accumsan bibendum tristique. Morbi ac felis massa. Donec eget > mauris enim. Phasellus tristique [8] [9] mauris ipsum, ac euismod felis > sollicitudin vitae. But I guess I'd take it if that was the official, last word on how to do it. So my question is, after all that, is this a situation that has a best practice? Is there a good way to get Microsoft Word to display adjacent footnote references?


Good thinking, that man!

I've come across this one in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. One character often used shouted "Good thinking, that man!" as a praise. Is this a real English regionalism?


Is this usage of "aren't" proper English?

> Aren't you going to go outside? My wife insists this is improper English, _Hillbilly speak_ , she calls it. The proper way to ask, she says, is _Are you going to go outside?_ I say it's the same as asking _Won't you play with me?_ , which I do not find offensive.


About 'wh + participle' and 'you guys'

> we wanted to share some of what you'll see now on foursquare **while out > exploring your city**. Is the bolded text a clause with ellipsis or a participle phrase? If a phrase, is the _while_ a preposition? > You **guys** checked in 381,576,305 times in 2010 Why add _guys_ ?


future tense of a present tense

> My time for the marathon next year **_will_** certainly be worse than it > **_is_** tomorrow.   >  (The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language) Is **_is_** being present tense saying **_is_** is the same tense of future as **_will_** (simultaneity); or **_is_** is anterior to **_will_**?


Is there a word for having more than ten fingers?

I recently read an article about a man who had twelve fingers and twelve toes. Is there a word for this genetic anomaly?


When is it appropriate or disrespectful to refer to someone as "she"?

My boss has asked me not to refer to her as _she_ because she says it's disrespectful. After I refer to her by her proper name or by her title, isn't it appropriate to refer to her as _she_?


What's an eloquent way to say "The secret is out?"

What is a good way to say 'the secret is out'?


Not too much run it on

> Mother has the house in Wallingford,” Marion said, “and **not too much to > run it on,** when Fred’s school bills have been paid. I had a little capital > of my own, enough to keep me while I was learning to make a living, so I > decide to come to London and train for a secretary’s job. I took this place > we’re going to, and started a course at Needham’s. > > — _The Little Mystery_ by E.C. Bentley (my emphasis) What's the meaning of 'not too much to run it on'? "Nothing much left" or something else?


A phrase containing all "special" characters

A pangram is the phrase that contains all letters of given alphabet. Is there any name for a phrase containing all "special" letters of given alphabet? By "special" characters I understand all letters that differ that alphabet from standard alphabet from which it's derived (referred also as diacritics, though I'm not sure if it's usage isn't limited to Latin-derived alphabets and if, for example, ß is also a diacritic). My question is inspired by that question on German.SE.


what 5-letter word is the antonym of "stink"?

It's really really hard to guess the word. All I know is "fragrance" , ""sweetness", etc. please help me with this stuff :)


Why does "sophomore" refer to a second-year student?

I came across Etymonline's explanation for the word _sophomore_. I do not understand why this has come to be applied to second-years. Why is a second- year guy a wise one _and_ a fool?


Use of the term "Cowardly Act" in regards to violence

I've noticed a trend for American leaders to use the word "cowardly" to describe acts of violence:   * Obama: Navy Yard Shootings “Cowardly Act” \- in reference to the Sep 2013 DC Navy Yard shooting   * "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts" \- George W Bush, Sep 12, 2001; referring to the 9/11 terrorist attaches   * "It’s such a cowardly act — whoever did this." \- Tagg Romney, Apr 16, 2013; referring to the Boston Marathon Bombings I'm trying to figure out what, exactly, is meant in this context. Let me make it clear that there is no doubt in my mind that the events referenced above are all horrendous and abhorrent. I'm just trying to figure out if describing them as "cowardly" is appropriate. Cowardly (According Merriam Webster): > afraid in a way that makes you unable to do what is right or expected : > lacking courage The part that jumps out at me is "lacking courage": Courage: > the ability to do something that frightens one. Are we to agree that the perpetrators of the events lacked courage? It seems to me that they did not lack courage because each of the acts involved something that is likely to frighten the perpetrator (and therefore cannot be called cowardly). Am I missing the real meaning of the phrase, or perhaps, just thinking about it too much? I'll admit that my initial interpretation is that it has something to do with being "unmanly" in that it could be perceived that the perpetrators didn't face their "enemies" straight on. But it still doesn't seem correct.


a computer program does what for the user - Technical writing

I am writing a technical document and, I have a module called "Pre-policy Module" which is a web application(like, say, facebook). What could be appropriate to say in a sentence like this: > The goal of VAS – Pre policy Web Application is to automate the process of > appointment scheduling, rescheduling, cancelling, ... It is obviously not "automate" because parts of it require manual operation. What word can I substitute in place of "automate"?


Better term for "time-evolving charts"

I am working on charts to show every day climate parameters such as temperature and precipitation over a period of time. I used the term "time- evolving charts". Is there a better term to show the evolution over time for these charts or diagrams? Besides, I want to use a better term for "climatic parameters"


"In a list" vs. "on a list"

In the following sentence, should I use _in_ or _on_? > If i ever make a list,not only you'll be **in/on** it,you'll top it too.


Am I right for the prepositions in this sentence?

I am writing to seek possibilities **of** having a continuance **for** my hearing on 02/13/2014.


Which is correct: "anytime" or "any time"?

Is it "any time" or "anytime" or are those two things different?


You will have to Vs Have to

I have across this, in a recent conversation with an educationalist. During our conversation regarding higher education; He said, "you will have to do that". Is it the right phrase? What is the difference between these two statements?   1. You will have to do that    2. You have to do that (simply) Any specific context, when one must be using each one of those.


Difference between "kindness" and "generosity"

Is there a difference between _kindness_ and _generosity_? For example, > I have benefited a lot from your **kindness** and **generosity**. The difference in my mind is subtle but I think it is a significant difference; it's just that I can't explain it!


use of pre-empt

I want to use the word 'pre-empt' because I think it fits best, but is it correct to pre-empt a possibility of something happening? I'm not sure it sounds right. My sentence is: > I want someone to start in May, but as the Indian summer is May / June, I > want to pre-empt the possibility that one of them will be on leave then, so > I am sending two proposals.


What does the word "hacking" or "hacker" come from?

Is there a history behind the word "hacker" and "hacking"? Could it have anything to do with "hashing" i.e. using a hash function?


let you know a couple of facts OR bring couple of facts to your notice

Which of the following is more appropriate / polite? I would like to bring a couple of facts (or things?) to your notice. OR I would like to let you know a couple of facts. Please advise.


Adverb with or without hyphen?

Remarkably low condensation temperature or Remarkably-low condensation temperature? The focus of remarkable is that it is such a low temperature. We are having an office disagreement and any help is much appreciated.


What word describes our habit to use extremes in language, and what are its implications?

I have heard that in America, and likely elsewhere as well, we are beginning to be more gratuitous with our use of extreme words when not entirely accurate, such as the words "awesome", "always", "never", "crazy", etc. Is there a word or phrase to name this phenomenon? What are the implications of this behavior with respect to our use of language and its effect on our lives?


I want to know the meaning of this sentence

It is from 'The picture of Dorian Gray'. He would often spend a whole day settling and resettling in their cases the various stones that **be had collected** , such as the olive...........(I have omitted such long following). Isn't 'be had collected' correct?


