Strange English mnemonic: 'S' before 'N', except after the 15th century

Whilst on my previous Angevin history kick, I strolled upon the word _demesne_ , and of course had to look it up at the Online Etymology Dictionary, trying to figure out in what sense it differed from its close synonym _domain_. There isn't much of a difference, as it turns out: > **demesne**   >  c.1300, demeyne (modern spelling by late 15c.), from Anglo-Fr. demesne, > demeine, O.Fr. demaine "land held for a lord's own use," from L. dominicus > "belonging to a master," from dominus "lord." Re-spelled by Anglo-Fr. legal > scribes under influence of O.Fr. mesnie "household" (and the concept of a > demesne as "land attached to a mansion") **and their fondness for inserting > -s- before -n-.** Essentially the same word as domain. My questions actually have more to do with the curious note the dictionary gives in the definition -- namely, the bit about "[scribes] fondness for inserting -s- before -n-." I'm at a loss to think of any words that fit that pattern. Can anyone else think of words that display this _-sn-_ pattern, that would have emerged during this time period under the influence of these Anglo- French scribes?   Secondly -- and I'm not necessarily expecting an answer on this -- is there any good reason scholars would have had such a fondness for this construction? Did they have reasoned etymological reasons behind doing so, correct or not?


What is the most common name for the floor above the ground floor in Canada?

I think the floor above the ground floor, in public buildings, is either called 2nd floor (in which case the ground floor is the first) or 1st floor. This is quite confusing since you need to know the name in each particular building, but it happens-see this university map .   Now what is the most common name for it in non-private buildings? What is the name of it in regular homes?


"Whom of which", a valid expression?

I recently encountered this expression and I'm pretty much stumped. People seem to be using it in place of "who". Example: > [...] they were developed by non-medical professionals **whom of which** > have applied their skills to help solve a health care / medical problem they > had faced. Another example: > As well as Dave, special thanks goes to the 'Girls in Pink' for providing a > high service throughout the whole day, as well as club chairman, Bob > Thomsett and Chrissie **whom of which** manned the kitchen which was busy > all day. I can't quite wrap my head around the expression, but I figured it might be one of the many idiosyncrasies of the English language. Is this a valid expression or some newfangled bastardisation?


Word meaning crying, but not crying?

You know when you see something touching and moving and you feel like tears are about to come out of your eyes, yet you're able to barely control it; how do you describe this feeling or state? i.e. _I was all [...] at the sight of his master curled up asleep in fetal position on the floor at the vet's beside his dog._ Take a look at this and you'll know what I'm talking about: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/VCiHU.png)


What is the origin of 'pale, male and stale'?

The major Cabinet reshuffle of Prime Minister David Cameron this week has been seen by much of the press as an opportunity taken to dispose of ministers who are white, male, middle-aged, middle-class, and hence perceived boring, in favour of more young people, more females and non-whites. And all this in readiness for next year's election. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/cabinet-shuffle-in-britain-culls- the-male-pale-and-stale/article19628249/ The term 'pale, male and stale' has been applied to departees like Kenneth Clarke, Dominic Grieve etc. (It has also been seen as an opportunity to dispose of Euro-enthusiasts in favour of Euro-sceptics, but that's another story). My question is about the idiom 'pale,male and stale'. Did the expression exist previously? Who can be credited with having coined it? I ask as one who perhaps fits the description, but am happy to wear it with my old-fashioned shirt and trousers.


What category name covers things that are designed to stand on the floor?

How to name a category of tall objects that are designed to stand on the floor as opposed to standing on a table? The tabletop objects are shorter than the freestanding objects and I cannot use "freestanding".


Is Valley Girl speak "like", entering the language?

> So like, I had this teacher? And he's like, "You're late?" And I'm like, > "There's like other people late too?" I've always cringed at the word "like" strewn about in a spoken sentence. Well now I've seen it in print, right in the middle of an otherwise articulate National Geographic article. Not once, but twice. As far as I could tell it was not being used tongue in cheek. In the Feb '10 issue, in the article about the Congo Chimps. See last two paragraphs here: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/02/congo-chimps/foer-text/2 > "Sure enough, they built their nests directly over our tents," says Morgan. > "I was like, This is great! But our trackers were like, No way, man, this is > very bad news." > > "People were like, Curiosity: Hmmm, how do you define that?" says Sanz, 34, > now a professor at Washington University in St. Louis." When I read that I had to shake my head and go back to re-read those sentences. I'm just curious what people think of this, and if you have seen any other examples in like a literate context?


Why do like loads of girls my age like saying "like" so much, like?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is Valley Girl speak like entering the language? Please can you explain the origins of where the annoying over-use of the word "like" came from? Does this have anything to do with Facebook? Example: > Logan is so, like, stupid when he says, like, anything!   >  He's like, he's like an idiot or something. I don't think I like him > anymore, like.


When did informal use of the word "like" become prevalent?

When and why did the word "like" come to be used to introduce an action, or even as a meaningless filler word, e.g. "He was like, [action or quote]."


When would I use “once” versus “nonce”?

Looking at the definitions for _once_ and _nonce_. they appear very similar to me. Under what circumstances would one or the other be a more appropriate word choice?


Larry and the fanboys

In the Penguin guide to punctuation Larry Trasks claims that a joining comma must be followed by _and_ , _or_ , _but_ , _yet_ or _while_. However, I was under the impression that a joining comma should be followed by one of the FANBOYS ( _for_ , _and_ , _not_ , _but_ , _or_ , _yet_ and _so_ ). Why the discrepancy?


Putting the sentence in the simpler form

Can somebody help me to understand what this sentence is trying to reveal? > "So these photos are far more than proxies for a single moment, or even a > specific trip. They're also ways for us to freeze time for one week in > October and reflect on our times and how we change from year to year, and > not just physically, but in every way." What I understand is the following: > The photos are not just the photos of a single trip or some specific trip. > These photos are actually a medium (or stuff) which allows us a free week of > October where we can really go back in to our past with the pictures to > observe how we change from year to year, not only physically but also in > attitude. I would appreciate if you can explain me line by line so that I can follow. Thanks is advance.


Why the "give" in “I don't give a flying f***”?

I’m not a native speaker. I know that _I don't give a flying fuck_ means "I don’t care", but how did it come to mean that? Specifically, why does the verb _give_ mean "don’t care" here?


How to understand these verses from the poem "The road not taken" by Robert Frost

I actually have two questions regarding this poem: > _The Road Not Taken_ by Robert Frost > > Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,   >  And sorry I could not travel both   >  And be one traveler, long I stood   >  And looked down one as far as I could   >  To where it bent in the undergrowth; > > Then took the other, as just as fair,   >  And having perhaps the better claim,   >  Because it was grassy and wanted wear;   >  Though as for that the passing there   >  Had worn them really about the same, > > And both that morning equally lay   >  In leaves no step had trodden black.   >  Oh, I kept the first for another day!   >  Yet knowing how way leads on to way,   >  I doubted if I should ever come back. > > I shall be telling this with a sigh   >  Somewhere ages and ages hence:   >  Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—   >  I took the one less traveled by,   >  And that has made all the difference. I'm not a native speaker so I have trouble understanding a particular verse from this poem: > In leaves no step had trodden black. The second question is broader. In the show _Orange is the New Black,_ the protagonist says that the idea of the poem as a whole is that both roads are the same. I fail to see that: is the last verse supposed to be ironic? > And that has made all the difference.


What's the antonym of "occurrence"?

I'm looking for the antonym of _occurrence_. I want to use it in this sentence: > Based on the occurrence/[antonym] of signals, decisions will be made. The context is scientific. I would like to have just one word for this particular sentence.


to finish vs. to have finished

One of the rules of using the perfect infinitive says that it can refer to something that will be completed at a point in the future. _We hope to have finished the building works by the end of March._ I would like to know what would happen if I changed the sentence to: _We hope to finish the building works by the end of March._ Is there a different meaning? Is it grammatically OK?


Differences with placement of 'please'

1. Please, can you give me a cup of water?   2. Can you give me a cup of water, please?   3. Can you please give me a cup of water? What's the difference in the above? They seem similar to be, but subtle differences may be present? Is any one of them more formal?


Advanced English Pronunciation

first thing first I hope this is not off-topic. So here's my problem: my spoken English is quite good, to the point that I'm sometimes mistaken for a native (American) speaker. However, there are words I still tend to mispronounce, especially when the English phonetics structures are not present in my mother tongue (I'm Italian). For instance, a couple days ago somebody brought to my attention that I pronounce "ice" and "eyes" virtually in the same way, and these are the kind of things that are really hard to notice until a native points them out to you. _In other words, I feel like I reached a plateau in my learning process and I'm not sure how to proceed from here._ I should also mention that I get a lot of exposure to the language and I use it on everyday basis, so that alone is not helping anymore (or not helping fast enough). I figured I could start reading about linguistics, and take a more structured approach to learn English (maybe learning the IPA would also help?), but I'm not sure is a good strategy. Do you have any recommendation, books/websites/topics I should check out, or know anything else I could try? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.


Which is correct, "sales price" or "sale price"?

I have a list of items with their details such as item name, quantity, purchase price, sales price/sale price, etc. What is more correct to write in the heading, _sales price_ or _sale price_?


Between '(s)he' & 'he/she' -- which is recommended/ preferable?

When talking about or referring to someone who could either be a male or a female, I usually write it as **_(s)he_** but I have also seen usage like **_he/she_** , which also seems correct to me. I use _(s)he_ mostly because I find it shorter (fewer keystrokes). Are both _(s)he_ and *he/she" correct? Any references are welcome. And could **_s/he_** also be used?


Which is correct? "Did you know?" or "Do you know?"

In asking a question, which is preferred, "Did you know?" or "Do you know?"


