"Field of study" vs. "subject of study"

What is the difference between _field_ and _subject_ and what is the discipline here?


"Life finishes" vs "life is finished"

To convey that someone arrives at the end of his life or simply dies, which sentence is more correct or more common? I prefer the first. > His life finishes. > > His life is finished. If the second one is legitimate, can I assume _he_ is responsible for the action _finish_ (i.e., interpret the sentence as _he finishes his life_ )? If so, what about the following sentence? > I'm done grading the exam papers. Who is responsible for the action _do_?


Where did the expression "to up the ante" come from?

I know what it means, but I cannot understand where it could have come from.


Why does "tell me about it" not mean "tell me about it"?

A commonly used American phrase, but one that still baffles me if I stop and think about it. Why does "tell me about" actually mean, "I understand what you're talking about as I have experienced it myself". Not only are you not literally inviting the person to go into more detail, but (most confusingly) you're actually kind of suggesting that they don't need to tell you any more. Which is the very opposite of what you've said. For example: **Employee 1:** (reading a letter from management) "It says I'm being laid off. Can you believe that?"   **Employee 2:** (holding up a similar letter) "Tell me about it." For such a simple and straightforward phrase, I'm confused as to how it morphed into meaning something else. You could argue that the person is being sarcastic when they say it: "Tell me about it -- as if I don't already know!", but it's usually said in a sympathetic tone, not a deriding one. Where did it originate, and how did it get its unusual meaning? For non-native speakers, it can be very confusing!


Tenses in the clause "was about to do"

There are two verbs in the clause "was about to do", and I think I have established that "was" is an auxiliary verb, but I am unsure of what the verb "do" is. It is not a present participle, but I don't know how to refer to it. How would you describe the tense of these verbs? My current thinking is that it may be the periphrastic past tense.


"Hello" as a verb

A dictionary says that Hello could be a **verb, noun and interjection**. I'm not sure I saw it to be a verb though. Q: Could someone provide an example of 'hello' where it's used **as verb**. In the meaning of its synonym phrase 'say hello'. Can I say for example: "I hello you?" (Probably not but what can I _hello_?)


Syntactically and semantically discuss

>   1. (A) He cut the speech short. / He cut short the speech.   >  (B) He broke the casket open. / He broke open the casket. >   2. (A) He hammered the metal flat. / *He hammered flat the metal.   >  (B) He drove his tires bald. / *He drove bald his tires. >


When did we stop translating proper names?

It used to be that one would just translate a proper name that was in another language into English when referring to that entity. For example, William the Conqueror, Christopher Columbus, King Philip II of Spain, King John of Portugal, the city of Munich, Vatican City, or the Ivory Coast. Or just look at Pope Francis, who goes by a different name in every country. But the current king of Spain is not John Charles, and his heir is not Philip. In the English press, he’s Juan Carlos and his heir is Felipe. Similarly, the country of the Ivory Coast is now insisting that it be called “the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire” **in English**. So when did we stop translating proper nouns into English? Is this some part of political correctness or is it a change in diplomatic protocol? How is one to know whether to translate a proper noun into something recognizable in English, or to leave it in the original?


What are all the ways the British use the word "lovely"?  Especially towards pretty girls?

From watching many period dramas and plays set in England, as I like to do, I've become more acutely aware of the British overloading of the word _lovely_. In particular, I have two questions: What are all the contexts in which the word is used? For example, what does _lovely_ mean as an interjection, as opposed to, say, _great_? Secondly, and more importantly, what are the connotations when _lovely_ is applied to people? For example, is it quite strong to publicly say something like, > She's a lovely woman. or > Mum, I met a lovely girl at the cinema last night. Does saying _lovely_ in either one imply a romantic or sexual connotation above mere admiration of the woman or girl?


Naming of paragraph subsections

Regarding the questions: What do you call those divisions of a book bigger than a paragraph but smaller than a chapter? Is not such a division best known as a PARICOPE from the Greek PARIKOPE or "a cutting around" as in the selection of a passage from the Bible in religious services?


"Canalized" usage in "a great impact which can also be canalized"

I'm in doubt if this is the correct usage of the word _canalized_ : > In the US a researching team found that pure entertainment, such as TV > series or movies, have a great impact which can also be **canalized** > towards educational needs.


Can you say "unconfident", as in the opposite of being/having confidence?

Can you say _unconfident_? I heard it mentioned in Top Chef recently, where a chef mentioned she was unconfident with her cooking skills in a certain area. Is this the correct way to describe the opposite of having confidence? Is _inconfidence_ a word? I have heard it mentioned as "lack of confidence". I am not a native English speaker. **Update:** I did look it up on m-w.com before posting but should of course have included my findings here. But I just noticed that I might have not just read the add. I thought m-w didn't have the word listed, but really the add says something different. Oxford has it listed as someone mentions though. To clarify, I'm asking if _unconfident_ is the correct word to use for describing the opposite of being confident, mainly because "it sounded a bit odd to me", I thought inconfident might be more correct, but as someone mentions, that isn't a word. I personally preferred "I lack confidence in my skills" but I doubt you would hear that a lot in spoken language.


Question mark with your hands

How do you call a gesture of spreading one's hands and turning them palms up to suggest a question? As in "what did you just do, man? That was so weird that left me speechless, so I had to raise my hands to show you I'm asking you stuff" or "Huh?"


Is 'promptus' a valid word?

I did a Google:define on `Promptus` and think it has Latin origin. But since I don't see it in the English dictionaries, I am not sure if I can use it at all in my conversation.


Is there a word to describe a person who keeps talking about the TV show while watching it?

Is there a word to describe a person who keeps talking about a TV show while watching it with their family/relatives/friends/whoever? An example: The person was talking about why this character is behaving in such manner on the TV show.


Is "bettern't" an OK word to use?

In the spirit of: > You can swim, can't you?   >  You should tell the truth, shouldn't you?   >  You'd be crazy to miss out, wouldn't you? Can I say: > You better study, bettern't you? It's listed at wiktionary as 'non-standard'.   * When would or wouldn't you use this word?    * What can I use instead if I'm trying to be a bit more formal?


What does " Dark Emotions" means?

I have read a poem . In this poem , I am not very sure the meaning of "Dark Emotions" . The poet have written like that - "Dark Emotions were torn ever so deep". Please help me .


Indefinite article before symbols

The choice of "a" versus "an" depends on the pronunciation of the following word. Mathematical writing may use symbols as nouns or adjectives, and their pronunciation is not always clear. Here is a made-up example. > Consider a (⊗,≤,1) triple such that S forms a commutative monoid with (⊗,1) > and x ≤ x ⊗ y for any x and y. In "a (⊗,≤,1) triple", how would one choose the indefinite article to use before the operator?


"Influences" vs. "influencers"

I want to say :"Identifying influences in different categories is interesting for companies". By "influences" I mean people, who have influence in some categories. Should I use "influences" or "influencers"?


Is it possible that the word "suffix" has a Hebrew origin?

Etymolonline states that the word "suffix" is of Latin Origin. However, the Hebrew word for "end" is **_sof_** ( **סוף** ) pronounced like in "sofa". Since a suffix comes at the _end_ of the word, I often thought that it may be the actual origin. Or is it just a coincidence?


Word for "release candidate" of draft document

I'm looking for a word to use for a draft document that is basically finished. The draft should be marked with this word to let others know that they can look at it. This is not part of an approval process, just as a way of notifying others that the document will be published sometime soon and if they have any remarks they should put them forward as soon as possible. The closest word I can think of is "release candidate" but that is two words (I'd prefer one) and also within the target group this expression is too closely related to software development rather than text documents. Any suggestions?


What's the meaning of "should we be interested"?

I contacted someone and he replied: > ... > > I've passed your information along and someone will get back to you **should > we be interested**. After sending him another message he replied: > ... > > ... will return **should we be interested**. Is this a question? > I've passed your information along and someone will get back to you. > **Should we be interested?**. What do I have to reply? What's the meaning of this expression?


What does proverbial mean?

> She smiled , and in those deep blue eyes I saw what I found so irresistible > about her. It wasn't just that she was the **proverbial** ten and a half. What does the last sentence mean?


Is there a grammatical name for this type of sentence construction?

> Zookeepers encouraged him to spend more time in the Monkey House…until one > day they locked him inside. This quote was taken from an article about an African man who, in 1906, was locked in a zoo as part of an ethnological exhibition. In editing an essay I wrote, my professor noted next to this quote "Anything about Adam's language in that sentence of interest?" (She mentioned in person that the author crafts sentences like this a lot). I think because the author ended with "they locked him inside", it made for a sentence that hit on the emotional sensibilities of the reader, because you didn't really see that coming. But I don't know if there is a name for constructing sentences like this (my professor said there probably is but she doesn't specialize in composition and rhetoric so she wouldn't know). The ellipsis I used in my essay to omit some of the writing. The original quote reads: Zookeepers encouraged him to spend more time in the Monkey House, where he had been sleeping since his arrival, until one day they locked him inside.


Why is it "make sure that" (no 'it') but "make it so" (with 'it')?

Once again, y'all can blame my boss. Well, him or Captain Picard. He (my boss, not Picard) has the annoying habit of saying _"Make **it** sure that"_, instead of _"Make sure that"_. No matter how many times I correct him (usually via a post-it note thrust in his face while he's on the phone), he keeps making this mistake. Today, he clarified the root of his confusion: if there's an _`it`_ in _"Make it so"_ (he's a big ST:TNG fan), then why shouldn't there be an _`it`_ in _"make sure that"_ , also? As a native speaker, the best I can come up with is "because it sounds wrong", and that's never enough to appease my boss. Help? How can I explain the difference to him? Is there logic behind it, or is it merely idiom?


What did 'make love' mean in the '60s?

