"One for," or "one to," or perhaps something else

Say I am a die-hard communist (I am NOT!) and I want to grudgingly admit that there's this one thing capitalists are right about. I believe I could say something like "now that's one for Adam Smith" or "...one to Adam Smith," but for the life of me I can't remember which one. Or perhaps I'm wrong and none of those is the correct usage, in which case I'd like to know what the appropriate expression is.


Is a sentence "Shitty coffee a day than a joyful chai hence saves your money" grammatically correct?

I'm trying to write a sentence that sounds like Shakespeare, a sentence that means "If you drink a shitty coffee instead of a nice chai, then you can save money". Does the sentence "Shitty coffee a day instead of a joyful chai hence saves you money" have the same meaning as the above, and is it grammatically correct?


Must present perfect tense be used if the action takes place more than once?

I was told that if an action is completed once in the past, the simple past is used. Ex: I saw that movie. If the action is completed more than once, the present perfect tense _must_ be used. Ex: I have seen that movie twelve times. So, "I have seen that movie twelve times on Tuesday." is correct and "I saw that movie twelve times on Tuesday." is incorrect?


What can I call a person who directs traffic?

I'm referring to people in bright orange or green vests who direct automobiles. I thought of _road workers_ , but it's not specifically around road work. Is there a word for "traffic-directors"? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/EFXnV.jpg)


Alternatives to the noun 'dump' (as in "a data dump")

What are alternatives to the noun 'dump' (as in "a data dump")? The word _dump_ here refers to the data that gets dumped, in other words, to the mass of what is being dumped. Another not-so-common example might be "She gave me a feelings dump," meaning, "She dumped all her feelings on me" (perhaps in an emotional outburst), or, "The professor gave me a rules dump" referring to when he gave me a stern lecture about the rules after I arrived late to class. (This is a somewhat non-standard use of the word 'dump' so the thesaurus is letting me down.)


What's the correct way to write the general location of someone in the USA?

I'd like to write where someone is from, on a website with an international context. The objective is to balance style, brevity and correctness. I only need country-level resolution, so if someone is from Berlin, I plan on writing _Germany_ , whereas if they're from Sydney, I plan on writing _Australia_. I suspect that the USA should be an exception here, as I often heard people from the States feel very much associated with their state (I heard a lot more _Chicago, Illinois_ than, say, _Sydney, New South Wales_ ). Does this sound like a reasonable assumption? How should I write the state/country pair in this case? _Illinois, United States_? _United States, Illinois_? Something else altogether? **Edit:** another small tidbit, the lion's share of the target audience is in the teenager/young adult age range.


Is heart-rendering correct?

I have seen people use heart-rendering. Is there a usage like that? Is it used wrongly for heartrending?


"Hardly" vs. "barely"

I'm from Germany and in German both translate to the same word ( _kaum_ ). I'd like to know the difference between these two words, _hardly_ and _barely_.


"U.S. stocks were modestly higher at the opening bell Wednesday" vs. "... are higher ..."

Here's a news heading from CNN: > U.S. stocks were modestly higher at the opening bell Wednesday as political > wrangling over the fiscal cliff continues to dominate the market. The author used "were modestly higher"; why the simple past? Is it wrong to say "are modestly higher"? It is a state of being that is still true, so I suppose using simple present is okay. And what about using "continued" instead of "continues"? > U.S. stocks **are** modestly higher at the opening bell Wednesday as > political wrangling over the fiscal cliff **continued** to dominate the > market.


The meaning of ‘there is’

I mean, it’s the very best school of witchcraft there is, I’ve heard. In this sentence what’s the meaning of ‘there is’?


What are the limitations on the "there + preposition" construction?

I use words such as _thereof_ , _thereupon_ , and _thereafter_ relatively often, but I occasionally find myself wanting to use this construction with different prepositions. Most times it's _therefor_ , which I find is used mostly in legal contexts, but what about odder ones such as _thereunder_ , _therebefore_ , or (for the sake of argument) _thereamongst?_ The only words of this sort I know to be in commonish use are:   * thereabout   * thereafter   * thereat   * thereby   * therefrom   * therein   * thereof   * thereon   * thereto   * thereupon   * therewith I guess what I'm really asking is whether this is a productive construction. I mean, I may sound anywhere between stilted and insane if I overuse it, but I'm more concerned with whether it's considered correct. Thoughts appreciated, references doubly so.


"Extirpation" vs "Perdition" vs "Smash"

I am a bit confused, how can I use these three words differently when their meaning is almost the same? >   * _Extirpation_ >   * _Perdition_ >   * _Smash_ >


How would you say in short

How would you say in short that this question or point is no longer actual and you did not think about it.   Something like "out of the agenda?"


When is it OK to use foreign words and phrases in everyday English?

_I think that every learner of a foreign language has to decide at a certain point whether they are going imitate native speakers, so as to be mistaken for something they are not, or to retain something of their own character and nationality._ > If you are reading something about food, you might see a complete phrase or > sentence in a foreign language appear without explanation. I am thinking > particularly of Italian. It used to be common practice at one time for menus > to be printed in French. To answer this question, **I would like you to include some good examples** , possible **in speech as well as in written English.**


Perdition vs Hell

What is the difference between the religious connotations of _Perdition_ and _Hell_?


Is the word 'psychoanalysis' correctly constructed from its components?

The big question is, where does the 'o' come from? A small band of people have apparently stuck firmly to 'psychanalysis', which is similar to the French 'psychanalyse'. It's dealt with very superficially in most easy to find references[1] but I wonder if that's the end of it? Is the 'o' part of the root, or is it a filler (I'm sure there's a more formal word than filler). For example, compare the construction to psychiatry. Pscho-iatry would be hard to say, but psychanalysis is also potentially easy than psychoanalysis. Any thoughts very much appreciated. (Out of interest, classicists' perspective was that the "o" came from a derivation of ψυχή that ends with an omega). [1]: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/psychoanalysis and http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=psychoanalysis


UK emphasis on the second syllable vs US emphasis on the first

Why do some British speakers of English emphasize the second syllable of words such as con-TRO-versy. One British woman I knew (living in Oxford) did this to many words including (unbelievably) the search engine yuh-HOO. I had never heard anyone (Yank or Brit) put the em-PHA-sis on the second sy- LAB-le quite as much as she did.


What is the connotation of the noun "steam"?

The noun _steam_ refers to water in its gaseous form, but does it connote only the hot gas achieved (for example) from boiling, or does it equally connote the vapour that rises from an open body of cold water in colder temperatures?


"Except as being" or "except being"

I stumbled upon a phrase on the internet the grammar of which I can't understand. > **Except as being** a bit too conservative and Republican-Lite, don't you > think XXX is one of the best President? It was written by a native speaker, so it's most likely that it's just me who can't grasp the meaning of the sentence, not a grammatical mistake in it. Why is _except as being_ used here? Wouldn't _except being_ be fine?


What is the plural form of "phoenix"?

I have found several different variations.   1. phe·nix·es   2. phoenīcēs   3. There is no plural form. Which is correct one? Is there anything else?


Is there a word for the tangible equivalent of visualization?

The word _visualization_ is often used to describe an image or interactive piece of media that represents a data set. I am trying to think if there is an equivalent for something that is not only visual, but also tangible. That is, an object that represents data and that people can touch and see. If there is no word for this, can you think of a neologism for it e.g."tangiblelization"? EDIT: By tangible I mean an object that can you can youch with your hands.


What is the correct pronunciation of the word “ma’am”?

Back in the day, the word _ma’am_ (when addressing the Queen) was always pronounced “marm”. British TV shows from before the 80s confirm this. In the movie _The Queen_ , we are told that the correct pronunciation for _ma’am_ is “ma’am” as in “ _ham_ ”, and not “ma’am” as in “ _farm_ ”. Some people seem to think this has always been the case. But it has not. Is this pronunciation a modern development?   Is it a preference of the current sovereign? Or have we been pronouncing _ma’am_ wrongly throughout the centuries?


On the usage of "epitomized"

> Epitomized by right captainship, the ship reached safely to the harbor. I'm emphasizing the capabilities of the captain here. Is this correct usage?


What does the phrase "it is up to us to ﬂesh it out" mean? Can you suggest any synonyms?


When was the word 'being' first used to refer to a human being or sentient being?

I am confused by the use of the word _being_ to refer to a static thing. How can this word that appears to clearly be a verb gerund get turned around to be used as a thing?


"Chair" or "chairman?"

Is it right to use _chair_ , but not _chairman_ in this example? > He served as the Department Chair from 1995 to 1999.


What is "gilhooley"?

Reading Ellery Queen's _The Murderer is a Fox_ , I came across this passage:- > When Fox asked me on the phone to deliver a bottle of 100 aspirins, I said: > "Say, Mr Fox, what do you do with that stuff - eat it?" You know, cracking > wise. But he gets sore and wants to know what "right" I have talking to him > "that way", and a lot more **gilhooley** like that. I can guess from the context what it means (something similar to _codswallop_ , I'd say). But I can't find out anything about the word. Green's _Dictionary of Slang_ doesn't have it, and the only definitions I can find on-line are proper names. Can anyone confirm what it means, and offer an etymology? Or is it just a nonce word?


"Most random" vs "Randomest"

Is "randomest" even a word? People do tend to use it very casually. If "randomest" is a word, so should be "randomer", isn't it? I personally think it should be "more random" and "most random". Am I right? And what about the word "lame"? Does the same apply to "lame" too?


Can "born" be used with creatures that come from eggs?

I have just seen this post on facebook. It says "This two-headed turtle was born on June 18th..." so I wondered if the word "born" can be used with animals that lay eggs. Is there another word for that?


Meaning of M'year, S'year etc. in academic biographies

Reading scientific papers, I often see at the end of them, in the biographies of the authors, some abbreviations like the following: (S’70–M’72–SM’86–F’91). I think that they are correlated with graduation dates, but I did not find any good explanation. Can anybody explain their meaning to me, and give a complete list of those abbreviations?