Meaning of a contraction, "on'ry," in I wonder as I wander"

During a running debate or whether _I Wonder as I Wander_ qualifies as a Christmas Carol, I looked up the lyrics. The first verse: > I wonder as I wander out under the sky > > How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die > > For poor on'ry people like you and like I... > > I wonder as I wander out under the sky. I was surprised to hear that a fragmentary version of the song was heard in 1933 in North Carolina, and then transcribed by John Jacob Niles (who paid $1.75 in silver quarters). (Lyrics and history from A Kentucky Christmas.) I'm curious about the contraction _on'ry_ in line three. Since it originates in the US, I'm inclined to believe it means _ornery_ (stubborn). (This would require the deletion of the post-vocalic r as well as the unstressed vowel in the second syllable.) A definition of _ornery_ traces it back to "ordinary." There are not many references to the contraction, but a 1973 Waylon Jennings album is entitled Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean. I believe that this usage, also, is pointing toward _ornery_. So, are you and I _ornery_ , _ordinary_ , or something else? If we're ornery, has the meaning shifted between Niles's usage in 1933 and Waylon Jennings' usage forty years later?


Better word for "critical mass"

> My thoughts began to shift from the political-science aspects of the idea to > the computer-science aspects of it. This shift reached **critical mass** > when I began learning how to program... I don't think "critical mass" is the right word here. I'm looking for something like "turning point", analogous to the critical point on a graph, the top of a curve. What's the word I'm looking for?


Keen eye for detail (or details?)

Which one is correct? "To have a keen eye for _detail_ " or "To have a keen eye for _details_ "?


Why is a woman a "widow" and a man a "widower"?

There are lots of words that have male and female forms, and usually there are alternate suffixes to the words which indicate the gender; for example, "waiter" vs. "waitress", "mister" vs. "mistress", etc. The one that has always puzzled me, though, is "widow" and "widower". Following the form of the previous examples, I understand "widower" for men--but why the form of the word with no suffix for women? Why isn't a woman called a "widowess"?


How do I use "as of now" correctly?

Just to clarify, I am not a native English speaker.   I occasionally hear from other non-native English speakers the use of the phrase: " _As of now_ " with the meaning of _Currently_. Initially I did not understand what they meant and it took me a while to understand that for them saying: " _As of now it works like that_ " in their mind meant " _Currently it works like that_ ". I think that _As of now_ is only used to indicate _From now on_. The proper phrase they should be using should be _As **is** now_.   Am I wrong on this?


What is the origin of the term "ginger" for red-headed people?

I'd like to know the etymology of the word "ginger" in reference to red-headed people. In particular, if "ginger" in this context is related to the plant root used in cooking, I'd like to know how the color red became associated with it. I am only familiar with ginger roots that do not possess any red coloring. A quick google search yields vague and somewhat conflicting results. An authoritative answer with references would be appreciated. Edit: Although an answer has pointed out a distinction between the term "ginger" and "red-head" in terms of physical features, there is certainly a tendency to see the term applied to people with hair that is any shade of red. I would be interested to trace the usage history of how the word ginger has been applied in that more broad sense.


What is the plural for the Book of Mormon? “Books of Mormon” would be changing the title of the book. “Book of Mormon's” Would be possessive, and “Book of Mormons” sounds like it was as if it was a book of “Mormons”.


What word best means "the state of being an expert"?

In a tongue-in-cheek communique', I wish to say something to the effect of: "But in the absence of such an actual expert, I have learned that the above is a losing battle. I am being dragged, kicking and screaming, into widget expertcy." But I don't think 'expertcy' is truly cromulent. 'Expertdom', maybe?


What does "trial partner" mean?

> You are not allowed to take part (in a study) if you do not have a trial > partner/caregiver who is close to you; sees you at least 3 days each week > for a minimum of 6 hours each week while you are awake; What does "trial partner" mean in this context?


Who would say “letters of love” as opposed to “love letters”?

From what part of the world would a person refer to _love letters_ as _letters of love_?


How to say "he was waiting long time but not ... (did not reach goal)"? I have problem with some translation I want express such expression that "someone" is waiting long but not finished it since something not occurs. Example "I was waiting whole day for sun but did not ..."? (reach?, wait?). I am not native speaker and have problem to find this simple thing.


What is the word or term for the item being parodied?

I'm writing a paper about a book that is a parody of another work. Is there a word, similar to debtee to debtor, that will work in this situation? Specifically, Lord of the Flies (Golding, 1954) as a parody of The Coral Island (Ballantyne, 1857). The sentence is, "This is perhaps that reason that it has stood the test of over fifty years time, that it, unlike its (parodee?)..."


"From around the world" vs "Around the world"

What is the difference between "from around" and just "around" in the following context or in general? > I participated in an event where I met some people from around the world. > > I participated in an event where I met some people around the world.


"What is your travel status?"

In a job offer, I encountered a question "What is your travel status". What does "travel status" mean in this context? The company offering is from a different country than the receiver of the offer. The receiver would be working remotely.


What does "five O" mean (and why)?

I've heard quite a few times the term "five O" (eg in the US TV show "the Wire"). It seems to mean "police" (inferred from the context), and I'm curious to know where the expression comes from, and if it has a broader meaning than just "police".


Use of the word "aforementioned"

Is it correct to use the word _aforementioned_ in an open-ended chatting context in which the conversation backtracks, such that the item that was mentioned before (as in, earlier in time) in the conversation actually appears undermentioned in the view? This might also occur in a conversation about a collaborative document that is being discussed within the document. If this is not correct usage, what would be correct?


Who coined the term "Cloud Cuckoo Land"?

_Cloud Cuckoo Land_ in English is a term often used to describe an unrealistically utopian idea of how things are. > You're living in Cloud Cuckoo Land. However how did the term get started to be used? Who coined it or made it popular?


What's the difference between these sentences?

> He walked out, Rachel's words indelibly etched into his memory. vs > He walked out, Rachel's words being indelibly etched into his memory.


"has"+perfect in reported speech of the future

> (1) I will jump out from behind the couch. Then I will tell him: "I have > been in the room all along." > > (2) I will pronounce him dead. Then I will tell him: "You have been > pronounced dead." The above two are not of concern. I include them only so you see what utterance I'm trying to report in the following sentences. Consider, please: > (3) I will jump out from behind the couch and tell him I had been in the > room all along. > > (4) I will pronounce him dead and tell him he had been pronounced dead. > > (5) I will jump out from behind the couch and tell him I have been in the > room all along. > > (6) I will pronounce him dead and tell him he has been pronounced dead. > > (7) I will jump out from behind the couch and tell him I will have been in > the room all along. > > (8) I will pronounce him dead and tell him he will have been pronounced > dead. (3) and (4) _sound_ most natural to me: completely grammatically correct. (English is my first language.) (5) and (6) sound like slangy versions of (3) and (4), okay for speech but not, let's say, for a high-school essay. (7) and (8) sound completely wrong to me. Yet they _look_ to me like the (prescriptive-grammar) grammatically correct ones. After all, the speech is taking place in the future, so you need "will have been" to report an action that, at that moment, will… have been. So my questions are: Are (7) and (8) actually the (prescriptive-grammar) grammatically correct ones, or are (3) and (4) (or something else)? And if (7) and (8) are (prescriptive-grammar) incorrect, why? * * * In case you're wondering why I used two examples, it's because the semantics are slightly different. Or so it seems to me, anyway. In (1) the being has been continuous until the time of speaking, whereas in (2) the pronouncement has occurred at a specific point in the past.


Why is "I refuse running" wrong?

I got into a discussion with another user in the comments section of this question. We disagreed over the following phrases: > I refuse running. > > I decline running. To me, they are both clearly wrong. The correct forms of the above sentences would be: > I refuse to run. > > I decline to run. It is late in my timezone and I am tired. I feel that this has something to do with "running" meaning the concept of running in general and "to run" being a particular instance but I cannot put my finger on exactly _why_ the first sentences are wrong. So, am I right? Are they wrong? If so, please explain why. Or am I wrong and they are correct? If so, ditto.


meaning of 'frame by'

> This paper has been **framed by** two seemingly recurring topics in IS > research


"[adjective] and [adjective] [noun]" -- Should the noun be singular or plural?

In a scientific paper I submitted, a reviewer suggested that I change the sentence > The operation just substitutes "(m, l)" with "m" on both the sender and the > receiver side. to > The operation just substitutes "(m, l)" with "m" on both the sender and the > receiver sides. by changing the last word from singular to plural. There is only _one_ sender side and only _one_ receiver side, so my intuition tells me to use the former version, since   * one would clearly write "...both the sender side and the receiver side" and   * I'd also write "The green and the blue box are standing on the table" (instead of "boxes"). However, I failed to find a grammatical rule for this, and English is not my main language. Is the reviewer right? And why?


*Getting on one's nerves*, *last nerve* or *third nerve*?

I'm quite familiar with the idiomatic phrase of _getting on one's nerves_ , but less so with _getting on one's last nerve_ , though I had a friend who used a variation: _getting on one's third nerve_. Is one version preferred over the other in different locations? Is _third nerve_ used anywhere?


“Only for A, B, and C”: Includes cases where not all are present?

> After submitting the report, changes can be made only for the font size, > margins, and line spacing. Does this sentence imply that changes can be made only if all three types of changes are made?


"Job title" vs. "job role"

What is the difference between _job title_ and _job role_? For example, from the Google documentation on rich snippets: > `title` — The person's title (for example, Financial Manager)   >  `role` — The person's role (for example, Accountant) I can't see a difference in meaning between the two.


Quote about miscellany (?)

I'm trying to remember a certain quote representing the concept of miscellany (or randomness perhaps). I can't give much information except that it is of the form "Of ... and ... and ... etc.", contains various 'unusual' words, and has a rhyming scheme. I could swear it is attributed to Lewis Carroll, but I could well be wrong on that. Regretfully that's all the information I can give for now; Google is not being terribly helpful with this! If anyone has an idea, please by all means post it.


Why does no dictionary carry the word 'non-affair', though all carry 'nonevent'?

