Why CIA’s operation directed to suspicious people associated with terrorist group is called “Signature strike”

There was the following article in the Time magazine’ (February 11) titled “Drone home,” > “According to reports in the New York Times and elsewhere, the Obama > administration conducts so-called **signature strikes** , which are aimed > not at specific high-level targets but at any person or people whose > behavior conforms to certain suspicious patterns." I understand that what “Signature strike” means with the line modified by which clause after the words, signature strikes in the above article and with the following statement in the Wired (11/04/11) > The CIA is now killing people without knowing who they are, on suspicion of > association with terrorist groups. The article does not define the standards > are for “suspicion” and “association.” Strikes targeting those people — > usually “groups” of such people — are called “ **signature strikes"**. > –wired 11/04/11 I’m curious to know the etymology of “signature strikes.” I mean, why CIA operation aimed at any suspicious people who are judged to be associated with terrorist group is called “Signature” strikes? OALED defines “signature” other than 'your name as you usually write it at the end of letter'as:   1. the act of signing sth.   2. a particular quality that makes sth different from other similar things and make it easy to recognize.  I can’t relate either of the above definitions to the definition of “signature” strikes given by both the Time and the Wired.


'as I've done something I guess something'

I'm kind of confused whether the following sentence is correct or not. I'm specifically not sure about the _As I've done something I guess that.._ part. > As I've completed all lectures, all quizzes and the final project as well I > guess the course is over for me. Thus, I'd like to thank you for your > time... I'm not aware of any grammar rule the sentence would brake but I wanted to be 100 % sure.


Is this sentence structure correct? I catch myself using this structure a lot

This is a line from a story I'm writing: "The blanket had been peeled back, revealing imprints of recent slumber." Is this correct or should I make another sentence for the second clause?


A word for killing a cousin

Almost every type of killing can be described in a single word such as suicide, parricide, genocide, etc. Is there such a term for killing a cousin specifically?


Sieve vs filter? Are they opposites?

If I have a set of numbers, and I say I will filter the primes, that means to me that I will remove the primes, and return the remainder. If I have a set of numbers, and I say I will sieve the primes, that means to me that I will keep the primes, and discard the remainder. Is this correct usage of filter and sieve? Are they opposites? Any alternative verbs that would express the notion of going through a set and choosing only those that meet a particular criteria?


What does "having the mad dumps" mean in this context?

> one judge actually sat in judgment on his own case where the wife was > accused, among other things, of **having the mad dumps** , silently, for > three days This is taken from a piece voicing disapproval against the ease with which divorce could be granted in late 19th century US.


Heterogeneous vs. inhomogeneous

I am puzzled about the word "inhomogeneous." Isn't "heterogeneous", strictly speaking, more correct? Do correct me if I'm wrong, but to me, "inhomogeneous" looks like the Latin prefix "in-" added to a Greek word. As such, it sounds a bit like "aquaphobia" to me.


How do I address people who give feedback?

Do I call them 'Respondent' or are there better words to use? Example of the feedback as follows:               ====================================================================     | Question                                  | Rate (1 to 10: Best) |     ====================================================================     | Technical Knowledge                       |                      |     ====================================================================     | Communication Skills                      |                      |     ====================================================================      When the feedback is completed, there will be an email sent to the owner.                    Dear Mr. Jack,          There is a feedback from a _______ as follows:          ====================================================================     | Question                                  | Rate (1 to 10: Best) |     ====================================================================     | Technical Knowledge                       | 8                    |     ====================================================================     | Communication Skills                      | 9                    |     ====================================================================           Also, there will be a report sent to the owner to sum up each week feedback as follows:                    Dear Mr. Jack,          The following is the feedback for week (1/Jan/2012 to 7/Jan/2012):          ====================================================================     | Total ____________                        | 150                  |     ====================================================================     | Technical Knowledge (Mean Score)          | 8.97                 |     ====================================================================     | Communication Skills (Mean Score)         | 9.21                 |     ====================================================================           The question would be what should I fill in the blank ( ** ___ ____**) as shown in the above? Should it be 'Respondent' or 'Correspondent' or 'Responder' or 'Commenter' or are there better words for it?


Transform negative to affirmative?

What is the affirmative form of the following sentence? > He is neither poor nor honest. I tried, but couldn't transform it from negative to affirmative.


Pronunciation of "automata"

Automata theory is a study in the fields of theoretical computer science and mathematics. See this Wikipedia page for more information. What is the pronunciation of the word _automata_? Is it _auto-m-A-ta_ (where the capital _A_ says its name) or _auto-m-ah-ta_?


Boolean OR in English

What is the English equivalent of boolean-OR, which conveys the meaning of "either of the options or both", as opposed to XOR, which conveys the meaning of "strictly one or the other"? "Either or both" seems right, but still seems awkward. The answer should be easily understood by a non-programmer.


Conditional about a deceased person

"Tom _would_ know about the ledger" in this example the said person is deceased (not alive at the moment) so why can't we use _would have_ in this sentence. Which is more grammatical?


What is the opposite of synecdoche?

If synecdoche represents when a part of a thing or person refers to the whole, what is it called when the whole is used to refer to a part? For example, we often hear about what "The American People want". Yet such claims usually refer to what a segment of the people support. What is that rhetorical device called? Another example, "The students were devastated to hear that the beloved football coach had died." All students? Even those who did not know him? Even those who never watch football? Is this just plain old exaggeration, or is there a word for when the whole is used to refer to a part?


Comma before "and" in "alleging harassment, and retaliation, which has now been..."

> Please be advised that the clerks Intake Specialist Unit is in receipt of > the complaint you filed against Maple Lee alleging harassment, and > retaliation, which has now been assigned Intake #123425. My question is, should there be a comma before _and_ in "alleging harassment, and retaliation"?


Phrase for something that is always out or reach/you almost have but never can get

I believe there is a two-word phrase for something that is always just out of reach for you and which you cannot ever seem to get. (It is **not** _Tantalus_ or anything having to do with Tantalus, please). It’s like a girl you like and want to date, and it almost happens a bunch of times but never materializes. You’d say, “She’s my **__ __**.” I keep thinking _dark horse_ , but that’s not it. Any help?


Synonym for exposure/exposed (in the context of health/disease)

I've used the word exposure three times in a row, and I need to replace one of them to reduce redundancy, but I can't seem to find a fitting synonym. Here's the actual sentences: > What is even more troubling about DDT IRS is the increased human > **exposure**. Since DDT is sprayed directly to the inside walls of homes, > humans are constantly **exposed**. **Exposure** to DDT has been linked to > breast cancer and diabetes, and has been classified as a hormone disruptor > and a possible human carcinogen . I would like to replace the middle "exposed" more than the other two "exposure"'s _EDIT_ FYI IRS in this context stands for indoor residual spraying. Not internal revenue service


Classification of culinary related item called?

Related to this question, what is the classification of culinary items like (ingredients, spices, cooking materials called?)


How to use "of which"?

Is this sentence correct? The object of which you want to monitor the movements Is there another way to say the same thing?


"Need of" vs. "need for"

Is "need of religion" grammatically incorrect as opposed to "need for religion"? Or "need of salt" vs. "need for salt"?


"The program is functional, fast, and finds a solution..."

This triple appears wrong to me: > The demonstrations show that program A is functional, fast, and finds a > solution that program B misses. Because _functional_ and _fast_ are adjectives and both depend on _is_ , while _finds a solution_ does not. Of course, I could say, > The demonstrations show that program A is functional, fast, and **capable of > finding** a solution that program B misses. But, I feel, this is clumsy and conveys a slightly different meaning. Yet another solution would be > The demonstrations show that program A **functions** , is fast, and finds a > solution that program B misses. But I am not sure if _functions_ can/should be used like this. Finally, there is > The demonstrations show that program A is functional **and** fast and finds > a solution that program B misses. Which is also not very nice. I am not a native speaker. Any suggestions would be appreciated. * * * EDIT: I also thought of > The demonstrations show that program A is **both** functional **and** fast > and finds a solution that program B misses.


Infinitive or Gerund for celebration of an event?

Which of the following sentences would be correct in a baby shower invitation.   1. My grandparents are looking forward to **celebrate** my arrival in February.   2. My grandparents are looking forward to **celebrating** my arrival in February. If both are grammatically correct, what is the meaning of each? Which is preferred when the subject is an event?


Is it correct to mix past, present and future tense in a sentence? Is the following sentence correct: > Ask yourself continually, “If I was not doing this already, knowing what I > now know, would I get into it again today?” Is there any other way to re-write the above sentence implying the same meaning?


Can ‘on one’s own’ be an adjective, implying 'while one is alone'?

Can this phrase ‘on one’s own’ be used as a post-modifying adjective phrase like below, meaning ‘while one is alone’? > The gangsters wanted to catch him **on his own**.


How to hyphenate "right mouse click"

What's the proper way to hyphenate the expression "right mouse click". I'm writing documentation for some software I wrote. "Please right mouse click on ...".


"You're too clever a man"

> You're too clever a man to imagine this. The above sentence was said by George Galloway, a man of excellent rhetorical skills. Since he said it, I doubt it's wrong, grammatically. But, I wonder if there is an explanation for this. Because adjectives always come after the article not before it. e.g. _You're a clever man._ How could this be, grammatically?


What do you call the eating of frogs?

"Herpivory"? "Ranophagy"? Hurry, I need to mock a French friend.


Difference between "queue" and "enqueue"

What is the difference between _queue_ and _enqueue_ given that both are verbs?


How to properly say that agreement is still valid/on?

For example, we agreed with a friend to meet in a week, and the day before the meeting I want to make sure nothing has changed about the agreement. So I'd come up with something like > Are we still meeting tomorrow? Is there a better (shorter) way to say/ask this?


What does "shrinking beneath someone's feet" mean?

I just watched _Batman Rises_ on HBO, and I didn't get it when Bruce Wayne spoke about the Cat Woman. He said, "But the ground's shrinking beneath her feet". It seems like it may mean "no one can approach her", but I am not sure.