"consolidate on" or "consolidate into"?

At work today, I wrote "we have several XXs. We should _consolidate on_ one XX." A colleague corrected it to _consolidate into_. Which is correct? I'm English and my colleague is American, if that makes a difference. Googlefight ranks them as about equal. _UPDATE_ The actual XX is fairly technical and obscure so I'll use _algorithm_ as a stand-in. We use several algorithms for calculating the score. \--several paragraphs later-- We should consolidate on a single algorithm. The separation between the problem statement and the solution leads me to believe that skipping the preposition won't work.


"to get ubiquitous" or "to become ubiquitous" ...?

I want to write down a sentence to express the fact that from the 1980's on computers got applied in many facets of our daily lives ... and I am wondering what sentence would be correct: "As computing got more and more ubiquitous in people's daily lives, ..." or "As computing became more and more ubiquitous in people's daily lives, ..." **EDIT (CONCLUSION):** Thank you for all the comments! I have rebuilt the sentence as shown below: "As computing started to become ubiquitous, affecting more and more aspects of people's daily lives, the demand for reliable programs that are proven to be correct increased"


What is the correct pronunciation and etymology of "corps"?

I tried looking up the word "corps" on dictionary.reference.com and it says it's pronounced "kawr", "kohr", "kawrs", or "kohrs", none of which match the way I've always pronounced it with the "ps" sound. I have always been a little leery saying it this way because it sounds like a dead body, and if you're talking about the Marine Corps then this isn't the best mental image.


Grammar nuances of the following sentence

> My lovely idea. Does this sentence express the idea belonging to me or just the fact that I love the idea (which is not necessary mine)? I think this exact phrasing and grammar only expresses me pointing to an idea which is very loved by me. I think if someone would want to emphasize that this idea is his and it is lovely he should have used "My, lovely, idea". To say "My idea, which is lovely". What do you think?


What is the meaning and origin of the common phrase "the world is your oyster"?

What does _the world is your oyster_ mean, and where does it come from?


A term or phrase meaning "to explain in simple words"?

How do you ask someone to explain something in very simple words, understandable by everyone from general public? In Russia we say something, that can be translated like "explain on fingers". What's the correct English for this?


Why is writing "alot" such a common mistake?

Why is it such a common mistake (particularly among school-children) to connect certain pairs of separate words? The most obvious example probably being: > e.g. "a lot"->"alot" Is it because- in this particular case at least- there is already a valid word "allot" that exists? Maybe also, it helps that "a" is a valid prefix to a word (e.g. "a-plenty").


What is the word  for "fear of heights"?

I know it must be some kind of of phobia, but can anyone tell me what it is?


"At the Drop of a Dime" Origin

I am reading _The Maltese Falcon_. Though the book was written in the 1920s, the edition I'm reading was printed in 1992. The back cover blurb uses the phrase "at the drop of a dime" to describe the sudden changes of loyalties in the story. Some sources note this phrase's similarity (in meaning and construction) to "at the drop of a hat". Though I can find good explanations for _Why hat?_ (most centering around the hat being used like a flag to signal the beginning of a fight), I cannot find anything similar for _Why dime?_ It may be a malaphor, a neologism that means > An idiom blend: an error in which two similar figures of speech are merged, > producing a nonsensical result. As one blogger says: > [It seems] like a combination of “do at the drop of a hat” and “he dropped > the dime”. [1] Very different meanings, but the word “drop” apparently led > the speaker to think “dime” instead of “hat” (alliteration perhaps?) and > thus another malaphor was born. Given the popularity differences displayed in this nGram it would make sense for _at the drop of a dime_ to be a corruption of _at the drop of a hat_. Are there formal sources on the origin of, or use of _dime_ in, the phrase _at the drop of a dime_? [1] The phrase _he dropped the dime_ may mean _to make a telephone call_, particularly _to snitch on_


What is the origin of the phrase "it's a horse apiece"?

My wife from Wisconsin and her family use the phase "it's a horse apiece". This is used in place of something like "it doesn't matter either way" or "both are the same". Where does this come from?


It there a literary technique for when authors create a language within their novel?

Like in 1984 when Orwell creates newspeak? I'm trying to find techniques to analyse his decision to do this...


Differentiating between "written" and "writing"

For some reason it is _written_ and _writing_. It's confusing to me. How can I remember to write them differently?


Word for person who "scrapes" website content and reposts elsewhere without attribution

Per this question on ELU meta, some a***hole is scraping ELU content and passing it off without attribution in a Google Blog. I'll admit that partly I ask this question in hopes that some of you good folk will be public-spirited enough to follow the link and report this abuse, so Google will take it down. But I am genuinely interested to know whether there's a standard term for such a person (or for a website containing primarily "stolen" content like this). The words plagiarist and pirate come to mind, but neither really seems quite right to me (and I'm sure _a_ *** _hole_ isn't exactly it either). If you don't have the time/inclination to go and rattle Google's cage about this, perhaps you might consider upvoting the question so it gets called to the attention of others who might actually do it.


Contextual meaning of "afforded to"

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, _afford_ has two meanings:   1. to be able to bear the cost of   2. to make available, give forth, or provide naturally or inevitably In what contexts are the two meanings appropriate? Is the use of _afforded to_ in the following phrase correct? > Growth prospects **afforded to** employees of your firm


What is the male equivalent of an alice band?

An "alice band" is so named, after the one worn by Alice in Lewis Carroll's stories. Is there a male equivalent, to describe those worn by men with long hair (e.g. David Beckham)? ![David Beckham](http://i.stack.imgur.com/triOc.jpg)


Please explain this joke about two nuns in a bath

I've heard this joke several times, but I'm ashamed to say I really cannot understand it. It just doesn't seem to make any sense however I look at it. I have a suspicion that it is supposed to be rude, so I'd like to offer my apologies if it causes offence- that is not my intension. Here's the joke: > Two nuns are in the bath. > > Nun1: Where's the soap? > > Nun2: Yes, it does rather. **Edit: I understand the pun on "where's"/"wears". But what I don't understand is why that is funny. Several people have mentioned that there is a sexual inference, but I don't understand where it comes from.**


The origin of binary "image"?

I'm curious why a chunk of binary data is called _image_? Like disk image, boot image, Linux image, flash image, etc. In my brain, image is something two-dimensional, but binary data is a one- dimensional octet flow.


One-word synonym for "key activities"?

I'm developing an information architecture for a web site, and one of the main tabs represents an area of the site that presents "Key Activities". The client is not excited about this label, and would prefer a one-word replacement (understandable for a main tab on a web site). But we need a label that clearly, quickly, and intuitively communicates that the area contains:   * Activities this (government) organisation engages in that outline _how_ it is tackling prioritized issues (which are identified in another area of the site)   * not _everything_ the organization does, but most of the important activities; that is, we don't want to confuse the audience into expecting a comprehensive list.


Why does the word 'peasant' have such a negative meaning in English?

In French the word * _paysan (fem. paysanne)_ translates to English as 'farmer', as well as 'peasant'. (Collins). It is by no means demeaning in many European countries (including France) to refer to someone as a _paysan_. It means a type of country person, but not necessarily one of low social status. Many landowners are described thus. According to the OED almost all the meanings of _peasant_ are demeaning, indeed they take the trouble to point out that it is a word which has effectively ceased to refer anyone in Britain, and is generally applied to agricultural communities in poor countries. _Peasant_ is nowadays mostly used in Britain as a term of abuse. Not even agricultural labourers are referred to as 'peasants'. Was there ever a wealthy peasant class in Britain, and in her original dominions such as America, Australia etc, and if so where has it gone?


What's the converse of "side effect"?

I'm looking for something like _side cause_ , _side influence_ , _dark factor_. Googled for those but didn't find relevant hits. Definition: An influence on something that is not explicit, not taken into account, not declared in the specification, maybe unintentional. And what would be a better word for _converse_ in the title? I know it isn't the right word but still better than _opposite_.


Synonyms for "Almighty"

* What is a perfect synonym for _Almighty_?    * For whom we could we use _Almighty_?   * Can _Almighty_ be used for _God_?


Grammar of "married" in "getting married"

What is the grammar of the word _married_ in this sentence? > They are getting **married** in April.


Antonym of "exodus"

5PM. There's a mass exodus out of the city as people depart for home. What word describes the migration in the other direction -- A mass _arrival_ of people? As far as I know, there isn't a word like "introdus". Perhaps a word like "intrution"?


"Kitchen's wall" vs. "kitchen wall" vs. "the wall of his kitchen"

Which sentence is most common and natural? >   * Finally, one of our neighbors broke his **kitchen's wall** open and got > her. >   * Finally, one of our neighbors broke his **kitchen wall** open and got > her. >   * Finally, one of our neighbors broke open **the wall of his kitchen** and > got her. >


What do we need for a stress in a word?

I am non-native in English, so this question may be a meaningless one or even a silly one. Why do we need a stress on one or more letters in a word? Indeed, a native person can read a word containing stress; even I omit duplicated letters. Is this just a heritage from the historical times, or not?


To skateboard vs to go skateboarding

Which of the sentences is correct?   1. I go skateboarding every week.    2. I skateboarded last Sunday.   3. I went skateboarding last Sunday.


"Really" in a negative sentence

> I am not really ready to get married. Did I put "really" in the right place? I just want my sentence to sound stronger than "I am not ready to get married."


Which preposition to use with "juxtaposed"

Are things _juxtaposed to_ or _juxtaposed with_ other things? >   1. The slimy seaweed was startling, juxtaposed _to/with_ the hot smooth > sand. >   2. I moved the painting to the other wall so that it would be juxtaposed > _to/with_ the sculpture that inspired it. > Does the side-by-side nature of _juxtapose_ dictate this, or does it depend on the perceived relationship between the elements?


Is “if they would do something” correct English?

