Pedlar vs. peddler

The etymonline entry for _peddler_ reads: > **late 14c.** (c. **1300** as a surname, Will. Le Pedelare), from peoddere, > peddere (c.1200, mid-12c. as a surname), of unknown origin. It has the > appearance of an agent noun, but no corresponding verb is attested in Middle > English. Perhaps a dim. of ped "panier, basket," also of unknown origin, but > this is attested only from late 14c. **Pedlar** , preferred spelling in > U.K., is attested from **late 14c**. Going by the above, it's difficult to understand which came first— _pedlar_ or _peddler_. The former is the recommended BrE spelling and the latter the AmE equivalent. If _pedlar_ was the original spelling, why the switch to _peddler_ (with an extra _d_ as well as a change in suffix) in AmE? The word _peddle_ is itself a back-formation from _peddler_ dated ~1837 which makes it doubtful as the source. Other similarly suffixed words such as _liar_ , _beggar_ , and _bursar_ appear to have made the transition untarnished.


Accepted "into" journal?

What is the appropriate way to talk about an article that has been published in a journal? Has it been accepted "into" the journal, "to" the journal, "in" the journal, "by" the journal?


Why nipples on a breastplate are useless?

I'm reading a book and the sentence below showed up: > "Like nipples on a breastplate." After a research, the meaning intended was useless. I would like to know why this sentence means "useless"?


What is the adjective for "supersedure" or "primacy"?

Is there an _adjective_ that can express the concept of a law that supersedes other laws? I would prefer a single adjective that has legal connotations, although a present participle will suffice. The phrases _supreme law_ and _overruling law_ approximate this concept, but _supreme_ merely seems to indicate significance, and _overruling_ implies direct contradiction, rather than "displacement in favor of another" as _supersedure_ indicates (the laws do not run completely contrary to one another, but one is more appropriate and takes precedent). Also, the phrases _the law which has primacy over other laws_ and _the law which supersedes other laws_ are too wordy and awkward for my intended usage in a paper about a certain contentious Supreme Court decision. Is there an adjectival form of "primacy" or "supersedure", or another adjective which accurately describes this legal usage? Here is the sort of context in which I intend to use such an adjective: > The ruling demonstrated disregard for the ________ constitution/law/legal > right.


Alternatives to twist-off

I'm watching SOA and a guy who says " _oh, it's a **twist-off_** ", referring to the bottle cap that is supposed to be twisted off the bottleneck, rather than being leveraged by a bottle opener. Then I've realized that I don't know the name of the alternative(s). What'd he say if he'd be expecting a _twist-off_ but discovered that the opposite was the case? Are there several alternatives in this case? And grammatically prone to nitpickiness makes me wonder if it's correct to spell the term hyphenated, " _twist-off_ " or unhyphenated " _twist off_ ". Perhaps both are correct?


American refusal of the IPA: why?

Are there any historical or political reasons for the rather consistent refusal of the International Phonetic Alphabet on the part of American academics? Did Mark Twain's home-made-English-spelling-centred phonetic rendering of regional pronunciations set a trend?


What style guide does the Queen use?

Is there a known style guide or documented set of stylistic rules for the English language that Queen Elizabeth II and/or her office uses in emitted correspondence? Is there any way to know how QE2 would write something without digging through old correspondence for similar uses?


The "Bibles" of American English Phonetics

Daniel Jones' _Outline of English Phonetics_ and Alfred C. Gimson's _Introduction to the Pronunciation of English_ are considered the "Bibles" of British English phonetics.      Are there equivalent works in the American English tradition?


What Exactly is Meant by "X Puts Y to Shame?"

In the movie Camelot, Lancelot told Guenevere that "your face has a luster, that puts gold to shame." What does "put to shame" mean in this context?


What is the origin and meaning of the phrase “bane of my existence”?

A friend recently used the phrase _bane of my existence_ , and while I’m familiar with the phrase, I would like to know its origin and meaning.


We got you surrounded. What use of GET is this?

I have heard a sentence "We got you surrounded", what would be difference between "We surrounded you"? I believe the first one implies that it has just been done, i.e. reaching certain condition, state. I think the same sentence could be intepreted like this: We got you surrounded = we did nothing but we got people to surround you. Also what dictionary entry would be this usage of GET? I would be happy for reference (e.g. internet Webster or Oxford). My guess is "cause something to become ...", like "I got it fixed" or "get it clean". Related question: Could I say "We got you look nice", meaning we caused you look nice (e.g. stylists saying to a customer)?


"Have got" — verb form and tense

In the following sentence, what is the main verb and in what tense does it occur? > I have got a car. There are two possible explanations that I can think of:   * _get_ as the main verb in the present perfect tense   * _have got_ as a phrasal verb in the present simple tense


Alternative idioms to "to put the whole matter into a nutshell"?

I need some alternatives to introduce summarization on the final paragraph of non-technical chapters or longer blog articles. Known terms like _summary_ often sound a bit technical to me...


Why is the right jack in cribbage also called "his Knobs"?

Before we got married, my husband taught me cribbage as his way of showing me how important our relationship was to him. One of the points in cribbage is for having "the right jack," or the jack whose suit matches the flip card. There are two (that I know of) alternate names for this card. One is "his Knobs" (or maybe "his Nobs"?). The other is "his Heels," which is only used if the flip card _is_ the right jack. The points scored are declared as "one for his Knobs" or "two for his Heels," so we figured that Knobs must refer to a body part. My thought had been _head_ , because head and heels are often related this way, but the plural confuses me. My husband thinks "knobs" must be British slang for knavish naughty bits. I can't seem to find a suitable answer. Why is the right jack called his Knobs? Edit: It seems that "his Nobs" and "his Nibs" are also variations of the name, with (I believe) "his Nobs" being the most common. Also, sometimes "his Nibs" is used instead of "his Heels."


What tense to use in this example?

I am developing a system for patients that allows them to see their medication history. There is a function that lists history of all drugs the patients have ever tried. I am trying to figure out what would be the correct tense: > History of all drugs you have been taking Does this include the ones in the past (not being taken anymore)? > History of all drugs you used to take Does this include the ones currently being taken?


Of the difference between zeugma and syllepsis

I am confused about what is the relative meaning of _zeugma_ compared to _syllepsis_ , both in its current meaning and possibly in former understandings of these words. The _New Oxford American Dictionary_ has: > **zeugma**   >  a figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different > senses (e.g., _John and his license expired last week_ ) or to two others of > which it semantically suits only one (e.g., _with weeping eyes and hearts_ > ). > > * * * > > **syllepsis**   >  a figure of speech in which a word is applied to two others in different > senses (e.g., _caught the train and a bad cold_ ) or to two others of which > it grammatically suits only one (e.g., _neither they nor it is working_ ). According to this, there is some overlap, though _zeugma_ is more about semantics and _syllepsis_ about grammar. Online sources on this issue conflict, with some insisting one the difference (“not to be confused with zeugma”) and others stating that the two have merged. Can someone offer a clear view of the differences, present or past, between these terms?


Is it a poke in the eye with a sharp, or blunt stick?

Is it "better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick", or "better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick"? I suspect that some sort of metaphor testing facility in the Discworld concluded that virtually anything was better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, but apart from that I'm not 100% certain. Side question: is there a term for when a metaphor or cliche gets mutated?


What's the difference between "puberty" and "adolescence"?

The two words _puberty_ and _adolescence_ seem to be referring to one thing; what is the difference between them?


Drinking alcohol after work

What is an English word for a regular alcohol drinking after work? What is an English word for an alcoholic who drinks after work?


Which is the best way to say that I have substituted for someone in his work tasks?

I am struggling to understand the best way to say that I have done for a couple of days the work tasks of the Company owner. So far I have find these solutions: > I have covered for the Company owner, during a few days at the exhibition in > New York. > > I have stood in for the Company owner, during a few days at the exhibition > in New York. > > I have substituted for the Company owner, during a few days at the > exhibition in New York. Is there a more formal phrases I can use?


"more sincere than hypocrite"

In my self-evaluation, I want to convey the idea of > I am a person down to earth and more sincere than hypocrite. But I am not sure if "more sincere than hypocrite" is awkward in pure language perspective? Also I don't want people to think that by "more sincere than hypocrite" I imply someone among the evaluators is hypocrite, which is in fact true and I don't dare to speak out. So I wonder if "more sincere than hypocrite" is provocative and if yes, if you have some better altervatives? In summary, is "more sincere than hypocrite" perfectly fine? Thanks and regards!


What is the difference between assumption and conjecture?

An assumption is _a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof._ A conjecture is to _form an opinion or supposition about (something) on the basis of incomplete information._ What is the different between the two?


Why do people sometimes apologize when there is no need to?

An example that comes to mind would be               I'm sorry, I just don't agree with you.       There are better examples which I can't remember at the moment.


What's the name for those times when your attempts to get a task done right eventually get you to momentarily perform increasingly worse?

If you've tried to perfect a difficult, long task by repeating it multiple times, you'll know what I'm talking about. You start tackling the first few phases of the problem, until you succeed. Then you fail later on and you must start over. After enough restarts, you'll eventually start having trouble performing the first few phases you _thought_ you had down pat, way before those where you were really trying hard to get through. It's as frustrating as short-lived however: after a few more tries, you'll return to previous or higher levels of performance. If you are the visual kind of person, here's a terribly confusing and misleading graph about what I'm talking about: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/F98Uj.png)


How to order food that is hot (temperature) but not hot (amount of capsaicin)?