Usage - lone lonely loner

Is it proper to call someone a lone lonely loner? I take _lone_ to mean **_the only_** , lonely to mean **_feeling sad_** and _loner_ to mean **_someone who prefers being alone_**. So, the usage kind of makes sense to me. Does it actually or is it just redundant word play?


Adjective or adverb describing promotion of self or group one belongs to

Is there an adjective or adverb depicting self-promotion (or promotion of a group one belongs to)? I am thinking of something that has a somewhat negative connotation, in the spirit of phrases   * patting yourself on the back   * shameless self-plug


A coffee to go....( for syntax experts)

Could the infinitive phrase "to go" be a complement of the noun phrase "a coffee"?


Word for words that sound like the sound

In our English lesson, we talked about words that are derived from sounds. Our teacher said they are "anamatapic", but it seems I can't get the spelling right. Even google does not provide a good suggestion for a better spelling. So now I am looking for the word that sounds like "anamatapic" and describes the professional term for words that sound like the sound. Everything's clear? I have tried   * dict.leo.org * * * Close votes: thanks for the meta reference to good resources. The following online resources don't help:   * OED   * Cambridge dictionary   * The free dictionary   * Etymology   * Onelook These will guide to correct results:   * Dictionary.com   * Merriam Webster   * Oxford Dictionaries So, yeah, maybe I could have found it there. And if you try Google now, you'll get a result from a strange website, which is not a dictionary, but some kind of Q&A style forum. Maybe we can put that one in the list of helpful resources, too :-D Also cool: if I would have type the title of this EL&U question into Google instead of the intended word, the first hit is the correct Wikipedia article. I'll try to derive a pattern from this.


Expression/word combination for "object of application"

I need to be able to refer to an object which has/needs something applied to it or used on it. A couple of examples:   * one liter of paint is needed to paint an **area** of 10m².   * 6 birthday candles are needed to decorate a **birthday cake.**   * 1000 bricks are enough to lay a 100m long **pavement** track. What I'm trying to describe here is : area, birthday cake, pavement. The best I've come up with is 'object of application'. I looked it up on Google, and it mostly refers to terms in objective programming, so that wasn't a great deal of help. Any suggestions ?


What does "writing intentions" mean in the following context?

In the following line, I'm not sure what "writing intentions" means at the end. > "Even if you've written 20 scripts before, perhaps you need help on > dialogue, a clearer inciting incident, stronger actions to avoid writing > intentions." "To avoid"? Wow it completely befuddled me there. "Avoid writing intentions"? Isn't "writing" the whole point? How would "avoiding" (it) achieve anything? It defeats the purpose don't you think? First I thought it may be "Writing(, but) 'intentions'". Alternatively, "Writing-intentions" perhaps? Yet again it could mean something altogether different, that I've never come across. Any thoughts on this, be appreciated :) p.s. Since I've been prompted to reword the above, (and am at a loss,) I'd just re-emphasise "writing intentions". Whatever does it mean here? Or anywhere for that matter?


What are some synonyms for 'euphemism'?

A euphemism is a word used to replace another worse sounding word. For example, 'pass away' for 'die', 'battle fatigue' for 'shell shock', 'PTSD' for 'battle fatigue', often a word created to replace a taboo word. A dysphemism is a bit of the opposite, a synonym that sounds -worse- than the original, for example 'boneyard' for 'graveyard'. But there are other directions to take in creating synonyms. Medicalese tends to euphemize to make things palatable, but often there are medical synonyms where the process seems to be more obfuscation or obscurantism than euphemism. For example, 'urinate' is a perfectly neutral technical term, but it is not uncommon to see or hear the (exact) synonym 'micturate'. Unless I am misreading, there is no euphemizing going on, just hiding through a more obscure word. What would the process/describing word be for synonyms that are in another register, colloquial vs. formal (though naturally there is a lot of overlap here with euphemisim/dysphemism)? So what I am looking for are synonyms for euphemism, that go in different directions than just good/bad.


Does the name of an addressee's house need to go in inverted commas on the envelope?

If someone lives at a house called 'Dunroamin' or 'Rose Cottage', or 'The Pig Sty', do you put it in inverted commas in the address on the envelope? e.g. do I write: > Mr & Mrs J. Percival,   >  'The Shambles',   >  Bedrock Rd,   >  Little Snoring,   >  postcode. Or do I write: > Mr & Mrs J. Percival,   >  The Shambles,   >  Bedrock Rd etc.?


Correct use of hyphens in "we offer same day, on site service calls"

What would be the correct hyphenation (if any) for the following sentence? > We offer same day, on site service calls. I was thinking of hyphenating "on-site", but I cannot think why "same day" would not be hyphenated also (other than the fact it looks wrong). Any guidance would be much appreciated, as this is going on the front page of my business website.


Word for "Ready/want to go home"

In Mormon missionary culture, they use the word "trunky" to describe the feeling at the end of their two-year mission when they are tired, ready to go home, and are mentally packing their trunks to go home. They have mentally checked out from their mission at hand. I'm looking for a commonly used word or phrase that means generally the same thing as "trunky".


A word meaning someone who can speak well to influence people

I am looking for an adjective/noun for someone who is able to speak/ makes speeches very well and uses words effectively to influence/impress people.


Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Elements

My mother, Theresa; my brother, Frank; and my sister, Danielle, are going to the meeting. (In this sentence I have one mother, one brother, and one sister.) The sentence is cluttered with punctuation, albeit correct I think. The Associated Press replied and said to strictly use commas (which appear wrong): > My mother, Theresa, my brother, Frank, and my sister, Danielle, are going to > the meeting. They even said that, in the inverted construction, to do this (which looks worse): > Theresa, my mother, Frank, my brother, and Danielle, my sister, are going to > the meeting. Can we get away with removing all the punctuation and punctuate that same sentence thusly? > My mother Theresa, my brother Frank and my sister Danielle are going to the > meeting. (In this sentence I have one mother, one brother, and one sister.) Thank you.


Word meaning "kicking softly" or "brushing with the feet"?

Example: > I walked to the wall window, [...] the sawdust on the floor. I could write _brushing the sawdust with my feet_ but I want a shorter alternative, say a single word. Any suggestions?


What does this double negative mean?

**Nothing in the court papers suggests Grayson was anything but a victim of the scheme.** Does this mean papers suggest he was a victim?


Car, Bus, Airplane, Truck excluding Bicycle

> There are a lot of vehicles: cars, buses, airplanes, trucks excluding > bicycles.   >  There are a lot of vehicles: cars, buses, airplanes, trucks but bicycles.   >  There are a lot of vehicles: cars, buses, airplanes, trucks but not > bicycles. Is the sense of these sentences exactly the same?


"Try forming this shape using [that/it]. [It/that] will match any virus!"

I'm working on a mobile game, and I was wondering about the best way to say the quote below: > You see that shiny ball full of colors? Try forming this shape using that. > That will match any virus! One of my co-workers said it might be best to use _it_ instead of _that_ in one of the sentences, to make it less repetitive. I was wondering what would be the best place to change it, in terms of grammaticality. >   1. You see that shiny ball full of colors?   >  Try forming this shape using **it**.   >  **That** will match any virus! > >   2. You see that shiny ball full of colors?   >  Try forming this shape using **that**.   >  **It** will match any virus! > >


Being in love with someone

Is there a difference between loving someone and being in love with them? I sort of think that being in love with someone might imply that there are reciprocal feelings, but I'm not sure. If someone loved someone from afar without them knowing, would this still count as being in love with them?


Use of prefixes mis- and mal-

The prefixes mis- and mal- basically mean the same thing. Mal-, from French, meaning "bad, badly, ill" and mis-, from Old English, meaning "bad, wrong". In some cases, mis- can derive from mes- (French) meaning bad(ly), wrong(ly). From what I've noticed, the mis- prefix can be attached to any word of any origin but mal- seems to be reserved for words of French origin. For example: misaligned is a combination of mis and aligned (Old English + Middle French) and misidentify is a combination of mis and identify (Old English + French). However, all the examples I checked with a mal- prefix are pure French, for example: malfeasance, malformed and malfunction. So the question: Is it true that mal- can only be attached to words opf French origin? If so, is that because the words entered the English language with the prefix already attached?


"would love/like to" usage?

What is the difference between the sentences "I would love/like to play cricket" and " I want to play cricket." Is there any difference in the moods?


Is "object of discussion" an established term, or is there another word for that?

In a review of, let's say, predatory habits of some animals, the _subject_ of the discussion is the predatory habits. Is it correct to say that the animals, then, are the _objects of discussion_ or _objects under review_? Or is there a different term that would communicate this? I found a related post or perhaps I am asking a duplicate but I did not find a satisfactory answer there either.


what's the meaning of"to be a best approximate"? e.g. the coincidence of state and nation **is a best approximate** , and **nowhere more approximate than at their edges** , where the offi cial presumption is quite the opposite—one of sharp distinctions with neighboring nations and states.


When is the post office close?

Is it well? > When is the post office close? What time the post office close? Thanks in advance.


History of the Surname 'Salmon'

I was wondering if any one might know anything about the history, origin and or background of my family name, Salmon. Any information would be gratefully received! Thank you


Is this sentence structure conversationally forgivable?

We're given transcripts of interviews with women that we then turn into TV commercials. The lady says this: "My washing powder will help me achieve my dreams by looking neat and presentable every day." My problem with it is that it assumes the washing powder is looking neat and presentable. I don't know if I'm being too anal. Is this sentence conversationally forgivable or is it grammatically incorrect?


