Does one hold a M.A. 'in' something or 'of' something?

In reading a curriculum vitae, I noticed an author used both   * 2013 M.A. of Information Science and   * 2008 M.A. in Philosophy. Is there any logic to this? Which one should be preferred for academic cv's?


"I'm proud that you are my father"

A friend wrote this as a tribute to her father for his birthday: > I'm proud that you are my father I am not a native speaker either, but it to me it sounds like "you are the father of someone great so you must be great". Or does it sound OK?


Is there a Public Library that lends English Audiobooks?

In germany there are now a plethora of public libraries where I can borrow Audiobooks. I can search and download DRM protected files and can use them for a couple of days or weeks before they get invalidated automatically. Alas, there are (almost) only german ones. But I am much more interested in **english Audiobooks**. There must be a **online accessible public library** somewhere where I can borrow english audiobooks for a fee, mustn't it?


How to emphasize pronunciation of a specific letter?

I have a client whos business name is _TradOut_ — pronounced like “Trade Out”. What would be the best way to show that the pronunciation should sound like “trade” and not like “trahd”? We looked into using a diaeresis (so _TrädOut_ ), but we found conflicting statements about what that diacritic means. I’ve having trouble finding a clear answer, so I thought I’d ask here.


We say entrepreneur and entrepreneurship, what is the verb?

For the word entrepreneur and entrepreneurship, I would like to know the corresponding verb, i.e the action of doing entrepreneurship, i.e the verb that should fit in the next sentence : `To be a good entrepreneur you should ________ this and that project`. What would be the verb that shares the same root ? entrep... ??


Combine sentences with "although"

The question goes; Make a sentence from the given sentences using 'although'. a. We've known each other for a long time. b. We are not very good friends. The intended answer is ' Although we've known each other for a long time, we are not very good friends'. Some of my students ask why not 'Although we are not very good friends, we've known each other for a long time.' Do you think both are right?


How to best convey excitement for the next assignment, quarter, or project?

I’ve just received feedback on my work during the second quarter of the year (Q2) from my manager. I would like to reply to this feedback and end my reply with a sentence along the lines of" > Looking forward to a ____ Q3! In my native language, one could use our word corresponding to the English word _fruitful_. But I don’t know whether _fruitful_ would be ok to use in English, nor whether some better yet still professional way for expressing cheerful excitement about the next quarter exists. I imagine I could also change the formula to something like: > Looking forward to a Q3 full of ____. or use a similar construction. How can I convey my excitement about an upcoming assignment in a professional way?


"A" is about as much "B" as "C" is "D"

I wanna find out what this sentence means. “ASOT is about as much “trance” as Nelson Mandela is indie punk.” So to generalize: "A" is about as much "B" as "C" is "D" Is this comparing A with B? Is this being sarcasm?


"Bring" vs. "take" in American English

English (other than American English) has a clear differentiation between the two words. Both are about translocating something. In "bring" the something of somebody is moved to where the speaker is currently situated. "Take" is used to translocate something or somebody to a place that the speaker is not currently at. You cannot “bring” your books to school if you are currently at home. You can only **take** them to school. Most of the time one can get the meaning from the context of the sentence but it can get very confusing when the other party is on the telephone and you do not know their location. Why does American English not differentiate and when did it lose the differentiation?


"Bring" versus "take"

My mother used to correct me all the time when I was younger when I would talk about _bringing_ a toy to a friend’s house instead of _taking_ it there. Which is correct, and why?


Are there rules about using "that" to join two clauses?

> He will understand that I was not joking. > > He will understand I was not joking. Which of the sentences is correct? Are there any specific rules about the use of "that" in the sentences I reported as example?


Correct use of "Which" and "That"

Three sentences, all of which sound okay to me: One of the responsibilities **which** I took on was...   One of the responsibilities **that** I took on was...   One of the responsibilities I took on was... Are they all correct, or are some improper usage of the English language?


Can I use "that that" in a sentence?

A question was asked in the meta of Skeptics.SE about an old question and the OP said that the question would be closed if posted today. I wanted to ask them why do they think that the question would be closed if posted today, so I wrote a comment > Why do you think that that question would be closed today? I know that the question "Why do you think that the leafs are green?" is correct, also referring to the subject of a post or sentence as "that question" is correct as well. Can I combine these correct forms and create a question with the wording "that that"?


I think/know vs. I think/know that

I wonder when verbs like _think_ or _know_ are followed by _that_ ; I encountered both forms, is there a difference? For example, > I know that he did it. // I know he did it. Are the two sentences both correct?


Use of the word "that":

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are there rules about using "that" to join two clauses? In the following, does the word "that" belong? > "He said that we should go fishing."


I am confused about the use of “that they” in English. When should we use “that”?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are there rules about using “that” to join two clauses? > I have seen the car that they bought. > > There is more than one option that they can take. Which is correct?


Should I add a 'that' to this (provided in the body) sentence?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are there rules about using "that" to join two clauses? In the sentence below, should there be a 'that' after 'realized'? I was feeling really awkward about the construction here. I have put in the rest for context: > Someone commenting on an article about adulthood at xyz.com said **that he > realized he had made** the 'official' transition to adulthood when as a 20 > year old, he boarded his first flight without family or friends. 'I was on a > plane headed to a different state, and no one cared', he noted.


Is 'that' necessary for this sentence?

My friend and I were playing this game, in which we were complimenting others. For example, she said, "You're so pretty, all the boys want to 'holla' at you." Then I said, "You're so pretty, that all the girls just want to grab your face." I was just wondering if 'that' is necessary for this type of context, and is it formal to add the 'that?' If so, is a comma needed before 'that'? Please explain!


"which" vs "that"

> **Possible Duplicates:**   >  Correct usage of which/that   >  When is it appropriate to use 'that' as opposed to 'which'? I'm not a native English speaker and I must confess I'm quite confused about when I should use `which` in place of `that` and viceversa. Is there a particular rule? For example, let's take this sentence. > The method returns a `Whois::Answer` instance which essentially looks and > behaves like a `String` but it's way more powerful than a string. Is it `which` correct or should I have used `that`? A few more examples: > It also includes a huge set of data parsers which converts a raw registry > response into a pure Ruby object. and > The only exception to this rule is the `Timeout::Error` exception which is > intentionally left unmanaged.


"it seems" vs. "it seems that"

Is there a difference between using "it seems" and "it seems that" For example: > "It seems that automatic restart is not happening now" > > "It seems automatic restart is not happening now" Which one is correct? Or are they both?


Omitting "that" when connecting clauses

> **Possible Duplicates:**   >  Use of "that" in a sentence   >  How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem What exactly is the recommendation, when I'm writing, to do with the word "that"? Often, while speaking, someone might say: > I think it's going to rain. Whereas, technically, it should be: > I think **that** it's going to rain. However, things can get complicated when using the word "that" to refer to an object such as "this or that": > I guess that would be the right thing to do. versus: > I guess **that** that would be the right thing to do. Is the latter even grammatically correct? What should I do in these cases? Should I add the word "that" in all cases, or only cases where it might be ambiguous otherwise? Should I always omit it? Should I repeat the word "that" twice when appropriate, or should I always list it once in these cases?


Correct usage of *which* and *that*

I keep seeing written usage of _which_ in cases where the writer clearly intends it to be restrictive. For example:   * "Is there a word which means whatever you want it to mean? Or has no meaning?"   * "It will only contain elements from the input sequence which pass the predicate." (And other occurrences on the same page and in the same blog.) I have been counting these as errors because it is my understanding that _that_ is restrictive, and _which_ is not. Do I have this right?


When to use “that” and when to use “which”?

When is it appropriate to use _that_ as opposed to _which_?


"that" omission, subject-verb distance

when can we remove 'that'? I've heard different opinions I bought the book that is required for this course   I bought the book required for this course I recommend that you take my advice   I recommend you take my advice I know that you are correct   I know you are correct the report that was approved by the board was written by Susan   the report approved by the board was written by Susan We are studying advertisement strategies that other companies use to recruit minorities   We are studying advertisement strategies used by other companies to recruit minorities


Omissions of "that" in a relative clause

I am not clear on when the word "that" can be omitted in a relative clause. I only know that when the modified noun is the object in the clause, the antecedent "that" can be omitted. Are there any other such situations? How about the following sentence: > Students should be skeptical about everything they are told. I am not sure whether everything is the object, and if not, whether this sentence is correct.


Grammar: Use of 'that'

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Use of "that" in a sentence Which of the following is correct in British English? 1) There are 100 people going to the party, so I expect it will be a good night. 2) There are 100 people going to the party, so I expect **that** it will be a good night.


That vs Which when talking about a subject

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When is it appropriate to use 'that' as opposed to 'which'? This is actually the title of a question I just asked a minute ago ::- ). While writing it, I remembered one of my **most terrible dilemmas ever** : when to use "which" and when to use "that"? Even worse, Microsoft Word sometimes forces me to add comas before "which". Phrase in question: > What tense to use when writing about an ongoing action in a text which will > be published / read in the future vs > What tense to use when writing about an ongoing action in a text that will > be published / read in the future


How to choose between "which" and "that"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When is it appropriate to use 'that' as opposed to 'which'? Sentence 1: > The motorcycles with designs which involve an engine, a shaft and a gearbox, > form a significant subset of the product line of BMW. Sentence 2: > The motorcycles with designs that involve an engine, a shaft and a gearbox, > form a significant subset of the product line of BMW. Which is more appropriate? And in general, is there a rule of thumb to decide between using "which" and "that"?


“Searches revealed that” vs. “Searches revealed”

I would like to know whether the word _that_ can be removed in the following sentence: > Searches revealed **that** Johns was awarded a grant by the Chilean > Innovation Program. I read in other threads that _that_ can be omitted in sentences like “She said they won’t come.” But is this the case with the above structure? Is it correct to say: > Searches revealed Johns was awarded. . . .


