Is it proper to say I am going to "prom" or is it "the prom"

Is it proper to say I am “going to prom”, or is it “going to **the** prom”? If **prom** is short for _promenade_ , then it is a verb but usage has made it a noun? Is _prom_ a noun or verb?


Name(s) for the top and bottom of an apple

Not sure if this is a right place to ask this question, but I'll have a go. What do you call the ends of an apple, as in, the branch side, and its opposite side where it's caved in?


Word that describes interaction between things

The best word I've been able to come up with is _synergy_ , but I'm pretty sure I'm using it wrong, and if I'm not, it isn't commonly used to describe this. Here's my example case: If I have an employee, I want a (somewhat common) word to describe all of the employee's interactions with managers and customers and vice-versa (i.e. it could be all of a single manager's interactions with customers and employees.) ### Edit: Not sure why someone decided to downvote me, but I'd like a comment telling me what's wrong with my question.


To exact revenge or vengeance?

We are in the midst of a family disagreement about whether the correct phrase is > to exact **revenge** or > to exact **vengeance**. We could use a definitive answer (if one exists) or, at least, your guidance/best guess as to which one is preferred.


Which one is good for listening?

In order to improve my English listening/understanding ability, I listen several different documentaries at least 5 minutes per day. These documentaries are generally produced by BBC. They are in British English accent as you know. Is this a good selection? I mean that should I listen which one, American or British English accent? Which person (having English or American accent) can easier understand other accent (American or English accent). By the way, I open any other suggestion about listening because I saw that it is very useful for my language improvement in all dimensions.


"Make/do/take/run/keep/give a laugh" — which one makes sense?

My daughter's teacher (a Canadian in Italy) gave the class an exercise. They had to choose among _make_ , _do_ , _take_ , _run_ , _keep_ and _give_ , and insert the correct response in front of "a laugh". We are American and we were mystified. Is here a correct choice?


Is this correct: "Of [something] I have but none"?

This might be a pretty weird question, given that I'm using awkward grammar. Take into account that I'm trying to play with the language. The question is, would the following be correct? > Of milk I have but none. And, would that imply that I have no milk, or that I do not have no milk (so I do have some)? I understand that normally you would say it like this: > I have no milk. But, as I said earlier, all I'm doing is playing with the language. P.S: if this helps at all, I'm working with iambic pentameter.


Systemically vs systematically

From a colleague's email, > "Given that the expected business process is not working and has been > causing a lot of issues across different systems, it is evident that we need > to enforce the process systematically." Systemically or Systematically or better way to rewrite the sentence?


"Cant fight no more", is this grammatically correct? If not, what is the correct way of saying this?


Meaning of "like growing up"

What is the meaning of _like growing up_ in the following sentence? > Now, you grew up in Southern California. What was it **like growing up** on > the beach in the summer?


Is "Discrete" the correct/best term?

I have a page - similar to a wiki page - that contains descriptive information in paragraph form as well as a side bar with labels bits of information. This is a good example, the right size information bar. All the labeled bits of information; could I label that as "Discrete Data" or "Discrete Information"? Is there a more correct term for it?


Proper capitalization of commonly used acronyms

I was always under impression, that acronyms ought to be written all caps. However reading BBC News site very often I see some of the common acronyms written as proper names (first cap). For example _"Nato"_ instead of _"NATO"_. I know that BBC is quite strict in proper English usage, so what would be the reason behind this?


What should I call someone who has a tendency towards monologues? Would "monologist" be a logical neologism?


What's the difference between "rock" and "stone"?


"What's not to love?"

What do people really mean when they say "what's not to love"? Is there any context in particular to use this?


Is it safe to use "old" to mean "previous" for a person?

Is it safe to use " _old_ " to mean " _previous_ " or " _former_ " for something like "my old teacher"? Or is it a bit risky, because " _old_ " also has a meaning with respect to age (i.e., chronologically gifted)? Wiktionary doesn't give any warnings about " _old_ " potentially causing offense. But should it be avoided in this context anyway?


Is it proper English to say "allocate [someone] among [something]"

Searching on the Internet one can find plenty of sentences where "allocate [something] among [someone]" appears, for instance (Google Books):   * The Congress amended the law to require OPOs "to **allocate donated organs equitably among transplant patients** according to established medical criteria."   * It becomes effective if and when norms and categories for the distribution of insufficient capacities have to be established in order to **allocate scarce resources among several needy persons** through competition. But, if one tries finding a fragment like "allocate [someone] among [something]" the search results begin more scattered, almost like it is not proper or idiomatic English to use "allocate" that way. An example of this kind is (Google Books):   * If the solution to a problem can only be expressed in whole numbers, as would be the case if the problem involved how to **allocate people among various tasks or departments** , then linear programming models can't be used. So, is it proper English to say "allocate [someone] among [something]"?


In the cards or on the cards?

This seems to be a BrE/AmE distinction - is it? And do Americans use the phrase with more of a mystical Tarot card slant, compared to its British English meaning of simply 'likely to happen'?


he had few years ago

Federer, a Tennis player lost at Wimbledon to Djokovic. Can we say > He has not been in the classic form as he had few years ago. > > He is not in the classic form as he had few years ago. Are these sentence right and which is best to use?


"I can only hope to X"

When someone says "I can only hope to X", what does she mean? How is it different from the simpler expression "I hope to X"? Would it be _natural_ to use "I can only hope to" in the following case? > I know this is just the beginning of many more successes, and I can only > hope to celebrate them with you in the future. If not, what would be a good replacement in the above sentence? I would like to say that I am so confident that something will happen (in this case, the success of the person I am addressing), that the only uncertainty I have left is if I will be able to celebrate this success with her.


When did the valediction 'best regards' come into use?

_Best regards_ seems to be quite a popular valediction used in business emails, along with variants _kind regards_ , or just _regards_. The spoken expression "give him my regards" would appear to be a suitable starting point for the written valediction _Regards_ , but when did this become _best regards_? Has it ever existed in written letters?


Asparagalist for "orchid fancier"?

I am looking for a word for an "orchid fancier". That is someone who likes and collects orchids. I am pretty sure this is no existing word so I thought I would invent one. If a lepidopterist is a butterfly fancier then how about asparagalist for an orchid fancier?


When ending an email, should I use "Yours faithfully" or "Best regards"?

I've been taught to end business letters with "Yours faithfully" but I can see from my daily correspondence that "Best regards" is more commonly used but seems more informal. What term should be used and under what circumstances when writing email these days? * * * NOTE: If other terms exist too (for colloquial use or extreme formalism) I'd like to know that too.


"The powers above"

I found the following comment left in a website: > There was an offer to merge, but the API was completely different and I gave > up with the negative feedback. The attached zips were as far as I got, feel > free to continue the cause as it is a bit hard for me to do this from > Internet cafes in Mexico. > > Get ready for an abrupt closing of this issue by the powers above… It's not clear to me if _powers above_ is referring to the users who posted a comment before that comment, and who have the possibility to close an issue report in the same way questions are closed on Stack Exchange sites, or if _the powers above_ is a set phrase.   Which is the correct interpretation?


Shakespeare: "Asses are made to bear"

When Petruchio invites Katherine to sit on his lap, she replies, "Asses are made to bear, and so are you." ( _Taming of the Shrew_ Act II, Scene 1.) The denotation is clear, donkeys ( _Equus africanus asinus_ ) are used as beasts of burden, and "bear" loads, and Petruchio resembles a donkey. But is Shakespeare making a Joycean pun, 300 years _avant la lettre_? Something about bare bottoms?


Is “I wouldn’t have got left” grammatical?

In American English, is the following sentence grammatical? > If I had run faster, I wouldn’t have got left.


Specific and unspecific future

According to ENGLISHPAGE.com, if the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the Past Perfect is optional. Specific time: She HAD VISITED her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996. (Correct) She VISITED her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996. (Correct) However, if the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Unspecific time: Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used. She never SAW a bear before she moved to Alaska. (Not Correct) She HAD never SEEN a bear before she moved to Alaska. (Correct) Reference: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastperfect.html * * * My question is, is it the same way with Future Perfect and Future Simple tense? Specific time: By 11:00 am, I will + VERB(infinitive). (correct) By 11:00 am, I will HAVE + VERB(Past participle). (correct) Unspecific: By this time tomorrow/By the time he arrives, I will + VERB(infinitive). (Incorrect) By this time tomorrow/By the time he arrives, I will HAVE + VERB(Past participle). (Correct)


That which comes before the "sequel"

The word "sequel" comes from the the Latin word _sequela_ which means "that which follows" This Latin word is formed of two parts, "sequi" which is "to follow", and a suffix to make it a noun,"-ela". If "sequel" means a following work which continues the narrative of the main work, what is a work that is before the main work? As in " _Little Men_ is the sequel to _Little Women_ , but its " ** ___ __**" is actually _Jo's boys_ " I don't like "prequel", because it is assuming the root word is "quel", which isn't the fact. The fact is that "sequel" came from "sequi", and "prequel" doesn't actually come from anything. I would like an alternative. Does anyone have any suggestions for words referring to works predating the referred work other than prequel?


Are there any Ramadan greetings?

Is there a traditional or common greeting for Ramadan? People who celebrate Christmas routinely wish each other "Merry Christmas". At Hanukkah we say "Happy Hanukkah," etc. Do Moslems have a greeting for Ramadan? Do they wish each other "Happy Ramadan" or "Joyous Ramadan" or something similar?


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

I'm reading one of Aesop's fables: > A CHARCOAL-BURNER carried on his trade in his own house. One day he met a > friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that > they should be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping expenses > would be lessened. The Fuller replied, "The arrangement is impossible as far > as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately > blacken again with your charcoal." > > Like will draw like. What's the meaning of draw in the last sentence? I've checked the Oxford English dictionary but still cannot understand it.


Is the last word in “The past is ____.” ‘past’ or ‘passed’?

Which of the following is correct?   * “The past is past.”   * “The past is passed.” Both seem plausible to me.


Is this grammatical construction an imperative for the third person?

