Why is it “A first,” not “The first” for U.S Ice Dancing team taking the top spot in Sochi”?

I heard that the announcer, Tim McGuire reported that; > “ **A first** for U.S. Ice Dancing team, Gold. Meryl Davis, Charlie White > taking the top spot in Sochi.” in February 17 AP Radio News. I also found ”a fifth / sixth term” in Jeffery Archer’s fiction, “Prodigal Daughter”： > “It was from George that he learned that Henry Osborne had been re-elected > to Congress **a fifth term**. - P57 > > At least he had been right in stating that Henry Osborne was returned to > Congress for **a sixth term**. - P89 I wonder why it is “ **a** first” instead of “ **the** first” for U.S. Ice Dancing team, Gold. and “ **a** fifth / sixth term” instead of “ **the** fifth / sixth term” for Congressman, Osborne. I’m under impression that the ordinal number usually takes “the” like “the first time,” “Elizabeth the Second,” and “The Third man.” Is ‘the’ and “a” interchangeable for the ordinal number? If not, what is the difference between “A first” and “The first” in the context of U.S. Ice Dancing team winning Gold medal in Sochi?


Is saying 'Good Noon' valid?

How should I greet between 12pm and 2pm? Should I say 'Good Afternoon' or 'Good Noon'? Is Good Noon commonly used or not?


Is 'couple' ever used in the sense of 'some'?

Is the usage of the word _couple_ (as in, _"I want to ask a couple of questions..."_ ) to mean 'some' or 'few' correct (as in, interpreting given example to mean _"I want to ask a few questions"_ )? As a follow-up on the example, when someone says _"I want to ask a couple of questions..."_ , does the usage of 'couple' necessarily mean the two questions have to be related to each other, or can couple just mean 'two' in that context?


Has or Had / Past and Past Perfect

I'm polishing and redrafting my novel. But grammar is not my strong suit. I need help with tenses, specifically. As you may already know, stories are usually told in the past tense. But it's not always simple past. There's past perfect, as well. Could you please help me with this particular sentence: > Megan couldn't remember how long she has been sitting in her armchair, > staring at the empty wine glass in her hand. Should it be "she has been sitting" or "she had been sitting"?


Sharing a devotion?

Someone told me that this phrase is grammatically incorrect, but I do not understand why? > XYZ is a fellowship of adults sharing a devotion to encourage students.


An old fashioned word or phrase that describes a meditative walk. It's not a constitutional but it's something that Ben Franklin, or Thomas Edison would do to clear their mind, rejuvenate, reconnect, invigorate, rebalance etc. I think there is a noun for this activity. They might say "I am going to take my ...."


Pronouns: a word class or a subclass of nouns?

In the recently published ‘Oxford Modern English Grammar’, Bas Aarts classifies pronouns with nouns and not as a separate word class. In this, he follows the authors of ‘The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language’. Is this now a widely accepted practice in pedagogic circles on both sides of the Atlantic?


What does "over" mean in this sentence?

We are specialized in packing, and I have a client Email to me as below: > . . . do you over shrink-wrap service or is it included in the price? He uses _over_ here, what does he mean?


Referring to wild animals as "game"

I am reading stories by Jack London, and I have noticed that often wild animals are referred to as _game_. It sounds funny to my non-English-native speaker ear. Is there some reason why the word _game_ is used? Or did the word have a different meaning 100 years ago?


Value (in cents) of big words

I found the answer to this question interesting in that he referred to a "75 cent word". I would have called it a _50_ -cent word, not because I undervalued his answer but because that is how I have heard the phrase. I thought at first that am old enough that inflation caused the difference, but I found a 1976 reference to 75-cent word from 1976, the earliest reference to the phrase I found in a quick ngrams search. What is the "right" value to use in the phrase "?-cent word" (or, what was the original)? Has it changed over time? Do non-American English speakers have alternative expressions in local currency?


Should I use 10 cent words or $2 words?

In school, I learned to use 10 cent words, so instead of saying: (updated: from a paper that says a scientist doing experiment with fish would make it complicated to say:) > All biota exhibited 100% mortality rate. just say: > All fish died. which is plain and simple, and gets the idea across, so that people understand what you are saying. But in the real world, time and time again, verbally or written, I see people higher up purposefully using $2 words, to convey that they are educated, and to convey they can use difficult words that you don't understand, and suggest possibly they can do things that other people cannot, so they have power over you (maybe to write something like that to the CEO or board of directors, and if you are against him, the board of director probably won't believe you or not on your side when you write something all with 10 cents words versus his $2 words every where). So, was I too naive to believe "use 10 cent words"? The world may not be simply about "getting ideas across"? What might be an more accurate descriptions of the use of 10 cent words versus $2 words?


Origin/Usage of "[word] is a [number] dollar word"

I've often been wondering where the phrase in the title comes from - I always picture it as coming from an early television era game show, but more likely it has to do with pricing of telegrams or news paper advertisements? In particular, I'd like to know if there is a more subtle meaning to the numerical value being used; at least, moreso than "higher value means more sophisticated." From memory, I've seen it used (at least) with 0.10$, 2$, 3$, 4$, 5$ and 10$. Which values are commonly used to indicate what? Would a native speaker intuitively spot someone who's just making up numbers (e.g. "8$ word")? I've searched ELU and found a few usages, but no discussion about it: Should I use 10 cent words or $2 words? Is "autodidact" too obscure to use in a resume? Numbers and units Are these phrases too posh-sounding for conversational English?


Word for "best known function"

What is a single word for _best known function_? I'm trying to say, for example, that lumber has been the best known function of timber?


Confusing mealtimes

In "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, when Pip returns after his meeting with the escaped convict, how come it says that he had dinner right afterwards? Did he skip lunch? Or did his meeting take all day? Can someone explain this for me?


Word to describe someone who doesn't appreciate what another person has done for them

What is the single word to describe someone who doesn't appreciate what another person has done for them? For example, let's say someone has sacrificed a lot of things and gone through a very hard life to make their spouse happy but the spouse leaves the person for very minor selfish reasons. In other words, someone who is not appreciative of what the other person has done for them and never thinks twice to hurt the other person in exchange for the smallest benefit.


Contrator, contractee... and disease?

On my security card at work is written "Contractor" in big, bold, capital letters. A thought just crossed my mind (as I work for a medical company): If I am the contractor, am I the one passing the disease to others? Is it correct to call the other side of the contract the Contractee? And what does it say about our work relations, if this is how they see me? :-)


Should I hyphenate "up-to-the-minute" in this case?

I have had a look at some examples on here, but I am still not sure. Should I hyphenate "up-to-the-minute" in this sentence? > We can supply you with up-to-the-minute intelligence on distributors, > companies and geographical locations, allowing you to make an informed > decision. OR > We can supply you with up to the minute intelligence on distributors, > companies and geographical locations, allowing you to make an informed > decision. I am leaning toward hyphenating as it is an adjective for _intelligence_ , and also a longer sentence so possibly misread, but I am not sure.


Adjective for thing you do for others

I sometimes write university projects for students and fix friends' computers, sometimes for money. I call things I do for myself _personal projects_ , _personal work_ , _personal act_ , etc. What adjective should I use to call those things I do for others? _Impersonal_ and _nonpersonal_ do not sound good.


Etymology and pronunciation of arch-, archi-

The prefix _arch-, archi-_ “chief, principal; extreme, ultra; early, primitive,” derives from Latinized Greek _arkh-, arkhi-,_ the combining form of _arkhos_ “chief.” Usually, _arch-_ is pronounced like “arch” (ɑrtʃ), and _archi-_ sounds like “ark” (ɑrkɪ), although _archangel_ (ɑrkeɪndʒəl) is a notable exception. Is there an etymological or other reason for pronouncing the two prefixes differently? Did they perhaps enter English at different times? Likewise, is there any pattern to which nouns use _arch-_ (e.g., _archenemy, archfiend_ ) versus _archi-_ ( _archiepiscopal, architect_ )? Why is _archangel_ an exception to the pronunciation rule?


Should I use either or any in this sentence?

So, I want to ask the students to contact me if they are interested in topics A and B. Which one is better? Please contact me if you are interested in any of the following topics: ... or Please contact me if you are interested in either of the following topics: ... Or, do you think there is a better way to put that?


'installed' or 'isntalled'?

I've seen in an online shop the following sentence "Windows is isntalled by default.". I'm not a native speaker and was wondering, is "isntalled" correct or it's a mistake and they wanted to say 'installed'? Thanks!


Single word meaning either "liked" or "disliked"

I have a forum where you can Like a reply. After you press that button it changes from Like to Liked. Now I want to add a Dislike button so I would like to replace the "Liked" text for something that would also include "Disliked". I think the word should be close to something like "Done", "Voted", or "Pressed" but also related with the original text. Do you have any suggestions?


"Anything" vs. "any thing"

This is not a duplicate of "anymore" vs. "any more". I made sure. In that case, the two terms being compared were noun phrase (any more) vs. adverb (anymore). In this case, the two are both noun terms. I know which is more often used, but is "any thing" incorrect? The question was raised in my mind when I saw "any thing" on a post, and wondered whether to edit it to "anything".


Who were the 'pros from Dover'?

I was reading Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy this morning, and he compares his characters to the 'pros from Dover'. This was a phrase that I also remember hearing in the movie M*A*S*H - so it seems to be a phrase in use in 1970 (and possibly 1950s, although the historical accuracy of the movie could be put into question). So - where is this Dover? And who are the pros and why are they held in such regard?


