What is a single word describing a person who opposes another, yet is of equal status to them?

Can anyone give me a single word describing a person that is equal to somebody in status but an opponent to them at the same time?


word/phrase for "I'm already in trouble, I might as well go further"

"I'm already in trouble, I might as well go further" or "I'm already in trouble, I might as well make the punishment worth it." the phrase that refers to the state of mind that a person who already believes themselves to be in so much trouble that they might as well continue doing the act that gets them in trouble because it can't get any better?


Possessive Ambiguity: sharing a house

Could this: > Jason shared Michael's house. be an acceptable shortened version of this: > Jason shared Michael's house with Michael. ?


Which pronoun should be used to refer back to actions?

Which word is better suited to reference an action? For example, > Setting appearance of each report component is too long process. It’s easier > to use styles for **it**. or > Setting appearance of each report component is too long process. It’s easier > to use styles for **this**. I'm trying to refer not to some object but to all previous sentence.


Technicalities about "%"?

## Usage of "%" I'm almost positive it's a prepositional phrase since it's really means "per cent" or "per 100". So in a sentence like: > 90% of my street are doing lawn work. It would be "are" and not "is" because both "%" and "of my street" are prepositional phrases and therefore cannot contain the subject. Am I right?


December 15th to December 16th

In general, if I say: > From December 15th to December 16th Would you expect the range to be from `12/15 00:00` to `12/16 23:59` or would you expect it to be from `12/15 00:00` to `12/15 23:59`?


What are metal pans and covers of a staircase?

What are metal pans and its covers of a staircase and what do they look like as mentioned in the following account? > My boss and I were carrying 160lb sliding glass doors up an unfinished > staircase (just metal pans with no covers so you were walking on a surface > about 3/4" wide, with water in the bottom because it had been raining.)


What is David Milch talking about?

There is an interview from David Milch - the creator of the TV series "Deadwood". At the final part, he said ( seems ):" All of those things for me remind me as I sort of lived into the story that the reason is about 17th on a list of the attributes that ??defines us?? as a species and as far as I'm concerned they can lower no problem a I just like to see the way we behave.". I have no idea what he means by "17th on a list of the attributes that.." I might have heard it wrong. (as I typed above) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O2GW9G1h5A (PS. the transcript seems incorrect but I paste here as reference anyway) all of those things for me remind me as a shorter lived in to this story a that reason is about seventeen analyst the attributes that the finances as a species) I also deeply wonder who transcribe the whole text for this video. If it's robot, it's too accurate. If it's human, it's amazingly incorrect. Maybe one time speedy catch-up deal).


What does "fly against" mean?

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/11/stop-me-if-you-think-youve-seen-this- word-before.html: > I'm not sure this kind of experiment would fly against today's Google, but > it worked in 2004. What does 'fly against' mean in this case?


How bad is the f-word, really?

I am confused: on the one hand, many of my native-speaker friends keep telling me that the f-word is very, very bad. Much worse than the s-word for example. On the other hand, I see it being used everywhere; for example, in the blogosphere, even by respectable economic blogs (e.g. http://www.zerohedge.com/article/guest-post-fuck-deficit-or-will-deficit-end- fucking-us). Is the former intensity of the word decreasing? Is its usage becoming more acceptable in everyday language?


About the 'f-word'

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How bad is the f-word really? > I fucking love this man! It's awesome, keep it up! Is it not a bad word sometimes? Can it be used in formal article?


(n+1)st or (n+1)th?

When referring to object number _n_ +1, is it the ( _n_ +1)st or ( _n_ +1)th object? Of course, object number 1 would be referred to as the _1 st_, but since I would say _n plus one_ , adding an _-st_ would make this _n plus onest_ , which doesn’t seem right.


Why does "complex sentence" vs "compound sentence" matter?

This question asks about (teaching) the distinction between **complex** and **compound** sentences. I have managed to read really quite widely in linguistics for more than fifty years without ever as far as I can recall encountering this distinction. To me it appears completely pointless and nitpicking. Would somebody please enlighten me why it might be of any interest or value to make the distinction, never mind teach it?


Is "how come" slang?

Sample Conversation: > A: How are you? > > B: I am mad. > > A: How come? I thought that _how come_ was a logical word choice but upon speaking with somebody for whom English is a second language, I found that they did not understand the meaning. I am wondering if using _how come_ in this manner is a form of slang. For some reason saying "How come you are angry?" sounds like bad grammar. I can imagine the use of "How come, when I talk to you, you are angry?" to be correct with that added phrase in the middle. So my question is, is using _how come_ as in the example conversational slang? And also is "How come you are angry?" proper English?


help interpreting this line

I am translating a TED video and I came across this line. Would somebody help me putting this line in simpler expanded form? > "You know, it's remarkable how universal the gesture is of handing your > camera to a total stranger" Edit: Since I was asked for edit. All I want to add at this point is I am not totally sure what that line mean. That is the reason I am trying to understand how one can interpret the sentence. Reading all the comments and the answers I now think this sentence has a clear meaning and implications although one can rephrase this in different ways. But the gist or essence of the sentence is simply the same. Thanks everyone for your contribution. Appreciated.


Is "fine" one of the strangest words in English language? How did it come to be this way and are there other examples?

Many words have multiple meanings but not many words have different meanings in the same context. Fine can mean both very good-to-excellent and acceptable but probably below average. For example, the phrase "that is a fine retelling of the story". Which version of fine is meant? You only really know based upon the context of what is used. Are there examples of other words like this? **Edit 1:** As an example, as an undergrad I went to a school with narrative evaluations. As a student, you'd write a paper. If the prof would say, "You used good examples — a fine paper" it would mean acceptable. "You used very good examples — a fine paper"; it would mean exemplary (somewhat implying that 'very good' is understating it.


Is there an adjectival form of “levity”?

Can anybody tell me the adjectival form of _levity_? I've found _levitious_ here, but not sure whether it’s a dictionary word.


Is the word "all" implied by this question?

I saw a post on Programmers.StackExchange in which someone asks the question: > Why do programmers [or anyone] give the "dead fish" hand shake in an > interview? The responses to that question say things of the nature "not ALL programmers do that." The OP then replies, "I didn't say ALL programmers did that, I just said that programmers did that". However, to me, it seems like saying "why do programmers do __" is equivalent to asking why _all_ programmers do **_**. Who is correct? How many programmers give the "dead fish" hand shake, according to the phrasing of that question?


Is "as [adjective] as [can/could] be" grammatical?

It occurred to me while reading the line "He was as happy as could be." that part of it is quite vague. As happy as _he_ could be, or as _anything_ could be? I'm not a linguist or anything, but I haven't been able to think of anything that follows a similar pattern, without following the pattern exactly (as in the title of the question). Regardless of how well it is understood by others or how often it is used (unless this affects the answer), is a phrase like this bad grammar?


Meaning of "rallying call"

![](http://i.stack.imgur.com/ALXcd.png) I searched for an English translation of the German term _Durchhalteparole_ , meaning _to appeal to a group of followers to hold out (especially in politics)_ , but having the connotation of being a hopeless appeal and having more the purpose to be blind to a coming defeat. I got 4 different translations. 3 seem to be plain wrong machine translations, and _rallying call_ seems a more common term according to ngrams. Has it the connotation I am looking for or is there a better English idiom for a hopeless call? Actually I am pretty surprised by the low quality and different translations of the German dictionaries as it is a very common German term.


Breaking down "Of his honour and his glory, the people would sing" into subject, verb, predicate

I recently listened to the lyrics of _Lucky Man_ by Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and noticed the following line. > Of his honour and his glory, the people would sing. It struck me as being non-typical of modern English syntax, albeit fitting the context of the song. I have a Russian speaking wife, and a 10-year-old daughter, both of whom sometimes get confused about dealing with different sentence structures such as this. This leads to vague recollections of my primary school English class where we did exercises breaking sentences down into **subject** , **verb** and **predicate**. Pondering the above line I wondered whether it should be... > Subject: his honour and glory. Verb: sing. Predicate: the people. or > Subject: the people. Verb: sing. Predicate: his honour and glory. Is there only the one right interpretation, or can there be two?


What is the meaning of the phrase "small town charm"?

For example: > Don’t let his **small town charm** fool you: Tim knows this stuff inside and > out. I learned a ton from this book and I know you will too. I encountered these sentences in a book, I can guess the meaning of the phrase literally. Thanks for giving me a more detailed explanation!


differences between pucker and tuck

What are the differences between pucker and tuck, as verbs? I found that they can both mean "pull or gather up", "contract". Is it correct?


Correct use of 'majority'

I believe _majority_ is correctly used with a plural noun — "majority of people" or "majority of voters". It's becoming used frequently with a singular noun — "majority of work" or "majority of travel". Is this incorrect use of _majority_?


What's the difference between "to lie in" and "to sleep in"? And could you correct the following sentence please: "I wanted to turn off my mobile telefone not to be called next morning, but I forgot to do that and my friend called me so early, that my plan to sleep/lie in failed" Thanks in advance


Word for a person who lives in the past

Someone who is highly nostalgic and is stuck in the past, better days


Imaginary line from your finger when pointing

Is there a term for the imaginary line extrapolated from the tip of your finger when pointing at something?


Does "with the descriptive noun of other noun" count as a simile?

In school, we're taught that similes are analogies using "like" or "as". This is clearly just a mnemonic for a comparison between two distinct objects. Metaphors on the other hand combine the two objects being compared, stating them as one. What I'm curious about is whether the construction "object one has the descriptive noun of object two" counts as a simile. Example: Simile: He ran as fast as a tiger. Metaphor: When running at full speed, he was a tiger. Questionable: He ran with the speed of a tiger. Hypocatastasis: The tiger ran by me. (referring to a man) Edit: Corrected mislabeled hypocatastasis and added true example of a metaphor.


Writing: Word vs. Character Count

I am writing a thesis right now, and I noticed that in my writing software (Scrivener), there's a "word" and a "character" count. I understand that this is not Literature & Latte's support site, but I wanted to ask a question more generally than about Scrivener. Why would one want to think in terms of character counts, as opposed to word counts? I understand that neither are perfect proxies for getting content down, but I was curious as to the reason why one would want to think in terms of characters as opposed to words, as I thought that words would be a better measure of progress, or am I wrong about that?