A term that describes people who easily connect formally, but not emotionally?

Is there a term that describes two individuals who easily connect to each other on a formal level, so, related to intellect, facts and formalities, but who hardly connect on an emotional and personal level to each other?


Noun for someone fun and caring and compassionate

What is a noun for a person who is nice and caring and fun to be around (a noun to refer to the person, as in "Bob is a **___ __ ___ _**".


Can I put "Greetings" at the end of an email, and if so, how?

I am not a native speaker and I'm having trouble with formalities like opening and ending emails. In German, it is common to end an informal email with the phrase _Viele Grüße_ , which means "Many greetings", sometimes together with your location. For example, when you're on holiday it would be _Viele Grüße aus Spanien_ , meaning "Many greetings from Spain". Is there a way to end an email or letter with such a greeting in English? When I googled this, I read that greetings are only put at the beginning of letters, not at the end. Could I end an informal email with "Greetings from Germany, name" or just "Greetings, name"? If not, what other common ways are there to end informal emails? I am writing to someone I don't know in person, but it is still formal (so I can't write something like "See ya").


What is the exact word used for this unusual "interval" of sorts?

I knew this word a long time ago. Then I lost my memory. childhood and all. mva trauma, head injury.. I was good with words before because I was a songwriter, and I had a feeling that this word was etched in my memory somewhere but was just inaccessible.. knowing this word again could solve a lot of consequent problems in writing/overcome writers block to some degree for me. So here it is: You know how there is an "interval" between say a "train of events"? "Interval" is the best and only word I could think of -closest to this phenomenon- to describe it. To be a bit more vivid, imagine a train (locomotive) with 10 carriages, and the third and fourth carriage missing above the wheels. So, as the train moves past you, there is a "gap" that transitions through your visual and sound spectrum yes? What is this phenomenon? "Something" (that) passes by you.. It is a very obvious word, but I just can't figure out.. Even after one of you points it out, I might have to give it a memory marker to make it a long term memory- as my short term memory is still not in very good shape (or maybe it's just in the head). Further, imagine this "gap" or "interval" of sorts streaking past you like a bullet.. What is this phenomenon? :)


What does the phrase "for want of means" mean?

I came across this phrase in the following passage: > Two instances of such forays have been particularly noted by scholars. In > his essay “Of the Affection of Fathers to Their Children,” Montaigne, > sharply criticising aged parents who expect their grown children to be > grateful to them and who cling avidly to their possessions, gives powerful > voice to the resentment of the young: “It is mere injustice to see an old, > crazed, sinew-shrunken, and nigh-dead father sitting alone in a chimney- > corner to enjoy so many goods as would suffice for the preferment and > entertainment of many children, **and in the meanwhile, for want of means** > , to suffer them to lose their best days and years without thrusting them > into public service and knowledge of men.” Can someone please explain me what it means in the context of this passage and its usage in general? Link to the original article


Question about “criticism” and “critique”

Are _criticism_ and _critique_ mass nouns? If not, what semantic area does their countable usage refer to?


Word for phrases that are examples of what they describe

Is there a word (or phrase) for phrases that are examples of what they describe? For example, "You the verb" to tell someone they forgot a verb in an online posting, or "spacesmakethingseasiertoread".


On / of one's own accord

When it comes to the idiom involving the phrase "own accord", is it considered correct to say " _on one's own accord_ ", instead of " _of one's own accord_ "? To me, the former sounds more natural. Example: " _the autodidact enjoyed learning on her own accord_ ".


Which is correct: 'as beautiful as her' or 'as beautiful as she'?

From what I have understood from reading about she/her, I understand that 'she' is to be used as a subject (with the 'be' implied) and 'her' as an object, but I am confused about the usage with similes or comparisons. eg: 'The Moon is as beautiful as her/she.' Or are both correct but the subject and object interchanged?


To sightsee ...or ..to go sightseeing?

How common is it, nowadays, to say that one 'sightsees', rather than 'goes sightseeing'?


The revenge of the gifted amateur … be afraid, be very afraid …

What is the meaning of the word 'amateur' and how is the amateur compared with the professional in this article on computing. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1822283 > They are “punching above their weight” in their dealings with larger > competitors who are less exposed to these new skills and more restricted in > their structures. I was trying to find something on the 'amateur tradition' but I did not find what I was looking for. Although I did find an article in the Guardian that pointed out that many famous authors were 'part-timers'. > **The woes of publishing make it easy to forget that Fielding, TS Eliot and > others were part-timers** http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/02/jk-rowling-charles- dickens-ts-elliot-books-writing


What is the origin of "uh", "um", "erm" and "er"?

This question may be a better fit on linguistics.SE, but it pertains specifically to English fillers. Also, the question may have a more straightforward answer than what I'm expecting. **TL;DR: Are these fillers mimetic or trace to other languages? Where are they first recorded in English?** First off, although I've always pronounced them differently, the Wiktionary entry for _er_ has the pronunciation for non-rhotic dialects (/ɜ, /ə in ODO), comparing it to _uh_ (/ʌ, /ʌh). Would this be a very similar sound? I'm skeptical as to whether or not this points to a common heritage. Furthermore, the usual sources show _er_ occurred more recently[1][2] than _uh_ or _um_.[3][4] I run into confusion when Etymonline states that _uh_ is "attested c.1600" whereas ODO puts its origin in the 1960s. Perhaps it's because ODO is focused on modern usage. All sources I've seen ascribe the words to natural utterances. However, if they are purely mimetic, this doesn't explain why filler sounds differ so widely across languages (i.e. why doesn't every language have these fillers or vice-versa). Based on the fillers of other languages, one might conclude these English fillers were influenced by the Welsh _ym_ or German _äh_ (/ɛː/) or _hm_. Or is this a case of false cognates because "m" is easily produced? Either way, how do we know _uh_ and _um_ go back to the 17th century since I'd hazard a guess that "realistic dialogue" (recorded on the page) is relatively "new" (no earlier than 1800s)?


Is there a comma after "As of today"?

> As of today(?) I'm a student of a prestigious university. Should there be a comma after "As of today"?


"Tamper evident opening"

I am not native English speaker, and I just saw this sentence written in a sealed box: "Tamper evident opening" Is that sentence correct? I mean, I think it means "If you tamper with this seal, it will be evident that the box has been opened". But, I think also that following the English grammar, it would say "If you open the box, and it is evident you did so, try to tamper it so nobody realized it". Wouldn't the correct way be "Tampering evidents opening"?


Using "yet" and "still"

When someone says, > The changes have to be updated. someone may reply, > Those changes need to be made but **the plan to make those changes does not > yet exist**. (as sometimes found) Is it grammatically correct? Why shouldn't it be something like the following? > The plan to make those changes has not yet existed. * * * Moreover, sometimes "still" is seen in place of "yet" such as. > Bill has **still** not arrived. Shouldn't it be > Bill has not **yet** arrived. I'm not talking about the _conjunction_ ( _yet/still_ ) used to connect two simple sentences.


How to say hello to a group of people?

When entering a place or meet a group of people or starting a speech, how do you say hello to the audience (from a few to thousands of people). I know that this depends on the situation. I think it is common to say > Hello, folks! But what are some appropriate ways to say hello to initiate a connection with a group of people in different situations?   1. Formal    2. Formal but friendly    3. Informal  Apart from common salutations, can you also suggest creative solutions, which may be unusual but acceptable to a native speaker?