"I don't think that that can be done"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem Is there something wrong with this sentence? > "I don't think that that can be done." It sounds odd to me. Would it be better if I'd use just one "that" instead of two: > "I don't think that can be done."


Better use of "that that" — or not

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem I sometimes seem to write myself into using 2 thats in succession, as in: "Now that that issue has been resolved, we can move forward." I am pretty sure that this is correct but is it bad form and should it be avoided?


"I hope that my search ends now" or "I hope my search ends now"?

I was doing a question for Yahoo Answers and suddenly I can't choice. Maybe because I never study English(after elementary and high school), I don't know which is the right sentence? Of course I know that I should study, and I'll do. Many thanks.


When to use "that" in subjunctive?

"It is important she attend the meeting" "It is important that she attend the meeting" "It is important that she attends the meeting" Which ones are correct or incorrect and why?


Is "that" required in "It turns out that he has requested"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are there rules about using “that” to join two clauses? Should I use the word _that_ or not in following sentence? > It turns out _that_ he has requested review from reviewers on the > advancement of two year in XYZ organization.


which is better, that that or that

Which is better, "Bob knows that that is wrong" or "Bob knows that is wrong"? It seems to me that the first "that" is acting as the relation between Bob and the thing that is wrong, while the second "that" is acting as a pronoun taking the place of the thing itself that is wrong. As these are two different functions, I think there should be two that.


Use of the phrase "it seems" vs. "it seems that"

On another stackexchange site, I used the following phrasing: > I want to do X. It seems I can only do so when Y. Someone edited the second sentence: > It seems `that` I can only do so when Y. This made me realise that the edited form is perhaps more common -- but is my original phrasing grammatically incorrect? What role does "that" play in the second variation?


Missing that - usage

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/separatists-seize-control-tv-hq-east-ukraine- city-140235399.html > Pro-Russian separatists, some of them armed, have seized about a dozen > official buildings in eastern Ukraine. **They say they are rising up against > a Ukrainian government they say is illegitimate,** but Kiev says they are > proxies of the Russian government bent on destabilizing Ukraine. Why is there no **that** connecting the two parts of the sentence: everything before **against a Ukrainian government** and after **they say is illegitimate**? So, I would rather prefer to read it like this: > They say they are rising up against a Ukrainian government **that** they say > is illegitimate...


Usage of "that"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Use of "that" in a sentence English-newbie-here! =D Well, let me present you with a situation where I ended up using both choices actually: > She said **that** they won't come. and > She said they won't come. Well? Both sound fine for me, but I can't really tell... I believe there are other situations where the usage of "that" is questionable...


should "that" be used, or not?

should "that" be used in this instance or not, and why? I have come to the conclusion that I want to study international relations" or "I have come to the conclusion I want to study international relations"


"Make sure" vs. "Make sure that"

Is one more correct than the other? Make sure the part is connected to the widget. Make sure that the part is connected to the widget.


Am I using "that" too often?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are there rules about using "that" to join two clauses? "That" is a very difficult word for me. I keep feeling compelled to add it in just about any sentence in which I talk about an action or state something I believe/think. > I think **that** you're wrong. Or > I hope **that** the company will get back to what they do best and come up > with a proper keyboard next time. Or > And don’t tell me **that** the price is justified. Or > But I doubt **that** they have any programmers working on this. All these constructions make sense without the "that", don't they? So then why do I feel this compulsion to add it? Am I a "that" junkie? ::- D. Is there such a thing as a "that" junkie? ::- >.


"Prove that...." or simply "Prove..."

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are there rules about using "that" to join two clauses? In mathematical parlance it is customary to write, for example, "One wishes to prove that the following is true." Is the word "that" in the preceding sentence superfluous or necessary and correct?


Multiple objects + relative clause

Which would be best / acceptable? "He saw people, animals and buildings THAT / WHICH had suffered greatly." As I see it, there are 3 subjects; people, animals and buildings. The grammar rules I know state we must use "who + people" "which + things", etc. And because it is a defining relative clause, I can also use "that". So do the mixed subjects (people and things) mean I have to use "that" in this sentence, due to the fact we don't use "which" for people?


Difference between "which" and "that" as subordinate conjunctions

What are the differences between their meanings if one use them as conjunctions? Should they be used in separate cases?


When to use "that"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Use of "that" in a sentence When do we use the word _that_? For example > I think **that** I will go to the store. > > I think I will go to the store. > > I slam on my breaks, then I notice **that** it is just one of those yellow > flashing yielding stoplights. > > I slam on my breaks, then I notice it is just one of those yellow flashing > yielding stoplights.


When is "that" superfluous?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Use of "that" in a sentence What are some of the rules surrounding the word "that" and its inclusion or omission in a sentence? For example, "My boss mentioned that you needed help," vs. "My boss mentioned you needed help." Is either form more correct? Sorry if this seems rudimentary, but I've always felt a little self-conscious about my own usage of this word due to some fuzzy but persistent high school English class memories.


Show we care or show that we care

The title says it all really... This is one of those value statement things. 'Show we care' is the proposal. It just sounds like lazy English to my ear, I want to say 'Show that we care' Ignoring the trite nature of the statement, should I care?


Should I use That or Which?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When is it appropriate to use 'that' as opposed to 'which'? I can't figure out whether to use that or which: "and initiate collaborative projects that will extend beyond the conference" or "and initiate collaborative projects which will extend beyond the conference"


Under what circumstances is the word "that" necessary, optional, or to be replaced with "which"?

When is it necessary to include "that" in a sentence? In what case should "which" be used, and is it ever optional? Some examples:   * I didn't know (that) you had to leave.   * My grandma said (that) her cocaine is far more concentrated than mine.   * The dog jumps six times for every banana (that) I throw.   * I see (that) you have railed my entire bag, grandma.  I've always been reluctant to omit "that" from any sentence in which it seems to fit, however awkward it may sound.


Which should I use? That or which?

I am confused on the usage of "that" and "which". Would using "that" on both clauses of the following sentence be correct? Which ones should I use instead if it's not? "Why did you eat the pie that was in the oven rather than the pie that was on the windowsill?"


When can you leave off 'that' in a sentence?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Use of "that" in a sentence Some times I find myself leaving out the 'that' that binds two parts of a sentence together, because it reads 'smoother'. Here's an example: > I'm at that point towards the end of a book, where you suddenly realize > you're reading part two of a trilogy and too much of the plot is left for a > satisfactory resolution. I chose to not say '...suddenly realize _that_ you're reading...'. Is this still correct? Is it merely a more informal tone? Bad style? Side question: What am I actually talking about in grammatical terms? Binding two sentence clauses together with ’that'? What kind of word is 'that' here?


Use of "that" After A Verb

Consider the two sentences > He reported that the car was on fire. > > He reported the car was on fire. Which usage is considered correct? Are there any hard and fast rule when to use or not use "that"? Is there terminology that describes this usage/situation?


That vs Which usage

> Iraq was first destroyed by the U.S. military and now it's being > reconstructed by the U.S. corporations, **which** were the cause of its > deliberate destruction. Can we use _that_ instead of _which_ here?


Grammaticality of "that that"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem   >  "I don't think that that can be done"   >  Better use of “that that” — or not Is it grammatically correct to use "that that" in a sentence, or should one use alternatives instead? I've heard people use and seen people write sentences with "that" occurring twice consecutively. Is this grammatically correct, or is it a construct that should be avoided? I'm having trouble remembering examples of this idea that don't lend themselves to simple rephrasing. For example: > I saw that that window was open. I'm not sure this is a good example, but nevertheless, I wonder about the construct.


Difference between that and which. Can that follow a comma?

1) Eventually, we developed a strategy, grounded in prospect theory and its associated biases like loss-aversion and availability heuristic, **which** exploited the tendencies of players to fold too often when they did not have money invested and fold too infrequently when they had money invested. 2) Eventually, we developed a strategy, grounded in prospect theory and its associated biases like loss-aversion and availability heuristic, **that** exploited the tendencies of players to fold too often when they did not have money invested and fold too infrequently when they had money invested. My question is whether "which" or "that" is appropriate. Which word is better? Word says that "that" cannot follow a comma. Is there any basis to this?


"She told I ate an apple" or "She told that i ate an apple"

Should I use `That` in this case? On my native language (Brazilian Portuguese) the `That` would be like conjunction `Que`, I don't know if in english, `That` are also used like a conjunction. If yes, the correct phrase would be `She told that i ate an apple`? I am a begginer in english language, so i'm sorry if I wrote something wrong, thanks.


Is the word "that" overused?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Use of "that" in a sentence Is it wrong or in bad form to constantly use the word "that" when it can be omitted? >   1. The test **that** she took was so difficult **that** she began to > sweat. >   2. The test she took was so difficult she began to sweat. > I find myself writing more along the style of 1., but for some reason, I feel like it's not good form. Is there a grammar principle to confirm or refute this intuition?


Is it correct to use a double “that” in a sentence? For example, I saw the following sentence in a book, and wondered whether it is correct: > If I do nothing else in Wallace, I want to teach my girls **that that** they > can accomplish anything boys can do if they work hard and dedicate > themselves to achieving goals.


How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem

Have you ever had a case where you felt compelled to include strange things like a double _that_ in a sentence? If so, then what did you do to resolve this? For me, I never knew whether it was acceptable grammar. However, what I did learn was that it was a _logic distractor_ , could lead to confusion, and therefore should be reworded to avoid this.


Is "We all know running has health benefits" correct English?

"We all know running has health benefits" isn't how I would write the sentence (I'd probably say "We all know that running offers many health benefits"), but is it formally incorrect? I want to say that you really need the "that" after "we all know," but I'm not sure.


'I believe I am ready'.

Is "I believe I am ready enough" the wrong way to say that I am ready enough? I wish to write it with reasonable confidence that I am ready enough to take up a certain challenge. Is there another other way to convey the same? Conversely - is "I believe I am ready enough" wrong way to say that I am ready enough?