Term for strong/weak words (in context)

Over in Mi Yodeya Meta, commenting on the proposed Mi Yodeya site scope -- > for people who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone > interested in learning more -- I mentioned that "I'd replace _people_ with _those_ ". When pressed for a reason, I said: > Because (and I don't know the words to explain this right, so bear with me) > _those_ is less strong a word. _People_ calls more attention to itself, is > more noticeable, and, therefore, pulls more attention away from the more > important part of the line. At least, that's my impression. That is, when you're reading that line, your eye/mind is more likely to skip over _those_ without the word making an impression than over _people_. Skipping over it is a good thing in this case, since it's not the semantically important part of the line. You may not, of course, agree with me on that score, but my question is: How should I have described this? Is there a term that style sheets or grammarians or English teachers or linguists or whoever use for such 'strong' words-in- context?


Is there a word for the "Origin of Gestures"?

I came across this little nugget of infomation whilst browsing a forum. > The English archers were so efficient against French knights that whenever > the French captured one, they would cut of two fingers to ensure that they > couldn't draw a bow string again. A gesture, that today is considered > obscene, was originally a taunt to French knights meaning: "Come and get > them!". Wanting to find out more about this, as well as other gestures. I took a step back to figure out if a word exists that describes the study of the origin of gestures, but have had no success in finding this word. Whilst Etyomology is the study of the history of words, is there a word that specifically applies to gestures or does the same word apply?


Can "nice" when used about people mean "beautiful"? Can a nice woman be ugly?

Can _nice_ **used with a person** be about his/her look? Can I use _a nice woman_ and mean _(sexually) attractive_ , like in _a beautiful woman_? Or is it always only about their behaviour and kindness, when used about people? And more specific: can _a nice woman_ be _ugly_? :) > **nice** , _adj_ > >   * giving pleasure or joy : good and enjoyable >   * attractive or of good quality >   * kind, polite, and friendly > Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nice


Use of "results" in "Substituting for the numbers results in equation A" correct?

I have the following sentence: > From Equation 1, x=1 and y=2. Since z=x+y, substituting for the numbers > results in z=3. I want to just check the usage of "results" is correct. My logic is that substituting for the numbers is a singular "act", as in the act of substituting for the numbers results in equation A. Am I correct? MS word has failed to enlighten me, accepting both versions without highlighting :) In addition, the following doesn't sound right: > The static nonlinearity was modelled by firstly simple polynomial and then > dual-polynomial functions, the latter of which reduces the number of > parameters required and the accuracy of the model. At first glance, I should probably change `reduces` to `reduce`, as the functions are plural. But something is telling me the `latter of which' is needlessly complicated, so I attempt to write it as: > The static nonlinearity was modelled by firstly simple polynomial and then > dual-polynomial functions, with the latter reducing the number of parameters > required and the accuracy of the model. Please advise on both the validity of the change. EDIT: Altered original example and added 2nd part


I'm in the process of purchasing a house and reading through the contract, I can't find a single instance of the comma. (As if legalese wasn't hard enough to read already!) This includes the segregation of sentence clauses, separating lists, following certain leading adverbs (however, therefore, etc.), etc. Are commas considered superfluous in legal documents? Perhaps just property documents?


"Disappear" as a transitive verb

I hear it more on more frequently on the news, as in: > The North Korean regime has disappeared scores of dissidents over the past > twenty years. Has _disappear_ always been used in such a way, as a transitive verb? If not, can early instances be traced back to some period?


Which is the correct version of this sentence: "This video shows a heart transplant take place" or "taking place"? I have a hunch that both are correct, but for the life of me I can't recall in grammatical terms why the first option is correct also.


Why is there an 'a' at the end of "Crimea"?

With the recent events in Crimea and the Ukraine the name of the peninsula appears a lot in both written and spoken, the _a_ at the end is very conspicuous in the English pronunciation and writing, since there is no _a_ in the Russian or Ukrainian name of the peninsula. The name is _Крым_ in Russian, and _Крим_ in Ukrainian. It's clearly seen that the name ends with an _M_ and is pronounced _Krim_. According to an article in the Washington Post the name of the peninsula in the language of the local Crimean Tatar population is _Qırım_. What is the source for the distortion of the name in English? (Also, it seems that the same _a_ appears in the French, Spanish and Italian name, and doesn't appear on the German name).


When did the term 'get lost' first come to use?

I have established that this term is an American idiom. Does anyone know when it came to be popular use or was first used there?


Should 'the' be used in this title?

BBC has a documentary titled Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. History channel has a documentary titled similarly but without the 'the': Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire. Are both correct? What's the subtle difference?


Any error in the following statement?

Any error in the following statement? Scenario : Earlier, I have informed the other person that the event is not yet approved but later on I realized that I am wrong and I need to convey it. So I used the following statement. But I had a question about whether "is" or "was" should be used and whether "already" should be placed before "approved " > I am sorry it is approved already!


"On a lighter note": what is the meaning of this and how to use it?

If I say: > Wow! Diwali party, that sounds great; on the lighter note, who is sponsoring > it? Am I correct in using "on the lighter note"? I am using it as saying something funny/witty.   Please let me know, if it is wrong, the correct usage of it.


How to tell the difference between proper nouns and regular nouns (in certain ambiguous cases)?

"In the Eden story, The Snake engages Eve in dialog."      IN this sentence, should the word "Snake" be capitalized? Should the word "The" be capitalized? I assume that only if "The Snake" is a proper noun it gets capitalized, am I correct? How do I know if "The Snake" is a proper noun or a regular noun?


Is there a word for female necromancer?

Is there a word for female necromancer (sorry for repeat of title, but stackexchange complained about lack of body)?


Most is vs most are

Which of these two is correct? > Most company is private   >  Most companies are private In general, should **_most_** be used with a singular or plural noun? And will the verb "be" be plural or singular?


Does the word "Vaccum" exist?

If yes, does it have the same meaning of **_vacuum_**? Ref:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum   http://www.vaccum.org/ Both the sites define the same meaning, but the spelling differs. Some dictionaries also have an entry for _vaccum_ which links to _vacuum_.


Article 'a' altering the meaning of a phrase

Recently, at work, I had an argument with a colleague on the use of article 'a' in the sentence: "Active i is just 'a' little more than a smaller and cheaper Activa." In the sentence, he meant that 'Activa i is nothing but a smaller and cheaper version of Activa'. He insists that adding 'just a' to the original sentence has changed the meaning. I disagree: To me none of the two sentences convey the intended meaning. Please help me sort out the confusion.


The reasoning behind omitting "the" in "I'm (the) president of the United States."

I understand you can say either > I'm president of the United States. or > I'm **the** president of the United States. I also know of a rule that you may omit "the" in front of a title, position, etc. Since the omission does not seem to depend on the style of the text, I'd like to know what is the reasoning behind such a usage and rule. Is it because you tend to consider a title something like a proper noun?


What is that loop you hold on to when you ride a bus/subway? Is it called a loop of some sort? Or handle? In the picture below, an invisible... ? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/DNFXx.png)


Is "gobload" a valid word?

This word just came naturally to me while writing some prose. Will it be understood by English speakers/readers?


A term for introductory phrases that qualify reality/veracity?

I'm examining a number of statements from people describing their views, and one notable trend is the use of qualifying phrases at the beginning of the sentence that specifically address the "truth," "reality," or non/factual nature of what the speaker/writer is saying. Examples include:   * "To tell the truth,"    * "In my opinion,"   * "The truth is,"   * "In all honesty,"   * "Honestly," Is there a term for this specific type of introductory phrase, beyond simply calling them a "qualifying introductory phrase"? ** Edit ** I realize the above examples mainly focus on "truth" or "honesty" - a few other basic examples that come to mind are:   * "Naturally,"   * "Obviously," There is a hint of "disclaiming," but what I'm interpreting out of these types of introductory bits is that the speaker/writer is emphasizing how _they_ perceive a certain level of "truth" or "reality" in what they are about to state, and that they assume the reader/audience will accept it as well (or will agree with them).


Correct usage of pronoun: "their" vs "its"

Which word goes in the blank ( _their_ or _its_ )? > The stones are small, but **___ __** value is great. I think it is _their_ but my child's paper says it is _its_. Which is correct and why?


Fragments in speech vs Fragments in novels?

Why is it that authors will use fragments in writing to emulate speech, but it is considered grammatically incorrect?


"This works fine" Is this correct?

Is the usage of the word "fine" correct in the following sentence? > This works fine It seems that the author of the statement wanted to say that something was working, but not working well.


Word for people who buy things because they are more expensive/ for the brand

Is there a word for people who buys things because they are more expensive or because they are specific brand or label? These people don't buy the items because they are higher quality. They buy them because they want others to think they are "cool." These people can often hardly afford such items and this money could be better spent on other items. This is opposed to other people who might buy more expensive things because they are of better quality. (Who would rarely buy popular brands because their prices are inflated simply because they are popular.)


On a page or In a page

Which is the correct usage: Something **on** a page OR Something **in** a page By **page** , I mean a web page, not a physical book page.


Difference between "ability" and "capability"

What is the difference in usage between _ability_ and _capability_?


How does the phrase "used to" work, grammatically?

It is common to hear people say "used to" to indicate that they did something in the past but no longer do; for example, "I used to play basketball." How would "used to," used in that context, fit into a sentence diagram? What part of speech is it?


Difference between "novice" and "newbie"

I can say "I am a novice in English" or "I am a newbie in English". Is there any difference between these?


Why is the word 'Poke' obsolete?

I heard somewhere there was a word that in english translated to 3 words: pocket (small bag), pouch (regular-sized bag), and poke (large bag). I also heard that poke is now obsolete. This seems to be true, so why is it obsolete/why don't people use it? **Edit** I think I heard that it was obsolete **in America** or something like that.


Flora, fauna, robot

Are there any terms for referring to robot-kind, as _flora_ refers to plants and _fauna_ to animals? I'm looking for a word that would fit in with _flora_ and _fauna_ , so if it derives from Latin or Roman mythology that would be ideal. A made-up word would be OK if it sounds right. So far my best candidate is _forma_. I like this term because it sounds similar to the _flora_ and _fauna_ , and resembles _form_ (robots are highly structured entities). * * * **EDIT** : I originally asked this question because I am writing a story in which a class of semi-sentient robots have become part of the local ecosystem. I needed a term to refer to this group of entities in the same manner as flora and fauna. A lot of interesting discussion resulted, and brought up some issues that had not occurred to me, like whether I am referring to all types of robots or just the semi-sentient subset. Since I am writing fiction my main goal is to use a term that sounds like something "the locals" would use, even if it's not technically correct. However I still appreciate all of the answers, and I think the technicalities will be of use to others who stumble across this question!