We were discussing if the following sentence would be proper English: > I asked them if they would do me a favour. (A) The meaning is that I am referring to a point in the past where I asked another person (group of persons, whatever) to be so nice and do me a favour of some nature. Somebody claimed you mustn't use "if" with "would" in this fashion, but instead say: > I asked them if they do me a favour. (B)   >  I asked them if they did me a favour. (C) But I think this has a different meaning, both versions (one with "do" and one with "did"). I can think of yet another option: > I asked them to do me a favour. (D) but I suspect this has a slightly different meaning, not including the tone of the original question. * * * Could you bring some clarity to the matter (for the layman, please), which is correct and if the meanings of A through D correspond to the intended meaning I described (if they are correct, as the semantics of them would be undefined otherwise -- obviously).


The etymology of "religion" comes from "legere" meaning to read + "re" meaning again. Or does it? (more inside)

The etymology of religion as mentioned in the title comes from Etymonline. And that's very interesting. It makes sense too. My question is, how do the phrases, "to read", "to choose", "to gather", "law", and "to bind" all come together to form the phonetic root "leg"/"lig" which constitutes the etymology of "religion". Or do they at all? Also, is there any meaning to the whole "leg" (body part) thing? Does this have something to do with legs and free will? Because that would be interesting. Other roots with 'legere'               - "intelligence". 'intere': "between" + 'legere': "choose, pick out, read". [2]     - "legal": 'legere':"to gather" or 'lex':"law". [3]     - "ligament": L 'ligamentum': "to bind, tie". [4]      So, given this background, what do you know about the etymology of the word "religion", the meaning(s) of "legere", and, perhaps most importantly, the legitimacy of Etymonline as a source? http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=religion&searchmode=none http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=intelligence&searchmode=none http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=leg&searchmode=none http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ligament&allowed_in_frame=0


Synonyms for "tête-à-tête"

I'm looking for _single word_ synonyms for _tête-à-tête_ , which express the idea of a private and intimate conversation. I wasn't able to find any.


Should one suspend a hyphen when using "two- to three-digit" phrase used as an adjective?

Example > Sally alerted her accountant **to four to five digit** revenue discrepancies > in the budget. Should it be: > ...to four to five digit revenue discrepancies or with a suspended hyphen: > ...to four- to five-digit revenue discrepancies


Is there a formal verb to describe the act of cheating on another?

I wish to say something along the lines of > "after she found out her husband was cheating on her" however I have realized that 'cheating' is colloquial. Is there a formal alternative that **is a verb**?


Burn up or burn down?

What's the difference between "burn up" and "burn down"? Or is there a difference at all?


Is a subordinate clause part of the dependent clause's predicate?

Could you please help me determine what the complete predicate is in the following sentence? > I get the willies when I see closed doors. — Joseph Heller, _Something > Happened_. At first I thought the complete subject would be "I" and the complete predicate would be "get the willies when I see closed doors" because that is giving information about what the subject does. But now I am starting to doubt myself--mainly due to the adverb clause "when I see closed doors" which also contains a subject and predicate ("I" and "see closed doors"). Is it possible for this subordinate, adverb clause to be part of the entire sentence's complete predicate? Or do I need to break the sentence up by clauses (in order to determine the complete predicate), and, if so, what becomes of the word "when"? Thank you for your help.


A word for 'the ability to see beauty'

In talking about someone, perhaps an artist, who has the ability to find or see beautiful things in everyday settings. Is there a word for it ?


In my example, do I need a comma before which?

The linear fit fails to fit the age profile because it does not really account for the changes in arrests rate which implies a large bias.


How does 'to obtain' develop to mean 'to prevail'?

What's an intuitive derivation behind definition 2 of **obtain**, that helps to internalise its meaning: > 2\. [no object] [formal] Be prevalent, customary, or established > > [ODO] How does the etymology (listed in that link and here) lead to the foregoing meaning? I haven't pasted the Etymonline entry from above, because it refers only to the more common definition 1 [ie: to get, acquire (something)], about which I'm NOT asking here.


How formal should the English in a personal blog be?

I'm starting a technology and/or programming oriented blog, and I was wondering how formal should the English be, specially when it comes to the shortening of words like "let's". Ideas?


Is "such a cooler" proper English?

I'm trying to say something like "that's such a cooler design". Is there more valid expression that expresses the same thing? Or is this okay English? I guess "that design is so much cooler" would work, but it's not as succinct. I'm trying to say that something is cooler than something else, but without explicitly mentioning that other thing, since it is common knowledge between me and the person I am saying it to. So I don't want to use "that design is cooler than X".


How to understand this "I not only" structure

I read this sentence from a book. _"I **not** only lost all my money - I also lost my passport"._ Why it's not "I am not only.." or "I don't only..".   I don't know how to describe this kind of grammar, couldn't get much help from google.   Could you please explain this to me? Thanks a lot.


Does "a [x] of [y]" take a singular or plural verb?

What kind of verb, singular or plural, goes with phrases like " _a record of [singular or plural noun]_ ", " _the use of_ ", " _the time of_ "? Does the choice depend on the following nouns (a record of **nouns** ) or on the 'first' nouns ( _record, use, time_ )? Or do these phrases obey the rule of proximity (as does " _a variety of_ ")? I have found different example sentences on the internet (source: newspapers or magazines) with different uses. What is correct? Examples:   * there were a record of other issues;   * there were a record of 28,000 runners;   * there was a record of these statements.


Using a singular to mean a plural

Suppose I have a sentence of the form: > Ahead I see a red door and a blue door - the path to each is similar. Is this grammatically correct? It sounds odd if I pluralise "path", but this version doesn't seem to make sense either.


The behavior that sell goods and service daily basis and collect payment monthly

A kind of small business which sells goods and services daily and collects payment monthly. How to describe such a kind of behavior of sell and collection ? Is it ok to use `periodic sell` and `monthly payment` ?


It's hard to get a taxi "at this period"?

Say it's 5:00 PM in a city, rush hour, hard to get a taxi. What do you say: > "It's hard to get a taxi at **this period/this clock/this hour** "? We can bypass it by saying "now". But what's the way to express it?


Stop being so pedantic. Your (what noun?) has no place here

I'm looking for a term that means essentially “pedantic-ness”. What is the correct term?


representing to someone

I don't understand this passage from a Sherlock Holmes story (the second stain). > It was only upon my **representing** to him that I had given a promise that > “The Adventure of the Second Stain” should be published when the times were > ripe,... What does Watson mean by "representing to him"?


What's an English word that means "a community of experts"?

There is an English word that begins with "con" and means "a community of experts in a certain field". I am not able to recollect that word. Can someone please help me?


"just because… doesn't mean…"

It appears to me that the construction "just because… doesn't mean…" isn't used in literature at all. Is its use limited to colloquial speech and informal writing? Note that while some people seem to be up in arms about this construction, I am not jumping on that bandwagon. I rather side with sober analysis [PDF] than with angry Reddit rants. So, basically, I'm just looking for a quote by Poe or Twain, though I suspect the construction is younger (is it?).


What is the meaning of the phrase 'Here be dragons'?

What does _here be dragons_ mean in the example below? > WARNING **Here be dragons.** Relative source binding can not only encourage > bad application practices, such as binding to things defined in codebehind > instead of following a pattern such as ViewModel, but also be hard to debug, > especially when you get into changes to DataContext set by external > consumers of your user control.


"Do it" versus "do that"

Are there any sentences where _do that_ is preferable over _do it_? > The New Oxford American Dictionary reports when a phrase is informal; it > doesn't do that in this case. > The New Oxford American Dictionary reports when a phrase is informal; it > doesn't do it in this case.


Do English speaking people jeer at big feet?

(Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking through woods at night. Then Ron yelled with pain. When Hermione threw the light over him,) > Ron was lying sprawled on the ground. > > “Tripped over a tree root,” he said angrily, getting to his feet again. > > “Well, **with feet that size** , hard not to,” said a drawling voice from > behind them. > > Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned sharply. Draco Malfoy was standing alone > nearby, leaning against a tree, looking utterly relaxed. > > (p121, Harry Potter 4, US edition) As a side note,   * Draco Malfoy is on bad terms with them and always makes a fool of them.   * Ron is a long and lanky boy. (So it seems that his feet are big.) In my country, there is a phrase which has such a meaning that a fool has big feet. (Of course, it’s only a phrase, not truth!) So, without thinking, I felt like taking ‘with feet that size’ as a derisive connotation. However, it suddenly occurred to me that the idea might be unusual in the English speaking world. Is Draco expressing derisive feeling by referring to the size of feet? Do English speaking people think the same way as me in terms of big feet?


How should 'beseech' be used in a sentence? Are any of these correct? > I beseech you to help me find Magrathea. > > I beseech your help in finding The Silver Bail of Peace. > > I beseech to you help in saving the universe. Or should it be used in a different way entirely?


Software for transcribing English phonetics

After asking this question and learning a lot of facts from comments I got there, I was wondering about the existence of software that transcribes English text into phonetics. I discovered sites such as upodn.com and www.phonetizer.com and software such as PhoTransEdit. After using them on a few trial sentences, I got slightly differing transcriptions. Are these tools authoritative, and do people have any experience with them? Is there software that also transcribes typical stressing patterns in sentences?


Is it ok to start a sentence with “also”?

Is it ok to start a sentence with _also_? > Also, I had given him the file you sent me.


dedication: example usages

I want to be sure of the meaning to "dedication" and "dedicated to" phrases. I am sure about the inscription meaning, but I want to ask a specific question: Can someone be "dedicating their comments (positive or negative)" to "some others' activity or thoughts in any form"? I mean, is there any degree of similarity between "to dedicate" and "to comment on" ? This is the lastest place to make any English mistake :) Sorry if any exists above. **Edit:** I am trying to establish a web site, which will let users to comment on things they see while surfing the net. I am interested in a domain name containing the word "dedication" but I couldn't be sure whether a comment on a video or an article can be said to be "dedicated to" that subject.


Meaning of “In a medium”

What is the meaning of “in a medium” in the following sentence? > A major objective in a heat transfer problem is to determine the temperature > distribution **in a medium** resulting from imposed boundary conditions on > the surface of the **medium**.