Is the construction 'Let + subject + verb' considered as an order/imperative for the third person: > Let every man count his days when it is intended to mean 'must'/'is ordered to'?


What is the difference in meaning between a "variable" and a "parameter" in a given equation?

Especially in mathematical usage, do _variable_ and _parameter_ mean the same thing? If not, can you explain the difference in meaning and usage?


Would it be correct to say: The first few years of a child's life play a key role in their development

The first few years of a child's life play a key role in their development. or should it be The first few years of children's lives play a key role in their development.


Why do we say "right-hand side"?

This question is in reference to the use of the word "hand" in "right-hand side" (and applies equally to the left). **My question is what does "right-hand side" say/imply that "right side" doesn't?**


"Might have" vs "could have"

What is the difference between _might have_ and _could have_? > He **might have** come. He might have studied. > > He **could have** come. He could have studied. How would you describe a possibility? For example: > It's possible that he **came** from a different culture. > > It's possible that he **come** from a different cutlure.


Legolas prodded him across the bridge ("You'll beg for mercy, but you'll get none from me, oho no!"), up the beech-lined path ("You'll never work in this country again, I'll bloody well see to that!") Source. What's the meaning of the expression "I'll bloody well see to that!"? It means something like "I'll make sure of that!" I am not sure what it really means.


"Not to worry" — unknown grammar category?

The phrase "not to worry" feels more like German grammar than English. What category of grammar is this, and are there any comparable examples?


Usage of future perfect

I have a question about the usage of the future perfect thingy: I know that it is used to talk about a completed action before a time in future, but is it wrong to use just plain future simple in this same case? For example, can we use > I will finish all my money by the end of the week. instead of > I will have finished all my money by the end of the week? Do native speakers follow this rule in their speaking?


Positive synonym for sacrifice

I am looking for a positive synonym for the word sacrifice. Something that highlights the positive qualities needed to sacrifice the old and go with the new.


Can one answer "Have you got...?" with "Yes, I've got."?

As an American in Europe I often get questions about the British "have got" which is hard for me to answer since I have little feeling for what is correct. E.g. someone today asked me: > If someone asks me, "Have you got a pencil" and I say, "Yes, I've got." Is > this incorrect? I told him, "Yes, that is incorrect, you should either say, 'Yes, I have' or 'Yes, I've got a pencil." I know, as an American speaker, I would answer, "Yes, I do" but in a British context, is my answer above correct?


What is the antonym of the prefix retro-?

A coworker and I are discussing the word "retromingent", which means urinating backwards. We are wondering what the opposite would be: the word that means urinating forwards. What is the opposite of the prefix "retro-"?


Is there a Shakespearean, perhaps even Romeo and Juliet-like quote for asking someone to work out with you?

It'd be awesome if someone knew the answer to this.


Why can't "had better" take a that-clause?

Given that we say things such as "I'd rather (that) you do it.", I'd expect "I had better (that) you do it." to be possible as well to mean "I would consider/find/have it better that you do it.", analogous to "I would consider/find/have it rather that you do it." ( _rather_ being the comparative of the archaic _rathe_ ). However, a quick search would show that this isn't used and is likely ungrammatical. Is there any reason behind this?


Erroring or Erring?

Is it more correct to say a computer program is `erroring out`, or it is `erring out`? Or are both statements grammatically incorrect?


Synonym for all-hands meeting

I want a synonym for _all-hands meeting_. Can anyone please help?


What's the difference of these words that means "to indicate by signs"?

> presage   >  bode   >  augur   >  betoken   >  omen   >  portend These are the words I learned today. Are they basically the same, or are they usually used in different contexts? I checked the _Google Ngram Viewer_ and it turns out that "presage" and "omen" are used much more commonly than the others, is it because these two are somewhat more colloquial?


Correct use of hyphen to prefix multiple words with one

I wrote: > An open -source and -society loving person and had this corrected by a native English speaker to > An open-source-and-society loving person Which to me changes the meaning of the phrase. The first one is meant to be short-hand for prefixing both "source" and "society" with "open", while the second one does not seem to connect "society" with "open". Is either of the forms more correct than the other? Should it be written differently all together?


Does "end up" have a negative connotation?

Maybe not, as some of the example usages in here, but it still has a negative feel to me. Is there some positive way that can be used instead?


Proper usage of a comma?

I am currently proofreading a research paper for my literature class, and I was unsure if this is an acceptable use of a comma: > Profound cultural and religious differences caused Smith to conclude that > the Natives were nothing more than barbarians and savages, an underlying > bias which runs deep throughout the entire story. Is this acceptable?


What does this “ they could not quite picture to themselves” mean

I tried to expand my vocabulary with reading book but always found the difficult sentences like these one


Appropriate use of "app" vs "application"

Can _app_ serve as an accepted abbreviation for _application_ in formal contexts? Is there some context where _app_ is more accepted (for example, when talking about mobile applications)?


"To be subject to" vs. "to be subjected to"

I read an article from _Toronto Star_ today which stated: > TTC workers are _subject to_ alcohol and drug testing. A later paragraph of the same article repeated it, except it used _subjected to_ instead of _subject to_. I have rarely seen the use of _subjected to_ before. Is it legitimate in English as well? Why didn’t the author just keep it consistent by using _subject to_ throughout the article? Does using varieties of forms enrich the expressions within an article?


Does "pro rata" need a preposition?

I see lawyer texts saying, for example "will be distributed pro rata shares held" Should this be "pro rata to shares held"?


'Where is' usage in spoken English

One often hears native English speakers use constructs such as "where is my trousers" or (from this forum in another post) "where is my parents and mothers?" Is that a case of spoken grammar differing from written grammar, a case of specific variants of English from different regional areas, or just a very frequent error in English (and given the frequency of occurrence are we bordering on a change in spoken grammar)? The question is not about the "logical" aspects but more about actual usage.


When backward compatibility is bad

Sometimes, making a poor design choice in the past prohibits the programmers from providing neat solutions in the future. You want to abandon the wrong route and start from scratch. Which word or phrase should you choose to stigmatize that bad choice and your situation? I did not expect it to be a technical term. Might be just a proverb. You might explain to people that something is bad by recalling a proverb.


Meaning of "dress style"

Does _dress style_ mean _attire_ , or is it specifically a style of dress worn by women? For example: "What is the proper dress style for the interview?"


A Simile for a Strenuous activity

Could anyone offer some similes for a strenuous activity. The context is that: you can have all sorts of great ideas at random times and random places but "when you actually sit down and make an effort to come up with a good idea it’s more akin to [insert simile for something strenuous or difficult]"


"Walk my way" in the following

Can I use "walk my way" in the following situation: > I had an argument with a bus driver about the elections, and she got really > angry. So I had to get off the bus and _walk my way_.


Is "binded" a valid word?

I see this word used in lot of places. Even a Google Search with this word yields some references to articles that use this word. binded


"He rolled his toilet things into his housewife"

From C.S. Forester's Hornblower and the Hotspur: > [The naval captain] rolled his toilet things into his **_housewife_** and > tied the tapes. ODO does provide a second definition for _housewife_ which clarifies this usage: > **/ˈhʌzɪf/** a small case for needles, thread, and other small sewing items. Besides its curious pronunciation, I'd like to know how _housewife_ came to mean the above. Any other related information will also be much appreciated.


Is this a morphological error? or an instance of neologism?

A learner's error of translation: > Hand me the pincers. (for pliers) Is this an error of morphology; or is it, as I think, a neologism, in that the learner substitutes a term he already knows for the correct word in the vocabulary. Am I correct or totally wrong?


Word/phrase for free flight rides given to pilots

I remember that pilots are given free flight rides on other flights and that there was a particular term/phrase for this. Any ideas?


What tense is the verb "has been raised"?

In the sentence "Christ has been raised." what tense is the verb?


How to write past perfect forms of two verbs in one sentence

> (1) Alex **had** quit his job and started a company before he won the > lottery. > > (2) Alex **had** quit his job and **had** started a company before he won > the lottery. I want to indicate that the act of quitting the job and starting a company happened before winning the lottery. I think (1) is grammatically correct and conveys the intended meaning. The word "had" before the word "started" in (2) seems unnecessary. Is my understanding correct?


Is "I already have two stamps drawn" grammatically correct?

Is it grammatically correct and is it the right way to say that I have something already made and I'm still doing it, in this case drawing the stamps? Because as far as I know, 'have' should be after 'I', like this: 'I have already (but what should go there then?) two stamps drawn'?


showings of a movie at different times of the day

I know matinee refers to an afternoon showing of a movie. How about morning, evening, and midnight showings? Any specific terms?


Omission of the ''to be'' verb from this sentence

My instructor asked me to omit the ''to be'' verb in this sentence: Her house was across the street, an enormous neoclassical edifice with a formal garden. I tried: Situated across the street, her house, an enormous neoclassical edifice, had a formal garden. But, this doesn't seem right to me grammatically. Can anyone suggest me the right way of conversion?


Should there be an article before "mayor" in "the role of mayor"?

> SimCity, for example, casts youth in the role of mayor. I'm not sure if I understand the usage of zero article correctly. There is no article before 'mayor' as this is the instance where we refer to something that is already unique. Is that so? (for anyone who's interested, the context is in the middle of page 6 here)


Present Continuous or Present Simple in a Meeting

Which one of the following should be used if I am asking about an event or a meeting: >   1. Are we meeting today? >   2. Do we have a meeting today? >   3. Are we going to have a meeting today? >   4. Are we going to meet today? >   5. Will we have a meeting today? >


Are 'ages' and 'aged' acceptable in those sentences?

> I teach children aged 10 to 14. > > I teach children ages 10 to 14.


Preposition with 'claim': 'to' or 'on'?

What is the correct preposition to be used in the blank? Is it _to_ or _on_? > My cousins have a claim **___ _** our property.


