"Is left untouched" or "was left untouched"

Which is correct? > My book was left untouched for so many years. or > My book is left untouched for so many years. Well, until now, that book is really untouched. So does that mean that just because the situation is in present tense, I should use "is left untouched" even though "was left untouched" sounds right to me?


What is the English word for the stones used in Indian weighing balance?

There are stones of 1 kg, 500 grams, 100 grams, or 50 grams used in weighing balance. What are they called in English? These weighting stones are normally used by vegetable vendors.


"not as" versus "less"

English speakers seem to prefer "less powerful" over "not as powerful", and "not as big" over "less big". There's at least a ten-to-one ratio in both cases—See this Google Ngram. There also seems to be a trend over time where English is moving from "less" to "not as", but I'm most interested in current usage. Is there a rule for which adjectives we use "less" with, and which we use "not as"?


"Poems" or "poetry"

Can _poems_ and _poetry_ be used interchangeably, or is that incorrect usage? In normal conversation, they are used as synonyms often.


Is "study major subject" correct?

Is "study major subject" correct? Accoding to some dictionaries, there are some alternatives to "major": special field (of study), specialty and major. In addition, I'm not sure whether I should use "learn" or "study". For example, in the following sentence, which word in the brackets is correct? > Freshmen must take various classes of general education before {studying OR > learning} their {specialties OR major subjects OR speical fields}


Looking for a verb that would be the opposite of smear, from a political/public relations point of view

I'm looking for a single word that would mean the opposite of smear. Specifically, I'm looking for it in the context of a verb being an action that an entity has at his disposal. So you might have a dirty snook who has "Smear 4", or the ability to lower someone's public relations rating by 4 points. If you were the victim of a "Smear 4" you would need to hire your own consultant with "Unsmear 4" to get your public relations back to where they were before the smear campaign was run against you. Clearly, "Unsmear" is not a viable term. I've reviewed a number of thesauruses, but nothing really jumps out at me. The closest I've found is either flatter or glorify, but neither convey what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something that evokes images of kissing babies, attending ice cream socials, and other typical PR boosting stuff.


Where did the phrase "you're welcome" come from?

"You're welcome" as a response to "thank you" makes absolutely no sense. You're welcome to what?


Newspaper vocabulary for news positioning

I'm looking for a term that In Brazilian Portuguese we call "diagramming", which is used to characterize the work of positioning news in a newspaper, setting image places and text flow of a page. In our case, this is done in Adobe InDesign. The desired use is for a web application of similar behavior, where users will be able to schedule news for different positions and sections of a website.


Word for when two people type the same thing at the same time in chat

I have the distinct feeling there's a word often used when two people type the same thing at the same time in Internet chat contexts. Not necessarily _exactly_ the same words, but closely related. Maybe I've even come across it myself but forgotten it. All I can think of now is _"Snap!"_ , but that sounds a bit lame in this day and age (who plays cards nowadays, with all these video games?).


Why is there a drastic difference in meaning between *amused* and *bemused*?

I'm sorry if this is a duplicate, but I have yet to find an exact match by search. Both words use the same root of muse, which as a verb means to lose yourself in thought, ponder, etc. So, clearly _bemuse_ trades upon this usage, with _be_ as an intensifier of a prefix meaning to really be lost in thought, bewildered, nonplussed, etc. Why, then, is _amuse_ to entertain? The _a_ prefix here means at (as derived from the Middle English and Old English). And, if one were _at muse_ , you would think them to be at a state of bewilderment, lost in thought, etc. Or, is this meaning of muse related to the nine goddesses of Greek and Roman mythology who preside over the arts and sciences, and it means that you are at the muses? It just strikes me as strange to mix an Middle English prefix with a Roman concept. I guess it would suffice to say, I'm bemused by this one.


What is the opposite of "Boon"?

If I grant someone a **Boon** , I am granting them a temporary positive effect. If I were to grant someone a temporary negative effect, what would an adequate word to describe that be? I was initially drawn to **Bane** , as it's another four-letter B-word, with a negative connotation, but I'm not sure if the two terms are inherently equitable. Is this an appropriate usage of Bane? Is there a better word entirely?


Origin of burning ears

Ive often heard people say: "Your ears are burning." Specifically after someone hearing people talking about him or her. I'm curious what the origin of this is. There's got to be an interesting story behind this one.


Do other suffixes exist for locative and directional 'adverbs'? eg here hither hence

Years ago from JRR Tolkien's The Silmarillion, I learned the delightful suffixes -ence and -ither in the word meanings:   1. hence: from this nearby place   2. hither: toward this nearby place   3. thence: from that far place   4. thither: toward that far place   5. whence: from the place   6. whither: toward the place Recently, as a joke to use the words, I sent a friend an SMS message: _"Later I'll arrive at your place. I will go hence thither, and return thence hither. Haha"_. Now in creating this question, I realized ... there is at least one more suffix, "-ere":   1. here   2. there   3. where I haven't thought about it as a member of a set of 3 until today, because it's in everyday use. While "-ence" and "-ither" have all but vanished, and so when someone uses them, it makes a spoken or written sentence more interesting. So, do other suffixes exist or is there an essay of discussion about these and related terms somewhere out there? Extra thought: "-at".   1. What   2. That   3. not sure if ever there's been a word starting with H for "nearby", however, everyone knows the idiom "this, that, the other"... so I could suggest "this" instead of "Hhat".


How is a person I've affiliated called?

What's the right terms to define:   * A person who is an affiliate in a company, who brings to the company other affiliates   * What are the people he affiliated called in relation to him   * What is he called by them E.g. Affiliate, affiliates, referer P.s. the word affiliate is surely related here. I guess it's referring to each person relating to the company. I'm not sure about the inverted relation.


English phrases/expressions and their meanings

In English we have expressions/phrases that come from the combination of two or more words, conjunctions, etc. These expressions have their own metaphorical meanings, which could be used in specific contexts. Could they also be used in non metaphorical context with their literal meanings or are they strictly tied up to those specific meanings and contexts? To give you a few examples: > _Come down to the line_ (of a race) be closely fought right until the end. > (Oxford dictionary) Could it also mean that someone literally comes down to the line? > _What's up?_ informal 1 what is going on? 2 what is the matter?: what's up > with you? (Oxford dictionary) Could this also mean **what is up** (up in the ceilings for example)? > _Sum up_ 1 one reviewer summed it up as “compelling”: evaluate, assess, > appraise, rate, gauge, judge, deem, adjudge, estimate, form an opinion of. 2 > he summed up his reasons: summarize, make/give a summary of, précis, > outline, give an outline of, recapitulate, review; informal recap.(Oxford > dictionary) Could we say: To **sum up** all the revenue it will become a large sum of money?


"Example where" or "example in which"

I think both are correct but is that true and what is the difference between them (if there is any)? > This is an example **where** you can see that... > > This is an example **in which** you can see that... or in a question > Can you give an example **where** A is the opposite to B? > > Can you give an example **in which** A is the opposite to B?


What's the female equivalent of "suitor"?

I'm looking for a word which could satisfy the usage of "suitor", except it would be used to indicate female "suitors": E.g.: > She had a host of suitors eagerly awaiting her favour... Now, I want a word that could fit in this sentence, except it would be about females: > _He_ had a bevy of ?????? eagerly awaiting _his_ favour...


Conversion to reported speech with multiple events

Which of the following is the correct conversion to reported speech? > Ms. A said: “She gave up on the justice system and on the government. That's > why she committed suicide.” > >   1. Ms. A said that she _had_ given up on the just system and on the > government. That's why **she had committed** suicide. > >   2. Ms. A said that she _had_ given up on the just system and on the > government. That's why **she committed** suicide. > > Doesn't the first conversion makes it confusing as to which action happened first?


"True" vs. "right" vs. "correct"

I noticed that, in the dictionary, the words _True_ , _Right_ and _Correct_ can have a meaning resembling _accurate_ or _exact_. ODO says: > **True** ( _adj_ ) = accurate or exact.   >  **Right** ( _adj_ ) = true or correct as a fact.   >  **Correct** ( _adj_ )= free from error; in accordance with fact or truth. and I'm writing about allegations made against a politician. I'm considering saying: > _The allegations made against [politician] were **true** (or **correct** or > **right** )_. I would like to know:   1. Is there a difference between those three? Would you imagine that allegations made against the politician are true has a slightly different meaning from allegations made against the politician are right or allegations made against the politician are true? (I have searched in ELU and read the post right vs. correct which doesn't help much to identify the difference particularly in this context).   2. All of those three words have other meanings in the dictionary. For example, right has other meanings like _denoting or worn on the side of a person's body which is toward the east when they are facing north_. If all these three words are essentially the same meaning, is there any reason I should avoid using one word or the other?


Meaning of "by appointment to"

Yesterday, when I was looking a bit closer on a teabox from Twinings, I noticed the phrase: " **By appointment to her Majesty the Queen**." According to google and my dictionary this phrase means: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/tmqvP.png) Okay, so far so good. My question now is, can this phrase " by appointment to" be used in other contexts as well? I only found is in combination with the British Queen. (It's just that the "to" was a bit confusing to me at first. If this phrase could be used in other contexts, could it only be followed by personal names and nouns?)


Etymology for the phrase "Go to hell"

I've learned the meaning of "Go to hell" from the dictionary as _"used to express angry rejection of someone or something"_ , I am curious about its etymology. If any body knows, please explain it to me. I have done my part of research by Googling "etymology for go to hell meaning". I got few sites like www.etymonline.com. However,they aren't helpful much.


How to name a routine interruption in the work of some system that is deliberately done in order to find some possible weak points in the system?

How would you name a routine interruption in the work of some system (let's say a subway or a railroad) that is deliberately done by the workers on a regular basis in order to find some possible weak points in that system that might cause its breakdown? I am sorry for the long title - don't know how to put it shorter. Please, re- phrase and edit it if you feel you know better.


Meaning of 'cf.'