"Damage to the undercarriage; damage caused by water"

Does this phrase mean that damages to the undercarriage caused by water is not covered, OR does it mean damage to the undercarriage is not covered regardless of the cause, and that damage to the undercarriage is ALSO not covered if it is damaged by water? This is the source of the text: > THE FOLLOWING ARE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE OPERATION OF SUPER WAIVERS: > >   * Damage to the undercarriage; damage caused by water >   * Damage due to driver negligence, where the vehicle was driven by an > unauthorized driver or where the driver’s license was invalid or endorsed & > where the rental agreement was not properly extended or the standard terms > and conditions of rental were breached. >   * Damage or loss where incidents/accidents are not properly reported. >   * Damage or loss where the incident/accident happened outside South > African borders where the vehicle was taken outside the borders of South > Africa without the suppliers’ prior written consent. >   * Damage or loss where the vehicle was driven on unsuitable roads for the > type of vehicle (When we refer to “unsuitable roads”, we define this as > roads where for example only 4x4s can drive so that customers don't > deliberately abuse vehicles) >   * Loss of Keys >


Pauses and Punctuation

My girlfriend and I were discussing the following sentence: "Curiosity and diversity were discouraged, at times, disciplined." I feel that there is clearly a larger pause with the first comma than with the second, and so there should also be a difference in punctuation. I don't have the technical knowledge to explain why, but I would like to know the reasons why I am right or wrong. I would prefer any of the following variations: "Curiosity and diversity were discouraged, at times disciplined." (Omitting the second comma) "Curiosity and diversity were discouraged. At times, disciplined." (I know this is technically wrong, but authors do it all the time if it flows better) "Curiosity and diversity were discouraged; at times, disciplined." (If we treat the second half as an independent clause ["At times, they were even disciplined."] with the subject implied, then a semi-colon should be okay I think) Can anyone comment on these variations and the relevant grammar rules? Thank you, Ryan


What's a noun for a cause of a bad effect?

What is a noun for an action or thing that negatively influences another? For example, > If you don't keep up with your school assignments, all the **bad grades** > you've accumulated will overwhelm you at the end of the year. > > The economy has been a big **?** for our organization. > > One **?** to the driver was that his tires were going flat. > > Writing them an angry letter would be a big **?** for our group. I'm looking to replace the bold words and question marks. _Inauspicious_ would work, but I need a noun.


What is an appropriate abstraction which encompasses both 'receipt' and 'invoice'?

Is there a common supertype (parent class) for a 'receipt' type (class) and an 'invoice' type (class)? It should be possible to state "an instance of receipt/invoice is a supertype."


Is there one word that means 'to temporarily join'?

Is there a one-worded synonym for 'temporarily join'? **Examples:**   * I want to _temporarily join_ your team Or a slightly different meaning;   * I want to _temporarily join_ these two pieces of metal Thanks in advance.


What does "running a gauntlet of fire" mean?

From the Wikipedia page for "Battle of Melle": > Now Moltke broke off with the entire force and headed for Ghent **running a > gauntlet of fire** from the various French posts along the roads and ways > and abandoning the rest of the column, losing about one half of this force, > including nearly 400 of the Royal Scots What does the phrase "running a gauntlet of fire" mean in this context? I know "gauntlet" means a glove armor, but this phrase still doesn't make sense to me. Searching Google seem to yield results mostly related to gaming.


Is "actioned" a valid word?

I've just, without much fore thought, used the word "actioned" in the following (example) context, and am now wondering if it's valid (upon a re- read I've decided I don't like the way it sounds, hence the question). > 1000 emails needed some kind of action, 800 of which were **actioned** by > the team while the remaining 200 were escalated. I can think of (what I feel is) a better word to replace "actioned" in this case - either "processed" and "completed" should do it - and my spell checker doesn't like "actioned", so I'm wondering if the word is valid? If it is, is my above example a valid usage?


Is the following the correct usage for the word "read": "Read a dictionary"

Is it correct to state: "Read a dictionary". Similarly can you "Read an encyclopedia",


Singular nouns in plural form

Is the following sentence correct? > There is a woods near our house. (I am talking about one woods, but it is a bit awkward to use "a" before "woods". Hence I am not sure about this.)


What do you call a poem or song that sets up a rhyme and then ignores it?

Here is a line from the song "Popular" in the musical _Wicked_. I am trying to explain what we call the anticlimax of the last three lines, where a rhyme is expected but not delivered. > When I see depressing creatures/ With unprepossessing features/ I remind > them on their own behalf/ To think of/ Celebrated heads of state or/ > Specially great communicators/ Did they have brains or knowledge?/ Don't > make me laugh!He,he!/ They were popular! Is there a term for the rhyme scheme where we (arguably) expect knowledge to be rhymed with "college"? Another example: > Roses are red/Violets are blue/Sugar is sweet/And so am I The comedic effect of that poem is in the anticlimax of the final line. Is there a term for that anticlimax created from an unmade rhyme?


Should I use past tense when I'm asked to describe a picture?

If you are being asked to describe a picture, what tense would you use?


Can "deprived of" be used in this way?

I looked up the synonym dictionary, and it told me that "deprived of" can be the alternative of "without". So I'm wondering if this usage is right: >   * Deprived of his partner, he couldn't win by himself. >   * Life would be miserable deprived of you. >   * He would never be able to speak deprived of this technology being > discovered. >


What is the mean of "one's bearing" in the sentence "To be a conqueror in appearance, in one's bearing, is the first step toward success."? I referred to dictionary and searched but I didn't understand the meaning in this sentence. Thanks.


Acronym for ACRONYM describing acronyms as being numerous and/or overwhelming?

I'm interning in a large organisation, and acronyms are everywhere. On my first day, I felt overwhelmed by them and now that I'm coming to the end of the internship, I want to come up with an acronym for ACRONYM to describe my experience. Something along the lines of "Acronyms cannot reliably orchestrate new blah blah" would be good. Can anyone help?


Why we are not translating western institustion names?

I saw this in many places but want to ask my question in a specific example. In Wikipedia article on European Central Bank there is a section **Preceded by 17 national banks**   * National Bank of Austria   * National Bank of Belgium   * Central Bank of Cyprus   * Bank of Estonia   * Bank of Finland   * Banque de France   * Deutsche Bundesbank   * Bank of Greece   * Central Bank of Ireland   * Banca d'Italia   * Central Bank of Luxembourg   * Central Bank of Malta   * De Nederlandsche Bank   * Banco de Portugal   * Bank of Slovenia   * National Bank of Slovakia   * Bank of Spain Intuitively I can understand that _Banca d'Italia_ means _Bank of Italy_ but why it is written in Italian? Why in French or Dutch not in English? Another question id why "Banca d'Italia" in Italian but _Bank of Spain_ in English?


Proper English for "started shooting anywhere"

What's the proper word to describe someone shooting anywhere around in order to kill as many as possible: > The terrorists entered the room and started shooting **___ __ ___ __ ___ > _**, 5 were killed, 1 injured.


What is the etymology of "todger"?

What is the etymology of "todger"? My Concise OED is rather vague: > ORIGIN 1950s: of unknown origin (also **tadger** ) "Tadger" is just listed as a "Variant spelling of TODGER" * * * Other references are no better:   * Wiktionary adds nothing but some very recent examples \-- nothing back to the 1950's.   * The Online Etymology Dictionary has no entry at all.   * Google search is not helpful, so far. But, Google Ngram Viewer has some interesting results (click images for larger views):   1. "todger" has a huge relative spike in 1722 (Update: MετάEd points out that this is due to an OCR error and misleading "Normalization" of the graph by Google.): ![todger, lower-case, big picture](http://i.stack.imgur.com/86RQI.gif)   2. Recent history is interesting and doesn't really support the 1950's origin of "todger": ![todger, lower-case, more recent](http://i.stack.imgur.com/ERslK.gif)   3. If we go with proper names, it gets more interesting: ![todger, name-case, big picture](http://i.stack.imgur.com/daXtK.gif)   4. More recently, name-case swamps lower-case, but is mostly flat after 1868, except for a slight blip in the **1940's** (not 50's). ![todger, name-case, more recent](http://i.stack.imgur.com/qSAaE.gif)   5. Upper-case (TODGER, TADGER) is not found. * * * So, what really is the origin of "todger"? Is it possible that it has an eponymous origin?


What is a "tote"?

From http://www.sterilite.com/home.html?section=1, there are different kinds of storage boxes. One kind is called "tote". I wonder what it means and how it is different from others?


Why is there 'ss' in pessimistic?

In the word 'pessimistic',we use 'ss'. but my question is that, as I know, there are syllables as: 'pe',ssi','mis','tic'. Here stress falls in 'mis'syllable then it might be doubled 'mis',not 'pessi'. help me please.


Can anyone provide me with a list of English words that are their own antonyms?

I am looking for a list of all English words that are their own antonyms. Off the top of my head, I can only think of "either", "fast", "to dust" and "to lease", but there must be dozens more. Can you provide a link to a comprehensive list, if such exists? Also, what are such words most commonly called? I like the term "Janus word" I once heard, but is that widely understood? Edited by popular demand to make it absolutely clear that this is not a community wiki poll.


Word meaning contradiction with itself

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  English words that are their own antonyms What is a word that is a contradiction of itself? I googled this and I got "paradox", but paradox means: > A paradox is a seemingly true statement or group of statements that lead to > a contradiction or a situation which seems to defy logic or intuition. What I am actually looking for is a word that actually has two different meanings. This came up while I looked up the meaning of the word "scan", and I found out that it had several meanings: > –verb (used with object)   >  1.   >  to glance at or over or read hastily: to scan a page.   >  2.   >  to examine the particulars or points of minutely; scrutinize. I realized that there was a term for this, but I couldn't quite remember. Can someone please help me?