Showing a Reader and Strong Understanding of the Language

> New to this branch of SE if I'm in the wrong corner, let me know. > > I've often found creative writing to be a nice way to relax; however, as > hobbies go, if I'm going to invest time in something I want it to be done > right. I'm trying to improve my understanding of the English language as a whole, and as a result I need some guidance on first knowing what I need to know. My understanding of the English language is inferred: I understand syntactic structure while writing because it's my native language. I believe that in order to move past boring technical writing that's devoid of any emotion, I need to better understand the structure of the language as a whole. I cannot tell you the difference between a noun and a pronoun, other than the obvious character count. I have tried basic searches online; however, much of what I've found is related to people learning the language secondarily, or for children. I'm hesitant to review the Wikipedia articles on English because of concerns of accuracy. There's also the issue that the definitions provided tend to be scattered across a multitude of pages, making determination of the most expedient path, of learning this, difficult to know. I'm looking for suggestions for reading material that can help someone build an understanding from the ground up, with the hopeful goal of mastery, without assuming the reader is an idiot. Please answer under the assumption that I know English, but my semantic knowledge-base, with respect to isolating grammatical components, is zero.


"A book to be read" vs "a book to read"

Which is grammatically correct: "a book to be read" or "a book to read"? And what is the difference?


what does "To err is human; to err humble is divine" mean?

Read this in an article referring to "the best way to introduce yourself" and wanted more clarity on this statement "To err is human; to err humble is divine"


what is the correction preposition to be used in the blank? (in/of)

Have you read the humorous stories **_** the Panchatantra?


What does the word "only" mean in this sentence?

I recently met a quiz question and I am not sure what it means. The question is as follows (no context): > We only need to save the stack pointer for a non-leaf procedure. Just for reference, the "non-leaf procedure" means procedures that call other procedures. Does it mean: >   1. The only thing we need to save in a non-leaf procedure is the stack > pointer. >   2. The stack pointer needs to be saved only when it's in a non-leaf > procedure. > Although common sense tells me 2 is more likely to be the intention of the question setter, I am not sure what this sentence really mean in terms of English syntax. I am not a native English speaker.


How do you pronounce "but"?

In which context do you use the stressed bʌt and when do you use the unstressed bət? How often is that? If you know about the website www.forvo.com, I think it's a shortcoming that speakers use only one of the two versions.


Prepositions used with "impact"

When A impacts B, do we always say "A has an impact **on** B"? Or does it depend on what A and B are? For example, is it right to say, "the recession had a great impact **in** Dubai?" I have also seen the proposition "to" being used with the word impact. Which is the correct form?


Why are there so many words that mean "whore" and what's the difference?

* whore[hɔr]    * hustler['hʌslɚ]   * doxy ['dɒksɪ]    * strumpet[ˈstrʌmpɪt]    * harlot['hɑrlət]    * courtesan ['kɔrtɪzn]    * trull[trʌl]    * cocotte[kɒ'kɒt]   * trollop['trɑləp] what's the difference between them?


Why do we say a check "bounced"?

A "bounced check" is a check that cannot be processed by the bank because the party who wrote the check has insufficient funds to cover the amount of the check. (To my understanding it is a non-formal term; in other words, it's not the terminology the bank would use.) I've heard this term used in the following ways:   * The bank charges me a fee for any _bounced checks_ that I cash, so make sure you have enough money in your checking account!   * I must not forget to deposit my paycheck today or my rent check will _bounce_. A ball bounces, but a check just flutters to the floor. How did the term "bounce" come to mean a check that lacks funds?


"liquidate" in metaphorical sense

Merriam-Webster reads: **Main Entry: liq·ui·date**   Pronunciation: \ˈli-kwə-ˌdāt\   Function: verb   Inflected Form(s): liq·ui·dat·ed; liq·ui·dat·ing   Etymology: Late Latin liquidatus, past participle of liquidare to melt, from Latin liquidus   Date: circa 1575   **transitive verb**   1 a (1) : to determine by agreement or by litigation the precise amount of (indebtedness, damages, or accounts) (2) : to determine the liabilities and apportion assets toward discharging the indebtedness of b : to settle (a debt) by payment or other settlement   2 archaic : to make clear   3 : to do away with   4 : to convert (assets) into cash   **intransitive verb**   1 : to liquidate debts, damages, or accounts   2 : to determine liabilities and apportion assets toward discharging indebtedness > Dissidents were all _liquidated_ or driven into exile. Where does this connotation of the verb 'liquidate' come from?


What's the meaning of the expression "gold-plated commandos"?

One guy is leading a bunch of weird guys. They are hunting monsters. The leader says: > I'd be surprised if either one of them could dream up gold-plated Commandos. The leader is talking about James Whale and Tod Browning. I know that gold-plated means covered with a thin layer of gold, but I do not know exactly he means by saying _gold-plated Commandos_. If the definition of commando is > a member of a military assault unit or team trained to operate quickly and > aggressively in especially urgent, threatening situations, as against > terrorists holding hostages. then I think _gold-plated commandos_ do not have a pejorative meaning. Am I right?


Is “purse-lipped mother-in-law” an established word representing for a woman who is censoriousness and nagging about everything?

I found an interesting phrase, “ _purse-lipped mother-in-law_ ” in the following lines of the article titled “The newspaper that rules Britain,” which appeared in New Yorker magazine, April 2nd, 2012 issue. The article deals with the way the Daily Mail treated the news of the defrocking from knighthood of former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Fred Goodwin: > In the _Mail’s_ cosmology, men are giants or pygmies, strong or weak. (Women > are assessed by other metrics.) Such is the _Mail’s_ censoriousness that > British _Esquire_ recently deemed it the nation’s “purse-lipped mother-in- > law.” After the affair, Goodwin obtained from the High Court a gag order > that forbade the British media from reporting it. The phrase _purse-lipped mother-in-law_ reminds me of a Japanese idiom, _kojuto-no-yomeibiri_ – a universal habit of a mother-in-law fond of bullying her daughter-in-law (who married her son). Does _purse-lipped mother-in-law_ mean the same – a censorious woman who always chews out her daughter-in-law (or anyone around her)? Can I say "purse- lipped wife"? Is it a popular English phrase?


To have something done

I have commentaries which should be sent to a server. After doing it, I'll say: > I have got all the commentaries sent. Does my sentence sound natural?


Verbs with Inanimate Subjects

Is it appropriate to use phrases such as the following in technical prose?   * The road runs south.   * The river turns to the west. While I understand that literary texts often use such constructions, roads technically do not "run" and rivers do not "turn" since they are inanimate objects. Can these constructions be used in technical writing?


Antedecent of "it" in "it fared with him as with the storm-tossed ship" in context

> When on that shivering winter's night, the Pequod thrust her vindictive bows > into the cold malicious waves, who should I see standing at her helm but > Bulkington! I looked with sympathetic awe and fearfulness upon the man, who > in mid-winter just landed from a four years' dangerous voyage, could so > unrestingly push off again for still another tempestuous term. The land > seemed scorching to his feet. Wonderfullest things are ever the > unmentionable; deep memories yield no epitaphs; this six-inch chapter is the > stoneless grave of Bulkington. Let me only say that **it** fared with him as > with the storm-tossed ship, that miserably drives along the leeward land. What does the bolded _it_ refer to here?


When do we use "suppose" and when "let"?

As a matter of fact, these two words are used a lot in mathematical contexts. Often, we use them interchangeably; but I do realize that that might not be correct. What should I do about this matter? To be honest, a student of mine has asked me about these two words and when to use each. Any help?


Past conditional statements

What is the difference between the following two statements? > If I went home for dinner, I took a glass of soft drink. > > If I went home for dinner, I _would take_ a glass of soft drink. Are both of them correct? If not, why can't we use the second one? And if I say: "Would both of them be correct?" instead of "Are both of them correct?", which one would sound more natural?


What's a better way of saying "rarely used"

I'm writing an article about using rarely used English words and how to learn and use them. As an example I'd like to find an alternate way of saying "rarely used" I believe there should be one word for this in the English language.


Does "Stop aping!" sound natural?

A teenager is acting in a very silly and annoying way making faces and rapidly changing his postures. His father gets really annoyed by it and tells him "Stop aping!" Does "Stop aping!" go okay here or it's a bit unnatural? If the latter is true, what would you say in that situation? (American English preferred)


What other words can be used instead of "hideable"?

I'm trying to name a class representing objects that can be hidden and reshown. I'm wondering if there's a better term than "hideable object".


Should I use two "not" here in this sentence?

Should I use:               "This approach is not economic and user friendly blah blah ..."      Or               "This approach is not economic and not user friendly blah blah ..."      Or anything else?


comes with and side item

I am confused with following phrases, how these two phrases work,please help me. Thank you! Match them with their meanings >   1. comes with >   2. side item > > >    (a) to be included with a meal > >    (b) added to, or along with the main part of a


Where can I read old English text with new English explanations

I like old English like "Coole their heeles", "thee" ,"thy" ,"ye" etc. Where can I find old English text but with explanations and meaning? I would also like to read old text, can you list them too, like top 100 classical English texts. Will be a big plus if available on Project Gutenberg.


What is a word for the art of making watches/clocks

In French, such an interest/profession is referred to as **horlogerie** from **horloge** (watch/clock). I am just wondering if there is an equivalent term in English?


Brackets Vs Parenthesis

I came across this question on Meta Stackoverflow, where a discussion was going on in the comments about the terms _brackets_ and _parenthesis_ and the right usage of them. It seems there is a different usage in British English and American English. Because I’m German I didn't had a clue about this and would like to know if there really is a difference. The Oxford Dictionary denotes brackets as: ( ) and [ ], but I think { } and < > belong to this family too. Where for example { } are curly-brackets. Parenthesis is the term only for ( ). Is this true for both, British and American English, if not where is the exact difference?


Suppose for example I want to buy something, but don't have enough money on me. If I want to come back later to get it and don't want it to be sold before I come back, what do I say to them? Is there any way to say - "Can you put this aside for me for a few hours till I get back?"


Must cookies contain chocolate in BrE?