> it refers to a discrete life form that has properties of mind (i.e. > experience and character, **cf.** sentience)


Why does this sentence sound odd?

I'm trying to write a tagline for my live blogging service, and this is what I've come up with: > Live blogs that are a breeze to write, a pleasure to read and are actually > updated in real-time. Is that correct grammar or should it be > Live blogs that are a breeze to write, a pleasure to read and actually > updated in real-time. The completions 'a breeze to write' and 'a pleasure to read' both follow '... that are'. So why does 'are actually...' sound better to me? Doesn't that repeat the 'are'?


What is the meaning of 'though'?

Okay, of course I've used different popular online dictionaries and the translation makes sense in the most cases. Sometimes I find usages of 'though' where I don't get the meaning of the word. An example I've found on twitter > That face, though. [Image of a dog looking weird] The tweet came without any context or conversation. When I translate this example to my native language - german - this makes absolutely no sense. At least for me. So is the above usage some kind of _slang_?   What is the meaning of though in this case? For the completeness an example that makes absolutely sense for me > Though he tried very hard, he failed the course.


What is a word for doing something that you don't want to do?

I am reading Of Mice and Men, and I am trying to come up with a word that describes how George manages to shoot Lennie at the end of the book. I have come up with _Self Discipline_ , and _Overcoming Weakness_ , but none of those really seem to suffice. Any suggestions would be great!


What is the etymology of the word shivereens?

Merriam Webster states that shivereens is the synonym of smithereens but there's no mention of the origin of the word.


What do “The great whatever this is,” “It can’t double dip if it never comes back up.”mean?

The surreal world in the New York Times article depicted by a seasoned editor at Harper’s Magazine who was laid off recently and experiencing bitter world, under the title, ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Unemployment’ was entertaining as well as relevant to me. However I can’t understand phrases, “The great whatever this is,” and “It can’t double dip if it never comes back up.” the writer quoted in the following sentence. Are they 'so called' buzz words? Why do you need to place ‘up’ after ‘never come back’? Can somebody teach me what do these two phrases mean? > Lately it seems people have grown inordinately fond of using the word > surreal to describe circumstances and events that are in fact only new and > confusing. Take for example last week, when I had the misfortune to be laid > off after six mostly satisfactory years from my job at Harper’s Magazine. My > friends and relatives insisted almost in unison that I admit to the > surrealism of falling victim to what another friend has taken to calling > “The Great Whatever This Is,” and which I like to refer to as the “It Can’t > Double Dip if It Never Comes Back Up.”


Is the expression "done right" proper grammar?

Suppose I have the sentence: "This is a website done right." It sounds wrong, but I cannot find any grammatical rules that confirm my suspicions. Am I just crazy or is that improper grammar?


Looking for a grammar book

Is there any English grammar book which describe how to talk/write English instead of understand English? For example instead of detailing all situation where "would/will" is used, describing all different way to talk about past (or now, future, etc.) I mean a book which I can refer to to find out all different way to talk about past or how to ask/request politely.


What's another name for a circular continuum?

A continuum is anything that gradually changes from one thing to another. But I want another word that describes something that changes gradually and whose opposite extremes are actually one and the same. Have you ever seen one of those apple charts that describes the many different varieties of apples from sweet to tart? Here is an example. They call it a spectrum, but a spectrum is not necessarily circular. If the best answer to my question is "circular continuum" or "circular spectrum", so be it. But if anyone can think of a better word or phrase, I'd be interested to hear it.


What does "strike home" mean?

What does "strike home" mean in this sentence?: "This example ought to strike home for you"


Can a non-literary object have a "subtext"?

Dictionaries associate--with more or less affirmation--that _subtext_ is "the implicit or metaphorical meaning (as of a literary text)". Can a subtext however apply to meaning conveyed by something other than literature, i.e. through aesthetics?


Is it correct to omit number suffix on dates?

If I have a date written: **Saturday 16 December** is it correct ? Or does the grammar oblige me to add the number suffix to 16 making 16th as in: **Saturday 16th December** ?


When do I use a question mark with "Could you [please] ..."

A sentence like > Could you please pass me the pepper shaker is not really a question. Should I use a question mark or a period to end this sentence? What about: > Could you let me know when the meeting begins   >  Could you tell me when the meeting begins   >  Could you let me know if you are attending the meeting   >  ... Any guidance? Is there a general rule?


1970-ish: Is it an accepted word? If so, what does it mean?

_Modish_ , _youngish_ , _girlish_ are accepted words. Is _1970-ish_ accepted too, or even understood to be an English word?


But you got to make me change my mind. - what usage of "get" is this?

I am trying to understand the usage of the "get" in the sentence: > But you got to make me change my mind. I guess it is not "have got".


Antonym for the verb “subordinate”

I'm looking for some sort of antonym for the word subordinate, to be used in a sentence such as > She [verb] these principles above all others. It's being used in an academic paper, so it shouldn't be too clunky.


Is this sentence structure truly awful, or not?

I sometimes hear comments on this sort of sentence: > **In some cases,** we find the solutions are actually. . . . The comments are to the effect that one should not to put _In some cases_ at the beginning because a sentence should always lead with the subject, like this: > We find the solutions to some cases are actually. . . . But the first sort of sentence seems to appear everywhere, so does the comment not to use forms like that make any sense?


"can you not do it?" means?

This sounds like "you cannot do it" to me, but according to the context, I was wondering if this means "cannot you do it?". Which understanding is correct?


Is "field field" a correct phrase?

In this thread, there's an example based on the dual meaning of the word _field_. field = a specialty   field = an area to be filled Given the above, while still not very intuitively easy to understand, I wonder if it's **correct** to say: _"Have you seen the field field?"_ when referring to a discovery of a text box to be filled out by the actual name of ones professional specialty. **EDIT** I've noticed several replies trying to help me with the reformulation, which I appreciate. However, and I'm to blame for not being clear enough probably, the question is really whether it's correct or just awkward to use _field field_. The reason for this is the following.   * The first _field_ is a string that a user of a computer program inputs elsewhere. It can be used in a range of various context. So, I have no control of it what so ever. Besides, if we change _field_ for _industry_ , it's possible that somewhere in the program, there's a situation where we get _industry industry_ instead of the current _field industry_.   * The second _field_ is called that way per industry standard. When **describing** it to a human being, we can use synonyms and explanations but in the context of computer programming, one's expected to use **the** name even if it may sound awkward. So we get something like " _it fell of a truck truck truck_ " (referring The Simpsons).


'Today afternoon' vs 'Today in the afternoon'?

Which adverbial phrase of time is more grammatically correct: 'Today afternoon' or 'Today in the afternoon'?


"Easy-to-make-typos" alternative?

Is there a good, compact word or phrase that would explain one's ability to make typos? I mean, I'm trying to write something like this: > Now you can use this feature without either non-predictable XML, or **_easy- > to-make-typos_** "magic strings" It regards a fluent API project.


Latin-derived verbs

Are all Latin-derived English verbs regular? For ex. decide, arrive add -ed in their past forms. Are there any specific rules to follow? To spend is irregular: why? Does it depend on when these verbs entered the English language? Thank you


How do we pronounce the acronym CMYK?

How does one pronounce the acronym _CMYK_ , in the color model sense. If there is more than one pronunciation, how popular is each of them?


"put the idea out of my head" or "pull the idea out of my head"?

I want to know, what expression is more correct:   1. "How can I put the idea out of my head?"   2. "How can I pull the idea out of my head?" What I'm trying to say is, "how can I extract the idea from my head and make it a reality?"


accent used by the character Christopher Foyle

The accent used by the actor Michael Kitchen, who plays Christopher Foyle in the U.K. series Foyle's War, is not one of the standard "stage English" accents we often hear in the U.S. Is this a recognized accent associated with a particular region or social class in the U.K.?


What does "being in hell" mean in this title?

I read an article titled "Working with Bill Gates Was Like 'Being in Hell,' Allen Says" and I don't understand what "being in hell" means. There are two meanings in my opinion.   1. When he worked with Gates, it was like working in Hell.   2. When he worked with Gates, he worked very hard. What's the real meaning of "being in hell" here?


Put your shoes on and Take your coat off

I have often heard the following statements when someone talks about shoes, cloths, etc. I don't know which one is more appropriate or grammatically correct. >   1. Hey, put your shoes on. >   2. Hey, put on your shoes. > >   3. Take off your coat, please. > >   4. Take your coat off, please. > Any thoughts? Can we also say "take out your coat"?


Another unique way to say "other end of the spectrum"

Something like "on the other hand" but unique or with an interesting twist.


"As I was to learn was the case with so much in Iran, everybody just turned a blind eye."

I came across a sentence while reading a book and couldn't figure out both the meaning and the structure of it at all. The sentence is: "But, as I was to learn was the case with so much in Iran, everybody just turned a blind eye." What's confusing me is the first part, "as I was to learn was the case with so much in Iran." I guess it's the inversion of " With so much the case in Iran as I was to learn." Am I right?


The opposite of "crash" for a stock?

I'm looking for a single word that describes that action of making a stock price go up by a lot in a short period of time. The opposite would be "crash" which makes the stock price fall by a lot in a short amount of time. **Edit:** I'm going to try to clear this up. I'm not getting confused about for _which_ action I'm looking for a word. I am making a game in which players interact with a virtual stock market. However, there is an "admin" who is in complete and total control of the market, which _does not exist in the real world_ , and I understand this. I do not need words that describe the stock price suddenly rising or falling. I need words that describe the **action of causing** the price to rise or fall. I realize that this does not happen in the real stock market, but it does happen in my game.


What preposition goes after “directed”?

Is there a comprehensive explanation of which prepositions I should use with _directed_ , and why?   * directed at   * directed to   * directed on   * directed onto   * directed in   * directed into   * directed toward   * directed towards   * ... ? I have found two possible answers, but they look just “partial” in my case:   * Question directed to someone or at someone?   * “Directed at” vs. “directed towards”


What is “the quantum politician”  and how does "filled with aluminum powder" apply?