Some food contains capsaicin which is a substance that comes from chili or pepper and gives food its burning taste. In english you call this type of taste "hot". In German (my native language) we say "scharf" which literally is "sharp" in english (sharp like a knife). I am suffering form a capsaicin intolerance. To me even low amounts of chili or pepper make my mouth feel like burning in hellfire. Sweat flows out of every pore of my skin even when I taste food that contains very small amounts of this substance that others won't notice. So in a restaurant I want to order food that contains no capsaicin. In German I can say "Bitte nicht scharf!" But in english this is "Please not hot!" Last year I spent 2 month in London and very often I got food that was cold and tasted like burning fire (they gave me the normal spiced food but didn't heat it). To make clear what I want I can say in German "Bitte nicht scharf, aber heiß!". How do you say that in english? "Please not hot, but hot!"? ## EDIT 1: This question is different form How to say that food is hot (temperature) without the listener thinking that I mean "spicy"? because the answers to the other Question doesn't help me to order food that contains no capsaicin. The other question hat its focus on the aspect of temperature in the word "hot". This is not my focus. My focus is the amount of capsaicin in the food that is expressed by talking about "hot food", and how to avoid getting served such food. ## EDIT 2: Obviously I didn't make it clear enough: I love spicy food. I love mustard, horseradish, onions, garlic, wasabi, ginger and so on. I hate food that tastes boring and bland. And I hate cold food that usually is served warm. I just want no capsaicin in my food. Capsaicin is in Chili, Cayenne pepper, Piri piri, Tabasco pepper, Jalapeño and many other fruits from plants of the genus "Capsicum". Also Hungarian paprica (used for Goulash) and Peperoncini (you often find them on pizzas) contain capsaicin, not really much, but too much for me. There is no capsaicin in horseradish, wasabi, onions, garlic, and most other spices. I have no problem with those spices. I like to eat food that is spiced with them.


The right word for saying goodbye to someone on the street corner, and then both of you walking in the same direction?

This happens occasionally to me in New York. I will part ways with someone after chatting, and then it will turn out we're both walking in the same direction. What word captures this phenomenon?


Correct use of "before" & "from"?

I came across this sentence in a newspaper: > Five minutes from the end I didn't think we could win this game.We deserved > to win this championship. I am confused as to why he uses _from the end_. I think it should be _before the end_ , or can they be used interchangeably?


Formal definition for a specific type of concrete noun involving entities?

I am looking specifically for a list of proper concrete nouns that represent entities or categorizations of entities that can be used in place of the proper noun, however this is not what I am asking for... What I am asking for is if there is a specific definition to this type of concrete noun. If I had such a definition then it would greatly aid my search for such a list or help me to build it. Examples of the type of noun I am looking for if my description doesn't make sense:   * Bear   * Dolphin   * Bigfoot   * Alien   * Hippie   * Shakespeare (the person)   * Tree So you can see that by "entity" I mean a word that directly identifies or categorically identifies a living being of any kind, fictional or otherwise. Is there such a term for this very specific type of concrete noun?


"Much more easy" versus "much easier"

My mom and I are having a dispute on _much more easy_ versus _much easier_. For example, consider the sentence: > It's [much more easy]/[much easier] to do action X than action Y. I say that _much easier_ is correct and that _much more easy_ is grammatically incorrect, while she says that both are okay. I understand that both are acceptable colloquially, but which is grammatically correct here? If you could explain why, that would be even better!


Is there any statistical data about English languange?

_Not sure if this is on topic, feel free to migrate it, close it or delete it, it's the first time here, i found the programming tag so I give it a shot._ Is it possible to download some sort of a dictionary which offers statistics about English language:   * How many verbs are there? and list them   * How many nouns are there? and list them   * How many adjectives and so on   * What is the synonym for x  In such a way that you can quickly access what you're looking for, and quickly tell if x is a verb or noun and what is the synonym for x and so on Suppose y is a column that lists all the verbs, if a user input a word, i search y, if the word exists in y then it's a verb.


What does it mean by "they see me rollin', they hatin'"?

I have seen a lot of teenagers nowadays going by the lingo "They see me rollin', they hatin'". I'm sure they use it to address their haters but what does it necessarily imply when they relate themselves to a 'rolling' action?


what does "among the dead" mean?

I am reading a book that states the hero "knew himself to be among the dead". Does this means that he considered himself as good as dead, or that he understood that all the people around him were dead? Generally, what does "among the dead" means?


What does "brought low" mean in this sentence?

I'm reading Anna Katharine Green's _A Strange Disappearance_ and found the following sentence: > if the girl had a secret—as nearly all girls have, brought low as she has > evidently been—it had nothing to do with her disappearance, nor would a > knowledge of it help you in any way. Can you use another phrase? What is another word for "brought low" here?


What complimentary close to use in continuous formal email?

I am a student in contact with a business owner, and I am having a hard time deciding on a complimentary close. Should I use it for every email I send him? I don't want to make it redundant since it is for formality's sake.


A single word desribing creature with misshapen and obscure features?

I'm trying to find the best way to describe being so physically deformed, that its only, somewhat recognizable, feature is its own body shape. _Mutant_ doesn't work for me, as it implies the reason of deformation, and I need something more general. _Freak_ seams right, but sounds silly to me, so I hopping for something else. I was thinking about word _chimera_ , but I'm not sure if it's the right way to use it. Also, I don't care how offensive the word is. Thank you.


Joining comma and/or gapping comma

I am German, and we have have a completely different _comma system_. Due to various reference on this great site here, I bought The Penguin Guide to Punctuation and worked through the comma section. What can I say, I'm shocked about my lack of knowledge, although the comma rules in English are far more easier than in German. I instantly took one of my books and verified correct commas there. There was one sentence, which I believe was incorrectly punctuated: > Memory can be implemented by delays, and wiring by various walls to guide > the one extra bit per site needed to represent the walls. In my opinion a _gapping comma_ is missing, because the phrase _can be implemented_ was left out in the second part. Therefore, I would add a comma > Memory can be implemented by delays, and wiring, by various walls to guide > the one extra bit per site needed to represent the walls. Now we have to commas. The first one joins the two _complete sentences_ , and the second one marks that between _wiring_ and _by various_ a phrase is missing. Can someone tell me whether I'm wrong here?


Evaluated by using vs Evaluated by

Is there a difference between following sentences: >   1. XXX has been evaluated by Y1,Y2 and Y3? > >   2. XXX has been evaluated by using Y1,Y2 and Y3? > >   3. XXX has been evaluated using Y1,Y2 and Y3 > > I cannot decide if adding a **"using"** here makes meaning clear or it is redundant for this type of sentence. I added third one as @FumbleFingers suggested. I would like to learn "is there a subtle difference between these usages?".


Deja vu meaning

If _deja vu_ means _already seen or experienced_ , what would you call _the feeling that you're experiencing something again, but in fact you haven't; it's just a strong, but false, feeling of familiarity?_


"Huge potential profit" vs. "huge profit potential"

What is the proper usage — "huge potential profit" or "huge profit potential"?


Verb for "to make bold"

Consider the following: >   1. Imagine that you are sitting at your word processor and you need to > make a word **bold**. > >   2. Imagine that you are sitting at your word processor and you need to > **bold** a word. > >   3. Imagine that you are sitting at your word processor and you need to > **embolden** a word. > > Which is grammatical?


Is "my bad" a correct English phrase?

I have seen many people use the phrase "my bad" in Internet forums. What does it exactly imply and is it a proper English phrase?


"Concerned of Tunbridge Wells" - what is the etymology of the name?

What is the origin of "Concerned of Tunbridge Wells" - a possibly fictitious writer of letters to the editor? Can anyone dig out a definitive etymology for the term, or is it just a conflation of 'Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells'?


Correct use of "wanting"

To begin with a clarification: I'm not speaking of "wanting" as in "lacking" (e.g. a box wanting its lid.) Rather, it's about uses like this one: > Person A: I want to go with you. > > Person B: Thank you for _wanting_ to go with me. To me, it sounds so horribly wrong to use "want" like that, but I can't figure out why. The following sounds correct, and unless I'm mistaken, is perfectly valid: > A: I believe you. > > B: Thank you for _believing_ me. So, when is using "wanting" valid, and why is it invalid in other times?


What's the difference between a "racist" and a "racially sensitive" remark?

Former England football captain John Terry has been cleared of making a **_racist_** remark to a fellow professional. However it is clear he said something which caused offence, which the BBC sports website chose to call **_racially sensitive_**. > In his summation of the case at Westminster Magistrates' Court last Friday, > Judge Howard Riddle said that "there is no dispute that John Terry directed > [ ** _racially sensitive_** ] words in the direction of Anton Ferdinand". So what then is the difference between a "racist" remark and a "racially sensitive" one?


Use of "medicine students"

Recently I used the term _medicine students_ to mean _students of medicine_. This was corrected to _medical students_. I googled and found that the term I chose is not really used. However I still hear _computer science students_ or _Japanese language students_. Why not _medicine students_ then?


What is the difference between "blurry" and "blurred"?

The two quotes below discuss the same topic. > Terry's tortured season took a surreal twist on Tuesday when a **blurry** > image resembling him appeared on cigarette packets in India. GUARDIAN > > A **blurred** picture closely resembling the 31-year-old appears above a > "smoking kills" slogan. CNN The definition of _blurry_ and _blurred_ is very identical whereupon _blurred_ has an extended definition. From OALD: > **blurry**:   >  without a clear outline; not clear > > **blurred**:   >  1 not clear; without a clear outline or shape   >  2 difficult to remember clearly   >  3 difficult to distinguish, so that differences are not clear I think that _blurry_ is a derivative of the noun _blur_ while _blurred_ stems from the verb _blur_. But I wonder why there exists two forms. I tried to find other words where derivatives of both noun and verb with seemingly the same meaning exists to compare their meanings but I didn't find any. Those words which came to my mind have in my opinion a distinction. For instance, _washed_ and _washy_. Even though the quotes from the articles give the appearance that they are identical, is there any subtle distinction between _blurry_ and _blurred_ or are they interchangeable without changing any connotation?


Would it be proper to use 'partake' these days?