In British English, my friend informed me that my use of the word _cookie_ was incorrect in referring to a baked item having no chocolate bits in it. Instead the appropriate term would have to be _biscuit_ , as _cookie_ always required some form of chocolate to be inside the biscuit. Is this assertion correct? The Oxford dictionary only explains the meaning in American English, not British English: "A sweet biscuit." In case this is relevant, the object in question was a slightly sweet ginger- biscuit/cookie.


Why use "of" in the phrase "delivered of a baby"?

With all the "Royal baby" craze comes something that really confuses me. All the news media used pretty much the same sentence to make the announcement: > The Duchess of Cambridge has been delivered **of** a son. A couple of questions:   * Why not "The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a son" or "delivered a baby", or something along those lines?   * Why is "of" used in this structure, and what purpose does it serve? From a non-native English speaker's perspective, this sentence doesn't seem to make any sense at all to me.


"How can X be" vs. "how does X can be"

I have a Spanish friend, who wrote the following sentence: > "How does foo, bar, baz can be compared?" I corrected it to read: > "How can foo, bar, baz be compared?" Other than the obvious, he has asked me to explain why the first is wrong, and the second (maybe) is correct. Any help?


Writing styles in English

I want to ask you about the types of writing styles existing in English (analysis, arguments, narratives...). Are there other styles. And what are the clues (key words or structure) to identify these types when reading an article, a book, or a passage? What is the structure of each of these ?


Difference between "she cut her hair" and "she cut her hair off"?

Why are we using _off_ here? What additional meaning does it add? The meaning of _off_ from http://tfd.com/off that suits this sentence is: "away (from a place, time etc.)".


Baby box vs playpen

What's the difference? I would suspect that it has different origins, but **playpen** can be found in both the us-/en english dictionaries. And it's a bit hard to search for **baby box** :)


The pronunciation of "'ll" in spoken English

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Pronunciation of "'ll" Trying to understand completely how " _'ll_ " should be pronounced in spoken English, I uploaded a part of AJ Hoge lesson. You can listen to it here. And the question concerns me a lot is: Does AJ exactly tell about the "dark L" and use it (the "dark L") as well in this lesson and especially in the end of one? And should it be pronounced as "/əl/"?


How does "off" fit in this sentence?

I was just studying the various meanings of 'off' on http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/off and I stuck up at just the second example sentence: > She dashed off to her room. The meaning of 'off' this sentence is an example of is, "away from the place in question; to or at a distance". If I omit 'off' from the sentence, it seems okay to me: > She dashed to her room. [She ran in hurry to her room.] What does 'off' do here?


Is "baddest" a proper word?

I just came across this documentary: ![The World's Biggest & Baddest Bugs by Animal Planet](http://i.stack.imgur.com/xTftC.jpg) > The World's Biggest & Baddest Bugs by Animal Planet Is "baddest" a proper word? Shouldn't it be "worst"? What is going on here?


Difference between second actor coming first or second with trivalent verbs

Take the following two sentences: >   1. She gave him an apple. >   2. She gave an apple to him. > What is the difference between the two sentences? I heard that the object at the end of the sentence gets more emphasis, but I know that there is no emphasis on the object at the end of the sentence. Instead, the object at the end of the sentence will be new information and the other is old information. Am I right?


Looking for a word meaning "where or who it came from"

I'm trying to describe feedback from a software system. I believe if the application's emails seems like they are from a person rather than an automated message it will get a better response from the user. When talking and writing about this I need a more formal word for this idea. In an example sentence > The **[word]** of the feedback makes a difference in user's response. I originally thought **locus**. When I read definitions of it though, I don't think it's the right thing, but close. **Note:** this isn't spam mail, it's analytics reporting to users identifying issues in their comprehension of topics to promote help-seeking remediation. I don't need information about how spam bots are dumb and ineffective.


Which is correct: "prefer X to Y" or "prefer X over Y"?

Many say that "prefer X to Y" has a more formal ring to it than "prefer X over Y". Are there any dialects where you wouldn't use "prefer X to Y" in colloquial speech at all? Conversely, are there any manuals of style that discourage using "prefer X over Y" in formal writing?


"Prefer tea to/over coffee"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Which is correct: "prefer X to Y" or "prefer X over Y"? Which is correct? > I prefer tea **to** coffee. > > I prefer tea **over** coffee.


To be versus have in their passive forms?

'He'd only had it told to him by the townspeople'. What is the difference between this passive construction and if it had said, 'He was only told...'?


"created at" or "created in"

I'm making a program and I need to label a "creation date" field. I'm not sure whether to write > Created in ___ _ or > Created at ___ _


Is there any reason why English doesn’t add respectful words in every sentence?

My mother tongue, Korean, and its neighbor Japanese have postpositions for expressing honoring the opposite in each sentence when we say to seniors or strangers if these are younger than the speaker. While English has no such postpositions or whatever that is to attached to each sentence. Now I have a question. When you English native speakers say to seniors or strangers if these are younger than you, do you think that you are honoring the opposites by saying at times some respectful words, just like in the math we calculate A * (X + Y + Z) into A * X + A * Y + A * Z? Or is there any reason not to use the words that the two languages do?


When refering to a claim written in a book, how do you refer to it if there are two authors?

When analyzing a piece of writing, I was taught to refer to claims made by using the author's last name. For example if Donald Duck wrote the book "How to Build Boats" and I was analyzing it, I would write "According to Duck, a hammer and nails is necessary for building a boat". What if there is more than one author and it's not clear which is responsible for any given sentence? How would then? Also how would parenthetical references look? For example if the book was written by Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse and I wanted to quote "boats need water to float" would it look like this: > As has been observed countless times "boats need water to float" and this > would be problematic in dry desserts (Duck, Mouse). I was also taught it's bad to refer to "the paper" or the book itself since technically it's an inanimate object that is not making the claim, the authors are. For example it's bad to say > The book argues water is necessary for a boat to float Come to think of it I guess the rule in context dependent, for example in an instruction manual wouldn't you say "the book explains how to assemble the chair" but in an analysis of the film _Blade Runner_ you would say "Thomson argues that the character Roy Batty has a general disrespects for eyes" instead of "The paper argues that the character Roy Batty has a general disrespect for eyes"?


What is the proper characterization of a US military officer in popular press?

What is the proper way to represent in popular press the status of a commissioned officer of the United States Marine Corps. who is not retired, has a continuing service commitment, but is no longer active for duty? Possible example:               Joe Smith is a Officer in the United States Marine Corps.      Unlike all other branches of service Marine officers are commissioned, by both custom and law, for life. Logically the above is accurate it just sounds incorrect.


Why will I see you in Hell?

If you say, "I'll see you at the party", you mean, "You and I are going to the party and I will see and speak to you there." If you say, "I'll see you hang!", you mean "You will be sentenced to hang for your misdeeds, and I plan to attend the execution" or even "I will take steps to ensure [i.e., 'see to it'] that you are properly punished." But if you say "I'll see you in Hell", do you mean "You are destined for eternal punishment, which I will witness from a pleasant seat in Heaven" or "I'm so determined to stop you that I will take steps so extreme that they will cause both our deaths and even earn me damnation alongside you." It probably won't happen any time soon, but if the occasion to snarl "I'll see you in Hell" does arise, I want to be able to do so in full confidence that I'm saying what I mean. **EDIT** The collective wisdom seems to be ambiguous on whether the implication is "You are going Hell for your misdeeds, and I will help the process along by killing you" and "Your death (which I may or may not hasten) and subsequent damnation will occur before you are able to carry out your current plans."


"Almost until 1900" or "until almost 1900": which one is correct?

> Although various eighteenth- and nineteenth-century American poets had > professed an interest in Native American poetry and had pretended to imitate > Native American forms in their own works, it was not **_until almost 1900_** > that scholars and critics seriously began studying traditional Native > American poetry in native languages.


"Why can't I see?" or "Why I can't see?"?

Which of the following is correct? > Why can't I see?   >  Why I can't see? I am a bit confused, since both have inversion, negation and a "why" in the beginning.


Is there a word for batlike?

The word for snakelike is ophidian. The word for froglike is batrachian. Is there a word for batlike?


some questions about pronunciation

I notice that some words have the same prefix but are pronounced differently; for example: _precision, preference, prescription,_ etc. Are there rules about pronunciation that you apply when you find a word you don’t know how to pronounce, or do you refer to the dictionary?


How do I say "every three hours" in one word?

Given that _tri-hourly_ means thrice every hour, how then do I say _every three hours_?


Is "engendered the creation of..." redundant?

Is it? For example: > The lack of natural resources engendered the creation of a complex religion > in Mesopotamia.


Synonym for I will get back to you or I come back to you?

What is the synonym for saying I will get back to you or I come back to you?


"Although, the causes of..." or "Although the causes"?

I'm correcting something which my friend wrote. He wrote about incidents that had occurred while working in a mine, and stated that although the _cause_ of each incident may have been different, they had in common a single reason: the workers did not follow the rules. Here is the sentence: > Although, the causes of each incident may have been different, the same > common reason applies:... I believe that placing a comma after _although_ is incorrect. My friend believes that it is correct. Would you please shed some light on this?


Correct use of "mooted"

Is the use of _mooted_ correct here? I keep thinking the author wanted _bruited_. Yesterday I heard an economist in the UK use it in the same way. > Coffee mooted as a breast cancer preventer.


Is "aren't I" correct grammar?

Since "amn't I" is so clunky, is "aren't I" grammatically correct? Or is the only way to say this "Am I not"?


Is "acknowledge(accept status) sb + to + infinitive" valid?

When _to acknowledge_ is used in the sense of _to admit_ the gerund is used. > I acknowledge having made a mistake. However, I was wondering what is the appropriate form in the sense of _to accept status_.   I found this sentence on the Internet: > He only hoped the applause was a result of his delivery and not to > acknowledge him being voted most valuable player. I think that this sentence means he was first voted as the most valuable player and for that reason people can _acknowledge him being voted_. The jury who voted him the most valuable player, however, gave their votes beforehand; thus, using gerund would be wrong if my previous statement is true. Hence I guess: > The jury acknowledged him to be the most valuable player. Imho, this is the active form fitting to the passive: > He is acknowledged to be the most valuable player. I still have my doubts if the "acknowledge sb to be"-form is valid. I didn't find any examples on the web. So, is that sentence fine or must it be something like: > The jury acknowledged him as the most valuable player.