"that is" or "which is"

I am writing an article in BE and I try to remain formal. I have a difficulty with that and which: (meaningless sentences) > We move from our old car to the truck **that** is his new means of > transportation or > We move from our old car to the truck **which** is his new means of > transportation Also, > This being said, we remark that the datum **that** is θ evidently > corresponds to the complement or > This being said, we remark that the datum **which** is θ evidently > corresponds to the `complement I think which must be used because it is for a subject like truck and datum here.


Correct usage of "which"/"that"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When is it appropriate to use 'that' as opposed to 'which'? From what I understand the second sentence is correct, and the first is not. What are the rules on using which versus using that? >   1. Instead it produces the above, which simply is a silent error. >   2. Instead it produces the above, that is simply a silent error. >


Two consecutive "that", "that that"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem I've encountered this sentence in a technical book: > A browsing context has a session history, which lists the Document objects > that that browsing context has presented. What is the grammaticall role of each "that" here? Can we consider using two consecutive "that" as a poor writing style from the point of user understanding?


How do I know when to eliminate the word "that"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are there rules about using "that" to join two clauses? I see the word "that" used very frequently in newspaper articles. It usually is used after the word said. Some examples: >   1. He estimated **that** it was between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. > on Thursday morning that workers realized there was diesel fuel coming up > through the ground. > >   2. The fire chief said **that** the fire departments were on the scene at > around 8 a.m. > > Are either of those "thats" needed? How does one know when it's not needed?


What is correct in English - "I am sorry it took so long" vs "I am sorry that it took so long"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are there rules about using "that" to join two clauses?   * "I am sorry it took so long"    * "I am sorry that it took so long"  Are both of these sentences correct? If so, what is the difference between them?


"I'm sure I can do it" or "I'm sure THAT I can do it"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Use of "that" in a sentence It's all in the title. Should I use "that" as a connector, or should I refrain from using it ?


Is repeating the word "that" ok, if it is technically, grammatically correct?

E.g.: > "... with all the sustainability considerations that that entails." If I'm correct, the above example is _relative pronoun_ followed by _pronoun_ \- it just happens to be the same word for both grammatically legitimate, albeit adjacent words. Or, even an example with three _that's_ in a row: > "It wasn't that that that was referring to." The above sentence may even sound natural in common speech if delivered fluently and in a context in which it was fully understood. So if one accepts grammatical correctness and one is being clear in it being known what the examples of _that_ are adjuncts for, are repeated _that's_ acceptable after all?


Using either "that contain" or "which contain" in a sentence

Here are the original sentences: "I completed forms that contained the person's information and a description of the problem." "I completed forms which contained the person's information and a description of the problem."


Know or know that?

We know all people are... We know that all people are... What is the better or more correct way to use "know"? I rarely hear people use the word "that" after every "know" so I try to avoid it myself. But now I'm writing a paper and someone pointed out to me the lack of "that" throughout the entire writing.


American English: which vs that

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When is it appropriate to use 'that' as opposed to 'which'? We've had an American Americanise some phrases for us (with the point of teaching children English), e.g: UK English: There’s a little white dog **which** lives on the second floor.   US English: There’s a little white dog **that** lives on the second floor. But there are three sentences which were not altered. We would rather not have a mixture of that and which to make things less confusing for the students. The sentences that were not changed were: I really like this pencil case which Rose gave me.   There’s a store near here which is open all night.   This is a really cool picture which I brought with me from Little Bridge. Should these be changed to **that** , or should we change the other sentences that have already been translated back to **which**?


What does "to blow off" mean?

> A child with bloodied clothing lies in a hospital, unable to move because > her legs have been blown off. CNN What does "her legs have been blown off" mean? Does it describe the way how her legs have been damaged? Does it mean an explosion or shooting? Or does it refer to the current state of her legs? Does it mean she lost her legs or that she has burns on her legs? Edit: Related, therefore I will amend my question. In the same article it is also said: > We have pictures of children under the age of 14 with half of their faces > blown away, [...] In my understanding, _to blow away_ means to kill someone. In this context it sounds a bit different. Is it the same meaning as the answers given for _to blow off_ mention? (Here: to lose a part of the face.)


Is "Thanks" a complete sentence?

When not used as a polite closing, are "Thanks" and "Thank you" sentences ending with a period? "Thanks. I appreciate your effort." "Thank you, Kevin. I will be in touch soon."


Correct preposition for "competence"

Which prepositions can be used with "competence"? Specificially, which of the following examples are valid/legal:   * I have competence on computers   * I have competence with computers   * I have competence as a programmer   * Our company has competence in programming   * Our company has competence on programming   * Our company has competence with programming and cooking   * Our company has competence within the fields of programming and cooking   * Our company has several employees with competence with programming   * Our company has several employees with programming competence


Knocked up, two very different meanings. But why and how did the phrase split?

In American English, "Knocked up" means "pregnant." I just found out via an article regarding jobs that no longer exist that in British English, they use use the phrase "Knocked up in a completely differnt way. This due to the job of knocker-uppers being the tapping or knocking on windows to awaken people in the days before alarm clocks. From "Knocked up" to mean "woken up", it appears that the meanings split somewhere between the 1920s and the 1940s. Does anyone know the history of how the meanings split and exactly why and how it happened?


I suggested we go together / I suggested we went together. Which is the correct usage?

I am having trouble with something very specific and I found both in usage but one _has to_ be better than the other. Right?   * He wanted to go back to Kazakhstan, so I suggested we **go** together.   * He wanted to go back to Kazakhstan, so I suggested we **went** together. Which uses the correct sequence of tenses?


What did Charlie Sheen mean when he used the phrase "banging 7 gram rocks"?

Today’s Quote of Time.com (TIME@time.chtah.com) carries the following line of Charlie Sheen’s remark. Being totally ignorant of the background of CBS and Warner Brothers’ cancellation of the production of the program, I have no idea about the phrase, ‘bang 7 gram rock.’ I understand the line after ‘Because that’s how I roll ...’ means he is single-mindedly do what he decided to do – to sue CBC and Warner Broth. Can somebody translate the above line into English easier for a foreign learner like me to understand? > "I probably took more than anybody could survive. I was banging 7 gram > rocks. Because that's how I roll. I have one speed. I have one gear: Go." > CHARLIE SHEEN, who on Monday night, in addition to giving incoherent > interviews, announced that he plans to sue CBS and Warner Brothers for > canceling the production of Two and a Half Men.”


Do vs. does in a statement

In the statement "Editorial use of images do not require a model release." which form of do/does would be correct? Should the verb agree with images (as in "images do not require..."), or with editorial use (as in "editorial use does not require...")?


Verb "to be" agreement

Which one is correct: "A popular approach is the so-called immersed interface methods." "A popular approach are the so-called immersed interface methods." In Portuguese, the second one would be correct, because the verb "to be" sometimes agrees with the object instead of the subject. I was wondering if in English such exception also exists, of if the verb "to be" always agrees with the subject no matter what.


Why is "liquorice" pronounced (or spelt) so strangely?

_Liquorice_ is pronounced **ˈlɪkərɪʃ**. But every other word I can think of ending with -ice is pronounced differently (such as _police_ or _rice_ ). How did liquorice get such a strange pronunciation, or alternatively, to be spelt like that?


Ripe with Opportunity? Or Rife?

The Grammarist says I should use _rife with_ rather than _ripe with_. So far so good and I agree. But is there an exception for _ripe with opportunity_? Googlefight overwhelmingly prefers _ripe_ , and I like the imagery of an _opportunity tree_ ripe with fruit. Which is correct: _ripe with opportunity_ or _rife with opportunity_?


How to quote from a book which is a collection of stories by various authors?

I need to quote a sentence from a book which is a collection of stories of various authors. So usually when quoting a book I would put something like "lalalalala"(John Doe p.101) Now I am not sure if in this case for the authors name I should put down the textbook's author's name or the short story's author name that I am quoting.


Adjectival order of "National African weightlifting federations"

Which order is correct?   1. National African weightlifting federations.    2. African national weightlifting federations.    3. African weightlifting national federations.


Meaning of "crowded out"

What does _crowded out_ mean in the following sentence? > Adultery and theft of food or animals were **crowded out** by highway > robbery, pickpocketing and other crimes common to an increasingly industrial > and urbanized center.


How to use "who" vs. "that"

I often get confused when trying to use who vs that. Some examples that often confuse me: ### _That_ > The person that went to the store. > > The people that went shopping. > > The persons that went shopping. > > The group that went shopping. ### _Who_ > The person who went to the store. > > The people who go shopping. Please explain when to use either for plural subjects and singular subjects. Animate and inanimate objects as well.


Should you use "who" or "that" when talking about multiple people doing something?

Which of the following is correct? >   * There were 10 people **that** went to the store. >   * There were 10 people **who** went to the store. > **Edit:** Which of the following is correct? >   * There were 10 people **that** had brown hair. >   * There were 10 people **who** had brown hair. >


Can the word "that" be used to refer to people?

I came across this SAT Question of the Day: > Unbelievable as it may seem, many individuals **that fought** in the > American Revolution were still alive in 1839, the year the world was > introduced to photography. (choose the error - the 'answer' is in bold) It noted that the reason "that fought" is wrong is that 'The relative pronoun “that” may not be used to refer to people (“individuals”) and should be replaced with the relative pronoun “who.”' I had thought that the word "that" could refer to both people and objects (while which was reserved for objects and who reserved for people). Am I wrong?


Rules about using that to describe people?

Can I say, "He is the only person that I know."? Are there rules about using that to describe people?


Can I say "people that I'm not familiar with" ?

Hello everyone I would like to know if my sentence is or is not correct. "I don't share my hobbies when I speak to someone is not aware of them like a relevant, a wife, and anyone that I'm not familiar with."