Usage of the future subjunctive

In the Wikipedia article about the subjunctive mood, I read that the future subjunctive of _own_ for the first person singular is _I were to own_. In which situations is the future subjunctive used in English?


Choosing between "everybody" and "everyone"

When addressing a radio audience, is _welcome everybody_ the appropriate word choice? Why not _welcome everyone_?


How did pirates really talk?

In this question we learned that pirates did not really talk how they are commonly portrayed. Given that they were professional sailors, they probably had a wide store of nautical jargon; but what would be an example of speech that would typify a pirate, such as Blackbeard? Would the captains and officers have notably different speech from the rest of the crew?


Redeeming, sort of. Need a better word!

My site has a feature where users can buy, or they can obtain a code that will allow someone else to buy it for them. The part of the page that lets the buyer input the code and gift the item to the user who gave them the code is labelled like this: > _**____** a Gift Code. What can I put in the blank? Or is there a better label I can use?


Using "if" or not in a sentence structure when expressing doubt

I use the following sentence construction a lot. > I'm not sure if this is right. I was not aware of any problem until recently I noticed that quite a few of my colleagues used it a little differently. It went like: > I'm not sure this is right. Now I'm confused. On the one hand, they are native speakers and might be correct on the usage. On the other hand, my education background convinces me that mine is correct too. Which one should I use?


1D vs. one-dimensional vs. 1-dimensional?

In much of the scientific literature, the words 1D, one-dimensional, 1-dimensional, and 1-D occur frequently. Which of these is the best practice? Are there general principles for deciding which is the best format of these types


Can vowels be combined in English without forming diphthongs?

Usually all combinations of vowels in English function as diphthongs. Are there any combinations of vowels in English that do not function as diphthongs? if there are no such examples - I would be grateful to you if you mention the source, where this restriction is mentioned as a combinatory rule for English vowel phonemes.


What's the origin of the stock phrase "tall, dark, and handsome"?

Most everyone has probably heard the phrase "tall, dark, and handsome" being used to describe the physical qualities of a perfect male romantic match. Where did this phrase come from, and who, if anyone, made it popular?


"To run a search" vs "to search"

In another post I was edited/corrected on the use of "to run a search" instead of "to search", but both terms do not necessarily imply the exact same thing. To run a search, to my knowledge, has to do more with the act of starting a search, most usually on an automatic search engine. You run a search, and wait some time until it finishes. It has the implicit meaning that you are not the one doing the search, but in this case, the computer. On the other hand, to search, would most likely make you think that you are the one performing the search, manually looking through a book, document, or set of any of them. So, how is this sentence subject for an edit, from this: Many times I've run searches across several books for the usage of some words and many times I've found my results quite contradictory. to this? Many times I searched across several books for the usage of some words and many times I've found my results quite contradictory. Don't you agree that besides being unnecessary, it even loses much of the original meaning? Basically because the running of a search, as I said, automatically implied that the books searched for were online or digital books, and when turned into a simple "searched" that extra piece of information is gone, and those once digital books now may appear to be regular paper books.


Does "develop" mean "upgrade"?

In my native language, the English word "develop" is translated to "the process to make something/somebody large/strong/big, and etc.; for example: economic development." Does _develop_ mean _upgrade_?


Exact meaning of "sense of well being"?

I want to find the exact/literal/detailed meaning of the phrase "sense of well being". Not just "well being", but "sense of well being". (What exactly is meant by "sense"?) Note: I understand what the phrase means. But how will I write/describe the meaning in English? (I need this for some literary work.)


"Why aren't you listening to me?" versus "Why don't you listen to me?"

What should I use, "Why aren't you listening to me?" or "Why don't you listen to me?" Example: I'm chatting with my friend, who seems to just ignore some issues: > Bill, why aren't you listening to me, when I tell you about my problem?


Punctuation after "P.S."

Somewhere in the craggy quagmire of my memory, I seem to recall that the nuns of my grade school days taught me that a P.S. (post script) is followed by a colon, i.e. _P.S.:_ Alas, the periods after the "p" and "s" have all but disappeared in our Tweet- crazed culture but I persist in using them, not wanting to call down upon me the wrath of my former and now surely dearly departed nuns. But what of the colon? Is this a non-memory of my angst-ridden Catholic education? It seems wrong to follow a period (a full stop, after all, that signals a new thought) with the contents of a post script without some intervening mark. However, I do admit that on paper it does look, well, clunky. And try as I might, I cannot find the usage anywhere (I may eschew Twitter but I do Google (the content provider having given birth to a verb). Doth the lady punctuate too much?


Why do we say 'Tearing about'

Why do we say 'tearing about' meaning rushing around in a rather haphazard way. I can't find the expression in any dictionary or thesaurus and am not sure if I am spelling it correctly. Most concerned it could die out if parents don't continue to use it to chastise lively children! Any ideas?


"No reason why" as a standalone phrase or a sentence

Can you come up with an example, in which "No reason why" would be one separate sentence, perhaps, a short answer in a dialogue. (So, such constructions as "There is no reason why we shouldn't..." must not be considered.)


What does "the need of the hour" mean?

I came across this idiom in a title, in association with a noun: > [noun of a product category] — The need of the hour What does this mean?


Is there a rule for using or not using the definite article before people’s titles?

The use of the definite article before titles is a confusing area - I always hear “Queen Elizabeth visited” and never “The Queen Elizabeth visited”. But I always hear “The Prince of Wales visited” and never “Prince of Wales visited”. Is there a rule for using — or not using — the definite article before people’s titles?


"Admonish someone" vs "Censure someone" vs "Reprimand someone"

I noticed that, in the dictionary, the words _admonish_ , _censure_ and _reprimand_ can have a meaning resembling _criticize or disapprove (of) some one sharply and formally_. ODO says: > Admonish (verb): warn or reprimand someone firmly.   >  Censure (verb): express severe disapproval of (someone or something), > typically in a formal statement.   >  Reprimand (verb): a rebuke, esp. an official one. and I'm writing about a person, Suresh, who get such criticism from his mentor, Sanjay, with whom he has a good work relationship. I'm considering saying that the Suresh is admonished by Sanjay, or reprimanded by Sanjay or censured by Sanjay. I would like to know: (1) Is there a difference between those three? Would you imagine that reprimanding Suresh is a slightly different meaning than admonishing or censuring Suresh? (I typed all these three words into a Google image search, and I got similar images for _admonish_ and _reprimand_. I got different images for _censure_. However I cannot grasp a clear difference). (2) Among those three words, only _admonish_ has other meanings. For example, it has other meanings like _advise or urge (someone) earnestly_ If all these three words are essentially the same meaning, is there any reason I should avoid using one word or the other?


What is the difference between "Class of 2004" and "Batch of 2004"? I have a feeling that one means the students who joined the university in 2004 and the other means those who graduated in 2004. Is that correct? And if so — then which is which?


What the correct syllabification for "condolences"?

My word processor soft-hyphenated condolences as **condolenc-es**. Does this look natural to the eyes of native speakers? I, a non-native speaker, think it should be **condolen-ces**.


Does one say "subscribe to insurance" or is "enroll" or "buy" a more fitting verb?

This is for use in an apartment lease. "The Second Party shall, for the duration of the validity of The Agreement, **subscribe to the insurance** defined separately ..."