Is there a specific verb that carries the same effect of the VB “will lead us back to the origin?”

While the Victorian age witnessed great oppression against women, it was, at the same time, or perhaps as a result, the inception of Feminism as we know it today. Tracing the gradual synthesis and evolution of Feminism in today's modern Europe **will always lead us back to the nucleus** i.e. the Victorian Age. Therefore, in a way, Feminism might be said to be the export of the Age of Victoria, ironically an era marked with a slew of limitations set upon women. What I am looking for is not an antonym for ‘evolve;’ rather, a verb or a verb phrase which concisely encapsulates the act of looking at the evolution of given activism (or anything) **retrospectively and historically taking into consideration all its consequential, progressive episodes which its inception had set in motion, as opposed to the ‘mere inception.’** Thank you in advance.


"It's up to you to make the call"

Where does the expression ' _make the call_ ' come from? > We have the evidence but it's up to the jury to make the call.


Purchase price/cost/worth/value/… — which one?

I have a table called _purchases_ and it stores details about purchases of items in a store. One of these details is the amount of money that were payed for items. How should I call this detail (or table field) in one word? I've been thinking about the following options: _purchase price/cost/worth/value_.


What does "gig" stand for in "It's your gig"?

I have heard people say, "It's your gig" when they intend to say, "It's your choice after all." For example: > I have said all I wanted to say. Now it's your gig. The intention is that the listener is the one who has to decide then. What does " _gig_ " mean here? _Gig_ seems to have multiple meanings in dictionaries but I am unable to find what fits well in this phrase. Also, does _"It's your gig"_ have any history or specific etymology?


What does "and are they ever " mean?

So this is the context taken from this post by Jeff who is a co-founder of Stack Exchange: > With 46,656 paths to only 720 real world outputs, it's inevitable that some > of those paths will be severely over-represented or under-represented in the > output. _And are they ever_. If you shipped a real card game with a naïve > shuffle, you'd have some serious exploits to deal with. What does _And are they ever_ mean ?


Ambiguity of "Lindsey told Jessica that she had cancer"

> Lindsey told Jessica that she had cancer. Who had cancer? Is there any rule in English to claim it definitely?


What is the meaning of "chikan"?

Here is an excerpt from Revolution 2020 > Aarthi wore a mauve chikan salwar-kameez. Her father had bought for her from > Lucknow. What is the meaning of the word _chikan_? I can't find this word in my dictionary.


Comma or Semicolon

I'm wondering if the comma placed after _event_ is being used appropriately or if it should be replaced with a semicolon. This is part of a resume so I am trying to keep this information to one sentence. > Assisted with preparations for the 40th anniversary fundraising event, > including cataloging auction items and assisting with planning the 40th > anniversary luncheon


Adverb for a person who is not the subject

If I went home and was happy to do so, I can say that "I went home **happily** ". If I sent somebody else home and he was happy to do so, can I say that "I sent Johnny home **happily** "? This doesn't sound right because it sounds like **I** was happy to send **Johnny**. Is there a way to use an adverb to describe the action of a person that is not the subject of the main verb?


Idiom for "the first attempt (of something) is never right"

In Russian there's a saying that 'the first crepe always comes out wrong' (literally 'stuck together into a ball'), meaning that you'll have to try more than once to succeed at something - because crepe batter is usually trial-and- error. What's the appropriate English translation?


Which word(s) can be used instead of "the first day of the week?"

I have noticed that on Stack Exchange sites, "week reputation" is referring to the reputation gained from Sunday to Saturday (in fact, my today's reputation is different from my week's reputation, and today is Monday). I remember I asked to my friend, who is American, what she would consider the first day of the week, and she replied saying it is Monday. Which word (or words) can I use instead of "the first day of the week?"


What is the correct use of foundation in / foundation of?

A while back, the question was asked (and answered): _Correct use of consist in / consist of_. I have a similar question: Which of the following is correct: "The objective of these lessons is to provide a solid foundation **_in_** the correct usage of prepositions." vs. "The objective of these lessons is to provide a solid foundation **_of_** the correct usage of prepositions." **EDIT** : Here is the full context where I'm looking to select the right preposition: > "It is important that students understand the fundamental principles of > manufacturing. The objective of the lessons is to provide a solid foundation > **[in/of]** the science and techniques necessary for that understanding."


Meaning of "build-up"

What does "build-up" mean here: > Many hair products contain chemicals which can cause **build-up** , > resulting in dull hair or a change in perceived texture.


Generic term for sunrise and sunset

Is there a single generic term to refer, either collectively or arbitrarily, to both _sunrises_ and _sunsets_? I'm looking for something that could be used in the same vein as _twilight_ can be used (formally or informally) to refer to both the pre-sunrise _dawn_ period and the post-sunset _dusk_ period, without specifying which. I'm aware of the concept of a _golden hour_ within the photography and cinematography communities, but I'm looking for something which refers more to the specific astronomical event, as a particular instant in time, while still being agnostic to the direction the sun is going. **Edit:** To clarify, I'd like something that could describe, even informally, any or all of:   1. Instants when the sun is exactly at the horizon, or 0°,   2. Periods when the sun is near the horizon on either side, e.g., –2° to +2°, or   3. Periods when the sun is near the horizon, but strictly above it, e.g., 0° to +2°. I am aware of the various astronomical definitions of _twilight_, but unfortunately none of them meets any of these.


Can you give me an idiom which means to take advantage?

Eg- He took advantage of the enemies weaknesses.


Phrase and word-order meaning

I know that "only" and "just" and word-order are oft-mentioned topics on here, but word-order for phrases and meanings - don't both of these mean different things? Here is an example of how word order in a sentence can change the meaning. These two sentences are from a geography site I'm developing: > Between 9am and 5pm, the local market is in full swing. Known for its > variety of foreign foods, many people visit it... > > The local market is in full swing between 9am and 5pm. Known for its variety > of foreign foods, many people visit it... If I'm correct, the first one implies it's only in full swing at the times specified, but the second one means it's always in full swing. I'm not sure how to phrase this best, due to the ambiguity and word-order. What's the best way to rephrase this, and how can I avoid ambiguity when doing word-order when placing a word?


What is the meaning of "having one's kitten in one's pocket"?

This is an extract from 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' by Alexander Baron: > Corporal Turnbull was a young man, but he was not a man to be trifled with. > He had come back from Dunkirk with all his equipment correct and accounted > for and **his kitten in his pocket.** What does the highlighted phrase mean? The only meaning I could find online was (and I'm not even sure of its validity) that it means 'hiding your anger'. That doesn't seem to be relevant in the stated context.


Can I say "Nice!" to a "How are you?" greeting?

Some friend told me that "Nice!" can't be used as a reply to "How are you?", instead, she suggested "Good!". Is it really so strict on the word choice in questions like "How are you?"


What is the difference between "to thump" and "to punch"?

I would like to know what is the difference between _to thump_ and _to punch_? For example: > I punched him and knocked his teeth out. or > I thumped him and knocked his teeth out.


"I want [pronoun] [adjective]" vs "I want [pronoun] to be [adjective]"

Take these two sentences. 1.I want him dead.   2.I want him to be dead. What is the differences between two sentences? What does the "to be" mean?


Present perfect continuous for finished actions

Since present perfect continuous is used to talk about an activity that has finished, but whose results are visible now, can I use it for an action like these two ones; 'I have been living in Los Angeles.' 'I have been living in Los Angeles my whole life.' Meaning that both actions are finished actions, as I have relocated recently to another location and the result of my relocation is obvious. If present perfect continuous doesn't show that these two actions above are finished actions, then in what cases does present perfect continuous express that the action has finished? Thanks


Is “stuff ” a plural word?

I'm wondering which one of these expressions is correct? _This stuff_ or _these stuff_?


Is there a word for the definition of an acronym?

I can describe "IMHO" as an acronym for "in my humble opinion." How can I describe the reverse processes of translating the acronym into the actual phrase? That is to say, if "IMHO" is the acronym, what do we call "in my humble opinion"?


"I'm sure" vs. "I'm for sure": Who uses which, and when?

I hear both (and their negatives: "I'm not sure" and "I'm not for sure"). I want to classify the "for sure" variety as regional Southern, since that's the context I most often hear it. For example, take the "gimp" scene from _Pulp Fiction_. (Not that usages in the movies prove anything, mind you, but this is an example most people will recognize.) The character Zed is asked which of the captives he wants to "do" first, and he replies, with a distinct Southern accent, "I ain't for sure yet." Can anyone point to evidence that this usage is regional, or class-based, or particular to any group of speakers? EDIT: Since @MrHen asked for more examples, I googled "I'm not for sure" and picked these off the first page: > "I'm really not for sure ~ what to do with you." > > "I'm not for sure if I'm allowed to bump this ..." > > "I'm not for sure which religion I am?" > > "I'm not for sure when ..." I think it's heard more in the negative than the positive. But I do hear it a lot. In the positive form, it's usually used in the form of a question? "Are you for sure?" instead of "Are you sure?" **UPDATE** I was listening to NPR last night and someone from Alabama who was being interviewed used "for sure" in the positive, as in "I was for sure that I wanted to do that."


I have just read this comic, and not quite sure what is the mistake in the last sentence "How pacific do these errors have to be?". Should it be peaceful instead of pacific? (English is my second language.) ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/xhOcj.jpg)


What is meant by "the passive voice remains 'an important arrow in the rhetorical quiver'"?