What to use : "that" or "who"?

Consider this sentence : "I was going down the hill and on my step down I saw a guy **who** appeared to be disguised". "I was going down the hill and on my step down I saw a guy **that** appeared to be disguised". which is correct usage of English in such case that or who?


Use of that vs who

Is it correct to say 'He is the one that did it' instead of saying 'He is the one who did it' ?


who vs that as a pronoun

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How to use: who/that I have seen many writers using _"that"_ as a pronoun in cases where _"who"_ should be used. For example, a book author says I apologize to those of you **_that_** are unable to obtain electronic copies. Should it not be I apologize to those of you **_who_** are unable to obtain electronic copies. Or is it wrong to use the latter, in the modern context?


When to use that and who

When are the relative clause "who" and "that" used? Someone told me it depends on what sounds better: > Rosa is the woman **_whom_** I love. But > The child **_that_** asked my wife was not from this neighbourhood.


Which is correct? Users who or Users that?

I'm often confused by the correct use for "who" and "that". I believed always that "who" in a sentence refers to people or persons and "that" refers to inanimate objects, machines, animals, etc. In the case of: "SATA III SSD drives are ideal for users **that** demand maximum performance." I believe should read: "SATA III SSD drives are ideal for users **who** demand maximum performance." Gregg


'Which' applied to brute animals

I found the phrase “... the horse _which_ ran was not the horse nor of the age which he was represented to be at the time of entry ...” in a sentence of _Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York 9 Executive (E) - Chapter 1, Subchapter A : State Racing Board Thoroughbred Rules, 4039.19._ [->] Is _which_ wrong in the phrase above, or is it the exact word as the horse is a brute animal? To be clear, which is grammatical : "... the horse _which_ ran ..." or "... the horse _who_ ¹ ran ..."? ¹ See the following nGram for "cat who" (cat: no brute), "dog who" (dog: no brute), "horse who" (horse: brute) and "bull who" (bull: brute). ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/zrFSu.png)


"Who" as applied to non-human animals

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How to use “who” vs. “that”   >  ‘Which’ applied to brute animals Is the use of "who", as applied to non-human animals, ever considered grammatically correct? Would it be correct to refer to a cat as "the same cat who I saw yesterday" instead of "the cat that I saw yesterday", or is this considered incorrect?


Pronunciation of 'cos' (as in the mathematical term)

What is the correct pronunciation for the mathematical abbreviation 'cos' when it is _not_ pronounced in its complete form 'cosine'? I pronounce it as 'k-aw- ss', but a couple of Canadian friends I have pronounce it as 'k-oh-s' (like the adjective 'close'). I tried looking up dictionaries but none that I came across list the IPA / phonetic pronunciation for the mathematical abbreviation. (I think the former is the British English pronunciation, and the latter is the American English / Canadian English pronunciation.)


How and why have some words changed to a complete opposite?

One example that comes to mind is _terrific_ which originally denoted something quite terrorising while now it has positive connotations... How and why did these changes occur?


Origin of current slang usage of the word 'sick' to mean 'great'?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How and why have some words changed to a complete opposite? How did 'sick' come to mean 'awesome' or 'really good / cool' in modern U.S. slang? I'm interested in origins and possibly regional patterns, if applicable. This usage reminds me of the use of 'bad' to mean 'totally awesome' in the 80s. It would be interesting to know how that came about as well, and if the pattern is related...


Changes in meaning of "bad" and "bad ass"

How did the definition of _bad_ change over time? When did it change to mean _good_?


Is (or was) the exclamation "Nuts!" crude?

During the Battle of the Bulge, when asked to surrender, US General McAuliffe answered with the single word "Nuts!" I know that "nuts" can be a crude way to refer to testicles ("He got hit in the nuts by the baseball") but I've always thought of the exclamation ("Aw, nuts!") as anodyne. Would a kid saying it in the 1940s have had his mouth washed out with soap?


Prepositions and Corners

Does one use "on" or "at" in the following: > Kate met him at the corner > > Kate met him on the corner. Or are they the same?


"I am yet to see" versus "I have yet to see"

What is the difference between > I am yet to see X and > I have yet to see X and in which situations would each be preferred?


Past tense of "he bears the weight"

I'm trying to figure out what the correct past tense form of "he bears the weight" would be. Wiktionary says that "bear" has a simple past "bore" and a past participle "borne", but I don't understand when one is used instead of the other. So, would the correct form be > He has bore the weight or > He has borne the weight ? It would also be helpful if I could see example sentences for "borne" and "bore" to illuminate the distinction.


Ending a sentence with "?!" or "!?"

When ending a sentence with a `?` and a `!`, is there a rule which one comes first? That is, `?!` or `!?`? If either is okay, are they interchangeable, or for difference circumstances?


Why is there a [sic] in this passage?

The following passage comes from _The American Journey_ (sixth edition), page 156. It's a quote of George F. Regas, addressing President George W. Bush (not in person). Notice the `[sic]` after the word _preemptive_ , indicating some kind of misuse of the word or other kind of error. But what's the error? I googled this quote and got many hits. Other than the cited book, none use `[sic]`. ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/uYg2b.png)


Grammar corrections for song for Early Modern English play

I wrote a song for a play I'm writing where I utilize a degree of early modern english, it's not entirely in archaic prose as for many audiences that would be a turn off, as its a comedy and a pastiche so it's only lightly used and blended with more modern conversation. Think 'Kiss Me Kate' but when I do use I'm trying to make sure I'm using the grammar correctly and not wrong. As I said I wrote a song for it, during a "play within a play" scene and I'm having some trouble figuring out if I'm conjugating some of the verbs correctly, a lot of these are I think the imperative since the character is asking/commanding something of someone else so I'm a bit confused. Can anyone make any corrections for me? The song is addressing the moon as if it were a person; i.e. the goddess Diana Pale moon, pale moon go fade into the night away, adrift for sad light, sad light is lade by thy face white and cold. O how swift (O how swift) I get lost and turned quick a fool in moth hours wan and blue under thy silvered shone. O who’ll beareth the heft (beareth the heft) of this folly that runneth me through? (For in truth I’ve given all my sprigs of rue, offered up all sprigs of rue.) O spare my heart and spare my head from thy hunt, thy fleet and forest train. No hounds, no hounds that teareth and shred, they art not mine (not mine) this bane. Let me alone, alone my eyes to sleep I bid thou sink into the mirror’d sea and cease, cease, a sabled state so deep, bringest good reason back to me.


How to pronounce the 's at the end of names that end with s

For example: Lucas's dog was joyful. do I pronounce the first word the exact same as if I just said Lucas, or do I say lucas-es?


'Take' or 'use' for elevator/ stairway?

Should I say, > **Take** the elevator to floor number x or > **Use** the elevator to floor number x? I want to know the same for stairways. [This phrase is used in an app and to avoid the detection of _-st_ , _-nd_ , _-rd_ and _-th_ , I want to use only 'number x'.]


"User accounts" or "users account"

Is it correct to say _user accounts_ or _users account_ when referring to the accounts any user has on a site like this one? In general, in the case of a noun that is used as adjective for the noun that follows, is it better to use `<plural-noun> <singular-noun>` or `<singular- noun> <plural-noun>`?


Singular or Plural Before List?

I'm trying to write a list of features available in my product, and I'm confused what the title should be: Should I say "Features List" (features are plural) or "Feature List" (feature is singular). Thanks in advance.


Is it correct to say products line or product line?

If a company has several products, is that a products line or a product line?


Should "Ladies" be marked with an apostrophe in the noun phrase "Ladies beer"?

What should it say on a label: Is it "ladies' beer" or "ladies beer?"


Is it incorrect to refer to a set of things by using the singular form of the objects it contains?

I'm sorry I couldn't word that better, the following example will hopefully clarify: ![sample picture](http://i.stack.imgur.com/X1FzX.jpg) As you can see, the teacher refered to the bank of words as "word bank", as opposed to "words bank". Which one is correct? If "words bank" is the only correct usage then wouldn't it be fair to say that the exercise was resolved perfectly?


"student list" vs "students list"?

What is more accurate to say when writing a noun before a list?   "student list" or "students list" (also "student group" vs "students group")


program links VS programs links

If I wanted to say: `this folder contains the links to all the programs`, should I use: `this folder contains the program links` or `this folder contains the programs links` ?


Is it correct to say "lesson count" or "lessons count"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "user accounts" or "users account"? If I mean "number of lessons", which grammatical construction should I go for? I can imagine three of them:   1. Lesson count   2. Lessons count   3. Lessons' count


Journalists' Solidarity Forum / Journalist Solidarity Forum

Which of the following is correct:   1. Journalists' Solidarity Forum   2. Journalist Solidarity Forum


plural nouns: should I add "s" ending to both nouns?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  “User accounts” or “users account”   >  “BookList” or “booksList?”   >  Is it correct to say “lesson count” or “lessons count”?   >  should a list of tokens be called a “token list” or a “tokens list”   >  “Employee list” or “employees list”   >  "Thing count" or "things count"   >  And others I know I can say > what color of towel do you like? And the same: > what towel color do you like? I also know I can say the same about multiple colors: > what colors of towels do you like? But I'm not sure if I should say: > what towels colors do you like? or > what towel colors do you like?


User’s Guide vs Users’ Guide

I’ve been looking over what has been posted regarding the use of _’s_. I used to be a Technical Writer (years ago). The title of one of our training documents was _Users’ Guide_. Once, a coworker said every time he saw that title he expected users to start coming. Never made any sense to me, but I have to admit that the majority of us didn't understand the use of _s’_ in place of _’s_. What is the difference?


when a noun is used as an adjective is it always singular, eg Event Request or Events request? Service Request or Services REquest?