"Hypocorism"/"hypocoristic" vs. "diminutive"

I ran across the word _hypocoristic_ for the first time today, in an article on gender in languages and its relationship to sex: > In several of these dialects, nouns denoting girls and unmarried women > (irrespective of age), and including hypocoristics, are of neuter gender. I had never heard this word, so Googled it. Wiktionary and Wikipedia both have articles on the term, but from their definitions and examples, I can't seem to tell if it is a synonym for _diminutive_ , or if it merely overlaps. Other sources don't help either: “Denoting, or of the nature of, a pet name or diminutive form of a name.” So, I'm wondering if there is a difference between _hypocoristic_ or _hypocorism_ and _diminutive_ (when used to refer to a form of a word or name; obviously dimunitive can also refer to something physical, while hypocorism/hypocoristic appear to exclusively refer to words or names), or if they are just synonyms in that usage.


What I should use to describle what just happened?

"I lost my PDA" or "I has lost my PDA"? No exact time is specified.


Is the word “classless” neutral in its implication, or does it have a derogatory tone?

I was drawn to the word, “classless” in Carolyn Hax’s answer to a reader in the counseling corner of Washington Post (June 7), which comes under the title, “How do you get back at a loudmouth? By letting the boor talk.” > Asker: What to do, as a full-grown adult, when **a classless coward** makes > a loud, public and derogatory comment about your mother after your unknowing > mother walked out of the restaurant, where this person and party were > coincidentally seated near us? > > Carolyn Hax: If you want to take down a “ **classless coward** ,” then give > her a megaphone and let her dismantle herself. With no amplifying equipment > handy, it’s okay just to let rude people think they won, to have faith that > people of character know a boor when they hear one and to trust you won’t > implode waiting for the vengeful urges to pass. I’m inclined to associate the word “classless” in the above quote with the Japanese expression, “どこの馬の骨とも解らぬ人-Dokono-uma-no hone"- A person like a bone of horse who comes from an unknown family - meaning a person whose family line and social class are unknown, therefore boorish or untrustworthy. Yesteryears’ parents wouldn’t have agreed their daughter to marry a lad like a “bone of horse”. However as far as I checked CED and OED, the meaning of “classless” is just neutral: CED defines ‘classless’ as;   1. _Not belonging to a particular social class_   2. _Having no different social classes_ OED defines it as;   1. (Of a society) _not divided into social classes_   2. _Not showing obvious signs of belonging to a particular social class_ Is the word, “classless” just neutral on its implication, or does it have a somewhat negative tone depending on the occasion, as observed in the above example?


A term for redundancy in loan words?

Unfortunately, I can only think of one example at the moment, but, sometimes a loan or borrowed phrase is redundant because it includes in it both the lending and borrowing languages' words for the same meaning. The example: There is a famous street in Seoul named _가로수길_ , romanized as _Garosugil_. The _Garosu_ part means _lined with trees_ and _gil_ means _street_. Yet, it is sometimes referred to in English as _Garosugil **Street_** \--that's Garosu Street Street. It appears to be done to keep both the recognizable name as well as explain what it is more generally. I'm sure there are other examples, and would appreciate some just for the sake of interest. I am, however, also searching for a term to describe this construction, if one exists.


Which is correct: "he don't" or "he doesn't"?

Which one is correct in a sentence? >   * He don't >   * He doesn't > I guess "he doesn't" should be correct because _he_ is third person singular but I've seen some people using _do_ with _he_. Which one is correct?


Independence vs. Independency

Most often used is " _independence_ " as far as I know, however what is the difference? I only found a question about "dependence vs. dependency" where is said that " _dependence_ " describes the quality (also abstract) and " _dependency_ " describes the state. Is this the same for the opposites? It was mentioned in the original question, but not answered.


Subject-Verb Agreement – Has or Have?

Has or have below? I say 'have'. Compound subject requires a plural verb, right? _"I love the people, the culture, and (most importantly) the food that New York and Greenwich Village, in particular, have to offer."_


Is all use of illegal drugs abuse?

"abuse" is often defined as improper usage. When speaking about an illegal drug, it seems impossible to properly use it (I mean here recreational consumption, not specially licensed medical or research use). So then, is any consumption automatically abuse? **EDIT:** I see that somehow, several users appear to have misinterpreted my question. I would like to clarify: Even substances which are illegal may be used legally by people such as medical doctors and scientists, by special permit. Obviously this is not abuse. It falls within the special exemptions provided by the law. I am asking about using the word " _abuse_ " to describe use of these drugs **_outside such special permits, when the law considers the use clearly illegal_**.


Origin of the term "High and dry"

The term "high and dry" has always confused me. As in the case provided by the Merriam Webster online dictionary: > The inadequate supplies of vaccine left many people high and dry when the > flu season arrived. I understand the meaning of the term, to be outside of the area of help, but I don't understand how this expression came to be used for such a situation. Where does this expression originate from? How did it come to mean what it means today?


A word to describe the structure of "The Song That Never Ends"

The song has been described as a " **self-referential and infinitely iterative** children's song". I would like to use a word that encapsulates this description. I have considered _recursive_, but does that necessarily imply self- referentiality? I don't think it would imply an infinite process either. _Eternal_ or _never-ending_ only describes one facet. A _quine_ may be apt, but does the analogy really hold? Again, a quine doesn't imply infinite reproduction, or does it? They output themselves only once in examples I've seen. Is there any appropriate term (via linguistics, computer science, physics, etc.) that completely captures the essence of the song (and similar works)? Edit: I'm also considering _ouroboros_. My goal is to find something that is descriptive or directly analogous to the underlying pattern. I'm not sure if there's some jargon in other fields, biology, music, art, etc. that could apply. The fact that it's a children's song is irrelevant, so I have emphasised the crux of the quoted phrase.


What is a song played at the end of a movie called?

At the end of some movies, there is a song to be played. Is there any word to call these songs? As an example "My Heart Will Go On" from Celine Dion at the of Titanic.


What is the origin of the phrase "bo selecta"?

The phrase means literally "good song" or "good DJ". _selecta_ is the DJ ("the selector"). But why that spelling? And where does _bo_ come from? Is it from the French _beau_ or the Latin _bona_? Is there a link via Jamaican English? What evidence of use exists prior to the 1999 song?


"Is not dead" origin?

I have seen this sentence used many times, from the first time I can remember (Visual is not dead) to many examples including God is not dead (mainly coming from arguments against Nietzsche). But, for what I can recall, it genereally keeps the structure "[music style] is not dead" So, does anyone know when and where was this expression used for the first time? I have tried googling it but it's likely that I did it wrong since I'm not native and I'm not sure how to google it.


Is there a word for an inferior substitute?

I was wondering if there is a word in English to describe a person fulfilling another's role, albeit not as proficient.


Asceticism vs. Monasticism

**What is the difference between asceticism and monasticism?** It seems that in practice they are effectively synonymous; if this is the case, do they have differing origins? I've included the first lines of each wikipedia entry below, which virtually identical. For another example, in the wiki article for Saint Anthony, > "He is often erroneously considered the first monk, but as his biography and > other sources make clear, there were many ascetics before him." This again suggests the terms are effectively synonymous. * * * From Asceticism wikipedia: > Asceticism (/əˈsɛtɪsɪz(ə)m/; from the Greek: ἄσκησις áskēsis, "exercise" or > "training") is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various worldly > pleasures, often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals. From Monasticism wikipedia: > Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from μόνος, monos, > "alone") or monkhood is a religious way of life that involves renouncing > worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work


"You can learn the basics in three lines or so" - Is that correct?