I came across the word “non-affair” in Jeffery Archer’s novel _Kane and Abel_ , which I just finished reading yesterday. The word appears in the following sentence (p. 544): > “She couldn’t recall another occasion when she was so aware of a first kiss. > When he left her in the shadows of Fifty-Seventh Street, she realized that > this time he had not mentioned tomorrow. She felt slightly wistful about the > whole **non-affair**.” I took 'non-affair' simply as the absence of any positive actions / events, and thought the word should be in every dictionary. But, curiously enough, Oxford, Cambridge, and Merriam-Webster don't include “non-affair” as a headword despite its casual look, though they include several dozens of “non+noun” compounds ranging from 'non-aggression,' 'non-appearance,' 'non- event' to 'non-stop,''non-violent,' and 'non-white.' Google's NGram Viewer neither show any instances of 'non-affair.' Is “non-affair” a well-used English word, or just a coinage by the author?


Grammaticality of "Shoreditch station to permanently close"

I recently read an article on BBC titled Bad grammar and the people who hate it. In it, there is a photo of a train station sign which reads as follows. > Friday 9 June 2006 > > Shoreditch station to permanently close > > As part of the East London line project, Shoreditch station will permanently > close to allow for a new line to be... The fact that the sign has appeared in the article hints that there is something grammatically wrong with it. Although, for a non-native English speaker such as myself, it appears completely flawless. What am I missing here?


Ambiguous "inline" enumerations

I am currently writing a thesis in computer science and have stumbled upon an interesting ambiguity that I would like to better understand. Consider the following sentence: > The importance of this subject has been highlighted by the growing relevance > of security, reliability and legacy code. The intended interpretation of this sentence is: > The importance of this subject has been highlighted by the growing relevance > of security, the growing relevance of reliability and the growing relevance > of legacy code. However, it may be interpreted as: > The importance of this subject has been highlighted by the growing relevance > of security code, the growing relevance of reliability code and the growing > relevance of legacy code. The problem arises from the last item in the enumeration being composed of two words. My question is, which is the correct interpretation and, if this is truly ambiguous, how can one re-word this concisely.


What does the nation "Jolted into civility" after an incident mean?

I found the following caption and lead copy in today's New York Times. Does 'jolt into civility' mean 'get calmed down quickly," "resume normality soon after the incident"? Is "jolt into" civility, normalty, composure, recovery, whatever, a frequently-used phrase? After Tucson, Is the Anger Gone? In the past, the nation has been " **jolted into civility**." But it's unclear whether this will happen after the killings in Tucson.


What does "information porn" mean?

On several occasions while browsing Meta Stack Overflow, I have encountered the phrase _information porn_ , typically used by Jeff Atwood. What does it mean?


The British pronunciation of the word "schedule"

Is pronouncing the word "schedule" as "shed-ule" only an upper class thing in the UK? Which pronunciation, "sked-ule" "or "shed-ule" is more faithful to the original etymology of the word, i.e. which came first?


"Sitting room", "lounge", "lounge room", and "front room"

Each of these terms seem to be used to designate a room, in a private house or in the front of a public facility, where one can sit and relax and talk. But, are there any differences to them -- or do they mean just about the same and, as such, can be used interchangeably? Also, are any of these terms more typical of an English variety than of another? Aside from that, what's the difference between a drawing room, a sitting room, a lounge (room), and a parlor, to designate a generally cozy room in a private house or a restaurant where guests can be entertained, or withdraw to after a meal to sit and relax and talk (and drink too!). Is one of these terms more typical of an English variety than of another? Lastly, can "living room', "sitting room", "front room", "lounge (room)", and "parlor" be used interchangeably to designate a room in a home used by the members of a household for leisure activities or to entertain guests, etc., and are any of these terms more typical of an English variety than of another?


History of "have a good one"

I used to work at a grocery store. When bidding farewell to customers, my coworkers would often use phrases such as "Have a nice day," "Enjoy your day," and the like. One particular phrase that seemed to be common was "Have a good one" (where "a good one" implies "a good day"). Since working there, I've heard people saying this in a variety of locations, from retail stores to restaurants to customer service helpdesks. I've never noticed any sort of correlation between age and the usage of the phrase; however, I was wondering about its history. Is this something that came about relatively recently? (I've tagged this american-english as I live in the US and that's where I've heard the phrase.)


Usage of "in figure" vs. "on figure"

I saw both versions ("in figure" and "on figure"), however---what is more correct? And is there any difference? EDIT: In scientific papers, standards and other publications, "figures" can be found. They are also denoted as "pictures" sometimes (informally). When someone wants to refer to a part of a figure, he or she can write either "in figure" or "on figure". I am interested in figuring out if there is any difference in these two cases.


Online tools to look up words from pronunciation

Are there online tools to look up words from their pronunciation? For example, when I hear /bεə/, I want it to tell me that there are words _bear_ and _bare_ that are pronounced /bεə/.


Opposite of "arrogant"/"having attitude"

1. Are _self-abased_ and _humble_ both opposite to _arrogant_ or _having attitude_? What are their differences?   2. What are words for the opposite to _arrogant_ , respectively in a positive, negative, and neutral way?


Category name for "Other fun stuff" vs "Other serious stuff"

On my website, I currently have seven categories.   * Games   * Art   * Music   * Video   * Text   * Other   * Misc "Other" is for other things that are fun, like games, art, music, video, and text. For example, a fireworks simulator would fit in the "other" category because it's not really a game, just a fun thing. "Miscellaneous" is for non-fun things, like my contact page or my copyright license. However, a visitor to my website won't know this, and would probably be confused as to what the difference is. What could I rename these categories to, so that a visitor would realize that one is for entertainment, and the other is not?


What's the equivalent of "what the hell are you doing?" in a negative sentence?

I want to use the equivalent of "hell" as in "what the hell are you doing?" in a negative sentence. I want to address someone with something like this: > You can not do anything the hell! By the above sentence (which seems odd to me), I want to mean: "You are not capable of doing anything harmful to hurt me whatsoever". I am looking for a better expression to convey the above meaning.


"Where did you buy it?" or "where did you buy it from?"

When someone purchase something from somewhere and I ask him the location of purchasing, which one is the correct question: > Where did you buy it? OR > Where did you buy it from? Is preposition necessary to use in this question or there is no need to use it?


How to end one-word sentences like "done"?

How do we end one-word sentences? Should there be a full stop or another punctuation mark? or can I just use it without any punctuation mark? I usually say "Done." in response to emails where I'm requested to do something. For example, when I'm asked to do a translation I would just reply "Translation done!" instead of writing "The translation has been done." is that grammatically correct?


What is the adjective form for the word "integrity?"

I'm looking for the **adjective** form of " ** _integrity_**." Instead of "Be a person of integrity," I'd like to say something like "Be [one word I'm looking for]" I did a Google search for this, but I also wanted to know what stackexchange folks would like to say.


What does it mean to drag something in "by the stamp?"

In a 1944 radio skit, Fibber McGee says another character dragged something in "by the stamp." Is the stamp a reference to rationing stamps used during WWII?


How right to say "I'm came from somebody"

Let's imagine, Jack told me about your friend, which is lawyer. For example, lawyer's name is Mark. And He[Jack] said me: you have to say to Mark, that you know me. How I have to introduce myself to Mark? I mean introduce myself blandly by American.


be down to -infinitive without to

I've consulted different dictionaries but I've not found the usage of this structure like in the following example: ''I'm down to sell records but not my soul'' is it slang? What does it exactly means?


What does the suffix -ling mean?

What does the suffix -ling mean. As in inkling...


If "clearly evident" is redundant, what word or phrase suggests being indisputable but not readily apparent?

A recent question asks whether the modifier "clearly" changes the meaning of "evident". I would have said, prior to examining a few dictionaries, that evident did not necessarily mean _readily apparent_ , but to my surprise it does. This brings me to ask what word or expression would mean something can be taken as a true fact, but not through an **easily constructed (not obvious or readily apparent)** rationale? For example, if Sherlock Holmes says something is true while everyone else is still sitting on their hands, then it is evident to Holmes, but not to the rest of the world. So, from everyone else's point of view, it is not readily apparent, and (by definition) apparently it is not _evident_ , _clear_ , or _clearly evident_ at all, based on the dictionary definitions. But (let's stipulate) it is true and deducible from the observable evidence. What would we call this? **Update** An update is highlighted above. I can see from some of the answers and comments that I may have gone off my mark with the phrase "not through an easy-to-follow rationale”, and I have modified the question to correct this. I understand that there can be rationales, arguments, or proofs that, once explained, may or may not be easy to follow. What I intend is that the rationale to support the indisputable conclusion is not (initially) easy to recognize or construct (not readily apparent) in the first place. I apologize for the confusion. (The original can be seen in the change history.) **Update 2** Shortly after offering a bounty to this request, I recalled a single word that I now believe is a very good match to the parameters specified in this inquiry as it is stated above. That word has not yet been suggested (or approached) by any answer or comment (active or deleted) at the time of this edit. This request is changed to a single word request. (However, if you feel a single word fits well but not without some additional supporting words, please offer your thoughts in an answer.) While my curiosity for the term has already been met, the request and bounty remain as an open challenge. I will post my own answer once the bounty has expired and been awarded.


I am trying to find something to express 'In the spotlight'

I am building a cold case discussion forum and want a phrase like IN THE SPOTLIGHT for cases that will be highlighted....or I would like to 'heat up'....help?


passive voice for quit

What will be the passive voice for - "she quits her teaching job in school".I have come up with -"the teaching job in school is quit by her".But somehow its not sounding correct.Is it fine?


Is the use of ”comfort” ok in this text?

I received a letter today from my opticians and my roommate claims one of its sentences is not grammatical. > When you collect your spectacles, an Optical Advisor will check their fit > and comfort, and show you how to care for them. He says that the word _comfort_ doesn’t belong, as something can be comfortable, but it cannot have comfort. Is this true?


Do gentiles use "appetizing" as a noun?

Growing up in Nebraska, I only knew the word "appetizing" as a adjective. Not until I converted to Judaism and married a nice Jewish girl from Flushing, Queens, did I learn that "appetizing" is a noun (and that an angel dies when a Jew puts mayo on a deli sandwich). According to my wife and other New York Jews, "appetizing" means "the things you eat with bagels," e.g. lox, whitefish, sable, cream cheese, and more. You buy these at an Appetizing store. I've looked in dictionaries, but none say that appetizing is a noun. Does this mean gentiles or "out-of-towners" (generally non-New Yorkers) use "appetizing" only as an adjective and never as a noun?