"Prove me" / "prove to me" / "confirm one's belief"

Which sentence do you find more natural? > Your last actions only prove me that you're not worth my trust. > > Your last actions only prove **to** me that you're not worth my trust. or maybe some other form like > Your last actions only confirm (my belief / me in the belief) that you're > not worth my trust. ?


Does one run or stand for election?

Does a person run or stand for election? I have a sentence that reads: "Now is the time to start thinking of standing for election to a lodge office." I have been told that it should read: "...run for lodge office." Is that true?


What does "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" mean?

This song by The Rolling Stones, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".   As a non-native speaker, I always wondered what's the exact meaning of this phrase?   * **Is it "I'm not getting any satisfaction"** (this seems to be the most widely met translation; double negation used where single negation should have been used).   * **Or is it "I want my satisfaction, I cannot leave without getting some"** (makes much more sense to me). Or is it something else?   I've always had troubles understanding double negation as applied to English. First I was taught it's a mistake to use double negation at all, and then I see it everywhere.


"Don't go nowhere", what is this?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the difference between "I can't get any sleep" and "I can/'t get no > sleep"? Some people, who have little knowledge of grammatical correctness, would say _Don't go nowhere_ , telling the person to stay where they are. Of course, literally and technically, _Don't go nowhere_ is telling someone to go somewhere, as you are telling them to not go nowhere, which means they should go somewhere. Is there a technical word for this way of saying something? (Bear in mind that I am very aware that this is grammatically incorrect, considering the meaning of the statement that I have stated).


I can't get no satisfaction? really?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" -- what's the correct meaning? I know this is a popular song and they might have twisted it a bit. but is it the legal use? I mean we see so many places where these things are used like "I don't have no words", "There ain't no use"


''don't/can't [verb] no...''

I have seen the following sentence: _I can't get no satisfaction_. Can we say _''don't/can't [verb] no...''_? I would like an explanation about this _expression_.


Understanding sentences with double-negation

How should the following sentence be understood? > "There isn't no happiness". > > a) meaning: There IS some happiness . (Because the two negations cancel each > other out) > > b) meaning: There is NO happiness. In daily-life conversations, which of the two would most likely be meant by the speaker? (Why would one want to use a double-negation anyway?)


"Is you is or is you ain't my baby?"

Is this phrase grammatically correct? > Is you is or is you ain't my baby? It's from a Tom and Jerry cartoon: http://vimeo.com/40283242 (at 1:30, 2:00 and 3:00).


The position of "strong enough" in "there is no headache strong enough"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  There is no headache strong enough, that a good coffee won't relieve > There is no headache strong enough, that a good coffee won't relieve. I know that this sentence is grammatically correct, but I still can't find a suitable grammar rule that would explain why _strong enough_ is used after the noun in this sentence. Why don't we say "There's no strong enough headache, that a good coffee won't relieve"? It doesn't look like a reduced relative clause that usually occur with past participles, such as "the people skilled in design" ("the people which are skilled in design"). We usually place such adjectives like _possible_ , _available_ , and few others after the noun. This is not the case. Can anybody explain the word order to me? It would be even better if someone provides a proof from a grammar book.


Can two prepositions be used one after the other?

I am in doubt about my sentence. I am trying to describe around 73% accuracy that can be obtained using a mentioned method. So, I have written: > The study of Sen et al (2012) has shown that a tree canopy can be detected > **with about** 73% overall accuracy. Can I use _with about_ together, one after the other?


comma vs semicolon preceding a list

Are lists preceded by a colon, semi-colon or something else? >   * Today, I'm grateful for a few things: family, health, and work. > >   * Today, I'm grateful for a few things, specifically; family, health, and > work. > >


Should a colon be used in this sentence?

I hope that I gain skills in three areas: critical thinking, writing, and collaboration. I am looking to see if the colon should be used in this sentence at all.


meaning and use of "gotta"

I often heard people say the word "gotta". I have read in this web site that gotta is a contraction of "I have got to" and that that phrase means "must", is my understanding correct? Regarding the use of "gotta", what does the following phrase mean:   1. I gotta get something  thanks.


how can the word forlorn be used

How can the word _forlorn_ be used in a sentence? i know it is an adjective but i hardly see it being used in a passage and really do not how to use it. How can it be used correctly in a sentence to depict its meaning?


Why do I not hear /k/ in sanctuary?

> sanctuary (Oxford) /ˈsæŋktʃuəri ; ˈsæŋktʃueri/ It is /k/ that I don’t hear in the website’s pronunciation. Do they drop /k/ under some pronunciation rule? - it happens that /ŋ/ and /k/ all are velar sounds.


Is there a word for a pie chart that is in the shape of a rectangle?

Normally, pie charts are circular and each piece of data is shown as a slice of a whole. However, for some purposes, it makes more sense to display the same kind of data as a rectangle divided up with vertical lines, with each horizontal "slice" of the rectangle representing a piece of the data. It would look like **one** rectangle cut into multiple slices along **one** dimension. For example, suppose my data was different types of transportation used in the United States, and the data was the following, then the plot might look like the ASCII depiction below the data.               Bicycle,25%     Plane,25%     Car,50%               ________________________________________________     |_Bicycle__|____Plane___|_________Car___________|      Note that the intent of the above depiction is to have one long rectangle cut into 3 pieces. Two are `25%` of the total rectangle and one is `50%` of the rectangle. Is there a word for this kind of "rectangular" pie chart?


What is the difference between "aged" and "age"?

I've seen a few ways of discussing the age of a person. For example: > aged 11 > > age 11 As well as: > college aged students > > college age students When should I use "age" and when should I use "aged"? What is the difference between the two?


“At this section...” vs. “in this section...”

> **At/in** this section, you must enter your shipping details. Should I use _at_ or _in_?


Travel by my car or travel with my car?

What is the correct form of this question ? I travel by my car Vs I travel with my car ? Is it correct to say I drive to office in my car ?


"And so is everyone else." What is this kind of sentence called in English? For example: > Man 1: “You are human.”   >  Man 2: “and so is everyone else.” Is there any specific name for the kind of sentence Man 2 is saying?


One word for "putting it together"

I am starting a blog focused on software development and trying to come up with some catchy name for it. The theme of the blog should be "putting things together", or to "connect all dots of complex programming problems". Is there a one word or a simple phrase that would mean the same thing? I was thinking about words like "fusion" or "link", but the resulting names (codefusion, codelinking, codelinker) don't feel right somehow.


Should a company be referred to as “he/she” or as “it”?

When a customer represents a company, not a person, and a pronoun is needed to refer back to that customer, should one use _he/she_ , or should one use _it_?


Is it OK to drop the periods in abbreviations?

When I was in school, strictly every abbreviation had a period after each (capitalized) letter, as in U.S.A. These days, it seems ok just to capitalise, as in USA. Is this a new rule? It does look jarring to have those periods everywhere, and it's annoying to type. Related: Omitting periods after title abbreviations (Mr, Mrs, Dr).


AVC or A.V.C or A.V.C

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it OK to drop the periods in abbreviations? Okay, so in School I was always tought that when we want to abbreviate, we must use a full stop "." inbetween each letter, and if it's at the end of a sentence, a full stop at the end also (duh). But, everywhere I go now, I am faced with having to put up with bad grammar, incorrectly-spelled words, and just total rubish. And I believe marketing is to blame! Think about it... When was the last time you saw a major company with a nice looking logo like AVC use dots inbetween each letter? It's become so widely accepted that everybody does it now - all the time. Now I'm getting confused because all I've seen for a long time is just total rubbish, and now I don't remember which way is correct or not. Say for example the following letters stand for "Another" "Silly" "Word", which version of abbreviation is correct? > A.S.W   >  A.S.W.   >  ASW Or are they all correct?


What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?

For example, if I wanted to write the equivalent of > There are many automated teller machines in this city. Would it be > There are many ATMs in this city. or > There are many ATM's in this city.   >  (could get confused with possessive form or contraction). or just > There are many ATM in this city.   >  (assuming the final s is included in Machines represented by M). Maybe something else?


Plural form of the acronym LASER

I'm writing a technical report and must use the plural form of LASER. Seeing as it is an acronym, how does one add the 's'?


> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? I am helping a former intern ready their resume for distribution. The candidate used an abbreviation I was unfamiliar with: > B.S.s in Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics I am familiar with the student's educational background so after a moment of thought realized "B.S.s" was their attempt to indicate multiple bachelor of science degrees. That said I can see those unfamiliar with the student's background being confused. Unfortunately, I do not know how to provide the correct punctuation to indicate the correct grammatical number for multiple degrees in the same discipline. What is the correct plural form for multiple bachelor degrees? Additionally, are there variations for other degree levels: associates, masters, Ph.D, etc.? In addition to the abbreviation what's the correct way to indicate plurality for the unabbreviated form?


Is there any plural for the acronym "POC"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? What's the plural form of the acronym POC, short for _proof of concept_? > ...for his contributions to many POCs or > ...for his contributions to many POC


How do I correctly pluralize acronyms?

> **Possible Duplicates:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?   >  Plural form of the acronym LASER I was just writing an email asking a supervisor about downloading multiple Dynamic-link library files. The acronym for these is dll, and the full spelling, _Dynamic-link library_ , is never used. How would this be pluralized, because normally I would just add an s, but _dlls_ is difficult to understand. Sometimes I add an apostrophe to make it _dll's_ , but I know this isn't grammatically correct. So my question is, how do I make the acronym _dll_ (and acronyms in general) plural?


Should the plural of "PC" have an apostrophe before the "s"?

Every time I see "PC" (as in personal computer) written as "PC's", I feel like the comma should not be there (as it is simply plural rather than possessive). What is the technically correct way to write this, and why? (Incidentally, it seems the _most common_ way this is written is "PC's".) Any advice would be much appreciated!