What is a word with two synonyms that are antonyms (other than cleave)

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Can anyone provide me with a list of English words that are their own > antonyms? My wife read on a trivia website that there is only one word in the English language which has two synonyms that are antonyms. The word was cleave, which has the synonyms adhere and separate. I find this hard to believe given the large number of English words, and the large number of loan words from other languages in usage, and the large number of definitions for each word. Does anyone else know of a words that have synonyms that are also antonyms?


Words that have opposing definitions?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  English words that are their own antonyms   >  What words have opposite meanings in different regions? * * * I was reading a book the other day when the author wrote: > The contradiction is only apparent. Meaning it was obvious only at first blush, but that some investigation would show the contradiction _isn't_ apparent (the more common definition of the word.) This got me wondering if there were other words in English that had multiple definitions that are opposites or contradict?


Difference between "Knock it off!" and "Drop it!"

What is the difference between "Knock it off!" and "Drop it!". I do translate both as "Stop it". Is there any context-based usage difference? Thank you.


Is there a word for the transfer of contact information (say giving a business card)

Is there a single word or phrase that can be used to describe:   * The transfer of contact data (ex: name, phone number, address, etc)   * (Optional) The connecting with somebody (in my sense on social media) Most importantly i'm looking for a word or phrase to capture the **act** of giving somebody your say business card.


Usage of infinitives in this sentence

In my academics I learned that we use infinitives ( _to_ \+ verb 1st form). So I was surprised when someone told me this sentence is incorrect. I am not able to figure it out why this sentence is incorrect. > When the shootout took place the police made everyone to leave the building > immediately. According to him, _to_ won’t appear in this sentence. But according to my understanding, infinitives always contain _to_. Please clarify my doubt.


When should you use italics to reference an example and when should it be inside apostrophes?

When should you use italics to reference an example or quote, and when should it be inside apostrophes instead? (I am trying to tighten up here. I write in advertising and we break so many rules with the register being conversational, I’ve fallen out of touch with some basics.) Here are some examples: >   * A man said the other day, 'why are all the trees orange?' >   * A man said the other day, _why are all the trees orange?_ > Also, should the above quote begin with a capital letter, and must there always be a comma preceding it?


Term for construct in which adjective completely changes the meaning of its following noun?

I would like the terminology for, and information regarding, a specific type of adjective-noun construct. It consists of noun preceded by an adjective that completely/radically changes the meaning and/or class of the noun. Example: a _year_ is a unit of _time_ , but when preceded by _light_ , the meaning is not any sort of _year_ or _time_ , but becomes a _unit of distance_. The meaning of the noun is not merely refined or modified, but the meaning becomes something entirely different.


"Collar" meaning "grab or seize by the collar or neck"

Could you give me an example sentence where this verb means this. I can't find anywhere. I don't know if this verb can take a direct object like "neck" or something like that, because if we take a look at other meaning of the verb "to stop somebody in order to talk to them", I think that these sentences that I made up are ambiguous. >   1. He collared him and started talking to him. > >   2. He collared her in her room when she was about to get out. > > I think that this sentences can be umbiguous, because I think that they can mean both. I hope you understand my question.


"when would" vs "when will"

I'm trying to ask a question about the future. So which form of the verb "will" should I use? > So, when will it be there?   >  So, when would it be there?


"Intent" and "purport"

I was unable to understand the similarities and differences between _intent_ and _purport_. A description will be good to understand.


Using “allium” as an adjective

I’d like to use the Latin word for garlic, _allium_ , as an adjective, but can’t find any examples of this being done. Is there a rule for doing this with nouns ending in _‑um_? _Alliumnal_ sounds good, but I suspect that’s just because it sounds like _autumnal_. Any help much appreciated.


Difference between "Archival record" and "Archive reference"

How should an official document containing information about exams passed by a person in previous years be called? Are there any differences between "Archival record" and "Archive reference" in the context of this purpose?


Should a colon be used in this case?

> X was interested in one of the most important challenges: the lack of > reliability in bananas' drawings. I think I read somewhere that, although possible, a colon should be avoided in these situations (in an academic context). How could I rewrite this?


"give me five" and "slap me five", any difference?

What's the meaning of "slap me five"? Any difference between "slap me five" and "give me five"? There is a book called _Slap Me Five_.


Does "freak somebody out" has the meaning of "make somebody angry"?

This is an excerpt from the **LDOCE**.               freak out     phrasal verb   informal      to become very anxious, upset, or afraid, or make someone very anxious, upset, or afraid :       People just freaked out when they heard the news.      freak somebody out      The whole idea freaked me out.       I'm curious whether `freak out` has the meaning of "make somebody angry".


How do noun clauses work when they seem to leave no independent clause?

Another thing that was raised in conversation with my ESL friend is noun clauses. I was aware of Adverbial and Adjectival Clauses and thought that the things he was demonstrating to me were in fact noun phrases, not clauses. After a long discussion and some google searches, I had to concede that he was right to call them Noun Clauses, according to the entire internet. However, I can't seem to find anywhere a satisfying explanation for the fact that noun clauses often leave a sentence without an independent clause. For example: > He only gave me what he already owed me. Here, as I am led to believe, "what he already owed me" is a Noun Clause. In my understanding, this means that "He only gave me" would be the other clause that makes this a sentence. The problem in my eyes is that neither of these clauses could stand alone. Somebody please explain how this sentence with two subordinate clauses can exist, or else tell me why I am wrong.


How did "gesundheit" work its way into common American usage?

Once upon a time I was hanging out with a fairly international group of people. Somebody sneezed, and one of the Americans reflexively responded, "Gesundheit!" A German in the group seized on the opportunity to ask, "How do all Americans know this word?" Apparently he had been puzzled for quite some time by the number of Americans who know one, and only one, word of his native tongue. Some of them don't even know that it is a _German_ word! None of us could come up with a satisfactory answer.


'Potential' as an adjective

Here is one of those things that I have simply never thought about until recently. I have a friend who speaks English as a second language and so still has a few overhanging errors in his speech; One of these is to use 'potential' as follows: > He is very potential. When I corrected this for him, I told him that in that case we would use potential as a noun, "he has a lot of potential", for example. However, confusion then ensued as we both know that potential is also an adjective, but as far as I am aware, can only be used as a pre-modifier: potential client, potential success, etc. Is this a unique case? Is there a reason for it? or Am I wrong?


What word means centered about death?

I'm writing an essay about Don DiLillo's novel _White Noise_ , and would like to explore Murray Jay Siskand's fascination with death. The particular word I'm looking for means "death-centric", to fit in the topic sentence "Furthermore, the consumerist society that envelops Siskind results in his `<word goes here>` viewpoint of his surroundings." Failing that, is there a way to rework this sentence as to allow for an elegant focus on his death-centric viewpoint?


Is there a program that will parse sentence syntax?

I am building an online course and want to add a function that can check spelling, grammar and syntax. I've found a few that claim to spot the first 2 but they are not very good. I typed in "That is you're coat." and 3 out of 4 said it was OK. Aside from this, my main problem is, for example, placing an adjective after a noun: e.g. "This is a tree green." None of the online checkers flagged this as being incorrect. Am I chasing an impossible dream? Is the only way to learn how to correctly structure a sentence something that is only achievable by human to human training?


What does “a mission to make the 1 percent 100 percent able to indulge in car elevators” mean?

Further to my previous question on the word, “profile in courage” in Maureen Dowd’s article of NY-Times, “Of Mad Men, Mad Women and Meat Loaf,” I was puzzled with the ending line of the following sentence of the same article just like a high school boy who stumbled at the last question of English reading comprehension test: > “It shouldn’t be a surprise that many women support Romney, even though he > has somersaulted on reproductive rights and his running mate sponsored a > bill with Akin giving fertilized eggs the “legal and constitutional > attributes and privileges of personhood.” Just as it shouldn’t be surprising > that Romney has the support of a huge swath of blue-collar white men, even > though he’s on _a mission to make the 1 percent 100 percent able to indulge > in car elevators_.” What does Romney is “ _on a mission to make the 1 percent 100 percent able to indulge in car elevators_ ” mean? What does “car elevators” signify? If a “car-elevator” is the symol of the rich, can’t the very richest people who already stand among top 1 percent of all income classes afford to get it if they wish to own it, without being subsidized by Mr. Romney?


Does the second (2nd) have anything to do with a second (1/60 minute)?

In my native language, _second_ in the meaning of _the 2nd_ is different from _second_ in the meaning of _1/60 minute (one sixtieth)_. Also in Arabic, a language I kinda know of, they are different as well. But in English, they are the same. And I've been wondering why. Do these _second_ -s have anything in common (other than the spelling and pronunciation)? Was the first _second_ , etymologically, somewhat derived from the second _second_ or vice versa?


Alternative term to 'Uncle Tom' for a black or colored person who is subservient to whites?

In Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, the eponymous character was meant to be a sort of model of resistance against slavery, a man who whose "devotion to his fellow slaves is so unshakable that he sacrifices a chance for freedom and, ultimately, his life to help them".[1] Some argue that the term _Uncle Tom_ , as it has been used for the last century, was misappropriated. So that got me wondering if there were alternative words or phrases used to describe a black or colored person who is subservient to whites. _House negro_ is obviously way too politically incorrect, even for Internet discussions. _Aunt Jemima_ is too closely affiliated with the brand, which is still popular today. And _Aunt Jane/Mary/Sally_ are not very recognizable. [1]http://www.theroot.com/views/when-uncle-tom-became-insult


The use of pioneering as a verb

I am new to this forum, so please let me know if this question is unacceptable. I want to say something like, "help model the world by pioneering with companies and originations of the highest order.". By this what I am trying to say is teaming up with different teams to pioneer new projects of theirs. Is the use of pioneering okay or incorrect? Thanks in advance


Why are these two adages called "razor"?

I always wondered why these adages are called 'razor', and if there is another meaning to _razor_ than the one related to shaving or the razor blade: Occam's razor Hanlon's razor


what is the proper capitalization of "hors d'oeuvre"?

Possible options include capitalizing either the "h", "d", and/or "o". Are any of these options considered either correct or incorrect?