What does "envacuuming" mean?

Here's a passage from the novel, _The Road_ , by Cormac McCarthy: > They picked their way among the mummied figures. The black skin stretched > upon the bones and their faces split and shrunken on their skulls. Like > victims of some ghastly **envacuuming**. Passing them in silence down that > silent corridor through the drifting ash where they struggled forever in the > road's cold coagulate. What is "envacuuming"? In the Polish version of the book, it is translated as "enwakuumowanie" and that's not even a real word.


By leaving a place are you always entering another place?

One of my co-workers made the statement that by leaving a place you are always automatically entering another place...is this always the case? For example: by leaving the house one enters the outside world, by leaving your spouse you enter singledom, etc. Is there a case where this "rule" fails?


Evoking more power than "Titan"

EVE Online is a multiplayer game that takes place across a fictional galaxy called New Eden. Players pilot spaceships and fight for territory in large collaborative corporations. Here is a simplified list of the military-focused ship classes, going from smallest to largest:   * Frigate   * Destroyer   * Cruiser    * Battlecruiser   * Battleship   * Carrier   * Supercarrier   * Titan The four variants of Titan are currently the largest vessels in the game. They usually require the efforts of hundreds of players to build and field. They are extremely valuable logistically and are able to carry an extravagant amount of firepower. For many months after Titans were introduced to the game, the difficulty of fielding one kept their numbers in the single digits. As of this posting, however, the number of surviving Titans is in the middle hundreds. It would appear that if it were the intention of EVE's maintainers to keep Titans rare (and I make no allegation that that is the case), then they have underestimated the growing cooperation and resourcefulness of New Eden's citizens. Now then, here is the question: If a warship class larger than the Titan were added to the game, what would it be called? The word _Titan_ comes pretty close to the ceiling in terms of evoking great power and strength. In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of immortal giants descended from the gods Gaia and Uranus, themselves descended from Chaos, but neither _God_ nor _Chaos_ seem to be good names for ship classes. The first could be controversial; the second I think is more arguable ( _Chaos Class Warship_ has a nice ring to it), but I think that there are better alternatives. For context, here is an alphabetical list of all ship classes currently in the game: Assault Ship, Battlecruiser, Battleship, Black Ops, Capital Industrial, Carrier, Command, Covert Ops, Cruiser, Destroyer, Dreadnought, Electronic Attack, Exhumer, Freighter, Frigate, Heavy Assault, Heavy Interdictor, Industrial Command, Industrial, Interceptor, Interdictor, Jump Freighter, Logistics, Marauder, Mining Barge, Supercarrier (also called Mothership), Recon, Strategic Cruiser, Titan, Transport For even more context, this page on EVE Wiki has more information about each ship class.


How to describe Homer Simpson's 'idunno' sound

In _The Simpsons_ Homer makes a closed mouth sound made up of three rising and falling tones, resembling (and meaning the same as) 'idunno' said without opening the mouth. I hear it being used from time to time, and use it myself. How would this be described in linguistic terms - is it a word? Do/should a dictionary contain it? How would it be written? Has it been studied at all?


Provide a paraphrase for the following quotation from “Where are Humans’ Close Cousins?”

What does this quote mean? “For the disappearance of our close relatives, we should consider another potential culprit: our ancestors.”


Alas, is it informal or formal? Can it be used in formal writing?

Question title is enough. Can I use **alas** in formal writing , especially in scientific writing? I do not remember seeing it a lot in scientific articles but dictionary references does not say anything about it informal.


Cyclists, cyclers, bikers, and bike riders in modern day AmE

Almost by analogy with my previous OP, how do the terms "bike rider", cycler", and "cyclist" differ in current AmE usage to describe someone that rides or travels by bicycle? My impression is that "cyclist" and the less common "cycler" both refer to those involved in cycling as a competitive racing sport, i.e. Tour de France cyclists. "Bike rider", on the other hand, sounds more like a generic term which embraces professional and occasional, nonprofessional weekend/vacation cyclists, but also might encompass motorcyclists. Also, does the term "biker" have any currency in modern day AmE to refer to a bicycle rider, or to bike riders in general (cyclists and motorcyclists), or is it used specifically to describe a certain type of motorcyclists, like those traveling on big, heavy HD style "hogs", or belonging to an organized club or gang? > http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cyclist > > http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Biker > > http://www.bikeriderstours.com/


"rain was coming till tomorrow"

I am asking this question on behalf of a friend of mine. Do tell me, can and when or why can we use past form when we predict something in the future. I agree the phrase is not full. Anyway, the friend said that she heard it on the radio and it was the weather forecast. She was a little surprised by the past form. Unfortunately, she could not remember any sentence before or after.


Corner Gas sitcom episode I, witness

In the Canadian sitcom Corner Gas episode 7, season 4 "I, witness", the dialogue among Brent, Wanda, and Oscar about Lacey know it all. Wanda said something "She is xxx know it all". xxx sounded like anticipated. But I am not sure. does anyone have idea on this?


Alternative word for "media" for disks, USB storage etc

I'm looking for a generic word to describe (removable) computer storage such as CDs, USB sticks, floppies etc which is as clear as possible to non- technical people. It doesn't have to clearly distinguish removable from fixed. "Media" and "storage" are both candidates, but I am not sure how natural they sound to the average person. "Disks" is my current choice, but using it for USB sticks seems to me to be stretching it slightly.


Inexplicable 'it'

I have myself used and been OK with _it_ in sentences like: >   * What is **it** that you're doing? >   * What is **it** that it means? > But now I can't quite understand why _it_ is necessary here. Also a very common usage: > I can't help **it** that I am lazy. What is the role of _it_ in these sentences? Is it dispensable? I.e., can I say, "I can't help that I am lazy?"


Is "have not worked here for a long time" ambiguous?

> I have not worked here for a long time/for many years. Is it ambiguous? Which of the two below is the correct meaning?   1. I have been working here, but only for a short period of time.    2. I once worked here, but I left a long time ago.  If it is ambiguous, how to express these two meanings unambiguously? Another related expression: > I have not worked here in a long time/in many years. I think it unambiguously expresses the 2nd meaning so I didn't bring it up. But I want to confirm it with experts here.


Comma and dash introducing a list

Is it right to put a comma before the dash that introduces a series? > As the mentor of the original five interns, — Meredith, Cristina, Alex, the > runaway Izzie, and the now dead George — Dr. Bailey...


Should the common usage "Webmasters" be gender neutered into a separate webmistresses to describe female web site admin professionals? Specifically why do we really need a term like web mistresses? Is it due to PC standards that say you shouldn't refer to a woman by a inherently male term? I like to think that common usage comes from the way people prefer to use English. So if they stick to the term Webmaster, they are not necessarily doing so due to an inherent byass towards a male term.


Dangling modifier in Style Guide?

> When writing English, Strunk & White apply. Am I the only one who sees a dangling modifier here? It may be borderline, but how close to the border? In "strict mode", my ears hear: > When they write English, Strunk & White apply. What do you hear? This would sound clearer to me: > When writing English, follow Strunk & White. If the thang does dangle, it's a tad embarrassing because it features in a style guide. How to give an admonishment and break it at the same time...


Difference/usage of "contributor" vs. "donator"

I am not a native English speaker, so forgive if I ask a trivial question for native English speakers. When someone donates money for charity, is such a person called a _donator_ or a _contributor_? I thought _contributing_ had to do with adding actual service/work to something (as opposed to supporting with money). But the generic (free) translator I use says the English translation for the Dutch word _donateur_ (which has the connotation of donating money) is _contributor_.


Why not "virtual estate" instead of "screen real estate"?

In English usage in many disciplines, like articles on Web designing, people frequently use the word "screen real estate" or "viewport (browser window size) real estate" or even "mobile or browser real estate." _Estate_ essentially means "an area or amount of land (property)." **So when we're talking about screen area, why don't we use "virtual estate"?**


Classifying grammatical names into categories?

I am trying to create a language tutorial website, and I find myself, needing to categorically order Grammatical terms on the sidebar, like.. Articles, Adjectives, Nouns, Pronouns.. etc. However, I am having problem, grouping the terms under a common theme or purpose. These are, the ones I want to list, btw. > > Alphabet, Numbers, Articles, Adjectives, Adverbs, Verbs, Present Tense, > Past Tense, Future Tense, Imperfect, Imperative, Nouns, Pronouns, > Conjunction, Negation, Subjunctive, Conditional Comparative, Prepositions, > Vocabulary, Passive, Indirect Speech, Plurals, Subject.. There are more missing from the list, but these were the ones, I deemed most important. So, if you are asking what I have done, then take a look below, as I have tried to "Create" a category and encapsulate them, but not all, and even the ones I did might not have be correctly done.               Tenses      Present Tense     Past Tense     Future Tense     Imperfect Tense     Imperative Tense                     (I don't know what to call these)     Articles     Adjectives      verbs      Nouns     Prepositions     Pronouns      Conjunction               (I don't know what to call these, and if they can be grouped together)      Negation,      Subjunctive,      Conditional Comparative,      Vocabulary,      Passive,      Indirect Speech,             Basics        Numbers       Alphabets      Vocabulary      As you can see, I am really lost on this. The overall purpose, is just group them into 5 or 6 categories depending on which one, is similar to another one. I chose to think of it, as `present tense` is similar to `past tense` and `prepositions` could be similar to `pronous` rather than they are to... `future tense` ? I would love, if anyone can help me group the above as logically coherent as possible.


What nuance ‘I’ll leave it at that' carry? Does it mean total agreement with, or commitment to your partner?

Yesterday’s (August 22) Washington Times picked up the following quote of Mr. Paul Ryan in its “Today’s Quote” > "Mitt Romney's going to be the president. The president sets the policy. His > policy is exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. I'm > comfortable with it because it's a good step in the right direction. _I'll > leave it at that."_ I was caught up with the last phrase of Mr. Ryan’s remark. What does “I’ll leave it at that” exactly mean? How different “I leave it at that” is from ‘It’s up to him.” Is Mr. Ryan totally agreeing with what Mr. Romney says, or there is some reservation, resignation, or tongue in cheek, whatever that implies some distance from the other party’s view?