> You can learn the basics in three lines or so. I want to say that you can learn the basics by reading a few lines of something (e.g. a text). Is that phrase correct?


What does *she had spiked out stylishly* mean?

_Context: “Hi,” chirped a girl beside me. I lifted my head to look at her. She was pretty in a ‘not in your face’ kind of way, she had short black **hair with some blue streaks which she had spiked out stylishly** , and big brown eyes. She was smiling a friendly smile._ > What does it mean? Does it fashionably or not cool?


"Pilgrims homelands'" or "Pilgrim's homelands"?

The context for this is that the group of pilgrims all come from different places. So how would I refer to the [many]pilgrims [many]homelands? I'm not sure where that apostrophe should go.... Thank you~


Subordinating conjunction following conjunctive adverb

> Dogs are usually friendly; however, while eating some are unpredictable. Does "eating" need to be followed by a comma? It appears to me that a comma is necessary because "while eating" functions as a subordinating conjunction, but I want to be 100% certain.


Do I need to put a comma before every "because"?

I am correcting a document and was told that I have to put a comma before every occurrence of “because” mid-sentence. Example: > _This might be because another algorithm was chosen._ The corrector remarked that I ought to place a comma in this sentence: _This might be, because another algorithm was chosen._ Can you explain the rules for placing commas in sentences with “because”?


Two minuses make a plus

As English is not my native language, I have a trouble to find the correct way to express the following: _Two negations are equivalent to an affirmation_ properly. This is how it translates from my native language (Greek) if it is translated word by word: "δύο αρνήσεις ισοδυναμούν με μία κατάφαση", and it does not sound good to me. Is there a standard English expression (an appropriate cliché, for example) with this meaning? UPDATE. Let me give an example of what this expression really means: "There is NO student in this classroom who DOES NOT HAVE a pencil." is logically equivalent to: "Every student is this classroom HAS a pencil" So the first sentence has two negations - a negation of a negation - while the second one has affirmative nature.


Another word for Short form and its Long form of a word

Based on the following example:               Local Area Network (LAN)      You can say that LAN is the short form and the Local Area Network is the long form. What is the another word for "short form"? (Is 'acronym' a better word for replacing 'short term'? or 'abbreviation' would be a better choice?) What is the another word for "long form"? (Would 'backronym' a better word choice to replace 'long form'?) I am open for other word choice to replace 'short form' and 'long form'. Appreciate any help offer. **Update** I have create a table as follows:                    |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|     |    Acronym   |        ???           |      Meaning (?)                                                                                |     |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|     |      LAN     |  Local Area Network  | supplies networking capability to a group of computers in close proximity to each other such as in an office building, a school, or a home.              |     |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|           What would be the header name to replace the "???"? And also, would the header name "Meaning" be suitable?


What's the noun for typical human behavior in a disaster?

In disaster scenarios, such as citywide power outages or massive blizzards, people often flock to gas stations (for generator fuel) or clear out supermarkets. One might call this "common sense". I think _sociology_ starts to describe this behavior, but what's a more accurate noun? > **so·ci·ol·o·gy** (noun) > >   1. The study of human social behavior, especially the study of the > origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society. >


Any other good way of saying "Happy Birthday"?

Quite a few of my friends are having their birthdays in the coming weeks. I feel a little awkward posting plain words like "Happy Birthday" on their Facebook pages. I've decided I should come up with a different or special expression. Is there any other good way of saying or implying "Happy Birthday"?


Word for the product of a challenge

What is a word (noun) that describes the object created or produced when a challenge is met? For example, I might challenge a group of people to create either a poem, a painting or a photograph (they choose which). When they have created them and I have collected them all, I would have a group of **__** (fill in the blank). It does not need to be an artistic challenge but could be anything.


Is "outstaffing" a real word?

In Russia a lot of companies provide "outstaffing" services , but I am not sure whether it's used outside post USSR countries. Is "outstaffing" a real word? Update: "Outstaffing" is when one company "Outstaffers Inc." provides service to a customer "XYZ Bank" by providing a full time worker. Basically employee of "Outstaffers Inc." becomes a full employee of "XYZ Bank". Except he get's a salary from "Outstaffers Inc.".


What does "side four" mean?

I recently saw this sentence by Lou Reed: > Anyone who gets to side four is dumber than I am. On Flavorwire: "The Funniest and Meanest Things Bands Have Said About Their Fans" What does "side four" mean? Is it an idiom?


Dishes on menus and capitalising in naratives

1. "I'll have a mixed salad," or how about, 2. "I'll have the Mixed Salad." What about, 3. "I'll have the mesclun salad." If in the narrative the speaker is ordering directly from the menu, would it be necessary to use capitals as in example 2. A mixed salad is a very general term but what if the speaker asks for the mesclun salad. A mesclun salad is clearly defined by it's name, so would this need capitalisation.


How does 'Bull I' Th' Thorn Inn' translate into standard English?

I am currently staying briefly in Stockport. Among the vast array of historical education that the town offers, is a most refreshing feature, given the current heat wave in North-west England. That is Robinsons' Brewery. I note from their museum that one of the their pubs, at Hurdlow in Derbyshire is called the Bull I' Th' Thorn Inn. I feel certain that @Edwin Ashworth will be able to explain that. http://www.bulliththorninn.robinsonsbrewery.com/contact Of course I am supposing it means 'Bull in the thorn'. But interestingly the letter 'I' is written as a capital in the pub name. And what might be the precise pronunciation in the Derbyshire accent?


Do you "compare eggs with prunes"?

Just come across the eggs/prunes bit in a book. Is "to compare eggs with prunes" an idiomatic expression meaning "to juxtapose totally different things", or just a licencia poetica by the author?


How did "to snowball" originate?

To _snowball_ means to increase gradually. For example, > Inflation has snowballed in the last year. > > The debate snowballed into a heated argument. I am not able to understand the word _snowballed._ Does it have something to do with snow and ball? How did this meaning develop?


Can you place a cardinal number after a noun?

Is it possible to express a number of something by placing the cardinal after the noun? I know the concept of postpositives, like `snow galore` etc. but does this apply to cardinals? E.g. you can say `walking on four legs`, but would it be possible to say `walking on legs four`? Would it sound poetic/archaic or just plain wrong? EDIT: After Andrew's comment - I am talking here about expressing the quantity of things. I.e. a situation, where there is a plural form of a noun and then a cardinal, like the above `legs four` as opposed to Andrew's `platform four`, which would be just saying the numeral.


The funniest English mistranslations that you've ever heard

I live in Indonesia and English is not a primary language here but the Indonesia education system stipulates English as a compulsory subject. Therefore, most of Indonesians have learnt English since they were in elementary school yet a lot of words in English have mistranslated here, some are considered as jokes. When my friends and I learned English for the first time, we translated **DOORMAT** as **WELCOME** just because of this ![](http://i.stack.imgur.com/ONcjA.jpg) I thought that was funny. **:D** My question is what is the funniest English mistranslations (words, phrases, or sentences) that you've ever heard?


Do I use timeslot or time slot or time-slot?

As in _"the timeslot given to completing the task"_. Would also be interested to hear if there's different usages for different scenarios.