"Until you apologised" vs. "until you have apologised" vs. "until you apologise"

What is the most correct way of saying to someone that I won't speak to him before he has apologised. >   1. I won't speak to you until you have apologised for what you have done. >   2. I won't speak to you until you apologised for what you have done. >   3. I won't speak to you until you apologise for what you have done. >   4. I won't speak to you until you have apologised for what you did. >   5. I won't speak to you until you apologised for what you did. >   6. I won't speak to you until you apologise for what you did. >


How to say "You have this much work to do because you decided to do that much" more elegantly?

I want to try word this a bit more elegantly, fancy, etc. Basically that is a reply to a co-worker who said to me in an email saying "Too much work to do!" and I want to reply to that in an intelligent way. I was thinking about something along the line of "You only have so much as you decided to have." but that doesn't sound right at all. Any English experts out there can help?


what can be the antonyms of "motivation"?

What words or phrases can work best as containing the opposite (antonyms) meaning of the word, "motivation(s)"? I am trying to find a word that describes the "reasons that make a person not want to do something." For example, watching political TV programs motivates viewers to want to vote. The Watching TV is serving as motivation for political engagement in this sense. What would be the opposite meaning of motivation in this context? For instance, if I want to say "watching political commercials makes people not want to vote (I am making up a sentence here)." What would be the noun form for demotivation? Other words or phrases than demotivation in this context?


Is there another way to say 'secret handshake'?

I feel that 'secret handshake' isn't an appropriate name for the way some people elaborately greet each other. Some friends have complex hand grasps and what not, and other people may simply shake hands and pat each other's back.


How would one use the term "heavy sugar," and how did it originate?

I first heard the term "heavy sugar" in a song by the same title, by the band Calhoun. The usage in the song is: _"I've got heavy sugar in the bank."_ Some searching brought me to a jazz slang site that says it means "a lot of money." There doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there on its origin or usage - I only found a few brief acknowledgments of it being a jazz slang term, and they consistently dated it to the late '20s. Anyone have further info on its usage and origins?


Hypernym for human organs, body parts, etc

I'd like to find a hypernym for human organs such as liver and lung, body parts such as left upper arm, piece of muscle such as biceps, and other systems such as human body fat, body fluids. Is there a proper word I can use to refer to these? **Edit:** How about just "anatomical component"?


"It will be more of a sucks for him ..."

I've seen the disparaging sense of _sucks_ as a verb ("sucks to be you", "that sucks!"), but this particular usage from _Price Caspian_ seems a little odd: > Lucy heard Edmund say, "No, let me do it. It will be more of a sucks for him > if I win, and less of a let-down for us all if I fail." My interpretation was that _It'll be a sucks for him_ is intended to convey "It will be a victory for us", with strong implications of humiliation and embarrassment for Trumpkin. However, I can't find a dictionary definition which _quite_ matches this use of the word. > **eat crow** , _Informal_. to be forced to admit to having made a mistake, > as by retracting an emphatic statement; suffer humiliation: _His prediction > was completely wrong, and he had to eat crow._


Lexical class of "walking" in this sentence

Reading the sentence shown in the sign below got me thinking about what part of speech, or lexical class, the word 'walking' is. "In grammar, an adjective is a 'describing' word; the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified." So I thought 'walking' was an adjective. But, "In grammar, an attributive verb is a verb which modifies (gives the attributes of) a noun as an attributive, rather than expressing an independent idea as a predicate." So, at second look, 'walking' seems an 'attributive verb'; therefore the word is a participle. **Is it**? Or is the word a gerund? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/AW7Yx.png)


What part-of-speech will the new "because" be?

The American Dialect Society has voted _because_ as the Word of the Year owing to its increased use in phrases such as "because happy," "because sad," and "because bored." Since it takes an object, it might be thought of as a preposition, but (as in the third example) it sometimes takes a participle or an adjective, can we really call it a preposition? I need to know because curiosity.


A single word to describe someone who is both old and wise

I am trying to find a word which describes someone who is both old and wise. I would like the word to describe someone who is extremely frail and infirm. It might also have the connotation that their counsel is odd or hard to follow, even if it is sound advice.


"if it wasn't for..." vs "if it weren't for"

Should it be "if it weren't for holes, a bagel would be a bun" or "if it wasn't for holes, a bagel would be a bun"? I've been reading about the subjunctive and how it is generally used with "if" where "if" expresses a wish or refers to something that doesn't exist - but I'm not sure in this case. 'Holes' exist... but the sentence is talking about what it would be like if they didn't exist.


What is a single word for a person who, as a habit, exaggerates a lot when relating information? So for example, they relate something that happened but exaggerate so much that they are including clear falsehood and they are well known for doing that.


Expression for when you've fixed something, but something else breaks? And repeatedly?

Is there an expression for the situation where you've just fixed something, only to find out that your fix broke something else? So you fix that something else, and another thing breaks. And so on and so forth? Totally inspired by my current work at my job.


Word for things come easily to me so I don't try?

I don't want to say I am lazy, because that's not the closest match. I am not apathetic, because I do care. Does anyone know the word to describe not trying hard because things come easily...?


Software bug formal usage

Is it appropriate to use terms "software bug" and/or just "bug" in formal report? What else could be used instead? Defect?


What is the origin of "pretty" as slang for "somewhat"?

We now often hear phrases like: > That's pretty interesting. The word "pretty" here is used to say "somewhat," "considerably/rather," or something along those lines (if a little stronger). However, this definition doesn't appear in any dictionary I've searched. What is the earliest known use of this form? More generally, how did this use of "pretty" come about?


What is the literary term for the redemption act of a character?

For example: in the story Star Wars, you have the story Darth Vader. In the second movie, a plot twist reveals Darth Vader as Lukes father. At the end of third, he then undergoes **_** where he kills the emperor and saves Luke. What is blank? I believe the term is redemption, but is there a different literary term?


"I'm on the brew"

A conversation between two Scots: > — What do you do for a living?   >  — I'm _on the brew_. Assuming that I have the phrase right, what exactly does "on the brew" mean here? Based on the context, I expect that it has something to do with "being unemployed". Where did the term originate and where exactly is it used and understood?


What is the grammatical function of "never"?

What is the grammatical function of "never" in the following sentence? > You will have to do something you've _never_ done. Is it an adverb? My father disagrees with this. In "I have studied" vs. "I have _not_ studied" and "I have done" vs. "I have _never_ done", the _not_ and _never_ have the same function, as stated by my father. He says it has something to do with disagreeing. But he doesn't know the grammatical term for the structure. Can someone tell me the specific grammatical term, if there is one? If it is an adverb, is it a specific type?


New verb: "to verbal"

I seem to be noticing this one entering the popular lexicon lately, but cannot find a good definition. Examples: >   * No, you're just verballing... >   * Leakegate: Leake verballed Richard Dawkins >   * Jailed man sues over police verballing > Usually used in a debate, it seems to suggest that someone is twisting or misconstruing someone else's statement. Of course, it comes from the adjective _verbal_ , but seems to mean something different.


What is the etymology of "hautboys"?

Strangely, Etymonline.com doesn't give an etymology. I looked up Dictionary.com, and came up with: > 1565–75; < Middle French hautbois, equivalent to haut high ( see haughty) + > bois wood ( see bush1 ) So, how did this word "high wood" come to mean oboe?


"at all the vertices", what does this mean?

My professor has written a statement like this: > function is non-negative at all the vertices of the structure S and positive > at some vertex for a publication. It is a peer-reviewed publication so it should not have mistakes but I find at least two different meanings for this statement:   1. Does it mean _"function is non-negative at all **of** the vertices in the structure S and positive at some vertex"_?    2. Or does it mean _"the function is not non-negative at all in the vertices of the structure S"_?


Difference between "had + past" and "would have + past"?

Is there any difference between these two statements? When should each be used? >   * I thought you had slept. >   * I thought you would have slept. >


Can I use the word "milks" when discussing KINDS of milk

Heard at the cafe: "We have three milks: soy, almond, and cow." Is it ok to use the word "milks" in this context? I've heard it in other uncountable nouns, like "essential oils", or "simple sugars", or "red wines", so why can't we ask, "which milks do you have?"


Does this translation make sense?

I'm trying to translate a piece of my poem which is in Persian into English. I've so far come up with this: > And what you see is a bewildering reflection of shadows, leaving the light > lost on its way. Does this make sense to you?


What were fedoras called in the 1890s?

I am aware that fedoras were just coming into fashion in the 1890s. Were they called "fedoras" or was there some other name for them used back then?


Word for books of sarcastic type

Is there a a specific word for a book with a sarcastic theme? I am thinking of writing a book on the world of magic of witches and warlocks but in reality it is making fun of their beliefs. For example the section on herbs and potions deal with the recreationsal drugs man takes daily in life. Enslaving the apprentice deals with regular trials of working under a boss or company etc. Just wondering if there is a specific word for this type of book so I can research it more....


What is the core meaning of the verb "set" in Modern English? I wrote "to put (something or someone) in a particular place" in my assignment, but the teacher said it was wrong.


Correct spelling: Magic or Magick?

Is it _Magic_ ; or is it _Magick_? I think the latter is the correct way, even though the latter version is listed in some dictionaries. Why is that?


What's a good way to describe "everything", when that "everything" is very little?

I thought about describing it this way: > ...which led to his loss of the little of everything he had. It doesn't sound very nice, and it also sounds like I'm saying that the loss was a "little of everything." Is there a better way to describe this?