Nowadays (in the States, anyway) _to make love_ means only "to engage in sexual intercourse with both parties willing" (or perhaps also the similar "to engage in sexual fondling with both parties willing"). In the mid- and late 1960s, when the slogan "make love, not war" was popular (among a certain class of people), what did _to make love_ mean in the States (not only in that slogan)?   * Did it have the same (sexual) meaning?   * Did it have the now-obsolete meaning of "to woo"?   * Did it have both meanings, so was ambiguous?   * Did it have no popular meaning at all (so that, in the slogan, it'd be viewed simply as the counterpart to _to make war_ and thus as meaning something like "to foster agape")?   * Or what?


Tenses in sentences

I have been taught to use only one tense in one sentence/paragraph, but I've always been confused... For example, in the following sentence: "In one study, there were only deficits observed in adolescents and not in children, and it was proposed that development of the emotion recognition ability is slower in adolescents with ASD compared to typically developing controls..." So the overall sentence is in past tense, but in the phrase "emotion recognition ability **is slower** "... that's present tense? Is that considered as incorrect? Would be great if someone can let me know...


"Any information" or "some information"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  “Any” or “some” in various questions? I'm trying to figure out which is correct, or if both are correct. From what I understand (and I may be wrong, so please correct me)... "some" can be used with non-count nouns and plural count nouns. Example: "I have some information about the car accident". "Any" can be used in questions and in negative sentences. Example: "Do you have any information about the next class?" Am I correct with "any" versus "some", especially with regard to the word "information"?


What is the meaning of "being the type to point fingers"?

Here is the whole sentence: > Being the type to point fingers, this person decides to run a git blame to > see who last modified this line of code.


Did English ever have Distinct Inclusive and Exclusive 1st Person Plural Pronouns?

I have always had trouble when people talk to me and say "we" - because I often don't know whether that includes me or not. "Hey, we're going to the movies." Just by that, how do I know if they want to include me or not without having to ask if I can come, too? Some languages have this 1st Person Plural distinction of specifying whether the person being spoken to is included or not. Has this concept ever been been a topic in the history of the English language?


How would you describe the semantic phenomenon that allows this joke?

Groucho Marx had a joke that's long been a favorite of mine: > I've had a wonderful time; this wasn't it. I assume he's using the present perfect to say _I've had a wonderful time._ But, when he tacks on _this wasn't it_ does it change to past perfect? Or was it past perfect all along because of the _have had_ construction?


Which preposition: "Write on/at/to this address?"

My exam included this fill-in-the-blank question: > Please write __ this address. (on/at/to) I filled the blank with _on_. Is that correct?


Meaning of "as ... as any ... someone had ever done"

Recently I have been reading "The Lost Symbol" and there is a sentence I find hard to understand. > The wooden stair descending to the Capitol's subbasement were as steep and > shallow as any stairs Langdon had ever traversed. From the context, it sounds Langdon has never traversed a stair as steep as this one, but the sentence itself seems to be saying that Langdon always traverses stairs as steep as these. What does the author mean here?


"2 times", "twice" and "2X", when to use which and why?

I am not sure if _2X_ is even a valid word. What are the proper usages for each of the three?


What is the origin of the phrase "from your lips to God’s ears?"

I used this phrase in a conversation with my wife yesterday and was surprised to learn that she had never heard of it. This led me to wonder where it came from.


How rude is "naff"?

"Naff" is a word I infrequently use as a mild version of "shit". If something is a _little_ bit bad or dull, it is "naff". I have just come across (via The Slate Gabfest podcast) one of the alleged roots of the word giving a ruder etymology: "not available for f***ing." This is backed up as a possible etymology here. Is this word ruder than I though?


Can "snob" be used as a verb?

I commonly see "snob someone off", where the word they should correctly use is _snub_. Is using "snob" as a verb forever a no-no? Is it creeping towards accepted usage?


'For' versus 'toward'

Are these sentences both grammatical ? >   * "This is a big step **towards** the project's completion." >   * "This is a big step **for** the project's completion." > If so, how do we decide between the first and the second one?


Singular or plural verb with "class of proteins"

Consider the following sentence: > This table outlines a class of proteins that primarily **attack** the brain. I am not sure whether to use _attack_ or _attacks_. If _attack_ refers to _class_ then I should use _attacks_ , but if it refers to _proteins_ then I should use _attack_. In this case, both versions might work. However, I am not sure about this.


Must (Past Obligation Interrogative) "Must you have eaten all the food?"

Is the question "Must you have eaten all the food" correct when used in the past obligatory sense? The best examples I can find are quite ambiguous. _"Must He have been less than perfectly kind to one of His creatures? I do not think it can reasonably be argued that in such a case God must have wronged one of His creatures."_ -Kopelman, L.M. and Moskop, J.C.; Ethics and Mental Retardation, 1984 [pg. 130] If you change the question to read as follows it seems to share a similar intent: _"Did He have to be less than perfectly kind to one of His creatures? I do not think it can reasonably be argued that in such a case God must have wronged one of His creatures."_ I am looking for solid references or consensus as to why "much" can't be used in the past deontic sense.


What does "thanks for sharing" mean?

Many people say "thanks for sharing" and seem to mean something positive and meaningful by it. However, it seems to also have a cold and even sarcastic connotation to it, e.g.: > "I got married last week" / "Thanks for sharing." > > "I got divorced last week" / "Thanks for sharing." In fact, the urban dictionary gives this definition of it: _a sarcastic phrase meaning "that was really gross/inappropriate/stupid and you're an idiot." Comes from group therapy, where everyone is encouraged to share their feelings and is recognized for sharing._ Does anyone have any data on e.g. how English speaking populations view this phrase, e.g. well-intentioned or sarcastic? Or perhaps any etymology of the phrase, where it came from, how it grew in popularity, and how the meaning of it started to change?


To 'throw' a farewell party

I would like to write an informal email: > Sorry for not **throwing** a farewell party Is _throwing_ the right word here?


Someone told me "fair" is the "F" word, they don't like it in their house. Should I avoid using it?

I used "It's not fair", but someone told me "fair" is the "F" word, and they don't like it in their house. Should I avoid using it? **ps** : sorry if my question offended someone, I didn't mean to it.


What is the proper grammatical terminology to describe this parenthetical remark?

The following sentence appears in this book review: > But this idea has been a driving force in mathematical logic and computer > science since Alan Turing, A. N. Kolmogorov and Emil Post (he of the "tag" > system, of which more later). Indeed, there is a "Post tag system" which is mentioned later in the review. Now, I understand what this sentence means just fine, and I feel certain it's grammatically correct, but the parenthetical remark seems somewhat stilted, or at any rate it employs constructions I don't think I see very often. Can someone explain what is going on in the parenthetical remark, grammatically speaking?   Also: What are some good alternatives for expressing the same meaning?


"Without success" vs. "unsuccessfully"

Is the phrase below correct? > I have tried to contact the customer without success. Isn't it "I have tried to contact the customer unsuccessfully"?


Appropriate use of the term "transversely"

In the following paragraph, is it appropriate to use the term " _transversely_ " to describe something that has the opposite effect? > Tests have shown that the lower the range, the more likely that a submatrix > will be singular. Transversely, the larger the range, the least likely that > a submatrix will be singular. If not, is there another word that I can use instead? I know that, in this instance, I cannot use the word "conversely" as this means something totally different.


What does “With the perspective time gives” mean?

Please help, I've tried everything but still can't make out what this clause means. The full sentence is: > With the perspective time gives, I now realize that the most fitting > statement Don Juan made about dreaming was to call it the “gateway to > infinity.” The official explanation is something like “Looking back, I now realize...”, but I can't see why.


How to pronounce acronyms with apostrophes?

Simple question: How do you pronounce acronyms when they're used with apostrophe to express possession? For example: > In the **NIH's** high-risk, high-reward programmes, “if an idea isn't > developing the way it was expected to, awardees have the flexibility to > pursue a more promising avenue of research”.


Usage of "might" and "would" to indicate doubt

Do the sentences > She might be only 28, but Jodie Whittaker.... and > My parents would have walked along the Barrow wrongly suggest doubt, or are they normal usage? Are there names for these constructions? Taken from Irish Times . * * * I googled "would have spent their time". Many cases were counterfactuals ("... otherwise they would have spent their time...”) But plenty simply describe past events, as the in the usage sited above. I couldn't detect a regional bias. As an Irish-English speaker this usage is unremarkable for example I might say > This is the exact spot where Caesar would have crossed the Rubicon I think the intention is to evoke the event rather than just record it.


Is this sentence written correctly?

Since my English is not my mother language, some English rules are still strange to me, especially when I translate. The situation is that a twitter user (Joe) clicks on the 'follow' button in twitter of another user (Mike). Is this sentence written correctly? > Joe has started to follow Mike. as opposed to either of > Joe is following Mike.   >  Joe has begun following Mike.


"Help" as a Non-Modal verb

Please read the following sentence: > Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is planning his retirement in the next nine > months from the software giant he **helped** build. Would you consider "helped" a **Non-Modal verb**? **If yes** , then would you please tell me why?


what is it called when your fingers turn in shape after being under water for a long period

Have you ever noticed when you are under water for a long time, your finger tips turn white and their skin is not as smooth as before and they change. But after a while they go back to their previous shape. I wanna know how to refer to that shape of skin. Hope I'm clear enough.


What is the word for a phrase repeated over and over?

I remember learning such a word in my studies of drama and poetry. I am referring to the following example, I want to deconstruct the IBM commercial directed by Jim Henson. http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2014/03/tech-time-warp-henson-ibm/ The phrase "do the paperwork" is used again and again. I leapt to "mantra" but that suggests a repetition for the purpose of summarising a belief and training one to believe it. I also thought of "slogan" but that usually has an overt sometimes political message. This is a word that would describe the fact that this phrase has been repeated frequently without suggesting much at all about the purpose of the phrase or its repetition. Perhaps a technical or domain word from textual analysis or literary criticism. Something highly specific I believe is what may describe the word I am trying to find. Thank you.


Comma in "Is milk without coffee, considered latte?"

Is the presence of the comma in, "Is milk without coffee, considered latte?", acceptable usage?


Is "volumn" a correct word?

Is "volumn" a correct word? or there is only "volume" only, and "volumn" is just a spelling mistake? Cannot find volumn on any online dictionary.


What is the full form of the sentence "You never rolled?"