Conundrum: "cleverer" or "more clever", "simpler" or "more simple" etc

I know the rule for making the comparative and superlative form for two- syllable words   ending in _y_ , replace the _-y_ with _i_ and use _-er_ and _-est_ : _hap_ **.** _py_ → _happier_ → _(the) happiest_   _ti_ **.** _dy_ → tidier → (the) tidiest* And I would say that for two-syllable adjectives which do not end in-y, use _more_ and _most_ : _bor_ **.** _ing_ → _more boring_   _wor_ **.** _ried_ → _more worried_   _care_ **.** _ful_ → _more careful_   _tra_ **.** _gic_ → _more tragic_ However, there are inexplicable exceptions: _The Free Dictionary_ says the comparative and superlative form of _clever_ is **_cleverer_** and **_cleverest_**. Yet to my ears > He's more clever than I thought sounds more formal and _correct_. Google produces an impressive 761,000 results and 255,000 results for "He is more clever than" and "He's more clever than" compared to _only_ 337,000 results and 318,000 results for "He's cleverer than" and "He is cleverer than", which suggests that _more clever_ is preferable. Similarly, TFD insists that the comparative and superlative form of simple is **_simpler_** and **_simplest_**. Google seems to concur and produces a whopping 11,900,000 results for "It is simpler than" compared to  7,060,000 results for "It is more simple than". The two-syllable adjectives that I am aware of, which have both kinds of comparative and superlative forms are:   * **clever** → _cleverer/more clever_ → _cleverest/(the) most clever_   * **common** → _commoner/more common_ → _commonest/(the) most common_   * **gentle** → _gentler/more gentle_ → _gentlest/(the) most gentle_   * **humble** → _humbler/more humble_ (etc.)   * **hollow** → _hollower/more hollow_   * **narrow** → _narrower/more narrow_   * **polite** → _politer/more polite_   * **quiet** → _quieter/more quiet_   * **simple** → _simpler/more simple_   * **stupid** → _stupider/more stupid_   * **subtle** → _subtler/more subtle_ Is there _any_ explanation for this? Is it perhaps a recent trend, etymologically speaking? It seems to me that the number of two-syllable adjectives that add -er and -est are increasing.   And finally, is there a trick or rule which I can teach to my advanced private students?   With younger learners and beginners I teach the "rule" that I mentioned at the beginning—so much simpler! :)


Should TPS (transactions per second) be upper or lower case

If one wants to write shorthand for transactions per second what would be correct casing? TPS or tps?   * As SI unit, s is always lowercase and thus I believe it should be written as "tps".   * On other hand, it as an abbreviation and thus it deserves uppercase "TPS" treatment.


Definition of Thrilla with Vanilla

A foreign student asked me (her teacher) what THRILLA WITH VANILLA meant. I haven't the slightest idea and when I go to Google, the only reference is the Romney-Obama debate, as though the expression was just invented for this purpose. Can anyone help define this (preferably out of this political context)?


Likelihood of Change

Let's say I'm trying to describe two things that change. The first changes often and the second changes less often. Is there a better word than "volatility" to use in the following scenario? Is it even proper in this use?   1. The first thing has "high volatility"    2. The second thing has "low volatility"


What is the noun form of explicit which implies exactly two states?

I am looking for the noun form of explicit. The word explicitness seems to me to imply many "levels" of explicitness, but I want to know if is there a noun form of explicit whose value can be either "explicit" or "not explicit". An example of how one might use this word: > It may be difficult to interpret the **___ __ ___ __ ___ ___** > (explicitness) of this song because it is in a foreign language.


Present and past perfect dilemma

This sentence is giving me trouble: > For several days I (have/had) not had the chance to see her until a few > hours ago. I think _had_ is correct because the time reference is _a few hours ago_ , which is in the past. What do you think?


Can organisations personally determine pronunciation of their own brand name?

In fact, question from the title. Are there any traditions, customs about stressed syllables of brands? The problem is - many of brands contained fictional words, which, of course, have not been used ever before.


How do I correctly pronounce "sóncræft"

How do I correctly pronounce the Anglo Saxon word sóncræft (music)? I feel it should be "sonn crayfte" or "sonn creft".


"The next big thing" phrase

Is the phrase "The next big thing" considered a formal or a slang phrase? Especially when communicating with a professional committee.


When to use "lives" as a plural of life?

I am confused when talking about a general idea using "our life" when sometimes I feel like using "our lives". Please tell me the correct answer with appropriate explanation.


Logical construction of the word "forget"

A small story behind the reason for this question. In Russian, just as in English, many fundamental words are a combination of two basic ones. The verb _"forgot"_ is _"zabil"_ in Russian. It is formed by **_"za"_** \- in this case most likely in the meaning of _"after"_ \- and **_"bil"_** \- literally _"was"_ or _"I am in the past"_. If you put them together, it forms a logical structure of _"after the way I was"_. In English we have _"forget/forgot"_. As it happens in Russian, it is formed by _"for"_ and _"get"_ in different tenses. What meaning do these two words logically take (if any), to be righteously forming the word that logically means _"to lose something that was known"_?


What is the correct expression: "the estimate number" or "the estimated number?"

I have been looking for a place that tells me which expression is correct, but I didn't get any satisfactory answer. Google returns 2,060,000 results for "the estimate number of *", and 73,200,000 results for "the estimated number of *", but there are websites I would consider reliable in the first page of both searches. What is the correct way to write that expession?


What is the English expression for this facial expression?

Any expression for this? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/ValNN.png)


Is "fake teeth" correct?

Is the phrase "fake teeth" correct? I googled it and found out that it is used. But my English tutor says that this phrase is incorrect and the book from Hillside Press had this phrase as a mistake. So what is true?


"Can easily be" vs. "can be easily" — what's the difference?

I'm wondering what the difference is between: >   * It can easily be obtained. >   * It can be easily obtained. > Also, what's the preferred way to write it? If there is any... I googled for both options between quotes and it returned almost the same result (38 million for "can be easily" and 34 million for "can easily be"), so statistically both have similar usage from the people. **Edit:** fixed the second point which I had mistyped as "it easily can be obtained".


What is the etymology of "Mexi-ducken"

It is a compound invented by the TV show "The Colbert Report". You can find the context here. (the Mexi- of course stand for mexican)


Why do people say "over-" and "underwhelmed" but never just "whelmed"?

We've all been **overwhelmed** with work, or seen an **underwhelming** movie... but it occurred to me that I've never heard anyone use the root word, _whelm_. **whelm** _(verb)_   1\. to submerge; engulf.   2\. to overcome utterly; overwhelm: whelmed by misfortune. If _whelm_ is "to overcome utterly," then why is it you never hear anyone say, "I was _whelmed_ at work today." And wouldn't _underwhelm_ mean something more like _expected_ or _normal_ , rather than the implied _less-than-expected_?


Can one say "I should like" rather than "I would like"? Is the former grammatical?

My focus here is on the _should_ in the sentence fragment _"I should very much like..."_. Why is it there in place of _would_? It seems strange that _should_ is used in the subjunctive mood there -- is it grammatical? If the fragment is idiomatic, can anyone explain the history of the idiom?


Can you grammatically end a sentence with "with"?

> Do you want to come with? > > Can I come with? I seem to hear this construction more often in recent years, but it still grates on my ear. I know it's often said that one shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition, but I class that rule along with split infinitives (i.e. — pedantic tosh). Is it always informal/casual speech to end a sentence with "with"? Was it ever thus?


What is the name for the exhaust from natural gas powered furnaces after it comes out of the chimney?

Sitting around the breakfast table we were unable to come up with a simple word for the exhaust out of modern chimneys. It's not really smoke because they aren't wood burning, but using exhaust seems too scientific. Any ideas?


An expression for 'growing old and more spiritual'

Is there an expression or saying that can be used to describe when person is growing old and he/she becomes less involved with physical issues and devotes more time to spiritual ones, taking care more of his/her soul rather than his/her body or other everyday issues?


Should we repeat the verb after "rather than"?

> Super AMOLED Plus uses a traditional RGB RGB (3 subpixels) arrangement > typically used in LCD displays rather than the PenTile RGBG pixel matrix (2 > subpixels) used in Super AMOLED. or > Super AMOLED Plus uses a traditional RGB RGB (3 subpixels) arrangement > typically used in LCD displays rather than uses the PenTile RGBG pixel > matrix (2 subpixels) used in Super AMOLED.


Word for "Intellectual Prankster"

I want to express concisely an impish attitude some clever scientists have. I want these properties:   * Explicitly playful (or maybe mischievous)   * Intellectual, but in action: Not always verbal, as in _witty_   * Ethically neutral: No connotations of underhandedness, as in _crafty_ In particular, I read a biography about a scientist who would crack his coworkers' safes. He did not use his knowledge malevolently, but he also shouldn't have been doing it. When a coworker suspected an intruder stole files, the scientist let him panic for a while before confessing. Is there a single word for "intellectually impish"?


Is it bad to start a sentence with "as"?

My boss doesn't like it when I start sentences with "as", and I'm not sure if it's actually a problem. A case where I would start with "as" would be: > As your new account manager, it is my responsibility to . . .


A critical situation in which no trick works?

How could one describe a situation in which no trick, no approach, no magic, nothing at all works to change the outcome? One where you have no choice but to accept things as they are. For example, I can't use the excuse that I was ill for missed homework because I've already used it. Or when this happens with your boss? What can I call such situation, in a single word, wherein you just have to accept the blame, just have to give in to the situation you are in?


Is this correct usage of 'to'

Is this correct usage of 'to' "the petals did entwine tickling the pistil to" or should it be "the petals did entwine tickling the pistil too


Why is “in the catching of” wrong?

In this sentence, _in the catching of_ is grammatically incorrect, but I cannot tell how: > The new system, which uses remote cameras **in the catching of** speeding > motorists, may undermine the police department's authority. Can someone explain?


Diplomatic word to express having difficulty or finding it unpleasant working with someone.

I'm filling out a feedback form for a senior colleague who I've been working with, I want say something like > Last year I had some difficulty working with John, but since the start of > the year he's given me more room to breathe and allowed me to work with more > autonomy.


Why does "orange" rhyme with (almost) nothing in English?