Plural of an initialism that ends with the letter S

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? I was answering something on Super User and wrote `OSes` as part of my normal flow without really thinking about it. On a re-read I decided that it didn't look right, so I changed it to `OSs`, which still felt incorrect. I also considered `OS's`, but that didn't feel right either, so I thought I'd ask on here. In this specific case, what is the written plural form for `OS`?   The intention is to mean multiple `Operating Systems`. And, is there a general rule for the plural form of an initialism that ends with the letter S?


Defining an acronym when using the plural of the term?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? I am defining an acronym which will be substituted for some unwieldy term in a document. > One thing Gary has talked extensively about is his inclination towards > extracting domain objects into Plain Ruby Objects (PRO). The trouble is that the first time I use the unwieldy term (Plain Ruby Object), it is plural. However, the acronym is more useful in the singular. Should I just hold off defining the acronym until I use its singular form further down the page?


How to pluralise an acronym?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? How would you make the plural form of an acronym? For example, if you have two of Nintendo's game console, the DS. Would you say, "I have two DSes," "I have two DSs," or something else?


Do you put an 's' at the end of acronym?

For example, is it FAQs or just FAQ? I guess it's either: > Frequently Asked Questions or > "Frequently Asked Question"s


How come abbreviations acquired the apostrophe when referring to plurality?

> **Possible Duplicates:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?   >  What is the proper way to indicate possession when using an abbreviation > such as Dr.? An example: > Most DD's have good packaging skills. How did things come to that instead of: > Most DDs have good packaging skills. Compare that to: > Most Debian Developers have good packaging skills. [ **update** ] This question was asked with the presumption that the first example is correct, so I was surprised to find that it isn't the case.


Pluralizing a plural acronym

We use the acronym "CERT" to represent "Critical Error Reduction Techniques" quite frequently, but when we use CERT in a sentence should it be CERT or CERTs? For example, "Using CERT to Prevent Sprains & Strains" is the title of one of our training modules. Because there are four critical error reduction techniques, does the acronym, CERT, automatically identify it as plural or should we add the "s" to make it CERTs?


Apostrophe and plurals of abbreviations

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? I was in Middlesbrough yesterday and spotted: **CJ’s Cafe** So far, so good, I thought. A selection of the delights within were listed: > Pizzas Parmo’s Breakfasts The second, on the face of it, looks like a standard greengrocer’s apostrophe, surprising in a sign where everything else is correct. But _parmo_ is an abbreviation for _parmesan_. Is it correct to use an apostrophe there to indicate missing letters? Or would one normally expect to see _parmos_? When forming other words from _parmesan_ one would write _parmesanish_ or _parmesany_. Would one then write _parmoish_ and _parmoey_ or _parmo’ish_ and _parmo’y_?


What is the correct plural form of an abbreviation whose last word starts with 'S'?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?   >  Plural of an initialism that ends with the letter S What is the correct plural form of an abbreviation whose last word starts with 'S' (thus making the last letter in the abbreviation an 'S')? The example I keep running into is "CMS", an abbreviation of "Content Management System". How would I refer to a group of these beasts?


Pluralizing acronyms: how to?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? Let's say we're talking about PLCs (programmable logic controllers)? Or are they "PLC's"? I've seen it both ways!


How to indicate possession when using abbreviation "Dr."

I often run into a case where I need to say I have a doctor's appointment, but how would I properly punctuate it if I wanted to use the abbreviation _Dr._ instead of the word _doctor_? _Dr.'s appointment_ looks strange to me.


Proper Apostrophe Usage with Initialisms: CCS' or CCS's?

I work with a company whose name is frequently reduced to an initialism (acronym). Let's say the name is "Cool Computer Systems" (CCS). I am engaged in an ongoing, bloody battle with the marketing department, wherein they insist the following apostrophe use is correct: > Buy CCS' New Product. Reading that line brings visions of crying 4th grade teachers and librarians to mind. I am quite certain that it should be written: > Buy CCS's New Product. * * * UPDATE: The examples are in title case because the sentence is the subject line of an e-mail. * * * UPDATE: Their argument is that "Systems" is plural. I say that plurality doesn't matter, because "Systems" is part of the name. The name as a whole should be handled as a singular entity, because the company is, in fact, a single, legal entity. Thus, the possessive form should be written: > The Emperor's clothes > > Cool Computer Systems's clothes > > CSS's clothes


acronym/initialism ending in an S

The initialism is 'MSS' (meaning Market Sector Specialist). At present our house style guide does not specify that there should be full stops between each letter. List of problems:   1. Should I insert full stops between each letter (as it is an initialism) - even though it's less 'natural' to read this way?   2. How to refer to a group of Market Sector Specialists?   3. How to articulate when a group of market sector specialists collectively own something?


Pluralization of acronyms ending in 'S'

What is the proper way to pluralize acronyms ending in the letter 'S'? The particular acronym under study in this case is T.A.R.D.I.S. The various forms I believe are correct are:   * TARDISes   * T.A.R.D.I.S.es (is it even correct to pluralize this)


what is the plural of "GPS"

Do I have several GPSs, or several GPSes, or something completely different? What is the rule to remember (will be useful later when I can have a GPS2, a GPST and maybe a GPSX too).


What is the plural form of "SMS"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? What's the plural form of "SMS" (if X), like: > I'm concerned, I sent him over a million X but got no response. I usually use text message to get rid of that situation.


Plural form of Abbreviation Ending in O

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? My company deals in Purchase Orders. For years they have referred to multiple purchase orders as POs. It seems, the proper spelling would be POes, because a P-O is referred to as a noun by everyone in the company, even though it is an abbreviated form of Purchase Order. Which is correct? POs or POes ?


I want to know which is the correct use of apostrophe s?

I want to know the correct use of apostrophe s? Is the 's' used either in small or capital letter. Which is right format either Ram's or Ram'S? Please answer me soon.


Use of Apostrophes - FAQs vs FAQ's

Is it also correct to say FAQ's as some sites like http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/rf-faqs.html refer? Or is FAQs the right and correct way to say it?


How to modify "one-third" by an adverb?

Would it be correct to merge with hyphens _one-third-contiguously_ in the following phrase? > I propose to elect by 3 quotas, each per one-thirds-contiguously of time- > zones.


Is the word "unsetup" valid in English?

I'm a software developer, and making a peer code review, I've encountered with the word **unsetup** used in the context to uninitialize some stuff. I was wondering if this is an actual word in English, or it is just an invention. Thanks.


Does the term "Postal Authority" Make sense?

I have received a parcel today, from Israel, and the box is branded "Israel Postal Authority". In Hebrew the same body has the word "Reshut" in its name, a term I believe originated from the Hebrew word for "permission" (the postal authority is a governmental body, thus it got a permission from the government to do what it does). So I can see why "authority" was picked as a direct translation (it is a government authorised body). Similarly, Israel has "The Broadcast Authority". I live in the UK, where we have the Royal Mail, or the British Broadcast Association, but I fail to think of a single business or body that has "authority" in its name. I can't help feeling "postal authority" being somewhat of totalitarian nature. Is it just a bad translation, or is it common and sensible for bodies as such to carry "authority" in their name?


Indirectly saying "I love you"

I want tell to someone "I love you", but not in that manner (indirectly but to get that idea). How can I do it in a modern way?


When telling a story and describing objects in the story, should the objects be referred to in past tense or present tense?

When describing objects in telling a story, should the objects be referred to in past tense or present tense, if the effects of the story still hold true on them? Since it is a story it should be in past tense but if the objects remain the same to the present time from the story it should be present tense. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it poor grammar to mix past and present tense in a sentence? I thought of this when writing the following: _I just bought something from the deli at the grocery store and was surprised my receipt had one number._ Should it be _had_ or _has_? I still have the receipt and it still has one number. A simpler example is "The man walked into a room that had red walls." vs "The man walked into a room with red walls". Assuming the walls are still red upon the telling of this story, which is correct? Furthermore, I notice when people are unsure if something is untrue they tend to use the past tense. For example if there had been a car crash and someone observed the backed up traffic but left the scene before they saw the traffic resume to normal flow, they would say _There was a car crash and traffic was backed up. I'm not sure if it is flowing again._ Is common to speak of things in the past tense when unsure, for example why not replace _was_ with _is_ or is either acceptable?


Do people perceive a difference between "phantasy" and "fantasy"?

When I started to learn English, I was used to write _phantasy_ instead of _fantasy_ , and I was always corrected. I recently noticed that _phantasy_ is an English word too.   Do people give to those words a different meaning?


Does any of English dialects engage non-English foreign letters in their alphabets?

For example, In 1990 Portuguese alphabet was extended by 3 foreign letters which are K (capa, pronounced as "kappa"), Y (pronounced as "ípsilon or "ipsilão" or "i greg"), W (pronounced as "diáblio"). Hmmm, Portugueses certainly hate W. There are many English dialects. For example, I know about existence of British English, American English and I guess there are a couple of hundreds more dialects. Does any of them include or plan to include foreign letters?


Why "go off", as in "alarm went off"?

I was wondering why does something _goes off_ , when it in fact does the opposite   * _bomb goes off_ \- it blows up   * _alarm goes off_ \- it turns on Why not _goes on_?


"Tom is the strongest of them"

So there is a picture of three boys lifting weights. Tom is lifting the heaviest one. > "Tom is the strongest boy of them." Is this sentence correct in describing the picture? And if not what exactly is the reason it is not? How about > "Tom is the strongest of them." Adding the word 'all' to the end of the sentence seems to fix the problem to my ear but I'm not sure the grammatical reason of why that is.


Up or down a notch?