I heard this sentence in a movie dialogue: > You never rolled? Is the complete form of the given sentence: > Have you never rolled?


Descent, Ancestry, Lineage

Please help me with the words 'descent', 'ancestry', and 'lineage'. Dictionaries show that they are loosely the same: > 1a. He has German descent.   >  1b. He is of German descent.   >  2a. He has German ancestry.   >  2b. He is of German ancestry.   >  3a. He has German lineage.   >  3b. He is of German lineage. Could they be all the same, or are there subtle differences only known to native speakers?


Why doesn't "ninth" have an "e", like "ninety"?

Is it just because "ninth" has only one syllable? That wouldn't make sense, though, because saying "NINE-ith" wouldn't be worse than saying "NINE-e-tee". If we were used to "nineth", we would have no more trouble pronouncing it than "ninety" or "nineteen". Where did the "e" go, and why didn't it disappear from the other words with "nine" in them?


How to express "From the point of view of Information Theory"?

I would like start a sentence with "From the point of view of information theory, ...", but this sounds a bit uneloquent to me. Can I say, "From an information theoretical point of view, ...", or would that be wrong, too? What would be a good way to say this?


When and how is the word 'scene' used for a group of people, and what are alternatives?

In German, the word 'Szene', which translates literally to 'scene' and has an identical meaning in the context of a movie or a play, has a second use in referring to a group of people that form a community around a common interest with a high identification factor, in particular music genres. In English, I've come across "drug scene", or "clubbing scene", which seems to match the German usage, but more often it seems to be "community", which appears to have a slightly larger scope, though. While a "community" can have many purposes, and particularly may well be of a professional nature (as in "programmer community"), a "Szene" would almost always be related to leisure activities, with a slight bias towards nightlife. A good example for that is the German word "Schwulenszene", which would probably translate to "gay community", but the two terms don't match exactly. The German one would tend to not include gay rights activists, for instance, and mostly refer to bars, clubs or parties that are directed specifically at the gay community. The German word is mostly neutral (in 2012 Berlin, anyway), has a slightly positive connotation of something fashionable in nightlife (the expression "Szenekneipe" might be used like the English "hip joint"), but shifts to clearly derogatory when used for political groups, usually of the more extreme sort ('Naziszene', 'Autonomenszene', 'Islamistenszene'). I'm hypothesizing, but it might be that it started out as a derogatory term and got its connotation transformed by some of the hipper crowds thusly described. Some contexts where it would be natural in German to use "Szene", but where I haven't heard the English expression yet:   * ballroom dancing (Tango, Salsa etc)   * music genres with associated looks / lifestyles (Metal, Punk, Gothic etc.)   * pastimes that form strong communities, like LARPing or various outdoor sports


Overuse of progressive forms

Though not a native speaker I have the impression that some native speakers overuse progressive verb forms. An example I have just read: My cat is gaining too much weight, how often should I be feeding her? I would have said " how often should I feed her". Is my impression correct or has the use of this progessive form a nuance I don't see.


Noun or non-finite subordinate clause?

Consider the following sentence: > The government wants to encourage understanding of science. Now, "to encourage understanding of science" is a non-finite subordinate clause functioning as an object. What about "understanding of science"? Is that also a non-finite clause? Or is "understanding" considered to be a noun? > Learning is an easy process for some. Here, is "learning" a noun or a non-finite subordinate clause functioning as the subject of the whole clause? I'm inclined to say that "understanding" is a noun, whereas "learning" is a non-finite clause. However, I don't know what this intuition is based on.


Difference between "the same....as" and "the same ......that"

> I have the same book as you have. > > I have the same book that you have. In Korea, we learn that _the same...as_ and _the same...that_ have different meanings. Teachers or grammar books say that the first example sentence means the book is not the same one but the same kind of that book or one of the same books in the bookstores, while the second means the book is the very book you have. Swan, however, explains in his book _Practical English Usage_ that there is no difference in meaning between the two cases. Who is correct?


How can I express "bottom" superlative?

Suppose you have some elements (let's say coins) laid out over a table in vertical order. How can I make reference to the coin at the bottom? The lowest coin? The one that is below any other? I just don't know how to say that.


Is it "get" or "gets" in "Nobody move and nobody get(s) hurt"?

Which of these is correct?   * 1.) "Nobody move and nobody **gets** hurt." or should it be,   * 2.) "Nobody move and nobody **get** hurt." Here's some related info in wikipedia.


Meaning of "in your general direction"

I'm not a native English speaker, and I don't understand the meaning of the phrase "in your general direction." I have found its use in the line from _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_ : > I fart in your general direction.


Most of the books explain it + singular or plural

Should the following be singular or plural? > Most of the books explain it in a way **that's** difficult to understand. Since _books_ are plural, shouldn't the part in bold be also plural?


Which is correct: "rack my brain" or "wrack my brain"?

Which is the correct usage: "rack my brain" or "wrack my brain"? Google turned up pages with conflicting recommendations. One argument is that to "rack a brain" comes from the torture device known as a rack. Another is that wrack means damage or destruction or punishment and thus is correct. Since I'm a SE user I'm inclined to immediately discount the second opinion from Yahoo Answers, but the logic seems plausible enough that I wanted to be sure. On a related note, if _rack_ is indeed correct, does the song _Wrack My Brain_ by Ringo Starr simply have an ungrammatical title or is the error intentional?


Use of "in contrast to"

> "It's precisely in contrast to the ordinary that the resurrection stands > out." Could someone explain what the author meant by "in contrast to the ordinary"? Could I replace "in contrast" in this case with "opposite"?


"That's it" versus "That's that"

Example one: > Once they give their money, **that's it** , they don't want to hear it > anymore. > > Once they give their money, **that's that** , they don't want to hear it > anymore. Example two: > Today's lesson will only cover the introduction about the course. And > **That's it** > > Today's lesson will only cover the introduction about the course. And > **That's that** Are the above examples with **_That's that_** correct? I feel that **_That's it_** and **_That's that_** has a little difference in connotation and **_That's it_** has a larger arrays of meaning and can be used in more situations that the other, is that true?


Is there any difference in meaning between "apt to" and "likely to"?

Just as there is a difference in meaning between "likely" and "liable" in terms of a desirable or undesirable outcome, is there any subtle diference between "apt" and "likely" ? > Does the use of "apt to" and "likely to" in the following sentences convey > the same degree of expectation ? > >   * "John is apt to call on us on Wednesday afternoon." >   * "John is likely to call on us on Wednesday afternoon." > >   * My dog is apt to run away if I don't close the gate. > >   * My dog is likely to run away if I don't close the gate. >


Is it possible to regard "vacant" and "vacancy" as allomorphs (variants) of the same root in Modern English?

Am I right to consider /΄veikənt/ and /΄veikəns/ in those words as variants of one and the same root morpheme in Modern English. But it makes me hesitate in my morphemic division if we take for analysis preside - presid-ent - presid- ency (comp. also agent - agency, pregnant - pregnancy and also pirate - piracy, private - privacy, literate - literacy).


"Pretension" vs. "pretentiousness"

Is there a difference between _pretension_ and _pretentiousness_? Merriam- Webster gives the latter as one possible definition of the former. Is one more recent than the other? Is there any reason to use one rather than the other when both seem appropriate?


Which transitive verbs can form notional passives?

Could someone please tell me which transitive verbs can form notional passives? I only know that they are usually formed with intransitive active verbs.


"It’s the height of the season"?

The question is from the transcript of a podcast: > Mmmm, blueberries. _It’s the height of the season_ , and I’ve been tossing a > handful onto cereal, into pancakes or just straight into my mouth. I don't understand what does the sentence "It's the height of the season" mean.   * What does "it" refer to? Does it indicate "blueberries"?   * What does "the height of the season" mean?


Using "life partners" to refer to items

What would you say if you saw the phrase containing "life partners" referring not to people but goods (or any items)? I do realize that this is tricky, but in fact this is the goal. Like yellow press style. For example, > Share your experience with your life partners. to mean "share the experience with the items one uses daily". Is this possible or totally inappropriate?


Mileage as unit-agnostic term

Is it appropriate to use the term **"mileage"** to **refer to distance that is not measured in the literal units of miles?** For example, would you say that a car "has a lot of mileage on it" in a country that measures distance in kilometers? Is there a more unit-neutral term that is better to use universally?


How to find words which are related morphologically?

I'm looking for a book, or any other source, which lists words that are morphologically related, like this:               imagine        verb     imagination    noun     imaginative    adjective      Or this:               medic          noun     medicine       noun     medical        adjective     medicinal      adjective      And also this kind of relationship:               head           noun     ahead          adverb, adjective         Dictionaries will give you only partial information, and in a very inconvenient way. For example, if you look at the definition of _imagination_ , the words _imagine_ and _imaginative_ are not mentioned there, nor any reference to them. I've checked several dictionaries, and you may be lucky with other ones, but I have not found one which lists all the relevant information in a straightforward manner. Etymology dictionary is also not suitable for this task. It doesn't give you all the relevant forms of the word, and it does give historical information which is not relevant here.


Antonym of 'Cascade'

In our company, at the beginning of year, we have what is known as **Goals Cascading**. Essentially, the senior most people in the firm set goals for the entire firm and then the people at the next level set their own goals for their respective divisions which are aligned with the goals of their seniors. This process continues until we reach the level of an individual employee. At the end of year, there is a review process on how well we did on our goals. This basically works the other way round. Individuals' reviews are collated to form teams' reviews which are further collated all the way upwards till there is a review of the entire firm on how well we did to achieve the goals set by us. Now, my question. How do I complete this sentence with a suitable word: > At the beginning of year we have Goals Cascading and at the end of year we > have Review -----------. I can think of words like _collation_ and _assimilation_ except that they don't give an idea of something moving up. Any other ways of writing the same sentence while still using the phrase 'goals cascading' and the word 'review' in it.