"Hew to" and "conform to/with" in AE

Can "hew to" and "conform with/to" be used just about interchangeably for whatever register of AE, including the most formal prose? > ...shall hew to the law and the recognized standards of legal > construction.source > > Rather than hew to the rules...source


Phrases for conclusion in an essay

I want to start my conclusion in an essay by using 'So,to sum up' or 'to sum it up,' . Do you think they are formal and stylish?


"Going to Maldives" or "going to the Maldives"?

The phrase "going to the Maldive Islands" is quite common and it fits the rules. However, when it comes to using just "Maldives", both "to the Maldives" and "to Maldives" are used. Which one is the correct one? Since Maldives are a number of islands, it seems like "going to the Maldives" is the correct version. So why are both phrases used interchangeably or is there a rule I need to know? Thank you so much in advance.


using has to or have to

I have example of two sentences here               He has to write a report.'      with he, she,it we will be using has. but why we are using have here instead of has with "She"               She doesn't have to wear a uniform to school'        * people need to realize that their life doesn't revolve around them only, is this fine or I should use dont here,  can somebody help me Thanks


"In the year 1769" or "in 1769" in this sentence?

Which is better in the following sentence, "in the year 1769" or "in 1769"? > While he was sailing in Polynesia **in the year 1769** , the British > explorer, Captain James Cook discovered a mysterious island where local > people wore tatao.


Is there a contraction for "where are" like "where's" for "where are"?

What is a contraction for _where are_? I wanted to ask "Where are the keys?" but want to use a contraction. Do I have to just say _Where are_ , or can I say _Where's_ and it's understood?


Is there a similar word to 'twain' but meaning 'three' instead of 'two'?

I would like to split something into three parts, is there a phrase I can use with similar overtones to "cleave in twain"?


Resources describing Somerset English

Can anyone suggest any good resources describing the grammar of traditional Somerset English (not accented standard English)? The Wikipedia article for the West Country dialects provides a good introduction, but I am looking for sources that go into greater depth regarding the grammatical differences between Somerset and standard English.


Is there a hypernym for persons and companies as entities?

I have to describe owners of certain properties and those can be persons or companies. I was thinking of naming them _entities_ , but that seems too broad.


What does "take the bird with me" mean?

> "It never crossed my mind that if I'm walking from A to B anything could > happen in the middle. If I got caught [with the gun] I would have said no > comment and took the bird with me." GUARDIAN What does it mean?   * Take the blame?   * Keep a secret?   * ... And why _bird_?


The meaning of the phrase "end all to be all"

What is the meaning of the phrase _end all to be all_? For example: > Some people believe that PPE is **end all to be all.**


"So much ahead of" vs. "so much forward of"

Let's say I'm a pitcher in a baseball game, standing on the pitcher's mound which is supposed to be 100m away from the batsman. Someone messes up the mound and moves it 50 m further, making it 150 m away from the batsman. How should I report this error if I want to ask a rhetorical question before pointing out the mistake? I want to say: > Why is this pitching spot so much **ahead/forward** of the normal spot? It > needs to be taken back 50 meters. Is using _ahead/forward_ okay? Or should I use something else?


"In" vs. "out of"

Why does **out** require an additional preposition in many cases that **in** does not? For example: > I am in town this weekend. Next weekend I will be out of town. > > When the lifeguard blows the whistle, everyone must get out of the water. > When he blows it again, you may get back in the water. > > I am in the office. At noon I will be out to lunch. One wouldn't say " _I will be out town_ " or " _get out the water_ ". There are also some cases where you would say " _I will be in to town_ " or " _get back in to the water_ ", but omitting the preposition is also perfectly acceptable. Other positional prepositions tend to require an additional preposition as well, but not "in". You go _down to the river_ , _over to the next county_ , _up to the 15th floor_ and _off to the races_. Why is "in" different?


Why do people say "Work like a dog?"

To mean working hard? Dogs just lie around and nap. That's not working hard...


A "scuffle" versus a "fight to the death"?

I want to describe an event where an intense fight broke out: > "It was not so much a scuffle, as a fight to the death." Did I word this sentence correctly?


People not admitting when things are going bad

Is there a word for someone who does not want to admit that things are going bad? E.g. when a person does not want to admit that a specific project at work isn't going as planned -- not because they are not aware of it, but simply because they don't want to admit it.


How should I use deprive?

When you want to say _take one's life_ , that is, _kill someone_ , using the verb _deprive_ , do you say _deprive one's life_? According to dictionaries, _deprive_ is a transitive verb and its use is 'deprive A of B'. Then, the possible expression could be _deprive him or her of life_. Is that right?


Is the word 'hussler' appropriate?

Is _wassup hussla?_ (also _gangsta_ , _killa_ etc.) appropriate to say to a friend or a colleague? I mean, I know that it's not any sort of an official phrase I'd say to my boss. What I mean to ask is whether this word may be taken offensively, like _nigger_ in the US.


Why is it "materials science" instead of "material science"?

Does anyone know how the "s" at the end of "materials" in "materials science" came about? It seems like "material science" would be equivalent, and is more natural to say aloud. For comparison with a similar phrase, we usually say "computer science" instead of "computers science". Does anyone know the etymology?


Committee, Association and Assembly -- What's the differrence?

I'm confused by these 3 words and I'm not quite sure what the differences are. I know how council, commission and committee differ, but I can't find it for Assembly and Association. I'm using it for a group of students who shared the same interest and work together to promote their interest to the public. I'm not quite sure what word to use to call them. Also, for instance, if that _interest_ is higher education and disabilities in the United States of America, should I use 'Association of Higher Education and Disabilities in the USA' or 'Association for Higher Education and Disabilities in the USA' or 'Association on Higher Education and Disabilities in the USA' ? Thanks


Explaining the apostrophe in this quotation

Stumbled upon The Case For Mitt Romney: > So far, under Obama, private sector job growth has vastly outpaced the > public sector. And the big public unions, like the **teachers'** , have been > directly challenged. I couldn't wrap my head around the _apostrophe_ used after _teachers_ — marked in bold. So, is there anything implied that I don't see or is this a type of apostrophe that I am not aware of?


"Blackness" vs "darkness"

I have been told that _darkness_ is better to use than _blackness_ ; that _blackness_ is not correct. But what about this intellectual giant Carl Sagan here (0:52): http://youtu.be/dj_MZ6i5Dr0?t=52s He said "blackness" with the stress on that word and he certainly is aware of English. So, my question is: why couldn't I use the word _blackness_ instead of the word _darkness_ if it is more logical (reference to the black color instead of vague dark which can also be dark-brown, dark-red etc.) and Carl Sagan use it too? I am really curious about that, because when I used word "blackness" on several occasions people smiled at me and told me it is wrong. Is it OK to use that word in the academic world and just stay away from it when dealing with casual people who speak English?


Does "I want to bid farewell to you" imply the giving of a farewell party? Or can we say it in another way?


Is "delegable" a word?

Wiktionary defines _delegetable_ as _capable of being delegated_ , which seems correct to the French speaking that I am. However, the same Wiktionary also defines _delegable_ as _that can be delegated_. Does _delegable_ exist? Is it a synonym for _delegatable_? If not, what does it mean?


What does the phrase "for this purpose" mean?

I would like another phrase instead of "for that reason."


A noun for "someone who pays/compensates a part of a bill"?