Confusion about the compouding sentences with 'not to say'

If a sentence is formed like this, > There is a deep ambivalence, not to say hypocrisy, when we notice that .. I am confused what exactly the author emphasizing. Is he saying, the hypocrisy is obvious but I am highlighting the ambivalence; or is he drawing readers attention to 'ambivalence' and asking them not to confuse it with 'hypocrisy'?


Hypernym for "pens", "pencils" & "erasers"?

I'm looking for a term (ideally a single word) that could be used to describe tools used to draw/write/erase. I'm trying to avoid single words like "tool" or "implement", which don't conjure up the correct image without context. My first thought was "writing implement", but that presumes that the implement is used for modifying text rather than _any_ drawn marking. Also, I'm not sure it quite works for an eraser. **Edit** to provide some context. I'm looking for a term to use as a title for a tab in a piece of software. For example, you might select this tab and see a list of pens/pencils/erasers. The term "pencil case" (as suggested by JAM) unfortunately doesn't work in this context, as the tools wouldn't necessarily all be stored in the same pencil case. Perhaps another way to think of it would be to imagine going into a stationery shop (a strange, hypothetical stationery shop) and looking at the shelves that contain only pens, pencils and erasers. I might be being a little ambitious with this one! I don't mind if no such term exists, but I'm trying to avoid a tab titled something like "Pens/Pencils/Erasers".


Word: Tacky Rich People/Trashy Wealthy People

Is there any single word to describe, as the title says, tacky rich/trashy wealthy people? The word _nouveau riche_ describes this pretty nicely, while ODE lists the following as synonyms: > the new rich; > > parvenus, arrivistes, upstarts, social climbers, vulgarians. nouveau riche does describe what I'm looking for pretty nicely but it's not something I've ever heard used and the synonyms don't _exacty_ describe this properly. Any ideas? Edit: maybe **new money** is the term I'm looking for...


"X is inequitable because Y is disproportionate to Z." Is there a better way to put this?

> While a full Major League Baseball season is 162 games, the first round of > the playoffs is only a 5 game series. **_I feel that this system is > inequitable because the length of the opening playoff series is > disproportionate to that of the MLB season._** The bolded sentence above _feels_ wrong:   * Would "this discrepancy" work better than "this system" in the above sentence?   * Is there a clearer/stronger way to express the opinion that "X is inequitable because Y is disproportionate to Z?"


What is the proper usage of "quite a few"?

I found the following definitions of "quite a few" in dictionaries: Merriam-Webster: **many** Wiktionary: An indefinite and somewhat large number; more than a few **but fewer than a lot** ; a fair number of. Is "quite a few" less than "many"? My understanding is that "a lot" and "many" are synonyms. If that's the case, then the dictionary definitions above conflict. What's the actual meaning of this expression? For example: > She's sweeter than all the girls and I've met quite a few. **Note:** I'm also curious about the origin of this expression. The last thing that a non-native English speaker would expect was that "quite" and "few" combined would result in "somewhat large number" or "many".


What is the equivalent word for "flight" when riding a boat instead?

Example: My "flight" is at 2:00 PM. **EDIT** I am a Filipino, and English is our second language here in the Philippines. We have 7,000+ islands here and travel by boat is very common, yet we don't have an equivalent word for "flight", even in our language. We jokingly just say, "What time is your **float**?" Anyway, I think "voyage" as suggested below is the most fitting. Thank you!


"Hadn't I" vs. "Didn't I"

Which one of the sentences is the correct, and why? > I had breakfast yesterday, **hadn't** I? > > I had breakfast yesterday, **didn't** I?


What's the name of hair left in your razor?

What is the single word for the tiny pieces of hair left in your razor after you shave?


Toll Booths 1,2 and 5

Suppose I have a collection of numbered items, say toll booths that are numbered from 1 to 10. Consider three sentences: > Toll booth 4 is closed today.   >  Toll booth 1, toll booth 2, and toll booth 5 are all closed today.   >  Toll booths 1,2 and 5 are all closed today. This is not a question of correctness. I believe all three sentences to be acceptable Standard English. My question is: does the third usage (in which I pluralized name of the items in the collection, and listed the relevant items by numeral) have a technical name, something that I can look up in stuffy grammar text? By the way, this occurs all the time when referring to page numbers. We don't typically say "See page 1, page 2, and page 10 for more details." Does this form of abbreviation have a name?


How to pronounce 100ish?

How do you pronounce 100ish and similar words? > a hundred-ish ?


Word or Phrase for the beginning or end of an event or period of time?

I'm looking for a single word to indicate a point in time which is either the beginning or end of an event. Edit, for a better example: A bell rings at the start a round of boxing. A bell rings at the end of a round of boxing. Assuming the bell rings at no other times, we can say the bell always rings at the BLANK of a round. Currently, for BLANK, I'm using the phrase "start or end." It feels clunky. I'd like to replace it with a single word, if possible.


A word that means "at an unusual time or season"

I'm looking for a word that refers to a fact that something happened at an unusual time or during an unusual season. Somthing that could be applied to things like:   * Pancakes for dinner   * Easter decorations in October The only thing I can think of is "anachronism", but I'm pretty sure that is only for things that are out of place by years.


Use of " and so"

If "and so" connects predicates such that the second is the result of the first, do we need to repeat the same words in the second? For example, > It does not exist locally and so globally. or > It does not exist locally and so does not exist globally.


Saxon genitive and "et al."

I am writing a scientific paper. In this context, it is usual to cite other works with the last name of the first author followed by "et al." when there are many. If I want to use a possessive form, how should I use the Saxon genitive? For example, is "Smith's et al." correct?


Why is the "a" in "have" a short a sound?

As far as I'm aware, every word of the form _consonant_ -a-v-e has a long a sound - cave, Dave, fave, gave, lave, nave, pave, rave, save and wave - every word except _have_. What is the story behind this alternate pronunciation for _have_?


is it grammatically correct to put a verb before a noun?

In the dictionary, _position_ as a verb means "to determine the position of or locate".   1. What word would represent the adjectival form of _position_? and what would its meaning be?    2. Is it acceptable grammatically for a verb to be put before a noun - eg a **positioning** device - to describing a device used to determine the position or location of something (eg It is a positioning device that locates optimal treatment sites). If this is proper grammatically can you please elaborate on which grammatical rules are at work here that allow this?


Which is correct: I'll be moving next month or I'll be shifting next month?

For changing one's home from one place to another, I've heard people in western part of the world using the sentence: > I'll be moving next month. In India, even in the English news channels, I've heard many people using the phrase: > I'll be shifting next month. Which one is the correct usage? Or are both of them correct and the difference in usage is regional?


how to understand "as ~ as ever"

> Nosey Flynn was sitting up in his usual corner of Davy Byrne's and, when he > heard the story, he stood Farrington a half-one, saying **it was as (1) > smart a thing as (2) ever (3) he heard.**   > (James Joyce, Dubliners) The meanings of the (1), (2), and (3) seem like: (1) as : “to the same degree or amount” (Webster’s Learner’s, adverb, 1) : this meaning requires “indirect complement (CGEL’s term)”, i.e. as ever ~.   (2) as : “used to make comparisons” (Webster’s Learner’s, conjunction, 1a) : in “as A as ever B,” A has equal importance as ever B.   (3) ever : “used as an intensive” (Webster, 3) : the best so, I suspect the highlighted part means: ‘it was as smart a thing as the smartest ones he’d heard.’ Is that a way to understand the construction?


What does “to look by” mean?

According to an article I read, the following sentences are roughly synonymous:   1. He looked by the building.   2. He looked past the building. I don't know what _look by_ and _look past_ mean. I found a dictionary says that to _look past_ means to “look at the (back)side of something”. Is that dictionary right? Anyway, I would please like to know what _look by_ and _look past_ mean.


Is there a word or short phrase to indicate the opposite extreme of "racism"?

For example, a person fights (or claims to fight) against racism in the manner of believing a group/ethnicity/etc. (in a culture where this group is often disliked) to be morally superior, and if a member of this group commits something bad, this person refuses to believe it, and calls everyone a racist who dare to say anything but praise about people from that group. Or, this person being an advocate against prejudice, and fighting for "equality", but in fact vilifying and being prejudicial against everyone who does not share his/her exact political beliefs. Is there an English word or short phrase, to express the above attitude in a much shorter way than that whole paragraph? I thing demagogue is not the word, because it means that a person claims to have other beliefs as he/she really has, for gaining some advantage. The main point is not on holding some race to be superior instead of inferior, but to claim to fight against prejudice but at the same time being prejudicial (for example, by calling everyone a bigot who do not agree 100% with them).


What's the English equivalent for the French expression "veille technologique"?

In French, the expression _veille technologique_ means the act of following the current trends in technology. Is there such a phrase in English? I can only think of expressions like _keeping up to date_ or _keeping current with technology_ , but find them too wordy and colloquial.


How do you refer to a hyponym that is the same word as the hypernym?

What word (or how do you phrase things) do you use when the ostensible word for the class is the same as the word for a subset of the class? For example, in the United States, there are many brands of sugared, carbonated soft drink that one can buy: Coca-Cola (or Coke), Pepsi, RC Cola, Sprite, 7-Up, A&W or Mug Root Beer, etc). The first two are kinds of 'coke' or 'cola' (but no one says 'cola'). But in some parts of the US (namely the south), one asks for any type of such drink as 'coke'. How does one then ask for the particular kind of 'coke' that is 'Coke' (pronounced the same)? Does one reduplicate and say a 'Coke coke', does one repeat with emphasis (or without), does one use a different word like 'coca-cola' (co-cola), or what? The (perceived) difficulty (surely those in the South are able to get the drink they want somehow) isn't limited to there. Where the drink is called 'soda', if you ask for a 'coke', you'll still sometimes have the choice among Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc. "Can I have a Coke?" the response might be "Is Pepsi OK?". "Sure, Pepsi, Coke, whatever." You don't use 'cola', you just ask for the particular kind and hope the listener will help differentiate.   * Given these multiple strategies for disambiguating, what do you do say to get a 'Coke' in the southern US?   * are there any other examples of a hypernym being the same as the hyponym, and so creating a disambiguation problem?