I'm interested in reading a series of the art and craft of writing by Constance Hale, a San Francisco-based journalist in the New York Times. The 4th in the series on NYT April 30 issue deals with the use of passive voice under the title, “The pleasures and perils of the passive," which reads as follows; > The word passive gets a bad rap. Maybe a high school teacher forbade > “passive constructions.” Or we recall authorities like Strunk and White, who > famously told us to “use the active voice.” > > There is certainly some merit to this rule of thumb; some of the worst > writing around suffers from inert verbs and the unintended use of the > passive voice. Yet the passive voice remains _an important arrow in the > rhetorical quiver_. After all, it exists for a reason. I don't understand the line – "the passive voice ' _remains an important arrow in the rhetorical quiver'_ " in the above quotation. I assume it's a metaphorical expression. Though it may sound like sour grapes, I think clarity is the best art and craft of writing preceding to any other techniques. Can you explain the line in plainer English for me? Is "an important arrow in something" a well-used expression?


What are alternative phrases for "with respect to"?

I often overuse the idiom "with respect to" - it's my default phrase when I'm writing formally and want to restrict the domain of a statement. e.g. X is changing with respect to Y ... Changes with respect to Z ... With respect to A, ... What are some alternatives to using this idiom?


What percentage is equal to almost all?

If you use the term "almost all" in a sentence what percentage would you attribute to that? Example 1: Dan at almost all of the pie. Mary had the rest. Example 2: Almost all kids who go to college have student loans. Just looking for expectations and an estimate. If I knew that Dan ate 90% of the pie I would just say that, but I see he at almost all of the pie but not sure the exact percentage. When I say almost all what would people think?


How can I refer to a period of day when people are awake/active?

The context is comparing air travel vs overnight train travel. In this case, air travel takes 1 hour, plus time required to travel from city to airport, arrive early for check-in & security, then travel from destination airport to city, altogether I probably lose around 4-5 hours of [the word I'm looking for]. Train travel between the same cities is much slower, but there is an overnight schedule, which leaves at 21.00 and arrives 6.00. So I don't have to lose any [the word I'm looking for]. What is a suitable word(s) to fill the bracketed part? Daytime may be close, but it's not very accurate because I also don't like losing non-daytime like 18.00-21.00.


Verbal constructions with "on" in colloquial AE

Are verbal constructions with "on" somewhat more typical of AE than BE? e.g. beat (up) on someone, miss out on something, pass up on something, check (up) on something, catch up on something, someone, etc.


Verbal constructions with "with" more common in AE than in BE

Is it correct, and safe to say, that -- _generally speaking_ \-- verbal constructions with "with' are _to a certain extent_ more widely and commonly used in AE **_than** in BE_ and other varieties of English ? E. g. Speak/talk with (as opposed to the shared speak/talk to); visit with (=chat/converse with); meet (up) with (originally chiefly AE); get back with someone (as opposed to the shared "get back to"); stick with (as opposed to the shared "stick to"); check back with (as opposed to "check back to"); compare with (as opposed to the shared "compare to"); correspond with something (as opposed to the shared "correspond to"); interview with someone (as opposed to the shared "interview someone"); consult with someone (as opposed to the shared "consult someone"); conform with (as opposed to the shared "conform to");(...)


What exactly does "my grandfather built this house" mean?

When someone says that "my grandfather built this house", say now or even 20-30 years ago, do they mean their grandfather literally built that house from ground up? Foundation, framing, wiring, plumbing, stucco, roofing — the works?! Or do they mean it to say "My family has lived in this house for 3 generations since my grandfather [paid someone to] build this house?" Potentially based on grandfather's design/vision. Sure maybe grandpa put in the floors or a custom bookshelf, but did grandpa literally build the house?


Is 'r' in Br/Amr pronunciation of Arjmand (Persian word) silent?

Is 'r' in Br/Amr pronunciation of 'Arjmand' (Persian word) silent? (In other words, how is this word pronounced in Br/Amr English?)


"Sl*t" term for males

"Slut" can have two meanings:   * an immoral woman, or prostitute   * a dirty and slovenly woman I would like a term for men that is the equivalent of the second meaning. Is there a term for describing a man that is dirty and slovenly?


What is the meaning of "on steroids"?

I see this phrase coming after animal names: "A badger is basically a weasel on steroids—you wouldn’t want to upset one". So what is its meaning?


What is the term for a common expression that is inaccurate or misleading?

What is the term for a common expression or colloquialism that is inaccurate or misleading, such as the use of "mental math" to mean "mental calculation" or "mental arithmetic"?


Which usage is more common? (singular / plural)

Which one of these is more common or better to use? > Delete selected Item(s). Or > Delete selected Item/s. * * * Note: It should be used in our _Document_ (not a _Program_ ).


Why did jazz musicians start referring to an engagement as a "gig"? If any, could anyone provide a couple of quotations from eminent authors to show where a word was first used in this sense? > **gig** | _noun_ , a live performance by a musician or group playing popular > or jazz music. | _verb_ , perform a gig or gigs.


Is the usage of "so as to" correct?

Can "so as to" be used, and if so in what contexts and in what situations? Can it be used formally and in written documents? Edit: I'm looking more at an IT question for example "You can do 'something' so as to get the variable and process it"


"I had sent you"

I received the following email today, we discussed the report before the email where I told the person that **I hadn't** (also can I use hadn't here) received it. I was wondering if it's all grammatical. The reason why I am asking this question is because the person is a native speaker. > "I had sent you the report on the 20th of Feb"


Two horses - singular or plural

Is the following sentence (grammatically) correct?               I've got a brown and a black horses.      The sentence was meant to express the fact that I have two horses, a brown one and a black one. I am especially curious about the plural form of the noun _horses_ , as it seems to be grammatically correct (it's two horses) but unnatural.


In what situation (if any) you would say "better play positive"? Please, don't add any punctuation between words.


The history of "softcore"

Over lunch recently, my colleagues and I were discussing the term "hardcore," and speculating on its origin. Our speculations evolved into "What has either a hard or soft core, where the hard cored thing would be used by professionals and the soft cored one by amateurs?" because this is where we figured the terms originated. Following this discussion, I did some research and found that the origins of hardcore (by way of Etymology Online) are most likely from the original definition of hardcore: > material such as stones and broken bricks used as the foundation for > buildings, roads etc. rather than having to do with a fruit or ball as our lunch group had envisioned. The _foundation_ connotation is presumably the important connection between these usages. However, looking into _softcore_ has produced less satisfactory results. I found this description from 1875, which explains hard-core and soft-core and says that soft-core is essentially compostable garbage. What I don't understand is how this word came to be associated with its current, more familiar meaning, which is as a milder or watered down version of "hardcore." Given their relationship, I expected there to be a more explicit connection between the two. For instance, that soft-core was a layer applied after hard- core or that inferior roads used soft-core instead of hard-core, but that doesn't seem to be the case. What is the connection here?


How to write out numbers in compliance with British usage?

This question regards the numbers from 1 to 999. We can ignore commas, hyphens, and spaces. What I'm interested in is when and where to use the word "and". There are a few interesting cases: 1) 20 < n < 100 Is it "twenty and one", or "twenty one"? 2) 100 < n < 120 Is it "one hundred and eleven"? "One hundred and one"? Or is it "one hundred one", "one hundred eleven"? 3) n = 190 (for example) Is it "one hundred and ninety"? Or "one hundred ninety"? 4) n = 191 (for example) I'm assuming it's "one hundred and ninety one"... Or is it "one hundred ninety and one"? Thanks so much... I'd be very grateful if someone could answer these 4 cases :-)


Is there a word for the second part of a story title after a main character?

I commonly see the format: > _Main Character(s)_ and _some other important idea_ Story titles:   * Harry Potter and **the Goblet of Fire**   * Alexander and **the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day**   * The Three Little Pigs and **the Somewhat Bad Wolf** Band names:   * Johnny Cash and **the Tennessee Two**   * Fitz and **the Tantrums**   * Florence and **the Machine** And even slight variants:   * Sex and **the City** Is there a name for this common construction? Do the two parts have technical names?


What's the meaning of "bootstrap"?

Can anyone explain the meaning of "bootstrap" to a Spanish Speaker? Here is some context: > One aspect of ... (something) ... is the need to **_bootstrap_** the > configuration.


What does “Drop and give me twenty, America’ in ‘Paul Ryan’s song of himself’ mean?

The New Yorker magazine August 16 issue carries the article under the title ‘Paul Ryan’s song of himself’ which is posted by Andy Borowitz. I as a non- native English language learner cannot tell whether this is Paul Ryan’s own poem or simply a lampoon by the poster. The ‘Paul Ryan’s Song’ starts with: > "This morning I was at Equinox   >  Getting ripped and shredded, pumped and jacked,   >  Cross-training with Jeremy   >  Who totally kicks my butt." and wraps up with the following 4 lines: > "Because I am Paul Ryan.   >  Paul Freakin’ Ryan.   >  _Drop and give me twenty, America:_   >  It’s clobberrin time." According to wordreference.com, ‘Drop and give me twenty’ is an imperative, usually said to a soldier by a commanding officer: do twenty push-ups. (But it could be a joke if the speaker is not a commander and the person spoken to is not a soldier.) www.urbandictionary defines it "Heard, Understood, and acknowledged", commonly used in the US military, also used to _show eagerness or joy._ What does ‘Drop and give me twenty, America’ mean? Is ‘Drop and give me twenty’ usually used as an _imperative_ as defined by wordreference, or just for affirmation of the order like ‘understood, Roger’ as defined by urbandictionary?


Can the definite article be omitted when referring to a person qualified by a noun?

Is there a difference between these references to a specific person: > "The implication is clear: as **the** psychologist Jonathan Haidt said..." and > "The implication is clear: as psychologist Jonathan Haidt said..." The first one uses the definite article and is a quote from Daniel Kahneman's book 'Thinking, Fast and Slow', where the article is consistently used in such references. In the second one I've omitted the definite article. It seems more intuitive for me, a non-native speaker, and is something I would use in my own writing. Are both expressions equally correct? Are there situations that require the article and vice versa?


Meaning of "cut loose and cause havoc" in the following sentence

When Uncle Fred suggests to his nephew a visit to a suburb, once an estate owned by an uncle when he was younger, Pongo is amazed and relieved, believing the suburbs do not hold anything like the opportunities offered by the city for someone like his Uncle **to cut loose and cause havoc**.