"I am back to city" vs. "I am back in city"

Which is the correct usage when I tell someone that I am back? > I am back to [some city] Or > I am back in [some city]


The verb-derivative “machine” of Latin, by which scores, and even hundreds, of semantically and morphologically related words can be built from a simple (primary) Latin verb. While much of the derivative “machinery” involved, here, is not a living part of the current English word-formation system, it is highly relevant to the understanding of the Latinate vocabulary that is such an important and large part of our total lexicon (vocabulary). And, today’s English speakers and writers feel quite free to form quite new words by analogy to the Latin words already in use, even though they may not understand the actual structure of the imitated word. Base on this point, are the endings –tion or –sion or –tive or –sive, strictly speaking, the true formative suffixes?


"On sight" or "on site"?

"You should kill trolls on sight" "You should kill trolls on site" Which is correct? I'm not a native speaker, so I don't really have much intuition for these idioms, but semantically both seem to make sense. The first one means kill the troll when you see it (i.e. immediately), and the second one means kill the troll right where the troll is standing, on its site (i.e. immediately). Which one is the correct version and which one is the eggcorn?


Difference between “boundary” and “limit”

Is there a difference between the semantics of the two words _boundary_ and _limit_? Is it possible that only one of the two has an inclusive meaning regarding the set we want the limit/boundary of? Compare it to mathematics, where we speak of “open” and “closed” sets and the difference between _maximum_ (= the largest value in the set) and _supremum_ (= the least upper bound, must not be contained in the set).


Examples of past tense/future tense of "Forgo"

Exactly what the title says, I was just wondering what the past and future tenses of the word "forgo" are and how they would be used in a sentence. Example: "He chose to forgo his music career to focus on his education."


"press [someone] on [something]" -- isn't it strange?

Consider the following sentence: > Thompson presses Gladwell on his own feelings as a fan of track-and-field > athletes, and argues that the sport of running would be diminished by > allowing P.E.D.s. What is the meaning of " _Thompson presses Gladwell on..._ "? Does this mean Thompson tried to sell Gladwell on his ideas?


What do you call these containers?

I was walking pass by a high school and I saw a container of cookies sitting on the handrail to one of its portables. The cookies: (I use an iPad so couldn't scale it down unfortunately :() ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/oneW4.jpg) And I was wondering what do you call these containers, these transparent plastic containers? Is there a name for them?


"Kvell" word usage

> I kvell over Zhang Bin's drawings I'm a bit biased about "kvell" word usage. It is on Urban Dictionary ( http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=kvell ), but seems to be pretty rarely-used. In case if "kvell" is not broadly used, what slang word should I use instead "admire" in the following sentence? > I admire what he does


What word can I use to indicate the person could be a client or customer?

I'm looking for a term that can be inclusive of both clients and customers. We offer both products and services and while most buyers purchase services and have an ongoing relationship, there are those that either buy only products or just purchase a service once and continue to buy products only after that. I want to establish a loyalty program for which clients would automatically be eligible, but customers would need to spend x amount of dollars and then the loyalty rewards would expire after a certain amount of time. Internally, I want to setup a group of people to deal with clients and a group of people to deal with customers and try to get the to become clients. So I need a word that includes both of them for when I want to talk about both clients and customers so that I don't have to say "both clients and customers" every time. Words I'm considering.   * Buyer - although has a special meaning for large accounts that might get confusing.   * Patron - can mean a "regular" customer which would make them more of a client.   * Consumer - in cases where we provide a service to a company, I guess their entire company would be a consumer In the end I'm trying to establish different levels for different types of buyers. So for example a company starts as a prospect, then becomes a customer (or client if they sign contract), then become a patron (regular) or client. Maybe I'm overthinking this but I want to use correct grammar and make sure I'm not improperly using a term I might need to use later as we grow. Any suggestions?


Is "Happy Birthday!" a complete sentence? And if it is, what role are the words happy and birthday playing? Where is the verb? Can "happy" **be** a verb? I know in a sentence like "Go get the milk" there is an implied "You" at the beginning that makes it complete. Is there an implied verb?


Is this noun used as an adjective?

I read this recently in The Economist: > At the end of the summit, the French and European officials had claimed **a > points victory** over the Germans by getting them to agree more firmly to a > target date of January 1st next year to entrust the European Central Bank > (ECB) with the ultimate authority to supervise the euro zone’s 6,000-odd > banks. " **Points** " is a plural, and I suppose it doesn't function as a noun in this sentence since it's following the article " **a** ", so is it an adjective adorning " **victory** "?


"Employee" in the phrase "employee ID" is a determiner, not an adjective—right?

I am a software developer with a bit of a linguistic slant. We were recently given some training on how to name database fields and were told to avoid adjectives in names. Then we were given an example: “employee_id” is considered a bad name because of the adjective. I just about exploded. “Employee” is a noun, not an adjective. Which makes “employee” a determiner! And then I thought about it some more and wanted to make sure I had the right definition of “determiner”, which is admittedly a fuzzy definition. “Employee” is essential to the meaning of “employee ID”. Then again, is this really “short” for “employee’s ID” (in which case the genitive noun is definitely a determiner)? Is there a good definition of “determiner” out there? Is “employee” in this case a determiner? And why?


What is the correct usage of the word "milquetoast"?

The google definition of this word states that it is a noun however in its own example of usage it is used as an adjective: "a frail, milquetoast character". I haven't found any reliable sources to say that it can be used as an adjective so I'm wondering if it would actually be correct to use this word as an adjective.


"To have a run upon it" . Ref: (“A tale of two cities” by Charles Dickens)

Ref: (“A tale of two cities” by Charles Dickens). What does “To have a run upon it” mean in the following sentence? > “Tellson’s bank had a run upon it in the mail”


Possibilities to combine "drop-dead" with an adjective

What adjectives can you combine with drop-dead to emphasize? There's drop-dead gorgeous, can you also combine others like "nice" and "simple"?


What does this sentence mean

What does this sentence mean? > Explore how Lee's writing here vividly conveys to you the drama in the > courtroom.


Is one more correct: "lucky for me" or "luckily for me"?

Is it "more" correct to say "Luckily for me" or "Lucky for me"? I found a few sites that discussed this (including m-w.com, under the rubric "hopefully") but I'm still not sure if one is specifically right or wrong, or both are acceptable. (Or one is right, while the other is acceptable using colloquial language.)


Meaning of "Best kept secret"?

Which is the most popular meaning of the commonly used phrase "Best kept secret"?   * "It's best if this is kept secret, though other options are viable"?   * "This is the secret that is kept best of all secrets."? ...or maybe some other?


When talking about a country, what is correct : stay in or stay at

I want to say: 'I Wish your stay in Country A is `something`'. I'm not sure about the preposition, will it be `your stay in`or `your stay at`. I'm inclined towards `in` but can't reason why.


Which one is correct? To take place "in" or "at" some place?

Which expression is correct regarding an event? Does an event take place _in_ or _at_ some place?


"Weather in [place]" vs. "weather at [place]"

Which of the following is the better preposition? >   1. How is the weather **in** Bangalore? >   2. How is the weather **at** Bangalore? >


"In a restaurant" or "at a restaurant"

Does anyone know if one should use "in a restaurant" or "at a restaurant" ? Ex: Having a romantic dinner in a restaurant or having a romantic dinner at a restaurant. What is the difference between the two ?


Usage of 'at' and 'in' for cities

As per my understanding, 'at' can be used for streets and specific address etc. and 'in' has to be used for cities. > For eg. **at** Suite 101, Johnshon Avenue **in** London. But I see in a prominent English news paper of India 'The Hindu' that they use 'at' for cities. This is what they publish after the header: > "Printed **at** Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad" I think it should be: "Printed **in** Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad". Or it should be something like: > Printed at xyz press in Chennai.


What's another word for "unrelated people living together"?

What's a word to refer to **unrelated** people living in the same house? By this, I mean that they are not spouses or blood-related. Basically what's the "house" version of "room-mates"? I've thought of "cohabitant", "coresident", or even "housemate" but these words give the connotation that the persons involved are _related_.


antonym of "supple" in "supple skin"?

What is an antonym of "supple" in "supple skin"? From Merriam-Webster online dictionary, I saw the antonyms of "supple" are " inflexible, rigid, stiff, stiffened". I don't think these antonyms are proper to describe skin. So what is the antonym of "supple" in "supple skin"?


What is to use commas and apostrophes?

> "Halloween: the one day where we encourage children to accept candy from > strangers, go to strangers' homes, and vandalize property and terrorize > people if they don't get their own way." Original quote by Yvette Colomb I also notice grammar checks often rebuke my apostrophe placements. I am wondering if there is a missing comma and if the apostrophe at _strangers_ is correct. Does it have to include an apostrophe for ownership? I tend to overdo it with commas, and restricted myself this time. the _vandalize property and terrorize people if they don't get their own way_ is an inclusive point after the other list items. Usually I would write: > the one day where we encourage children to accept candy from strangers, go > to strangers' homes, vandalize property, and terrorize people if they don't > get their own way. which is not the same thing or: > the one day where we encourage children to accept candy from strangers, go > to strangers' homes, and vandalize property and terrorize people if they > don't get their own way. Which is the best or most correct way (if there is one) to write this?


Etymology and meaning of "discretionary"

I found this sentence on a page about MyPyramid: > There is one other category: > >   * Discretionary calories, represented by the narrow tip of each colored > band, including items such as candy, alcohol, or additional food from any > other group. > Could you explain to me the etymology and meaning of _discretionary_ , including easily understandable examples of usage?