Are "adult" and "adulterate" cognates?

The word **adult** appear to have derived from the Latin term _adultus_ , meaning _grown up, mature, adult, ripe_. **Adulterate** (and its cognate _adultery_ ) is reported to derive from the Latin _adulterare_ \- _to falsify, corrupt_. Are the meanings and derivation of **adult** and **adulterate** , directly related, or is this just a coincidence of spelling?


What is the exclamation "Why, I never!" a contraction of?

The exclamation "Why, I never!" is a well-worn exclamation (I think more common in Britain than in the US?), often used to express indignation upon having been accused of something. The structure of the sentence suggests that this exclamation is a contraction of something like "Why, I never [verb]!" or "Why, I never have [verbed]!". I know that there may not be a canonical verb in the original sentence that was contracted to give this exclamation, but I was wondering what possibilities might exist. (It's worth noting that it is difficult to search for this exclamation, because it tends to be swamped by unrelated constructions like "Why I never walk alone at night" and things like that.)


Is it acceptable to use 'z' instead of 's' for plural form?

I am trying to find an appropriate name for my website but all domains are squattered. So now I think that I can call my site, say, not 'cats.com' by 'catz.com'. Isn't it too informal and 'leet' (or simply childish) spelling in US and British culture? How often do you see this kind of writing in newspapers for example? I don't know how I should call my site — this naming seems a bit awkward for me and I think that people will say "hey one more school boy got the internet". So please tell me about using of 'Z' instead of 'S' in modern culture. Actually this is a website dedicated for applications developers. It think this is a kind of formal website, not funny or something like that. And the point is to call it "apps" or "appz". Name of this site going to appear in users custom pages, so the name should be as neutral as possible. From your answers I understand that "appz" is not a good idea.


Does this stylistic guideline have a name?

The principle would be something like: Avoid a long modifying clause that creates distance between your subject and verb For example, according to this guideline, the sentence > One of his uncles who had made millions of dollars in the oil industry in > the sixties by inventing a new kind of pump left John a giant inheritance. should be rewritten as follows: > One of his uncles had made millions of dollars in the oil industry in the > sixties by inventing a new kind of pump. This man left John a giant > inheritance. Does this principle or guideline have a name? Bonus points for references to any books or websites that discuss it. ## EDIT - A related link This article discusses using noun phrases instead of clauses as a way to improve writing. While more focused than the principle above (and still without a name), I thought it was a good guideline, and it's the closest thing I've found so far.


Is it acceptable to use "just as well" in an academic paper

The title pretty much sums it up: is it permissible to use the words "just as well" in a formal academic paper? For instance: > The exchange might just as well have taken place in Abu Dhabi.


Is "Neither I you" Correct?

A friend of mine said "...I never saw you during school." For some reason I wanted to respond "Neither I you." I am certain I have heard this reply before, but, looking at it now, it does not seem grammatically correct. Is saying "Neither I you" correct? If not what would be the most concise to tell him that I had not seen him either ie Neither have I seen you?


A word for saying things indirectly because you do not know the correct word

Is there a word that describes the act, common of language learners, of using a cumbersome way to say something because they do not know a concise word (almost like I am doing here...). For example: That woman is the sister of my father. Could be more efficiently said as That woman is my aunt. But the speaker may not know the word aunt even though they know father and sister.


is 'do we actually know where we are going any more' a question?

I'm confused as to if > do we actually know where we are going any more is a question or not, because of the 'do' I think yes but when read it seems like a sentence.


What is the correct spelling: "double-wide" or "double wide" or "doublewide" trailer?

I am referring to the style of home created when two single trailers are bolted together and lived in as a single unit.


A theory or concept related to language use by elite or the higher classes

I'm an English teacher, and I'm looking for a theoretical model that suggests language is used differently by different classes. I am aware of Bernstein's Elaborated code, which refers to an elite using an exclusive sociolect, but I think this just refers to spoken language. Is there anything similar?


Usage / examples of "of which"

Could anyone give me some examples or rules of using `", of which"`? I mean only `", of which"`, neither `"which"` nor `", xxx of which"`. Any idea is appreciated. p.s. _She discovered so many spiders, of which she was most afraid._ \- Cool Elf Is it possible, that _"of"_ is not an essential part of the verb in the relative clause? If not, I think I should accept the answer from Cool Elf.


Would it be acceptable to ask "How you are?"

The question doesn't sound correct but I'm not sure if it could be used.


A word for teasing someone with information they desire

Is there a word (or a better sentence) to describe the following concept: Enticing someone by letting them know you have the information they seek, yet smugly refuse to divulge it.


Does the word "except" increase the negativity of the sentence?

I have encountered a set of instructions that contains the text: > The option exists to expand onto the second drive while the system is live. > Except for simplicity, there isn't any reason not to. \- CentOS Wiki - How > to Convert a CentOS 5 System to RAID1 As far as I can tell the last sentence can be rewritten as: "For simplicity alone, there is reason to." Is that correct and does the word 'except' make the last sentence a triple negative statement? Edit: for clarification the thing being decided to do or not to do, is if it should be done with the system in its live state instead of offline.


Need native expressions for "something happened but no one wants to undertake the responsibility"

Are there native expressions in oral and formal writing English about something happened - mostly negative incidents or events, but those, who should be responsible for it , don't want to undertake its responsibility or involve themselves in this.


Use of the word "sovereign"?

I know this is a bit odd to ask, but I'm really stumped on this SAT question (Test 4, Section 8, Q: 17). The author is deriding the critics of television. > Unlike everyone else, the theorist has remained completely intact morally, > can distinguish in a **sovereign** manner between deception and reality, and > enjoys complete immunity in the face of the idiocy that he or she > sorrowfully diagnoses in the rest of us. In line 59, "sovereign" is best understood to mean A) excellent B) opulent C) elitist D) absolute E) oppressive I chose A and the correct answer is D. I'm really confused on this. Would someone mind clarifying?


What's the name of this letter?

I came upon this letter when reading a book, I couldn't find its name on the internet, you can imagine how hard it is to search about it. What is the name of the letter that follows "sample space"? ![image](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Ef0xZ.jpg) I know it's not really an English question, but I think this site is best fit for the question than say, the mathematics site.


Expression for 'for the aforementioned/ stated reasons'

Can someone give me a less formal alternative to the phrase below? > **for the aforementioned/ stated reasons** (we will satisfy your request).


Ways to Memorize "Discreet" and "Discrete"

I have a question about _discreet_ and _discrete_. People tend to get these two words mixed up, and I would like to help them memorize these two words. _Discrete_ : unconnected; separate   _Discreet_ : judicially reserved; prudent (Definitions from Word Smart...)


What's that M-word like "meme" but it sounds all sophisticated & sociological?

It's not memetics or mnemonics, and it rolls off the tongue and sounds great. I think that it's at least 10 letters long.


Positive version of 'A miss is as good as a mile'

If some quality can be quantified where there's some threshold value that has a significance, then, no matter how close you are _under_ that threshold, the idiom 'A miss is as good as a mile' applies. Implying, of course, that the closeness is irrelevant: below the threshold is below the threshold. For example, say you had an exam where the pass mark was 60% and you scored 59%: you still fail, even though you were only one percentage point from the threshold. My question is: Is there a 'positive' version of this idiom, for the situation where you're slightly over the threshold? To extend our example: say I scored 60% and my friend scored 96%; when the quality is banded by its thresholds, we both passed, even though I only just made it.


"Explorer" vs. "explorator"

What is the difference between words **explorer** and **explorator**? (Both seem to mean _one who explores something_.)


Who really gave two figs?

The statement was in a poem whose name is " the White Troops Had Their Orders but the Negroes looked like Men". The context:... Who really gave two figs? Neither the earth nor heaven ever trembled... What is the meaning of the question? (figs)


What is the difference between "everyday" and "every day"?

I constantly see "everyday" being used in cases where the writer really means "every day". For example, here's a sentence from Google's eBooks documentation: "New titles are being added to Google eBooks everyday." There is even a supermarket chain that has a large sign saying, "Low prices, everyday!" Could someone, for the record, state the rule on this?


"How long have you [had/been having] this?" - Cont. or Simple?

I'm studying Present Perfect tenses at the moment and have been wondering what tense should I use in this example: > How long have you [had/been having] this thing? So I know that in some cases (with verbs like _know_ , _like_ , _seem_ and another dozen of those) it's preferred that you don't use Cont. like "I've been seeming", even to me it sounds very unnatural. But what about the "have" verb? I'm studying with "English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy and his book doesn't have the word _have_ in the list of those exception verbs that you should use with Present Perfect Simple instead. Though there's an example: > How long have you had that camera? ( _not_ have you been having) What should I stick with? In which cases and why? "Have you been having" seems to be a normal construction for me, but my experience is surely insufficient. Is it just an exception like "I've known for a long time" instead of "I've been knowing for a long time"? Is there any cases where I should still stick with Present Perfect Continuous while using the _have_ verb? Thanks in advance!


What are the rules on when to use commas, colons, semicolons and dashes?


Is it sometimes appropriate to use past tense when stating a fact?

Is it appropriate to use past tense when stating a fact in the context of the past but remains a fact until now? Which of the following is correct? > I didn't go to school because I was lazy and the school **was** too far. or > I didn't go to school because I was lazy and the school **is** too far.


Isn't "birthed" wrong?

As far as I know it is wrong to say "birthed", isn't it? I am asking since I read it in a post on a blog I follow. The post: www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/03/12/austin-kleon-show-your- work/ The phrase: "ideas are often birthed by a group of creative individuals" As an English foreign language speaker I was taught that we say" born" and I recall "birthed" is grammatically wrong. Is the word correct or is new in the Internet age?


What does "establish" mean in this context?