_(I apologize for the silly question ahead)_ I've lost some weight recently, and I was able, for the first time today, to close my belt buckle using a notch higher than usual... For the life of me I can't figure out if I "went up a notch" or "down a notch"? Is this phrase even applicable for an actual belt?


Is there any dictionary to look up for words that have similar vowel pronunciation?

I would like to make smooth-sounding sentences and slogans, so it is important to me to find words with similar pronunciations. Is there any dictionary that can help me find words like that?


which could have or which could have had?

I saw the following sentence from Time, and have been wondering whether 'which could have had an impact' is the correct choice rather than 'which could have an impact'. > The first study did not control the intake of the participants, which could > have an impact on their findings... http://time.com/2838453/everything-you-know-about-breakfast-is-wrong/


"There do not appear to be any comments to delete."

In a CMS I am using, when a user with the right permission tries to delete a comment that is not found, the CMS outputs the following warning message: > There do not appear to be any comments to delete, or your selected comment > was deleted by another administrator. Is the sentence correct?   Is it the accepted way to write such sentences? What is the difference with _it seems there are no comments to delete_ , or _there are no comments to delete_?


I was able to hear the sound/noise from here?

Given this question: > Dude the rock band was awesome.   > Which one of _sound_ or _noise_ is correct here? >   1. Yes, I know — I was able to hear the concert’s **noise** from my > balcony. >   2. Yes, I know — I was able to hear the concert’s **sound** from my > balcony. >


"circa" vs "around"

Consider this sentence: > Who founded the Academy circa/around 387 BC? Is "circa" the best word to write, or is it "around"? Or does there exist another word that is more appropriate?


Usage of the word "sensual" with music

Is it right to say **sensual music**? What is its meaning when used like this?


Usage of "sitting still", "standing still" etc

I'm occasionaly came across the phrases:   * "sitting still";   * "standing still";   * "lying still";   * etc. For most cases the usage is clear (humans for example). But sometimes it is not clear what verb to use with "still":   * for an spherical objects - I have no idea;   * birds - I think they are "standing";   * fish - again, no idea;   * and so on. Is there any advice on how to choose an appropriate answer?


Is there a polite way of saying "I **** you not" in a formal essay?

I am writing an essay on nature and I need to somehow slip in the phrase "I shit you not" Not to seem vulgar or anything, it just seems like the most appropriate thing to add in that context. If this is off-topic or anything of that sort I can easily delete this question. Edit: It needs to be somewhat offensive.


Can I say get someone rid of something?

Sometimes I want to tell someone stop from doing something, can I just say: > I want to get Jack rid from smoking.


To worry about vs To be worried about - difference

Which one of the following is recommended to be used, and what is the difference between both of them? > You do not have to worry about anything. Or > You do not have to be worried about anything.


Are there any indications that English is going to split into different languages in the next hundred years?

Are there any indications that (global) English is going to split into different languages in the next hundred years?


Is the usage of 'personally' in 'I personally don't like something' redundant?

What is the difference between the following? >   * I personally don't like wax museums. >   * I don't like wax museums. > The adverb _personally_ does not seem to emphasize anything here. Is it redundant?


Differences between "propensity", "predilection" and "proclivity"

_Propensity_ , _predilection_ and _proclivity_ all have the meaning of _tendency_ , so what's the difference? Are they interchangeable?


Why "interesting" is sometimes pronounced as "intra-sting"

Why is _interesting_ sometimes pronounced as _intra-sting_? The same goes for _interest_ sometimes being pronounced without the first _e_.


Single word for "hospital woman worker"

I have been looking for a single word for "hospital woman worker". She will not do any medical related work. She will be doing cleaning, newborn care, and she will also support all the work of hospital employees. Can anyone tell me the single word for "hospital woman worker"?


Meaning of "On that note" and how do you use it?

What is the meaning of "On that note" and how do you use it? Does it mean "while we are talking about the same subject?"


Good book on English grammar from the very beginning

My wife is fairly new in US and her native language is Ukrainian. Though she is not afraid of speaking english, she does it with lots of grammar mistakes, starting from wrong sequence of words in a sentence to wrong times used to wrong sequence in a question. I was trying to find a thorough book on beginner grammar, but found that most books lack consistency, jump form subject to subject, don't go into deep details explaining rules and don't really start from the very basics. She will need to take ACCUPLACER exam for nursing program and I'm afraid she doesn't have necessary knowledge to pass the english grammar part of it. Any recommendations on a good grammar book for a ESL person in need of building a decent grammar base? P.S. English is not my first language either, so don't pick on my grammar here :)


I grew up IN the east coast vs ON the east coast

I cannot understand why there is "in" in the sentence "I grew up in the east coast..." - why it is not "on"? Google search provides results for both with quite high number of hits.


What does 'measurable life' mean?

what does 'measurable life' mean? I found this usage in the end of a sentence that criticized the youth of today. Update I saw its usage in this comment: Insensibility is wide spread today. Market economy sets an unfortunate culture, 'it's me only.'Unfortunately, our youth is succumbed to it .. measurable life !


Meaning of “x is 35 times less than y"

I’m not sure of whether this is grammatically correct, although I've encountered the same expression many times before. > Most Google searches show it produces **35 times less** carbon than the > report suggested. Does _35 times less_ have a precise meaning in this context, or is it ambiguous here? Does either of these two possibities apply?   1. the original amount minus 35 times the original amount (35 times less than 100 units would be −3400 units)   2. ¹⁄₃₅ of the original amount (35 times less than 100 units would be 2 ⁶⁄₇ units)


to choose a name: "a colorful land" or "the colorful land"

I purchased colorful.land domain name to host my family's blog, because my new-born daughter is instinctively attracted to colorful objects. What should the website be? ttp://a.colourful.land or ttp://the.colourful.land? (not using http because site doesn't exist yet) To me, "The Wonder Land" and "A Wonderful Land" feels natural; "A wonder land" and "The Wonderful Land" feels awkward. Hence, either "The Land of Colors" or "A Colorful Land", thus ridding "The.Colorful.Land". But I use English as my second language. Thanks.


Difference between “Class ” and “Classes”

Is this statement true?   "Parents send their children to English class"   Or should I use "classes"?


What is the meaning of "all zero at the bone"? I can't make it out

From _The Shining_ , by Stephen King: > Jack turned back, **_all zero at the bone.**_ What is the meaning of this expression?


If I were not made a man of at once

If I were not made a man of at once. I don't know what it's meaning is. 'a man of at once' means a man who can act boldly and quickly? Please help me.


concentration usage

Are the following sentences acceptable?   * In country X, wealth is _concentrated_ in the low density rural areas.    * In country X, the blue people are _concentrated_ in the low   density rural areas, while the green people are _concentrated_ in the   cities. To be clear, my goal is not to find a word to replace "concentrated", but to figure out how broadly this word can be applied.


Is "so-so" correct usage for "more or less"?

I took a trip down to Mexico last week and I heard "so-so" in response to "Do you speak English?" Now, I'm used to hearing "so-so" more in the context of "all right" or "OK", but not as in "more or less". Is this usage correct or is it a lack of good teaching?


Is there a name for the red circle and slash in a No Smoking sign?

When my daughter asked me and my husband about a No Smoking sign, we explained that it means no cigarettes are allowed. (We had to explain cigarettes to her too.) ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/g8zDc.png) Unfortunately, she now thinks that the red circle and diagonal line are called a "cigarette", so she'll talk about the cigarette in the No Parking sign: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/LJgSc.png) Is there a name we can teach her for the red circle and slash? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/ymxcL.png)


What is the term that represents knowing, and not knowing what it is like not to know?

I am seeking the word that means something similar to "when you know something (such as knowing how to ride a bicycle) and you do not know what it is (or what it _feels_ ) like to not know it." Examples may be: 0) When one has learned about a topic so extensively that explaining it to another person and not knowing what another person knows about that topic can be difficult. If this topic was programming, the person who learned so much about it may see many things on the computer in a completely different way than someone who knows very little about programming. Topics that could produce similar situations that can occur in every day life could be art, aviation, physics, and philosophy. 1) When one performs an activity so frequently or in such a way that attempting to understand why a person at a lower skill level doing it in a different way (for whatever reason) or explaining how to do what the performer is doing can be difficult. @ermanen's answer. 2) ~If a person was doing something (gaming, working out, eating with certain rules) so often, and that person expected others to do the same and could not understand why others do not do the same. 3) ~The state of nature. 4) "It’s not really possible to know how to ride a bicycle and not know what it is like not to know this, since nobody is born knowing how to ride a bicycle. If anything, you don’t remember what being unable to ride a bicycle is like. Seeing or hearing would be better examples: those of us who are born seeing/hearing simply do not know what it feels like to be blind/deaf. I don’t think there is a specific word for this state, though; ‘presupposition’ is one (well, several) practical outcomes of one aspect of this, but it doesn’t really fit as a description of the state itself." - @Janus Bahs Jacquet's comment. 5) "If it's a learned behavior, you've absorbed it, it's become instinctive, it's in your bones. If it's a part of you anyway, could you say you're consciously unconscious of it or even unconsciously conscious of it?" - @Leon Conrad's comment. ~ = maybe or similar, it may not be in the same exact term, however, adding in more examples may make it easier for some to connect the dots so to speak.


Is the phrase "I feel you" too colloquial?

Does the phrase "I feel you" sound too slangy and somewhat horrible to a British person? Is it ok to use it as a synonym of "I understand what you feel/say" in an informal, casual conversation?


The "Oh to have…" expression

What does "Oh to have..." mean, as in "Oh to have a song in a national campaign" in Jon Lajoie's song "Please Use This Song"? Can somebody explain the origin and meaning of this expression? In what contexts can it be used?