Is 'partake' an old fashioned word? Would it be proper to use it these days? * * * Thank you @tchrist,@JLG and @MT_Head. I found your answers interesting. By 'proper' I meant in current use. While writing, it was the first word that came to me when I wished to discuss the involvement of people in their economy. The sentence read - _He realised that if people had to partake of their growing economy, families needed to be planned and healthy_. A friend said, "no one uses the word these days. it is old fashioned." I wished to know more. @J.R. Thank you for introducing the Ngrams. The usage seems to be going up in the last few years after falling in the twentieth century.


Christmas: Christ + Mas?

What is the meaning of Christmas in the English language? > _Christ_ \+ _mas_ = Christmas? Is it because Christ is associated with a cross that it sometimes reads X-mas? And where is the _mas_ coming from? I am Portuguese, and in my language we call "Natal" what you call "Christmas", which are very different words. Sometimes our languages have similarities in origins, but both seem very different in this case.


A more formal adjective to 'sneaky'

What would be an adjective that describes a person or a company that purposely hides information for its advantage, but to another's disadvantage? I'm feeling there's a word more appropriate than `deceptive`, `dishonest` or `insincere`, more along the lines of `sneaky`. An example might be a services company that overcharges and purposely does not issue a time breakdown of their bill.


Word meaning "feather-like"

I need a word for feather-like. **Pinnated** doesn't fit, nor fern-like or anything I have thought of. I'd love something to use as in _phocine_ for _seal-like_.


When to use "it" instead of "who"

In using a title for a particular function of a person (for example, "supplier", "seller", "buyer", "exporter"), is it proper to use the word "it" and "that" and "itself", instead of "he or she" and "who" when referring to the function? Examples: >   * The supplier will respond after _it_ has received a communication. >   * A seller _that_ is interested will follow up the transaction. >   * The buyer _itself_ may take on the responsibilty. >   * The exporter must disclose _its_ supply capacity. >


Is there a better way of saying "writing for fun"?

As in "...written several pieces for **fun**." Writing "for recreational purposes" doesn't sit right, and I can't think of anything else.


Is there a verb for "Pass through a hoop?"

I am looking for a verb that means "To pass through a hoop", either figuratively or literally. Similar to what dolphins do in those water parks, or to someone having to do something he does not want to because of the situation he is in. Is there something similar to what I'm looking for?


What's the difference between "is done" vs "has been done" and "is to be done" vs "should be done"?

Please tell me the differences between the sentences below, and which sentence you think is the most idiomatic in English: >   1. What is to be done is done; there is no more to be done >   2. What is to be done is done; there is nothing else (to do) >   3. What should be done has been done; there is no more (that should be > done) > >   4. What should be done has been done; there is nothing else (to do) > > The context of this passage is one's reflection on a task that one is required to do immediately after one has completed it.


what does as many as (two hundred pizza) mean?

I read an article saying: > I delivered as many as two hundred pizzas! Is this correct? What does it mean, as many as two? Is is similar to _about_ , _maximum_ , or _almost_?


What do film cameos and cameo brooches have in common?

Why are film cameos called cameos? In which sense do they resemble cameo brooches? In both meanings of the word we have a human figure. Are they similar in their brevity of appearance? In their ornamental function? In their silence and hieratic attitude? Or are they comparable in their value (jewels are valuable, famous people are important)? I have already checked several etymological sources. They differ. I’m looking for your opinion. In what do you think film cameos and cameo brooches are similar? What do you feel is the key element in common? To try to further clear my question: I’m debating in another (Spanish- language) forum the anglicism “cameo”, which Spaniards use but ignore is related to cameo jewels (“camafeos” in Spanish). To most Spaniards cameo means nothing except cameo films. I’m trying to find out the connotations anglophones bring to their mind when they use the word in the cinematographic sense, connotations that Spaniards are unaware of, to show how in this specific case (not in most others) the adoption of this anglicism is not enriching Spanish language. But maybe this is not a good question anyway.


Adjective for something that can be responded to

What is an adjective for something that can be responded to? I tried _respondable_ but it looks like it isn't in the dictionary and it felt wrong anyway. * * * **Update:** I need to use it in the context of responding to user requests by the company staff. So the user request is [insert the word here] if there is an option (like a checkbox) to respond to the request.


How do you spell "Aye Yai Yai"

The phrase that's spoken when someone is hand-wringing about a thorny problem. **Speaker One:** Uh-oh -- we have to reformat ALL THE DOCUMENTS! **Speaker Two:** _Aye Yai Yai_ , that's a lot of work! "Aye Yai Yai" is the closest I can come with English orthography, but I'm not sure if there's a more standard representation.


A proper name for an official letter stating that somebody works at a specific company

I'm asked to translate a letter into English. The letter is about one company stating that my mom really works there. How is this type of a letter called? I would like to google for an exampe of a similar letter, but i don't know the right keywords.


"Good night" or "good evening"?

If it's 7:30pm, which of these phrases is correct, _Good night_ or _Good evening_?


greeting at nighttime

First: Can I say "Good evening" at the beginning of a conversation at 10 pm or 11 pm? or Good night would be more appropriate? Second: what to say when you meet someone at 1 am? Third:Does the answer differ from one country to another? thanks


Single word describing a person who has an obligation

I am looking for a single word (noun) describing a person or a legal party that has an obligation to do something. A nicer way of saying "obligated party". A made up example: > The court obliged Jim to pay 1000$ of satisfaction. Jim is obliged. In this > context Jim is a ... ?


Meaning of "over at"

What does "over at" mean? I saw this being used in "A over at the site/blog/forum B". I understand this means A is somehow related to B, but I want to know the precise meaning. Does it imply that A is always at B, or A is an owner of or affiliated with B?


About the word "casual"

According to what I knew and I have found on the web, in general the word _casual_ is the opposite of _everyday_. But in the special case when it refers to clothing, it has a similar meaning to "everyday clothing". And it definitely does not mean "special" or "formal". This seems illogical to me. Could you please clarify? Is that really the case? This is especially confusing to me, because in my native language (Hungarian), the literal translation of _casual_ is the same word that is used to refer to formal clothing for special events. This seems to make more sense.


Promise of something would happen as reported speech

He promised the following: “your payment will reach your account next Friday”. How to phrase the message below correctly?               The payment you promised to make reach my account a week ago has still not arrived.     The payment you promised to      reach my account a week ago has still not arrived.     The payment you promised would   reach my account a week ago has still not arrived.     The payment you promised to will reach my account a week ago has still not arrived.


With "I bid you farewell" being a normal phrase, would the phrase "I bid you sleep well" also be correct?

I'm trying to pinpoint the correct application of the verb "to bid" in order to use it in unconventional situations


Is there a term for a word that's recursive in its meaning? (see example for clarification)

For example, when someone uses the word "pedantic," he actually comes off as a pedant. Putting aside my opinion that "pedantic" is, in itself, pedantic, along with the obvious irony, is there a word, expression, or phrase that captures this sentiment? I will edit my post accordingly if I am being unclear. Thank you in advance.


Refering to questions

What is the appropriate way to refer to a question in a sentence? e.g. The question, is that true? is a bad one. The question, which is higher? is better than which is nearer?.


"During 1985 to 1988 , I worked at X company" — does it mean that 1988 was included?

I am an ESL student and I wonder what the following sentence means. > During 1985 to 1988 , I worked at X company Does it mean that 1988 was included? I am not quite sure about the meaning since when this sentence was translated into my language, it meant that the person stopped their work in the beginning of 1988. However, I thought it meant that 1988 is included.


I need a word encompassing the meaning of free from something

Suppose I have a work to accomplish today, but I am not in the mood to finish it. I need the word to comprehend all these ideas. The sentence to be put in would be like "Request to free me from the work that I had been assigned today". "Request to _ from the work that I had been assigned today" or "Request _ of work that I had been assigned today" or something close to this formulation.


The possessive s

My problem is about the possessive s (the _ownership s_ ) not that _ending-s_. For example, we say, _America's Flag_ , here the _America_ has gotten one _ownership s_ that is _America_ is the owner of that _Flag_. And also we say, _Computer Science_ , here that _Computer_ doesn't get the _ownership s_ (why?) even though we talk about _Science_ which is of _Computer_ (here). My question is when we should add that _s_ to the end of the first name which appear to be the owner of the second name? Or how we can recognize what names get that _s_ , please?


What is the origin of the "-th" suffix? What is the linguistic term for the meaning it adds to words?

I was teaching my young nephew some math the other day, and from discussing the typical sort of word problems he's encountering in class, I noticed that the "-th" suffix adds a distinct meaning to adjectives. For example:   * If a ship is long, it has _length_.   * If a woman is wide, she has _width_.   * If a person is strong, he possesses _strength_.    * If what I say is true, I'm speaking _truth_.   * A lumbering panda moving slow is full of _sloth_. Now, I've learned some linguistics from English L&U, and I'm guessing this "-th" suffix is an affix that changes adjectives into nouns. My questions are: What exactly is this "-th" suffix adding to the meaning? Secondly, does the "-th" originate from a separate word in Old English? Lastly, is there something to say about the vowel shifts that seems to be occurring in some of the transformations (e.g., _strong_ going to _strength_ ) that somehow fits in with the ablaut system of strong verbs/weak verbs, that I learned of from the excellent responses to my previous question?


What is the name of the word or phrase people insert into sentences, seemingly unintentionally?

For instance, I have a friend who just can't help himself constantly saying "ok". He'll say things like "ok, now we're going to [...]" or "now we've seen that, ok", and I'm just wondering what this practice is called. I used to think this sort of thing was called a "verbal tic", but according to Wikipedia: > Phonic tics are involuntary sounds produced by moving air through the nose, > mouth, or throat. They may be alternately referred to as **verbal tics** or > **vocal tics** , but most diagnosticians prefer the term phonic tics to > reflect the notion that the vocal cords are not involved in all tics that > produce sound.


What principle guides word combinations with "almost"?