"Boys bicycle" vs. "boy's bicycle"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  User’s Guide vs Users’ Guide When describing, for example, a bicycle for boys as "a boys bicycle", should it be "boy's" or "boys"? The phrase is not implying ownership but the type of bicycle, in the same way as one for either sex might be described as _unisex_.


Item queue vs items queue? Files list vs File list?

My question is connected with programming. I'm not sure how to name my class. Should it be _ItemQueue_ or _ItemsQueue_? We are talking about queue, which stores many items. We can add new ones or remove existing. Similary, what about _file list_ / _files list_? I have always wondered which form should I choose.


First year's conference or first years' conference?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  User’s Guide vs Users’ Guide As in, a conference that is for people in their first year of, say, University.


"Book market" or "books market"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User accounts" or "users account" Which is correct: _book market_ or _books market_? Similarly, is it _pirate bay_ or _pirates bay_?


Young Surveyors Network or Young Surveyor Network?

I'm a surveyor and we are currently setting up our network. However, there seems to be a disagreement on the proper name of the group. The group is composed of young surveyors under the age of 35, hence the name **Young Surveyors Network**. However, somebody in the group has challenged it and has asserted that it should be **Young Surveyor Network**. Personally I think the original name is just fine but I'd prefer more ammunition _wink wink_ Can somebody resolve this issue? Should it be **Young Surveyors Network** or **Young Surveyor Network**? Or does it need to take an apostrophe and be **Young Surveyors' Network** Thanks in advance!


Multiple plural, any rules?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User accounts" or "users account?" What is correct way to use _-s_ when talking about multiple plurals? For example, what is correct: _items positions_ or _item positions_ or _items position_? In context: "I will update all items positions". What is correct _cars categories_ or _car categories_ or _cars category_? In context: "Please tell me what cars categories do you know?"


“Members’ gallery” vs. “members gallery”

What would I use when setting up a gallery for many members to submit to? I am thinking, _Members’ Gallery_ , as it is a gallery belonging to all the members, but I frequently see the use of just _Members Gallery_.


Use of the plural with list, and when item count is 0

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "user accounts" or "users account"? I keep asking myself which form is the most correct when listing items on a website:   * "Article list"   * or "Articles list"? Also, when nothing was found, do you say:   * "No items were found"   * or "No item was found"   * or more simply "No item(s?) found?


User’s/Users’/Users Group

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User's guide" vs. "users' guide" If referring to a **_Users Group_** (meaning a group made up of multiple individual users who have some control of the group itself), would you use:   * A: User’s    * B: Users’   * C: Users I have read the post on the User’s guide but in this case, plural is appropriate since the group does not belong to one individual. Wikipedia suggests _Users’_ (or _Users_ ) and in my domain, a leading stats software company has a Users Group, though they then use _user’s group_ as part of the description. What do you think — A, B, or C?


What is correct form of writing: "users names" or "user names"?

Let me ask you a question which I've derived from my programming practice: Let's assume, I have a number of users represented by their names: John, Pete, Stanislaw, Marc, ... What words should I use to name such collection of names of users: **user names** , or **users names**? Thanks. * * * To provide more context, here is similar example for programmers: JSON of objects: `[{"id": 1, ...}, {"id": 2, ...}, {"id": 3, ...}, ...]` How should I name a variable representing a collection of identificators (ids) of given objects:               var objectIds; // or     var objectsIds;          var objectIdentificators; // or     var objectsIdentificators;      ?


Task breakdown vs Tasks breakdown vs Tasks' breakdown

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User accounts" or "users account"   >  should a list of tokens be called a “token list” or a “tokens list”   >  “Book market” or “books market” Which one(s) are correct to indicate the division in(to) tasks of a certain undertaking?               1) Task breakdown     2) Tasks breakdown     3) Tasks' breakdown      I would like to understand the "why" of it rather than get an Ngram-like usage statistics chart, please.


"Election results" or "elections result"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User accounts" or "users account?" When announcing the results to a series of elections, what sounds better as a title? Even though I believe _Elections Results_ seems to be the logical answer, _Election Results_ is by far the better-sounding choice in my head. I did a quick Google search and found that the internet seems to agree by about 10-to-1: that an election can refer to the act of voting for multiple people. If anyone has a very strong reason for or against, I'd like to hear it.


"feed aggregator" instead of "feeds aggregator"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it correct to say "lesson count" or "lessons count"? I find it odd that the common expression (see Wikipedia for example) is "feed aggregator" rather than "feed*s* aggregator". I would find the plural more meaningful with the concept of aggregating :). Does this happen in other English expressions? Why?


"BookList" or "booksList?"

> **Possible Duplicates:**   >  "User accounts" or "users account?"   >  Is it correct to say "lesson count" or "lessons count"? I'm wondering wether or not I should use a plural form noun with a collection name. For example, which one is correct, bookList or booksList (obviously they are variables in a programming language)?


To apostrophe or not to apostrophe

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  User’s Guide vs Users’ Guide I am sorry if this is really obvious but I can't work out from Wikipedia if it's right to use one here. My English is terrible but I try: > Christmas parties are the cornerstone of most (companies | company's | > companie's) cultures. Could someone please set me straight? Thank you very much.


"Car sale" vs "Cars sale"

I have always thought that the latter: **Cars sale** , is incorrect; yet Google returns almost the same number of results for both! My concern is about **Rule extraction** and **Rules extraction** to be precise; for a Chapter title! P.S. Clearly, we are selling many cars (or extracting many rules); not one!


"Employee list" or "employees list"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  User’s Guide vs Users’ Guide   >  should a list of tokens be called a "token list" or a "tokens list" I know we can use _list of employees_ , but I'd like to know which is preferred or more correct: _employee list_ or _employees list_?


"Countries List" or "Country List"?

> **Duplicate of:**   >  “User accounts” or “users account”   >  “Employee list” or “employees list”   >  Should a list of tokens be called a “token list” or a “tokens list”   >  “BookList” or “booksList?”   >  Is it correct to say “lesson count” or “lessons count”?   >  "Thing count" or "things count"   >  And others Which of the following are correct? >   1. Countries List >   2. Country List > It is the title of a web page where users can view the list of countries and select one.


photographers' club of detroit or photographers club of detroit?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User's guide" vs. "users' guide" I prefer non-possessive form of the name of the club: photographers club of Detroit. Is it correct?


"Username", "user name" or "user-name"

In computer science, you should have a _username_ or a _user name_ or a _user- name_ and a password to be able to log into the system. Which one is the correct spelling?


of areas involved with patients’ care - or patients care?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  User’s/Users’/Users Group What would be the correct way with UK English spelling: patients' care or patients care? I have terrible search skills, I could not find an appropriate answer (did not know how to search for these "'s" or "s'" differences).


"Contact group" or "Contacts group"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User accounts" or "users account?" I'm writing software, and I need to create an object that will contain a group of contacts. Contacts can belong to more than one group. If I wanted to shorten "group of contacts," would I refer to it as a contacts group, or a contact group?


Student Association or Students Association

We are forming a new organization which is going to be named either “Nepalese Students Association” or “Nepalese Student Association”. I am confused on which one is the grammatically correct form? _Student_ or _Students_?


From a grammatical point of view, how is "Star" in Star Wars being used?

What is the grammatical term for the way the word "star" is used in the name Star Wars? Some non-English speakers are concerned that more than one star is implied in the concept and therefore the name is wrong.


Plural form for noun preceding another noun

I'm working on a web service and we need to create new menu section, which should list entities to configurate different shops' parameters. Which form of this phrase is right in this case and why?   * Shop configuration   * Shops configuration   * Shops' configuration


Thing count or thingS count

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User accounts" or "users account"   >  Should a list of tokens be called a “token list” or a “tokens list”   >  “BookList” or “booksList?” When there are many of things what of the following will be correct:   * thing count, thing collection, ... (singular `thing`)   * thing* _s_ * count, thing* _s_ * collection, ... (plural `things`) ?


Is It “Category URLs” or “Categories URLs”

I want to talk about several categories. Each category has only one URL. Which one is correct and why?   1. Category URLs   2. Categories URL   3. Categories URLs


should a list of tokens be called a "token list" or a "tokens list"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "User accounts" or "users account?" I ask because a list of tasks would usually be called a "task list". However a list or previous winners of a competition seems to be called a "winners list" rather than a "winner list". Thanks.


“Not only . . . but (also)” correlative conjunction question

> The amount of jobs that have been transferred out of state in the past five > years is staggering; **not only** manufacturing jobs **but** white-collar > ones have moved as well. Is this appropriate usage of the correlative conjunction? It's comparing two noun phrases, but I'm concerned with the positioning of the verb phrase. Should the sentence be "Not only have manufacturing jobs moved, but white- collar ones have moved as well." Would it be redundant in this case? Side note: This is an SAT question concerning comparisons.


What word would I use to say that a thing has left its usual environment to experience something?

I’m trying to say in one or two words that all of a group of animals and people have taken a leap beyond their usual comfort zone for a reason. This is the context: Some fish fly; some birds swim. Some people leave behind old restraints or habits. All are reaching for something, or escaping something. How can I describe that in a short label? I thought of escaping normality, or escape of some kind, but _escape_ does not convey the reach that is also part of the phenomenon. Would _intrepid_ fit this? What other possibilities are there?


What does 'ten of six' mean in regard to time?

I am referring of course to the expression describing time. Today a corporate trainer (From north Philadelphia) that is teaching a class at my company used it in the context that the current time was 'ten of six' (5:50PM), but I have always thought of it as 'ten of six' (6:10PM). Which usage is correct?


Meaning of "10 of 8"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What does 'ten of six' mean in regard to time? In a Family Guy episode (The Hand That Rocks The Wheelchair), Meg asks "is it 10 of 8?", apparently looking up at the clock and referring to the fact that the time is 7:50. Is this a commonly used term to refer to the time as being "10 minutes to 8", or is it just a Family Guy thing? If it's common (I've never heard it before), what does it stand for, if "10 to 8" stands for "10 minutes to 8"?