'receptionist' & 'deceptionist'

If a _receptionist_ is a person who greets and deals with visitors to a office, can _deceptionist_ be an acceptable English word to describe a person who delays and blocks visitors to a office, especially one who impedes visitors meeting the boss? Or is there a better word?


Is there words that mean "meet the criteria"?

I'm making a comic strip and looking for a funny word in the theme of hair, maybe something that means "make it meet the criteria". Thanks in advance It is hard for me to explain, as my first language isn't english don't be shy of asking questions about my question :P


conversion of "in order to" to a "because" subclause

Clauses with "in order to" can be converted to clauses with "because" by adding a verb that indicates necessity or desire. Does this statement always hold? (if not please provide a counter example, if yes please provide a reference) Examples: "I wake up at 6, in order to catch the 7AM bus" -> "I wake up at 6, **because** I **want/need** to catch the 7AM bus" "In order to make tea, I need water" -> " **Because** I **want** to make tea, I need water" "In order to succeed, you must work hard" -> " **Because** you **must** succeed, you must work hard"


Is there a difference between "being selected" and "being pre-selected"?

I am reviewing a document where it is stated that something is part of a set of pre-selected items. To me that doesn't make sense. Isn't everything selected also pre-selected by definition? I mean being selected, means it happened in the passed, so what does "pre" adds to its meaning?


Is there any difference between "word-for-word translation" and "word-by-word translation" and is the latter actually valid?

First off, some data: According to COCA "word-for-word" has 60 usages, 3 of them are "word-for-word translation". "Word-by-word" has 26 usages, none of them are "word-by-word" (but some with "transcription"). The definition of "word-for-word" (Oxford, Merriam-Webster): > 1 in exactly the same words; verbatim Only _The free dictionary_ contains a definition for "word-by-word" > one word at a time And this dictionary also lists a second definition for "word-for-word" > 2 one word at a time, without regard for the sense of the whole This second definition is, obviously, identical to the definition for "word- by-word". Google hits:   Word-for-word ~21m   Word-for-word translation ~318k   Word-by-word ~3.8m   Word-by-word translation ~95k According to usages and dictionaries "word-by-word" is, at least, less popular. And assuming that there may be a lot of usages from non-natives among the Google hits, this could be an indicator for "word-by-word" being even utterly wrong. In another forum I found the following statement: > When I translate something "literally," (wörtlich) it still follows the main > rules of the language I'm translating into. What you mean is "word-by-word" > (wortwörtlich) to me. I assume that this was written by a German but I don't know it. However, if this would be true a "word-by-word translation" would be a translation where I keep, for instance, the order of the words, disregarding if it makes sense in the target language. Some examples: > Original: word-by-word   >  Word-by-word translation: Wort bei Wort (That's a terrible translation!) > > Original: It is critical to know...   >  Word-by-word translation: Es ist kritisch zu wissen... (That's a terrible > translation!) > > Original: Ich glaub, ich spinne.   >  Word-by-word translation: I think I spider. (I guess only Germans > understand this.) A "word-for-word translation", however, would be an attempt to keep the word- choice as close as possible but following the rules of the target language (e.g. order of words) and also considering if the statement still makes sense in the other language. Here are better translations for the examples above: > Wort für Wort   >  Es ist wichtig zu wissen...   >  I think, I'm going nuts. (Actually, this is not a word-for-word translation > but rather a sense-for-sense translation.) So, my questions again:   1. As neither Oxford nor Merriam-Webster have any entries for "word-by-word" in their dictionaries: is "word-by-word" actually valid?   2. If yes, is there any difference between "word-by-word translation" and "word-for-word translation"? If yes again, what is it specifically?


Do these sentences contain comma splices?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is a comma splice? My girlfriend wants me to correct her fan-fiction, and to me it looks fine stylistically, but I wonder if some of the sentences are technically comma splices. > They climbed out the carriage, and Gabriel was silent, taking in all this > new information. Is it okay to use a comma after _silent_? Or should she rephrase the sentence as, for example, "They climbed out the carriage, and Gabriel silently took in all this new information"? I'm guessing from my limited understanding that the sentence doesn't contain a comma splice because the second clause is not independent. Or is it? Another example: > At first they didn't kiss; they just stood and stroked each other's faces, > living in their joy and happiness of having finally found each other. Is it okay to follow on with _living_ here?


Difference between "Past Progressive" and "Past Perfect Progressive"

From this resource I find two situational explanations of Past Progressive: "Interrupted action in the past." with an example > She **was reading** a book when the light went off, had a shower and left. And for Past Perfect Progressive: "To show that something started in the past and continued up until another action stopped it." with an example: > They **had been playing** soccer when the accident occurred For me both are kind of interruption. And both were continued up until another action stopped it. Is those are bad examples? Or Am I missing something? Or second part of Past Progressive ("had a shower and left.") is crucial?


Term for albums named after lyrics

Is there a specific word (or words) for albums which are named after lyrics of a song on that album? **Self-titled** or **eponymous** albums are named after the artist, while albums with a song of the same name have a **title track.** However, is there a particular term for an album that is named after lyrics? Examples include: > U2 - _All That You Can't Leave Behind_ \- lyrics from 'Walk On' > > Pink Floyd - _Dark Side of the Moon_ \- lyrics from 'Brain Damage' > > Beastie Boys - _Licence to Ill_ \- lyrics from 'Paul Revere' Note: there's a similar question here, but it's the inverse to my question.


"Whenever you arrive/are arrived/were arrived"

Which one of these sentences is grammatically correct? Would it be alright if the other sentences were being used in daily conversations? > Let me know whenever **you arrive**. > > Let me know whenever **you're arrived**. > > Let me know whenever **you were arrived**.


Use of "respectively"

> He has two sisters who live in southern and northern California, > respectively. I saw this on IMDB and I was wondering if the _respectively_ was grammatically correct. Since nothing is being listed off, is it even needed? Edit: Josh Radnor, 7th in the list If you were wondering, lol


Did English ever have a formal version of "you"?

From the top of my head, Danish " _De_ " (practically never used), German " _Sie_ ", Chinese " _您_ ", French " _vous_ ", Spanish " _usted_ " are a formal way of addressing someone, especially if one isn't familiar with the addressee. Did English ever have this? It sounds as though Proto-Indo-European might have had this (based on my 4 examples), but perhaps someone can enlighten me?


What is the best way of conveying respect to elders in English?

In Afrikaans, it is considered very disrespectful to use "you" ( "jy") when referring to someone who is above the level of a peer. Instead, it is expected that you use "u", which is a very respectful form of "you". Also you can talk in the third person "How is ma'am today" would be the equivalent. I cringe internally when I say "How are you" to someone older than me, because in Afrikaans it would be very rude. I was bought up to only ever refer to my parents in the third person. "how is mom today", "what is dad doing" when speaking in Afrikaans. The lack of English equivalent feels very wrong and disrespectful. What is the best way to convey this in English? I have been reassured that saying "you" to a parent isn't rude, and I understand that this can be cultural, but I'm particularly looking for what options English offers in this regard, as far as existing vocabulary, that convey respect. I'm in South Africa.


When do you use 'in' vs 'by' when talking about payments and transactions

When talking about buying things and making payments for them etc... what context would you use "in" vs"by" when referring to the payment. For example...               She paid by credit card. (ok)     She paid in credit card.  (not)          She paid by mail. (ok)     She paid in mail.    (not)          She paid by check.    (ok)     She paid in check.     (not)          She paid by cash.    (not?)     She paid in cash.    (ok)          She paid by dollars.    (not)     She paid in dollars.  (ok)          She paid by goats.  (not)     She paid in goats.  (ok)      My sense is that 'by' is used when talking about a method of transmitting value ie: credit card, mail, check where as 'in' is used when talking about the thing of value you are giving as payment ie: cash, dollars, coins, stock. Is there any relevant literature that talks about this? or is this just idiomatic?


What is the word(s) for someone who is very particular about the small details of something?

I am looking for a word or multiple words to describe someone who is very (perhaps even 'overly') concerned about the fine details of something. It could be describing someone who is a perfectionist, or someone who is overly strict with obeying rules, or someone who wants everything to be 'prim and proper'. I recall knowing a couple of words with these connotations but they have completely slipped my mind.


Can I use verb "to ride" referring to a car?

If I'm behind the wheel, "I'm driving". But if I am in the back seat or the passenger front seat what am I doing? Am I riding in the car?" "I rode 20 miles." (My Dad was the driver.) "We are riding the through the tunnel." Are the above sentences common and correct?


Difference in the implied meaning when different words for “Shining” used?

Please consider the sentences below: > The grass was **glittering** with dew.   >  The grass was **glistening** with dew.   >  The grass was **glinting** with dew.   >  The grass was **gleaming** with dew. Below are the definitions given by my dictionary. > **Glisten** = (of something wet or greasy) shine with a sparkling light.   >  **Glitter** = shine with a bright, shimmering reflected light.   >  **Glint** = give out or reflect small flashes of light.   >  **Gleam** = shine brightly, especially with reflected light. I know that even if two words are synonyms, they can imply different meanings, even when the dictionary definitions look almost identical (as they do here). Are there any such differences between the _implied_ meanings of the example sentences above?


"Differentiating", "distinguishing," or another word for "that helps to tell apart easily"?

I am trying to come up with the right word that means _that helps to tell apart easily_ , for example, one that fits into the following sentences:   * Beak shape is a **___ _** feature among birds.   * Language is usually the **__** feature for ethnic groups. I tried _differentiating_ and _distinguishing_ , but was not quite sure.


What's a word or phrase that means "saved in the wrong file format"?