There was the following statement in the New York Times’ (March 31) article titled “A Quantum Theory of Mitt Romney” > The recent remark by Mitt Romney’s senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom that Mr. > Romney could change his political views “like an Etch A Sketch” has seemed > an apparent admission by a campaign insider of two widely held suspicions > about Romney: that he is a) utterly devoid of any ideological convictions > and b) _filled with aluminum powder_. > > The imagery may have been unfortunate, but Mr. Fehrnstrom’s impulse to > analogize is understandable. Metaphors like these are the only way the > layman can begin to grasp the strange phantom world that underpins the very > fabric of not only the Romney campaign but also of Mitt Romney in general. > For we have entered _the age of quantum politics_ ; and Mitt Romney is the > first quantum politician. From the phrase _quantum change_ meaning revolutionary change, I guess _quantum politics_ means “rapidly and drastically changing politics”, and _quantum politician_ means “a politician who is adaptive to the quick change of situation, or very quick on the feet.” But I have no idea what Mitt Romney is “filled with aluminum powder” means. What does it mean? Are "quantum politics / politician" and "filled with alminum powder" popular" words or just examples of purple verse?


Capitalization of words with dashes in titles

How would you capitalize a word in a book/article title when that word has an en dash in the middle of it? For instance, should "protein-protein interaction" be capitalized as "Protein-protein Interaction" or "Protein- Protein Interaction"?


A science-verb? Sciencing?

Is there a verb to the word _science_? Could you say _sciencing_ (i.e. "in the Process of making/generating science")? Of course there is the word research, which is both a verb and a noun. But in the noun form, "research" and "science" seem to differ a bit if you ask me.


Why do 'get' and 'have' work similarly in 'get/have sth done" but differently in 'get sb to do sth' and 'have sb do sth'

Why do 'get' and 'have' work similarly in > I got/had my car repaired. but differently – that is are not complemented in the same way although they still mean the same – in > I got someone to repair my car. and > I had someone repair my car.


Would the word "dehumidifier" be another word for "heater"?

A salesman told me that they do not call heater (not water heater that you use in bathroom but it is the one that warm up the air around) a heater. They call it `dehumidifier`. Anyone kind enough to tell me whether the word `heater` can be called `dehumidifier`?


Where can I find a list of common phrases?

I'm not so good at english, and I would ask if someone knows a website that lists the most used english ways to say, like for example, "eat the bullet" or "with a grain of salt". I've done some research about it, but the only thing I got is Urban Dictionary, but unfortunately it's not easy to find the phrases; it would be great to have a vocabulary of "ready phrases" (for poor-english people like me:-)


Why are they called 'Junkets''

Why is definition used to refer to this specific business as shown in the extract below, and what is its literal meaning ? _The island's idiosyncratic “junket” system helps to bring rich Chinese to Macau. Junkets are middlemen who lend high-rollers money, arrange accommodation and are paid around 40% of the casinos' take in return._ junket


Is this sentence grammatical and punctuated correctly?

Does this sentence need to be broken up by a semi colon, conjuction, or a period? Is there a modifier error here as well? > The peasants were the least free of all people, bound by tradition and > fettered by superstitions.


How to say "older" or "oldest" when talking about time?

I have several time attributes, like "modification time", "access time", etc. And I want to compare these attributes for some objects: > How to find the object with the [word meaning "oldest"] modification time? Or: > Take the first object that has [word meaning "newer"] access time than > others. What are the words that fill the blanks? **Update:** To clarify the confusion about the way of comparison, I provide an example. Let the first object have the modification time "7:00 1/2/2014", and the second "8:00 1/2/2014". The first object was modified earlier — it has "older" modification time than the second one. The second object was modified later — it has "newer" modification time that the first one.


Why is an apostrophe used in the genitive “-’s”?

The English possessive isn’t a contraction, but rather a relic of the grammatical case system, so why is an apostrophe used in (most) forms of the possessive?


"Against traffic" or "Against the traffic"

The following first sentence comes from Wikipedia, which 'the' is not used before 'traffic', while the second one comes from BBC, which has 'the' before 'traffic'. I wonder if both usages are correct or not? If yes, is there a difference between these two sentences with and without 'the'? If no, which one is correct ? >   1. For cycling in particular, collisions at intersections (defined broadly > as "not only the junction of two roadways, but also points where driveways, > sidewalks, or paths meet a roadway, or where sidewalks or paths meet a > driveway") while traveling in the wrong direction **against traffic** has > been determined to be over three times more likely for wrong-way cyclists. > >   2. The van was then spotted joining the M4 at junction 15 (Swindon east), > driving **against the traffic** towards London on the westbound carriageway. > >


It's funny that you should say that. Why "say" not "said"?

There's an exercise in Murphy's Grammar in use unit 34. "It's funny that you **_should say_** that. I was going to say the same thing." Why not use past tense "said" but "say" here? Another should question. The book says use "I should" to give somebody advice. such as: "It's very cold this morning. I should wear a coat when you go out." Feels a little weird. Is this kind of grammar still used commonly today?


"Pardon me French"

Even though the phrase _pardon my French_ is used much more often, I do constantly run across _pardon me French_ as well. What's the deal with that? Wikipedia does have an entry on Pardon my French, but it doesn't mention the variant with _me_ at all. Urban Dictionary has entries on both variants, but sure enough it doesn't bother to explain why they coexist. It appears to me that _pardon me French_ must be the original expression, and _pardon my French_ a later variation thereof, since there's no reason why anybody should be willingly tampering with the perfectly fine _my_. Then again, what do I know. So I'm asking you.   1. Which one is the original phrase?   2. Either way, what's up with the _me_ variant? I can't think of any other phrase in contemporary English where _me_ is used to mean _my_ , can you?


"Nominator" or "Numerator"?

Consider the fraction 3/7. In Mathematics, "7" in the expression is called "denominator" of the fraction. But in the case of "3", some people call it "nominator", and some call it "numerator". Which one is true and more commonly used?


I am perplexed by this sentence

I want to know which sentence is correct "you take a optimistic view of life" or "you take an optimistic view of life"


Singular/plural in "no X since" vs "no Xs since"

I commented against an earlier question “No A or B” vs. “Neither A nor B” that in contexts such as _The system has had no **error** since 2013_ native speakers would invariably use the plural **_errors_**. As I see it, the two extremes for singular/plural usage here can be typified by, for example,... > 1a: _I've had no **food** since Monday._   >  1b: _I've had no **friends** since leaving school._ ...where my first thought was we use singular **_food_** because it's a mass noun. I may be wrong, but I'm guessing that's what underpins my increasing aversion to the singular noun forms in... > 2a: _I've had no **trouble** since switching to Linux_ (at this end of the > list, plural seems unlikely to me)   >  2b: _I've had no **difficulty** since switching_   >  2c: _I've had no **problem** since switching_   >  2d: _I've had no **error** since switching_ (at this end, only plural works > for _error, setback, issue,_ etc.) (The example is totally made up - I'm actually having all sorts of problems with Ubuntu Linux! :) * * * But that "mass noun" principle doesn't seem to help when I consider... > 3: _I've had no **boss** since becoming self-employed_ (where I strongly > prefer the singular) What's going on here? Am I wrong about the "mass noun" distinction in the first place? Is there something else involved that makes #3 a special case?


Article or no article: "at the price of a higher workload"?

The finer points (the infamous 10%?) of when to use indefinite articles still manage to elude me sometimes. Does the article "a" belong in the following sentence or not? > However, [foo] yields [bar] at the price of **a** higher workload for [baz]. Bonus question: Which rule applies here?


What's the difference between "regime" and "regimen"

The title says it all, really.


What's the difference between 'reliant', 'relying' and 'dependent'?

I wanted to say that someone's project has some dependencies on my previous work and that project reuses some part of my work. Which word or phrase should I use?


For people, can you say "a British" like you can say "an Australian"?

According to Wiktionary, you can't use "a British" to refer to individual British people, though you can use it to refer to a race of people as a whole, but you can use "an Australian", and this matches what I already suspect. I can't think of a good Google Ngram query to confirm this. Is this the case? And if so, why is there a difference?


Telephone Conversation

When you call an acquaintance and she is struggling to recognize you what do native speakers say to make sure that she recognized him? > Person A: Hey, this is Joseph from the math class. > > Person B: hmm[thinking...]. > > Person A: [Trying to emphasize] Did you recognize me? Or Have you recalled > me? What do you guys think is a good of way of asking this?


Can I use 'I wish I were there' in this situation?

There were workshops a few days ago. I couldn't be there. I'm watching photographs from that time and I'm wondering what I should use. 'I wish I were there' or 'I wish I were be there' or something elese?


What does “stand to” mean in the sentence, “China’s Health Ministry stands to profit from the industry’s growth?”

I found the following sentence in an archive of the Financial Times articles dated August 29, 2007, which was titled “Chinese? Don’t get ill.” “The problems of the health system are tangled up in the country’s larger policy conflicts. How much of a role should be allowed for the market? The health ministry, which _stands to profit_ from the industry’s growth, is resisting giving too much ground to the private sector.” As I can’t get the exact idea of Chinese Health Ministry “ _stands to profit_ ” from the industry’s growth, I consulted the meaning of “stand to” with several dictionaries; Neither of Cambridge or Merriam-Webster Dictionary registers “stand to” as an idiom though both carry “stand up to stg” as an idiom, Oxford Dictionaries provides the definition of “stand to” as; Military stand ready for an attack, especially one before dawn or after attack. Example: Orders come to the guardsmen to stand to. Sanseido’s Wisdom English Japanese dictionary carries “stand to” as an idiom meaning “stand ready for.” The freedictionary.com defines “stand to” as “to rise to (or maintain) an upright position on the feet. To me, none of the above definitions does seem to comfortably fit to the context of the line, “(Chinese) Health Ministry, stands to profit from the industry’s growth. What meaning does “stand to” have other than “stand ready for” as an idiom? Or it’s not an idiom, it’s simply a verb (stand) ＋to do (profit) - from the industry growth.