Including units of a measure in a range

When specifying a range of values that have a unit of measure associated with them, what is the best practice for where to include the unit of measure? > 1lb - 20lb Or > 1 - 20lb And how would this apply when using metric prefixes? > 1KΩ - 20MΩ Or > 1K - 20MΩ


Proper usage of the term 'hmmmmm'

In his 2006 book The Singing Neanderthals, the palaeontologist Steve Mithen has developed a theory to suggest that language developed from song, and that the Neanderthals were the first to make that transition. He even coined a word for their humming language, which he called 'hmmmmm' because it would have been 'hoslistic, manupulative, multi-modal, musical and mimetic'. I don't know what kind of a word/acronym 'hmmmmm' is, but after reading the linked article (PDF), I'm debating whether one could also use it to express the reaction in the field to this intriguing theory. Could one? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/wSLdy.png)


Is "he runs like a cheetah" a kind of metaphor?

To make a metaphor about somebody's running speed, should we say "he is a cheetah" or "he runs like a cheetah"? Why?


Words pertaining to the senses and the corresponding disabilities

I need help on finding words relating to the senses/perception. I mean this in a neuronic/biological or philosophy-of-mind kind of way. A word for...   * pertaining to the senses (Is it _sensory_?)    * pertaining to vision ( _ocular_?)   * pertaining to smell ( _olfactoric_?)    * pertaining to taste    * pertaining to sound    * pertaining to touch   * unable to smell    * unable to taste    * unable to feel/touch    * unable to perceive ( _unconscious_?)    * (unable to see: _blind_ )   * (unable to hear: _deaf_ )


A word for 'relating to taste'

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Pertaining to the Senses _Sound_ is to _aural_ as _smell_ is to _olfactory_ as _touch_ is to _tactile_ as _taste_ is to... what? I can't think of a word that describes the sense of taste. Any help appreciated.


Ways to perceive something: textually, visually, acoustically?

Textual describes something as being in text form. I can read something that is textual. Something that is visual can be viewed. I can listen to something that is acoustical in nature? I don't think acoustical is the right word. What word am I looking for?


"Vision" is to "visually", as "hearing" is to what?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Pertaining to the Senses Hello. If I want to say my project has great graphics, I say it is _visually stunning_. Now, what would I say, following a similar format to that, if my project had great "audio/sounds/"?


Contract metaphor for preconditions and postconditions

English is not my primary language but I'm "forced" to write code and code's comments in English. I'm now trying to develop a PHP code (doesn't really matter this aspect) like this:               function divide($x, $y) {}      Which describes a function that divide $x / $y. Now I want to be able to add a comment related to that function listing few pre-conditions such as               @[A]: $x is an int     @[A]: $y is an int     @[A]: $y != 0      and a list of post-conditions (that are verified only if the pre-conditions are respected), such as:               @[B]: returns $x / $y      How should I call `[A]` and `[B]` using a contract metaphor? Something like [A] = "law" and [B] = "assurance" (which is obliviously wrong). How should I better call them to make it appears that > If you follow all the [A]s I'll guarantee you that [B] will be verified. ?


Synonym for public

I am currently stuck with the following situation. Imagine that there is a website which offers premium content that only paying members can access. However, there are a few pages which is available for everyone. Which word can be used to describe those public available pages? Problem is, that I cannot use „public“ because this word is an identifier in the programming language I am using.


How did Shakespeare pronounce "hautboys"?

Shakespeare calls for hautboys. How did he pronounce the word, more than 500 years after Hastings (think of it!)? ohBWHA? ohBOYZ? Or what?


Why does English have city/country names that differ from the local language?

For example:   * Italy = Italia   * Florence = Firenze   * Rome = Roma   * Venice = Venezia   * Munich = München Different reasons for different cities? Anglicised for pronunciation? The name changed and English didn't follow suit?


"End with" vs. "end in"

I'm writing up some documentation, and I'm unsure which phrase to use: > Option X: Find all strings ending with `foo`. or > Option X: Find all strings ending in `foo`. Are both correct? (Google spits out both, strongly favoring _with_.) Which should I prefer?


What is a more modern variant of the interjection 'Lo!" I'm looking for a single word which has the same effect but is less archaic. It is a very formal context I want to use it in that you may find in a courtroom for example: 'He claims he is innocent of corruption, but lo! He is guilty of taking bribes!"


Does the word "facility" have a negative connotation?

When I hear about "facility" I immediately associate that with a building (like a company's headquarter, store, etc). However, some people say that it can be used to mean a "WC." Is this true? Does this word really have a negative connotation?


What is this time describing noun called?

A noun for when something happened is _occasion_. A noun for how long something took is _duration_. But how would you describe an event that happened at a certain time after an occasion? Example:   1. The movie **started** 7:15 pm on Sunday 15/3.   2. The **duration** of the movie was one hour 35 minues.   3. Three minutes **into the movie** a guy showed up.   4. 45 minutes **into the movie** I left the cinema. Is there a more general noun to describe _into the movie_?


What is meaning of "a long way from being"?

> Question: Is it bad?   >  Answer: "I've suggestions but this is a long way from being bad" What does this **a long way from being** mean? Does it mean "much more than just bad" or does it mean "not bad at all"?


What is the opposite of the "sub" prefix?

The term `subcategories` refers to lower level categories. Which term should I use to refer to higher level categories? Does `supercategories` sound right?


"The key doesn't work" vs. "The key is not working"

Here's a situation. You go to your hotel room and the key that you have is not working. When you go back to the reception, should you say: > The key is not working, can you fix it. Or > The key doesn't work, can you fix it. **The key is a card and the key used to work.**


What is an archaic synonym for "teacher"? I'm looking for an archaic, if possible Early Modern English word for the person teaching in pre-university schools (i. e. High School).


How did the word "sheer" come to have such different meanings?

There are `sheer cliffs` and `sheer fabrics`. Why does the same word mean "vertical" in one case and "transparent" in the other? Did they develop from different roots? And what about `sheer obstinancy` and the like?


You, you two, you people and you'se

I understand that you'se is not considered a formal English word by the Oxford. Colloquially, many people use the word you'se all the time in common conversation. As such, there is a gap in formal English for pointing out the subject as two or more people being adressed. For example, if I were to say > You should buy that Lear Jet. It would be pronounced the same as > You [people] should buy that Lear Jet. The only thing separating the two statements is context, which is sometimes hard to encapsulate across different media etc. Why then is you'se not a formal word for this situation? For example: > You'se [all people being addressed] should buy that Lear Jet. It becomes obvious that verbally, the pronoun of the conversation is now referencing more than one person and dispelling confusion. I understand that _ye_ was the Middle English form of this word. As such, why is _you'se_ frowned upon? **Edit:** For non-Australians, the word _you'se_ is equivalent to _y'all_ and can be substituted throughout my question.


What is the proper usage of "Y'all" in southern American dialects

The construction of the word to me implies that "you" is singular, whereas "y'all" is plural. To a football team: "Y'all are going to play a great game." To a tennis player: "You are going to play a great game." However, I hear southerners address me personally as Y'all quite often. What's the correct usage? Aside: Comments that y'all is improper are not helpful.


Which English dialects have 2nd person plural?

"Y'all" is the famous southern US form of the 2nd person plural. The Brooklyn / Italian-American "youse" _might_ be another. While the existence and usage of "y'all" has been addressed somewhat thoroughly here: What is the proper usage of "Y'all" in southern American dialects , I've found nothing else on EL&U regarding 2nd person plural forms in other English dialects. I know there was a dual form in Old English (Dual (grammatical number)) does that survive in any of the dialects in the Danelaw? Do Scots / Gaelic / Welsh / Australian / other dialects retain any type of 2nd person plural / dual in modern usage?


Right sentence for keep a date in mind

A friend will get married and she made a banner with "Save the date" expression, expecting her friends to memorize/annotate the marriage date. The sentence doesn't feels right to me, but I could not think in any other option. What sentence could be more appropriated for this case?


Do you know the term "She is a people's person"?

Do you know the term "She is a people's person."? I cannot find it in a dictionary. My husband says he knows it from Washington, D.C.


"Advice" vs. "an advice"

I have often heard that _advice_ is uncountable and shouldn't be prefixed with an article. So I often force myself to say "a piece of advice". But I've seen it used with an article on a number of occasions. For example: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/support/domestic_violence_usefulcontacts_index.shtml In some cases it's even pluralized as _advices_. For example: http://www.nytimes.com/1865/07/04/news/from-mexico-advices-from-santo-domingo- and-hayti.html Any idea?


Idiom or word for a very crowded place

There is a popular idiom in Russian for describing a really crowded place: "(there's) no room for an apple to fall" ("яблоку негде упасть"). I struggle to think of anything similar in English, and the dictionaries I consulted were of no help, simply translating it as "crowded" or not even including it at all. The context would be something and anything along the lines of > The place was so crowded that [X].   >  The room was full to the extent that [Y].   >  The street/square was [Z].   >  At the top of the hat charts, there is [no room for an apple to fall]. Which is to say, I am not married to any sentence structure in particular — I'll gladly rewrite from scratch to use a vivid and idiomatic adjective or noun, word or phrase, metaphor or saying, rather than try and shoehorn it into a sentence it does not feel itself welcome in.


Accepted way to abbreviate cities that have "Saint" in their name

My first question here, so I'm not sure if this OT or not, so please bare with me. Background: I don't live in US. I'm working with some data that I'm pulling from Adwords. Sometimes, I'm getting a city name as `St. John` and sometimes as `Saint Ann`. So my question is, is there an accepted way on how people write a US city names which starts with `Saint` or is this just some random thing (or just specific to AdWords maybe)? I'm asking this, because if for example I'll get both `St. John` and `Saint John` in the same file, should I consider them the same or should I be suspicious?


What does "[Country] out" mean in the context of a photo description?

In the last photo of a slideshow of the 69th anniversary of Hiroshima bombing, there's a description of the photo, plus what I assume is metadata-ish content (emphasis added): > U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy attends a ceremony at the > Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, Wednesday, Aug. > 6, 2014. Japan marked the 69th anniversary Wednesday of the atomic bombing > of Hiroshima. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) _JAPAN OUT_ , MANDATORY CREDIT I assume "Mandatory credit" means that any news organization using this photo has to credit the organization that took it. And obviously, the photo was taken in Japan. But what does "out" mean? Likewise, I can see "China out" in this article featuring a photo taken in China.