How to avoiding starting with “it is”?

I have a sentence fragment I must make into a sentence: > Late August at the Los Angeles Zoo. I use this sentence to begin a story. I really do not want to use “it is” though, because “it is” does not add new meaning. Any ideas?


What does “cement-mouthed” governor mean?

There was the word “cement-mouthed” to describe Texas governor, Rick Perry in the following text of the article titled “The Republican brain drain” appearing in today’s (September 25) Washington Post. > “The list of Republicans who looked at Iowa’s daunting demographics and did > not run is more distinguished than those who did. At one time or another, > Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain were front-runners. Can you think of any > two people less qualified for the presidency? How about Ron Paul, another > front-runner, or Mad Newt Gingrich or Rick Perry, the _cement-mouthed > governor_ who would eliminate three Cabinet offices, if only he could > remember them?” I cannot find the definition of the word, “ _cement-mouthed_ ” in any of English dictionaries of Cambridge, Oxford, and Merriam-Webster, nor does Google Ngram register this word. What does “ _cement-mouthed_ ” mean? Is “ _cement-mouthed_ ” a neologism invented by the Washington Post Opinion writer, Richard Cohen? Is the meaning of “cement-mouthed” automatically communicable to most of Americans?


"Every" being used instead of "ever"?

Occasionally I'll see a comment on the internet along the lines of > I don't think I have every heard of such a thing. Maybe not exactly that, but something equivalent where I would think that their use of _every_ was 100% wrong, and _ever_ should be used instead. It happens way more often than I would think, considering how much extra effort is needed to type the extra _y_ and how dissimilar the two words are. Is it because   1. they are simply in the habit of typing "every" every time?   2. they actually have these words confused (how/why)?   3. they are all kids and most English speakers pass through this phase of misunderstanding?   4. they have all learned English as a second language, and either the words are equivalent in their native language, or there is a certain teaching style that doesn't make the distinction clear?   5. of some other reason I've failed to consider?


Is this use of present participle grammatically correct?

> We are a Zhongguancun-based English training school **looking for native > English speakers from the US and Canada**. If you are interested in this > position. Please send your CV and photo to [email address]. For more info, > pls check: [URL] It seems like a sentence element; what does it act as? Why not two sentences?


What is the meaning of unhighlight

What does the word "unhighlight" mean? Alternately, is it even a word? What would be its usage?   * I can't find it in my dictionary or on the internet.    * I am using it in the context of if you highlight something then don't highlight it anymore.    * I mean highlight as in mechanical(on the computer) or with a physical marker/highlighter. **_I still think it can be a word, though, because my dictionary is really old._** ## Additional Info: Maybe the answers could include where the definition is found(a source), because I want to know if it is a question at all.


Is it correct to use the conjunction “or” more than twice in one sentence?

For an example is it correct to say: > You may use X or Y or Z or even something else. And what is proper punctuation for such example in case it is valid.


What is the difference between "brush aside" and "brush off"?

* He brushed her ideas / accusations aside   * He brushed her ideas / accusations off   * She brushed him off / aside after breaking up What's the difference between **brush off** and **brush aside**? I looked the meanings of these verbs up but they're kind of the same. > _**Brush off_** \- refuse to listen to someone, or refuse to consider > something. > > _**Brush aside_** \- to refuse to listen to someone or their ideas.


Does this sentence need an additional comma?

Does this sentence need an additional comma before the "I"?... > As an award winning Producer, Director, Videographer and Video Editor I will > manage and produce your next video project.


Auction winner in one word

Is there a one-word term for a person who won the auction? _Top bidder_ comes to my mind, but it's actually two words.


Opposite of "to put a good word in for"? "Backstab" doesn't work

I know that when I have an associate who I think highly of and is very capable of performing the job (or person for a relationship) [s]he is pursuing, I will want to find the "recruiters" and put a good word in for my friend/associate. What if I want to make it tough for someone to get a position? I would want to go to those "recruiters" and convince them that my associate sucks and is not cut out for it. I would be dissuading those recruiters. But what word would fit "I would be **_** my associate"? Backstabbing doesn't really cut it for me. The same word would work in this sentence: "I feel my current bosses don't like me, and I'm afraid that they'll __ me to any prospective employer." or this one: "People think that I'm a slob that they would probably __ me to that hot girl I want to pursue." I'm tempted to make up a word - decommend - the opposite of recommend where the direct object is that poor person you would be putting a bad word in for.


Can "hence" be used at the beginning of a sentence?

Can the word ‘hence’ be used at the beginning of a sentence? For example: > Hence, I am not feeling well, I am unable to work.


Why is "Why don't you like ___?" okay, but "Why do not you like?" ___?" isn't?"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is "Don't you know? " the same as "Do not you know?"? "Why don't you like?" seems commonly used, but I never hear "Why do not you like?"   * Are they both acceptable forms?   * How can one best remove the contraction from "Why don't you like?"   * Are there any other similar situations where a sentence with a contraction or without changes from being good to unacceptable English?


Meaning of a quote in movie Casino Royale (2006)

> **Vesper Lynd:** There are dinner jackets and dinner jackets; this is the > latter. And I need you looking like a man who belongs at that table. Here what does the line "There are dinner jackets and dinner jackets" means?


"Scientific" versus "scientifical"

Is there any substantive difference in the meanings of these two words? Is the latter considered a proper word at all? If the answer to either of the above questions is yes, what are these words' differences in usage? Similarly, "acoustic" versus "acoustical", etc.


What is a dry sense of humor?

What does a _dry_ sense of humor mean? This article explains how to develop it, but not what it is. > **How to Develop a Dry Sense of Humor** > > Developing a dry sense of humor can be challenging and fun. Learn how to > develop one. If you really want to (and you know you do) then read the > article.


Why doesn't the silent "e" work on "infinite"?

Why doesn't the silent "e" work on the word "infinite"? What I mean is, why does mate have a long "a", but infinite has a short "i"?


Where does the term "Monad" come from?

I understand how monads work, and I use them on a routine basis. However, I've been wondering where the term actually comes from and what does it mean? Edit: To clarify, I'm specifically referring to the origin of the term.


"I found the cause [of/for] the misbehaviour"

I struggle to prefer one over the other. I first wrote: > OK, I found the cause of the misbehaviour. But while rereading I thought to myself that I would actually say, > OK, I found the cause for the misbehaviour. Do you see a subtle difference in meaning between _of_ and _for_ in this very context? Do you find one more fitting than the other? I know there's previous discussion on "cause of" vs. "cause for", but it's more general. I am asking about this particular sentence.


Meaning of "somewhere between reading and slough"

> When the baby looked up at me from its wicker basket and winked _on the > opposite seat somewhere between reading and slough_ I became uneasy. I don't know what the meaning of "somewhere between reading and slough" is.


Plurals: finance, spending, receipts

My topic is money, budgeting and public finance(s?).   1. Do you say public finance or public finances? (like in http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8573128.stm)   2. Budget has two sides, spending and receipts? Why is one singular and second plural?


Word for "getting careless and slacking"

Can you suggest some words which can describe a person who is starting to get careless and who slacks, or the very action of becoming careless? A person who was efficiently and elaborately doing their job but with time started to be careless and their performance started to deteriorate.


Diploma in English?

I must refer to my High School Diploma (Italy), how is it known abroad? I mean, can I simply write High School Diploma? In UK or USA, how is such a qualification recognized as?


Use of hypens with "auto": autopopulate, auto-populate, or auto populate?

I've done a fair amount of research (like here), but I can't find any examples of hyphen rules with "auto". Microsoft Word doesn't take "autopopulate", but will accept either auto-populate or auto populate. What I read about prefixes is that they shouldn't be hyphenated, but MS Word disagrees with this one. Unless auto isn't really a prefix at all, but I do take it to be. Right now I'm thinking that auto doesn't usually work by itself unless you're talking about a car. Does anybody have any authoritative word or grammatical insight?


Is “Take one’s pulse” used as an idiom to mean“research” market, trends, problems / opportunities other than “diagnose" patient’s conditions?

I was amused to find the headline of article, “ **Just Dropped In to Take Your Pulse** ” in New Car Reviews section of New York Times October 25 issue, which is followed by the lead-copy: > The Scirocco R performance hatchback is a European car that VW is showing > off in America. Will it come here? The company isn’t ready to say. > http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/automobiles/autoreviews/just-dropped-in- > to-take-your-pulse.html?_r=0 In Japan we have two pulse related idioms, i.e., “脈をとる - myaku wo toru,” literally meaning “take pulse” – to diagnose sickness, and “脈がある - myaku ga aru,” meaning “There’s still chance / hope (for revival, success, achievement).” Does “take one’s pulse” have broader meanings of “research” and “sounding” as a common parlance, other than health diagnosis, like “The press use public polls to take pulse of people’s sentiment and attitudes towards the government.”?


What does "nothing means anything" mean?

Can someone explain me the meaning of this phrase? I heard it in a song like: "I can show you that nothing means anything". I get the context, but can anyone explain me the meaning?


Articles again (hopefully not a basic question :-)

I am writing an email to a colleague, not a close friend. And I want to let him know about my online availability: _"Tomorrow at 11AM I will shutdown my laptop and will start heading for ... airport"._ OK, now which article should I use? THE or AN? I know what airport I'll be taking off from, but he does not know that, and he does not need to know. Would a native speaker care to explain? Thanks!


What is the idiom for "as anyone can see" or "clearly"?

I keep wanting to say "the handwriting on the wall," but that's not correct. The place I'm trying to use it is, "Alice likes Bob, Carol likes Bob, Alice thinks Bob likes her, but Bob dates Carol, and so as anyone can see, Bob did not like Alice." What is the appropriate idiom here?


If I change the part containing "conceivably", does this sentence still have the same meaning?

I found a sentence in my programming book: > Note that the delimiter does not have to be a bracket and could be > conceivably any character. If I extracted the part: > could be conceivably any character. and I changed it to: > could be any conceivable character. will these two still have the same meaning?