Am I allowed to start a sentence with "Composed"?

>   * **Composed** of an assortment of ten libraries including inhibitor > library, stem cell signaling compound library, and anti-cancer compound > library, among others, our bioactive screening libraries are ready-to-use > chemical libraries for drug discovery, drug target identification, and other > pharmaceutical-related applications. >   * **Being composed** of an assortment of ten libraries including inhibitor > library, stem cell signaling compound library, and anti-cancer compound > library, among others, our bioactive screening libraries are ready-to-use > chemical libraries for drug discovery, drug target identification, and other > pharmaceutical-related applications. > Am I supposed to start a sentence with "composed"?


Is it proper to say "I earned -1 points today" when I lost 1 point?

Suppose I play a game where I can lose points as well as gain them. Usually I'll say: > I earned 10 points today, hooray! But what if I lost points and still want to use "optimistic" verb? > I earned -1 points today, bummer Is this grammatically correct?


"I had John return the video": why do we use "return" instead of "returns" or "returned"?

> I had John **return** the video for me. In this sentence, why do we use _return_ and not _returns_ or _returned_?


When to repeat a paragraph?

I was reading through this article recently, and I noticed that the first and seventh paragraphs are identical. Stylistically speaking, is it common to repeat entire strings of text as shown here? Speaking personally, I find it awkward to be reading the same thing over again. I'm not seeking a definitive ruling on this, but rather opinions on the prevalence of this particular styling and formatting choice.


Are these questions grammatically correct?

I have seen questions like   * "He went through all that just to go to Columbia?"   or   * "That's the Ferrari?"  and I would like to know if they are grammatically correct.   Can you use questions like that in regular speech?   Can you even start a question with "you" or "that"?


Etymology of "Utopia"; counterintuitive

How did the word "Utopia" (coined by Sir Thomas More) come to mean an ideal place when the Greek etymology specifically means "Not a place." Relatedly, while this might be the prime use of the word "irony" or "ironic", does anyone have a suggestion for a word matching the general public's ideal definition of "Irony?"


Simple past sounds better but past perfect seems more accurate

I think it's grammatically more accurate to say,"The market was closed after a virus had been found." However, it sounds "better" to say,"The market was closed after a virus was found." Grammatically, can there be any justification for the second version?


Present perfect continuous

Are the answers I chose correct. My choices are in bold. I **have been pumping** /I have pumped up three tyres. Would you like to do the forth? I **have been greasing** /I have greased my car. That's why my hands are dirty. She has been polishing/has polished this table all the morning and she is not satisfied with it yet. ( I chose both answers as correct, but accroding to the test my answer was wrong.) I only have been hearing/ **have heard** about him twice since he went away. He **has been riding** /has ridden, that's why he is wearing breeches. I have been pulling up/have pulled up dandelions all day. ( I chose both forms) I have been hearing/ have heard from her regularly. She is a very good correspondent.(I chose both forms) I have been making/have made sausage rolls for the party all the morning.(I chose both, but I am not sure 'have made' is correct.) How to explain why using other choices would be wrong?


What does it mean "mulls action"?

> Spain **mulls action** over blame for E. coli outbreak Source: Reuters


Using 'already' before adjectives

Is the usage of the word 'already' in the following sentence correct? > We have used an already calibrated camera fixed on the robot.


Correct capitalisation of "Machiavellian"?

Does the adjective Machiavellian always have a capital letter? For example: > The Machiavellian Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife, > Desdemona, had an affair. Not sure if this is anything to go by but, Microsoft Word corrects the word to have a capital. I am not sure if this is also the case when it is an adjective.


Why is it called 'renewable energy'?

There's a lot of buzz these days about 'renewable energy', and with Germany's recent decision to close down their nuclear plants by 2012, activists are talking about moving to completely 'renewable energy'. But, why is it called that? What is actually being renewed?


Take the following sentence: My idea is similar to his idea but not quite the same. Is there a single word which means " similar but not quite the same"?


Didn't find what (you are/you were/you're) looking for?

I'm trying to figure out how best to word the above sentence. It's for a web page, and at the bottom of the page there will be a search bar. To me "you are" or "you're" is the best fit, because the idea is you've scrolled through the page, and not found what you're after, so you're still looking. Which of those (if any?) would be the correct way to phrase this question? Also, I'm not sure how to tag this question, so any edits welcome.


Can a sentence end in "left"

Which is the correct phrase: > You have 5 days **left** of your trial. or: > You have 5 days of your trial **left**.


Is "cast the balance to some/someone's side" a standard usage or a figure of speech?

> ...this biass, though, perhaps, it may not appear in a few throws, will > certainly prevail in a great number, and will cast the balance entirely to > that side. (David Hume, _Of the Rise and Progress of the Arts and Sciences_ > , I.XIV.3) The meaning of this sentence is clear. But is the style of “ **Cast the balance to that side** ” a very literal one? Can I use it in scholarly writing? For example, > China has concentrated government, huge population..., but in her > competition with America, she must be the loser, because democracy and > freedom will cast the balance entirely to America’s side. Is “ **Cast the balance to some/someone’s side** ” a standard usage or a figure of speech?


Origin/reason for the expression "on the bus" instead of "in the bus"

This is sort of a follow up to my question here. I was told a while ago that the reason why we use "on the bus" instead of "in the bus" is because back in the day buses were open, that is, they didn't have a roof. Is this story correct or is there another reason why the correct expression is "on the bus", in spite of the fact that when one gets on the bus, he is actually _inside_ the bus?


Get in vs. get on

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Origin/reason for the expression “on the bus” instead of “in the bus” I'm an EFL (English as a foreign language) teacher and I haven't been able to come up with a good principle for which preposition to use after _get_ when referring to transportation. Some examples:   * Get in:      * a car/taxi/van/truck, etc.   * Get on:      * a bus/plane/bike/truck, etc. How can one choose whether to use _in_ or _on_? Note that in some cases, such as the example with _truck_ , either preposition is possible but the choice affects the meaning. I've been telling my students that there is no rule, so they just have to memorize which preposition to use, but I'm really hoping I'm wrong. This question would be better suited for the upcoming English Language Learners Stack Exchange, but it hasn't entered beta yet. More committers are needed.


Can we really "get in" or "get on" a thing?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Origin/reason for the expression "on the bus" instead of "in the bus" Can we really "get in a bus" or "get on a bus" in Standard English usage?


Word/phrase for taking the pilot out of the equation in turning a piloted aircraft into a UAV

Is there a word/phrase for the process of taking the pilot out of the equation in turning an existing piloted aircraft into a UAV? How would you describe it? I am thinking of something that begins with "de-" but can't complete it.


A way of describing the lesbian parent that is not pregnant?

A friend of mine is in a long term relationship with her female partner. After deciding they wanted a family, my friend's girlfriend got pregnant. Normally when talking about a couple expecting a baby you would use phrases like > An expectant mother or Mother-to-be (i.e., the woman is pregnant) or > An expectant father or Father-to-be (i.e., the man's partner is pregnant) According to my friend, having used the traditional phrases so far has led to people saying things like "But you're not even showing!" or "Well, I don't think you should be drinking!" etc... She's taken to humorously calling herself the Father-to-be instead which has got me wondering. How would you convey the message that although somebody is a mother-to-be, they are not the ones that are pregnant?


present or past participles?

I am very confused of the grammars behind the phrases or words like problem finding, problem solving and pain killing. I feel that rather than present participle, past participles should be used because the proposed nouns, like problem and pain, are the objectives of the verbs, like find and kill.   1. This is a pain killing pills./pain-killed?   2. This work is time-consuming. /time-consumed?   3. He has good skills in problem finding and problem solving / problem found and problem solved?


Is two-thirds plural?

Is 2/3 always, sometimes or never plural? E.g. > 1a) 2/3 of the pizza were eaten.   >  1b) 2/3 of the pizza was eaten. > > 2a) 2/3 of the visitors were men.   >  2b) 2/3 of the visitors was men. I feel that example 1 could go either way but example 2b sounds very wrong. Is there a rule for this?


Is there a word meaning "my child's spouse's parents"?

If I am introducing someone to my daughter's husband's parents can I say "Hi, I'd like to you meet my **___ __**". In-laws would not work here because they are my child's in-laws not my own. Is there a word for this relationship?


Is there a name for this type of sculpture?

![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/3T2eA.jpg) On a recent outing I discovered a number of these. Essentially, you look through the hole in the middle and you are facing a landmark, city, specific location, etc. Whilst this one is clearly modern, I am sure this type of thing existed historically. Do they have a name? The place I saw them doesn't have them named anywhere I could see.


Difference between "magnitude" and "extent"

Is there a difference between the two when used as in the following sentences?               The extent of the disaster was initially underestimated.      vs.               The magnitude of the disaster was initially underestimated.      Both seem very similar, but I haven't found either as a synonym for the other in a Thesaurus (only as related words).


What is this an example of: "FOR SALE: Car by elderly lady with new body and spare tire"

Historical examples: >   * Croesus asked the oracle what would happen if he attacked Persia. The > reply: ‘A mighty empire will be humbled’. > >   * Thank you so much for the book. I shall lose no time in reading it. > > Modern example: > I am opposed to taxes which slow economic growth. Humorous: > The anthropologists went to a remote area and took photographs of some > native women, but they weren't developed. What is the term used for these examples?


"the" before or after "all"

Which one is more correct, if everybody knows that I am talking about all the students in a specific classroom. >   1. assignments must be done by **all the students** > >   2. assignments must be done by **all students** > >   3. assignments must be done by **the all students** > >


"Well" as an introduction to an argument

Say a child says: > I want some ice cream! The parent's response is: > _**Well_** , you can't have ice cream right now, we need to have dinner > first. Why is the word "well" used as a conversational introduction to an argument? Is it a shortened form of another phrase?