"Hang in" vs. "hang on"

Are these two the same when used to express "keep it up" or "survive a little longer"? Also, I often hear people say "hang in there", but I rarely hear people say "hang on there".


“Your interview with him.” Who is the interviewer?

You write something like this: > I'm interested in your interview with Barack Obama. Most people would take this to mean that it was Obama who was the interviewee (the one answering questions). However, couldn't it technically have been the other way round, i.e. that Obama was the interviewer?


Does 'express' in Visual C# express means 'free'?

Does appending an **express** means something is free as the **Visual C# express** may suggests? I cannot find that in a dictionary.


"At the drop of a hat"?

Where does the figure of speech "at the drop of a hat" come from? I understand the phrase means "Immediately; instantly; on the slightest signal or urging. (Alludes to the dropping of a hat as a signal.)" - TheFreeDictionary.com But I don't understand why anyone would think that dropping a hat were some sort of signal. What's the historical context?


Literally vs. figuratively: how literally is literally?

I'm sensitive to the fact that in light of recent events, the example discussed in this question may be unsettling to some. For that, I apologize, but I cannot think of an effective alternative. In a _Modern Marvels_ documentary on The History Channel, the narrator says, "[...] bombs have evolved into devices that can literally blow mankind off the face of the earth." It's difficult to tell whether "literally" is appropriate in this instance. On one hand, the narrator likely uses the word literally to emphasize that although it may have been common for many years to talk about bombs as being powerful enough to blow up the world, in the modern age of weaponized hydrogen fusion it really is possible to eradicate all of mankind. On the other hand, bombs don't blow people "off" the planet, they merely destroy them and leave their scattered remains. With that in mind, my general question is this: when using the word literally, is it important that every word or phrase be meant to take on its most technically literal interpretation? Or is it enough that there exist two, reasonable, alternative interpretations of the sentence, one of which is a _more_ literal rendering, and that the more literal of the two is intended?


Single word to denote date and time

I want one word that means Date and Time. For example in "the date and time of the event will be announced later" I want to use single word instead of "date and time"


Why "on the books", not "in the books"

_On the books_ means "part of the law". > These changes would add little to the civil rights laws now on the books. I know the meaning of this idiom, and idioms are used as they are, but idioms often have stories behind. Why is it not "in the books"? Could it be that in the old days people used slates of rocks to write on?


How commonly is "but" used in sentences?

Usually, whenever I post a question on Stack Overflow, I have a habit of using the word _but_ excessively. Is there an alternative word can I use?


"Disclaimer" vs. "disclosure"

What is the difference between _disclaimer_ and _disclosure_ , and when is it appropriate to use each? Often I see (especially on answers on SE) comments like: "Disclaimer: I work for company that makes this product," or "Disclosure: I never actually tested this". It seems to me that this is backwards, "disclosure" should be used for sharing some information that would otherwise be a secret, or considered a hidden agenda; and "disclaimer" for disavowing the information, or stating that this is not actually proven. Am I correct?


Meaning of "to be responsible for being..."

> The external safety unit is therefore responsible for the functions and > applications being correct. What is meant by the sentence above?   1. The external safety unit is therefore responsible for the correctness of functions and applications.   2. The external safety unit is therefore responsible for the functions and applications which are correct.


If the plural of ‘man’ is ‘men,’ shouldn’t the plural of ‘German’ be ‘Germen’?

What makes these two words so different that 'man' is changed to 'men', but 'German' is changed to 'Germans'?


Enter the world

I am planning a big career change. In the emails to the people I want to ask for internship, I wrote "I strongly desire to pursue a career in AABBCC and currently looking for internship opportunities to enter the world". I used the phrase "enter the world" because the barrier of the type of job I want is pretty high. Is this correct english? And is there better way to say it?


Word meaning relating to or involving humans or people

I need a word to fill the blank in this sentence: "The hurricane was one of the most _blank_ -deadly events in history." The human death count was recorded, but not the death count not for other species, so it was definitely a deadly event for humans, but the toll taken on other species was not known. At the moment I'm using _human_ for this purpose, but _human-deadly_ doesn't sound quite right, nor as good as possible. I understand that without the word, the statement would generally be taken as referring to humans but I would prefer to specify.


Why did the old pronouns and their respective endings vanish from daily usage?

If I’m not wrong, the verb conjugation in the past used to be:               I have           we have       thou hast        ye have       he/she/it hath   they have      This conjugation is closer to its equivalent in the German language:               ich habe         wir haben       du hast          ihr habt       er/sie/es hat    sie/Sie haben      The thing is: Every verb in every tense in German ends with _-st_ in the second person singular, and as far as I know, in Elizabethan English the verbs used to end in this way as well in the second person singular ( _thou shouldst_ , _canst_ , _makest_ , _eatest_ , _composest_ , etc.). Why exactly did the old _thou_ disappear, as well as related forms _thy_ , _thee_ , _thyself_ , and _thine_ , as well as the corresponding verb ending _-st_? Same for _-eth_ in third person singular ( _it hath, maketh_ , etc.), why did it just disappear from daily usage? I’m a Brazilian and my mother-tongue is Portuguese, so I’m not well aware of the background of this, and I am very curious. These forms can be found in the old King James Bible and in the poetry of William Shakespeare, as well as in many other sources, but I would like to know exactly why they’re gone, and for what reasons.


Is this Irony/Idiomatic speech?

I was reading this blog post and had trouble understanding this comment on the piece: > Or you could **_appropriate the Freudian hermeneutic_** : "Sometimes a > vessel is just a vessel." I understand "hermeneutic" to be a study of interpretation, especially that which concerns the bible. I also understand "Freudian" to be a school of psychoanalysis in which importance is given to theories of sexuality (and that it has come under critical scrutiny of and is at large disregarded by feminists). So I would like to ask whether the above is meant to be ironic?


What does "colored nurses" mean?

In the Wikipedia entry listing the characters from Harper Lee’s 1960 novel, _To Kill a Mockingbird_, there is a line that states the following: > Calpurnia is the Finch family’s housekeeper, whom the children love and > Atticus deeply respects (he remarks in her defense that she “never indulged > [the children] like most **colored nurses** ”). What does the line “never indulged [the children] like most **colored nurses** ” mean?


"each day" → "daily"; "every other day" →?

Is there an adjective that means "every other day"? I found "bidaily" but it seems to mean "twice a day", not "every second day" (not even both as "biweekly" does). I'd need this word to very concisely describe a questionnaire by its issuing frequency.


What is the term for words that have changed meaning over time? For example, in relation to this question on Workplace Stack Exchange the term snafu was of military origin and was used to define a person, team, organisation, etc that continually makes mistakes. The first time I saw the term was in relation to a data protection leak and this now seems a pretty common usage e.g this article amongst the tech community. Is there a term to describe words that have changed meaning over time, or words that have been adopted by a particular community and had their meaning altered?


I am looking for a word that is the same as "aspiration" but it's done

For example if you wish to do or have something, you can use _aspiration_. What word is the best to use for things that you have and done already? I was thinking about _accomplishment_ , but it only applies to things we did. I want a word that combines the meaning of things we did and things we have right now. It's hard to communicate what I need, so I give one more example: > Alex's aspiration > >   * playing piano >   * having a piano >   * other things that I use to do and have > > > Alex's [word I am looking for] > >   * I already learned playing piano >   * I bought a piano >


What word means the opposite of "preamble"?

I'm looking for a word the describes the concluding text of a document, i.e. the opposite of the document's preamble. Is it just "conclusion"?


Is "qo" a step in the evolution of the question mark?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Question_mark According to the wikipedia article I've linked to above, "qo" was sometimes used in the middle ages to abbreviate the latin word "questio" in the way that we might use a modern day question mark. I can't find any example of this anywhere online. Help?


'Tenure' vs. 'tenancy'

Can anyone clarify for me the differences between these two words, in their senses of "occupation by a tenant"?


Using "of" and "about" interchangeably

Can I use _of_ instead of _about_ in the following sentence? > I'd like to hear your thoughts and recommendations about my decision **of** > this company and my resignation petition. Also, could you tell me whether I can use _on_ in place of _of_ , if using _of_ is correct in this sentence?


Why are reveries sometimes called "brown" studies?

Though this idiom is by no means very common, one comes across it now and then. (I just came across it again today, which is why I'm asking this question.) Why is a "brown study" so named?


What does "on the couch" mean?

What does this mean ? I'm on the couch tonight for sure From the movie Judgment Night (1993).


wouldn't have missed the day

I was watching a BBC sitcom. The scene is set in a wedding ceremony. In the opening of the speech of the father of the bride, he tends to be humorous, and thus he says: "Welcome to the wedding of Laura and Paul, whether you're friends, family or freeloaders, loved ones or loathed ones, people we like or people we had to invite, and whether you're here for a free meal or a free drink, people who _wouldn't have missed_ this special day for the world or people who had nothing better to do. You are all welcome." I am baffled by his using "wouldn't have missed." According to the context, I reckon what he means is more or less "people who wouldn't like to miss this special day for the world." But if he means exactly like that, why does he use the perplexing "wouldn't have missed?" Alright, he might be trying to be witty, implying "people who thought if they came to the wedding, they wouldn't have missed this special day after the wedding." Is my interpretation right?   Even the the implication is like that, I was still wondering how it sounds like in a native speaker's ears? For me, a non-native speaker, all I received was only full of confusion. Not humorous at all. If I were in that wedding, I would get lost and stuck in this "wouldn't have missed" and miss out a bunch of the rest of the speech.


Punctuate this sentence

Punctuate the following sentence. The distance between St George and and and and and dragon is not equal. (That's right, there are five consecutive 'ands'. I promise it is possible. But you may need to know the story behind it.)


How should the year be capitalized?