Joel Spolsky asked what rhymes with _orange_. The official answer is, "Nothing," although a creative poet can get close by using half words, just the _-nge_ part or resorting to place names and foreign words. Does _orange_ somehow violate the basic phonotactics of English? (And hence we wouldn't expect other English words to rhyme with it?)


What's the difference between orthography and spelling?

The terms "spelling" and "orthography" seem to be largely synonymous. What is the difference really? Is it that "orthography" is a more formal or technical term and hence more well-defined? Or is it just a fancy word to make me sound smarter when saying the same thing? (-:


Onward vs Onwards

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  "Toward" or "towards"? Which is the correct usage? "Onwards" or "Onward" ? For example: > I would be free any time Tuesday onward. vs > I would be free any time Tuesday onwards. Or is both correct/wrong? The spell checker in my browser says onwards is wrong but I've heard people using it. _(p.s: Sorry if this question is redundant. I searched here but couldn't find a related question)_


Can bacon or beans suggest some sort of alcohol?

I just read this poem: > **The Englishman**   >  by G.K. Chesterton > > St George he was for England,   >  And before he killed the dragon   >  He drank a pint of English ale   >  Out of an English flagon.   >  For though he fast right readily   >  In hair-shirt or in mail,   >  It isn’t safe to give him cakes   >  Unless you give him ale. > > St George he was for England,   >  And right gallantly set free   >  The lady left for dragon’s meat   >  And tied up to a tree;   >  But since he stood for England   >  And knew what England means,   >  **Unless you give him bacon   >  You mustn’t give him beans.** > > St George he is for England,   >  And shall wear the shield he wore   >  When we go out in armour   >  With battle-cross before.   >  But though he is jolly company   >  And very pleased to dine,   >  It isn’t safe to give him nuts   >  Unless you give him wine. My question is about the line about the _bacon_ and _beans_. The first stanza is about food and beer, the third stanza is about food and wine. But the middle stanza seems to be about food and food, but are one of those words (bacon or beans) suggestive of beer?


How many ways we can say "I didn't spot your ping"?

One of my colleagues pinged me in chat, but I didn't notice because since I was on a call. Now I want to ping him back that I missed to see his ping and to apologize. I am not sure _I missed to see_ is the correct sentence.


Apparent contradictions in English English communication

I came across this list about the apparent contradictions in communication by some English people. Whilst it was probably intended as humour, as I am a learner of English and think that, in communication, the implicit is just as important as the literal meaning, could a native speaker please tell me how accurate the list is? Which statements are particularly true or particularly false?               What the English say:   I hear what you say     What is understood:     He accepts my point of view     What the English mean:  I disagree and do not wish to discuss it any further          What the English say:   With the greatest respect     What is understood:     He is listening to me     What the English mean:  I think you are wrong          What the English say:   Not bad     What is understood:     Poor or mediocre     What the English mean:  Good or very good          What the English say:   Quite good     What is understood:     Quite good     What the English mean:  A bit disappointing          What the English say:   Perhaps you would like to think about/I would suggest/It would be nice if     What is understood:     Think about the idea but do what you like     What the English mean:  This is an order. Do it or be prepared to justify yourself.          What the English say:   Where appropriate locally/Local flexibility     What is understood:     Do it if you can     What the English mean:  Do whatever you like          What the English say:   Oh, by the way/Incidentally     What is understood:     This is not very important     What the English mean:  This is the primary purpose of our discussion          What the English say:   It was a bit disappointing that/It is a pity you     What is understood:     It doesn't really matter     What the English mean:  I am most upset and cross          What the English say:   Very interesting     What is understood:     They are impressed     What the English mean:  I don't agree/I don't believe you          What the English say:   Could we consider some other options     What is understood:     They have not yet decided     What the English mean:  I don't like your idea          What the English say:   I'll bear it in mind     What is understood:     They will probably do it     What the English mean:  I will do nothing about it          What the English say:   Please think about that some more     What is understood:     Good idea, keep developing it     What the English mean:  It is a bad idea. Don't do it          What the English say:   I'm sure it is my fault     What is understood:     It was their fault     What the English mean:  It is your fault!          What the English say:   That is an original point of view     What is understood:     They like my ideas     What the English mean:  You must be crazy


Noun for someone whose secret has been discovered?

Is there a one-word noun for someone who has been lying or keeping a secret, but who has been found out? I can think of descriptors that aren’t nouns ( _exposed, found out_ , etc.) but I’m looking for a noun that means the actual person who has been exposed or found out, etc.


When to use double "L"?

First of all, English is not my first language, so please excuse me if my question sounds dumb. Secondly, I've seen this question but I don't believe it applies, tho I've been wrong before :P. For example:   * bravely is spelled with one "L"   * dynamically is spelled with two "L" What is the rule behind this ?


What are other ways to say "virtually impossible"?

What are other ways of saying "virtually impossible"?


Meaning of a statement from The Economist

This is a sentence from The Economist: > IT IS growing harder to distinguish one bloody day in Syria from the next, > unless the horror is so stark as to earn a special mark in the trajectory of > an increasingly gruesome conflict. Please help me in understanding this statement. I am unable to get the accurate meaning. Also help me understand the statement after "Unless".


Antonyms of "lesser" and "greater"

The opposite of "lesser" is "greater or equal" and vice versa. Does the English language have single word antonyms for "lesser" and "greater"?


"A swashed H" - valid description?

Can the typography term "swash", meaning a flourish on a letter or character, be used as a verb?


"Deliberate recluse" or "deliberately reclusive"

I was touching up my profile when I came upon this: > Aspiring autodidact, **deliberate recluse**. Is the phrase _deliberate recluse_ syntactically correct, or should I use _deliberately reclusive_ instead?


'I get it' vs. 'I got it'

When someone tells me something, how should I respond, "I get it" or "I got it"? I have a feeling that "I got it" means "I already knew the thing before you told me," and "I get it" means "Now I know the thing, because you just told me." Is that right?


Semantical difference between "must not" and "not allowed to"

Both forms express an obligation not to do something (although one phrases it by declaring that permission is missing). I figure that _must not_ sounds a little more urging but what I am interested in is this: Are both phrases semantically interchangeable or are there situations in which only one will work? If so, why?


What's the word for a migration from a manual-based system to a IT-based system?

For example, a company that has been using traditional mail can switch to e-mail. I want a generic term for such migrations (other example, tracking system, scheduling, etc.). Perhaps also Question & Answer systems ;) I heard of _automatization_ but it is not exactly what I want here, because the new process might still require manual human actions, it's just that it's computer based so there's less hassle. I'm not sure whether _computerization_ is a valid word and what it means.. Any ideas?


How to say "Big families" in English?

Is there any appropriate phrase to say "big families"? included my own family (father, mother), my aunt's family, my uncle's family, grandma, grandpa etc.?


"The" for laying emphasis

Is this a correct statement? "The lion and tiger belong to the cat family." Or should it be - "The lion and _the_ tiger belong to the cat family."


"I think that ... not ... " and "I don't think that ..."

Are there differences between negating the dependent clause and negating the independent clause? > I think this is not the reason. > > I don't think this is the reason.


Which is correct, "on-line" or "online"?

I am still seeing uses of _on-line_ , though I think it is incorrect. For example: > A web browser enables a user to go on-line/online. Can you tell me which is the more appropriate to use, _on-line_ or _online_?


Me or Myself? Reflexive pronoun?

This is to confirm the number of people for an event I am hosting with someone else; which of the following is correct: > A. Until then, if you all could confirm your attendance [either] with John > or myself [,] it'd be highly appreciated. > > B. Until then, if you all could confirm your attendance with [either] John > or me [,] it'd be highly appreciated. > > C. Until then, if you all could confirm your attendance with [either] John > or I [,] it'd be highly appreciated. Do I need _either_ , and a comma as well?


Difference between "not as...as" and "not ...er than"

In what kind of situation can we use "not as...as" not "not ...er than"? > This question is not as easy as that one.   >  This question is not easier than that one.   >  This question is more difficult than that one. I feel these three sentences indicate the same concept. How can we distinguish how to use these three sentences?


"Would you mind and do something" in nonstandard colloquial AE

Just curious, does "Would you mind and do something" instead of "Would you mind doing something" sound acceptable in spoken AE, or is it an attempt to imitate or render colloquial speech in not so formal writing? > Would you mind and provide the phone number connected on the account? source > > Would you mind and tell us what you've tried. source > > Would you mind and not steal my Sig. source > > Would you mind and not repeat that to anyone.


What is the plural of "hair" when it refers to the hair of multiple people?

I understand that "hairs" is plural when talking about multiple hairs, as in "my hairs have split ends", and that "hair" is singular when talking about ones collection of hairs, such as "my hair is blue". However, I'd like to know what the plural form is when I am talking about the collections of hairs of multiple people. "We must wait until our **__** dry" Furthermore, if the answer is "hair" which is typically singular, then would it be "We must wait until our hair dry" or "We must wait until our hair dries"?


as though Pharaoh should set the Israelites to make a pin instead of a pyramid

From An Apology For Idlers, by Stevenson: > And yet you see merchants who go and labour themselves into a great fortune > and thence into the bankruptcy court; scribblers who keep scribbling at > little articles until their temper is a cross to all who come about them, > **as though Pharaoh should set the Israelites to make a pin instead of a > pyramid** : and fine young men who work themselves into a decline, and are > driven off in a hearse with white plumes upon it. I don't understand how scribblers are related to a Pharaoh and why pin instead of a pyramid; seems like an unrelated bit of text. If the results of their scribblings would be perfect, some "Pharaoh" will erect a pin in their honor? O_o The thought of Pharaoh demanding Israelites to manufacture one pin is strange. I tried to scan googlebooks, but the meaning is not clarified. One footnote merely explains who the Pharaohs were and directs the reader to the Book of Exodus for the history of their relations with Israelites.


What is the term for increasing remuneration of a person on account of him/her being paid less than their counterparts erstwhile.

What do you call the action by an employer where he/she increases the salary of person a to the level of person b on grounds that person a and b are performing at the same level but person a was being paid less than person b earlier.


Restrain vs curb

In an exam I found this phrase: > There was very strong support for the police who were determined to (curb) > this kind of crime. There was a choice between _restrain_ and _curb_. Why was _curb_ the right word?