I'm developing a web application that will be used by medical clinics. Clients get an invoice for the treatment(s) they got. However, sometimes a part of the costs will be paid by a third party, like a coupon company (if the client has bought a coupon for a treatment) or a health insurance company. How should I call these companies? Clients are called 'clients' in the system. I've thought about calling the companies 'debtors', but clients can be debtors as well. Does someone know a word that would fit this meaning?


Is it "restricted to" or "restricted from"?

I came across this sentence: > The power to rule was restricted to ministers, and it was restricted from > king. What is the difference between "restricted to" and "restricted from" here?


What is the origin of "when the chips are down"?

I can understand from context that "when the chips are down" means "when things go really badly." But where does the expression come from? Does it have anything to do with casino chips, and being on a bad run?


Word choice - What's the phrase to describe the idea that relative positions in society are meaningless?

I'm trying to describe the idea that relative positions in society are meaningless. So far I've come up with counterculturalism, societal positional nihilism, a 'beatnik'. I'm sure there is something more concise.


Compound adverb — "kick-start a party soccer style"

I have asked this question in ELL site, but there were not much reply, and so I decided to ask the same question here. Though I will change the question a little bit to exactly what I need more and to stop you from repeating the same answer that I already got from ELL site. Here is the link for my question in ELL > Times Life tells you how to kick-start a party **soccer style** as the FIFA > World Cup 2014, in Brazil, gets underway.   >  — _The Times of India_ I understand the meaning of this sentence, but I was curious to know that why there was no **_in_** before the bold part of the quoted sentence. One answer in ELL site suggests that _soccer style_ is by itself acting as an adverb. Hence there is no need for any preposition. Fine with me, but I am wondering how to decide which compound words I will use as an adverb and which I won't.


St. Matthew's vs. St. Matthew

What is the proper spelling: St Matthew's or St. Matthew when not followed by the word "Church". * > "There will undoubtedly be tradeoffs that I will have to make if I stay with > St. Matthew’s." * My contention is that when St Matthew's is written as plural possessive without the word "Church" following it, then Church is understood to follow.


Everyone vs every one vs all

What would be the difference between these:   1. Everyone of them rose from their seats.   2. All of them rose from their seats.   3. Every one of them rose from their seats. Which one is grammatically correct? For me all are correct. Which one is preferable and why?


What do you call *I'll not feed you by my own hand* in English

I dont know how to describe it properly. I just translated what description to English that I use in my native language ( _Bangla_ /বাংলা) The situation is like this, some people always needs other help to do thing. They seek help for every little steps. If you aggregate the helps you'll find that they didn't do anything by themselves. Some people always helps them to do every small task. For example, Robert asks Andrew how to post question on http://english.stackexchange.com/. Then he asks where to type title even though the _Title_ input label is seen very clearly. After that Robert will ask " _Hey Andrew, Could you tell me some good title sentences that I can put here?_ " it goes on. You'll see Robert is not actually asking question. He is asking too many details that it makes Andrew do the whole task. My question is how do Andrew tell, "I can not feed you every time by my own hand" ? Is there any single word? any Idiom?


Is it appropriate in a sort of business related mail using "'em", contracted form of "them"?

I was writing an email today, and I was supposed to write a phrase like this "did it for all of 'em", even though I eventually changed it to them as them as that looked a little informal to me, I am not rally sure if this is what the case is? and just for information, mail was not for any boss/manager, it was just for a colleague but she is in US and I am not so I didn't know whether it is okay or not?


Which one is correct?

Which one is correct?   1. The test is established in order to promote the development of Business English major and **_to strengthen_** the competitiveness of Business English graduates in the job market.   2. The test is established in order to promote the development of Business English major and **_strengthen_** the competitiveness of Business English graduates in the job market. Should I plus **_to_** in front of the **_strengthen_** or not? And why? Thanks!


“Cross-application” vs “Application-wide”

Given functionality that is common to all applications, what is the best word or words to convey that idea? I think that _cross-application_ fits fairly well here, don't you? If not, what expression would you use in this case?


Origin and usage of the phrase "my son"

When I was watching the movie documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11", one of the interviewed lawyers told Michael moore " _sit down, my son_ ". After that, I just couldn't stop thinking about this phrase, and how odd it seemed to me, even though this has not been the first time I've heard it. I've tried to come up with a similar phrase in the german language (me being native german, I suppose this is normal behaviour to resolve language barriers), but unsuccessfully. So where does this phrase come from? How is it usually used?


What does "take subject to" mean?

I read it as part of a case [1] Judgment; used as follows: 1.) > If the creditor bank has notice, actual or constructive, of the undue > influence exercised by the husband (and consequentially of the wife's equity > to set aside the transaction) the creditor will **_take subject to_** that > equity and the wife can set aside the transaction against the creditor > (albeit a purchaser for value) as well as against the husband. 2.) > Where a wife has agreed to stand surety for her husband's debts as a result > of undue influence or misrepresentation, the creditor will **_take subject > to_** the wife's equity to set aside the transaction if the circumstances > are such as to put the creditor on inquiry as to the circumstances in which > she agreed to stand surety. [1] Barclays Bank plc v O'Brien [1994] 1 AC 180, House of Lords Thank you.


Difference between the adjectives and participles

What is the difference between an adjective and a participle


what does "ride-along" mean?

What does it mean ? Hank took me on a `ride-along` and showed me just how much money even a small meth operation could make. It was in Breaking Bad


Is it correct to say "I studied the book with Mr.XXX as my mentor/tutor/teacher"?

I wonder if it is correct to say the following to mean Mr.XXX was my mentor and helped me in learning the book. Could you suggest a better equivalent for what I am trying to say? To explain it better, I've taken a course and Mr.XXX is the teacher and the book (called YY, for example) is my course book. > I studied the book with Mr.XXX as my mentor/tutor/teacher.


Is 'equivocate' a euphemism for 'lie' or can it not be about lying?

I can almost remember the first time I had ever heard/saw the word 'equivocate', probably in some junior-high vocabulary lesson. Like with many latinate neologisms, at first blush it sounds weak and meaningless, its constituent parts don't combine directly to the given definition. But my memory of the definition was that the teacher (or authority, or my memory of those) said it meant 'to lie, to present a falsehood'. The word sounds like a euphemism to me, an obscurantism, instead of baldly stating 'a lie'. But now many years later and many uses and hearings of it, I find that the dictionary rendering is essentially 'to be ambiguous with the intention of misleading'. And that is definitely not 'lying'; it's close, and it's related, but it is not the same. So now, I want to really know, which is it? Is it 'lying by willfully misleading with ambiguous language' or is it 'willfully misleading with ambiguous language, but can also be used for "lying"' or just 'willfully misleading, not lying per se, you'd have to do something extra to be considered lying'.


Speaking of insults: "sod off!" meaning and origin

I've thought it had to do with the love that dare not speak its name, to put it ever so coyly, but what **_does_** this phrase mean and connote? And what's the approximate American equivalent?


In baseball, is it proper to pluralize "RBI"?

In baseball, an RBI is a Run(s) batted in. So it's already "plural". So if I were to say, **Paul Konerko had five RBIs**. Is that correct, or should I say **Paul Konerko had five RBI**.


What meaning would you ascribe to "to spy a parable"?

What meaning would you ascribe to: "to spy a parable"? Here is the context: "It is tempting to ponder these two NASA stories, and to spy a parable about much that is wrong with the America of 2014." from: http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21610336-revealing-new-history- apollo-moon-landings-holds-lessons-today-america-and I found this phrase to be quite unique - in fact this article is the only one which shows up with the phrase: "spy a parable" in online searches.