I suppose a year number to be a proper noun, naming a unique year. Therefore, when written as text, it should be spelled with initial capital letters. But there does not seem to be general agreement about this. Few authorities offer a rule at all, probably because year numbers are more commonly written as Arabic numerals. One source treats a year number as a common noun, like any number. A second agrees but says some authors consider a year number to be a _pronoun_ when not preceded by the words "the year". A third says a year number names a unique year and must be treated as a proper noun, citing _The Winston Grammar Program_ by Paul E. Erwin. On wedding invitations, etiquette authorities agree, the year is traditionally written as text. It is for this reason, I suppose, that some authorities think to address capitalization of the year. However, there is no consensus. It is more common to see the advice to capitalize the first word of the year (only). Most Google search results for [ capitalize year wedding etiquette ] give this advice. On the other hand, that paragon of etiquette virtue, Emily Post, specifically prohibits it, saying only the names of weeks and months are to be capitalized. In short, I can find support for three different capitalization rules for year numbers:   * no capitalization (written number rule), e.g.: "the year thirteen sixty-one"   * capitalize first initial letter (wedding invitation rule), e.g.: "the year Thirteen sixty-one"   * capitalize all initial letters (proper noun rule), e.g.: "the year Thirteen Sixty-one" How should the year be capitalized?


"He is loved", is 'loved' an adjective or a verb?

> He is loved. This is something that I've always kind of wondered. In a sentence like this, is _loved_ a verb or an adjective? Can it be considered either?


Capitalization after '3D'

I'm translating for a company that creates specialized 3D software. In a lot of the brochures, there are bullet points for things like '3D road design.' or '3D visibility.' To my eye, the words 'road' and 'visibility' should be capitalized in these contexts. To be clear, I'm asking about the cases in which 3D begins a sentence, and whether I should capitalize the word that comes after it. Am I right? Is this basically on a how-you-like-it basis? Additional question (really just curiosity): when I search for questions like this, is 3D an abbreviation or an acronym? I feel like it would technically be an abbreviation of an acronym?


Is “bright example” correct?

Can I use "bright example" to mean a good example of something just has been described. For example: > Such devices never work more than a year, my mp3 player is bright example


Do mathematical equations require punctuation?

**Mathematicians rarely heed the advice of grammarians.** In mathematical writing, one often places equations in a numbered environment outside of the inline text. Consider the following example.               Define f to be the function,              f(x) = sin x              (1)      where x is to take values in [0,pi].       Although one rarely finds correct punctuation or consistent grammar in math textbooks or online, I'm inclined to be as anal as physically possible in my Ph.D. thesis and consult the appropriate authorities in the matter. _What is the correct protocol for punctuation in the numbered equation environment?_ In particular, should there be a comma after "sin x"?


Past tense and "rather than"

I found myself with a sentence like this, using "accept" in the infinitive form after "rather than": > They left the club, rather than accept the terms. But I'm unsure of its grammatical soundness. Conjugating the verb "accept" just sounds wrong: > They left the club, rather than accepted the terms. The gerund sounds right, but I'm not sure why: > They left the club, rather than accepting the terms. What is the grammatically correct way of phrasing this sort of sentence, and why? > [SUBJECT] [PAST_ACTION_1], rather than [PAST_ACTION_2]


Which is the proper spelling: "Adapter" or "adaptor"?

In my current project we are writing a program to convert a newer protocol to an older one. These conversion programs are being referred to as _adapters_ , but the team cannot agree which spelling to use: _adapter_ or _adaptor_. I personally plump for _adapter_ , as _adaptor_ sounds like its a person (like _actor_ , _realtor_ , etc.) rather than a device. Is there a case for using one rather than the other?


When did the distinction between the spoken and written English grammars became recognized?

It is generally accepted today that the grammars and vocabularies of the spoken and the written English differ in important ways. Is it known when this distinction between the English grammars become recognized - for example, mentioned in a book or an article?


Opposite of acronym

If U.N. is the acronym of United Nations, then United Nations is the _what_ of U.N.? Is there an opposite of acronym?


What does “the Big Money crowd” mean?

I heard the following statement of Barron’s magazine piggybacked to today’s (April 28) AP radio news over AFN broadasting: > “Two thirds of the money managers we surveyed think we are due for > collection of 10 per cent in the next twelve months before stocks resume > their rise. Favorable stocks, General Electric currently tops the list. > **The Big Money crowd** also likes bank shares such as Bank of America and > Citi Group.” As I’m unfamiliar with the word, “Big Money crowd,” I looked for the usage of this word and found a pretty old example: With bond yields edging up, about a third of **the Big Money crowd** thinks utility shares will be the worst performers in the next 12 months.” - online.barrons.com 2013/10/21 What does Big Money crowd mean, particularly ‘crowd’ here mean? Is Big Money a proper noun as B and M are shown in uppercase in the above Barron's example? Is "crowd" a mass noun that takes verb in singlar form like "likes" and "thinks"?


Capitalization of "biomedical"

I work at a company with the word "biomedical" in its name. Sometimes I see it capitalized in CamelCase, like a programmer would write it ("BioMedical"), and sometimes as one word ("Biomedical"). The second capitalization looks better to me, but I'm not sure. I've also seen the word written out as "bio-medical". There seem to be too many options. **Can anyone enlighten me on the proper capitalization?**


Is it proper to ask to belay a request to a superior?

The term belay is often used to cancel an order in military settings. The definition indicates it just means to cancel. However, would asking a superior (in a civilian private sector employment situation) add an improper tone to the request?


Nonplussed defines its own antonym?

I recently encountered this word while reading an article and found that its two basic definitions are "Bewildered" and "Unfazed." How can the word mean both these things as they seem to be direct opposites of each other? Should the sentence in which it's used always explicitly reveal the intended meaning? > And while many of us might be a little taken aback if Mom showed up at our > offices, Secrist is utterly nonplussed, even happy about it. source In the above sentence, it's obvious that Secrist is "unfazed" without even knowing the definition of nonplussed. Instead of adding clarity to the meaning being conveyed, "nonplussed" seems to just add confusion. Then again, maybe I'm missing something. Thoughts? _My first post here so please edit/re-tag as appropriate._


A word or phrase to describe people who are practical and "care more about themselves"?

What is a word or phrase to describe people who are very practical and shrewd, and more concern about achieving their goals rather than looking at softer sides such as friendships, etc? It is more than just self-centred. It is a kind of character which one who inherits it would not hesitate to do very shallow acts just to emerge as a winner/survive, even if he has to betray his benefactors. It is a very insecure kind of character but on the surface is not obvious to be like so. For example, Tom befriends with Jane in hope of her help at work. Jane helped Tom. Tom, however, may possibly make Jane his enemy one day, when he knows his boss dislikes Jane, so as to appear standing behind his boss. So in some way, Tom in this scenario, is a what kind of person? In casual words, he is practical, shrewd, self-centred, etc. But is there a more concise word that encapsulates all these words and brings about the idea of such a character?


I'm looking for a word that is the noun-form of "poorly-constructed" and ends with the -ation suffiix

I'm going for some alliteration in a paper I'm writing discussing the history and once-current state of a particular navy, and one of the three things I want to talk about is the possibility of poorly-constructed ships. The other two are appropriation (some ships were appropriated from conquered peoples) and reparation (many ships had seen multiple battles and had undergone numerous repairs). I want to be able to say something to the effect of, "The history of appropriation, reparation, and ---ation in the fleet significantly influenced the outcome of this battle." I've toyed with 'ill-formation', but that doesn't sound right to me; it brings to mind poorly-constructed syntactic objects, not large physical ones. Thoughts or suggestions?


A non slangy word for "distractible person"

I'm thinking of starting a 12 step inspired support group, for people struggling with distractions. Basically it would be a group for people with ADHD symptoms, whether they actually have the disorder, or have simply wrecked their attention spans by using the internet too much. What would be a good name to put before "Anonymous" to convey this scope? A tongue in cheek name like "Scatterbrains Anonymous" or "Spaceshots Anonymous" seems like it might put people off. I'm looking for something that would be to "distractible" as "depressive" the noun is to "depressive" the adjective. I've considered the neologism route, with "Distractives Anonymous", but it seems like a reach to get people identifying with a term that doesn't even exist yet. Any other suggestions?


A phrase or idiom about living one life

I have a question about a phrase (an idiom), which can be roughly said as: > You have only one life (to live) and it's not going to happen again. I'm not sure if it's correct, most likely not. What I want is a meaning of this phrase, not said like " _You have only one_ " but like " _Life is just one_ " or " _One has only one_ " if you know what I mean. Not saying to someone: " _You have_ " but saying it like a general statement (" _One have_ " or " _There's a..._ "). Something like: > One has only one life and it's not going to happen again (or repeat). I thought about replacing the part "happen again" with something like "repeat" which would suit better from my point of view but as far as I searched the web, it's not used in this kind of phrase. Suggestions for more less widely used or known phrases welcomed.


Do you "have a particular interest" or do you "have particular interest"?

Maybe it's particular (!) to the "particular" adjective. Without it, it's fairly obvious that I "have an interest" is more correct than "I have interest". But when my interest is particular, I'm not sure if the indefinite article is either redundant or even incorrect. Also, "interest" has a slightly different meaning when used with the "particular" adjective, connoting a state of concern, as opposed to a discrete hobby or recreation. Any suggestions?


Which preposition should I use here: "thinking of" or "thinking about"?

> Thinking **of** getting an external keyboard > > Thinking **about** getting an external keyboard Which one is grammatically correct and why?


Single word for random selection

I want a word that means "Selected from the pool/set" - randomness is implied but not necessary. What is a good word for this? It would be used in a sentence like: > The parameter is _selected from the set_ and used in the experiment. I want one phrase for _selected from the set_ so that it can be used to form a terminology.


"For both X and Y" or "both for X and Y" or ...?

Which of these forms is correct? >   * X will be used both for Y and Z >   * X will be used for both Y and Z >   * X will be used both for Y and for Z >   * Other... >


"Weekdays" used as an adverb

I found a sentence in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary: > open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. > > The bookstore opens weekdays from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. . How do we understand the structure of this sentence? I know it means something is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Usage of 'phew!'