Meaning of “under issue”

I was recently checking for the status of an application filed for a specific purpose when I came across the phrase “under issue” as in “the letter dated xxx is _under issue_ ”. My question is, how can something be _under_ issue? It can either be issued or not. Does it mean that the letter is yet to be issued?


What is the correct term used to describe this tense in English — Present Progressive or Present Continuous? I see both terms used in grammar books.


What is the origin of the phrase "beyond the pale"?

What's the origin of the phrase 'beyond the pale'?


Is it correct to use "are you" instead of "if you're"?

As an example: > This is a good read, are you interested in more related topics. What are these type of sentences called? Does it follow the same grammar as: > Should you require more information please do not hesitate to contact me.


origin of phrase 'stone the crows'

Just as the title says — where, and how, did the phrase 'stone the crows' originate?


What's the word Copyright and `(C)' mean?

In the lines: > Copyright (C) 1994 Tom   >  Copyright (C) 1995, 1996 Cruise   >  Copyright (C) 1997, 1998 Louis Here, what's the original meaning of "Copyright"? And why the mark "(C)"? And, what is indeed granted by the Copyright string? For example: > Copyright (C) 1994 Tom Does this mean that Tom has _the right of copy_ , e.g. copy something mentioned to everyone in the world in the year of 1994? And after the year 1994 he won't have the copy right anymore? What's the difference between the following? >   1. Copyright (C) 2000–2010 Lily Ponder >   2. Copyright 2000–2010 Lily Ponder > And, Can I write something like > Copyright (C) 2000-3000 Lily Ponder to protect the copyright forever?


Archaic text suggestions

I'm interested in learning Archaic English. As a starting point, I guess simple texts that are easy to comprehend would be a good choice. I would appreciate any suggestions.


The use of "will" in assumptions

We can use _will_ for both past and future assumptions. But how do we differentiate if it refers to past assurance or future possibility? For example: > You _will_ know all about Rachel, of course. Now this conveys two possible meanings 1.) It is a past assumption and the speaker implies that the person knows about Rachel for sure. 2.) It could also mean that the person _will_ know about Rachel at some point in the future. Another example: > He will have finished eating supper ~~now.~~ So how do we know if it refers to the past or the future? Do we need to change our intonation while speaking?


Meaning of "being sold as a silver-bullet"

I was reading an article about software developers and read that _something is being sold as a silver-bullet_. What does it mean?


Has the use of the idiom "last week" surpassed the use of the correct "yester-week"?

In his book _Write It Right_ , which was published in 1909 -– a hundred years ago -- Ambrose Bierce disagreed with the usage of the words “Last” and “Past” with “week”. He explained : > Last and Past. “Last week.” “The past week.” Neither is accurate: a week > cannot be the last if another is already begun; and all weeks except this > one are past. Here two wrongs seem to make a right: we can say the week last > past. But will we? I trow not. And H. W. Fowler agreed with those sentiments in his Fowler's _Modern English Usage 1st Ed_. > __4\. Last) (latest. In this now favourite antithesis (Dr Marshall's latest, > but we hope not his last, contribution) we are reminded that latest means > last up to now only, whereas last does not exclude the future. The > distinction is a convenient one, & the use of latest for last is described > by the OED as ' now archaic & poetical'. But no corresponding agreement has > yet been reached for abstaining from last when latest would be the more > precise word, & many idioms militate against it (last Tuesday; last year ; > for the last fortnight; on the last occasion ; as I said in my last). And his successor, R. W. Burchfield, also agreed, in _New Folwer's Modern English Usage 3rd Ed._ > __4\. Last/Latest. In such a context as “In his latest book, Dr. A…”, it is > clear that Dr. A has written earlier books and that he is still alive and > may well write others. If the statement runs “In his last book, Dr A…” the > meaning could be the same, or it could also imply that this was the final > book written by Dr A before he died. It is obvious, therefore, that if there > is any danger of contextual ambiguity some word other than last should be > used. In many idiomatic phrases last is still the only possible adj. of the > two: = most recent; next before a specified time ( last Christmas; last > week); = preceding; previous in a series ( got on at the last station); = > only remaining ( the last biscuit; our last chance); ( preceded by the) = > the least likely or suitable ( the last person I’d want to see; the last > thing I’d have expected; = the lowest in order ( the last name on the list). Nevertheless, the _Oxford English Dictionary 2nd Ed_ described _yester_ as: > yester- > > in comb. or as prefix = immediately preceding the present, last, in > yestereve, etc., after yesterday, yesternight; e.g. yester-afternoon, > yester-age, yester-noon, yester-tempest, yester-week. See also yester-year. Of course, I admit I've always thought that _last week_ was the week before this. So my question is: Do you think that use of the idiom _last week_ has overpowered the correct usage "yester-week"?


What is more appropriate, "data" or "information" when referring to facts about something. What's the difference really?

The Computer Studies teacher quipped, "There is a lot of data out there regarding HTML programming". What does this really mean? Will it make any difference if the teacher had used "information" in place of "data"?


Can "mode" be used as "mean" and "median" are?

It'd be normal to hear sentences like these: > The mean ticket price for the concert was $56.50. > > The median ticket price for the concert was $61. But what about: > The mode ticket price for the concert was $40. Is this an acceptable way to use the word "mode?" I would typically expect to hear, "The mode of ticket prices for the concert was $40," but the former arrangement is nice because it's more concise.


Noun genders in Moby Dick

English nouns do not have grammatical gender. But in Moby Dick, some nouns do seem to have gender, like "ship" (feminine) and "whale" (masculine). Some passages: > And now the time of tide has come; the **ship** casts off **her** cables. > > Nor was it **his** unwonted magnitude, nor **his** remarkable hue, nor yet > **his** deformed lower jaw, that so much invested the **whale** with natural > terror (...). Is this some kind of non-standard variety of the language?


Word for answering the question you wish had been asked not the one asked?

This is really common with politicians where they answer a potentially probing question as if they had been asked an entirely other question. Hypothetical example: > Interviewer: "Is it true that today's budget will put single parents out on > the street due to the draconian cuts to childcare supports?" > > Politician: "That's a great question, Interviewer. Families are our top > priority as the government of country X because we've been talking to > citizens of country X and they've told us how important their families are > to them. That's why we are boosting the economy of country X to help > families by taking the restrictions off business so they can afford to pay > the citizens of country X more..." I know broadly this would be called 'spin' or 'obfuscation' but I'm interested to know if a term exists for this more specifically. Is there a word for this type of question dodging?


Is there a difference between "to air" and "to broadcast"?

What is the difference, if any, in the use of the verbs _to air_ and _to broadcast_?


"Bearer of good news" & "bearer of bad news" are called?

> The person who brings a good(good news messenger) news is called ? similarly > the person who brings the bad news(bad news messenger) is called ? In this generation that may be same person. But earlier(in ancient times during Kings) they had different people for such tasks. Thus one would get the good one and other would being the bad news. I am looking for a single word that describes good news bearer and bad news bearer. OR a common word for both. Thanks in advance.


Meaning of "A man has as many masters as he has vices."

What does this saying mean? It was said by Augustine of Hippo, but I do not exactly understand it. Thanks. > A man has as many masters as he has vices.


According to me, it was acceptable, but according to him, it wasn't

I once had a piece of written work corrected by a very experienced English teacher who told me that writing " _according to me_ " sounded weird and nobody who was English/British would ever say it. I didn't question him, as there was another teacher, Australian, who nodded her approval and so, blushing I murmured "thanks" and felt terribly awkward and almost ashamed. I surmised that my "mistake" must have stemmed from my living too many years in Italy. After years of exposure to the Italian equivalent; _secondo me_ ("according to" me); _secondo te_ (...you); _secondo a lui/lei_ , (... him/her); _secondo noi_ (...us); and _secondo loro_ (...them). "According to me" just sounded natural to my ears. Fast forward to this summer and what do I discover on EL&U? That my mistake was in fact, _grammatically_ correct. Is the phrase "according to me" correct? > It's certainly grammatical. Whether and where you use it is entirely a > matter of personal choice. Another user posted this answer: > The use _according to me_ is correct, but it doesn't have the same meaning > as _in my opinion_. > > The form _according to nn_ is used when _nn_ is some kind of authority, so > if you are using it on yourself, you are also implying that you are an > authority in the field. I prefer the second answer because it explains why _according to me_ sounded odd to the English language teacher. I now no longer make this mistake but after all this time, it still bothers me. Who is to say, that by saying _according to him_ the nominated person is an authority. If I say: > According to my brother, our father will have to go to a nursing home one > day. Would that be technically wrong? "My brother" is not an authority, and he may be younger than I am. If I were to rebuke this claim by saying: > Well, _according to me_ he shouldn't. He would hate losing his freedom and > independence. Would a native English speaker find this phrase _odd_ and even laughable?


Does ‘legit intel” pass as a usual English word?

I found the word, “legit intel” in the following sentence of Maureen Dowd’s article titled “Shadow of a Doubt” in today’s (September 3) New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/opinion/dowd-shadow-of-a-doubt.html?hp > “Once more, we’re vociferously debating whether to slap down a murderous > dictator who has gassed his own people, and whether we have **the legit > intel** to prove he used W.M.D. > > Many around the president are making the case that if he doesn’t stand firm > on his line in the sand, having gotten so far out on a limb, he’ll look weak > and America will lose face and embolden its foes.” Though GoogleNgram shows no incidence of “legit intel,” I surmise it is an abbreviated form of legitimate intelligence from the context. Does the phrase have currency? If so, is it more common in writing or in day- to-day conversation? If not, is it simply a part of Ms. Dowd's idiolect?


Word to describe difficult to keep request

I am looking for a word which can used in the following blank space: I understand the ____ nature of the request; hence a negative answer will not change anything between us. The word needs to describe a request which is difficult, a bit imposing, and the favour is too big. Thanks very much


Is there a word for a driver who changes lanes often?

In Russian, a driver whose driving style includes changing lanes often, squeezing into any small hole, may be called _шашист_ ("checkers player") or _вышивальщик_ ("embroiderer"), because of fast diagonal moves they're making on the road. Is there a similar word or short phrase in English (slang is OK)? I'm not searching for a word to describe aggressive driving style in general (like speeding, tailgating etc.), but rather for this specific behavior.