A word to describe thing or activity that is usually happens with other people

For example:   * The movie contains violent scenes, (that usually can be seen in) the Tarantino movies.   * He barely know us, but gave us a warm welcome, (that's usually given by) close friends. What word can be used instead of phrases in the brackets? **Update** I've found the word _inherent_ which seems to have meaning close to what I'm looking for. Correct me if I'm wrong. > There are liability issues inherent in undercover journalism.


Correct comma placement in this sentence

> Consider x, when the regulator is set to zero the integrand in x reduces to > y. Is this the correct comma placement? My thinking was "Consider x" is an introductory phrase, so it is OK to place the comma after it.


What is the proper interpretation of these two sentences?

>   * There's little chance of rain.   > >   * There's a slight chance of rain. > Do these two sentences have the same meaning?


What is the antonym of "outgrow"?

It's easy to say that you outgrew your clothes, but what's the word to indicate the opposite? > I lost so much weight that I _ _ _ _ _ my belt!


Which sounds better: “What’s in ――” or “What’s on――”?

I’m making the title of a web page with classifieds, and I’d like to name it either “What’s in ( _town name_ )” or “What’s on ( _town name_ )”. Which one sounds better for a town classified web page? Right now I'm thinking “What’s on ( _town name_ )” sounds more like for events or concert, so I’m thinking of going with “What’s in ( _town name_ )”.


"Gasp" or "Gasp out"?

I don't know, but I think that you can use these verbs optionally, because according to my dictionary, "out" is in brackets. I don't know if there is a slight difference between these 2 verbs. [intransitive, transitive] to have difficulty breathing or speaking gasp (for something) He came to the surface of the water gasping for air. gasp (something) (out) She managed to gasp out her name. Couldn't be "She managed to gasp for her name"?


To Lay A Hit, Blow

Is 'to lay a hit/blow on' someone (as in cheap shot) a slang expression?


Why facebook " like's " instead of " 'like's "

I'm not native english, I'm sorry if this is obvious but I can't find an explanation. Why are facebook "like"s usually referred to as "like's" (you can see many instances here) To use a "word as a word" I would put quotes (if convenient using the apostrophe character in electronic text) around the word and put the plural denoting "s" outside them, and it seems that for any use except facebook "like"s it is done so. By the way it seems the same applies to the "Discours particle" use of like, as @simchona says in the comments and in the @EdwinAshcroft comment in the post Final " 's " without object, ever correct?


Any alternative phrase for "piece of cake"

Are there other phrases to express easiness of the situation like the above mentioned phrase?


the best thing to do is (to) concentrate on

> The best thing to do is to concentrate on something else. I've known in the sentence like that ' _to_ ' should be omitted. So, I wonder if the sentence is grammatical. *The source of the information was some English test prep book. According to it, in case the subjective involves "do" and the verb is "be", the complement should be "infinitive" without 'to'. Well, now I guess it doesn't need to omit 'to', though.


"A majority of those whose family" or "families"

Is "family" both plural and singular? or would I have to say families for the plural form? For example, which of these is the best option:   * "A majority of those whose **_family were_** unaware of their sexuality..."    * "A majority of those whose **_families were_** unaware of their sexuality..."    * "A majority of those whose **_family was_** unaware of their sexuality..." **Edit:** Here are some full sentences to give some context. > Participants whose _famil(ies) were_ aware of their sexuality were > predominantly feminine and identified as gay, homosexual, drag queen, or a > combination of these identities. All those who assumed their _famil(ies)_ > knew about their sexuality were gay identified and a majority identified as > feminine. A majority of those whose _famil(ies) were_ unaware were masculine > and identified as non-gay, straight, down low or did not identify with any > label.


Looking for a classier word to describe a "packet" or "envelope"

At work, we sent a packet (letter-sized envelope filled with letter-sized things) out to a bunch of different people who had reached certain sales goals in our company. They have a bit of pomp about them, so while calling it a 'packet' or 'kit' is accurate, it comes up a bit short in my mind. Looked up synonyms...'sachet' was an interesting idea, but its definition didn't quite seem to fit and it feels a little TOO pretentious :) Any other ideas?


Does the word 'late' comes in a bad sense?

In Chinese culture, early is better than late. When we say something late it's almost always for a unpleasant or unwanted sense. Is it the same in English? Is the word 'late' bad or neutral in connotation? And what about 'later'?


What are monk's holes?

This is the first sentence of The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams. > On this day of days there was an unfamiliar stirring deep inside the dozing > heart of the Hayholt, in the castle's bewildering warren of quite passages > and overgrown, ivy-choked courtyards, in the monk's holes and damp, shadowed > chambers. What are _monk's holes_ in this context?


Use of "in" vs. "with"?

If one has an _interest **in** something_ and a _fascination **with** something_ which one of the next is correct? > I've always had an interest and fascination **in** something or > I've always had an interest and fascination **with** something


What's the difference between 'allow' and 'allow for'?

To be precise, I know that _allow_ means _to permit_ , and _allow for_ is more like _to make something possible, to enable, to make a provision for_ , but I'm still in doubt when I have to decide whether to use the preposition _for_ or not. For example, in the sentence taken from Google Dictionary entry used to explain usage of _allow_ : > They agreed to a ceasefire to allow talks with the government. I'm not sure what I would use in this example — maybe even _allow for_.


"How common are major cities not built by abundant water?"

Is this question grammatically correct? > How common is it that major cities are not built by abundant water? is how a German would translate the original question. It seems to me in English it is more common to use such shortened phrases, while in German there is really no way to leave out subjunctions like _that_ and build a shortened grammatically correct sentence. Is there a name for this shortening in English?


What does "Project is testable" mean?

What does this mean? > Project is testable.


Why do Americans call single beds 'twin beds'?

In America, a bed suitable for a single person (child) to sleep in is known as a 'twin bed', whereas in England it is a 'single bed'. Any ideas on why it is called a twin bed in America?


Quantity for abbreviations of plural terms

I have two questions which I think are so closely related that they should be grouped together. ### Quantity for an abbreviation that stands for a plural _Context_ : The author is trying to explain what open market operations (OMO). The term "open market operation" is meaningless in the context, it is always a group of operations. _Which of the following sentences is grammatically more correct?_ > OMO **refer** to the buying or selling.......... or, > OMO **refers** to the buying or selling......... The second one is what I found in print. But I think it should be the first one. ### Abbreviations that stand for the singular _Do I need to pluralize an abbreviation if it stands for the singular form?_ > 5 kg. **costs** about €10. or, > 5 kg. **cost** about €10. or, > 5 **kgs. cost** about €10. P.S.:- Please do let me know if the context is insufficient for the first one. Does the context even matter in such cases?


What is the origin of "stack" meaning $1000?

I just read this lovely quote from MSN about an ex-girlfriend putting out a hit on her ex-boyfriend: > "I will pay somebody a stack to kill my baby father," Eley wrote in a post > this spring, according to a police affidavit. A "stack" apparently meant $1000 and as her quote didn't qualify the word at all, this was obviously slang she's used before. This is the first time I've heard this. Btw, for your entertainment, here was the response she got to her inquiry: > "Say no more ... what he look like ... where he be at ... need that stack > 1st," Bynum wrote back, police said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44164084/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?ocid=twitter


History of the phrase "olden days"

When and where was the phrase _olden days_ coined?


How did kool-aid come to be the drink of fanboys?

Why does Kool-Aid relate to being something's fanboy/fangirl?


Treatment of Designation and Title in Text

I work at a company that publishes standards. These publications have a designation and a title. For example, the designation might be "Standard 100." The title might be something like "Machines Handbook." Most (but not all) of our publications punctuate the in-text reference as follows: Standard 100, _Machines Handbook_ I was wondering if it is more proper to treat the title as a subtitle and punctuate it as follows, with AP guidelines concerning reference material in mind: Standard 100: Machines Handbook I've been looking at all my online resources, and none seem to take this specific case into account when addressing title punctuation. My ancient copies of Rude's Technical Editing and Reisman's A Style Manual for Technical Writers & Editors are not helpful, either. ISO appears to use the comma/italicized style. It would be nice to hear how professional editors would handle this if they were in charge of setting a standard for style.


Term or expression which best describes a problem that goes away when an expert attempts to diagnose it?

There is a phenomenon which I've seen happen across many circumstances. Generally, it goes something like this:   1. The complainant has a recurring observable problem.   2. The complainant contacts an expert who may be capable of solving that problem.   3. When the complainant attempts to reproduce the problem while the expert is present, the problem is no longer apparent. The expert never witnesses the problem.   4. The problem may or may not occur again after the expert goes away. I'm wondering if there is a term or expression that best describes this phenomenon. I'm also curious if this is the correct forum for such a question, because the answer I'm looking for doesn't necessarily have to be in English. For example, it could be something like _schadenfreude_ , which may or may not have a simple English counterpart (although in that case, Wikipedia suggests the expression _Roman holiday_ ).


What could "cert 4/52" mean in a clinical record?

What could "cert" mean in these clinical record extracts? > Work stressful - cert 1/52. > > Sent him in to Homerton. Cert 4/52 from 12th March, bus driver.


"Dear Professor" vs "Dear Mr": differences between British and American usage

In British English, is it acceptable to address a professor as "Dear Professor X" when writing a formal or informal letter? Does it sound natural? Why I am asking this question: I was looking through the list of differences between the British and American editions of the first _Harry Potter_ book by J.K.Rowling. In the first chapter of both editions, a character named Hagrid keeps addressing Professor Dumbledore as > Professor Dumbledore, sir. However, when Hagrid writes a letter to Dumbledore, the two editions use different forms of addressing: U.K. edition: > Dear Mr Dumbledore U.S. edition: > Dear Professor Dumbledore **Edit:** Everywhere else in the U.K. edition, he is still "Professor Dumbledore". This letter seems to be the only exception. If he normally calls him "Professor", why he would write "Mr" in the letter? Why "Mr" instead of "Professor"? Is "Dear Professor X" inappropriate in the U.K. for some reason? Or it just doesn't sound natural?


Is Wayne's World's (NOT) a modern invention?