How to use current standards to write a 'per procurationem' letter

After reading the Wikipedia article about procuration, I'm still confused. Here's what I want to know:   1. What does the author mean by "the phrase _per procurationem_ is ambiguous if used with undeclinable English names"?   2. If I sign a letter on behalf of someone, is this protocol acceptable? > Sincerely,   >  Secretary's Signature   >  p.p. Account Owner's Name > The author implies this method is debatable. What's the debate?


Meaning of "a wisp in the ether"?

What is the meaning of the phrase _a wisp in the ether_? Here is the whole paragraph: > But Descartes believed Galen's explanation for humans as similar to sheep > could not be reconciled with the notion that humans were created in God's > image. He thought the mind stood separate from the physical body as _a wisp > in the ether_ that could act on the body.


Word meaning "expressing innocous concept with offensive near-homonym"

Years ago, an Internet NNTP poster's signature read in part "a niggardly lover". Of course, "niggardly" just means "stingy", so there was nothing literally offensive in his signature. However, I believe he chose this phrasing (instead of "stingy lover" or "miserly lover") specifically to provoke and annoy people. What word embodies this concept? Using an intentionally offensive-sounding phrase to express an otherwise inoffensive concept? Would this be the opposite of bowdlerization?


Is it correct to say "via a"?

Is it considered proper English to say something like this? > I called her via a telephone. Or should the indefinite article be omitted entirely? > I called her via telephone. If the indefinite article is to be omitted, are there any cases in which it should not be? Or, does it even matter?


Was "baby" originally baby-talk?

_-y_ is a common baby-talk suffix appended to words such as _pig_ (to make _piggy_ ), _kitten_ (to make _kitty_ ), etc. As _babe_ used to be a common word for infants and young children, I thought it would be likely that _baby_ is a hypocoristic form of _babe_ , originating from baby-talk. However, I have no way to back up this hypothesis, and am wondering if someone else knows how to prove or disprove it.


"Opposed" or "apposed"

Should it be _apposed_ or _opposed_ in _testing for non failure as **apposed** to success_? I initially thought it should be _apposed_ , because _opposed_ seems to suggest opposition. Interestingly Chromium flags _apposed_ as an unknown word!


What is the best paper-based dictionary?

I'd like to have a dictionary in paper that won't be very big, at least there should be one tome, and it should be something like thefreedictionary.com but in paper, to use it offline.   Please advise.


What do you call the base amount for a loan, investment etc?

If I get a mortgage from the bank I pay interest every month, same when I invest money, I make profit every year. How do you call the actual amount I invested or borrowed? It's * ** ___ _** \+ interest* or * ** ___ _** \+ profit* In my native language (not English) we call it _fund_ , does the same apply in English as well?


Name of castle part

![](http://i.stack.imgur.com/qHj7M.jpg) What do you call these? Please provide a reliable source with your answer.


"24 years old or 24 year old"?

I'm wondering if there should be an "s" when telling about ages. I have heard from my native English friend says "I'm 24 year old" is it correct?


Which is more correct: "denied of" or "denied to"?

I encountered a question in an exam which finishes with the sentence, "What rights are being denied to Chris?" I was always under the impression that one says "denied of" rather than "to", but is there a rule to this that must be followed? Is one more correct than the other, or are both generally accepted?


Word for 'No Facial Expression'

> As she turned to leave, the flower retailer immediately replaced his smile > with ... I want to say he replaced his smile with his 'idle face' or his face without expression, but neither of those sound good. The face that you pull when you're not pulling a face. Not a defined expression. Kinda like I've noticed I'm doing right now as I type (though this fact's no help to answerers).


Need examples of grammatical sentences having different meanings when often-confused words are substituted

For the purpose of illustrating to beginners the use of often-confused words, such as "its"/"it's", "less/fewer" and "I"/"me"/"myself", can someone please give examples of sentences which are grammatically correct but have different (preferably contradictory) meaning when each of the words in a set is substituted? For instance, an amusing one is, "Grammar: The difference between knowing your s*** and knowing you're s***."


Are the expressions "pissed" and "pissed off" inappropriate?

I've seen people go quiet when they hear one of them.   I also remember hearing it bleeped on television.   Are they inappropriate? To what extent? What audience could or should not hear it?


What does ‘[Ronald Reagan’s] colossus with gilded pecs, red-painted smile and an NRA-approved pistol in his fist' mean?

I have been seeing many articles on myths about Ronald Reagan recently in newspapers. I don’t know why Reagan is mentioned so often these days. I guess it is related with American people’s growing frustration with the leadership of President Obama in handling health care and budget cuts issues. Today's Washington Post carries the article titled "Five Myths about Ronald Reagan", in which I found the phrase "his colossus with gilded pecs, red- painted smile and an NRA-approved pistol in each manly fist". It seems his acolytes led by Salah Palin are eager to reestablish Reagan’s patriarch image among American public. Does _pec_ here mean muscular pectoral muscles? I understand red-painted nail, but what does "red-painted smile" mean? To me, it doesn't fit to his mascular image. And why his statue should have a gun? The headline is followed by the following lines: > The sentimental colossus his acolytes are trying to erect today, with gilded > pecs, red-painted smile and an NRA-approved pistol in each manly fist, bears > no resemblance to the man I knew: in private a person of no ego and little > charisma, in public a statesman of formidable purpose.


"Restrict" versus "constrict"

What's the difference? The dictionary definitions sound awfully similar.


Use of gerund without preposition "to"

Can I use gerunds with the word "concede" without using preposition "to" as in the sentence below? > He concedes killing his wife.


Can “Call it a career” be applied only to celebrities and successful people?

I saw the idiom, “Call it a career” in the article of New York times (May 12) announcing Barbara Waters’ planned retirement in 2014: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/business/media/barbara-walters-to- announce-2014-retirement-on-the-view.html?hp&_r=0 > “On the program she invented, on the network where she worked for the past > 37 years, on the medium where she broke barriers and rules for more than 50 > years, Barbara Walters will announce on Monday morning, definitively and > with no regrets, that she is **calling it a career**. > > “It’s time,” Ms. Walters said, previewing the announcement she will make to > the national television audience watching her daily program, “The View.” As I was unfamiliar with the phrase, “Call it a career,” I looked for instances of the usage in Google to find a few examples: 1.Gerald Sensabaugh has decided to retire and is signing a one-day contract so that he can **call it a career** while a member of the Cowboys. -profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/ 2.. After 16 NFL seasons, five Pro Bowl selections, a Super Bowl title and 47 career interceptions, Ronde Barber has decided to **call it a career**. -www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/.../2144715 Now questions: Are only celebrities and successful people entitled to vocalize “call it a career” when they retire? Is it out-of-place and ridiculed for an average people like me to say “I ( he /she) ‘called it a career last year (or 15 years ago).” in the same cotext with "call it a day"?


Shorter way to say "conversational partner"

I'm looking for a proper English word to say " _conversational partner_ ". Is " _interlocutor_ " a word an average person would understand? Are there any other words or shorter expressions which could describe a person you are having a conversation with, but who is not your friend and is basically unknown to you?


One that is holding a conversation

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Shorter way to say “conversational partner” What's a good word for something or someone who is holding a conversation? Or perhaps a bit broader, someone who knows how to hold a conversation with someone or something. Need a name for something or someone who knows how to hold a conversation with something or someone. Was thinking Conversationist, but that doesn't seem to be a word :p


What is an English noun for whom you have a conversation with? I expect a word like 'counterpart.' I want a simple word for it to name a model in my web application.


What are "people in a conversation" called in English?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  One that is holding a conversation Currently I am trying to develop a **mail software** and I want to find the right word (if it exists) for people who are in a conversation. It is not _contact list_ or _mail list_. It should be a word for the people. So, what is it called in English? Is there any word for these people?


What is the meaning of the proverb " **Few lawyers die well, few physicians live well** "? I think "few physicians live well" has to do with the fact that the salary of physicians was once very low, but what about the "few lawyers die well" part? And the meaning of the proverb overall?


What would you call a group of people who don't mind their own business?

Scenario: You're building a model in your room. You've been building something incredibly intrinsic and you don't want to stop until it's finished. Your father comes in and begins to scold you for spending so much time on what he believes to be a "waste of time". Your sister overhears the argument and comes in to take your fathers' side, citing hazards from working with fumes. Your brother hears the commotion, comes in to check out the problem and compliments you on what you've built so far. Your siblings begin to argue between each other on their opposing opinions. Your mother hears the squabbling and defends you from your father. Both arguments veer away onto extraneous topics. You lose your concentration and break something crucial on your model. You turn to your family and blame them for distracting you. Probably saying something along the lines of, "This is your fault. You couldn't leave well enough alone. You all had to be a bunch of ___ _"?


Scan Method vs Scanning Method

The question here is what is the meaning of the two:   1. Scan Method   2. Scanning Method My assumption is that the interpretations are, respectively:   1. A method which describes how the scanning procedure is performed.   2. A method which has the inherent ability to scan. While this sounds logical to me, it was pointed out by a colleague that counter-examples exist. For example:   1. Swimming Pool   2. Parking Place What, then, is the correct usage pattern in all of these cases?


What's the most common word to refer to a soccer team's shield (or coat of arms)?

I am trying to find the most common way to refer to a soccer team's shield (or coat of arms).


"leverage 'x' with 'y'"?

I read through other questions regarding the use of "leverage" and wonder if you can "leverage one resource with another? For example "Leverage our resources with your own to help you gain market share." I prefer not to use "balance."


Castleford dialect

I have recently heard the following from young children originating from Castleford, West Yorkshire: _Yourn_ , meaning yours, _hern_ , meaning hers, _arn_ , meanig ours Could this be related to the declension of _mine_ and _thine_?


Is "I currently make part of the Xyz project" correct?

I'm always in doubt when writing something like > I currently make part of the Xyz project. Is it grammatically correct?