I'm writing a report on a website. There are files that were saved in the wrong format which has reduced the quality of the images. How can I say this, but still sound professional?


'how many of us' vs. 'how many of we'

Which is correct: 'My friend asked how many of us are going to watch the Superbowl' or 'My friend asked how many of we are going to watch the Superbowl' Note: 'my friend' is not a part of the group implied by we/us, but the speaker is a part of that group.


Algorithm to determine if an "e" in a word is silent

I'm working on a software that requires me to know if an "e" in a word is silent or not. I thought of using Artificial Intelligence and pattern recognition to determine if the "e" is silent. The AI approach is expensive, I was wondering if there is a fixed finite set of rules I can follow to find if the "e" is pronounced or silent. If no such list exists could you please provide me with a list of words with both silent and pronounced "e" to feed them to my AI engine? Thank you :)


What is the origin of the term 'going to wrack and ruin'?

'Wrack' refers to wreckage, vengeance and retributive punishment. From looking at its copious entry in the OED it is clear that the word 'wrack' has had a considerable history. But other than for this expression it seems to have disappeared from use. Is anyone able to contradict this?


What's the etymology of English letter casing terminology?

The popular consensus around the web (i.e., Wikipedia) seems to be that "upper case" and "lower case" originate from typesetting convention of upper and lower drawers for letters, possibly preceded by the Latin terminology of majuscule and minuscule. However, none of these references seem to be backed up properly, and frankly, I find the explanation tickling my urban legend senses - my suspicion is that this is an incomplete or even false etymology, but I can't find anything better. Is there a more authoritative source that attests to whether or not this is a true etymology?


" 'Such' amount" or " 'such an' amount"?

Is there any difference between them!? If you **google** both: 1 and 2, the amount of retrieved results are very similar. I'd like to know if there's any (grammar) rule that makes it clear when to use _an_ after _such_. PS: I used _amount_ only as a means of an illustrative example. UPDATE (example using _such [an] amount of money_ ):   * "provisions shall be deemed **such an amount of money** or indebtedness as bears the same proportion"   * "on and after 2011, **such amount of money** as may be authorized by the Secretary of the Defense may be withheld temporarily..."


Is this formal enough? "Should I expect to get a call from you sometime this week?"

I'm contacting HR person from a company after an interview. She told me she will contact me right after the interview, but she sent me an e-mail she will contact me at a later time. So I'm trying to send an e-mail to ask when to expect a call. Is the sentence: > Should I expect to receive/get a call from you sometime this week? I would > greatly appreciate if you could let me know. formal enough or should I write something else?


The pronunciation of "was" has changed since the Seventeenth Century. When and why did it change"?

In Chaucer and John Donne "was" is pronounced like "wahss" but nowadays we say "woz". When did the change occur? and why?


What is the origin of the phrase "when push comes to shove"?

"When push comes to shove" means "as a last resort" or "if absolutely necessary". Does anyone know why the phrase came to be used in this way?


Phrase for having nearly completed something

Is there is a phrase for when you're very close to achieving something you've been working on? When the detective gets that final clue, but hasn't quite solved the mystery yet. When you've done 90% of the work and rest is easily achievable. I keep thinking it's something like "you can taste it", or "the home straight" but that doesn't quite sound right


"Do you not" vs. "Don't you"

I live in the UK and I mostly hear people saying _Don't you..._ , but some people say: _Do you not..._? What is the difference and which one is more correct? You can put any example really. Something like: > Do you not like to come to school with me?   >  Don't you like to come to school with me?


could or can + would?

> If I could make it back to the office, I would come. Should I use _could_ or _can_ here?


One word for "insulting someone by mimicking them"?

Suppose John has a foreign accent and Mark does not. The two get into an argument with each other. At some point, Mark has no good reply, so he simply mimics John in his accent to insult him. Is there a word for such behavior?


"Can't it also be" or "Can't it be also" in a question?

They both have plenty examples available, but which one is preferable?   * "Can't it also be" — 1,310,000 Google results   * "Can't it be also" — 1,430,000 Google results


What is a single word meaning "authoritative source of knowledge"?

I'm looking for a word that means authoritative source of knowledge. The word would preferably be a noun and could refer to a group of people or a collection of knowledge. Additionally it'd be strongly preferred if the word would not be a derivative of encyclopedia.


Is the word 'staithe' used outside of Norfolk?

In Norfolk a landing stage for unloading boats is called a 'staithe'. The Norfolk Broads and rivers are dotted with staithes. Notices proclaim things like 'Public Staithe', or Private Staithe'. But I do not ever recall seeing the word 'staithe' outside of Norfolk. Does anyone else know of staithes? It comes from the Old Norse 'stoth' meaning 'landing stage'. Does no one else in Britain recognise the word 'staithe'? If that is the case, this is very interesting. Patricia Poussa in her article 'Dickens as Sociolinguist' links many Norfolk words to Scandinavian languages.


Is it "expert in" or "expert on"?

When would you use "expert in" and when would you use "expert on"? A quick google search yields about the same for both, but I have a feeling "expert in" can occur in sentences somehow with a different meaning altogether.


Passive voice for sentences like "He is going somewhere"

I have this sentence that I trying to render into passive voice: > Tom is going to school. According to the rules described in this document (“Passive voice with direct and indirect objects”), it should be like this: > School is being gone by Tom. I know that it is very artificial, but is this right?


"Dilemma" vs. "dilemna"

I understand the correct spelling is 'dilemma' but many people I've spoken with, including myself, were convinced the spelling was 'dilemna'. A quick search on google shows this is not isolated to just America. Many people claim they were taught the incorrect spelling in school. I don't remember where I learned to spell the word but I've always spelled it with 'mn' not 'mm'. Whats the cause of this? Is there some long forgotten etymology of dilemma that involves an 'n'?


drink vs drink of

I am having trouble with these two sentences: >   * He drinks of the spring. >   * He drink the spring. > Are these two sentences correct? Do they have the same meaning? By the way, is there anyone having any suggestion for Chinese students in English?


Don't mind if I do!

> Jim: Have a donut. > > Steve: Don't mind if I do! [grabs honey cruller] What exactly is Steve telling Jim here:   1. Steve doesn't mind if he has a donut   2. Steve warns Jim, lightly, not to mind if he takes a donut (Jim did offer, after all)


What's the difference in meaning of the two sentences?

1. **A good watchdog barks loudly when strangers come on your property, which gives you a feeling of security**   2. **A good watchdog barks loudly when strangers come on your property which gives you a feeling of security** From the first sentence we get a sense that "property" gives a feeling of security. I find this absurd in the given context. But if I remove the comma before "which", does the meaning get changed to 'a good watchdog's barking gives a feeling of security'?


Is “duck and dive” only a British idiom?

I was interested in the phrase “duck and dive,” which is put in parentheses, in the following comment of a video ran by the Guardian with a caption, “Senator Marco Rubio's in-speech water break” - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/feb/16/marco-rubios-water-break- video) : > “In a video that has turned viral, the Republican politician displays a > **'duck and dive'** lunge for his bottle while barely averting his eyes from > the lens” Oxford English Dictionary defines “duck and dive” as "British use: one’s ingenuity to deal with or evade a situation." But Google Ngram shows a constant currency of this phrase since cir 1840 and growing increase of use around after 1995. Is this phrase still predominantly used in Britain, less in the U.S.? P.S. I think the expression “Duck and dive" posture is very similar to Japanese expression, “屁っぴり腰-heppirigosi" meaning 'move / behave nervously / apprehensively with one's buttocks stuck out,' thus indecisiveness. If somebody is familiar with Japanese language, please advise me if my interpretation is correct or not.


What is the correct way to refer to a web page that is part of the same website?

When referring to specific web pages that are part of the same website, should the name of the page be capitalized, put in quotation marks, or both? In other words, which of the following sentences is correct: >   1. If you would like to contact me, please complete the form on the > contact page. >   2. If you would like to contact me, please complete the form on the > Contact page. >   3. If you would like to contact me, please complete the form on the > "contact" page. >   4. If you would like to contact me, please complete the form on the > "Contact" page. > Please explain your reasoning and/or list your reference (source).


Semicolons after ages

Would a comma or semicolon correctly follow the word "Florida" below? I used the comma for the last city-state entry. Is this correct? > Mike Jones, 45, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Sandra Stevens, 42, of Memphis, > Tennessee; and Rupert Falcone, 35, of Tallahassee, Florida, were arrested on > charges of conspiracy and fraud. And does a comma--instead of a semicolon--correctly follow "51" below? > John Smith, 25; Frank Jones, 44; and Amy Horowitz, 51, were all involved in > the fraud.


Sending a work email. Does this sound professional. A little lost, help please!

All, I found a problem with the setup of our Merchant Accounts that has affected our sales. We have had a lot of recent declines from our customers within Limelight and the reason is our Merchant Accounts are requiring a CVV code after our initial order. Can someone please fix this problem?


Is "jipped" a politically incorrect word?

I recently read a line of chat conversation, where somebody said: > … get jipped by some guy … A different user construed this as "casual racism", even though the whole conversation was completely unconnected to racial issues. It seems that the problem is the word "jipped" which Wiktionary says is > _Probably_ from the term gypsy (“Roma”), due to a stereotype of the Roma as > swindlers. (emphasis mine). So I wonder, is this really a politically incorrect word to use? Do speakers and listeners generally connect the word with actual Roma stereotypes? Or is it a rarity to think about its origins, and people generally just use it without thinking of the possible historical etymology, just like people use malaria without ever thinking of bad air? I heard/read the word for the first time, and did not make a connection to "Gypsy" at all, even though I am European and I am generally aware that "gypsy" is a pejorative racial term.