Why do we use plural when we say "blow someone's brains out"?

My simplistic thinking is that each person has one brain, so why do we say "blow someone's brains out"?


When to use "verb to be"/"do" in question?

When I ask questions like "Are you tried?", "Is he usually come on time?", is it grammatically correct or not? Can I ask "Do you tried?" and "Does he usually come on time?" What rules apply when I ask questions like this?


What is the difference of “Has it right” from other affirmative expressions such as “It is right,” “It holds, “and “It makes sense”?

When I posted a question about usefulness or “unuseful-ness” of using Latin phrase in conversation and writing yesterday, I got an answer saying “If you did not know the meaning of a specific (Latin) phrase, it may be likely that many other people do not recognize that phrase, so it’s best to avoid it,” from someone, followed by the other user’s comment, “ _This answer has it right_.” As I’m not familiar with the expression, “ _Someone (or something) has it right_ ,” I checked the usage of the phrase on Google, and found the following example:   * The tea party _movement has it right_ : Don't spend more than you have. - newsmax.com.   * _Obama has it right_ in deficit plan. His deficit- cutting plan is not perfect, but close to it. It's fiscally smart and politically smart. - realclear politics.com   * Why _the Supreme Court has it right_ on violent video games. - live.com    * Which _political party has it right_ for current retirees? - retireplan about.com I also checked Google Ngram to find that the usage of ”has it right” had been low and stayed flat since 1840 up to 1980, but after 1980 it started to rise sharply. I don’t think I’ve learned this expression in English textbooks I’ve read. What is the exact meaning of _“(Someone) has it right_ ” and what is the difference of it from other affirmative statements such as “It is right (appropriate),” “It holds,” and “It makes sense,” by meaning and by nuance? Why can't it be simply "It (movement, decision, remark, answer) is right"?


Short alternatives of the word Authentication and the word Authorisation

As a programmer I use the word Authentication and the word Authorisation in my code. I'd like to find nice abbreviations or alternative words for each of them that   * are not ambiguous and    * has reasonably large 'psychological distance' between. i.e. they don't look too similar i.e 'Auth' is not OK because it is ambiguous. At the moment I have just removed some letters   * Authtictn   * Authristn Any suggestions? * * * Update: Since this question is now under threat I have moved it's gist to: http://www.eatmybusiness.com/food/2014/02/08/short-alternatives-of-the-word- authentication-and-the-word-authorisation/272/


Why use "modestly" to describe Moller in this paragraph?

I have copied this excerpt from a NPR news transcript below > ALSOP: Isn't it nice? It's very pleasant and sunny and sounds like spring > time. And, you know, it really belies the enormity of this piece and what's > about to happen and the fact that Moller even gave it the subtitle - he only > used it for the first two performances - but the Titan, **modestly** , as he > always did, of course. Is Titan, Moller here? And do the last few sentences means something like: "Though this is a masterpiece which he should be proud of, he is still humble"?


What are these symbols called? ~ ` ^

What can I call the following symbols? # ~ # ` # ^


Is "to play with one's feet" usable in English?

I'm Belgian (Flemish) and over there we have an expression: "met iemands voeten spelen". Google translates it as I would: "Playing with one's feet". Googling around for a minute or so does not give me any results. So I was wondering. Do native English people understand what it means? In Flemish it means something like: to tease, to joke around, to fool around... not sure if those are correct English.


Correct pronunciation of "Qty"

How to pronounce "Qty"?               ku-ti-ai      or               ku-ti-why


Using quotation marks to describe technical terms

Consider: > DNS has a similar feature, but instead of “Work,” “Home,” and “Fax,” it has > special record types that indicate which IP address you want from the > server. I'm British, but am publishing in the US. I'm aware that in British English, these commas would go outside the quotes surrounding Work, Home and Fax. In US English, they should go within the quotation marks. My question is, does this example look odd to Americans? It looks terribly chaotic to me, but if that's solely because I'm used to a different convention, then that's no problem. If it does look strange to Americans, how would you recommend including these terms in my sentence? Is it perfectly valid to just italicize instead? Another example: > In this case, “litmus.com” resolves to “199.182.122.119”. Placing the period within the quotation marks actually makes the statement incorrect, from a technical perspective. Should I just refrain from trying to quote technical terms? Is there a convention for including terms such as those used above?


"Has yet to be a total success."

What does mean a sentence "Intervention that has yet to be a total success"? Does it mean the success is not total or that there will be total success soon? Or the total success was planned but difficult to achieve?


A one line rhyme?

The wiki defines a rhyme as: > ...A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words, most > often at the end of lines in poems and songs... But if I have just 2 words in a statement that in my opinion rhymes, can I say that the one liner rhymes. If 'rhyme' is not the correct term, then what is the correct term for it. The one liner is "Chef Ash".


Which is best: "with", "by", or "using"?

When I tried to write research paper about robotics, I felt confused in choosing these 3 words. For example, I want to write that I use mobile robot in exploring room and creating map of that room as following. Which one should I use? "Do exploration and mapping of the room **by** Mobile Robot." "Do exploration and mapping of the room **using** Mobile Robot." "Do exploration and mapping of the room **with** Mobile Robot." They sound different in my feeling but deeply look into the meaning I think they're the same. Am I wrong?


Usage of the word "memory"

I came across this question, but I do not find the answer to what's bothering me. Can _memory_ be used to refer to a particular piece of your past experience that you remember well? E.g.: > I have a good **memory** of putting my key on the table. If this usage is not appropriate — what would you suggest?


Why is "to" used after the verb at the end of a sentence?

> I would do it if I wanted _to_. > > I would do it if I wanted. Why is _**to**_ used after the verb? Only to give emphasis? Is there a difference in the meanings of the above sentences?


Truncating clauses (e.g., "I want to", "She must")

I'm sure this has been discussed before but I had some difficultly searching. > I want to, but I don't have time. In saying this, the following is implied: > I want to **do it** , but I don't have time. Another example could be: > I would if I had the time. In which the following is implied: > I would **do it** if I had the time. What's a term that refers to this practice? Also, I don't see why an auxiliary couldn't be standalone in a sentence (such as with "I would"), but is appending an infinitive's particle onto the preceding verb (such as with "I want to") considered grammatically correct?


Are the sentences below grammatically correct?

1)To strike a pass mark, it is imperative that each candidate _is prepared_ to try his best. 2)Until now, they have responded to many a question successfully, so they can _enter into this discussion._ 3)It costs about thirty dollars to have a _tooth filling_. 4)The electrical field produced by a single wire is not very strong, _so to increase it to wind the wire._ 5)The teacher's note under my composition _read following_ "the train of thought presented in the paper was _confused_."


Are there other verbs like “be” and “go”?

The verbs _be_ and _go_ have the nice peculiarity that their various forms ( _be_ / _was_ and _go_ / _went_ ) come from originally distinct verbs. Are there other such verbs?


What is the neutral way of telling someone to "do whatever you want"?

> Do whatever you want This sentence can carry a negative tone (highly probable). Making it sound that someone is fed-up and/or simply doesn't care. Especially after one has had a heated discussion/argument. How can I tell that in a manner that it carries a neutral and preferable a positive tone?


Is “Can you carry this book?” acceptable?

Is it grammatically correct to say: > Can you carry this book? I said this to a friend and this person commented that I need to learn grammar. To me the statement seems grammatically correct and logical. If it is wrong, why is it wrong? Perhaps the context of the situation might help. I had a bunch of books in my hands and I handed one to my friend asking the question above.


Should I refer to North Koreans and South Koreans "same people" or "the same people"?

Are North Koreans and South Koreans "same people" or "the same people"? Which is correct: _the same_ or just _same_ , and why?


Meaning of 'snuff' as in 'snuff film'

_Snuff film_ means > a pornographic film in which one of the actors is murdered during or after a > sadistic sexual act. On the other hand, _snuff_ means > act of inhaling, breathing in; sound made when breathing in; powdered > tobacco that is inhaled through the nose; burnt end of a candle wick. Why is it _snuff_ film? What is the meaning of _snuff_ as in _snuff film_?


What is the suitable word to use after the word fall or drop to mean it dropped a lot?

In particular i have an index in mind. I think the word heavily is okay, but is there a better word? Or even better is there a word to mean dropped heavily?


Difference between "focus" and "concentration"

What is the difference between _focus_ and _concentration_ in the following context? > High-flow activities require focus and concentration; your mind is actively > engaged in what you are doing.


Visually and audibly unambiguous subset of the Latin alphabet?

Imagine you give someone a card with the code "5SBDO0" on it. In some fonts, the letter "S" is difficult to visually distinguish from the number five, (as with number zero and letter "O"). Reading the code out loud, it might be difficult to distinguish "B" from "D", necessitating saying "B as in boy," "D as in dog," or using a "phonetic alphabet" instead. We want to write codes that can always be communicated clearly. What's the biggest subset of letters and numbers that will, in most cases, still look visually unambiguous and sound unambiguous when read aloud?


"by winning" vs "by her winning" or "of her win"

I have a dilema, here's a little excerpt: > Anna, an accomplished classical musician, was **encouraged by her winning** > the prestigious award .... plans to launch a new album. Sounds really wrong. Is this correct prose?


What's the origin of the saying "know your onions"?

In French, there's the expression _occupez-vous de vos oignons_ which means "mind your own business" in English but can be literally translated as "take care of your onions". _Know your onions_ however means to be knowledgeable about a subject - a meaning which is clearly distinct from the French saying. But what's its origin? I'd really love to know.


odd taxonomy of English

The taxonomy of ox, like cow, bull, calf, steer, bullock, cattle, etc. is all odd to me, using different words for the same animal. (The same can be said to sheep.) I'm looking for similar odd-looking taxonomy in English, which is even unscientific. Any example? (other than "sheep")


Does this "come with" make sense in this sentence?