The online Oxford Dictionary defines 'phew' as an expression of a strong reaction of relief. It has reported this example: "Phew, what a year!" Could _phew_ express lassitude as follows? > Phew! That was hard work.


Spelling out non-cardinal small numbers

I understand that it's common to spell small numbers in words. However, all examples of this rule I could find use cardinals (i.e. expressing the size of a set of entities) like in:   * We met two cats and seven dogs.   * She has been driving for six hours. My question is to what degree does this rule apply when one writes numbers as nouns rather than numerals? That is, which is the most 'correct':   * He chose the number 2.   * He chose the number two.   * He chose the number 'two'.


How to use "To be perceived as to being something"

For example. To be perceived as to being useful, the information tool must provide useful information to user and the user must find the information provided by the information tool is useful is there any problem with my grammar ? I am not really sure how to use to be perceived as to being something


I can't help it

* Mom: John, stop playing video-games!   * John: I can't help it! Could someone explain what John said?


Is there a non-idiomatic word or phrase meaning the same as "on the fly"

I want to say that someone is quick at thinking on the fly, but need to communicate with non-English speakers. Is there an equivalent non-idiomatic word or phrase? edit: I want it to imply instantaneous adaptation, "i.e. spur of the moment" but that is idiomatic as well.


Hyphenation or blending

Are there any rules when to write a set of two (or more) words or abbreviations forming a name of some entity as separate, when to hyphenate, and when to stick them together? These are my findings with ngram: >   * bitwise, bit-wise, but never _bit wise_ >   * sci-fi, but never sci fi, or scifi >   * wastelands (increasingly frequent), waste lands (dying out), never > waste-lands >   * fanfiction or fan fiction, but almost never fan-fiction, but >   * fanfic, never fan fic or fan-fic >   * read-only or read only, rarely readonly >   * twofold (frequently), two-fold (rarely), two fold (minimal) >   * bittersweet (rise), bitter-sweet (decline), bitter sweet (minimal), > but... >   * sour-sweet (frequent), sour sweet (less frequent), soursweet (even less > frequent) >   * all-nighter (dominant), allnighter (infrequent), all nighter (somewhat > less frequent) >   * cross-country (gaining), crosscountry and cross country (about equal, > not infrequent) >   * overnight (rise), over night (same as overnight until 1920, then drops > to 0), very rare over-night. > In particular, if I'm coining a new blend, which rules should I follow when deciding which of these three forms to give it?


Can I use the word "school" when referring to something that belongs to a university?

For example, can I refer to the main gate of a university as _the school's main gate?_ Or say _school begins in September_ instead of university begins in September (especially in informal speech)?


What does "Pinkest of papers" mean?

I was reading G.K. Chesterton's stories of Father Brown, and in the story "The Mistake of the Machine" (c.1914), I saw this phrase : > It seemed to be an extract from one of the pinkest of American Society > papers, and ran as follows: What does "pinkest of papers" mean? I did a little bit of research, and it seems that in Chesterton's time, people who were of high society standing had their note-papers tinted pink. In Sherlock Holmes, one of his very rich clients send in a letter on: > a sheet of pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open on the table. So, does "pinkest of American Society papers" here imply a society newspaper that was of very high social standing, something like _The Telegraph_ or _Washington Post_? Or does it mean something else?


Is incorrect capitalization considered a spelling error?

Is incorrect capitalization, such as the lowercase "i" in > can [this is not the sic you're after] i [this sic] have an if statement > within a dialog box code? considered a spelling mistake, or some other type of error?


be intended to vs intend to

I see a lot of examples of _be intended to_ and _intend to_. Both of them mean **_plan to do_**. Some examples: > Selling was my game and I **intended to** be a winner. > > The ban **is intended to** be permanent. I guess the difference between them is if the subject is human, it should use **be intended to**. Otherwise use **intend to**. Is that right?


Correct usage of “all expenses paid”

I am confused on how to properly describe an all expense paid vacation. Is it an _all expenses paid vacation_ or an _all expense paid vacation_ , and are there any hyphens between all, expense or expenses, and paid? I ask because it seems to be all over the place on google search.


The history of the use of "man"

The pronoun 'he' used generically, as well as a lot of words including "man- kind" or generic "man" are sex-biased and are not acceptable. However, not so long ago, they were the proper used terms for describing the general. For example, "Man must adjust to his environment." or "He that loves must forgive." etc. Was this always the case or did there use to be a difference in terms between male and female?


Is English 'issue' etymologically related to Russian 'ищу'?

I've noted that English word **issue** sounds like Russian word **ищу** , which means "I search for". Issue is something for which a solution needs to be found. So having an issue is closely related with searching for the way to solve it. Is it an accident only or have those words some common ancestor deeply in etymological history (maybe even dating to PIE)?


"Normalization" vs. "canonicalization"

It seems both _normalization_ and _canonicalization_ are used to describe the effort to transform from an arbitrary form to a unique form. Is there any difference between the two words? Why is there _XML normalize-space_ but not _canonicalize-space_? And a file name in a canonical-form but not a file name in a normalized-form?


Is there a verb for "doing the wrong thing by force of habit"

I sometimes find myself doing something I did not intend, just because the force of habit is so strong. For instance: On the way back from work, turning toward home instead of the grocery store, even though I was planning on doing the shopping. Or tossing the newspaper in the recycling bin right after my wife asked me to save an article for her. Is there a verb for this behavior? As in "Sorry, I just {screwed up by habit}."


Determiner vs. Determinative

In the _Cambridge Grammar of the English Language_ , Huddleston and Pullum use the term "determinative" for the lexical category of words like _the_ , etc. And they use "determiner" for the grammatical function that is characteristically filled by determinatives (but which can also be filled by things such as genitive noun phrases). In an older generation of reference grammars, however, notably Quirk, et alia's _Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language_ , the use of these terms is exactly reversed. That is, "determiner" is the lexical category and "determinative" is the grammatical function. The difference has been bugging me for a long time. Can anyone provide a principled explanation as to why we should prefer one over the other? I'm sure Huddleston and Pullum had a motivation to alter terminology that's been in use since Bloomfield's day, but I can't find any discussion in their work.


Is this correct grammar with the semi-colon

This sentence is from my essay. Is the semi-colon correct? > His most famous residence is the Kaufmann Residence; esteemed for its use of > organic architecture with Japanese architectural components to create > harmony with the residence and nature.


Comma before while?

After much searching, I am still finding (potentially) conflicting information regarding commas before subordinate conjunctions when they come at the end of the sentence. Specifically, I have read that a comma before _while_ indicates 'whereas.' No comma indicates time. However, commas are also used before subordinate conjunctions when the subordinate clause is non-essential to the meaning of the sentence. Therefore, I am confused whether to use a comma before _while_ in the following sentence. Is there a rule you can refer me to? > "Stick to your guns, Lola," he replied happily, while pinching both of my > cheeks. Based on the above information, there should be no comma since the two actions are happening at the same time. However, the information also seems non- essential to the meaning of the sentence, which means that it would require a comma. Very confusing!


Why can a bird be pulled but never caught?

In the UK there is a popular idiomatic saying: > **To pull a bird.** "Bird" is a well known Brit expression for a young woman. In the USA, I think "chick" is more popular. The above expression means to have success in fixing a date or going to bed with an attractive woman. I'd like to know why the verb, "pull" was preferred and not _catch_ , _get_ , _take_ , _trap_ , or even _grab_. And why do Americans go for "chicks" and never "birds"?


What is the relationship between fame and infamy?

In layman's terms, what is the relationship between fame and infamy? Is fame required to be infamous? Are they (definitively) mutual exclusive?


Hyphen in the noun 'switching-off'? Or gerunds of compound verbs, more generally?

I'm currently proof-reading my girlfriend's Ph.D. thesis (neither of us are native speakers) and I came across the following sentence snippet: "the switching-off induces eddy currents", and the word 'switching-off' struck me as odd. I think it should be written without a hyphen; my reasoning is vague, but seems to hinge on the distinction I feel there is between 'the turning on' (i.e. 'the activating') and 'the turning-on' ('the causing of arousal'). A quick search in my Concise Oxford Dictionary hasn't given me any ideas, so my question is: What's the correct way of writing the gerund of compound verbs? Any online resources going into this would also be much appreciated!


What's a word similar in usage to "diatribe," but not as harsh?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a diatribe is defined as _a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something._ I had previously understood it to mean something more along the lines of _drawn out, longer than it needs to be, impassioned persuasion._ For example, in a friendly letter, _My [diatribe] begins here._ Any alternatives?


How to say that something is (not) random

I want to compare two things, one of which is random and the other is not, in favor of the latter. I'd like to do it in a more sophisticated way than simply using the word "random". Like, for example, > In this case, your pay will not depend on the roll of the dice. But Google Ngrams doesn't find a single occurrence of "depend on the roll of the dice", so I guess there's something wrong with this particular phrase. What would be a better substitute?


> A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy > under the inky sky, the very last place you would expect astonishing things > to happen. Harry Potter [a baby] **rolled over** inside his blankets without > waking up. One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on, > not knowing he was special, not knowing he was famous, not knowing he would > be woken in a few hours' time by Mrs. Dursley's scream as she opened the > front door to put out the milk bottles, nor that he would spend the next few > weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley...   > (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) What’s the meaning of ‘over’ in the example?   (1) If we adopt the meaning of ‘roll’ as "to move or rock from side to side,” I think ‘over’ could mean ‘repeatedly: adv 11.’ So the baby might have been swaying in the blanket repeatedly.   (2) If we adopt the ‘rolled’ as a participle, the sentence can be a noun phrase that has a participle in it; ‘rolled over’ could mean ‘wrapped: v.tr.12a completely: adv 4.’ - Next sentence also has participle in its noun phrase (absolute phrase).; for the letter was closed on by an adult.   (3) I think one of the two above would be proper, but ‘roll over completely, 360 degrees’ wouldn’t. What can be the proper meaning of the ‘over’?