From OALD, _entrench_ is defined as: > to establish something very firmly so that it is very difficult to change Does establish here means _to cause to be accepted or recognized?_ Edit: I came across the word from this passage: > Some people feel that this term is a bit negative, given the association > with hunting and death, and they prefer more positive twists on the saying. > Several organizations have even sponsored contests to come up with a new and > more animal-friendly version of “to kill two birds with one stone.” However, > the idea has become so **entrenched** in many societies that it is unlikely > to fade from usage anytime soon, negative or not. Note I'm trying to understand the meaning of establish in the definition of entrench and not a clarification of the meaning of entrench.


Adverbial form of "timely"

The following sentence seems incorrect to me, because the adjective _timely_ is being used as an adverb: > Payments not received **timely** will be returned and additional interest > will be due. That said, does _timely_ even have an adverbial form? _Timelyly?_


How can this sentence be correct?

I read the following sentence in a book and could not in any way justify the correctness of the sentence. Please help: > Most states impose limitations on the authority of the legislature to borrow > money, **limitations intended to protect** taxpayers and the credit of the > state government. Why could we not just write: > Most states impose limitations on the authority of the legislature to borrow > money, to protect taxpayers and the credit of the state government. Or, > Most states impose limitations, which are intended to protect taxpayers and > the credit of the state government, on the authority of the legislature to > borrow money.


What are the rules for combining verbs with and?

I am curious what the rules for combining verbs into a "compound verb" are. For example, is it proper to combine "guess and check" into a single verb as in: > I guessed and checked that the answer is 42.


The holidays are a good time to be with family

is the phrase grammatically correct? or should I say "The holidays are good times..." ? can we use "a" after "are" ?


Better word for "self-deterministic"

> Physical systems (physics, chemistry) are creations of nature, and thus > their designs can only be perceived, not conceived, by physical sciences. > Political systems, on the other hand, are inventions of man, technologies > whose developments were always intended to be ongoing processes carried > along by each passing generation. > > **...** > > The more I learned about political science, the more I began to feel that > this **_"malleability"_** of political systems was lost on my professors. Malleability is not the right word here - it's part of what I'm trying to say, but I also want to emphasize the fact that they were originally conceived by man. I'm looking for a word that is something like "self-deterministic"", but I don't think that's quite it either. What word am I looking for here?


Should I write: "areas becoming denser" or "more dense"?

I am trying to describe how cities have been affected by the growing population in terms of the density of bodies. This is how I have it at the moment but I am unsure whether it should be "more dense", or "denser" > With the global human population increasing and areas becoming **more > dense** or > With the global human population increasing and areas becoming **denser** Which would be correct?


Are there any words pronounced with an unstressed short monophthong at the end of word that are not /ə/?

Following my question Are there any words in English pronounced with /e/ at the end? I was wondering if there are any words pronounced with an unstressed short monophthong at the end of word that are not /ə/? The only words I could think of were "aqua", "alpha", etc., however, when I looked them up in the Macquarie Dictionary (excellent Australian dictionary, although admittedly phonemic rather than phonetic) it has them listed as /ˈækw **ə** /, /ˈælf **ə** /, etc. Wiktionary also has them as /ˈækw **ə** / (UK) and /ˈæɫf **ə** /. Other words: bee /b **iː** /, taxi /ˈtæk.s **iː** /, do /d **uː** /, go /ɡ **oʊ** /, emu /ˈiːmj **uː** /. In Australian English these are all either diphthongs or long monophthongs (Wiktionary lists some of these as short monophthongs for US accents). The reason for all these questions is for teaching people with a different phoneme inventory how to pronounce different languages closer to a native speaker, whether English-to-Other or Other-to-English.


"Season's greetings" or "Seasoned greetings"

Today I heard the phrase "Seasoned greetings." Is this just some clever word play on the traditional "Season's greetings," meant to mean greetings spiced up with seasoning, or is it a legitimate idiom?


What part of speech are the words the, a, my, that, your, each, every, etc, or what category do they fall under?

What part of speech are   * the   * a   * my   * that   * your   * each   * every etc, or what category do they fall under? The reason I am asking this is that I am programming a sentence generator, and my sentence structure looks a bit like this:               [noundesc] [adj][0 to 2] [noun] [verb-ed]or[verb-s] [noundesc] [adj][0 to 2] [noun]      Actually, this is just one of the sentence variations, but I'm just using it as an example. Right now I'm referring to them as "noundesc"s (short for "noun describers"), because I don't have a good name. I have found that "this," "that," "these," and "those" are called _demostrative pronouns_ , but that does not encompass all of these words. What is a name for these types of words? I need a name so I can search for a list of them, which I will use in my sentence generator. Are these just special kinds of adjectives, and if so, is there any special name for them?


How to say "it gives an opportunity" in a word?

The phrase is often used in a written speech. E.g.:   * Everybody needs an education. It gives you an opportunity to have a good job and to succeed in life. How to rephrase that:   * It enables you...   * It lets you...   * It allows you... None seems good enough. How can you say it better?


What's the meaning of "hashoom"?

With hashoom What's the meaning of the word "hashoom"? What does it mean: With hashoom ?


Can I use the word "not" after a preposition?

Can I write something like: > among people from that country and among people from not I know it can be easily rewritten as: > among people that are from the country and among people that are not But I just wonder whether the first writing is grammatically correct? If it is, is it formal or informal?


Does the phrase 'Harsh, but fair' actually make sense?

Very often I hear the phrase 'harsh but fair' used to describe something that is unduly severe, but ultimately just. I don't think that it even makes sense, though - and although I've tried to discuss it on a number of occasions, have never met anyone that seems to agree with me. If something is harsh (in the sense that is is unduly severe), how can it possibly also be fair?


Question on “subject to being disproved by the person accused”

> The appeal court said that in criminal cases where it is necessary for the > prosecution to prove intention, they must always do just that. Intention can > never be presumed, **subject to being disproved by the person accused**. > Hence the phrase that everyone is ‘innocent unless proven guilty’. Doesn't the bolded clause contradict the other sentences? The first sentence connotes that intention is subject to being proved by the prosecutor. Since the accused person is presumed guilty, he/she has to prove or disprove nothing? Source: P68, How the Law Works, Gary Slapper


Why fiddlesticks?

"Fiddlesticks" is used as a mild expletive or to express disbelief. Does anyone know why?


Can 'still to be' + past participle precede a noun as a modifier?

There are adjective phrases constisting of a qualified past participle that usually precede the noun, like 'a much loved song'. Now I encountered this expression: 'the still to be surpassed view'. Is this correct English, or should the participle phrase follow the noun? And how about present participle phrases with 'still', e.g. 'still grieving', can they precede a noun?


What does “the us’es” mean?

What is the meaning of _us’es_ in this passage below? > The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give > them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a > better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that > all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the > seniors, the handicapped, the **us’es** , the **us’es** will give up. The text is from Harvey Milk’s “The Hope” speech.


Preposition after "Good luck".

I have seen different preposition after "Good luck". Example: Good luck on/with/for your new job Could you explain the possible differences of usage or meaning. Thank you.


Proper way to quote the end of a saying (ellipsis use and capitalization)

The quote goes: > So next time someones complains that you have made a mistake, tell them that > may be a good thing, because without imperfection, neither you nor I would > exist. I only want the last part: > Without imperfection neither you nor I would exist. Would I write it like so, or use an ellipsis at the start: > . . . Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist. I guess that if I used an ellipsis, it wouldn’t have a capital letter on _without_ , would it?


Is "close helmet" correct? Why/why not?

I've been debating this for a while now with a comrade of mine. Wikipedia (and others) give "close helmet" as a type of medieval helmet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_helmet http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/close+helmet My compatriot argues that, as-is, this doesn't make sense, that it should be either "closed helmet" (with an extra D) or "close-helmet" (hyphenated). I say "close helmet" is perfectly fine, and simple Google searches turn up more results for this form of it, but I can't find a convincing argument for _why_ it is correct other than because it seems to be the most common usage. My friend says that "close helmet" is only correct if "close" is an adjective, as in "she sat _close_ to me", but that doesn't really make sense for a type of helmet, since ALL helmets can be considered "close" to one when worn. Yet, using "close" as a verb ("I shall _close_ the door") doesn't really make grammatical sense either. The defining feature of this type of helmet is that it can open and close (or it is related to the opening/closing; I'm not entirely sure of the details), so "close helmet" makes some kind of sense, but I don't know a grammatical construction that allows this. Or is this just a relic of older English that has survived into the present? At first, I was sure that "close helmet" was correct, but the more I think about it the more confused I make myself. Help?


I'll be 60 years old next year

Do you say "I'll become 60 years old" or "I am becoming 60 years old?"


What is an onomatopoeia for heavy breathing?

The only one I can think of is "huff," but this isn't very good. I'm trying to find onomatopoeia for the way a person breathes just after they've been running hard.


Is "back the hall" accepted usage?

In response to the question "Where is she?", I've heard someone say, "She's back the hall." (Cf. "She's back there.") I understand the meaning to be something like "She's down the hall," "She's in the hall," or "She's in some room connected to the hall." It seems that _back_ is functioning as a preposition here, as it doesn't quite fit the adverb usage in its entry at M-W. Is this a common usage in the sense of being documented in a reliable reference work or documented as an idiom or variant outside normal usage? If so, what part of speech is _back_?


Is the place for the king/queen's feet on a throne called the 'threshold' of the throne? The place for the feet can be seen in this picture: ![The threshold of the throne](http://i.stack.imgur.com/v7wvH.jpg)


Can "hidden in plain sight" be used in a sentence?

I learned from google that "Hidden in Plain Sight" is a movie title. Since I caught up the expression without context, I tried to use it. Now, I'm not sure whether it can be used without making reference to the movie. Can I say "This [...] was hidden in plain sight" referring to something that should have been obvious for everyone involved, but was overlooked due to way people approached the problem. The context is a non-technical introduction to an academic thesis.


Do you hand something over or off?