Food makes the human body survive, whereas Clothes decorate it. With decoration there comes propriety. (my translation for an ancient Chinese text) By "with decoration there comes propriety" I mean that propriety orginated from the colors and patterns of clothes, or was mainly embodied in them in the early stage of human society. Can this "come with" mean such an abstract idea?


crazy as a pet coon under a red wagon

Has anyone else heard this phrase? I heard it growing up in western Kansas and have always wondered where it came from. My brother in law would say, "That dog is a as crazy as a pet coon under a red wagon!"


What is a word or expression to define that you have reached the limit of your capabilities?

I am referring to the stage where someone reaches his/her capabilities limits, especially professional limits. I am thinking about career advancements as well as the growth in professional life. We all reach our limit in that progress and going further would be unnatural or might put us in a difficult position because we are not able to cope with a higher level of abilities or responsibilities. Is there a word or expression to define this limit in personal progress?


Question on using the word "perk"

I am writing the acknowledgement section of my thesis. Could someone please let me know if I am using the word "perk" correctly in the following? > I want to thank my great friends in our lab, especially Ph.D. candidate > Jason Wright for making the lab environment pleasant and rewarding. Coffee > breaks with him were a great perk. Should I use something else instead of "perk"? If perk is not commonly used, how can I say that coffee breaks with his were very useful? Thanks in advance.


Searching for a synonym or an alternate Phrase

I am looking for a synonym or a phrase that means, that > after reading a particular thought my perspective / way to look at life has > changed in a good manner. Basically this is for my new blog name, it will be a collection of good quotes from/for life… I was not able to find a good one, as most of the blog names are already taken, so looking for a different one...


what's the meaning of this phrase: " top to the bottom quintile" e.g. "The ratio of expected retirement income of the top to the bottom quintile was 14 in 2007"


Usage of hyphen when naming colors

When is it appropriate to use a hyphen when naming colors? For instance `Blue-green` has a dash but `Teal blue` does not. Is there some general English rule that applies?


What is the origin of "long" and "short" in finance?

In finance, "short selling" or "shorting" is the practice of borrowing shares of stock and immediately selling them in hopes they will decline in value, allowing you to repurchase them later at a lower price, repay your debt (of stock), and walk away with a profit. More generally, one who stands to profit from the decline of an asset is said to have a "short position" on that asset, or to be "short [the asset]". Analogously, a "long position" is one that rises with the underlying asset. If Sally owns a lot of gold, one might say "Sally is long gold," since she stands to profit from gold increasing in value. What is the origin of these terms? I assume that "short sale" came first, and "long" was just the natural opposite, but why was the word "short" used in the first place?


Why is it "loggable" rather than "logable"?

I am using ' ** _loggable_** ' in the name of an interface written in a .NET programming language. It is among the many words that make sense in a programming context but aren't (yet) listed in English Dictionaries, as are _serializable_ , _deserialization_ , and _multiton_. _Loggable_ seems like the correct spelling to me, but I can't pinpoint the reason. Similar words such as _floggable_ and _taggable_ have double 'g', but Google search also returns usage of their single 'g' counterparts, albeit the single 'g' seems to be less widespread. Does anyone know a reason my brain likes "loggable" as opposed to "logable" for the correct spelling? A concrete rule would be great.


Two adjectives for two nouns

I saw this on a billboard recently > We have new and pre-owned cars and trucks Clearly the intention is to modify "cars and trucks" with the two adjectives "used and preowned" and although the construction does make sense intuitively (and colloquially), I was wondering if there are any specific rules about this kind of "dual-and" construction or any other situation where you have multiple adjectives modifying a string of objects simultaneously.


What does “sank like a Chevy Volt in water” mean?

The Mesh Report (October 11) issue disclosed President Obama was confident that he won at the first Presidential debate with Mitt Romney in the article titled “Clueless: Obama thought he won debate until told otherwise.” It begins with the following sentence: > According to an article in the Daily Mail UK, President Obama walked off the > stage after his underwhelming debate performance convinced he was the > winner. - - - Obama was content that he had delivered the rhetorical goods. > He only realized he **sank like a Chevy Volt dropped in water** after his > senior aides broke the news to the surprised, and disturbingly oblivious, > Commander in Chief. Apparently, **the most transparent President** in > history in also the least self-aware. I came across the expression, “sink like a Chevy Volt dropped in water” for the first time. What does it mean? Does it mean something heavy that dropped deep under water and is unrecoverable? Why is it a Chevy Volt other than a truck, power shovel or bulldozer? Is this a well-used simile? I’m also not clear with the meaning of the line, “President Obama is the most transparent President in history.” In respect to what – money matter, policy/agenda setting, his personal character, or his logic and rhetoric of speech – is Mr. Obama “the most transparent President in the history”?


Is "introductive" a word? Or should I use "introductory"?

I was very surprised when open office's spell check underlined the word _introductive_. I checked a few dictionaries and only a few (including The _Shorter Oxford English Dictionary_ , Oxford University Press, 1973) list it as an entry, whereas all contain the word _introductory_. I would like to know if the latter is preferable, since I used the former in an official document, and prefer to stick to it unless there are sound reasons not to.


What is the origin of "shh"?

The word "sh" (or "shh") is an exclamation for silence: > Shh! They're listening... Etymonline only mentions a date (1847) and the common practice of "putting a finger to the lips." Does anyone else have more information about its origin?


'Ask' and its objects

I'd like to know if the objects of the verb 'ask' **must** follow an order. If so what is that order? Should the first object be the person (someone) or the thing (something)? For example: _Will you ask for that money to your mother?_ or _Will you ask your mother for that money?_


What does the sentence "Butter my butt, call me a biscuit" mean?

What does this sentence mean? How do I use it? > Butter my butt, call me a biscuit.


What is the name for this type of phrase?

When you use an antonym in a phrase: "this is seriously hilarious," what is this phrase called?


What is proper word for "get into some place secretly"

I was trying to write a line like > The commandos got into the building without anyone knowing. But I think that there's a single word for "without anyone knowing". Can anyone help me with this?


Using "should" makes a sentence sound feminine?

I've heard that using "should" makes a sentence sound more feminine. For example, "What should I do?" Is this true? If so, can you give me an explanation? Thank you in advance.


Dustbins & litter

Why do dust bins have the phrase "Do not Litter"? I checked the dictionary meaning - litter means garbage or waste. Aren't dustbins meant for that ?


What does "well regulated" mean, and could it have meant anything different in the past?

What does "well regulated" mean? Especially in relation to, say, a militia? Would this definition have been different some years ago - say in 1776?


the vs an/an + clauses

Here's the situation - I meet a friend and I tell her about yesterday Hey John!   Hi Sarah!   How was yesterday's trip?   It was great. Karl took me to the country side to show me his new house. It reminded me of **the/a** house I rented in Oxford.   ....   **a** house I rented in Oxford. - in this case, one of the houses I rented in Oxford?   **the** house I rented in Oxford. - in this case, I rented only one house in Oxford?


Humour through repeated use of a construct, with a final variation?

I am wondering if there is any name, or well-known example, for a humoristic construct that I particularly enjoy. It is exemplified in this monolog from Pierre Desproges, directed at a woman he was interviewing for a radio off: > Lady, you're a beautiful flower — can I call you a flower? [...]   >  _(later in the interview)_ You're a cute white cloud in blue summer sky — > can I call you a white cloud?   >  _(some more such lines throughout his monolog, you get the idea)_   >  _(and it ends with:)_ You're gorgeous as a cab — can I call you a cab? I'm not even sure there is a specific term for this build-up and final twist. It's sort of related to a syllepsis (which would be _can I call you beautiful and a cab?_ ), but delayed in time. Is there a name for this construct? Do you know of famous examples in English? (I do apologise because translation of humor is necessarily weak, and is not my forte. I do it because I don't know any good example in English.)


All of + possessives

may I ask a question about the correct use of "all of"? As far as understood from a previous post, "of" must be used when followed by a pronoun. What happens with possessives? My example: "beauty in all (of) its forms". Which of the two options is correct? Thank you!


What are the limits of the prefix 'step' to describe relationships?

Is my mother's step-father, my step-grandfather? To what extent is it usual to extend the prefix 'step'? Can we speak of 'step-cousins', step-aunts and step-uncles etc? If we can it must make for considerable complication in how such relationships are defined.


What is the origin of the word "Impression" in the Internet advertising term "Cost-Per-Impression" (CPM)

In Internet advertising jargon, an "impression" is defined by Wikipedia as > the display of an ad to a user while viewing a web page. The word is most often used in the term Cost-per-Impression (CPM), the amount of money an advertiser spends for every 1000 views. According to Reference.com, "impression" is defined as > the first and immediate effect on an experience or perception of the mind What does the word "impression" have to do with Internet Advertising? Who coined the term, and how did it come about?


Word to describe a container for intangible assets

If you had a box that held individual experiences what would you call it?   * These experiences do not necessarily have to be your own.   * Others can put their own experiences in the box.   * The experiences are all related by physical location.   * You can only view the experiences when you are physically near the box. What would you call this box? A container? A vault? A vessel?


"Refurbish" vs. "Furbish"

Question is as title says. Is there any difference between refurbish and furbish or for all intents and purposes are they synonyms? These are the 2 levels I would like to discuss: Differences on definitions based purely on pedantry (i.e. which would you use based exactly on the definition)? Which one is more used and in which contexts (ex. electronics are generally "refurbished") Thanks!


A word for when two statements are both true or both false

Is there a word which basically means that there are two statements that are both _true_ , or both _false_ , but not one true and one false? In computing, we call this a bitwise and.               3 * 3 = 9     4 * 4 = 16      Both of those statements evaluate true, so I would want the word to apply here.               3 * 3 = 10     4 * 4 = 15      Both of these statements evaluate false, so I would want the word to apply here as well.               3 * 3 = 9     4 * 4 = 15      However, here, both statements disagree (one true, one false) and so the word shouldn't apply here. Does such a word exist?