I am trying to explain to non-native speakers how to use "almost." I can't formulate (a) rule(s) to follow with regard to nouns/pronouns. So far, my only ideas are that almost can be collocated only with words (or in situations) that describe measurement or comparison. However, even this seems to fail. For example: almost they = incorrect (no concept of measurement or comparison) almost everyone = correct (measurement of individuals) A platypus is almost a duck. = correct (comparison) They are almost the same. = correct (comparison) It is almost midnight. = correct (measurement of time vs. temporal adverbial) We are almost there. = correct (but spatial adverbial) However: He wrote almost a book. = incorrect, although in this case "book" would be a comparison or perhaps a measurement of the written material * * * I am pretty much at a loss. Thanks.


What is the correct term for diagnosis in automobiles?

I have to provide an English translation of my bachelor thesis' title and I couldn't find a term in the dictionary. At the moment I call it "Development of a car diagnosis application", but I am unsure if "car diagnosis" is the correct term. Maybe "vehicle diagnosis" or "automotive diagnosis" or ... ?


"I would have liked 'to have seen'/'to see' New York before the cyclone"

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  “Would you have liked to have been” vs. “would you have liked to be” Is "have" redundant when repeated in successive verb phrases? Well, let us read the following sentences: > I would have liked to have seen New York before the cyclone, > > I would have liked to see New York before the cyclone. Am I right in saying that one instance of "have" seems to have prompted another? Or are there subtleties and shades of meaning?


"Touch base" vs "Touch bases"?

My friend is adamant that "touch base" is the one and only correct usage, although he admits to hearing "touch bases" in regular use. Which was the original phrase, where did it come from, and do you think either/or is okay today?


When should I use "parallel" over "parallelism", and vice versa?

I am a bit confused about the words **parallel** and **parallelism** : When and where should one use which?


A single word that describes the moment a person realizes they are dreaming?

_Lucid dreams_ is a phrase to describe the state of someone knowing that they are dreaming. What I am looking for is a single word that describes that **_moment_** of realization. A friend suggested _lucidity_ , but its definition doesn't quite fit right for what I am seeking.


What is the word for finishing/doing a dare?

Like when there is a "challenge" or a "mission" you can "accomplish" it. What word can you use for a dare. When I dare a person to do something and he does it what does he "do". "dare accomplished"? (I am looking for a better word than accomplished)


Do things that “get one’s rocks off ” always “rock one’s socks off ”?

I see both of these two phrases used quite often and I have to question why _rocks_ are so cool here. Is there a history behind both of these sayings, and is possible that both of them are just mere propagandistic marketing blather by Gary Dahl? How do you decide which one to use? In Texas, I hear both of them interchangeably. > That horse will _rock your socks off._ or, > That horse will _get your rocks off._


Difference between "heck" and "hell"

Many say that one shouldn't use "hell" as it is informal. You can use "heck" instead. Both convey the same meaning. Then why this difference? Why can't one use "hell" everywhere?


Not always + inversion?

My neighbour's little son (they are from UK) asked me for something, saying that he wants it and hence he will get. I realized I do not know how to say that correctly (for the first one I used inversion) > Not always gets the person what he wants. or > It is not that everytime you wants something you will get it.


What do you call a person working in law?

_Politics_ is to _politician_ as _law_ is to what? A hypernym for _lawyer/judge/law student_ , etc. **Edit:** Not only in the legal system, anyone practicing or researching the subject. Maybe politics wasn't the best example.


Can I say "Please find my yesterday’s and today’s daily reports in the documents."?


How did "at once" get to be used to mean "immediately"?

How did "at once" become an idiom meaning "do this immediately" or "as soon as possible"? I just thought of this question after seeing this old UK WWI Propaganda poster in the link below. I glanced over it, and thought it seemed a bit awkward to be used in this way. Which made me curious about how it came to be used in this manner. ![WW I poster - "It is far better to face the bullets than to be killed at home by a bomb. Join the army at once & help to stop an air raid. God save the King"](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Eufjs.jpg) Only way I could think of how this came to be used, is if they were referring to a "timer" starting or something. As if it means "start at the first moment", or "start at the first chance". Maybe, "first" somehow being implemented as "at once"? Either way, I cant find any references in regards to how "at once" first became used in this manner.


bibs and bobs - what does it mean and where does it come from?

Just exactly what is a bibs and a bobs? And where the heck did that expression come from, anyway?


How do I compose this sentence?

I want to say something like: > Bob has two children. I don't know both of their genders. First of all I want it to be a compound sentence with a comma; second of all I want to use these words/phrases: "neither", "of which". The second part (a clause) of this sentence might need to be inverted to naturally connect to the first part. Any thoughts can be helpful.


Less colloquial version of "Hook in"

> The commercial online assessment services currently offered by PV > installation companies require the input of personal details such as email > addresses which **hook in** clients. "Hook in" seems like a bit of a colloquialism, is there a better term for this? To me, the noun hook in the context of "marketing hook" seems alright, but as a verb it seems rather casual. I want to convey the idea that once the consumer uses this service and provides any personal information, they are stuck or trapped in a loop and are forced to have additional contact or dealings with the business. I looked up in a thesaurus and came up with snared or lured, but does anyone have any better suggestions please?


Which is preferred: "one after another" or "one after the other"?

Which of the following sentences is more correct or more preferred?   * Throw one die after another.   * Throw one die after the other. As context, the sentence will be followed by > At any time, you may stop throwing dice and finish your attempt. Your > attempt must end once all eight dice have been thrown.


When did modern punctuation emerge?

Medieval punctuation was different from the one we use now; for example, Medieval punctuation included _punctus_ , _punctus versus_ , and _punctus flexus_. When did their equivalent in modern English emerge?


What is a word for a person who has been initiated into secret knowledge (apprentice, ___, master)?

I'm looking for a noun that can fit well in a 3-level scale: _apprentice, ____, master._ The scale describes the progress of a person from a layman/uninitiated ( _apprentice_ ), through being accomplished and versed in the secret knowledge he acquired, and finally arriving at the ability to teach and mentor apprentices into the same knowledge ( _master_ ). The noun _initiate_ has connotations of being a beginner and thus isn't good for my need.


Pronunciation of en- prefix as ahn-

Recently, I pronounced the word _enqueue_ as _ahn-queue_. The person I was talking to said he would have pronounced it with a more normal _en_ sound (like in Ben or den). I'm not sure why I thought that _ahn-_ was the way to pronounce this—it seems to be wrong according to the dictionary. The cases that _ahn-_ seems to be correct are two-word french phrases (e.g., _en route_). I also thought of _envoy_, which does allow the _ahn-_ pronunciation as a second option. Is there a pattern for which words allow or require _en-_ to be pronounced as _ahn-_? Or is this just something you have to know word-by-word?


Difference between using Hi and Hey?

I am not a native speaker. I really want to know what's the difference between Hi and Hey in writing an email? In daily conversation? Is it too girlish or childish for a man to say hey in his email? What's the bottom line in using them?


Is "earnt" a real word?

Is the past tense for the word "earn" "earned" or "earnt", and does the word "earnt" even exist?


Should there be a space before a percent sign?

Should there be a space before a percent sign or not? Should you write **20%** or **20 %**? I'm not sure if there is any consensus about this or not. Is one way more common than the other?


How do you pronounce coitus?

Everywhere I've checked for pronunciations online it's CO-IT-TUS. Every time I've heard someone use it in real life it's COY-TIS. Since so many people pronounce it in the latter form, does that mean the original pronunciation is "dead"?


Word for anachronistic elements in design style as a function of cultural adoption

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  A word for a symbol which has outlived its origin Ok, messy title. Sorry, but I have a memory of reading an article (possibly on Boing Boing) that mentioned this word. Essentially, it refers to the way visual elements in man-made objects are copied from predecessors. Examples are how cellphones have a phone icon for the classic AT&T phone design that hasn't been used for decades. Or a DVD player/media player that uses a cassette tape icon. And yet another example is the injection molded plastic chairs you can buy at Wal-Mart where they imprint them with fake weave patterns, to mimic the old woven grass style of patio furniture. Hopefully someone has a clue what I'm thinking of because I can't for the life of me recall this term.


A word for a symbol which has outlived its origin

I am quite sure that there is a word for a symbol which was originated by a real-life, physical prototype but has since then outlived its origin. Most notable example: the save button with floppy drive on it. Also, to a lesser degree, envelopes in email clients, and so on. The "anachronism" or "metonymy" are close, but not exactly what I'm searching for.


Why is the word "pants" plural?

We wear a shirt, a jacket but a pair of pants. Why is _pants_ plural?


What part-of-speech would a vehicle's year/make/model be?

Suppose I were to say this sentence: "I own a 2003 Ford F-150."   1. Would **2003 Ford F-150** be a compound proper noun?   2. Would **Ford F-150** be a compound proper noun and **2003** be an adjective?   3. Would **F-150** be a proper noun and **2003** and **Ford** be adjectives?    4. Am I way off, and there is some other term for this? It's been a while since I've taken any sort of grammar course, so I'm admittedly rusty on some specific instances like this. I honestly don't think #3 is the correct answer, as Ford seems like it would definitely be part of the proper noun, but I included it just to be thorough.


Word for "putting an end to one's solitude" or "be with someone"?

In Arabic there is a one-word verb that approximately means "being with someone and not letting them be alone". It could be used in phrases like: "يؤنس وحدتي " "أنت تؤنسني" "يؤنس وحشتي" It is used in Arabic when someone is feeling lonely and you make them feel not so lonely anymore and make them feel safe .. it could be used in a romantic way.. The verb in Arabic is "يؤنس", it is transitive and usually takes 'loneliness'/'solitude' as an object. Is there a transitive verb in English that has the same meaning? Could it be that English speakers don't have this feeling because there is no equivalent/accurate translation?!