Older users of this site may recall the ~~'Bill & Ted'~~ 'Wayne's World' series of movies of the early 1990s. They were mindless but fairly amusing and their eponymous characters spoke in a unique vernacular, part-stoner, part- surfer, part-moronic generation MTVer. One of the features of this sub- language was the use of the word 'Not' _usually written as_ **(NOT)** , a convention which served to negate the content or validity of what had been said previously. E.g.               "I think your wife is very attractive. (NOT)"        or               "I love your new hairstyle. (NOT)"      Does anyone know if this usage is a modern invention or whether there are antecedents in ancient or more recent languages which are similarly employed to, wittily or otherwise, invalidate previous statements spoken? I'm not necessarily looking for usages of 'not' itself, but any similar linguistic devices.


What does "come away" mean here, in reference to a memorial?

Does _come away_ here mean "you come away from home"? From a CNN article: > Robert Henry, a former U.S. appeals judge whose office was across the street > from the federal building, says the memorial tells the story of a community > that pulls together—and a country that does not forget its people. > > "You **_come away_** seeing the greatness of a federal republic at its > best," said Henry, now president of Oklahoma City University. "At the > bombing, we came together."


Why does "for good" mean "forever"?

A very recent and similar question was closed asks what "for good" means. While general reference can answer the question, I became curious as to the etymology of the idiom. Googling around got me nowhere, which is unusual. The closest I found was a thread in wordorigins.org: > **OED**   >  **for good (and all)** : as a valid conclusion; hence, as a final act, > finally. 15.. _Parl. Byrdes Aij_ , Than desyred al the Byrdes great and smal > to mewe the hauke for good and all. **1603** in _Crt. & Times Jas. I_ (1849) > I. 25 D’Auval.. is gone for good and all. **1687** CONGREVE _Old Bach._ I. > i, Ay, you may take him for good-and-all if you will. **1711** SWIFT _Jrnl._ > to _Stella_ 4 July, This day I left Chelsea for good, (that’s a genteel > phrase). a **1732** T. BOSTON _Crook in Lot_ (1805) 37 He was obliged for > good and all to leave his country. **1850** J. H. NEWMAN _Diffic. Anglic._ > 324 Throw off, for good and all, the illusions of your intellect. **1882** > W. E. FORSTER _Let. To Gladstone_ 10 Apr. in T. W. Reid _Life_ (1888) II. > viii. 421 This morning we released Parnell—not for good, but on parole. However, this only traces some historical usages, and suggests that _for good and all_ used to be a more popular version of the current idiom. Is there anything more substantial? Why did "for good" come to mean "forever"?


Semantics of "This is for good"

What is the meaning of "This is for good"? Does it mean this is final, this is so for a good reason or maybe this is good like it is? I couldn't find a good reference for it.


How to write/say the opposite of 100+?

Example: > "I probably sent out, 100+ emails today." > > 100+ > > one-hundred-plus (?) How would you say or write the opposite? > "Because your paper's rating is -100- you are now required to gain outside > approval before we will consider publishing your paper." > > -100- (?) > > negative-one-hundred-minus (?) I am looking for a smooth flowing and less verbose way to say "negative-one- hundred-minus" and a short hand way to write -100-. I understand that I could word the sentence differently to say "less than negative one hundred or write <-100 but I wan to see what other ways this can be expressed.


Idiomatic idiosyncracies

On the TV show NCIS, Ziva often makes humorous mistakes using idiomatic expressions (English is not her first language - she is Israeli). I would expect the most common way a non-native speaker would make mistakes in an idiom is related to meaning - either saying the underlying meaning outright (translating the translated meaning back to English from their native language), or substituting synonyms for words in the correct idiom (if they do not remember it exactly). Examples I would expect are: > Pitch a fit becoming either > Complain childishly > > Pitch a tantrum However, she substitutes words that sound like the appropriate word, but mean something entirely different, such as the following two: > Does a bear _sit_ in the woods? > > American idioms drive me up the _hall_! Are these common errors likely to be made by a non-native speaker, or are they just used in the show for comedic effect? I'd like to hear from non-native speakers who may have had trouble with English idioms (not necessarily American). Did you make these same kind of mistakes, or is it uncommon to do so?


What does "high" add to the meaning of this sentence of Tagore's poem?

> Do not seat your love upon a precipice   >  because it is high. What is the meaning of the word _high_ in this sentence?


What is the most common pronunciation of "Sandra" in British English?

When I meet someone called "Sandra" I never know whether to pronounce their name "Sand-ra" or "Sahn-dra". I'm guessing it used to be "Sahn-dra" but with the influence of Sandra Bullock more people now seem to say "Sand-ra". I think this is especially so in Australia where, in NSW at least, they say "dance" not "dahnce". Here in New Zealand I'm not so sure.


Word meaning not knowing when to stop

Is there a word that means "not knowing when to stop"? I haven't been able to think of one as of yet.


Is vomit an excretion?

According to Merriam-Webster and other places, "excretion" is defined as waste products that are eliminated from the body (urine, sweat, CO2). Vomit is also leaving the body, but like bleeding, the process may not be voluntary/intentional and the "excreted" product isn't actually waste. Should vomit count as excretion, or is there a better word describing "things that leave the body, intended or not"?


Is there a term for discrimination without negative connotation?

The word "discrimination" carries in itself a negative connotation, implying that it would be unfair or unethical. There are however, cases where "discrimination" would be justified and no one in their right mind would find the situation unfair. I'm not talking about lack of qualification (If I'm hiring a driver and I refuse someone for not having a drivers license, it's not discrimination), but about cases where the decision is made solely on ethnicity, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or similar attributes, and could indeed be discriminative in a different context. For example, in a movie about Napoleon the lead actor cannot be black, or a woman, etc. because he has to look similar to Napoleon. For a religious institution, or an organization of people of a certain political, ideological or social affiliation etc. it is also not unexpected to employ only people who belong to their group. I cannot become a rabbi if I'm not Jewish, and cannot become a Catholic priest without being Catholic. There are other similar cases where attributes which should not be considered a factor for an average job (like a factory worker) can be a factor and it's not unethical or unjust to discriminate in its case.


What does "pedigree" mean in this context?

_"He constantly punishes himself psychologically. In his eyes **he is inferior in pedigree** to those very confident college graduates against whom he competes."_ The context on the story is the person who the book is talking about is from a poor family and when he grew up he tried to keep up with the rich college graduates by working hard, making big income, and buying expensive things like a $5000 watche. I don't understand meaning of pedigree in this context.


"It doesn't always X" vs "It always doesn't X"

When I read these two sentences out loud, I feel that they express very different things.                1. Job interviews don't always go well.      2. Job interviews always don't go well.      At least to me, 1) implies that job interviews often don't go well, but there may be some that go well, and 2) is literally what it says, i.e. job interviews never go well. I believe I am correct as the "I don't always" meme also seems to imply the same concept. Am I correct?


Which Language does the word Galore come from?

I would think that it comes from "glorious". So galore is suggesting that one is surrounded by gloriousness, or is experiencing lots of gloriousness. Is this correct? I ask because I suggested it today and was told "it can't be". I suppose what I'm really asking is whether or not "galore" has anything to do with "glorious".


When should the subject agree with the object of the preposition?

Quite often while I'm looking through research articles, I see sentences that start like this one: > The tensile strengths of the composites changed... I generally change _strengths_ to _strength_ in this case. My thinking is that because "strength" refers to a singular property, rather than multiple different types of tensile strength, I should change it. However, there is a strength associated with each of the composites tested. Are there any rules that say I _shouldn't_ change the plurality of the subject when it would disagree with the plurality of the object of the prepositional phrase attached to the subject?


What does the term "nonrecourse deduction" mean?

What does the term: _nonrecourse deduction(s)_ mean? In legal documents I have seen the term _nonrecourse deduction(s)_ used as it pertains to taxation and other economic factors. It is not clear to me from the context what the term is meant to convey. For instance, from a Founders Agreement found on docracy: > _The Company will allocate any item of nonrecourse deduction to the Founders > equally; provided, that any Founder’s partner nonrecourse deductions for any > fiscal year or other period will be specially allocated to the Founder who > bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the nonrecourse debt to > which such partner nonrecourse deductions are attributable._ [...]


Adjective/adverb for "taboo"

I'm looking for a word or phrase that means something along the lines of "the exhilaration of taboo". Here's the context for what I'm looking for: "It was strange and _[blank]_ to walk around and see everyone's age so blatantly public."


What are the words for the two parts of a round trip?

Are there two single words to differentiate the two parts of a round trip? If a single word does not exists, what is the shortest yet currently used locution?


More formal way of saying: "Sorry to bug you again about this, but ..."

I was wondering if there was a more formal and polite way of saying: > Sorry to bug you again about this, but we still have not received a response > about X .... (if we still have **not received any assistance** with X) or > Sorry to bug you again about this, but we are still having problems with X > and .... (if we have **already** received **some** assistance with X) I would like to use examples of the two sentences above in an email directed to an organization, but I would like to avoid using "you" or "bug", if possible. For more context, this is part of an email where we are requesting this organization to fix a service that they provide to us. **Addendum:** To clarify, I'm interested in both cases when we directly pay for the service requested and when we don't.


Are "rhyme" and "rhythmic" related words?

When I look at these words, it seems that they should have something in common. The concept behind both is also related. They both denote the concept of patterns of sound. Are they related morphologically, etymologically, or in any way?


How can I use "insight"?

I want to express that after a certain experience I have some new insights. Does an insight come "into mind", or do you "gain/develop" insight? How is this best phrased?


Terms for "half a decade"

Is "lustrum" (pl. lustra) an understandable (say, at least in academic publications) or valid/common term for a five year span, e.g. to use in a table summarizing data where space can be very valuable? In other words:   * Is "lustrum" archaic?   * Is "pentad" an alternative?


When was the word "scroll" first used as a verb?

We all know that a scroll is a roll of parchment used in ancient times. A scroll can be **rolled** up or down, and that must have been the metaphor the creator of the computer-term "scroll" had in mind. But in English, is it acceptable to say you can **scroll** (verb) a scroll (noun) up and down? As far as I know it should be " **roll** up/down" in this context, so how is it that we use "scroll" as a verb in computer terminology? When was the word "scroll" first used as a verb, and how is it that we don't rather use the appropriate scroll-metaphor (the object), which would be to **roll** the page up and down?