I am looking for the correct American English expression and spelling. My particular context is that I am responsible for something precious, which I give to somebody else, who is then responsible from that moment on, e.g., _I handed over the diamonds._ Would you say _I handed something over_ , or would you rather say _I handed something off_? Also, would this transaction then be a _handover_ , a _hand-over_ , a _handoff_ or a _hand-off_?


Should it be 'which affect' or 'who affect'?

I have this sentence > Persons performing tasks **which** affect product quality should have > appropriate skill and knowledge. in which I am not sure whether _who_ or _which_ is grammatically correct.


Use of preposition after 'Follow-up'

Could someone suggest what preposition to use after 'Follow-up'? Is it 'on' or 'of' or 'to'?


How correct is "quote, unquote" and where does its usage come from?

In the following quote, it seems (to me at least) quite difficult to figure out what exactly is being quote: > “The best cure—quote, unquote—for aging is slowing disease,” Daniel Kraft, > the chair of [...] My questions are the following:   1. Isn't it better English to write (and say): "The best cure—quote— for aging—unquote— is slowing disease.”   2. How did the usage of "quote, unquote" come to be? In French, people say "ouvrir les guillemets" then "fermer les guillemets" (literally open/close quotes) which better delimits what is quoted. By the way, I am surprise that this question hasn't been asked already: did I not enter to appropriate search terms?


Why does Walt Whitman capitalise the words “personalities” and “are” in this sentence?

> But sternly disregarding, shutting our eyes to the glow and grandeur of the > general superficial effect, coming down to what is of the only real > importance, Personalities, and examining minutely, we question, we ask, Are > there, indeed, men here worthy the name? I haven’t come across this usage before. Why does the writer use capitalisation with a common word and with the verb after a comma?


"There is a car on/in the street"

Do we use _in_ or _on_ when we want to talk about some action or event that takes place in/on the street? >   * This car has been parked [in/on] our street for a week now. >   * There's nobody [in/on] the street. >   * Let's go play [in/on] the street. >   * There was an accident [in/on] their street yesterday. >   * I guess I lost my necklace [in/on] the street. > And so on.


abbreviation of units of measure: 'hours' vs. 'minutes'

The abbreviation for ‘hours’ is hrs. The one for "Minute" is 'min'. It is a unit of measure, which have standard abbreviations, and they do not change in plural nor have a final period. So, the correct abbreviation for minute(s) is "min". My question is: why this discrepancy and not 'hr' in line with 'min'?


"Tomboy" but in reverse

The word "tomboy" is used to express the idea of a girl who behaves in a boyish manner. It's not usually considered a negative term, or at least not very negative, and generally just means the girl enjoys more athletic activities and doesn't concern themselves with acting very 'feminine'. On the other hand, the nearest term I can think of for the reverse idea, of a boy who takes pleasure in more feminine activities, and who doesn't concern themselves with manliness, is "dandy" (like a fine dandy boy), which carries some negative connotation that I wish to avoid. Is there a better, less negative term that refers to a boy who acts in a feminine manner, or who enjoys activities that are more female-oriented?


Why is the sentence "She sighed, and began whispering again" grammatically incorrect?

That's a line from a Twilight book. It's a grammar mistake pointed out by this website. > She sighed, and began whispering again. I don't see anything wrong with it. Is the comma the mistake?


grammar - how to use " birth " and born?

How to explain the following My mother gave birth to me. So I was born. what is the usage of this " birth "


How to specify one had the topmost GPA during his education?

I am writing a CV and I want to specify that I had the best GPA among all of the students. What is the best way to write such a thing in north america? Does 'Bachelor with first class honor' work? How about 'Bachelor's degree with distinction'?


"A challenge to X" vs. "a challenge for X"

> Nile countries are facing tremendous challenges for food security,... Should I use "a challenge for" or "a challenge to" in the above sentence?


Origin of "Knocked" in "Have (Got) It Knocked"

I read the 11 Nov. 1978 panel of _Garfield_ , in which the phrase "have got it knocked" is used. Transcript: > **Panel 1** > > [ _Garfield is in bed but mobile_ ] > > Garfield: Oh-oh. I feel a nap attack coming on > > **Panel 2** > > [ _Garfield suddenly assumes an immobile, sleeping position_ ] > > **Panel 3** > > [ _Garfield peeks from under covers_ ] > > "Turtles **have got it knocked** " On my own, I thought this was another phrase for "have (got) it (all) figured out," by which I mean something like "one has established an appealing but possibly theoretical model for achieving some end." Citing AHD 4th ed., TFD provides this definition for _have it knocked_ : > **have it knocked** _Slang_ > > To be certain of success: " _He knew he had it knocked after he saw a rough > cut of Chinatown_ " (Time). Strikingly similar definitions can be found for the related phrases _have it made_ (Dictionary.com based on Random House Dictionary: _to be assured or confident of success_ ) and _have it made in the shade_ (TFD citing McGraw- Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs 2002: _to have succeeded; to be set for life_ ). For each but _have it knocked_ I can find reasons to satisfy my curiosity about why its ending might be chosen:   * _Figured out_ is an idiom by itself meaning _to begin to comprehend someone or something_   * _Made_ can be used figuratively to mean _assured of success or fortune: a made man._   * _Made in the shade_ rhymes with the above, retaining its meaning while emphasizing the subject's present comfort I suspect _knocked_ may come from sports, where _knock_ has a sense of finality and success: In boxing, a _knock-out_ means a win; likewise in baseball, _knocking a ball out of the park_ is used to indicate a good hit. But it seems odd to me that _out_ would be omitted, because in the mentioned phrases it emphasizes the action's success and finality. To measure the likelihood of these guesses, I am interested in the origin of the phrase _have it knocked_. I could not find a date like the 1955 Etymology.com provides for _have it made_. Derivations, if found, are also welcome.


What is another way of saying "and more"?

What is another of way saying "and more" in this sentence? Throughout my life, I have discovered the love for science, mathematics, and literature, all the way to visual arts, badminton, and more.


Word for "quietly accumulating shares of stock by traders when the stock is at a lower price"?

I'm looking for a word or expression that means "the act of quietly accumulating shares of stock by traders when the stock is at a lower price"?


Where and when did "Bucket List" come to mean what it does today?

I'm not sure I had even heard the term "bucket list" until the movie came out. I get the feeling though that the term _long_ predates the movie. Can anyone identify how "bucket list" came to mean what it means to us today?


Syntax, contrastive analysis

Could anyone help me with this question? **What are the main types of contrast involved in contrastive analysis of syntax? Give examples.** I tried to find answer, but unfortunately I find nothing.


“Golden crown” vs. “gold crown”

In case of the need to describe the color of a crown which is shown as part of an image, which is correct: a _golden crown_ , or a _gold crown_? Is it important if it is made of gold or not, but the color is gold?


What does "sex idiot" mean?

In this video clip from 30 Rock, the woman says > Ryan is _my_ sex idiot. I wonder what it means? Is it a general usage to add an adjective to "idiot" to give it some special meaning?


What does "honey boo boo" mean?

What does "honey boo boo" actually mean? Is a rather a good thing when someone calls you that? Is he making fun of you?


Long-Lived … how many pronounce it with a long "i"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Pronunciation of "Short-lived" I have read in Beastly Mispronunciations that long-lived is pronounced with a long "i." Does anyone actually pronounce it that way?


Is an acronym a word?

There is a whiteboard near me with a "Word of the day". Today's word is "G.A.R.P." Does this count as a word? Is an acronym a word?


Where does “at any rate” come from?

People say _at any rate_ to revert to a previous topic. But what kind of _rate_ is it referring to? Like   * at any rate of exchange?   * at any speed?


List of collocations in English

Does anybody know of source (probably NLP study) of comprehensive list of collocations in English (not only the frequent one). Additionally, does anybody know the approximate estimate of the total number of collocations.


A Less Offensive Word For Crippled Beggar?

What would be a nice way of saying a crippled beggar? For example I want to say "I gave some money to a crippled beggar who was begging on the road" but the word _crippled_ and _beggar_ doesn't seem nice (I want to write this down on a journal kind of place). Any suggestions on how to put this more nicely? PS:- By the way I don't need the wording to be very formal or anything. What I meant by "journal" was to mean something like a "diary". Sorry if it confused you.


Why 'mention graph' of genuflect is so steep?

Google `define genuflect` you will got a 'mentions graph' of 'genuflect'. It's very interesting that the graph is very steep while graph of other words, 'run' for example, are very smooth. Any idea why this happens? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/BLxUP.png) ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/GQdRy.png)


Letter opening with name only--what does it convey?

I sometimes get emails (e.g. from professional contacts or people I don't know well) which simply start with > FirstName, > > [ ... letter body ... ] They don't use "Dear FirstName," or "Hello FirstName," just "FirstName,". This always feels quite harsh to me. (Omitting the opening completely in a quick email wouldn't feel that way, but using the name _only_ does.) Can this be considered impolite? Is it bad form? Is it usual? What should I read into this (about the attitude of the writer)? I realize that these things can depend more on the culture than the language. I usually get these letters from Americans. Is it the most usual way of opening an informal email in the U.S.?


"all the way down to" phrase with geographical locations

Is the following usage correct: > I drove from Los Angeles **all the way down** to San Diego. given that San Diego is at the south of Los Angeles? Can it be used for geographical directions?


Difference in starting pronunciations of "station" and "sun"

Why do some English speakers have different starting pronunciations of _station_ and _sun_? _Station_ is pronounced as _e-station_ while _sun_ simply as _sun_. Is the difference due to the fact that the second letter is a vowel in _sun_ but not in _station_?


What is correct syntax with 'entail'?

My instinct is that when it means "to have as an inescapable consequence", _entail_ must be followed by a noun. In all the grammatical examples I have come across this is how it is used — without it being specifically remarked upon. For example: >   * This responsibility entails hard work. >   * The new job entails regular travel. >   * Motherhood entails sacrifice. > But some people use it in sentences like >   * When I blush it does not entail that I am embarrassed. >   * My lisp does not entail that I cannot be a good singer. >   * I am old, but that does not entail that I am also hard of hearing. > Is the usage "... entail that..." grammatically correct?