Is there a word for the state when a something has "hit the mark"

In Dutch one can say > Schiet raak! meaning > Shoot in such a way that you hit what you intend to hit! 'Raak' is a word that is literally defined as "hitting it's goal" and it can for example also be used as a single word exclamation when something has hit it's intended goal ("Raak! Look, I hit triple 20 on the dart board!!!"). How would the same concept/sentiment be expressed in English? The closest I have come is "Don't miss!" and "Yeey, I didn't miss!", but that still feels quite a bit off.


Two instances of when to use the word "the"

I have two questions about when to use the word the via example.   * Question 1: "A comparison of **the** blue, red and yellow groups was also conducted." Do we need "the" there?   * Question 2: The original sentence is: "At the 5% significance level, there was no difference between groups.". Can you just take out the word the and state: "At 5% significance level, there was no difference between groups." (that sounds awkward to me). However the following sounds ok: "At 5% significance, there was no difference between groups." Which one is right? Thank you for your help!


When does a locational distinction change its suffix and capitialization in a proper name?

I am trying to capitalize Western Canada or western Canada properly and am wanting a definition for when the "ern" is added as a suffix to a locational distinction of a proper noun. I believe the capitalization is related to the suffix and am grouping two questions. After researching on the internet I have found a trend that areas of discrete area become capitalized along with their proper noun   * East New York   * West Hollywood   * East London (Britain)   * East Los Angeles Some locations have "ern" added to their locational modifier. Web Examples (from government sites):   * eastern Canada (http://www.thunderbay.ca/Living/About_Thunder_Bay/city_profile.htm   * Western Canada (http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/243.asp) All the examples listed contain discrete areas. The "ern" suffix is used for larger areas, but I am unable to determine when an area becomes large enough.


Term for an event being referred to by its location or date

Is there a term for referring to an organization by its city rather than by its name? mentions synecdoche and metonym as terms used when an organization is referred to by its location. Do these terms also apply when an event, rather than an organization, is referred to by its location? For example, Chernobyl, Fukushima, or Hiroshima. What about when a date is used to refer to an event, such as 3/11 being used for the Japanese earthquake and tsunami?


Meaning of "to fail at one's peril" in a legal document from the Elizabethan period

I do not know what "to fail at one's peril" means. The phrase appears in legal documents until the 19th century (at least this is what Google suggests). I cannot deduce its meaning no matter how hard I try.


Word denoting short description of the event

Is there any English word having the meaning of short description of the event? It could be quote, saying, proverb or just simple sentence showing the real or hidden meaning of what happened. For example, I would like to describe event of girl leaving my friend for other guy as "no woman, no cry" and say that "no woman, no cry" is appropriate **_** for the event. Is there word for that in English?


Hypothetical term for existence at every point in time

Assuming that time zero was the big bang and "time" before that did not exist, what is the term to describe something that has existed since "time" began and will continue till "time" ends. I understand that realistically we might never use this term. (Big bang is just a reference, I just wanted to refer to the "beginning of time") We have terms like _omnipresent_ and _omniscient_ , for place and knowledge/information, but what about time? Do _eternal_ or _sempiternal_ correctly define it? Is there a word like _omnichronos_?


Difference between "validation" and "verification"

What is the difference between validation and verification? When looking them up on Wiktionary they seem to mean mostly the same thing, but is there a difference? For example, would I be correct in saying that   * Checking that the format of an email address is valid, would be validation?   * The process of sending an email to an email address to have a user click on a link to make sure the email is in use and correct, would be verification? Or could I have used both words in both cases?


Is satay plural?

Is the word "satay" singular and plural or just singular? I've seen it used both ways in reputable publications.


What does it mean that two languages are genetically unrelated?

I would like to know what does it mean that two languages are genetically unrelated? I have seen answer in this topic Genetic Relatives what does it mean that languages are genetically realted but how would look the definition of unrelated languages and are there any examples of those?


Is there a word that describes the sound you make when you chuckle/breathe/cough in agreement with something?

I am writing a novel and am constantly trying to figure out how to describe the action when someone gives a sort of small cough or a quick "huh" in agreement. I suppose it would be the non-word equivalent of "I'll say" or "You think?" To be specific, I'll use it in a dialogue. "He must really hate Ian, then." Clarissa [insert word here]. "Yes." It's usually used when the speaker is trying to convey that the subject is much more serious than their conversation partner is taking it.


Term for words such as "dognitary"

Is there a term for words that have been altered in this way? For example, when speaking about a dignitary that is a dog, using "dognitary"


"How do you get on?" or "How are you getting on?"

I've got a problem with these constructs. The original sentence looks like the following: > I hear you've got a new job. How do you get on? Actually, the sentence I wrote above contains an error. The correct sentence is: > I hear you've got a new job. How are you getting on? So, I don't understand why we have to use the present continuous instead present simple. As far as I know we use present continuous tense for the temporary situations or the situations that happen at the time of speaking. Could anyone explain this situation in great detail?


Is there a term for words that when reversed, form other words?

I'm aware of what a palindrome is. What do you call words that, when reversed, form other words, such as _ton_ ( _not_ ) and _part_ ( _trap_ )?


Is it recommended to use "we" in research papers? If not, should I always use passive voice?


Single word for "village of dreams"?

Can someone suggest a single word for "village of dreams" in any language except the word "leonesse" as it has connotation of a place known for wines.


What's a generic noun for referring to the bulk material of pure chemical elements?

What's a generic noun (single word or multi-word term) for referring to the bulk material of pure chemical elements? I am talking about H2, O2, lead, diamond, graphene, etc, but not chemical elements, i.e. the atoms of hydrogen, lead, carbon, etc. Just like "chemical compound" is an umbrella word for water, CO2, etc. etc., what is the umbrella word for substances that is composed of a pure chemical element?


Collective agreement: "their risks" or "their risk"

"Individuals with high LDL cholesterol levels increase their risk of developing coronary heart disease." Would it be "their risks"? Does each individual have a separate risk...therefore "risks"? Or do they collectively have a risk? Similarly, "Most Americans eat more than enough protein in their diets." Would it be diet? Do Americans have separate diets or a collective diet?


Difference between: Also, too and as well

I understand that the correct usage of _also_ is with a verb: > She was smart, she also studied so much. However, my trouble is with _too_ and _as well,_ I have been reading and I just found that _as well_ is not common in American English, and regarding with the examples that I have found, those adverbs have the same meaning and you can use them in the same way and always at the end of the statement. > She was smart, she studied so much as well.   >  She was smart, she studied so much too. How much of that information is true?


Where does "pay through the nose" originate?

Where does the saying " pay through the nose" originate?


What is the origin of "the lay of the land?"

The meaning is quite well established and straightforward--from TheFreeDictionary:   1. (Lit.) The arrangement of features on an area of land. (Also with lie, especially British English.) "The surveyor mapped the lay of the land." "The geologist studied the lay of the land, trying to determine if there was oil below."   2. (Fig.) The arrangement or organization of something other than land. "As soon as I get the lay of the land in my new job, things will go better." "The company's corporate structure was complex, so understanding the lay of the land took time." But what is the origin of its figurative meaning? Does it predate frontier America?


What will be the opposite of "teetotalers"?

I just come across a word _teetotalers_ that means "A person who never drinks alcohol". What will be the opposite of this word in the same context?


Can't understand the meaning of 'blamed exertion' in this sentence

Doctors blamed exertion and said there was nothing to worry about.      I knew exertion means attempts or try. But here what does that mean by 'blamed exertion'?


What does the phrase "taking a bath with the crowd" mean?

I recently heard the phrase "taking a bath with the crowd" and that apparently it's a common idiom in many European languages. I found several results for the phrase on Google, but none that explain what it means. Does anyone know what the phrase means, and if there's a common (American) English phrase that means the same thing?


Pronouncing th after r in Standard American English: /ɹð/

I natively speak Flemish (Dutch). We trill the R. I just had a 7-lesson course (over video chat with an American lady) to improve my accent towards Standard American English. According to the test I improved greatly, but there is just one particular sound I still have great trouble with. If an `r` gets anywhere near a `th`, I get a tongue tap (as in /R/). I can now usually manage to get `thr` right, but `r th` still often fails, at least if the th is a /ð/. `Earth` and `north` are no trouble, but `for the` is harder, and one I can NEVER even get right (at speed) is `bother them`. I've heard examples of people saying those words right after each other while still clearly pronouncing that /ɹ/ and /ð/, and I want to know how! My trouble with `bother them` is that after the first `th`, my tongue is moving backwards to produce the `r`, and then it has to travel too quickly back to the front for the second `th`, tapping my palate along the way. It seems physically impossible to avoid that. It's probably mostly related to how I pronounce /ɹ/. My previous habit was to twist my tongue (placing it sideways, touching both top and bottom of the mouth with either sides). While this actually sounded fine, I figured learning the 'right way' might improve my chances of pronouncing composite consonants more correctly. So I'm now trying to always pronounce it by having the sides or my tongue press against my upper molars instead, pointing the tip upwards but not touching. That "the way", right? So in short: I would value any very specific tips/explanations on pronouncing `bother them` correctly, i.e. with /ɹð/ but without tapping the palate.


What's the meaning when we say "per se"?

Sometimes I read a sentence like the following one: > Objective-C does not provide a standard library, _per se_ , but in most > places.. I wonder how to interpret "per se." I'm non-native English speaker and in Swedish we have the expression "per se," but I don't understand it and maybe you can say that it means something like "in itself" (the strange Swedish expression is _i och för sig_ ) like Latin for _de se_ as distinct from latin _de facto_ , _de re_ , _de dicto_ , _de jure_ , etc. Do these expressions have a connection: "per se" and _de se_? Is it Latin and therefore I have difficulty to understand? What is the difference between these sentences?   * Breaking a traffic rule does not, per se, make you a burglar.   * Breaking a traffic rule does not, per definition, make you a burglar.   * Breaking a traffic rule does not, in itself, make you a burglar.