How to distinguish between “however” and “whenever”?

I have this sentence: > Even if it takes forever, I am going to speak English like a native. What I want to know is whether the first part of the sentence would be better replaced by _whenever_ or _however_ : > Even if it takes forever My teacher says that _whenever_ is the better option here, but I think it better to use _however_ instead because I understand that the speaker wants to speak English at any price. What is your opinion?


Is 'Success!' ever used as a spoken/written encouragement?

In many languages, such as French, and my beloved mother tongue Romanian, it is common to say 'Succes!' to someone as an encouragement, this being a replacement for 'Good luck' for those who do not believe in luck. To my knowledge, the French also say, for instance, 'beaucoup de succes'. This is also used as a written encouragement, for instance at the end of a written test's subject statements. Is this also true in English?


What's the difference between “reliable” and “dependable”?

Do the adjectives “reliable” and “dependable” have the same exact meaning?   If not, what is the difference and when is best to use each of them?


What does my coworker mean that our company doesn't support "Comp"?

I was talking to a coworker that said that our company doesn't support "Comp". We were talking about taking overtime to complete a project this weekend. I searched for comp in relation to jobs and work and only found references to "Workers Compensation" or "Workers Comp", which I'm pretty sure doesn't apply to this situation. Is he just using "Comp" as a short way of saying "Compensation"? And if he is, how does that apply? The company does support compensation or we wouldn't be getting paid for our work.


How does one tell the difference between long and short syllables?

Currently in the process of playing with Limericks and the meter they use usually requires a meter of long followed by two short syllables or vice versa. My question, how do you differentiate? Is it by ear? I'm a native speaker but my experience with poetry and meters is very lacking.


Is there any reason so many people abbreviate "etcetera" as "ect."?

People do many strange things, such as spell "loose" (the opposite of tight) as "lose" (the opposite of win) - and even vice versa sometimes. Another oddity is when they say "literally" when that is obviously not the case ("I literally died when I saw The Packers beat the Seahawks"). But one that I almost consider a crime against humanity (I'm easily riled at times) is when they abbreviate "etcetera" as " _ect._ " What in the world are they saying in their mind when they write it that way -- "ek-tettera"? "ess-tettera"? Or what? Is there some method to their madness, or is this just one of those things I have to grin and bear?


What does "reclusion" mean specifically?

If we take a recluse, with their state of seclusion unknown, is their condition self-inflicted? Or is reclusion a punishment? For example, (from www.thefreedictionary.com) > re·clu·sion (r-klzhn)   >  n. > >   1. The condition of being a recluse. >   2. The state of being in solitary confinement. > Is the solitary confinement self inflicted? Or is reclusiveness a state that's been imposed on a wrongdoer (by law or similar)?


"2 hours' worth" or "2 hours worth"?

I think "1 hour’s worth" is the correct way to write this. Therefore, in the plural case, I assume the correct choice is "2 hours’ worth". Which one is it? Just wondering because someone edited a question of mine to remove these apostrophes.


What grammar structure is "having + [verb]-ed"?

I asked this question on another site, but have not received any answers. What grammar structures are these? > Having finished his reading he went out for a stroll. > > She reproach me with having sent her to the Home. > > The old fellow fidgeted a bit. Then, “Well, I know I didn’t ought to have > done it,” I am interested in 'having done doing something' and _to have done_ structures, like "having + [verb]-ed." What is this grammatical structure called?


Correct plural form of "hoof"

My research has shown that _hoofs_ and _hooves_ are correct plural forms of _hoof_. That being said, which is preferable? Which came first in the English language?


Which is better, "customer number" or "customer count"?

I want to express the number of customers my company has. Is it better to use _customer number_ or _customer count_?


"something inescapably points if ...." or "if something inescapably points to ..."?

> At the same time, they are reluctant to accept the conclusions toward which > such proof inescapably points if they do not "sense" the uniformity > themselves. The position of the word **if** in this sentence seems odd to me. I was more expecting **inescapably points to/out ...** rather than **inescapably points if ...** here, so I tried to reword the sentence to make it more understandable: > At the same time, they are reluctant to accept the conclusions toward which > if such proof inescapably points to the fact that they do not "sense" the > uniformity themselves. But I'm not so sure about it.


A text has an introduction, a body, and a ...?

What's a good word for describing the last section of a document, similar to "introduction" (which, of course, refers to the beginning)?


Is this the right meaning of this sentence?

I am trying to find an original way to say "Conquer the Justice". Looking on the dictionary, I found that "storm" not only means something like a tempest but also to "conquer with weapons". Supposing that to me the Justice means a fortress that can be conquered, is it grammatically correct to say "Storm the Justice"? Thanks in advance for any help.


"Is/are X + adjective"

I provide the sentence in context: > [A couple kisses. A friend of them sees the scene and says:] > > _Oh, are you cute!_ This clearly means "you're so cute, sweet" and the like. So, is this sentence a sort of question? Or, on the contrary, is this a case when subject-verb inversion is applied, so as to give emphasis to the meaning of the sentence?


Meaning of "life time" and "lifetime"

What's the difference between **"life time"** and **"lifetime"**? According to this Yahoo! Answer (which definitely isn't an authority): > **lifetime:** life: the period during which something is functional (as > between birth and death); "the battery had a short life"; "he lived a long > and happy life" > > **life time:** which takes place in real-time as the surgeons perform an > operation that must be completed within 22 minutes I'm more interested in the **"life time"** meaning. Is it correct?


Some actor's lines from film 'Insomnia'

> You do everything around here?   >  Yes. > > I'm going to cut the deal. Why isn't the phrase just "you do everything here"? I know _cut_ and _deal_ , but it doesn't seem not mean "cut the deal" or "cancel the deal;" it means "make the deal." For many times, I know each word of a sentence, but I still cannot understand the sentence. This is my feel about English.


Why are nicknames called "nicknames"?

Where did this term originate from? According to Etymonline.com, it originates from O.E. _eaca_ , which means to "increase". However, I can't see how the "n" got stuck in there too. Does anyone have any relevant information?


What comes in between predecessor and successor?

I'd like a good word for "current item in a succession of items". Let's say I am looking ahead, towards my successor. Back behind me, I can also see my predecessor. What am I? I'd hate to use the overly-verbose "current object of focus among a succession of such objects", and yet "current" doesn't quite cut it either. "Currentssor"? The context is programming (coming up with descriptive variable names) but I'm really interested in what's true in general.


he is/was a man of bad habits

Now, say, I am talking to A about B's brother: -He **is/was** a man of bad habits. In English grammar, usually when referring to a dead person, or things related to him, we need the past tenses, but when I don't know whether the person in question is dead, like B's brother, what tense would native speakers use?


When can I omit “for” before a time duration?

> Do not watch television [for] more than one hour a day. Is omitting the “for” okay or is that grammatically incorrect?


Would a semicolon be more appropriate here?

For the two sentences below, would a semicolon work better to separate these two sentences? **Circle graphs, often called pie charts, are used to represent data with a relatively small number of categories. They illustrate how a whole is separated into parts.** Is this a case where both a period and a semicolon can work? The two sentences are independent but still related, so it seems reasonable to put a semicolon between them. Here are two more sentences where a semicolon seems to work: **Sometimes data are collected to study two different variables in the same population of individuals or objects. Such data are called bivariate data.**


Why isn't the word "undiscovered" a double negative?

Why do we use the word _undiscovered_? As far as I know, un- and dis- have the same negative meaning; why don't we just say "covered"?


what is the word for something which may exist or may not

If I'm looking for an object which may or may not exist, could I say it exists hypothetically, given the definition of hypothetical? > a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence > as a starting point for further investigation This seems to mean there must be some evidence that the object exits. However, the object I'm looking for does not have any evidence that it might exist. Practically, it is possible that it might exist, as it occurred in that past because of human errors...


What's a word or expression for an answer that elicits its own question(s)?

I'm trying to think of a way of referring to the sort of half-ass answers you might find in response to the question: **"why do we sleep at night?"** Typical answers such as **"we need to sleep so that our body can repair"** or **"we sleep to conserve energy"** are really non-answers in the sense that they immediately elicit their own question(s) (namely, **" _why_ does our body need sleep in order to repair itself?"** and **" _why_ do we need to conserve energy?"**) Is there some word or clever turn of phrase used to refer to such answers?


What is it called when words are deliberately written wrong but pronunciation is kept unchanged?

For example, > Night -> Nite _Nite_ even appears in some dictionaries as having the same meaning as _night_. What is it called when words are deliberately written incorrectly but the pronunciation and meaning are kept unchanged?


Hurt someone and say "sorry" - Is there a word to describe this type of behaviour and/or people?

People unintentionally hurt others whilst in the middle of an argument, it could happen anywhere: in public or even in the privacy of one's bedroom. When they finally realize their mistake, they end up saying _sorry_ etc., etc. Are such people categorized in a dictionary? Is there a word for such people and such a situation?


"Any" with countable nouns in questions

I have seen "is "any" also used with plurals", which explains that _any_ can be used with singular, plural, and uncountable nouns. However, I want to ask specifically about questions. E.g.: > Is there any girl in the room? To me it seems that this is asking, "is there at least one girl?". But my English grammar book says that _any_ should only be used with uncountable or plural nouns. So I suppose I should be asking either of the following instead: >   * Is there a girl in the room? >   * Are there any girls in the room? > Is that true? Is the textbook correct in saying that _any_ should not be used with countable nouns in singular? Then what about "Do you have any idea"? _Idea_ is countable, just like _girl_ is.


word: fridges that keep things hot (and not cold)

What's the word for what looks like a fridge but actually keeps things warm/hot instead of cold? hot fridge?


Topup vs top-up

Which noun is correct?   * a topup    * a top-up Which verb is correct?   * to topup   * to top-up


Use of the word "definitive edition"

Can I use the phrase "definitive edition" to explain that a product has the most up-to-date and highest quality in the field as opposite to mean "last edition of the same series"? Thank you for your help.