An Epithet of the River Styx

I have a question that falls under literature, but I remember that Dante, Greek mythology, and Milton were required reading in my English courses in high school and university. It's about an epithet that was, I think, made popular only by the book series _Percy Jackson and the Olympians_ by Rick Riordan. In the series, the River Styx has been described and portrayed as the " _River of Lost Dreams and Hopes_." This, it would seem, has been picked up and applied by some people on the Net. But I can't find any other case when the Styx was previously described as such. Of course I imagine the Styx must be a very barren and desolate place but, still, I would like to check if there are any other lines from perhaps Dante or another writer that could've inspired such a title. Or is it one writer's completely fresh and unique version, an employment of his artistic license?


What does it mean to "beat one's breast"?

I'm reading The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and was wondering what was meant by the action of beating one's breast. eg. > The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast,   >  For he heard the loud bassoon. and > The Wedding-Guest he beat his breast,   >  Yet he cannot chuse but hear; I assume it's some expression of frustration/distraction/impatience. What does it mean precisely?


Difference between "each" and "every"

What is the difference between the following two sentences? > **Each** apple is red. > > **Every** apple is red.


Where should the period be put when an entire sentence is quoted at the end of a sentence?

As in the following: > A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” > A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no moss”. > A common proverb is: “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”. If the proverb weren't a full sentence, I would immediately put a single period after the quote, at the very end. But if it is a sentence, which period should be removed so that there is only one period? Two periods look absolutely dorky.


Imroving my message

I am Mexican and my English is good, but there is a chance to make a mistake. I am gonna leave city after living here for 20 years and moving to new city. I have made many friends an memories right here. So need to write a good and heart touching email to them. Please improve my message for any errors or anything. Make it a good one. Message: > Hey Guys, here i have to announce something that might be the most heart > breaking message. It's a time to say goodbye to 'CITY NAME', a goodbye to > you all, a goodbye to all memories that i created here. I got and lost many > things here. I know most of the people doesn't find it hard to move from one > city to another. It's common but for me it was the most tough step to take. > I lost my beloved grandfather here. Please experts help me in improving it. It doesn't sound so correct and deep. I need to write a memorable and good message. a touching one. Help please. This i all i could.


What metaphor or phrase can describe an object that is aesthetically pleasing yet totally useless?

Is there a conventional metaphor or phrase that just hits this meaning:good- looking yet useless?


A better alternative for the word 'urine'

I am writing a religious article that's related to urine. Since it will be on a religious website, I don't want this word 'URINE' to be in its heading. Please suggest a good word.


"Scotch for 'a local beak'"

It's said in the movie, _The 39 Steps_. What does _Scotch_ mean in this case? > "He's our Sheriff Substitute. Scotch for 'a local beak'."


Does your name belong to you?

I'm having trouble deciding whether the word 'name' can be used possessively. Currently I'm thinking it's correct to say: > **Patients' names** have been altered to provide anonymity However it just doesn't look right to me. Is the above correct for a group of patients or would any of the following be better: >   * **Patients names** have been altered to provide anonymity >   * **Patient names** have been altered to provide anonymity >


Different prononunciations of "consummate"

How can one remember the pronunciations of consummate, which depend on its state as a verb or adjective? I venture that because its verbal definition involves intercourse, thus the "mate" rhymes with the single noun mate. But is this right? Moreover, what's the rationale or reasoning behind the differences?


Meaning of "extenuate": "extenuated the difficulties"

The definition of **extenuate** as a verb is: > to cause a wrong act to be judged less seriously by giving reasons for it: Yet I don't apprehend its meaning herein. Would someone please explain? What's the "wrong act"? > Less than four years after the demise of the 1898 reform movement, Liang > published an editorial in his journal, Hsin-min ts’r"mg-pao (The New People > Magazine), which argued vigorously for the necessity of p’o-huai, or > destruction.“ Sick of double-talk, he declared that any scholar of resolve > (chih-shih) must absolutely refuse to condone the corruptions of the > time—corruptions which would soon destroy the entire system. Moreover, those > who refused to recognize that “destruc- tion in the end cannot be avoided” > simply **extenuated** the diﬂiculties of the present, for history proved > that human progress was impossible with- out destruction. England could not > have reached her current great power status without the civil war of the > seventeenth century, which cleared away feudal debris; the United States of > America owed its Source: P150 at http://books.google.com/books?id=ORMNHQGDuBgC&pg=PA150&dq=%22extenuated+the%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=pVabU_KNN83fkgX5i4DQCQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22extenuated%20the%22&f=false


Is there a way to praise the action rather than the intelligence or strength?

Considering: http://parenting.stackexchange.com/a/11556/2221 > Kids who are constantly told, "You are so beautiful" can actually become > overly worried when their looks change and become overly critical of > themselves. > > Kids that are constantly told, "Wow you are so smart" can often find > themselves fearful of letting the whole world see they aren't smart by > answering something with a "wrong" answer. They then won't try things for > fear of failure. > > Kids who have their physical attributes (such as strength, speed, > coordination) commented on frequently, "Wow you are so strong, that is > amazing" can have similar responses too - they stop trying athletic > activities out of concern they won't be the best at whatever it is. > > Kids that get used to constant compliments also start to take the absence of > a compliment as a failure. Which puts you in a position where just because > you didn't notice your child picked up two toys without a reminder, you are > sending a "bad" message by not commenting on this good act. > > This means that instead of giving compliments, your default should be to > talk to the child about what they think. In a small child, that might be > something like, "wow, it looks like wearing that dress makes you feel really > good." or, "How did throwing the ball that far make you feel?" Of course, > mixing in an actual compliment here and there won't hurt, just be careful > not to overdo it. The infant is 1 year old. _When I tell her "Give me the ball", she looks for the ball, picks it up and gives it to me.   When I tell her "Pull baba's hair", she looks for her father and pulls his hair.   When I tell her "Where is the fan?", she points at the roof.   When I tell her "Where is the pigeon?", she goes to the balcony to find them._ **_Now, I do NOT want to praise her intelligence.   What is the one-word for praising the above mentioned acts?_**


Hyphenate 'part-time' / 'full-time' as an adverb?

Would we hyphenate 'part-time' / 'full-time' as an adverb? _1\. Joe worked part-time as a waiter and full-time as a computer programmer._ (Can we omit the hyphens in these adverbial uses?) _2\. Mike said, "Joe is part-time."_ (Meaning Joe is a part-time associate. Should we keep the hyphen in this construction?) _3\. Joe is a part-timer._ (Meaning that Joe is an associate who works part time. Should we keep the hyphen in "part-timer"?)


What is the opposite of "free," as in "gluten-free/free of gluten"?

I am looking for a one-word antonym for "free" in the context of "a lack of something." For example: "pain-free/free of pain," "error-free/free of errors," "gluten-free/free of gluten"? To say "full" isn't quite right. If a forty-page text contains 1-2 typos, it is not "error-free," but it is also not "full of errors." What about "gluten"? If a pizza isn't "gluten-free," what is it? Gluten-full? Gluten-regular?


Is single usage of "personality" in "Multiple Personality" jargon or correct English?

Should not the "personality" have been pluralized in "Multiple Personality Disorder"? Is the single usage of "personality" with prepending "multiple" a professional jargon or it is the correct English usage?


What is a "Thank you" (categorisation of)

Could someone advise me please what kind of word/phrase is "thank you" or a "thank you" if you prefer. For example in this sample letter what sort of phrase is "thank you"? > Dear Sir, > > What price are your bacon bits by the kilogram bag please? > > Thank you for your time in this matter. > > yours sincerely,   >  Curly   >  CEO Proper Pork "Building a future for pork!" Further, is it a signature, greeting or tagline? NB: Wasn't sure how to tag this, any edits for this appreciated.


Why do people say "Happy" Halloween?

Shouldn't it be "horror filled halloween" or "spooky halloween"? It fits the purpose of the day. Why "happy"? By the way "Happy Halloween everybody!"


Is "what happened is" correct?

Let me provide one example from a local news: > "Essentially **what happened is** the state approved the same dollar amount > it did last year for the supplemental general fund" My thinking is, the above, as well generally, is incorrect b/c of the verb- agreement rules - and "what happened **was** " would be [more] correct, context depended obviously. However, based in somewhat equal google hits and in speech, I see a prevalent use of "what happened is..." Please explain when it is correct and when it is NOT.


Is it appropriate to use the salutation "Dear All" in a work email?

I have observed that in my work place, whenever a mail is sent to more that one person( like an information, meeting request or a notice etc.), the mail starts with the salutation "Dear All". This, somehow, doesn't seem correct to me. For me, a salutation should address the reader individually, at least in its singular form, as in "Dear Colleagues". Am I correct in thinking that?


How do you greet multiple recipients in an e-mail? Assuming they're both male, I just use "Sirs", but it seems a bit informal.


What is the name of this line in a letter . e.g we have subject etc?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it appropriate to use the salutation "Dear All" in a work email? > Dear Mr.Dandy Rabbit, <\----------------- What is the name of this line > > I hereby wish to advise that we are out of carrots . > > ................ What is the name of this line in a letter . e.g we have subject etc .


Greeting for Correspondence to Multiple People

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How do you greet multiple recipients in an e-mail? I'm sending an email to four people at a client, all in different roles / departments and of varying genders ( _Dear Sirs_ is out and probably not preferable to begin with). What greetings would be suitable?


Using 'Good Morning' in e-mails, fora etc

Good Morning English experts! I'm confused about using the salutations such as above. I know 'Good Morning' should be used before noon, and then 'Good Afternoon', and 'Good Day' is considered obsolete, but what more formal greeting to use in e-mails? 'Hi' is commonly accepted in not fully-formal e-mails, but when I write e-mail to help support, I don't think that 'Hi Help Support' is appropriate. 'Dear Help Support' sounds strange for me (Dear Human Being Which Name I Don't Even Know). I'd like to use something like 'Good Morning' but... Well, I usually write e-mails at the evening so I could use 'Good Evening', but I don't know when the mail would be read. Probably early morning, but I can't be sure. So, what of 'Good Something' greeting forms is the most acceptable in such e-mails? Or there's some similar alternative.