Is the phrase "please kindly" redundant?

The colleagues in my office often send email starting with "Please kindly". Are the two phrases a bit redundant?


Does "will you stop here, please" express a command or exhortation?

> Will you stop here, please. Does the sentence express a command or exhortation? Is it equivalent to say, "Stop here!" or does it have an additional/different meaning?


"Visualized" equivalent adjective for audio

Are there such words as "audiolized" or "audibilized"? **EDIT:** Merriam-Webster has the word Audibilized indexed with no definition! ~~What I was trying to achieve was to say that`something is an audibilized presentation of some other thing`, exactly the same way we use `visualized presentation`.~~ **EDIT:** This is a visualization of a sort algorithm. Therefore this is ...? Audilization? Auralization? Sound representation? **EDIT:** This one as well.


What does "educated" mean in "educated guess"?

> Make an educated guess. What is the meaning of _educated_ in the sentence?


"Such requests" versus "those requests"

What is the difference between _such requests_ , and _these/those requests_? For example, consider these sentences that are preceded from a sentence making a list of requests: > Such requests cannot be accepted. > > These requests cannot be accepted. What is the difference between the first, and the second sentence?


Why is a bathroom sometimes called a "john"?

"John" is sometimes used as slang for a bathroom or a toilet. I'm curious, what is the origin of this usage?


What do you call a Swiss man?

So we call a French male "Frenchman", an English male "Englishman", and a Dutch male "Dutchman". what do we call Swiss males? "Swissman" comes to mind, but it sounds like a cheesy version of Superman, like "Cheddarman" or "Mozzarellaman".


John Smith Esquire v. John Smith Attorney v. John Smith Attorney at Law

Which is the most proper way to sign a letter? John Smith Esquire, John Smith Attorney or John Smith Attorney at Law. Besides, does each of those categories denote different levels of engagement in the legal profession?


"Explain" versus "Explicate"

Is there a difference in meaning between the words ' ** _explain_** ' and ' ** _explicate_** ', or are they interchangeable? It seems that _explicate_ is just a very formal (pretentious?) version of _explain_ , that is used in philosophical and artistic contexts. Every time I've seen the word _explicate_ used, it could be replaced by _explain_ with no loss of clarity.


Meaning of "let bygones be bygones"

What is the exact meaning of the phrase _let bygones be bygones_? If I had a fight with my best friend and then say it, which of the following does it mean?   1. I want to forget the past and reconcile and get back to friendship.   2. I want to forget the past but not reconcile and get back to friendship.


A word for female bonding

A _bromance_ is "a close but non-sexual relationship between two men". Is there an equivalent for women? IMO, _sisterhood_ doesn't really fit.


Incorrect expression "In that moment"

I was doing an exercise and I found this one: Correct one word in the incorrect expression "In that moment, the door opened" (the exercise highlights "In that moment" part). However, I think it is good, I don't know what is wrong with this. Thanks.


How should I write "Why questions"?

I would like to know how to properly write, somewhere in a paragraph, the phrase "Why questions". By which I mean questions of the form "Why... ?". The sentence I would like to write is "How to answer why questions." How do I format it? Possibilities: >   1. How to answer why questions. >   2. How to answer _why_ questions. >   3. How to answer _why?_ questions. >   4. How to answer 'why' questions. >   5. How to answer "why" questions. >   6. How to answer "why?" questions. > I thought 3 would be best but I would appreciate a second (third, etc.) opinion.


"it is may happen" is correct or not?

The meaning of **hope** given in Simple Wiktionary as When someone hopes that something will happen, it means that they want it to happen and they think **it is may happen**. This **it is may happen** is correct or not? I think "it may happen" is sufficient.


Does the word 'nab' necessarily have negative connotations?

I was about to use this word in an email to refer to its recipient, as in: > I was the guy who nabbed you as you were leaving to ask about ... I'm going for a friendly, familiar tone. Is my usage of 'nab' inappropriate? Looking it up in the Oxford Dictionary: > verb (nabs, nabbing, nabbed) [with object] informal > > catch (someone) doing something wrong:   >  _the Feds nabbed a suspected terrorist_ > > take, grab, or steal (something):   >  _Dan nabbed the seat next to mine_


Like "relinquish" but less extreme

What alternatives are there for relinquish or abdicate in a business setting? For example: > Business X is willing to [relinquish] their preexisting partnership for this > opportunity.


Which adjectives can describe verbs?

Certain nouns can also be verbs, i.e. `run` or `play`. Some adjectives can be applied to both forms of such a word, by switching the positioning: >   * Run fast >   * Fast run >   * Play clean >   * Clean play > But this isn't always possible -- `Play seriously` vs `serious play` \-- the adjective changes its form. What is the name for this? I'm looking for a list of adjectives that go after a verb. P.S. The tag "adjectives" claims that adjectives are only applied to nouns.


Either + plural noun + plural verb

I know that "either" is singular as is "neither". But I've seen it used as a plural pronoun. Take this sentence for example: > It's the only chance either of us have of getting home. Is this usage informal? If it is, then I think the above sentence should be re-written like this: > It's the only chance either of us has of getting home. Am I correct?


Is there a proper name for the 3 asterisks that are used to suggest temporal discontinuity?

For example, when some long prose passage ends, this appears: * * * Then some new prose passage begins. The three asterisks dividing the two prose sections are understood to divide the two sections into non-continuous temporal spaces. I am interested in knowing if there is a _specific name_ to describe _symbolic or graphical_ markings that are meant to suggest _temporal discontinuity_.


Single word for "break" with professional connotation

What is a nice way to explain that performing a certain action will "break" a product? I have to explain to a customer that use of my product in an unauthorized manner will "break" the product, but I'd like to use a word that has the same meaning but more professional connotation while maintaining the robustness/integrity of my product in their eyes.


Is "made" in this sense stative or dynamic?

> "Several subsequent voyages **were made**." Is the verb "made" here stative or dynamic?


Alternate Phrase for "contact us"

I need another way to say "contact us" for a form I am building.


What examples are there of a double positive conveying a negative meaning?

Generally, a double negative implies a positive. > I'm not going nowhere (So I must be going somewhere) Although, in colloquial or illiterate circles it may not. > We don't need no stinkin' badges. What examples are there of a double positive implying a negative?


Why "beat around the bush?"

I personally find the term "beat around the bush weird", where did it originate from?


What is the common name for brackets, braces, and parentheses?

I need to name a variable containing `()[]{}`, what is the common name for all of them? Two side questions:   * parentheses is plural, or singular, or both?   * is abbreviating it as `parens` understandable?


Is "Old lady what" grammatical or idiomatic?

I was telling a joke to one of my friends. > --Knock knock   >  --Who's there?   >  --Old lady   >  --Old lady who?   >  --You don't need to yodel! Problem is, instead of asking "Old lady who?", my friend asked "Old lady what?", thereby ruining the joke, but more importantly, making me wonder: is it actually correct (grammatical and/or idiomatic) to say that? Does it change the meaning at all?


"It had not been working as I thought" vs. "It was not working as I thought"?

I want to convey that I recently discovered that a software code was not working like I thought it was working...I'm not sure how to phrase it correctly. Which A phrase goes with which B phrase? A1. I discovered today that the code was not working A2. I discovered today that the code had not been working B1. like I thought it was working. B2. like I had thought it was working. B3. like I had thought it had been working.


When distinguishing 'in which' and 'which' is ambiguous

I'm a Korean high school student (who really likes reading English novels), and I'm curious regarding the usage of 'in which' and 'which' in a sentence. Which one do I have to use in the following sentence? "There is clearly a point beyond (which/in which) running the exercise becomes running the art." I thought that 'in which' would be a better one, but my teacher disagreed. Can't I use 'in which' in this case? Plus, since this is a sentence from a textbook written by Korean authors, I wonder if it has even the slightest awkwardness, when viewed from a native speaker.


Where are phrases such as "my one friend" used?

I occasionally hear someone use the phrase "my one friend" to mean "one of my friends". To me it sounds like they only have one. Where is this form used most?


Is "denormalized" a word?

I use it all the time since I work with databases, but every time I write it somewhere with spell check I get the squiggly line below it. I've seen other people spell it with an "s" instead of a "z" but neither have an entry in the Merriam Webster dictionary.   * http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denormalized   * http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denormalised Is this just technical jargon or am I misspelling it?


"Sections X to Y" or "Sections X through Y"?

When referring to text that is in a set of consecutive sections, is there a difference in writing > "Sections X to Y" compared to > "Sections X through Y" ? My intended meaning is to include both Section X and Section Y, and any section in between them.


Which is correct — period, semicolon, or colon?

>   * Each day, difficult choices have to be made. Who will live, and who will > die? >   * Each day, difficult choices have to be made; Who will live, and who will > die? >   * Each day, difficult choices have to be made: Who will live, and who will > die? >


Using Either a Comma or a Semicolon

My teacher was explaining how sometimes a comma isn't enough to make a sentence correct, and that sometimes you have to use a semicolon. I am having trouble figuring out when you should use which. Can someone please explain?


Is the following a correct use of "which in itself?"

> The tree was thick and tall as a watch tower. Its branches resembled twisted > arms, and they had so few leaves you could count them with your fingers. > Like some kind of parasites, moss covered almost the totality of its > surface— **which in itself** was filled with curves, holes, and other > deformities. I'm not sure why I placed it there. At first I only wrote _which_ , but I felt something was missing.


A single word for a building located in the centre of fork (intersection)?

So there is this kind of building located in the centre of a fork in the road (maybe in streets too). I don't know how to put it into words, but it looks like this: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/w3aVj.jpg) Or this: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/DsoUA.jpg) Is there a single English word for that kind of building? If it is a house, is there another name for that? In my native language (Indonesian), it's called _Rumah Tusuk Sate_. Which if translated bluntly into English, it's _Skewer House_ , which sounds a bit weird to me.


What does "though" mean in these sentences?