Can an adverb be a noun?

I have seen this post for the answer to my question, but this is not much help in case of the question I am going to ask. Here is an example sentence - > The new design of Twitter profile is more of a Facebook profile **than** > never **before**. **_than_** here is a preposition, there is no doubt about that. But **_before_** after **_than_** acts like a noun. But from dictionary entry against **_before_** doesn't say it's a noun. So what is the explanation?


Word for "food only partially eaten"

Is there a single word to refer to a food item which has been partially eaten or tasted by someone? To elaborate, let's say there is a bowl of noodles on the table, and someone took a spoon of noodles from that bowl. Someone else comes along and wants to take that bowl. How do you tell him that the bowl has been tasted by someone else? Is it simply _This is used_ like we refer to other objects?


Is there a single word for a member of a group who completes a job?

I have a **job** , for which some people are responsible, say: a, b, c, d and e. If anyone does the job, it is marked as complete. Now let us say _c_ completed the job, so what would I call that person in one word (think **completor** \- _not a word_ ). It is basically for a database schema for a table of tasks which I have to define. Each task has a list of responsible people. Now as soon as the task is done by someone, it's ~~completor~~ field is to be linked to the person who did it. So what I want is a suitable name for the ~~completor~~ field.


have I correctly recognised the apposition?

> Observations from Earth indicate that at the solar surface, the outward > magnetic field is the strongest at the polar regions. Is _at the solar surface_ an apposition which the writer has forgotten to add another comma (,) after that?


What does "what for" mean and where did it come from?"

There is a fight scene in one of my favorite movies in which the main character says "Give them what for!" I've hear this term many times before (usually from old south-eastern Americans,) but no one has been able to give me good explanation for the phrase. What does it mean and/or where does it come from? The best answer that I have heard so far goes something like this: People used to say "What for did you do that?" so "what for" refers to their reason for doing something. Saying "give them what for" is another way of saying "Give them a reason..." (to run away, fight, or what ever.) I'd really like to know how 'what' and 'for' came together and became a metaphor.


"traipse up the steps" just synonym of walking?

Is the expression "traipse up the steps" just synonym of walking up the steps? Is there any other connotation to the verb traipse?


I got first place in a competition where it's possible to tie. How would I distinguish that I was an untied first?

I would like to avoid using the phrase "untied first" unless that is actually the accepted way to say it.


Could somebody rewrite this sentence in a simple language?

"A knight had only to swop his armorial surcoat and shield for those of another to be safely taken for that person." (Hanley, Catherine., War and Combat (1150-1270): The Evidence from Old French Literature, p33)


What is the correct adjective that describes the temporal proximity between the two events?

I'm trying to find the best adjective to describe the temporal proximity between the two events: the creation of two WiFi networks. Currently I'm using _almost concurrent_ to describe the proximity: > But it is not possible to prevent all the **almost-concurrent** requests > because some of them are asynchronous."* But it sounds not very good to me.


What was "well met!" supposed to mean?

I know it was a sort of archaic greeting, but I don't know how to interpret the actual words. I had a foggy idea that it meant "It is good that we met here and now", but even then, "well met" is not the intuitive way to say this. Does anyone know why "well met" was used to express greeting?


What is the possessive form of "y'all"?

I generally hear _y'alls's_ used as the possessive form, but I have also heard _yourn_. Since _y'all_ is a colloquial pronoun, its possessive form is basically liberated from prescriptive linguistics which would probably say that _y'all_ is a contraction for _you all_ and therefore must be possessivized as _of all of you_. Do you know if there is a "standard" way to make _y'all_ possessive, insofar as _y'all_ usage can be considered standard?


Term that means making humans look inanimate

Keeping _personification_ as a related (yet opposite) concept, is there a term that means "to give humans lifeless or inanimate appearance"? For example, in a recent photo shoot, the photographer placed us behind some tree branches, to blend us and make us look like a part of it. So, as one of the answers below suggests, she _depersonalized_ us, but in a positive, artistic manner. **Edit:** this is the photo that made me try to come up with a good word to describe its style: https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak- ash4/q71/s720x720/1375270_606767022702401_1593703055_n.jpg


American Novels in Colloquial Language

I would like to know the names of novels that uses a lot of American colloquial expressions and idioms and it would be great if the novel portrays the exact way people talk in normal circumstances. I'm pretty aware that almost all fictional works arises from some form of day-to-day experiences. However, I hope you would've found that one novel or many novels that after you read, you felt like "Wow, that portrayed my life around me pretty well."


A more gentle word for the word "settled" in the context of payment

I wrote the following sentence: > We will proceed with the registration after the remaining balance is > **_settled_**. Somehow, I find that using the word _settled_ in this sentence sounds a bit rude. This is especially true if we consider that I'm offering something in my previous sentence. I don't want to sound too demanding or make the reader feel bound to do anything. I was thinking to replace _settled_ with _made_. But still, _made_ doesn't sound the best possible word. What are the expressions that could be used in a sentence like this to say that an amount is to be paid and still sound gentle?


Is there some difference between “north-east” and “northeast”?

I have two dictionaries (one American English, the other British English) and they differ in writing the word “northeast”. Does this mean that in American English you should use “northeast” and in British English “north-east”? Or doesn’t it matter?


A word for 'something more' or 'missing from life'

I am trying to think of a word, or phrase to describe this feeling. There is something more to my life, something meaning to happen or occur, and I don't know what it is. There is an anticipation of some sort, but I feel like I am always waiting. Everything is insignificant compared to what will happen. It may be a single event or something that changes everything. I'm not sure and I don't know a proper way to describe my wait for it. Thank you.


What usage and meaning of "else" is this

What is the usage and meaning of "else" in this example? > The key difference between a program and a project is the finite nature of a > project - a project must always have a specific end date, **else** it is an > ongoing program. I thought "else" could only be an adverb, in which case it wouldn't be grammatically correct to connect the two clauses "a project must always have a specific end date" and "it is an ongoing program".


Meaning of "for all their colour"

What does "for all their colour" mean in the following sentence? > Standing immobile throughout the day, these vivid objects, with their > fantastic shadows on the wall behind them shifting and elongating hour by > hour with the sun's rotation, exuded a kind of darkness **for all their > colour**. _Excerpt from Gromenghast by Mervyn Peake_. I have not been able to find the meaning of this expression in online resources.


"One of my friends" vs. "one of my friend"

Which of the following is correct? >   1. Yesterday, I met one of my **friends**. >   2. Yesterday, I met one of my **friend**. >


Why do we call it "gum arabic" and not "arabic gum"?

Not in use so much these days, "gum arabic" can still be found for sale in small bottles. Is there a reason why it is called "gum arabic" and not "arabic gum"? > Gum Arabic \- Gum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, > or meska, a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the > acacia tree, is used primarily in the food industry as a stabilizer. It is > edible and has E number E414. Gum arabic is a key ingredient in traditional > lithography and is used in printing, paint production, glue, cosmetics and > various industrial applications, including viscosity control in inks and in > textile industries, although less expensive materials compete with it for > many of these roles.


Where did "wired" come from?

I am not a coffee drinker, but I just drank some coffee. I said to my Hispanic friend, "I am WIRED!" and had to explain what the slang term means. However now that I think about it, that's an awfully strange term for "very very awake." Where did the word come from?


What does 'outsize character' mean?

I saw the following sentence in today's New York Times: > Despite questions about their coach's _outsize personality_ , the Jets have > won three playoff games in two seasons under Rex Ryan. As the expression 'outsize personality' is quite new to me, I consulted Google and found the following example containing it: > Obregón, Alejandro’s work was widely exhibited in Latin America and > elsewhere and in 1956 he won first prize at the Guggenheim International > Exhibition in New York. Edward Lucie-Smith described him as ‘an _outsize > personality_ '… Does 'outsize personality' mean outspoken, carefree character? Does it sound positive or negative to the person when he or she was characterized so? What does it mean exactly?


What is the word for "turning a noun into an adjective"?

Is there a specific name or term for words that are the adjective form of nouns? Like "salty" from "salt", "Freudian" from "Freud", "glossy" from "gloss", etc.? What about adjective forms of verbs "loathsome" from "loathe"? Or verb forms of nouns like "to telephone"?


Pronunciation of 'Superman'

How do you pronounce the word, _Superman_? For example the pronunciation of _man_ seems equal in American and British English. But this is not the case for _Superman_. It seems that in American English, it is pronounced as _Supermen_. I'm asking it because in Italian we're using the American pronunciation.


How to call songs where the author has set music on his own / other authors’ poetry

I am not a native English speaker and I compile a list of songs of a certain singer-songwriter. I try to choose proper words for headings of two major list’s sections:   1. Songs that are written entirely by this author, both lyrics and music.   2. Songs where the author has set music on other authors’ poetry. I need help to put these draft wordings in order, making them short, clear and correct both stylistically and grammatically. One of my attempts was like this: _Songs on his own lyrics_ / _Songs on other authors’ lyrics_ , but it seems quite awkward to me. For example, I don’t know which word is right: _other authors’_ , _other writers’_ , _other people’_ or something else? Likewise, I get confused between _lyrics_ , _poems_ , _poetry_ , _words_ , _works_ and similar words.


Can I say “acquire someone something”?

It’s common to say **“ _someone_ acquires _something_ ”**, but is it OK to say **“acquires _someone something_ ”**? For example, it is possible to say > His character acquires him a good name.   >  (where _good name_ here means _fame_ ) to mean that he acquires a good name because of his (good) character.


A term for adoption of a made up term

Is there a term for the acceptance of a made up term that then became the name of the object/idea/action once it was invented? Example: Cyberspace. It was first used by William Gibson in his cyberpunk novels, but when actually invented, it now is widely used across the world (or at least across the United States). Is there a term for this phenomenon?


Which question should be used asking someone about his school?

Which one of the following questions should be used when one is asking someone about his school, he studied at? > Where have you done your high school from? or > Where did you do your high school from?