Is "Michael here" correct?

Why Michael, vsause's host at the start of each video says "Michael here" instead of "Michael is here"? Is it grammatically correct or just a slang / simplified way of speaking?


Usage of "diary" and "calendar"

The difference between a paper diary and a paper calendar is fairly clear, though either may be used to record an appointmemt. However a computer application is less clear as, for example, MS Outlook's self-styled calendar is really a diary. Or is it? Guidance, please!


Server log shows normal activities OR Server logs show normal activities?

Where I am trying to collectively refer to server logs, should I say... > Server log shows normal activities or > Server logs show normal activities


What does 'cloying smoke' mean?

I understand "cloying" to mean something good that becomes distasteful in excess. Here is a sentence I read today from this article: > But the aerial assault on the stubborn blaze, which blanketed much of the > New Orleans area with cloying smoke for a third straight day, is unlikely to > extinguish the fire or end the smoke quickly, Landrieu said. So when I read "cloying smoke" I assume the author intends to portray smoke as pleasurable in limited quantities? Is this just an idiom? Help me make sense of it. From a google search it appears the phrase is not uncommon.


"Had better" — what is the meaning of this grammatically?

I'm interested to know why we use _had better_ for recommendation. Technically we're speaking of an action that hasn't yet occurred. Like _he had better leave a tip_ means he hasn't yet left a tip, but I suggest he do. Why do we use the past tense _had_ if it has nothing to do with the past? Why do we not use the subjunctive here? ( _He have better leave a tip._ )


What does this sentence about 'ὑπό' mean?

Wiktionary has the description of meaning for the _ancient Greek_ word 'ὑπό': > under, that is, (with the genitive) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the > agency or means, through); (with the accusative) of place (whither > [underneath] or where [below]) or time (when [at]): among, by, from, in, of, > under, with. In compounds it retains the same genitive applications, > especially of inferior position or condition, and specifically covertly or > moderately. I cannot grasp the _exact_ meaning of this sentence. I do not mean the terms, my problems are with identifying what are **the scope for the respective 'or' words**. Could you help me comprehend it? **note** I may better ask this on ELL, but in case the sentence is 'genuinely ambiguous', I don't know how much linguistic background is given on ELL.


what is meant exactly by 'board' in the following sentence from the haunted house by dickens? can someone please help me picture the situation?

A lop-sided **board** drooped over the garden wall, announcing that it was 'to let on very reasonable terms, well furnished.


Usage of poetic device

> Real eyes realize real lies. Is this sentence illustrating the usage of alliteration? If not, which poetic device has been employed here?


I can't identify a word from one video

The text is: “I didn’t receive **...** I found Kevin or any part of Kevin, so I have places like this to help me heal.” **...** is the word I can't catch it. who can help me identify it? The video link, password is **goodgood** , input it in the text-box in the middle of video box,and click the button next to the text-box. Sorry I can only upload it to chinese website.


Is the correct phrase "free run" or "free roam?"

Is the correct phrase "free run" or "free roam," as in "the dog has free run of the house"?


What is the meaning of "sanity" in "sanity check"?

The phrase "sanity check" comes up often in programming, _e.g._ > It's a good _sanity check_ before attempting to decrypt the key. Usually, its context is one in which a commonly assumed state ( _e.g._ no memory corruption) is being tested, explicitly. For a long time, I interpreted "sanity" as the state opposed to "insanity", _e.g._ > It's a good _check to make sure we don't lose our minds_ before attempting > to decrypt the key. Because of the many instances I'd spent hours, or _days_ , debugging a mysterious bug, only to find the cause to be some uncommon state in the environment or data, this interpretation made sense to me; a _sanity check_ would have _saved my sanity_. Then one fateful day I perceived that "sanity" had a more canonical meaning: cleanness, _e.g._ > It's a good _check for cleanness_ before attempting to decrypt the key. Which is the interpretation meant by the phrase, "sanity check"? I can go on using the phrase without knowing, since both interpretations fit the usual situations that call for it. But I'm curious to know, and I'm afraid emailing my coworkers a poll about their interpretations might cause them to question _my_ sanity.


Which position does "really" and "quite" go?

I know **really** is an adverb, and one that intensifies the verb. I also know that some adverbs go only in the beginning; in the middle or at the end of a sentence, and some can be placed in all three positions. Take for example the phrase: _I don't care_   * I _really_ don't care   * I don't _really_ care   * I don't care really These three sound OK, but maybe I'm wrong? Could someone please describe the differences in meaning? Ws2 suggested using _don't know_ with **quite** in the comments below.   * I _quite_ don't know   * I don't _quite_ know   * I don't know quite Only the second one sounds acceptable. Why is that?


Antonym of "highlight"

What's the opposite of _highlight_? I don't mean the verb _to highlight_ or _to emphasize_ something, so _downplay_ isn't an option. Instead I'm looking for the opposite of "the highlight of the movie, concert, show".


Origin of "to see it through"

What is the origin of the phrase "to see it through"? How early was it invented? Would it sound out of place in an attempt to emulate older (200–400 years older) English?


Words like Schadenfreude or Sauerkraut

What are some composite German words such as "Schadenfreude" or "Sauerkraut" that are commonly used in English and with no English equivalents?


Why use "what is ... to/by me" rather than "my ... thing"?

I noticed that in English we say, "My favorite thing", and it's okay, but we don't say, "My well-liked thing". Why is this? Why use, "What is well-liked by me ..."?


When should apostrophe-s be used?

(Sorry for the lack of proper terms in this question) I noticed that in this example:               This page's content [...]      The word "page" is used with an apostrophe-s. I thought `'s` should only be used when the literal translation is "[this] page **is** [...]" Can someone please clarify this use?


What exactly does "tally ho" mean?

I heard this _tally ho_ in a youtube video (British). I also heard it in the movies "Jack the Giant Slayer", and "Spiderman 1". I understand it's some kind of expression or exclamation or idiom to say in certain circumstances. I've googled for this, I just found that it is used to say _a huntsman's cry to the hounds on sighting a fox_ , and _a cry of tally ho_. First, I don't get it, and second I can't find a connection between that "tally ho" and the videos I heard it from.


How do you define broke and broke into?

How do you define _broke_ and _broke into_ here? OP: "If you're not making six figures by the time you're 40, you fail at life." P1: "whew... I just made it... **broke into** 6 figures at 39." P2: "I **broke** 6 figures at 29. Never got much past that though."


How should I write a whip sound?

Is it crack? Snap? Wh-tch? Whop-eesh? Alternatively, if I don't use the actual noise. Do I write: The whip rang out? Cracked?


What is the correct way to answer a general question?

Is it considered rude to answer a question with a question? For instance: Q. Did you eat those cookies? A. Why? Would the correct response be "Yes I did (or no I did not), why do you ask?"


Is it right to say "Viewpoints made easy"?

I'm not native in the English language and I'd like to know if when I say "Viewpoints made easy" your perception leads you to something like: > Viewpoints made easy. An easy form to connect and represent points of view > and understandings about the world knowledge.


"Money for rope" ... meaning and derivation?

I was listening to John Lennon's song "Gimme Some Truth" just now, and in it there's a recurring line "money for rope." I never thought about it much before, but it strikes me this has to be some kind of aphorism or at least a familiar idiom somewhere. Does anyone know what it means and where it comes from? I've found some things on the Web that say it refers to the rope trade, and driving a bad bargain, etc., but none of these seem entirely convincing. Or at least they left me feeling unsatisfied. Does anyone have a clear line on this one?


Difference between "impel" and "compel"

What is the difference between _impel_ and _compel_?


Semicolon as a super-comma preceding “etc.”

I was wondering which punctuation to use preceeding **etc.** in an enumeration with semicolons as _supercommas_ (as formulated here: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon). > People with dichromatic colour vision will usually find it difficult to > distinguish between similar tones and shades: deep red with black with dark > green or dark purple; medium shades of red with similar tones of green and > orange; etc. Should I use a semicolon or a comma before the _etc._?


What is the difference between partial and total synonyms?

I am really confused with these terms. In my notes from lexicology lectures, partial synonyms are words which differ in emotional color, valency, style, or grammar. In some cases, I can’t see which of these apply, for example, the following pairs:   * eat/consume   * help/aid   * plenty/many   * former/older   * nest/colonize Is there another way to define or explain the difference between partial and total synonyms? Or a better list of the possible differences?


An ambiguous sentence from the music Dreamtale

The whole sentence is > As the last ship sailed towards the distant horizon, I sat there watching on > a rock. My mind slowly drifting away, forming into my...dreamtale. I can't figure out whether _I_ was sitting on a rock or watching on a rock. It seems ambiguous, right?


Is Hyphen Really the Longer – line instead of the shorter dash - line?

I had a discussion with some people today on hyphen and dashes. They had concluded that hyphen, which is used to link two connecting words (book-bag) is the longer line – instead of the shorter line -, and that the shorter line is for the dash, which is used to continue an argument/show something within a passage. Is this true? Is there really a difference between the line length in the hyphen and dash symbols? I had always thought that they were of the same length. Supposedly:   * Hyphen : –    * Dash.... : - (Dots used to space out to show the difference in length.)


What's the difference between a "nook" and a "cranny"?

I think both words mean a sort of crevice or corner. Presumably there must be some significant difference. The words are almost always used together: e.g. > She searched in every **nook and cranny** Presumably they can be used separately. I think I may have heard "nook" on its own, but never "cranny". Interestingly the N-gram seems to suggest "nook" is more commonly used than "cranny". ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/zIR5a.png)


Who was Buggins of 'Buggins' turn'?

'Buggins' turn' refers to the practice of assigning appointments to persons in rotation, rather than on merit. The OED records this and gives examples of its use from 1901. As regards etymology it just says 'typical proper name used generically'. But why Buggins? Does anyone know who the original Buggins was? Or was it a name that was earlier used in the way Joe Bloggs is today? Sounds the sort of surname Dickens might have created but he is not found in a list of characters.