Where does the phase "buy it" (to die) come from?

In English, the verb "buy" can be used to refer to somebody's having been killed, usually in the past tense; for example: > Harry bought it in World War 2. Where does this phrase come from?


a person's interests do [blank]?

The prosecutor's interests would want him to believe the defendant guilty. The prosecutor's interests persuade him to believe the defendant guilty. The prosecutor's interests lead him to believe the defendant guilty. Are the best I could come up with, but I was wondering if there was a more appropriate answer?


How to categorize vocabulary for practical use?

What classification scheme exists for grouping words by their meaning, e.g., "words that describe food," "emotion words," and "types of people"? My concern is pragmatic; grouping words with similar functions can aid in word choice and usage. In other words, I am looking for a grouping method more general than a thesaurus but more specific than the parts of speech. This may be an impossible task given the number of words in existence; thus, I am limiting the categories to "commonly" used words, with the hope that there exists a practical grouping scheme.


What is the correct syllabification for this word, and what is the authoritative source for syllabification?

What is the correct syllabification of the word "eliminate"? What is the Authoritative Source for syllabification? Just in case it is needed, the word is used in the sentence: > To allow more ef|fi|cient usage of paper, more reg|u|lar ap|pear|ance of > right-side mar|gins with|out re|quir|ing spac|ing ad|just|ments, and to > elim|i|nate the need to erase hand-writ|ten long words begun near the end of > a line that do not fit, words may be di|vided at the near|est break|point > be|tween syl|la|bles and a hy|phen in|serted to in|di|cate that the let|ters > form a word frag|ment, not a word. from a test case on the automatic hyphenation tool found [here][3] Sorry if my question is too simple, English is not my first language.


Is there a term that refers to the part of the line after the indentation?

The correct term would describe `some text...` in the following example:                         some text ...     \ indent /\     ?     /


"Favour" or "favor"

Are the terms _favour_ and _favor_ interchangeable ? Or is there a slight difference perhaps? This is nitpicking but just curious. http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/spelling-reform.htm there are other words like this : _defence_ and _defense_ . Why do we have different American and British versions? How did they come to existence? What purpose do they serve?


Participation/participating and a couple more questions

I'm helping my sister to prepare a cover letter for her job application and I have problems with a couple of sentences: 1) Something seems wrong in the sentence and I don't know what exactly: > The participation in X international conferences and publishing X articles > in A1 scientific journals have dramatically improved my presentation and > writing skills. 2) Should we mention such a thing in the cover letter: > I fully understand that the internship is probably not paid and it's > acceptable to me. 3) Does it seem OK: > I participated in a multidisciplinary research project collaborating with > other scientific groups and learning how to Thank you for your help in advance Konstantin


Word that indicates that "lower is better", such as scoring in golf

Is there a word that could be used in an instance where you want to indicate that a lower number is better than a positive number? For instance, `In golf, scores are _______.` to indicate that a low score is a positive thing.


Term for something that is supposed to increase safety, but really just increases fear?

Some examples:   * A news station giving daily "terrorist reports". It doesn't actually say how to protect yourself, just gives information on how horrible they are & why you should be afraid.   * A airport that forces full body searches. The odds of an attack are still about zero, but passengers will believe there is a huge problem because of the extreme security measures.   * A person never leaving the house without at least 2 firearms. Their fear of an attack is increased by buying & carrying guns, but the chances of them needing to use one is still very low.


Does the line" Tears of disbelief sting my eyes" make sense?

Can I use the words - "Tears of disbelief sting my eyes" to express the fact that I am very sad and shocked?


Word for when you think of anyone and they call you

Is there a word when you think of someone and he suddenly shows up or calls you ?


Origin of the idiom "butt of jokes"

What is the origin of the phrase "butt of (all) jokes"? I'm wondering whether 'jokes' are being personified here (as per the origin of the term) with 'butt' being used as it's not exactly the most exalted part of the body, or whether 'butt' was intended more as a 'base' for all jokes? (I'm leaning towards the latter.)


The choice between the gerund and the infinitive in a certain construction

I am pretty much sure that for native speakers the issue I am going to bring up might look as an uncalled question as they can easily figure out which form of a verbal part of speech should be used, be it a gerund, an infinitive, or a bare infinitive. However, it can be pretty much misleading for a foreigner because the same construction works differently with different words and I don’t see a logical explanation. For example:   1. The purpose of this article is to analyze the issue…   2. My hobby is reading.  One may assume, and many foreigners really come to this conclusion, that it’s OK to switch the “gerund” and “infinitive” as the meaning will stay the same, that is:   3. The purpose of this article is analyzing the issue… (same as 1 above)   4. My hobby is to read. (same as 2 above) However, as I was told, this assumption is erroneous. **Another example:**   His task was watching after them. (not good)   His task was to watch after them. Is there any principle which governs the choice of the right form in such cases?


What would you call someone who sells information?

Is there an actual term? Just wondering since in movies or books there are those whom have information that other characters want or need and thus pay 'em for such information.


The word "dear" in public speech

I am a member of a Toastmaster club in the Czech republic where people work on their public speaking skills. It is a usual to open a speech by > Dear fellow Toastmasters, dear guests,... It is a direct, word-by-word translation of a typical opening in Czech. A friend who is a native English speaker noticed that word _Dear_ should be used only in letters, in written form. It should not be used for the opening of a speech, but one should rather use: > Ladies and gentlemen,... What are the rules for an opening of a speech? Is "dear guests" in a speech English or Czenglish?


Rather unusual usage of the word “churn”

I came across this sentence in a book: > "One especially strategic family room, where all these dark socio-cultural > and political dimensions are dramatized brilliantly, is the kitchen, where > the women of the home churn dreams, fears, social and political intrigues > away." I'm not all that fond of the sentence structure, but I was really wondering about the word _churn_ in that context. From contextual analysis, I think I understand the meaning of the sentence: the women congregate in the kitchen, where they have lengthy conversations about dreams, fears, society, and politics. However, when I looked up the word _churn_ in a dictionary, I couldn't find a good definition that mapped to this usage. In addition to the process of making butter, Collins lists four additional meanings of the verb: >   * (sometimes foll by _up_ ) to move or cause to move with agitation ⇒ > _ideas churned in his head_ >   * (of a bank, broker, etc) to encourage an investor or policyholder to > change investments, endowment policies, etc, to increase commissions at the > client's expense >   * (of a government) to pay benefits to a wide category of people and claw > it back by taxation from the well off >   * to promote the turnover of existing subscribers leasing, and new > subscribers joining, a cable television system or mobile phone company > and Macmillan mentions: >   * [intransitive/transitive] to move something such as a liquid around > violently, or to move in this way ⇒ _the churning seas_ > >   * [intransitive] if your stomach churns, you have a strong nervous feeling > in it because you are worried, afraid, or upset ⇒ _My stomach was churning > before the first performance._ > > I suppose "ideas churned in his head" comes closest to the meaning in the book, but I don't get the feeling from the context that the women are particularly agitated. As a matter of fact, the use of the word _away_ almost makes it seem like the conversations are therapeutic, not something that agitates or worries. So, my questions are: 1) Is there some other definition of _churn_ that I'm not aware of? Or is the author merely using some literary license, and bending the meaning of the word? 2) Assuming I'm interpreting the passage correctly, what other words could have been used in place of _churn_ in this context?


"Compose" and "comprise"

The whole _comprises_ the parts, for example > The board comprises five members. and the parts _compose_ the whole such as > Five members compose the board. The preceding sentence can be written in passive construction as follows: > The board is composed of five members. What about the first one? Can I _ever_ have a passive construction with _comprise_ like the following? Doing so always implies the meaning of _composed of_. > The board is ~~comprised of~~ five members. [appears to be a wrong sense] Or is it only _composed of_ that is used for turning sentences into passive construction that use _comprise_ as a main verb?


Has a dead metaphor ceased to be a metaphor?

In its simplest sense, a metaphor is a figure of speech where, essentially, a simile is ellipted to what is apparently a false statement, but as the intention is to emphasise the similarity rather than deceive, this is an accepted linguistic device. > Bob is like a tiger. > > Bob is a tiger. John Lawler is an expert on pointing out in his invaluable and fascinating contributions the extended metaphors on which a lot of our language is built, such as the container metaphor(s) and up-is-achievement metaphor. In a recent post, he pointed out that 'zenith' is used metaphorically as 'high point [of eg a career]'. However, Wikipedia has this to say about dead metaphors: > There is debate among literary scholars whether so-called "dead metaphors" > are dead or are metaphors. Literary scholar R.W. Gibbs noted that for a > metaphor to be dead, it would necessarily lose the metaphorical qualities > that it comprises. These qualities, however, still remain. A person can > understand the expression "falling head-over-heels in love" even if they > have never encountered that variant of the phrase "falling in love." > > Analytic philosopher Max Black argued that the dead metaphor should not be > considered a metaphor at all, but rather classified as a separate vocabulary > item.[2] If the verb "to plough" retained the simple meaning of "to turn up > the earth with a plough," then the idea of a car "ploughing through traffic" > would clearly be a metaphor. The expression would be a comparison between > the motion of the plough cutting through the soil and a car speeding through > traffic. In order to understand it, one would need to grasp the comparison. > However, "to plough" has taken on an additional meaning of "to move in a > fast and uncontrolled manner," and so to say that a car "ploughed through > the traffic" is a literal statement. No knowledge of the original > metaphorical symbolism is necessary to understanding the statement. For 'zenith', Elliott Frith found a dictionary definition: > Zenith noun > > the strongest or most successful period of time _Should_ we revise our usage of the word 'metaphor' in such cases?


an exercise in ≠of?

Does the word "exercise" in this sentence means something different because it is followed by the preposition "in" instead of "of". I've looked the word up on merriam-webster but i could only find examples of "exercise" followed by "of" Here's a sentence: "Achieving compliance is an exercise **in** purpose, not power" Thank you!