Work-safe (but not too formal) salutation to start an e-mail to address a group of people

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How do you greet multiple recipients in an e-mail? "Dear All" is what I see the most or "Hi guys", but I don't like these terms. They don't seem slick enough, to me. Anyone has other suggestions?


What does ")))" mean at the end of a sentence?

Someone I know keeps ending their chat messages with `)))`: > A: Except if you're not good at jokes > > B: Then you can still copy jokes from others.))) I assume that this isn't some newfangled emoticon gone wrong. What is its purpose?


"Adaption" vs "adaptation"

I'm writing a formal paper and have a section about the process of adapting a model to a new situation. Should I title the section _model adaption_ or _model adaptation_? I'm rather confused by the difference between the two words. I am inclined to use _adaption_ but I don't know why.


What word is properly used to mean "rejecting" a phone call?

Is there a standard word that means some one has rejected a phone call? I have been saying it this way: _She has rejected the call._ Is there a more appropriate word to use instead of _rejected_ in the above sentence?


"This should be done immediately the last day of that member of staff." Correct?

This was pointed out as ungrammatical in a process document. Its clumsy, but is it ungrammatical? It is the use of immediately unmediated by something like 'after' which is at issue.


What is the output document of a proofreader?

After a proofreader has compared a typeset manuscript with the original, and highlighted any discrepancies, what is the resultant document called? Is there a special term for a proofread document (especially one covered with proofreaders' marks)?


"Less" vs. "fewer"

I've just received a memo which says (effectively) > As more people leave, there will be less people available. I want that word to be _fewer._ Are there guidelines for which word ought to be used when?


Less versus fewer in time related phrases

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "Less" vs. "fewer" I am quite pedantic when using 'less' versus 'fewer' but don't really understand how the situation works when it comes to temporal phrases. For example 'you must complete the task in less than thirty minutes'. Minutes are countable so on that basis it should be fewer but they are also dividable, you might complete it in twenty and a half minutes so 'less' seems more suitable and sounds better to my ear. Any thoughts on which is 'correct'? I have searched the archive but can't find this specific question. If you are going to close the question as a duplicate please give me a pointer to the original version and let me know how you found it.


"Fewer resources" or "less resources"?

I was writing a document in Microsoft Word, and it flagged "less resources" as being ungrammatical and suggested "fewer resources". I did some research, and it appears that "fewer resources" seems to be used more often, and one commenter on another English usage site said this was correct. But this seems odd to me. I try to be diligent about using "fewer" with countable nouns; a phrase like "The software has less bugs than it did last week" just grates on me. But even though "resources" is a plural and thus looks like a countable noun, it doesn't seem as though it should be, logically. If I were to write a business analysis that said "Plan A requires fewer resources than Plan B", would that mean that, say, Plan A would require only 15 resources while Plan B might require 17? This doesn't make sense. But is it possible for a noun such as this to be considered countable, grammatically, even though it makes no sense to use it with an actual count?


Is it '20 items or less' and 'less than 20 percent of the voters'?

Is 'less' preferred in constructions like '12 items or less' (at the supermarket checkout) and 'an essay of 250 words or less'. And would it be: 'fewer than 20 percent of the voters' or 'less than 20 percent of the voters'? Thank you.


Why do we say "less" instead of "fewer" when comparing against a number?

We say _less_ cheese (a non-countable noun) and _fewer_ sausages (a countable noun). The difference between less and fewer is whether the noun is "countable". What I don't understand is why we say " _less_ than 9 sausages" (a countable noun compared to a number). As far as I can tell, you use "less" if the noun is unspecific (non-countable), "fewer" if it's fairly specific (countable) but "less" if it's very specific (countable and compared to a number). Can anyone tell me why increasing the specificity of the phrase changes the word from "less", to "fewer", then back to "less" again?


"See less events" or "see fewer events"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "Less" vs. "fewer" I'm placing a button on a website and need to know which is the proper way to write this out: _see less events_ or _see fewer events_? I'm leaning toward _fewer_ but would like confirmation.


Which is more correct "fewer than hundred people" or "less than hundred people"?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When is "less" appropriate vs. "fewer"? Which is more correct " **fewer than hundred people** " or " **less than hundred people** "? According to my grammar book, "few' is used for number where as "less" is used to imply quantity,so I think " **fewer than hundred people** " is more correct but Google ngrams speaks otherwise. Which is more correct?


I am concerned/worried that

"I am concerned/worried that I am losing weight." Could anybody analyze the function and meaning of the word "that" here in the above sentence? It seems to me that it has the meaning of "because" or "as".


'as of' in ‘Excusal as of right’

I tried to reference this, but this doesn`t comport with the context, from P151, How the Law Works, Gary Slapper. I'd guess that **as of = by** , but please explain or refute? > ‘Excusal **as of** right’ meant that certain classes of people, including > MPs and doctors, could be excused from service without the need to refer to > any particular reason.


What is the meaning of "get a hold of"

What does "I'm trying to get a hold of Mrs Who?" mean?


Difference between using a "-" and a "," in a sentence

I have noticed that some native english speakers use the "-" sign to explain some additional things in a sentence: eg > Sophie is going to the shop - which happened to be around the corner - to > buy some groceries. Before knowing this notation I would write the same sentence as follows: > Sophie is going to the shop, which happened to be around the corner, to buy > some groceries. To me the "-"-sign seems much clearer than a comma. Am I using the "-" correctly. If so what is the difference between a "," and a "-".


What is the noun form of "erratic"?

_Erratic_ doesn't have a meaning related to _error_. It means eccentric, or unsteady instead. _Error_ has its adjective form as _erroneous_ and _errant_. So what is the noun of _erratic_?


"Or", or "to put it otherwise", which one is better in this paragraph?

> As Benvensite wrote, the linguistic structure of Greek created the > predisposition for the notion “to be” to have a philosophical vocation. **To > put it otherwise** , as I said, to assert solemnly, as Parmenides does, that > there’re things means admitting that there is what is being, or, more > generally, by being, it is. (By Being, It Is, by Nestor Luis Cordero) I want to know whether “or” could be put in place of “to put it otherwise” to make the sentence more concise?


Meaning of an English sentence on a Punjabi painting

> With the dawn sparrow's tweet, as bogged in woes I trun and churn. This sentence is written below a painting at my friend's house. The painting is Punjabi and depicts a woman using a machine to make butter or yogurt (not exactly sure which). I know the meaning of the words (though I'm not sure about "trun"), but I don't know what the sentence means, especially the latter part. I'm guessing the first part of the sentence basically means "in the early morning".


Adverb position problems

I am confused about adverbs that can be placed in front of the verb as in: > He quickly reads a book. And can be used at the end of the sentence as in: > He works hardly Can I mix them as: > He really works hardly


I can't not be pregnant

This is a quote from a Gwyneth Paltrow interview where she talks about her miscarriage: > "It was awful," she told the Daily Mail's You magazine. "It happened really > late, and I wasn't expecting it at all. > > "For a long time I just couldn't understand that it had happened and why. I > was like 'But I can't not be pregnant. I'm already past the first trimester, > and I have three car seats in my head.' To this day I feel like I'm missing > that kid. But it wasn't meant to be and you have to trust the universe. " What does she mean by saying "I can't not be pregnant?" Is this "can't not" construction a grammatical and common usage?


Value on the scale of Virtue

How can I say "the value some action has by having or not having the quality of virtue"? I want to say "virtual value" but that sounds like the value is not real. How else can I phrase this?


How to choose between British and American English for technical documents

I'm not a native English speaker. I'm Italian and I'm doing my thesis in the Netherlands. I have to write technical documents for non-native English speakers, so I didn't receive any advice for choosing which one dialect (British or American) to use, as long as I stay consistent. My concern comes from the fact that, while British is the original form, American is more related to my field of interest (electronics) and, I would say, more related to the spread of English as universal language. Is there any reason because I should use one over the other? My audience is not well specified because the document is meant to be conserved, but most likely European people, not necessarily Dutch.


Keen in or keen

I am interested to know the usage of the word keen in a phrase. Do we use the word in or on after the word keen in a sentence? For example, keen on advertising.


difference between "be free" and "get free"?

What is the difference between the two? And if I want to meet a friend what would I say "I'll be free soon " or "I'll get free soon "


"both (of the) versions are correct"

>   * Both of the versions are correct. >   * Both versions are correct. > Are both of these correct? If only one, is it the latter?


"Give someone trouble" — what does it mean?

I saw the usage in a translated novel, in which a boy's parents died in an earthquake, and as soon as he knew that both his parents were dead, the boy's immediate reaction was that now he was free and "nobody would give him trouble any more". What does it imply? Does it mean that no one could ever find fault with things that he does? or that the boy was glad he would never get punished or told off by his parents?


Is there a word for a combination of utopia and dystopia?

There are a number of works that depict an ostensibly utopian society which has elements of or is arguably a dystopia (such as Orwell's _Brave New World_ or what _Nineteen Eighty-Four_ 's Airstrip One alleges itself to be). Is there a term for this?


What does "occasional bowel movement" mean?

I am reading a new comics book about Geralt of Rivia and there is a phrase in the dialog about his horse: > Some food, room to run and the occasional bowel movement, that's all she > really needs. What does _occasional bowel movement_ mean? I found the meaning of "regular bowel movement" and "loose bowel movement", but I still can't get the meaning of the phrase.


What's the low back support part of a chair called?

What is that hooked part of an office chair called, which is used to support the lower back?


Mailshot or Newsletter?

I'm developing a web based application that allows people to send email to many customers, for advertisement purposes. What's the correct name for that? **newsletter** or **mailshot**? **EDIT** : to avoid unnecessary answers like "spam" please note that customers subscribe to the service first.


What is the opposite of "idiomatic", as in idiomatic code?