What does "liquidated" mean in this sentence?

What does the word "liquidated" mean in the following snippet taken from _Readings in Social Research Methods_? : > When society becomes industrialized, a peasant becomes a worker; a feudal > lord is liquidated or becomes a businessman. Dictionary.com shows 5 possible meanings for liquidated, but none of them seems to suit the passage:   1. to pay a debt   2. to determine the amount of   3. to convert into cash   4. to kill   5. to do away with


What's the difference between "Beware" and "Be careful"?

I have seen different kinds of notice in Computer games like "BEWARE!!!" and "BE CAREFUL!Watch your step!" and What's the difference between them?


Which Verb to Use Depending on the Context?

I want some clarification on the verbs _tell_ , _say_ and _speak_ because they mean the same action to me. For example, you can use both of these sentences. > He said "I am not attending the party." > > He told he is not coming to the party. I am not sure about the second one but in any case > He spoke he is not attending. seems kinda awkward. My impressions are based on the common uses as I see and hear people. Is there any formal rule about which one is most appropriate in a given context for native speakers?


Is there a term for what 'sheveled' is to 'disheveled'?

Is there a term to describe an unprefixed term like _sheveled_ that is used less or not at all compared to its prefixed relative _disheveled_? > My word Helen, you look very sheveled today! **Edit:** Below Malvolio brings up the example of _kempt_ which is another example of what I'm talking about. A word that has both prefixed and unprefixed forms in English, but the unprefixed form has mostly fallen out of use. ![kempt vs. unkempt](http://i.stack.imgur.com/u5bzh.png)


Can supper and dinner be used interchangeably?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  “Lunch” vs. “dinner” vs. “supper” — times and meanings? Wikipedia states that the words _supper_ and dinner can be used interchangeably. But I am not thoroughly convinced as, well, they are two different words. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary: **Supper** is _a light meal served late in the evening_. **Dinner** is _the principal meal of the day_. I am confused as to if at all using these words interchangeably would be deemed correct and if so, under what circumstances? _**NOTE:_** The question Lunch vs. dinner vs. supper — times and meanings? attracted some attention but the last sentence in the accepted answer put me off! > So whether you use Lunch/Dinner or Dinner/Supper is heavily determined by > when your culture traditionally has its largest meal. Maybe, I eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. That doesn't make my breakfast my dinner right? ;)


Correct order and terminology for meals in the day

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Lunch vs. dinner vs. supper — times and meanings? I know there are copious amounts of debates on this matter but is there actually one _definitive_ answer for the order of meals in the day? For e.g., Breakfast, lunch, dinner or Breakfast, dinner, tea ... Normally the opinion seems to be based on the area you are from, but does the English language have a definition for which one is actually correct?


Is there a specific word for a list of [word + how to use it in a sentence]?

Like a dictionary, but instead of a list of words and their definitions, it contains words and how to use them in a sentence. If there is no such word, is there a specific word for a dictionary that also show how to use every entry in a sentence (list of [word + definition + use]?


"I want to pay" vs "I would like to pay"

I was recently in a bar in Prague, Czech Republic. When I was going to leave I said to a waiter: > Excuse me, I would like to pay. He laughed a bit and explained that I should have said: > I **want** to pay. because when I say > I **would like** to pay. it means that I want to pay for him (i.e. pay his bill). Was he right indeed? I thought both forms have the same meaning, besides the second one is more polite.


What is the correct version of "upfront", "up front" or "up-front"?

I can't find a definite spelling of this term. Different resources on the Internet show all three versions of it. What is the correct way of spelling it?


What do Australians mean when they say 'He came a gutsa'?

What does it mean to 'Come a gutsa'? I think I may have the Australian spelling right.


plural objects and relative clause

If you have two objects which are plural (e.g. apples and oranges) and a non- restrictive relative clause, to which does the relative clause refer? E.g.: > He noticed the apples and oranges, which were rotting, in the room next > door. Are the apples rotting? The oranges? Both? Is this statement clear or ambiguous? If you tried to restrict the relative clause only to "oranges": > He noticed the apples and oranges (that were browning) in the room next > door. Is that not an improper "that," since it is non-essential? Does it still appear ambiguous? What is the proper protocol on this?


Syntax in poetry

Could you please explain why the syntax in the following stanza is wrong? > Surrounded   >  by that sturdy assertiveness   >  that walled England the din   >  of traffic in my mind quietens,


"He acted strange(ly?)"

It would make sense if both of these sentences were grammatically correct; but is anything different between them meaning-wise? > He acted very strange when I told him about the missing amulet. > > He acted strangely about the whole deal. What difference is there between using an adverb here and using an adjective?


"Do it very quickly" vs "do it ASAP"

What is the difference between these phrases? > Please, do it very quickly, since the deadline is approaching. and > Please, do it ASAP, because the deadline is approaching.


Does 'turn off (a person)' always have a sexual connotation?

I want to say something like "I hope saying xyz will not turn the interviewer off (from hiring me)" or "I don't want to turn off your interest in the project" but I am unsure if it is an awkward way to use "turn off" as I have only heard it in a sexual context. If yes, what would be a generally applicable term equivalent to it that can be used in the context I am in? Thanks


Opposite of "blaming people"

My girlfriend is currently writing an appraisal for work but I was wondering if there was a word/phrase that convey what she is thinking better. She wants to say that while some people like to criticise and blame when others make mistakes, she is the opposite. She has come up with the following: > "acting with integrity/helping others rather than blaming others" It seems a bit clunky with a repetition of "others" and the forward-slash may seem to show a lack of thought. Upon googling "opposite of blame" and some thought, I have come up with some words and phrases: >   * non-judgemental >   * positive reinforcement >   * highlighting issues and putting suggestions forward >   * mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn (although this seems to > suggest mistakes made by yourself) > I was wondering if anyone had any helpful suggestions/comments on this. I am looking for something more concise and something that upon reading, is easily understood. Thanks in advance!


Is "free education to all" correct?

At the time of writing, there is a group of Cooper Union students protesting the university's decision to charge tuition. They are holding a banner that reads: > Free Education to All Can this be construed as correct (under any scheme of interpretation)? It seems that "Free Education _for_ All" would be expected, but I wonder if using "to" here is also correct (perhaps with a different meaning).


Alternative term to "Blacklist" and "Whitelist"

In short, my company is developing a management tool for managing SIM cards. One of the features of the tool is to block the SIM card if it's put into a disallowed device by device IMEI validation. The feature for this was mocked up using the terms _blacklist_ and _whitelist_. However, after a while someone raised the point that these terms could feel a bit controversial. The advantage of using these terms is that they are clean and easily understandable, but then again if they could invoke any racial issues we don't want anything to do with them. So far we've come up with these possible alternatives:   * Blocked List   * Unblocked List   * Allowed List And honestly, we're not very excited for any of these words. Do you feel that these words are controversial? Are there better words we could use?


English word for the nature of thumb bending backwards?

One of my friend used to bend his thumb backwards. I wonder, is there any word in English to call the nature of **thumb bending backwards**?


What's the practical difference between "allot" and "allocate"?

I've noticed _allot_ is usually used as an adjective (as in, "your allotted amount"), and _allocate_ is more often used as a verb (as in, "I will allocate some resources"). Any other notable differences?


"Cannot be null or empty" vs. "cannot be null nor empty"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Should I use 'or' or 'nor'?   >  Using "nor" in a list without "neither" Translating this meaning into English: There is a value that a computer user can set. Not setting the value is an invalid program state and should not be allowed. Setting and empty value is equally forbidden. If setting a value is done so:               value = "ExceptionalCoconut";      setting an empty value is done so:               value = "";      With the latter software command, an attempt to set the value is made but the actual value, between double quotes, is effectively empty. This should be disallowed. Now on to the error message to display if either erroneous usage is attempted and my attempt at phrasing that in English: > `value` cannot be null nor empty. I chose this over: > `value` cannot be null or empty. Which one is correct — _or_ or _nor_?


"can't see neither A nor B" or "can see neither A nor B"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Still confused with "neither…nor…" > ...can't see neither A nor B. Is that grammatically correct? Or is this? > ...can see neither A nor B. What if "can't" was used?


Using "nor" in a list without "neither"

This is the classic usage of _neither/nor_ : > I would **neither** hide **nor** run away. But is the following construction grammatical? (More than two choices, no _neither_ ) > I wasn't going to play dead.   >  I wasn't going to hide.   >  **Nor** was I going to run away.


Neither vs either in a negative statement

Is it correct to say:   * A: You can't say a word to anyone.   * B: Yes, but you can't say a word to anyone _either_. or   * A: You can't say a word to anyone.   * B:You can't say a word to anyone _neither_. _Neither_ a person A, _nor_ a person B can't say a word. Shouldn't it be _neither_? (In the example I found it's _either_ )


What is the correct way to use "neither" and "nor" in a sentence together?

Given these facts:   1. The tool cannot be found in the kitchen.   2. The tool cannot be found in the bathroom. Which is the correct sentence to represent the situation above? >   1. I _can_ find the tool neither in the kitchen nor in the bathroom. >   2. I _cannot_ find the tool neither in the kitchen nor in the bathroom. >   3. I _cannot_ find the tool, neither in the kitchen nor in the bathroom. >


I have a question regarding the proper usage of the word "nor"

Is "...not legal advice, nor is it intended to be" the proper usage of "nor" in the prior partial statement?


Use "or" or "nor"?