"one years old"

I just heard someone say: > "my baby just turned one years old" Which sounds super weird to me - so I googled a little and found similar sentences: > How Old Are Dogs When They Turn 1 Years Old in Human Years It has been said > that a dog who is 1 years old is 7 years old in human years. Can you really say "years" after "one"?


Succinct way to describe "clocking in" page on a web app

A Swedish colleague has asked for my suggestion for web app page titles. The task has left me and a fellow native speaker stumped... The answers should apply to British and American English.   1. A page for users to "clock in" and "clock out". We're even unsure whether or not there is a better term for indicating presence at work than this.   2. A page to view all clocked times. My initial thought was "timesheet"? Thanks!


What does the phrase "in my puff" mean?

I'm reading "Right Ho, Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse and I've just encountered another phrase which I can't understand. Full sentence where this phrase is used (emphasis added by me): > I fact, not to put too fine a point upon it, I consider that of all the > dashed silly, drivelling ideas I ever heard **in my puff** this is the most > blithering and futile.


How is "brrm" pronounced?

I find some interjections to be too tricky to pronounce. Can anyone help me with this one? Is there any specialized dictionary that reports the pronunciation of interjections?


Higher, greater or bigger distance?

Which of the following is most correct? > The distance of the shortest path must not be higher than 10km.   >  The distance of the shortest path must not be greater than 10km.   >  The distance of the shortest path must not be bigger than 10km. Or is there an even better word?


Can commoner be used as an adjective? I thought it was a noun. Can we say something is commoner?

I thought "commoner" is 'a person not of royal birth', but saw "commoner" used instead of "more common". Is this correct?


When should I use "is", and when "does"?

I know this is really basic, and I know the answer internally, I just find that I can't articulate it. When would you use "is", and when is "does" more appropriate? E.g. "The sun is green", vs "The computer does work". I'm looking for a really concise and easy to remember explanation, not for the entire theory of tenses.


Meaning of "the body soon learns to stand down in the face of fat"

The following is from the transcript of a podcast. > Dieters can choose from an array of snacktackular options in which sugars > and fats are replaced by artificial, low-calorie substitutes. That sleight > of hand seems ingenious. You can let your body think it’s getting the sweets > and fats it craves while keeping the calorie count to a minimum. > > But the new study suggests that this strategy is likely to backfire. Rats > that consumed a mix of full-fat chips and chips with olestra wound up eating > more and got fatter than rats that noshed on regular chips alone. > > Their bodies were apparently getting mixed messages. A mouthful of fat is > usually a signal that calories are coming, and the body reacts by getting > ready to burn fuel. But olestra, which tastes like fat, carries no calories > at all. **So the body soon learns to stand down in the face of fat. All fat. > Even real fat.** Because as Shakespeare almost said, a chip by any other > name still swells your seat. In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "stand down" has the following meaning: 1 : to leave the witness stand   2 chiefly British a : to go off duty b : to withdraw from a contest or from a position of leadership But I still don't understand what the sentence "So the body soon learns to stand down in the face of fat." means. Does it mean that the body will not react with all kinds of fat? Then how can one get fatter when such thing happen?


Is there a symbol for “and/or”?

I am wondering if there is a symbol or glyph to represent the conjunct "and/or". I doubt there is a formal, de jure symbol (i.e., found in any manual of style or dictionary), but I cannot even find any references to de facto usages, nor even _invented_ symbols for it. Is the virgule the only symbol for it? Is there no other shorthand to represent the concept? Is that sufficient to capture the full meaning ( _either one or both_ ) of the pair? (If so, I find it peculiar that the virgule is already present in "and/or", and yet can take the place of the whole construct.) There are a couple of questions regarding "and/or" here, and some of them come peripherally close, but none of them quite touch on this issue.


Are two singular nouns together singular or plural?

I'm writing a research paper with several classmates for school. However, there's a sentence that we, as well as others who have reviewed our paper, disagree with on how to write. Which sentence is more proper, grammatically? > Yet, alcohol usage and abuse still continue. > > Yet, alcohol usage and abuse still continues. I realize that this is probably a trivial question, but I would appreciate any help nonetheless.


Word for someone who sleeps during the day

People are sometimes said to be a _morning person_ or a _night person_. I also know that the term for something related to night is "nocturnal". Is there a specific word for a person who sleeps during the day and is active at night? I’m looking for an elegant word for _night owl_.


What's the opposite of "authenticator"?

What's the opposite of "authenticator"? An authenticator is: > "a person or thing that authenticates." What do you call the person who is being authenticated? Assuming the use case where a person authenticates another person.


Is it OK to use a forward slash '/' between words other than the obvious 'and/or'?

I don't want to get into the proper use of the phrase 'and/or', but rather to investigate the use of the forward slash between other words. Examples:   * I have an interview with him/her this afternoon.   * He has a large binder/notebook. And even separating just letters:   * I connected the i/o ports. (input/ouput)   * Mark the field as n/a. (not applicable)   * I did it w/o her help. (without) It seems as thought the forward slash can be used to indicate an option, display ambiguity, shorten 2 words and shorten 1 word (and others). Is it OK to use a slash to separate these words/letters (yes, that was intended), or is it better to explicitly say 'his or her'? One more thing, is it correct to 'chain' these phrases together? I'm horrible with examples but here's one:   * I don't open letters/mail that aren't/isn't addressed to me.


What's the origin of the term "call" in card games?

What is the origin of the term "to call" in card games like poker? I can understand that one can "raise" the bet, but why does one want to say "call" to match a bet or match a raise? How would that meaning of the action "call" be used elsewhere?


"5 slices of cheese" what word describes the "slices" part

In a list of ingredients you'd have something like the following : > 5 grams of flour > > 2 cups of lemon juice > > 10 slices of meat What word would you use to describe 'grams', 'cups' and 'slices' in the previous examples? My thoughts: _Unit_ This works well for grams and fluid oz but doesn't seem right when describing something like cups, slices or bunches although that might just be me. _Measure (n)_ Measure to me sounded unique enough but can get confused with the verb form as well as a measure used in cocktail making. _Measurement_ This seemed more appropriate for something that you'd measured, the thing that you measured is a measurement.


What’s the difference between “if I were” and “if I would be”?

Can someone tell me the difference between these two phrases:   1. if I **were** rich   2. if I **would** be rich I am not a native English speaker, so it’s hard for me to see any difference in meaning between those two versions.


Is there an antonym for 'nonplussed'?

_Nonplussed_ is an interesting word because it appears to be a negation of 'plussed' (as in 'not plussed'). As far as I know, 'plussed' isn't a real word. > He was left nonplussed. How would you say the opposite of this statement?


“On/over the phone”

Which version is correct?   1. As discussed with you **over** the phone.   2. As discussed with you **on** the phone.


Does “intellectual gymnastics” always have a negative connotation?

As far as I know, “intellectual gymnastics” is used in a negative sense. For example, the discipline of philosophy can be belittled as “intellectual gymnastics”. However, a university in Japan seems to be advertising one of their new academic programs by using the term in a positive sense as follows: > Advanced Education in the Liberal Arts -- Intellectual Gymnastics Is this simply an incorrect use because of connotation? Or is there maybe some other connotation of the term that is positive?


Does a comma have to be used before 'because'?

> I have a big house because my parents are rich.   >  I have a big house, because my parents are rich. Are there are some exceptions as well?


Can one use "hopefully" in an absolute sense?

Bill Bryson, author of the recent best-seller "A Short History of Nearly Everything", in one of his books says: > We must never use _hopefully_ in an absolute sense, such as "Hopefully it > will not rain tomorrow". After having read that assertion many times, I'm still not able to understand what Bill Bryson means. Precisely, what does _absolute sense_ mean in that statement and in reference to _hopefully_? Is _hopefully_ correctly used in "Hopefully it will not rain tomorrow"? If not, why? Can anybody shed a bit of light to clarify what Bill Bryson says?


What is the etymology of "yonks"?

How did we come to say "yonks" meaning a long period of time? > "I haven't been to the cinema in yonks." Etymonline has nothing and Oxford dictionaries has: > noun: British informal: a very long time: I haven’t seen him for yonks > > 1960s: origin unknown; perhaps related to donkey's years (see donkey) If it has indeed spawned from "donkey's years", when and whereso?


What is wrong with this sentence?

> I do not even get the chance of show my skills in an interview. Someone told me that this sentence is wrong and instead should be: > I do not get the chance of show my skills in an interview. Why there is a problem with _even_? I'm remarking the importance of the situation, so I consider the _even_ is well used here.


Can "the problem is" be replaced by "the issue is" in this context?

Issue and problem in many occasions are interchangeable, but they have differences. I wonder whether in this sentence "the problem is" can be replaced by "the issue is". > Alice said a lot on some topic and then Bob replied, "What you said can be a > good argument on its own, but the problem is you have not figured out > against what the author is discoursing."


What type of conditional should I use?

I have the sentence: > If you had ever fought with A, you know how important it is not to do B. and I'm not sure if it is really correct. It is supposed to mean, "In case you fought with A in past then you know (from that point in past on) how important it is not to do B". Does the sentence express that correctly?


Acrylic vs methacrylate

A native Spaniard here, asking about what we call _metacrilato_ -- this manufactured product: ![Coloured plastic sheeting](http://i.stack.imgur.com/5ohHi.jpg) What would you call it? I have seen use both acrylic and Methacrylate, maybe one of them is more technical.


What is the time period between midterms called?

During a term, my students have to take two tests, which I call midterms*. Therefore, the term is divided into three periods   * 1) From beginning of the term till the first midterm exam   * 2) From the first midterm exam till the second midterm exam   * 3) From the second midterm exam till the end of the term. What can I call these periods? Maybe sub-terms? Is there maybe a better word? * My additional question is: is it OK to call them midterms if they are not in the middle of the term but rather at 1/3 and 2/3 of the term?