What are the adjective counterparts for "sense" and "sensibility"?

What are the adjective counterparts for "sense" and "sensibility" as in Jane Austen's _Sense and Sensibility_? Would the one for "sensibility" be "sensible"? What is the one for "sense"? Does it have the same meaning as "rational"?


What's the usage of ''anything'' in this sentence?

This sentence comes from the beginning of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone": > "They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange > or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense." I guess the sentence means "they were expected to be involved in strange events". It's confusing me. I don't understand what the sentence means, and I think the reason is I am misunderstanding the use of the word "anything".


What is the meaning of "sticks" as a measurement unit?

I have stumbled upon this sign at the Heraklion airport, Crete, Greece: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/0lu3u.jpg) I am a little confused about the meaning of "sticks". Is it a metaphor for one stick-shaped unit like a cigar or cigarette, or is it a weight or volume unit?


I cannot find the first usage of "start from scratch" as start from nothing

it seems that everybody believes it is "start from nothing" but I cannot pinpoint the start of this usage. I used both OED and A dictionary of English etymology by By Hensleigh Wedgwood ...


"Referenced in" or "referenced from"?

Which of these sentences is more correct? > ABC should not be referenced from file X. > > ABC should not be referenced in file X.


is quickest or fastest or another word choice better here

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  the difference between fast/quick/rapid In this sentence: > My supervisor reported I finished quickest among other trainees in that > period. What is the best word to use for _quickest_? Should it be _quickest_ , or _fastest_ , or is there a better word choice entirely?


A word with a wide range of meanings

Is there a better alternative to _ambiguous_ for a word with a wide range of meanings, difficult to find, because they become different in connection with person's opinion.


Name of words with multiple meanings?

A _crane_ is a bird as well as a machine. A _date_ is a fruit as well as an outing with your boy/girl friend. What are _words with multiple meanings_ called?


Is "if any problem, please call me" grammatical?

I found the following sentence used in emails at my workplace: > If any problem, please call me at XXX-XXXXXXX. Is the sentence grammatically correct? Or should the senders have used the following instead: > If there is any problem, please call me at XXX-XXXXXXX.


Difference between "knowledge" and "know-how"

Is there any difference between these two? Do (suppose) _technical knowledge_ and _technical know-how_ convey different meaning?


When should we use proximity rule in "either/or", and "neither/nor"?

According to this link, if at least one of the nouns involved is plural then it should take the plural form of the verb. Otherwise, it should take the singular form of the verb. But in the last part it says not all grammars agree to those rules thus proximity rule applies. However, it doesn't explain when to apply the proximity rule and when not to use the former rules.


Have or has in this sentence when talking about "one or the other"

Which of these two sentences is correct english? > If you or a loved one has suffered from an injury or: > If you or a loved one have suffered from an injury Considering that it is regarding "you **_or_** a loved one".


If you or somebody you know ... are/is ...?

What is the correct grammar for a sentence such as the following: _"If you or somebody you know **is** an experienced such-and-such, please contact us."_ Vs.: _"If you or somebody you know **are** an experienced such-and-such, please contact us."_ I primarily want to know which of "are" or "is" is the appropriate verb. My hunch is that "you or somebody you know" can be substituted by a plural pronoun, which makes the verb "are"; but I am thrown off by "if somebody you know are" (which is wrong, I think - or at least it sounds wrong), and I don't know what the rule is. There is also the rule that Telastyn states below \- choose a verb as if one of the options was chosen. However, "you or somebody you know" is two singular options, but "are" is used with singular "you" while "is" is used with other singular subjects, and so they conflict. That's where my confusion lies (or is my confusion deeper -- are "you" and "somebody" actually subtly plural here?)


What is a word or term that describes the disparity between perceived versus actual capability?

There is a term or word that describes why people with average intelligence tend to be managers because their perceptions of their own capabilities are more in line with what they are actually capable of. As intelligence increases, the perception of one's capabilities tends to be underestimated while lower intelligence tends to yield an overestimation of one's capabilities. I'm not saying this statement is true or otherwise, I just know that there's a word or term that describes the phenomenon. What is that word or expression?


Can “due to” and “because of ” be used interchangeably?

Is it fine to use _due to_ in place of _because of_ ? How about the other way around? Are any of these sentences ungrammatical?   * He was lost because of the storm.   * He was lost due to the storm.   * He lost his way due to the storm.   * He lost his way because of the storm.


"Because of" vs. "due to" — best choice to explain a reason?

Given the sentence, > This exception was thrown ___ _ invalid input. Which preposition should I use to fill in the blank — _because of_ or _due to_? Is either generally preferable for specifying cause or reason?


is there anything wrong with "we have succeeded due to the fact that we work hard"?

the Manhattan GMAT book of sentence correction says that it is wrong but it doesn't mention any reason whatsoever. I cannot figure. please help.


‘Due to’ vs ‘Because of’ — Which is correct in this sentence?

_“Because of the graphic nature of this footage, viewer discretion is advised”_ , to me, is correct grammar with _“because of”_. But you'll often see it written and used on TV as: _“Due to the graphic nature of this footage, viewer discretion is advised._ ” I thought _due to_ was used only to mean _attributable to_ , as in: _The bad weather was due to [attributable to] the icy roads._ In the sentence below, _Because of the graphic nature of this footage, viewer discretion is advised,_ we need _because of_. We wouldn't say _Due to [Attributable to] the graphic nature of this footage, viewer discretion is advised._ Is _because of_ the truly correct grammatical choice in that sentence?


“Due to” vs. ”Because of”

I would please like to know which of the following sentences is the more accurate, and why that is so:   1. **Due to** recent economic problems, it has been difficult for many to find a job.   2. **Because of** recent economic problems, it has been difficult for many to find a job.


What's the difference between "selfkill" and "suicide"?

I think _selfkill_ is often used in games and _suicide_ in real life. Is that correct?


Is a comma the correct punctuation in "Help a thief?"

Recently, one of my friends on Facebook posted this cartoon in which a police officer helps a thief in response to the exclamation "Help a thief!" The contention is that the victim should have used a comma. However, in my eyes, a comma does not seem appropriate. Rather, I would expect an exclamation point, period, or colon. Is a comma correct for this situation?


Can't think of a name for a rhetorical figure

I have a feeling there's a name for a rhetorical figure, or perhaps a misuse of language, along the following lines: > He went out to get drunk, and the mail. In other words I'm looking for a term that describes what you do when you (for example) use a verb with what looks like a compound object, but one of the words isn't really an object but a word the verb governs in some quite different way.


Non-sexist term for girl drinks

Is there a non-sexist term for a ‘girl drink’ such as a strawberry daiquiri, banana sunshine, or squashed strawberry alley cat? I find these drinks delicious, and would like a term to refer them without any sexist connotations.


Pronunciation of "Wales" and "whales" in Scotland

I was brought up in Japan and I was taught that _w_ and _wh_ are pronounced differently. But after I came to the US I learned that they mostly sound the same. Now I watched this Youtube video where Craig Ferguson apparently misspoke _Prince of Wales_ as _Prince of Whales_ and the audience laughed. It looked like Craig (who is from Scotland) was comfortably distinguishing two sounds. Is it a trait of Scottish English that it distinguishes _w_ and _wh_? Or is it that even in the US the sounds _w_ and _wh_ are distinguished when they form a minimal pair like _Wales_ and _whales_? (i.e. in the case of _what_ , there's no word _wat_ , so you don't have to pronounce _h_ in _what_ ; but to distinguish _Wales_ and _whales_ you need to pronounce _h_.)


Describe a state where mental focus is spread too thin and/or on too wide a range of concerns?

At my work when I have a myriad tasks, could I say that my thoughts are dispersed amongst many objectives? I am trying to figure if I could use the term dispersed in a sentence to describe a state where a persons thoughts are not focused because the range of issues that concern her is too wide to efficiently handle at once. I read this: What's a good word for a lack of concentration? but it was not very helpful.


Antonym of syllogism?

"deduction" is a synonym of "syllogism". "induction" is an antonym of "deduction" I was wondering if there is a antonym of "syllogism" which share the same suffix as "syllogism"?


What is a word for someone who likes bossing people around?

I'm looking for a term for someone who get kicks by being bossy, or getting people to do what they demand.


Hypernym for "audiobook", "podcast", "speech", etc.?

I am looking for a short and concise term (preferably _one_ word) that can be used as a hypernym for essentially everything that contains (audio) speech (e.g. audiobooks, podcasts, recorded news bulletins, recorded performances of comedians,..). Does such a term exist? I've thought about 'speech', but that seems to be more adequate for e.g. political speeches, and not so much for audio books and the like. But maybe I'm wrong.


Idea project or ideas project

I've got three types of projects: idea, evaluation and recruiter. To refer to these projects, should I use "idea project" or "ideas project". Same question for the other types: Is it "evaluation project" oder "evaluations project"? Is it "recruiter project" oder "recruiters project"? An idea(s) projects is a project to gather ideas. Similarly an evaluation(s) project is a project to evaluate gathered ideas. A recruiter(s) project, is a project to recruit people.


Can one use 'prepare' instead of 'be prepared' or 'be ready'?

a) - The document you requested will take four days to be ready. b) - The document you requested will take four days to prepare. Does (b) give the same meaning as (a)? Is this a correct way to use 'prepare' as an intransitive verb? Thank you.


How to check phrasing and word choices?