Capital letters in "Theorem", "Conjecture" etc

This is my first post and as you can probably guess I am a mathematician so I have no clue about grammar. I am writing a mathematical document at the moment and I would appreciate some advice on my usage of capital letters. Can somebody please confirm if the following are correct? 1) "We know by **T** heorem 4.6.1 that..." 2) "the following **c** onjecture, due to..." 3) In order to prove the "Mckay-Stevens $k$-covering **C** onjecture, once needs to show that..." I'm particularly confused about 3). Many thanks for any help


Usage of "last leg"

Can I use the phrase "last leg" to refer to the last phase of some event? To be specific, if I want to say that I met someone towards the end of their journey (of months), can I say, I met him during the last legs of his trip? Also, which proposition is appropriate: "in" the last legs or "during" the last legs?


What does "Jimping" mean?

_Jimping_ is a term used when describing knives, but I am unsure of what it really means. See for example this description of a keychain-sized tool where _jimping_ is mentioned, and even lauded for "working well". According to Wikipedia, _Jimping_ is supposed to be a sort of decoration (on the dull side) of a one- bladed dagger (specifically, a Dirk). Unfortunately, looking for a more precise explanation results, most of the time I am being asked if I just mistyped "jumping". :( So what does it mean exactly? And what is the function?


One word for self-clicked photographs

Recently I came across this word which means "one's _self-clicked_ photograph". I, however, do not remember where I read it or what that word was. The article in which I saw the word was regarding social networking websites where people place their own 'self clicked' photographs. Does anybody know that word? I am not sure if that word is from urban lingo.


A word for "one who tames wild animals"

I want to know a single word that conveys this meaning "one who tames wild animals".


How to use possessives apostrophes when the word ends with a symbol?

For example, if I want to say _an account of Google+_ , is it the same as say _a Google+'s account_? In other words, are possessives formed in the same way as always, no matter whether the word ends in a letter or a symbol?


Have American English speakers always used the term "last name" instead of surname?

I am aware that speakers of British English generally use the term "surname" and AmE speakers use "last name." What I want to know is how long it has been this way, i.e. if AmE speakers ever used the word "surname" and if so, when did they switch to using "last name"?


"Hostname" or "host name"?

When we are talking about computers, I see both _hostname_ and _host name_ being used. Which is more proper? Should I put the space in there?


What Sound (onomatopoeia) does a launching Rocket make?

I searched all the internet and comics but couldn't find any onomatopoeia for Rocket blasting into space. Any ideas?


Is there any difference between Loan and Credit

We are drafting a formal document. I saw somebody replaced all occurrences of the word _credit_ to _loan_. There is no specific meaning assigned neither of these words within the document. Is there any difference between these? I was using them interchangeably. **EDIT: (Some examples due to massive downvote)**   * The interest rate to be applied to the **loans/credits** shall be determined.    * For **credits/loans** disbursed in any foreign currency...   * In the event the Client uses the **loan/credit** from the Bank's branches outside Germany...


Etymology of "evangel"

I am trying to break apart the word evangelist, but I can't get past "angelos" no matter how I twist it or turn it. I found the word "evangel" and looked it up on myetymology.com, but it just gave me angelos. So how does evangel break apart? And what is the greek word for the message the angelus carries? Or is that the key (-os vs -us)?


Why are some adjectives placed after a noun?

How would you explain these words: _Corporate America_ , _Revenue Canada_ , _ServiceOntario_ , etc.? Edit: To clarify my question, why is _corporate America_ more popular than _American corporate_ or _American companies_ , _Revenue Canada_ instead of _Canada Revenue [Agency]_ and _ServiceOntario_ instead of _Ontario Services_?


Using purgatory to describe a between state?

I was going to use purgatory to describe the state between childhood and adulthood. However, I looked online and could only find two definitions for the word, one being religious and the other a state of temporary punishment. I've come to know the word as also meaning a perpetual, undefined state where things are between two defined states. Is there an actual definition of the word meaning this, or am I mistaken?


When was the form “is become” first used?

In the famous “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s _Messiah_ , a line goes: > The kingdom of this world **is become** the Kingdom of our Lord. I’ve noticed similar forms in many biblical texts and suspected the usage may go back as early as the 15th century, but I’m not sure. Does anyone know the more exact time?


Proper way to pronounce "Pyrzqxgl!"

In my youth, my father used to read me _The Magic of Oz_ by L. Frank Baum. The magic word that was used to transform, _Pyrzqxgl_ , was very difficult to pronounce. Are there any guidelines on pronouncing it? Where would the accent be, if any?


English equivalent of bêtise

The French word "bêtise" means something like a small act of naughtiness (frequently used for small misdemeanours of children). I'm struggling to think of an equivalent word that could be used with an anglophone child.


How is "winded" pronounced in "he winded a horn"?

Either "wɪnd" or "waɪnd" is acceptable, according to Dictionary.com, but merely being acceptable doesn't satisfy me. "Wɪnd" seems better to me, due to the connotation of blowing wind, etc, but apparently "waɪnd" is preferred, being listed first. Which was originally intended? (Or does it really not matter?)


What’s wrong with saying “Have a nice day”?

I once read the book _Class: A Guide Through the American Status System_ by Paul Fussell. There, he mentioned that saying “Have a nice day” was a faux pas, without elaborating why. I’m not American, this is way too subtle for me and Google did not help. Therefore, I’ll ask here: what is wrong with this phrase, and what should I say instead in situations where I would use it (like for example parting with a person)? I’m not making this up, either: look at the first paragraph.


What is the spelt-out form of “What gives”?

I noticed the phrase “What gives?” in the following lines of the article of Washington Post (August 29) article, titled “Is Ron Paul being ignored?” > “And yet talk to almost anyone in politics — Republicans or Democrats — and > the idea of Ron Paul as a top-tier candidate for president is greeted with > either a laugh or an eye roll (or both.) > > _What gives?_ > > Paul appears to be suffering from the “once bitten, twice shy” tendency of > the media.” It appears to me “What gives?” is a common and frequently-used phrase, but I don’t think I’ve seen this phrase so often in written English format like newspaper articles, much less in English textbooks we use. Does it mean “for what (reason)?” or "What is its implication?" What is the spelt-out format of “What gives?”


"Everything is everything"

I tried to google the phrase "everything is everything" but can't find its origin. Where does this phrase originally come from? What does it mean?


Is this acceptable usage when frustrated with a web page: "It won't click"

My buddy was trying to click something on a webpage and he said "It won't click." As a programmer, I know that what he meant was "The event triggered by the onClick handler is not happening." Given this, is it appropriate to say "It won't click" or is there something else to say there like "This link is broken." Would it change if it were a form's submit button vs. a regular blue anchor tag?


What is the secular version of the word Chaplain?

I am a celebrant ceremony designer and trainer, and I am looking for a word to use for our research and performance of pet funerals. Currently internationally people use the word Animal Chaplain, but for the non-religious the Chaplaincy word isn't quite right. Any suggestions would be great.


Punctuation for comparison

How should this sentence be punctuated? > The former are dogs, the latter: cats. Or is it: > The former are dogs; the latter, cats. Or something else?


what's the difference between "Indispensable Amino Acid" and "Essential Amino Acid"?

As I have seen several times of the using of those two words in even the same book. But I don't know what's the difference meaning between those two words.


"Seniority" vs. "rank"

The following is a multiple choice question in a test paper: > The chief of surgery became committee chairman by virtue of _____.   >  A. age   >  B. service   >  C. seniority   >  D. rank I'm at a loss as to which one to choose and want to hear your opinions.


Harmony as a state usage

Can we say `works in harmony with other groups`. I understand the adjective is `harmonious` and all what I found in web is using as harmony as a name here. Can we use it to express **state**. Further, is `In accordance with` a good replacement? What about 'In concord with'?


Word that means "to make look like a bad thing/force"

There is a word (I think in ends in _-ize_ ) that means “to make seem like an an evil thing or force.” For instance: > The author **__** the axe to foreshadow its usage in the coming tragedy. What is the word? NOTE: I don't think it's "antagonize" since that usually means "to make hostile".


Why is "hyperbole" pronounced so differently from its spelling?

I've often heard people say "hyperbole" exactly as it is written, "hi-per- bole", instead of how it is actually pronounced: "hi-pear-bow-lee". How did it get such an unusually different pronunciation from such a simple spelling?


What would be a single word to mean: repeatedly re-choose one of two options alternately?

Words like 'dither' or 'vacillate' both suggest being unable to choose between A or B and never choosing either. Is there a word that means 'chooses A, then goes back on their decision and chooses B, then goes back on their decision again and chooses A and so on'? Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Paul


Are the expressions: "You needn't" and "You don't need to" different in meaning?

While doing some research on a comment I had read on ELL I read the following excerpt from a website called e.grammar > You needn't listen to him. (You don't have to listen to him.) x You don't > need to listen to him. (There is no need to listen.) These two sentences are > different in the form and meaning, too. After reflecting, I started interpreting the two sentences like this:   1. **"You needn't listen to him"** = It is unnecessary to listen to that man. If you want to listen that is your choice, but it's not important.   2. **"You don't _need_ to listen to him"** = It is not _necessary_ to listen to that man. If you do you will only be wasting your time. Is the second sentence more forceful, perhaps precluding the possibility of choice? Or is my mind playing tricks on me and in reality the two phrases have identical meanings? I must admit to feeling bemused. Before reading the passage I would have said there was no difference in meaning between **needn't** and **don't need**. On the BBC Learning English I read this: > **Needn't and don't need to** > > There is also a difference in use when these verbs are used to describe > present situations. We can use both **needn't** and **don't need** to to > give permission to someone not to do something in the immediate future. We > can also use **need** as a noun here: > > You **don't need** to water the garden this evening. It's going to rain > tonight.   >  You **needn't** water the garden this evening. It's going to rain tonight.   >  There's **no need** to water the garden this evening. It's going to rain > tonight. This would confirm my initial belief; that there is no real difference in meaning but now... I'm not so sure. And if there is no difference, except for structure, why do the two forms exist side by side? Why or when did "need" become a modal verb?