"Best of luck" or "Best luck"?

Sometimes I need to wish luck upon someone, and a simple "Good luck" may not suffice. For such a situation what is the correct usage? "Best Luck" or "Best of Luck"?. Why?


Expression for a rare find?

Is there an expression along the lines of > Red cars, for the man, were like the birdwatcher's spatuletail ... assuming the spatuletail is a rare find for birdwatchers. I'm pretty sure I heard something like this not too long ago, but I can't remember what. It was definitely in that format - the profession and then something someone in the profession looks for, is unexpected to come across. edit: I think I'm starting to recall that the expression was more along the lines of > the archaeologist's El Dorado ..or something similar, where it means a unique breakthrough or meaningful discovery of a field rather than an uncommon but still ordinary find. Still though, I would like to know if there's an expression similar to the one in the first example.


What's the word describing a person who's multi-racial?

I met a girl who has a diverse ethnic heritage. Part German, part Central American, part African-American, part some other European country that I forget. What word can be used to describe her? Multi-ethnic, poly-ethnic? Multi-racial as in the title? What's the most proper/common term?


Should I use “speaker” or “loud speaker” to refer to the signal → vibration → sound thingy?

I am a native german speaker, so I have absolutely no good intuitions when it comes to choosing the right alternative out of a candidate set. Today, one problem was: How should I call the sound-making thingy? Is it a "speaker" or is it a "loud speaker"? Is there any difference?   * Is one term more technical than the other?   * Is one term stylistically marked in certain contexts? If so, which?   * Are there any useful, free, online resources that could help me answer similar questions in the future?   * Are there any objective criteria? What I have come up with so far is: If I choose "loud speaker", I no longer might get the "person that is speaking" interpretation, but in the intended usage of the term (a manual for a technical device), such an interpretation should not arise anyways. So, it seems like an arbitrary choice to me.


What does "kept an ear out on the street" mean?

> With this small story, Diana shocked the entire room. She always kept her > past hidden away. Only a select few truly knew who she really was, and most > of them were dead. Even Christian was hearing this for the first time. > > The rest of the day was predominantly uneventful. Diana helped Christian to > get back on his feet, taking a few tentative steps. She had to make sure > that he could at least walk slightly before they left. Charlie and Jack > **kept an ear out on the street** , to warn Diana if anything seemed out of > sorts. Vicki was left to assist either pair if needed. > > Dinner was a particularly trying time. Everyone had been almost silent since > Diana's explosion during the day. Diana was still too aggravated to eat > much. She wanted to put everything that had happened behind her as soon as > possible. Does it mean "to listen carefully about the things that are going on on the street. (any confidential information, anything that might do harm, etc.)?


What's the job title for temporary position when the real one is not in the office?

Mr.A is the CEO of the company. Mr. B will be in charge when Mr. A is away for vacation, business trip, or etc. Is there a word or prefix to call Mr. B, for example, temporary CEO, acting CEO?


What's the English idiom/saying to describe that the chosen word is not correct?

I mean that the word used is too light or too subtle to describe the gravity of the situation? For example (an artificial example): the tsunami starts, the incredibly big waves are coming to the shore and the person says "Such big waves!" But in reality "big" is too light to describe the tsunami. The word must be more exaggerating. So I want to say something like: "You chose the word 'big', but it is too light to describe it" or "It's not the right word". or "It's not the word". How to say it in a more compact form? I tried to say "It's not the word" but only a few people understood me.


"Sexy" and "sexiness"

When did the noun _sex_ acquire its corresponding adjective and abstract noun? I would really like to know a few things about the history of these two word formations. As far as I know, these lexical formations are unique to English. Hence their universalism.


What is a word to describe the state of singularity?

When we have reached as far back into some history as we can theoretically go, like for instance in describing the precise theoretical moment when time began we have reached a singularity. Is there a word to describe that state? It seems like the obvious answer is 'singular'. To us it in a sentence I might say: > The moment when time began is the singular moment in history. My question is two-fold:   1. Would this be the correct use of the word singular?   2. Is their another word I could use instead of singular? **Edit** Based on the comments below it would appear that the answer to my first question is no. I will amend my example sentence to be: The moment time began is the **____** moment in history. So my question is what is the best word to fill in the blank? Another example that describes the concept that I am looking for would be a train moving from a complete stop. There is a precise moment when a train begins to move, though most often we describe that moment in terms of two distinct states when it was moving and when it was still. I am looking for the word to describe the moment when the movement began. I know that it is an infinitely dense moment and that is described by singularity. I am looking for the tense of that word, singularity, that completes the sentence.


Syntax for "doesn't do this thing" but "will"

Working on this sentence: > I look forward to iOS in the Car so the one clock that doesn't set itself > automatically will. Recognizing that it (intentionally) feels non-standard, is it grammatically correct? Or should there be a comma before "will"?


word to describe a quote often attributed to but not verified to a person

I have seen this word many times but can't for the life of me able to remember. The word refers to a quote which is often attributed to someone but no one can verify whether the person actually said so. Let me give an example. Einstein (that word) "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tre......" It is very likely that I am getting it mixed up. I am not quite sure I am looking for the word **aphorism** Please kindly help !!


Choose between words “perverse” and “deviant”

I want to express the concept of a crowd of people with wrong idea of good and bad things (like people from some classical books who make principal characters abandon their love and so on). Can I use the expression _perverse crowd_ or _deviant crowd_. I feel that something is wrong, because these words are usually used to refer to something sexually abnormal? What is a right adjective to use?


Hyphenation of a phrasal attributive with an open compound: "A B to C noun"

I'm wondering how to properly hyphenate (or en-dash) the following phrase: > fiber optic to BNC converter That is to say, a device that converts "fiber optic" to BNC. If it didn't contain an open compound, I'd simply write "optic-to-BNC converter; but I'm not sure how the open compound "fiber optic" might affect the situation. I prefer not to write "fiber optic–BNC converter", as this could cause confusion in some contexts if the reader doesn't read "–" as "to". I also thought about > fiber optic–to–BNC converter , but that looks too strange to me. My best guess is > fiber-optic to BNC converter . I think this expresses that "fiber" and "optic" are related but "BNC" and "converter" are not. Is this the right way, or is there a better solution? _Note: this is actually an example of poor writing because fiber optic is essentially a transmission medium, while_ BNC _refers to a connector type. So I actually solved my problem by writing "optical-to-electrical converter" (and afterward, "optoelectronic converter"). Nonetheless, the basic question remains. Another example phrase that exemplifies the problem is "surface area to volume ratio", for which I've found evidence of a variety of hyphenation styles._


Meaning of verb in infinitive phrases

>   1. I took my car to the garage **to have them check the air-conditioner.** >   2. **To watch Uncle Billy tell this story** is an eye-opening experience. > What is the meaning of the verbs _check_ and _tell_ in these infinitive phrases? Are they acting as verbs or another part of speech? Because this is not a simple present tense.


Are there any conditions for using "would"?

In the following sentences, is **on** appropriate or **for**? Can the first **about** be omitted? Is **would** correct? > **On** (for) actual LiDAR sensors, the lasers turn ( **about** ) or > oscillate about an axis, as is demonstrated in Figure 1. As a result, the > lasers that are not perpendicular to the axis ( **would** ) trace out a > conical surface.