What is the opposite of "idiomatic", other than _not_ idiomatic? Is there a concise way of expressing this concept or describing such a code?


What does "Are you sometimes swinging about the U.S?" mean?

In a conversation with a U.S colleague, he asked me if I'm sometimes swinging about the U.S (exact quote is in the title). What is the meaning of swinging in this context ?


What's the meaning of "The purpose of life is life of purpose"?

> The purpose of life is life of purpose. I think it is a contradictory statement. I read it somewhere and was confused. It's very difficult to understand its meaning .


What kind of figurative language is this phrase?

What figurative language is this phrase? Is it an idiom or personification? Or something else? I have tried to figure it out but I can't. "to drive the idea out of my mind"


"The ^ character indicates... " or "The character ^ indicates... "

Which one is correct? > The ^ character indicates the beginning of the string. or > The character ^ indicates the beginning of the string. Or both? I ask because in my native language (Croatian) the first form is incorrect and the second form should be used. So:   * "the console Wii" and not "the Wii console"   * "the chocolate bar Snickers" and not "the Snickers chocolate bar"   * "the mobile network Verizon" and not "the Verizon mobile network"   * "the computers Apple" and not "the Apple computers" I was wondering if there is a similar restriction in the English language...


What is a good idiom for deceptive smile?

Is there a good idiom that implies fake happiness in the same way 'crocodile tears' imply fake sadness?


Word that means "obsession with publishing"

I once heard a word, derived from Latin or Greek elements, construed to describe a person who has an obsession with being published. What word might that have been? For example, what would you call some who has an inexplicable need to blog?


How do you say "hasn't been much activity" using "to go on"?

"In the ensuing few months there hasn’t been much to go on in terms of new hints of what it might look like." I read this sentence in an online article and interpreted it as "there hasn't been much activity regarding xyz" but shouldn't it have been written as "hasn't been much gone on" instead? Although I admit, that sounds weird - what is the correct grammar of "to go on" ?


Should I Use “These” Books or “Those” Books

>   1. On this site there are links to books that I read. I recommend > **these/those** books. >   2. Below on this page there are links to books that I read. I recommend > **these/those** books. > Should I use **these** or **those**? EDIT: I replaced “lists” with “links”. NOTE: Each link redirects the visitor to another site.


Confused about When to Use “these” and “those”

Example #1 > This site contains links to books that I read. I recommend **these/those** > books. _NOTE: The links are on this site, but not on this page. The links are **external links**._ Should I use **these** or **those**? Why? * * * Example #2 > This page contains links to books that I read. I recommend **these/those** > books. _NOTE: The links are on this page, but you might have to scroll down a little to find them. The links are **external links**._ Should I use **these** or **those**? Why? * * * Example #3 > I read “Book Name + Link”, “Book Name + Link”, and “Book Name + Link”. I > recommend **these/those** books. _NOTE: The links are **external links**._ Should I use **these** or **those**? Why? * * * NOTE: This question and this question doesn’t help me.


Word that can be used instead of frowned upon?

Im writing an english paper about the impact on students who fail standardized tests and I'm trying to say that failing or being labeled as remedial is "frowned upon" in society, but i don't want to use "frowned upon". help!


In what contexts would one use the slang word "minging" in British English?

I was watching a Youtube video on English accents, and in the middle of a Yorkshire one, I think, the author of the video used the word "minging", in what seemed to be an insult. So I have two questions: What's the definition of the word, and does it have any preferred phrases or contexts its used in? I'm looking for more the connotative elements that dictionaries aren't really good at giving.


To goose takership

What does "to goose takership" mean? I can't seem to find any hints of that through mere googling. Even "takership" on its own is unclear to me. Sample context: > I wouldn't read much into the fact that the new product is winking at us to > proceed as they [the company proposing the new product] are simply trying to > goose takership and would love to have us join the affiliate marketing > program in any guise.


The use of the word "void" in Romans 3:31?

This seems to be a question that only lawyers could answer but why would footnotes pertaining to the words "make void" in this passage of Romans be understood as nullify? * * * > Romans 3:31, King James Bible "Authorized Version", Cambridge Edition   >  _Do we then **make void** the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we > establish the law._


Am I using the semicolon correctly in this example?

> When school is over and got nothing to do; wouldn't it be better if you > could do something with your friends or family?


Is it "5–6 weeks are a lot of time" or "5–6 weeks is a lot of time"?

I was just copyediting somebody's answer on another SE site and my native English speaker Sprachgefühl told me I had to correct the grammar of one sentence: > ... 5–6 weeks **are** a lot of time ... by changing the **_are_** to **_is_**. But as I was doing so I started wondering why is it that in this case it seems that I have to make the verb _disagree_ with the plural subject? So is my feeling for English going bad or if I did the right thing, how could I explain this to somebody who's learning English for instance?


Verb agreement with nouns modified by numbers

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it "5-6 weeks are a lot of time" or "5-6 weeks is a lot of time"? I am writing about a baseball player who has 33 at-bats in his career. Which is correct: > Yes, 33 career at-bats qualifies/qualify as a small sample size. My guess is that it should be qualify because at-bats is the subject, but it sounds odd.


Two questions are what I wanted to ask

1. In sentences like "Two questions are what I wanted to ask", should I treat the subject, "Two questions", as singular or plural?  It seems more natural to treat it as plural. But when I reverse the subjects I'll need to use the singular form instead : "What I wanted to ask **is** two questions" and this doesn't look very natural.   2. Does the same apply to chronological sentences like "5 months is/are what I have left to finish this project of mine"?


preposition used with “autonomous”:  “of ” vs “from”

Two related questions here:   1. Is it proper to use the construct, “Administrative components are autonomous **of/from** the front-end components”?   2. If it is proper, which of these two prepositions works better?


Does "Perfect Storm" have a positive meaning?

English is not my mother tongue. I've read an article with these sentences. I have no idea if the phrase "perfect storm" is supposed to be positive or negative. > “Social gaming is sitting on perfect storm,” add Relan, “And the storm > revolves around three basic areas-mobile, internaional[ _sic_ ] and > Facebook.” TechCruch


How to write dollar amounts in a narrative

What's the best way to write dollar amounts in a narrative (such as a novel), particularly if the amounts are large and/or fractional? I would use this: > "The national debt just hit **14.6 trillion dollars** ," said Jack, "yet you > complain about my **$2 million** fee and **$5,000** airline tickets?" Are there better ways to write this? Specifically:   * What is a rule of thumb for spelling out amounts vs. keeping is as a number?    * If I spell out _dollars_ once, do I need to keep spelling it out within the same context?


Correct place of period

Consider following that is followed by a parenthetical sentence. Which one is correct according to punctuation rules?   1. Xxx yyy zzz. (Aaa bbb ccc.)   2. Xxx yyy zzz (Aaa bbb ccc.).


Where to put the periods: full parenthetical sentence at end of sentence?

I already know where to put the period when there is a note in parentheses at the end of a sentence. However, I would like to know what to do in the case where there is a full sentence, or multiple sentences, inside the parentheses contained at the end of a sentence. For example: `This is a sentence (I am also a sentence. This is yet another sentence.).` Note the `.).` at the end. Is this correct?


Which is correct: "is solved" or "has been solved"?

In a technical environment, what is the most suitable sentence to use when answering to someone about a problem that they had and we solved it for them:   1. The problem is solved   2. The problem has been solved


Origins of “Turnkey”

What is the origin of the word and how did it come to mean "complete and ready to be used immediately"?


What to say to someone who is going to eat

In French "Bon appetit", in German "Guten Appetit" or "Mahlzeit", I also know it exists in Arabic and Japanese. As expatriate speaking English daily, I often get confused when I want to say that to my roommates and I end up saying "Enjoy your meal" or "Have a nice meal" which sounds weird to me. Is there anything else one can say?


Something that can not be undone or undo

A word for something that can't be undone or undo ?


What does "dish" really mean? Does it refer to a serving of food or a plate?

Koreans will often say: "I had barbecue for lunch, with side dishes" A Canadian English teacher says, 'You cannot say "I had barbecue for lunch with side dishes." I would be thinking that you ate the plates.' What about this question: "What is your favorite Korean dish?" Is it correct?


Colon advice for introducing horizontal list in scientific abstract

I'm writing a scientific article abstract. My first sentence reads: > Knowing the detachment energy of single particles from liquid-liquid > interfaces is important in the design of soft materials: emulsions > stabilised by colloidal particles, colloidosomes designed for targeted drug > delivery, or bio-sensors composed of magnetic particles at liquid-liquid > interfaces. I'm not sure it sounds quite right, should I do something like this instead? > Knowing the detachment energy of single particles from liquid-liquid > interfaces is important in the design of soft materials: e.g. emulsions > stabilised by colloidal particles, colloidosomes designed for targeted drug > delivery, or bio-sensors composed of magnetic particles at liquid-liquid > interfaces. or > Knowing the detachment energy of single particles from liquid-liquid > interfaces is important in the design of soft materials, such as: emulsions > stabilised by colloidal particles, colloidosomes designed for targeted drug > delivery, or bio-sensors composed of magnetic particles at liquid-liquid > interfaces.


What would something be which fails to provide traceability?

If something fails to provide **security** it is said to be _insecure_. So what would something be which fails to provide **traceability**?


A synonym of 'failure' in the context of failing a challenge. (one word)

Positively I'm using **completed** or **success** (I don't want to use successful) together with the word challenge. Now I'm looking for the negative equivalent. However I can't use **unsuccess** because that doesn't exist. (And not **unsuccessful** either because I don't want to use **successful** ) I don't want to use **incomplete** either because that implies the challenge is still open for completion and I don't want to imply that. I don't want to use **failure** either because some people could read that as "(you are a) failure".


"To try oneself in something" template usage

For example, > I'd like to try myself in farming. Is this grammatically correct? I want to express that I never have done farming before and wish to begin doing it.


Is it correct to say "I was sure after a year I would get over it"?

> My pet dog died last summer, she was the only one I had, but I was sure > after a year I **would get** over it. Or should I say _I had get over it_ there instead?