Other words for the cadaverous blue?

I am looking for the particular word (if it exists in English) for the ghastly blue colour of a dead person...


What does Herman Cain’s “Bull’s-eye” exactly mean? Is it simply “a scorched black hole” or “a hole of bullet rightly hit on the mark”?

The _Washington Post_ (October 31) carried GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain’s remarks on allegations of his sexual harassement of two former female employees as head of the National Restaurant Association in its “Today’s Quote of The Day.” In denying the allegations of harassment as “totally baseless and totally false,” he said: > " _This bull’s-eye on my back has gotten bigger_. We have no idea the source > of this witch hunt, which is really what it is." I had a hiccup in interpreting the implication of Herman Cain’s “bull’s-eye. Doesn’t “bull's-eye” give, or have a risk to give an impression as if the allegation is on the mark, that is true? Readers Plus (Japanese publisher’s) English Japanese Dictionary at hand defines “bull’s eye” as: >   1. n. Center of the mark, crux, decisive one. >   2. int. That’s right. Exactly. > Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines is as: >   1. The center of the target, also central or crucial. > Cambridge Dictionary defines it as: > The circular center of the object aimed at in games such as darts, or shot > that hits this. All of the above definitions tempt me to interpret “bull’s-eye” as the shot that hits right, or correctly, thus, the allegation is on the mark, exact, and true, which though the candidate should never intend to say. Therefore it comes back to the captioned question - Does “bull’s-eye” simply mean a hole made by a bullet (or an arrow), without the notion of rightly hit (answer, remark, allegation)?


"Television channel" or "television station" and some preposition?

I make my portfolio and have some problems with description of my works. I made some cartoons for local television. What is a correct form: > Short cartoons for weather forecast broadcast on a local television > **channel** in 2012. OR: > Short cartoons for weather forecast broadcast on a local television > **station** in 2012.


"Seems to be not X" vs. "seems to not be X"

Which one of these two sentences is written correctly? >   1. This test data seems to be not good. >   2. This test data seems to not be good. > Better yet if you could explain as to why the correct form is correct. It would be greatly appreciated.


To punt for something

In book I am reading ("German for dummies") appears the following sentence: > Pronouns are the handy group of words that can **punt for** nouns so you > don't sound redundant. This sentence does not make sense with any of the definitions of punt found in the dictionary.   Is there another meaning, or is it a typo?


Etymology of 'vape'

![Vaping: Image from Zazzle.com \(http://www.zazzle.com/im_not_smoking_im_vaping_sticker-217225470546259267\)](http://i.stack.imgur.com/jTCm6.jpg) "Vaping" is apparently the practice of smoking one of 'em newfangled e-cigarettes. Where does the word come from and when was it first used?


Is there a specific name for the line commonly drawn under arithmetic problems?

Basic problems are often written as:  3   -2   \--      <\-- Is there a name for this?   1


"I have got a Playstation" versus "I have got Playstation"

Is it possible to avoid using the article in the following sentence: > I have got a Playstation.


Is "there is a crack in the kettle liner" a correct/clear expression?

I am trying to describe the defect of my newly arrived electric kettle. There is a black spot in the liner, looks like a piece of the coating layer has fell off. What is the most simple and clear description? Can I say "there is a crack in the kettle liner"?


Explain the verb tense in "I wish I never woke up this morning"

This is from a song by Police, _Darkness_: > "I can dream up schemes when I'm sitting in my seat   >  I don't see any flaws 'til I get to my feet   >  I wish I never woke up this morning   >  Life was easy when it was boring" Shouldn't it be, according to www.eslbase.com, "I wish I ~~havn't~~ hadn't woken up this morning"? (though I agree the latter flows worse)


Word for "make a master of"?

I work in Software, and we use "master/slave" as terms. We had one task where we needed to make one software component the "master" of another "slave". The task's name was "Mastering Component X". To me, this doesn't make sense because it sounds like someone is becoming proficient in the subject of "Component X". What we want to say is that we want "Component X" to be authoritative, or make it a master of "Component Y". Is there a single word that can express this meaning, or shall I use a phrase like "Make Component X authoritative"?


Conjunction contraction - second "a" and "at"

Which one is correct? Or are both acceptable? *He earned an MD and a gold medal from St James for his dissertation. *He earned an MD and gold medal from St James for his dissertation. *He was appointed Surgeon at Hospital A and Hospital B. *He was appointed Surgeon at Hospital A and at Hospital B.


Up one's ass vs. In one's ass

Why is _stick/shove/etc **up** one's ass_ much more common than **_in/into** one's ass_?


Single word for "the one being stolen from"?

By forming a noun from a verb, the person that steals is called a _stealer_. What do you call a person that is being stolen from? Is there a corresponding noun that denotes the object of this action, as there is for verbs like _employ_ ( _employer, employee_ ), _call_ ( _caller_ , _callee_ ), etc.?


Where is "Wednesday" pronounced "Wedinzday"?

I recently heard a BBC radio announcer pronounce "Wednesday" in a peculiar way. The 'd' wasn't dropped, resulting in something like "Wedinzday" (`wɛdnzde`). I've read some Scottish dialects use this pronunciation. Is it class- or region-based? Something from RP or "broadcaster English"? Also, it doesn't appear that other words containing "dn" are affected (e.g. _madness_ , _midnight_ , etc.), so is this just a phonological anomaly?


How to properly emphasise words with italics in sentences?

I'm not sure if I can ask this question here, because it is more of a writing issue. My native language is French and I have been reading and watching stuff in English and I am quite fluent with the language now (I think). Though I find some things kind of weird as to emphasised words in sentences. For example, the following sentence (seen this somewhere on the internet, not really important) : > So what _can_ you do? To me, the emphasis is on the wrong word here. It does not punch enough. In French, I would rather write it like this: > So what can _you_ do? It is not the first time that I see emphasised words in a sentence and I think: well I feel like the emphasis is on the wrong word. It could be moved to another word to make the sentence more punchy. Am I the only one who finds this weird? Any other french-speaking people here that feels the same as I do?


What does ‘It’s one thing to dance like Fred Astaire, but Ginger Rogers did it backwards’ mean as a metaphor to John Roberts' ruling?

There was the following sentence in June 29 issue of Time magazine titled “Roberts Rules: What the health care decision means for the country” dealing with Chief Justice of Supreme Court, John Roberts’ ruling to go forward with so-called "Obamacare." > “The fact that Roberts had to squirm like Houdini to reach middle ground > only enhanced the bravura of the feat. As the saying goes, it’s one thing to > dance like Fred Astaire, but Ginger Rogers did it backwards in high heels. > Philosophical purity is easy — the blogosphere is lousy with it — while > pragmatic solutions to difficult problems are as rare these days as virgins > on Jersey Shore." The sentence is full of metaphoric (and nostalgic) proper nouns such as Houdini, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Jersey Shore, which are difficult for non-Americans to decipher its meaning at the first glance. I’m still not clear with what “It’s one thing to dance like Fred Astaire, but Ginger Rogers did it backwards in high heels,” exactly mean in specific reference to Chief Justice‘s rules. I guess the author is likening Ginger Rogers’s backwards steps to Mr. Roberts’ unexpected, but critical turn for upholding the Obamacare at 4-4 split votes. If we eliminate all proper nouns from this sentence, how can we paraphrase this line? Author says ‘As the saying goes.” Is “It’s one thing to dance like Fred Astaire, but Ginger Rogers did it backwards in high heels,” a popular expression? I know Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as a septuagenarian, but do today’s youth remember them and use this phrase in their conversation by saying ‘as the saying goes’?


Is this correct: "[x] is where [explanation]"

When explaining a concept, for example, recursion, is it valid to use a construction such as: > Recursion is where a subroutine calls itself. To my ear, "is where" sounds somewhat weird. Do you think that this is acceptable or should another construction be found?


Antonym of simplify and simplification in the technical context

I am describing a technical process where the relation between two instances has two directions. The direction from the finer to the less fine instance is "simplification", but I cannot find its antonym to describe the reverse process where the instance is advanced. Complicate and perplex are not the words I am looking for because the context here is different, and these terms imply something negative which is the opposite of the intention of the process in question. Let me explain with an example. A complex recipe might be _simplified_ by reducing the number of ingredients and removing some steps in the cooking process. But still resulting in a high quality of the dish, with minor differences from the original recipe. The opposite would be to have a simple recipe, and to enhance it to create a better dish, which would also result in a more complex recipe. The terms I came up with are _advancement_ and _enhancement_ , but I am further looking for better alternatives, especially ones that may be more suitable in a technical context.


"Witness to" vs. "witness of"

What is the difference in meaning between "a witness to" and "a witness for"? E.g., >   * Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness > **to** Jesus and for the word of God... >   * Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness > **of** Jesus and for the word of God... > I am guessing that the preposition _to_ refers to the witness standing outside the "event" observing the happenings, while _of_ refers to the witness being inside the event, involved in it and witnessing from the inside. Basically, to me, _to_ and _of_ depict the location of the witness in relation to observing the event. Is that the case?


Origin of "-ing"

What is the origin of the suffix _-ing_ used to form gerunds and present participles?   Why is the suffix the same in both cases?


What is the meaning of "atleast" and is it different from "at least"?

I don't think atleast is an actual word, but I've found many instances of its usage. A simple google search for _atleast_ reveal 13,100,000 hits. What is the meaning of _atleast_ and is it different from _at least_?


Do you "create" a hypothesis?

What is the most appropriate verb when talking about making a new hypothesis? E.g. > Lenneburg created the critical period hypothesis. > > Lenneburg coined the critical period hypothesis. > > Lenneburg came up with the critical period hypothesis. > > Lenneburg termed the critical period hypothesis. ...etc. I don't know which sounds the most appropriate.