I'm a native speaker of French, and even though I _think_ I have a rather good level in English, I always try to keep an open mind. (I learned English by absorbing from a lot of sources: TV, movies, video games, etc.) The problem with an open mind is that people always try to stuff things inside. Recently I was writing some documentation for a tool we sell, and on two specifics instances, a colleague corrected what I wrote by changing a big part of the sentence. When I asked what motivated the edits, he answered that he found my sentences too "written" (i guess they didn't roll off the tongue? or that they were not really elegant). I'm ready to admit my english may be a bit stilted at times, but here i'm not really sure it's the case. Specifically, would you say that his is a valid point? Here are the two edits in question, first my version then his. * * *   * In our example we would for example check the cache statistics with the powershell commandline for AppFabric, but **you can use whichever tool you’re most comfortable with**   * In our example we would for example check the cache statistics with the powershell commandline for AppFabric, but **feel free to use the tool you fancy** * * *   * This information is not **readily available** without knowing the ins and outs of every part of the program you’re using   * This information is not **easily accessible** without knowing the ins and outs of every part of the program you’re using * * * But to use my question as a launching pad towards something less specific, **how can i find out if a turn of phrase is pleasant/good/valid?** In this particular case i resorted to a simple google fight; it worked (kind of) for the "readily available" vs "easily accessible" which seemed to support my phrasing but this solution breaks down quickly when you don't have a readymade saying versus another. Are there other metrics than the "gut feeling" me and my colleague are resorting to?


"Wear off" or "ware off"

Iv'e seen both spellings of the phrase. Is one correct and the other incorrect or are they both acceptable? Does one belong to British English?


Is it correct to say: "I would do something, be it me"?

I mean that "I would do something, if it only were me. But it was not me, so I've done nothing".


Use of the word 'together' as in the Norfolk dialect

In the Norfolk dialect, which I learned at my mother's and grandmother's knee, the word 'together'(pronounced 'tergatha') is used in an additional sense. If there are two people outside I might say 'Come in here, together'. Or if I have company I might ask 'Would you like a cup of tea, together'. I am not asking that they enter the house simultaneously or that they speak in unison, I am just making it clear that I am addressing everyone. If one grows up in Norfolk and leaves the county one notices the need for this form, which no one else in Britain recognises. I am told that a similar expression is available in some Scandinavian languages, perhaps indicating Norfolk's special connection with the Vikings. I think it may also exist in German. Can anyone supply any information please?


Should a noun after the determiner *their* take in the form of singular or of plural?

Should I say > Some people use the word "flat" to describe their **phone** when **its > battery** is dead. or > Some people use the word "flat" to describe their **phones** when **their > batteries are** dead. (I wanted to use "their" here to refer to the phone's > instead of the people's) or > Some people use the word "flat" to describe their **phones** when **their > battery is** dead. (I wanted to use "their" here to refer to the phone's > instead of the people's) Which one is grammatically correct and why?


Antonym for handicap

What is the word (or expression?) for an artificially introduced advantage for a player in a sport or a game, with purpose to level the chances? I tried thesaurus for antonyms of handicap, but it gives only "advantage", "benefit" and "help" and none of them seem to fit the bill for this specific sense. (or did I reject one of these antonyms wrongly maybe?)


"Within the range of values from the literature" vs. "within the range of values in the literature"

Which is better English (if either)? >   * The results are within the range of values from the literature. >   * The results are within the range of values in the literature. >


A question introduced by "wonder"

> Granted that it is an idiomatic phrase, I still **wonder** how people came > to say it* _._ * > > Granted that it is an idiomatic phrase, I still **wonder** how people came > to say it* _?_ * > > Granted..., I still **wonder** how **did** people came to say it* _?_ * I am interesting in wonder governing clause, but not exactly know how to use it. Which version is right? Which is the best?


What does “intestine enemy” mean?

I’m particularly curious about the usage in Calvin’s commentary of Hebrews: > ...at the same time we are carrying on war with sin, our intestine enemy. However, here are some other examples.


Difference Between "Plot" and "Storyline"

What is the difference in story writing between a "plot," and a "storyline"? Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Edition) says a "story line" is "the plot of a story or drama," and Collin's COBUILD Dictionary says: "The storyline of a book, film, or play is its story and the way in which it develops. N-COUNT = plot." Does this mean that a "storyline" is just the same as a "plot"?   Thank you,   -h.


Polite way to inform that there is no need to reply (business language)

I am often requesting my colleges via email to update a status of a case they work on. The update (note) should be provided in application they work on which is also explained in my request. There is no need to reply to my email but many off them do. So I decided to add a note in my request: "If you can proceed with ticket update, there is no need to reply to this email." But it just doesn't sound right to me. Correct me if I am wrong. What is polite/bussines way to write that sentence ???


Etymology/Origin behind using "bitching" in a positive sense

Etymonline.com mentions this: > **bitch** (v.) "to complain," attested at least from 1930, perhaps from the > sense in bitchy, perhaps influenced by the verb meaning "to bungle, spoil," > which is recorded from 1823. But bitched in this sense seems to echo Middle > English bicched "cursed, bad," a general term of opprobrium (as in Chaucer's > bicched bones "unlucky dice"), which despite the hesitation of OED, seems to > be a derivative of bitch (n.). and then we have: > **bitching** (adj.) also bitchen, "good," teen/surfer slang attested from > 1950s, apparently from bitch (v.) in some inverted sense. How did the second, positive meaning arise from the first extremely negative (and long) history of the word? What and where are the earliest uses of the word in this newer positive meaning?


Single term that describes both "permissions" and "restrictions"

I'm looking for a single word or term that describes "the degree of being allowed", if you will, both in the positive sense (permission) and the negative sense (restricition). As a technical example, a user could be allowed to edit a file, but restricted from creating new files (explicitly restricted, as opposed to just not having the permission). A non-technical example would be an employee who is allowed to sign contracts on behalf of the company, but is explicitly forbidden from talking to the press on company matters (because that didn't work out well the last time). In each case, the word I'm looking for would encompass both. For example if X is my word, the folder in the employee's file that contains the list of things they may or may not do could be titled "Steve's Xs". The best word I can come up with is "access" or "access level", but that's not quite what I want because it's constraining the use to only a subset of imaginable permissions/restrictions (e.g. it would work for the first example, but not really for the second one). On the other end of the spectrum, the word "options" came to my mind, but that's 1) really too broad, and 2) has the connotation of choice, which isn't what I want.


negative infinitive: 'not to do something' versus 'to not do something'

Found in the _Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English_ under the entry 'to skip something': >   1. [transitive] not do something _informal_ **to not do** something that > you usually do or that you should do [= miss] > >   2. not deal with something [intransitive and transitive] **to not read** , > mention or deal with something that would normally come or happen next > > (My bold characters.) How common is this form of the negative infinitive, 'to not do something'?


About quality - "low", "bad" and "poor"

I need two words to describe the quality of some items - one word describing items of worse quality than the other. I read this question, Bad or Poor more severe. I'm uncertain if I fully agree with the answer about "bad" being worse than "poor", since poor people still can be good though... Being economically poor and criminally bad, is something different than being of poor quality and bad quality. I need two words to describe the quality of items - one being items of worse quality than the other - both being items of "bad" quality. I was thinking of using "low quality" and "poor quality" - but I guess "bad quality" may also be an option. The problem is that I'm uncertain if "low" or "poor" is the worse of them (I thought it low was higher quality than poor, but I may be wrong)... In any case, it's not obvious what's what. So, should I use "low" and "poor", "bad" and "poor", or "low" and "bad" ? What would be the ranging within the two ? Is there perhaps another better word to be used with "low" (or "bad") - or another set of words alltogether?


Meaning of "it's not even close" in this context?

In some dialog, I often see something like this: > Player A is voted as the toughest to play against and it's not even close. What does "it's not even close" mean in this context? Does that mean Player A is so tough that the second place is not even close to him?


Adjective to describe a task that will take a long time because it's a lot of work and/or a lot of waiting

I want to describe a software task (unit of work) that could take a long time, either because it's a lot of operations (processing time) or because it has to do communication with the network and there will be some waiting involved due to latency of the communication before the task can finish. Without making the question too technical, let's use the analogy of a person who has to do a job that will take a long time, not necessarily because it's a lot of work, but because there are uncertainties in how long it will take to get the work done. A **lengthy** task is close to what I want. However, I'm hesitant that it might convey more the "hard work" meaning (lots of work), and readers won't think of the other case (where latency is the reason it takes long). Is there a single-word adjective to capture this idea?


Is there a word for numbers and letters, but not punctuation, etc?

Is there a word that would refer to a number or a letter, but not any other character (like a comma or an exclamation mark)?


Relative pronoun verb agreement

In the sentence, “The dog gave me, who feeds him, a lick”, _feeds_ does not agree with the person of the antecedent to _who_. I know that a verb used with a relative pronoun has the same number and person as the noun or pronoun to which the relative refers. _Me_ is first person, yet it sounds incorrect to write, “The dog gave me, who feed him _[I feed him]_ , a lick”. What is my problem?


Euphemism for "a person one really detests / hates"?

Is there a word to mean "a person one really detests / hates"? The word "bastard" may be a good fit, but I'm looking for something though _forceful_ , is not _vulgar_.


"Hardware-counter-based tools" or "hardware-counter based tools"?

> **Possible Duplicates:**   >  Chainsaw-equipped or chainsaw equipped?   >  How to connect a word and a phrase with a hyphen?   >  "One-Day Only Promotion" or "One-Day-Only Promotion" Which is more correct? > Hardware-counter-based tools or > Hardware-counter based tools I don't even know exactly if I should put _hardware-counter_ or _hardware- counters_.


"adjective noun noun": which noun does the adjective refer to ("electrical system operators")

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How does the hyphen change the meaning in expressions like “high > performance” and “high-performance”?   >  Is there a grammar rule behind the hyphen in the phrase 'one-act play'?   >  Chainsaw-equipped or chainsaw equipped?   >  Should I use “ related” or “-related”   >  Hyphenation in compound adjectives   >  To hyphenate or not? I recently read the term "electrical system operators" in an article, and I immediately felt that this sounded wrong, because it is the system that's electrical, not the operators. I would always try to rwrite this as "operators of electrical systems". Do native English speakers have the same problem as me (I'm German)?