Which one is correct in this context, "was new for me" vs. "is new for me"?

I sent an email update to my friend. He replied: > I saw his reply myself when I was in there, but response submitted by him > **_is new for me_** Now he has seen the response, and I think it has gone in past. Should he not have used _was new for me_ rather than _is new for me_ in his reply to me?


A word for a favor/debt that cannot be repaid

I just feel like _unrepayable_ isn't actually a word. Thesauri are not much helpful. Consider a case in which someone saves your child's life. There is nothing you can ever do to pay them back for this favor. What they have done for you is [word I'm looking for].


"A spatial equivalent station to" vs. "a spatial equivalent station as"

> The second working period shall either start at the same station or in a > spatial equivalent station **to** the first working period's start station. I'm in doubt regarding the preposition _to_ used above, because I kinda feel that the preposition _as_ would also fit there. But I'm not sure which one to use or why use one instead of another.


What is this usage of "have"?

> Whether we like it or not, we mold ourselves to what society would have us. I don't understand _what the society would have us_. What is this structure? I've never come across this usage of _have_.


Tensed verb form or the plain form when used after "that" (in a mandative construction)

I know that each is a singular subject, but in certain cases it seems that is not the case. For example, in this sentence below, why would the correct verb be "keep" instead of "keeps?" > The tour guide recommends _that each child keep close_ to his or her parents > in order to avoid leaving someone behind.


What is the meaning of transportation in the following paragraph? > "That," Donna announced, "is transportation!" A small caramel-colored cow > sauntered toward us. Donna held out her hand and our "transportation" > nuzzled it with a wet, velvety nose.


Can "number" in "number one" possibly be a Dutchism or a Germanism?

On a Dutch news site, someone claimed that the Dutch use of "nummer" (number) used in the meaning of "you are the number one", is actually an anglicism. It triggered my curiosity and I tried to find out whether that could be true. Apparently, the word "nummer" in Dutch has been used for a long time and in the 18th century some quotations appear in the meaning of "the person or thing most in the foreground", as in the quote "Gy hebt u te veel ter noemer één gemaakt". Trying to find proof, I searched some online English language etymology dictionaries, but didn't manage to find a first appearance in the meaning of "winner". This begged the question, maybe that particular use of number is actually a Dutchism or Germanism in the English language? Does anyone know when that meaning first appeared? Or would that meaning predate any current language use and it was already applied in Latin?


Is "most" equivalent to "a majority of"?

In sentences such as the following, how is _most_ best understood? > 1) **Most** children do not like cauliflower. > > 2) **Most** of the balls in the bucket are red. I suppose there are three or more possible interpretations for _most_ in these sentences. > A) a plurality (at least one more than any other alternative) > > B) a majority (more than half, even if barely more) > > C) a comfortable majority (well more than half) For sentence 1, interpretations A and B would be equivalent since there are only two alternatives.


Preposition with verb "provide"

It appears the transitive verb _provide_ has (at least) two prepositions: > provide (something) for (someone/something) > > provide (something) to (someone/something) For example, > The umbrellas provide shade for the guests. > > He provided drugs to the prisoners. In both of these examples, one could have swapped _to_ and _for_ , although the sentences as written feel more natural. Is there a good rule to use when deciding whether to use _to_ or _for_ with _provide_? No doubt endless opining on this question is possible. But I would very much prefer if someone could point me to some sort of authoritative source, e.g., OED, Cambridge ESL materials, Chicago Manual of Style.


Correct usage of "yet" in the middle of the sentence

Is the following sentence a correct usage of _yet_? > I'm someone like you, and yet like no one. I think it matches the last definition of OAAD, _more importantly_. But I also think the comma and _and_ could be omitted, am I right?


Is it right or wrong to use forms of words that aren't in any dictionaries?

I want to use the word `ataractically` in a formal piece of writing. A derived form of `ataraxia`, I'd like to use it in a sentence like this: > This is the most ataractically candid thing I've ever written. Is it acceptable to use `ataractically`, a word which I cannot find in a single dictionary, and which only has a couple of results in Google? `ataraxically` is another possible form. Besides whether it may be correct or not, is an audience likely to understand it? Assume they're highly educated and well-read. **I created a new question as I realised "ataractically" probably isn't going to be understood by 90% of my audience:**   A better way of articulating 'ataractically candid'


Isn't "chuckle" the frequentative of "chuck"?

Wikipedia indicates that the frequentative word "chuckle" has no original form, but Dictionary.com lists chuckle originating from the third form of chuck, meaning "to pat or tap lightly, as under the chin". That seems like a perfectly legitimate original form of chuckle, to me. So am I missing something, or is Wikipedia missing the mark? **Edit**   I misread the "chuck3" link. I thought it meant the third sense of first form, marked as "chuck1 3.". But there is actually a "chuck3" with a first sense meaning "to cluck". That's more reasonable!


What word/phrase describes the act of "pulling the chair when someone's sitting"?

Is there a word or phrase that succinctly describes the act of pulling the chair when someone's sitting? If there isn't a word or phrase that describes this act is that ( _pulling the chair when someone's sitting_ ) an appropriate description of the act?


In 2-3 days vs Within 2-3 days

I have always thought that **within** means "till some point" while **in** means "at some point". In 2 weeks - i.e. in 14 days from now. Within 2 weeks - i.e. during today or the next 14 days, not later. But what about " > within 100-200 days"? I would say "from now and not later than in 100-200 days". But a native speaker told me that actually it means "from 101th to 200th day", i.e. not from now till the upper limit. I would rather say "in 100-200 days" as I want to say "not sooner than in 100 days and not later than in 200 days".


I know 'status quo' means the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues. When should we use the word 'status quo'? (Here is a related ELU question.)


What are “faded eyes” like?

Does that mean _pale eyes_ (color) or _glazed eyes_ (energy) or _sight-dimmed eyes_ (ability)? I have no idea. Just for your information, the wandmaker in the following citation is a very old man with pale eyes, and he is very tired. Also, I’d like to know if the definition of “faded eyes” varies depending on the context. > The wandmaker took the first of the wands and held it close to his faded > eyes, rolling it between his knobble-knuckled fingers, flexing it slightly. > ( _Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (7)_ [US Version p.493])


Usage of "kick in"

Is the following usage of the words "kick in" proper? Is this: > The rollover will only kick in in the next billing cycle. better than this? > The rollover will kick in the next billing cycle. Is the extra "in" required?


Storytelling, used to and would

When we tell a story that happened in the past should we use 'used to' and 'would' for actions that happened regularly in that story. For example in the following what differences do the five forms have? And which one seem the most suitable candidate? > When I was in junior high, I had a classmate who **_used to draw_** > scorpions on a paper and showed it off to students to scare them off. > > When I was in junior high, I had a classmate who **_drew_** scorpions on a > paper and showed it off to students to scare them off. > > When I was in junior high, I had a classmate who **_would_** draw scorpions > on a paper and showed it off to students to scare them off. > > When I was in junior high, I had a classmate who **_used to_** draw > scorpions on a paper and **_would_** show it off to students to scare them > off. > > When I was in junior high, I had a classmate who **_would_** draw scorpions > on a paper and **_would_** show it off to students to scare them off.


Etymology of "research"?

Triggered by an interesting but speculative and open-ended discussion in a scientific blog article, I want to ask what the meaning of _research_ is/was according to its etymological history. Maybe the knowledge here and wizard- like tools like ngram can shed more light on this question, at least I would like to see how people interpret/vote _research_. Please do not just simply reword different theories in this blog article, but add some traceable clues or a analysis how the meaning of the word changed gradually.


What's the meaning of "in God's name"?

> What in God's name have we done? It seems 'in God's name' = 'on earth'.


Old slang words for a kiss--cherry smashes and honey cooler--why?

Cherry smashes are defined as feeble kisses and a honey cooler is simply a kiss. Cherry smashes was slang from the 1920s and a honey cooler was slang from the 1930s. Any ideas why feeble kisses would be cherry smashes or why a honey cooler would be a kiss?


Generic name for places like village, town and cities

There is the German word _Ort_ or _Ortschaft_ which is a hypernym for places where people live like   * villages   * towns   * cities etc. Is there a correspondent word in English? I don't want to use _location_ or _place_ because they also represent geographical entities where no people live or even just buildings.


With "amount" will you use singular or plural?

I am confused about this grammatical question:   * large amount of data and the fact that **it** will exponentially grow   * large amount of data and the fact that **they** will exponentially grow (the semantic is that the number of data will increase). Which of the two forms is the correct one?


Why is mutton used for both sheep meat and goat meat?

The meat of an adult sheep is called **mutton.** The meat of an adult goat is called **chevon or mutton.** > In the English-speaking islands of the Caribbean, and in some parts of Asia, > particularly Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India, the word > “mutton” is often used to describe both goat and sheep meat, despite its > more specific meaning (limited to the meat of adult sheep) in the UK, US, > Australia and several other English speaking countries.   >  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat_meat * * * **Questions:**   * Why mutton is used for goat meat in some Asian countries (and Caribbean)? Is this a semantic extension? What is the origin of this usage?   * Is mutton ever used for goat meat in North America?   * What word is common for goat meat in North America? For example: "goat meat" or "chevon"? (You can talk about UK, NZ, AU etc. also) (Though, goat meat itself is not that common in North America comparing to other parts of the world)


What does "pax" mean in the context of the apartment rental?

I'm looking at apartment ads in Singapore, but I don't understand what pax means. Here's an example: > View 8pm today @ Hdb Approved HDB 1+1 Blk 3 Jalan Kukoh (Chin Swee Rd): > >   * 15 min walk Chinatown MRT >   * furn with ac >   * avail 15th May >   * $1.5k max 5 **pax** >


Strange verb string tonal pattern

In a sentence involving a string of verbs as a list (as opposed to modifying each other), the standard American English tonal pattern for that string almost always begins high and decreases in pitch with each item. (Perhaps this is true of lists of other parts of speech as well.) Example: > The activities included dancing, swimming, biking, and cheese-making. I have heard a semi-consistent violation of this rule in which the second list item is of higher pitch than the first, and then the rest follow the usual descending pitch rule. I know very little about formal sonority theory so I am speaking more or less straight from the gut. Is the "standard pattern" I inferred really standard? Is this deviation from it meaningful? Is it a regional preference to which I am not sensitive?