I knew these are American English sentences, and they are informal. However, I would like to know what exactly it means, or it simply means nothing, and people merely want to add something unnecessary at the end of a sentence, because it sounds fetch. Sentences like: >   1. His denim jacket, though. >   2. I love the way he talks, though. >   3. For real, though. >   4. Really, though. >   5. What's up though >   6. When are you coming over, though? >


Meaning of "as it was" in context

What does it mean "as it was" in this context? > She was awakened by a shock, so sudden and severe that if Dorothy had not > been lying on the soft bed she might have been hurt. **As it was** , the jar > made her catch her breath and wonder what had happened. It could be intended literally like: "as it happens" or but idiomatically, like "as it is" (in its current state / as the situation stands) or "as it were" (so to speak)? # Back to this question, which phrase was from The Wizard of Oz too, I would add other two phrases always from the same book were the meaning is of "as it is/was" in not so literal:   * "they would surely have destroyed me. **As it was** , I lived in deadly fear of them for many years"   * "There is only one thing I ask in return for my help—such **as it is**. You must keep my secret and tell no one I am a humbug"


Omitting "there" in a sentence

Can I omit _there_ in the following question: > How much juice is there in the bottle? When is it possible to omit _there_ in a sentence? Any references to grammar sources are welcome and expected.


Is the word "gig" formal?

I'd like to know whether the word **gig** (temporary job) is formal or colloquial. Always that I've read it, it has been in forums. I have never heard it or read it somewhere else, just in forums, which make me wonder about the formality of this word.


May I capitalize "more" in the phrase: Learn more.?

As part of some instructions, the text concludes with the phrase "Learn more." This phrase is also a link. In some cases, I have been asked to make 'more' capitalized. I don't think this is correct as it is not a noun or at the beginning of a sentence. Any clarity of this would be helpful.


Part of speech of “clean” in “burn the prophet clean”

Please guide me for the part of speech of _clean_ here in this extract: > He had schooled him in the evils that befall prophets; in those that come > from the world, which are trifling, and those that come from the Lord and > burn the prophet clean;   >  for he himself had been burned clean and burned clean again. He had learned > by fire. Excerpt from _The Violent Bear It Away_ , by Flannery O’Connor.


Should "afford" be transitive in "my chosen path has afforded (to) me unique opportunities"?

In a college essay I wrote a sentence that reads: > Sixteen years later, my chosen path has afforded to me unique opportunities, > limitless learning, and potential for growth. Should I use the verb _offered_ or _afforded_? After that, should I use _to me_ , or _me_?


Do you say "thirty past six"?

When telling the time, are the following expressions legal or natural to native speakers: e.g.: 1\. It's thirty past six _(without adding "minutes")_. 2\. It's half an hour past six _(adding "an hour")_. Also, are there any difference or restrictions between using _after_ and _past_ (Are they ALWAYS interchangeable)? And is it common to use preposition _to_ in "It's twenty-three to seven"(weird for me because 6:37 is definitely more straightforward, so why bother say it the other way round)?


Types of things vs. types of thing

When speaking precisely or technically, one would say that "Homo erectus and homo sapiens are two species of hominid" rather than "Homo erectus and homo sapiens are two species of hominids." The _hominid_ here should be singular because we are speaking about instances of a single class ("class" being used here in its broader sense, not in the sense of taxonomic grouping). Now let's consider more common parallel constructions replacing the word _species_ with other words. > Tide and Wisk are two brands of detergent.   >  Tide and Wisk are two brands of detergents. > > Cats and dogs are two types of pet you can buy at Pets-R-Us.   >  Cats and dogs are two types of pets you can buy at Pets-R-Us. I feel that using the singular noun to specify the class is more grammatically correct, but sounds stilted in conversation. Almost everyone I hear making these constructions uses the plural form. What are your thoughts about singular vs. plural here? **Edit** Here's a more extreme example that may help clarify the issue. Consider the following sentence: > It was my first attempt at calming an angry crowd, and I just stood there > while people were hurling all kinds of insults at me. Here I think the singular _insult_ sounds strange, if not downright wrong. **Further Edit** I just noticed in _A Treasury for Word Lovers_ (Morton S. Freeman, 1983) a section entitled "Types of Errors." This is a book about (American) English usage by an English professor and editor, which purports to be a "practical guide for serious writers and readers." I wish I could say this discovery satisfies the question, but in fact I now feel somewhat farther from the truth, if there is any single "truth" in this matter, although at least I don't have to worry about being wrong when using the plural form of the class in these constructions.


Must the noun that follows "all kinds of" be plural?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Types of things vs. types of thing >   1. I like all kinds of apples. > >   2. I like all kinds of apple. > > Which is more natural?


"Types of" followed by singular or plural?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Types of things vs. types of thing When using the phrase "types of" or "kinds of," it often seems appropriate to follow with a singular noun (e.g., types of rock), but at other times a plural noun sounds better (e.g., types of sentences). Is there some kind of rule about this?


What type of word describes someone who performs an action?

In English most verbs have a form that describes the person that performs the action. Some examples would be Runner, Climber, or Jumper. What are these kinds of words called? Are the called the same thing as words like Guitarist, Pianist, or Scriptorian?


Is it "is being build" or "is being built"?

> Channel is being **build** with aid of latest technologies available today. Is the above line correct? or should built be used instead of build? What is the grammatic logic to follow so I understand why particular one is used.


What is the English counterpart to the Japanese ‘Insei’ – rule by a retired emperor/leader?

There was a following statement in Time magazine’s article (February 25) titled “Second Act” dealing with the step-down of the former Pope Benedict XVI: > The new Pope will be indebted to Benedict XVI. -- and even though he won't > be in the Sistine Chapel when the voting takes place, Benedict is bound to > influence the outcome. This sort of informal influence has proved powerful > in other cultures--particularly premodern Japan, where retired shoguns and > Emperors continued to make pivotal decisions. Thus, just by watching from > the sidelines, Ratzinger will be subtly able to champion his conservative > theological and social policies--an über-Pope of sorts. This statement is true. Actually many incumbent Emperors were just nominal and powerless in Japan during the Middle Ages and controlled by retired emperors behind the curtain. We call this “informal influence“ of the retired ruler or leader including chairman of a company ‘Insei – 院政 in Japanese, and ‘Readers English Japanese Dictionary’ at hand translates ‘Insei’ to ‘rule by a retired emperor – insei.” Although Readers Dictionary shows the word “Insei,” as if it is already adopted to English language like 'Mikado' or ‘Shogun,’ I doubt its currency as an English word. With that said, what is the English counterpart of “Insei” in shorter form, say two words, than “rule by a cloistered emperor”?


Grammaticality of "help someone something"

A few times I've encountered phrases of the form "help yourself [something]", for example "help yourself some water". I consider this form to be ungrammatical, but I am not a native speaker. Is it correct to say so?


Singular/plural possessive form of fish?

The singular form of _fish_ is _fish_. The plural form of _fish_ is also _fish_. What are their possessive forms?


Present Simple instead of Present Perfect

I have come across interesting cases several times where the Present Simple is used instead of the Present Perfect. For example: 1) Lately I get the feeling that I am not so much being pulled down as I am being pushed. (from the movie - "Friends") 2) Man, have you noticed how much more time Paul spends at the gym lately? (taken from this discussion Present continuous to discuss action's frequency) As a rule, "lately" invites the Present Perfect which means that it would be more correct in accordance with grammar rules to say: Lately I've got the feeling... .. have you noticed how much more time Paul has spent/been spending... I, by no means, intend to say that this usage is not idiomatic, as these sentences were uttered by native speakers, I just would like to get some of your thoughts and explanations why it is possible to use the Present Simple here. I'd like also to know if the Present Perfect would be a good substitution. Examples illustrating this usage are very welcome.


Should I preserve spelling when quoting American English in a British English text, or vice versa?

Suppose I am writing an (academic) text in British English, but have to quote a text from an author who writes in American English. Should I preserve the author's original spelling, or convert it to my text's spelling standards? _This question is intended to be closed as a duplicate ofWhen quoting speakers of another English dialect than your own, should you spell things their way? to improve Google visibility. (I did not manage to find that question through Google during my initial search, even though it is one of the best resources on the topic. This question supplies key words which the original doesn't have.)_


Origin of "one man's noise is another man's signal"

This _variant_ of the saying probably comes from signal processing. It is in Wikipedia somewhat attributed to Edward W. Ng (his "famous quotes", 1990 interview in NYT) however that cannot be correct, as Google Books has matches the 1960s: Google Books Closely related question: Origin of "one man's trash is another man's treasure" A direct predecessor probably is: "one man's noise may be another man's music". And the oldest version probably is by Lucretius, ca. first century BC (thanks, Andrew Leach): > "What is food to one, is to others bitter poison." So assume I want to use the **"signal – noise" variant** of this saying, how should I attribute it? I of course did not make it up myself, but it is from before christ; however this specific "singal processing" adaption is probably from the 1960s. Obviously I can cite Lucretius, or Edward W. Ng, or one of the matches in the 60s...   * Do you know any good early source of this variant of the idiom that I could cite?   * Is there a good alternative way of using this quote as introduction to a topic? Should I write "vernacular" as source instead?


What does "3-sigma" type of event mean?

What does "3-sigma" type of event mean? For example, > Hurricane Sandy is a 3-sigma type of event.


"Native" names and "western" names?

When Chinese, Koreans, and possibly other Asians migrate into countries like the UK or the US, they often take on a "western" or "anglicised" name for a number of reasons. For example, the director Justin Lin's Chinese (well, Taiwanese) name is _Yipin Lin_. I'd like to know how to refer to the two variants: Yipin Lin is his **___ __ ___** name while Justin Lin is his **___ __ ___** name. _Ideally_ , I'd like to avoid nationalities (Chinese/Korean) and regions/languages ("western"/"anglicised") in preference to generic terms. P.S. I want to avoid connotations of _replacement_ as both names are often equally valid and current.


A word for someone who does not keep up with popular culture

Person _A_ does not keep up with celebrities or popular entertainment. _A_ knows that they exist, so I don't think _sheltered_ is the right word. Also, would it be a different word if _A_ tried to forced herself to learn it?