I've always wondered this but never asked. Given this statement: > Energy can be neither created nor destroyed. Should it be _or_ or _nor_? This is on Wikipedia so they are probably correct in saying _nor_ but why is this so? In my opinion it sounds like it should be _or_. The more I think of it the more I think it can be left up to interpretation or emphasis. For example, it could be interpreted to mean: > Energy = ¬Created ∨ ¬Destroyed or > Energy = ¬(Created ∨ Destroyed) Some help here?


Using "nor" at the end of a list begun with "no"

Which is correct? >   * "The book has no marks, tears, wrinkles or writing." >   * "The book has no marks, tears, wrinkles nor writing." > (I understand the use of neither/nor and either/or.) In this case, I thought the first sentence "no/or" was correct, but was told that "no/nor" was the correct usage. Can you help?


'Am I interpreting' vs 'Do I interpret'?

>   1. Am I interpreting the results correctly? >   2. Do I interpret the results correctly? > Do they have the same meaning? Are both or just one correct?


What do you call something that is not first in a sequence?

Is there a word to describe something that is not the first element in a sequence, but can be in any other position? A synonym of "not first", in fact. > This element is __ in this sequence.


How to pronounce letter "e" in new invented brand names? (in fictional words)

Ok guys, let's imagine that I'm creator of names of legal entities. So, if the name of the next organisation is fully new (the words don't use ever before), then how can I understand what sounds it's should be? Particularly, I am interesting in cases when it comes to words with such syllables: "de", "dem". My question is (in IPA): when it sounds like "dɪˈvɛləp", and when like "ˌdɛfəˈnɪʃən". May I determine the pronunciation of these words?


What is a predicative phrase?

What is meant by the 'predicative position' when it refers to a part of a sentence?


Narrative in second person: singular or plural?

The lack of distinction of singular-plural pronouns for the second person in English (quite strange for native Spanish speakers, as myself) is usually unimportant, I guess, because the ambiguity is either irrelevant or obvious from them context. But I was wondering, from a translator point of view, about narratives in second person. Take for example the beginning of "The catcher in the rye": > If **you** really want to hear about it, the first thing **you'll** probably > want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and > how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David > Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if **you** > want to know the truth. Or, from "The mating season" (P. G. Wodehouse) > I wonder, by the way, if **you** recall this Augustus, on whose activities I > have had occasion to touch once or twice before now? Throw the mind back. > Goofy to the gills, face like a fish, horn-rimmed spectacles, drank orange > juice, collected newts, engaged to England's premier pill, a girl called > Madeline Bassett ... Ah, **you** 've got him? Fine. In Spanish, these examples areusually translated as plural (ustedes/vosotros), but the truth is that literature uses both forms: singular (the author speaks directly with the present individual reader) and plural (the author speaks globally to "the public"). Do English native speakers assume (from some rule, convention, or spontaneously) the singular or the plural person here, or it's inherently ambiguous?


Appositives with possessiveness?

I would like to say something like > The boy, Adam's, favorite toy was a bike. What is the proper way to say this?


"I'm going to take and stir the cake mix"

Please explain why this sentence is grammatically incorrect. > I'm going to take and stir the cake mix.


Do you say two baskets of apples?

* Plural of basket is baskets.   * Plural of apple is apples. Assuming there is more than one apple in each basket. > There are two baskets of apples. Is this sentence grammatically correct?


A number off or a number of?

I am reading some technical documents and there is a list of items that make up the product. Throughout the document where there are multiple items, they are listed as _2 off_ , _3 off_ and so on. For example it would be similar to this: My product comprising of:   * 2 off card 1    * 1 off card 2    * 1 off transit case Is this correct? I thought it should be _2 of_ , _3 of_ and so on. I would like to know if the usage is correct and if possible why _off_ is used in this context.


What does "the guns of spring" mean?

I saw this expression used in a Washington Post article about the possibility of an Israeli military strike against Iran's nuclear program: > US officials don’t think that [Israeli prime minister] Netanyahu has made a > final decision to attack, and they note that top Israeli intelligence > officials remain sceptical of the project. But senior Americans doubt that > the Israelis are bluffing. They’re worrying about **the guns of spring** — > and the unintended consequences.


What's the meaning of "I casually drink alcohol" and "I socially drink alcohol"

If I said, > I casually drink alcohol or > I socially drink alcohol What would you think about how often I drink?


Why police used as singular in this link?

With reference to this question Collective noun "police" — singular or plural? and as per my understanding _Police_ is always plural. But I got shocked after seeing police used as singular noun in this article. > Two days after the death of the 23-year-old gangrape victim, Delhi Police on > Monday said it has finalised around 1,000-page chargesheet in connection > with the incident and plans to submit it in court on Thursday. I can't figure out why they have used police as singular. Also its one of the prominent newspaper in India. I doubt on myself about its usage. Could any one elucidate it further ?


What is the right way of asking questions?

This is a follow-up question to this question that I asked yesterday. There are a couple of similar expressions that I need help with: >   * How **[am I supposed to/do I]** get to the stadium from here? >   * Where **[am I supposed to/do I]** get the cab from? > Are these expressions okay? Does using "supposed to" in place of "do" affect the meaning of the sentence here?


The construction of "Known but to God"

The Tomb of the Unknown Solider has the engraving "KNOWN BUT TO GOD", as presumably no man knows his name, but shouldn't it read " _un_ known, but to God", as the default for everyone is "unknown", with the exception "but to God"? Is the construction older? How should it be parsed?


Difference between "but" and "nothing but"

Every now and then I stumble about a construction like this: > It was but something.... and I understand it to be > It was nothing but.... or > It was only... depending on the context. I do know what this "but" means and I do know what else "but" can mean. My question is this? Is the a difference between "but" and "nothing but" in this context, be it ever so small and hidden in tone or emphasis? Is there such a difference between "but" and "only"? And finally is "but" in this context something you can say or does that make you sound way out there? Thanks a lot


What does "but" mean in "Life is but a dream"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  The construction of "Known but to God" What does "but" mean in this case and what other uses is this word used in the same context. I'm trying to explain what this word means but I can't think of any good common use examples with the same meaning. The clearest word I can think of is "just" _Life is just/only a dream_ Example sentences I did think of used "nothing": I found nothing but junk at the store. But is this the same meaning? I found nothing, _just_ junk, at the store?


"Nothing but" usage

I have seen the phrase " **Nothing but** " used in many places. e.g.: >   * Inertia is nothing but the mass of the object. >   * Time is nothing but a line > How did nothing but come into existence?


"Cure of" vs. "cure from"

What's the difference between the following two? >   * God, cure me _of_ this sickness that I have. >   * God, cure me _from_ this sickness that I have. >


Tricky Past Perfect Tense

I have been reading a lot about the Past Perfect tense recently and I think that I am getting more and more confused with the logic behind it the more I read about the tense. Many sources say that we only need to use the past perfect when the sequence of events is not clear without it. Also, they say that we do have to use the past perfect tense every time you mention two things that happened in the past. But many examples that are given about the tense include something like this: "I **had switched off** the lights before I went to bed" or "after they **had had** breakfast, they left for the park". Could someone explain to me why the past perfect is necessary in these examples when it is already clear from the sequence of events which action had occurred before the second action?


Does "sell" have a direct object in "This is the car that Peter wants to sell"?

For the below sentence, I can identify "This car" as the direct object of the verb "sell". > Peter wants to sell this car. However, if the sentence is changed as follows, does the verb "sell" still have direct object? > This is the car that Peter wants to sell.


Is it ever correct to have a space before a question or exclamation mark?

In written English (mainly online) I often come across sentences ending with a question or an exclamation mark with a space before it. Is it always just an error or a typo? Or there are cases when it is a correct English, for example after closing parentheses or some other punctuation marks?


Should punctuation characters have a preceding space?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it ever correct to have a space before a question or exclamation mark? Often, I see special punctuation characters such as exclamation points (!), question points (?), and ellipses (…) separated from surrounding words by a space. I've always put such punctuation directly after the word. What is the correct method? ### Example I: > We sell books, t-shirts, drinks, and more… As opposed to: > We sell books, t-shirts, drinks, and more … ### Example II: > What is your name? As opposed to: > What is your name ?


Why add extra space between a word and punctuation (e.g. a period, question mark, etc.)?

I was just wondering this because of noticing a lot of people I've worked with typed this way. Examples: Okay, that's great . Thanks, Stephanie . Was there anything else ? I was wondering if there is something that this could derive from.


What does "to be caught in a controversy" mean?

Can I use something like "I am caught in a controversy" to express that I am witnessing and confused by the controversy between other entities?


Where does the phrase "the many faces of ..." originate?

There are countless titles of the form "the many faces of ...". A quick Google search finds nearly 500 million hits, starting with "The Many Faces of the Public Domain", "The Many Faces of the Freshman Seminar", "The Many Faces of Go" and "The Many Faces of Influence Infographic". What is the origin of the phrase "the many faces of ...", in particular when used in a title? The closest I came to finding an answer was a search using Google Ngram Viewer. This seems to show that use of "the many faces of ..." really took off around 1955. Thus, probably the origin of the phrase is neither the Bible nor Shakespeare.


Spaces after periods in abbreviations

Should I put spaces after periods in the following examples?   * A.B. Buffington (between the initials)   * Vol.2, No.6, pp.195-200 I see people missing spaces in their academic writing all the time and I am not sure if I should correct this.


What is a verb for "the usage of an angry tone of voice"?

I am looking for a term meaning _the use of an angry tone of voice without the raising or lowering of one's volume._ Something like _yell_ , but without the implication of raising one's voice. I'm hoping for something general. Words like _snarl_ and _snap_ don't work in all contexts, so I'm looking for something better. I'm looking for something that might fill this sentence: "You're XXX again, Dave." as a speaker is counseling a person with anger management issues.