What does “force oneself ” mean in the sentence,“Dickens has been forcing himself. Bleak House was forced; Little Dorrit was labored”?

I saw the phrase, “force himself” in the following sentence of Time (Jan 30) article titled “Charles in Charge.”: > Critics found these novels dreary and diffuse. Henry James, reviewing Our > Mutual Friend for the Nation in 1865, wrote, "For the last 10 years it has > seemed to us that Mr. Dickens has been unmistakably _forcing himself_. Bleak > House was _forced_ ; Little Dorrit was labored; the present work is _dug out > as with a spade and pickaxe_." But Dickens wasn't writing for the critics. > His deft touch with comedy and pathos kept his loyal readers happy. I think I can understand ‘force oneself,’ but I can’t understand (1) what Dickens has been ‘forcing himself’ to do, and (2) what Bleak House was a ‘forced’ work mean - Does it mean he was compelled to write though he didn't wish to write it? - , and (3) what ‘dug out as with a spade and pickaxe’ mean in the context of “forcing and forced”? Would you be kind enough to enlighten me?


Etymology of "choice" — New Zealand vernacular

One of the things that I hear all the time over here in NZ is the phrase 'Choice'. Which is used in a similar way to _great_ or _fantastic_ or _awesome_. For example, > That party was choice! I can't seem to find where it comes from. Does anyone have any clues, please? One thought is that since the term 'bro' (as in 'brother') is often added to it, I suspect that, perhaps, it has ecclesiastical origins.


The adverb "away" for continuity or repetitiveness

I would like to ask about the adverbial particle "away" meaning continuity or repetitiveness (i.e. not a location, a distance, a change of position etc.). When used with some atelic verbs, the meaning is "continually, steadily". This part is quite clear to me. > Over the past couple years we **worked away** on the car in my spare time. > > We sat and **chatted away** till midnight. The result seems different when **away** is used with short action verbs, it sounds almost exclusively as "repeatedly" to me. Taking a series of actions somehow differs from going on. > All that can be seen is the silhouette of Macbeth as he **stabs away** with > his dagger. > > This reddish-brown bird blends in with the leaves that litter the ground as > it **pecks away** , looking for insects. > > No one says a word to me as I **bang away** on the keyboard. > > These feathers serve to brace the woodpecker as it **hammers away**. > > While he rechecked the instruments, getting ready for the afternoon's > studies, he **licked away** at his ice cream cone. It requires many peck to feed oneself, it would be hard to eat a cream cone with one lick, killing a king requires several stabs. So, is there such a strict line between the two meanings or is it just me?


Grammatically, why does it seem that 'that' can't follow the verb expressing propositional attitude in this sentence?

Consider the sentence, > Together with corroborant documentation, the petitioner must submit his own > account of the events that he claims (that) justify the exemption. _That_ can follow any verb that expresses a propositional attitude. (E.g. 'He believes/expects/knows/says/claims/asserts/ that.') However, I suspect that something grammatical -something other than stylistic concerns about repetition- prohibits the use of _that_ after _claims_ in the sentence above. Does a grammatical rule prohibit the use of, or require eliding, _that_ in the way I've described? Thank you -Hal


What connotation does "unhealthy relationships" have? I'm told that it can't be used to mean strained or stormy relations with someone. Why?


Phrase to tell, that you have written a fast note

I am choosing a title for my essay, which is about a man, who wrote a fast idea on a napkin and lost in a pocket of his jacket. Then he dies in a car accident and ten years later his son finds an old jacket, finds a napkin and implements father's idea. My candidate is a "Napkin note", but it seems too hackneyed. How to put in a phrase, that a man has written a fast note?


Is "re-enqueue" or "reenqueue" a proper word?

This came up while reviewing a technical document: >   1. The algorithm could re-enqueue the id associated with the job ... > This has generated some discussion as the word does not appear in the dictionary and we aren't sure if it is proper or not. Is this a proper word for use in a technical document or is there a better word use?


"Fixed" vs "fixes" when things are already done

I work in a software company and I write daily reports. The format of my daily reports look more or less like below: **Today**   * Fixed bug _in login page_ **Tomorrow**   * Fixes bug _in logout page_ My questions are:   1. Is _Fixed bug XXX_ grammatically correct or not? If not, how should I write it?   2. Is _Fixes bug YYY_ (in tomorrow) grammatically correct or not? If not, how should I write it in a correct form?


Resources for Australian street talk?

I know of a great series of books called "Street Talk" which tries to cover colloquial American English. Is there any such resources for Australian English? Especially with emphasis on Listening and Speaking?


IT-related synonym for "context"

I'm developing an application which has an "Event" system that basically allows application extensions to attach events to a certain "context". When the application reaches a context, it will fire events that are attached to it. Anyway, I don't like the word _context_ ; it sounds weird. What alternatives do I have?


Use of hyphens when qualifying a noun

I am editing a bit of text, and I need to know: should there be a hyphen in the following passage? "While transecting the designated territory, survey-team members collected numerous artifacts." Could it just be "survey team members"? Or "survey team-members"?


Is this grammatically correct: "It has happened for a while now."

If not, why? I think it sounds awkward but I cannot be sure it's incorrect.


Recipe — "spoonfuls" seems right but it seems wrong too

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Why are certain single word compound nouns pluralized in the middle > Drop by spoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto a greased baking sheet. _Spoonful_ or _spoonsful_? Seems it should be _spoonful_ as there is only one spoon and one dollop of dough. But it sounds wrong to my ear. Maybe it is just misused too much in recipes.


Definite article in the question "What is the time?"

I am not a native speaker. Could you please explain to me why we use the definite article in the following question: > What is the time?


What does "crystal ball" mean in the context?

I just asked a question on Stackoverflow. They closed it because it needed a "crystal ball" to answer such questions. My concept of "crystal ball" makes me interpret it as that we need some _magic_ to be able to answer. Somehow, I don't feel it is right. I searched "crystal ball" online, but failed to find any special meaning associated with it. I suspect that it might be related to some popular culture I'm not aware of, so I decide to ask for help here.


Unambiguous Opposite of "The Subtitle of a Film"

A word to refer to the "The Far Side of the World" part in the film title _Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World_ (MC:FSW) might be _subtitle_. By here, the "Master and Commander" part is called _title_. But so is the full title MC:FSW. I tried negating the prefix with _supertitle_ and _surtitle_ , which are opposites of another meaning of _subtitle_. I also considered location: I'm trying to find a word to describe the **first** part of a title, so I looked for _pretitle_. The uses I found meant "coming in a film before or during its opening credits." Is there another word that means precisely "title but not subtitle"?


A word for the meaning of "over-constrained"

I want to express that I constrained something too much such that it is contradictory now. At first sight, _over-constrained_ seems to fit, but I am not sure whether it is fine to use in a scientific publication. Can you help me?


Special name for royal titles?

Is there a name for the title/nickname that some members of royalty get? For example, "King Larry the Kind".


is hidden or has hiidden

What is appropriate to use he is hidden or he has hidden ? It is bit confusing sometimes ,where to use the perfect form and where to simple


How does a supervisor in a prison address an inmate in American English?

How does a supervisor in a prison address an inmate? For example, a relative came to visit one of the inmates, so the supervisor is going to the cell (where many inmates are) and is about to call on that inmate. How would he address him then? It seems quite unlikely to me that the supervisor would address an inmate as "Mr. (Last name)"


A word to describe someone who has moved back to live in his/her home country?

If a person was born and brought up in country **A** , at some point went to live in country **B** (as an adult) for a few years and then moved back to country **A** , is there a single word to describe that person's situation?


What is the meaning of "greasing the pan"?

In a tutorial, the instructor says: > We've greased the pan, now it's time to pour in the batter. The tutorial is technical (IT), and has nothing to do with cooking, so what is the meaning of the metaphor, and what other idioms could have been used instead?


Would sir like something for the weekend?

"Something for the weekend" is a euphemism heard in barber shops, when the above phrase is used to enquire of a customer whether he would like a packet of condoms. Does anyone know how this phrase came about?


Is there an expression for when you have something but cannot use it or it is meaningless to use it. For example "one has the right to strike but cannot use it".


"In the next two weeks" vs. "next two weeks"

Which one of the following is correct if the writer intends to say _a week after next week_? >   * My friend and I decided to go to the beach in the next two weeks. >   * My friend and I decided to go to the beach next two weeks. >   * My friend and I decided to go to the beach in the coming next two weeks. >


Do "Bulgaria" and "vulgar" have some common etymology?

A Yahoo answer says no, but I thought I'd ask my more enlightened StackExchange friends.


Word or expression for something that's very "funny", but doesn't make you laugh

I'm sure you know of this feeling. When you find something very funny, but it doesn't make you laugh out loud. Perhaps it's even "funnier" than other things that make you chuckle profusely. What is a word to refer to this phenomenon specifically? If not a word, then an expression is also acceptable.


What is an "aff argument?"

Is it short for "affluence," "affirmative," or something different? This is where it is used: http://bfi.utah.edu/wp- content/uploads/2011/11/individuals-have-a-moral-obligation-to-assist-people- in-need_brief.pdf


Is “completely good” proper English? If not, why?

I was recently asked by a Japanese person why _completely good_ was improper English, as in “This is completely good.” As a native speaker of English (raised in northeastern America), I do feel there’s something strange about the phrase, but I can’t quite put my finger on what — after all, phrases such as _very good_ , _mostly good_ , _perfectly good_ , etc. are used. Is this in fact improper English, or, for that matter, does it depend on dialect, and if so, why?