Is there a male counterpart of jezebel?

Jezebel means a shameless or immoral woman. Is there a connate or coeval word for a man that would mean the same, as if it was coined to be the male counterpart of Jezebel?


Difference between "considered to be" and "considered as"?

Is there any difference between considered to be and considered as? For example:   * Adam is considered as a good teacher.   * Adam is considered to be a good teacher.


Why is it necessary to use the word *else* in this sentence?

I found a writing skills question in Barron's PSAT test guide that was confusing to me. > Mary is _as fast as, if not faster than, anyone_ in her class and should be > on the team. The book states that the sentence is erroneous and should be changed to: > Mary is _as fast as, if not faster than, anyone **else_** in her class and > should be on the team. Why is it necessary to use the word _else_?


What is the difference between "moocher" and "smoocher"?

I live in France, so I lack vocabulary. I heard the word _moocher_ in the debate between O'Reilly and Stewart. I wanted to know the difference to _smoocher_.


What is 'decreased activity' an example of?

People use _decreased activity_ (for example) where _decrease in activity_ would be more literally correct. For example, _reasons for my decreased activity_ usually refers to reasons for a decrease, not to reasons for activity (as the phrase parses literally); likewise, _His decreased activity is cause for alarm_ usually means that the decrease in his activity is alarming, not that his activity, albeit decreased, is. This kind of figure of speech seems to be some kind of metonym, but I wonder whether there's a more specific figure-of-speech category that covers it.


Opportunity vs chance?

As a non-native English speaker, I wonder what the difference is between the following sentences:               It's a chance to work with you.     It's an opportunity to work with you.      I ask this question, because in french, a literal translation lead to different meanings: In French, "chance" means in this case `an honor` and "opportunité" can have a negative connotation (I will benefit from you, but not necessarily you from me). So what are the exact meanings of the two sentence (with their connotations) ?


"Implied" is to "explicit" as "implication" is to what?

I am looking for an antonym of implication that is related in the same way that _implied_ and _explicit_ are related, where _explicit_ means "expressed". This antonym should also fit the following analogy: _Imply_ is to _state_ as _implication_ is to **___ __ ___ _**. * * * _Example:_ > Alice: "Your argument/statement implies X." > > Bob: "But what I explicitly stated contradicts your perceived implication!" I think it would be very nice to use a word that would mean the exact opposite of _implication_ to emphasize how incorrect a perceived implication is when it contradicts what someone had plainly said or written. Bob could say, "But my statement/explanation/argument contradicts your perceived implication," which gets the point across, but IMO doesn't convey the full gravity of Alice's blunder that an antonym of _implication_ would. Bob wants to succinctly emphasize that what was plainly stated, when taken at face value, contradicts what Alice thought was implied. M-W defines _explicate_ as "to give a detailed explanation of." Does that mean that _explication_ is a "detailed explanation"? If so, _explication_ would function well if Bob had indeed provided a detailed explanation or argument. However, if Bob had simply offered a statement or two, I don't think _explication_ would work well. In short, Bob should say: "My **___ _** contradicts your perceived implication."


What is the difference between "dream" and "ambition"?

I don't understand how _dream_ differs from _ambition_ in the following quote: > I don't feel like summing up my ambition as just a dream, but I do have an > ambition. The ambition to restore my clan and to kill a certain man without > fail.


“Foxen” versus “oxes”

What is the difference between _fox_ and _box_ versus _ox_ , that the first two are pluralized as _foxes_ and _boxes_ , whereas the last one is pluralized _oxen_? **Note:** I know how to pluralize them. What I want to know is what makes them different from each other, _why_ they are pluralized as they are. _Joking: the plural ofbox is boxen. [Kudos to Mark for that first link]_ * * * _I was really surprised to discover that this question was not yet asked on this Stack Exchange! ;)_


Pleased and satisfied. What's the difference?

What is the difference between 'pleased' and 'satisfied'? The dictionary says: 'She was very pleased with her exam results.' 'The boss should be pleased with you.' But I think I can say: 'She was very satisfied with her exam results.' 'The boss should be satisfied with you.' Am I right? And can we say 'a pleased customer'? If we can - 'a pleased customer' is more happier than 'a satisfied customer'?


What the word "Gerontocracy" means?

I am working on GRE words but I have some problem with the meaning of "Gerontocracy". My book suggested "government by the aged" but I can't get it. Help me please.


What's the meaning of "straight" here?

> Thats some **straight** blockbuster movie sh-t. They deserve it if they > pulled it off. What's the meaning of _straight_ here? The comment was made in response to a news article on a bank robbery in which the robbery was done by the robbers professionally dug a tunnel underground through to the bank's vault.


A word that represents a group of people working to achieve a common goal or dream

I am working on a project that involves bringing people together who share common goals or dreams. Is there a word or phrase to describe groups of people who are working together to accomplish these common aspirations? People have suggested terms like "Dreamers", or "Goal-setters", but I am preferably looking for something a little more catchy, perhaps even in a language other than English. Or are there any words/phrases that describe a person who accomplishes their goals. Perhaps then, I can then just pluralize that term. I'd appreciate any help!! Thanks.


Usage of too while comparing two places

While in a conversation about a place `xyz` which is facing water scarcity, if another place `abc` is also having water scarcity, which sentence would be correct:- I know `xyz` has water scarcity, but is `abc` **too** having water scarcity? I know `xyz` has water scarcity, but is `abc` having water scarcity **too**?


what is the right verb for cleaning glasses with a cloth?

I want to mention the clear-eyed feeling of putting on recently wiped glasses. Is that correct? Or should I say, recently cleaned glasses? Is there a better option?


A word or phrase to describe someone who is obsessed with words?

I want to be able to describe the love for, or obsession with, words. It may also be a condition from other's perspective. It maybe because he is a lunatic who wants to aggrandize his vocabulary, a crazy person who can't forget the words he hears wafting around, or someone who wants to set a world record or something. Try fitting it in these: He is a **___** who can blurt a thousand synonyms for good. He is so **__** that he can be called a dictionary with a heartbeat. He is showing what a **_** he is. If thesaurus was a ghost, he would be dwelling in that **_** 's body. Any word or phrase would do.


Where did the "three fingered salute" come from?

Where did the phrase "three-fingered salute", meaning to press CTRL-ALT-DELETE on the keyboard, come from? As the "two-fingered salute" appears to be a mainly British gesture, I suspect the three-fingered variety is British too. But suspicion isn't evidence.


F for intoxication

Is there a word that starts with "F" that is related to intoxication? I have racked my brain all over the state of mindlessness for this, but have yet to come up with a good answer.


How to form a gerund from “practise”?

I (think) I know the difference between _practise_ (verb) and _practice_ (non- verb). However, I am not sure which form I should use in cases like the following ones: > I love **practising** the guitar.   >  You can try **practising** with this.


Accustom vs accustomed? Which is proper usage here?

I'm using accustom in a sentence like so:               Users are already familiar with YouTube and are accustom to its expansive music catalog.      I'm wondering if this is an incorrect use of the word accustom. Should it be accustomed? I'm thinking accustomed is incorrect because it is present tense and not past tense, but maybe this is an exception to the language.


What is the term for "a" and "an"?

What is the technical term for the words "a" and "an" as in: > a Banana   >  an Elephant and does the rule for using "an" in front of words that begin with a vowel have a name?


What does the phrase "none too dissimilar" mean?

I have heard the phrase _none too dissimilar_ used many times. Based on context, it seems to mean _similar_ , or perhaps _very similar_. Does _none too dissimilar_ have a different meaning that I am missing? Example: > The book and the movie were none too dissimilar.


Is there a word for permanent solution?

I would prefer a positive connotation.


Middle initial placement

**First question:** My name is Anh D. Pham, but I go by “Andy”. If I want to include my nickname, where should I put the nickname portion? >   1. Anh D. “Andy” Pham >   2. Anh “Andy” D. Pham > **Second question:** I think it’s normal to use a middle initial. However, I have two middle names, not just one. Would it look weird to use two middle initials? For example, like one of these two: >   1. Anh D. M. Pham > >   2. Anh D.M. Pham > >


To use "not" or "don't" in a noun clause?

As in this sentence: "We ask that you not take anything you read here as final.", why "not" is used instead of "don't"?


Origin of "I kid you not"

What is the origin of the phrase "I kid you not"? And, on a related note, is the sentence, > Can't I kid you? or > Can't I kid with you? incorrect?


Difference between "output" and "outcome"?

What is the difference between _output_ and _outcome_? Please suggest the proper usage.


What is the difference in meaning and usage between the words "topic", "theme", "subject"?

I'd like to get a feel for the difference between these words. When are they interchangeable and when is only one of them appropriate or preferable?


Is it correct to place comma between successive adjectives?

When a noun has more than one adjective some time I see comma is used between them. Is it just an incorrect use of comma? e.g "Unwind by a nice hot bath" vs "Unwind by a nice, hot bath". Also "There is a big, flat, windy beach." vs "There is a big flat windy beach."


Is it possible to use 'last ... ' or any past simple adverbs with the past perfect?

To illustrate what I mean, I give the following example: > I had drifted off to sleep last night.


One of the many things that (have or has)? affected me was

One of the most significant adversities that (have or has)? affected me was....


What word describes a person who never went to college, but is very successful, and well learned?

I'm looking for a word that would describe the class of people who either went to college and dropped out, and did something more timely with their skills (starting a business, programming, etc) and never achieved a degree. This word should be used for established professionals, but I suppose I can also use a word for a driven intellectual who doesn't have the typical earmarkings of success as popular society defines it.


How to pronounce vowels when spelling out a word

As vowels have various pronunciation in English, when spelling out a word (for example: A93B4J), should I use a word that starts by the vowel in the same (don't know how to name this, long or short pronunciation) For example:   * A as in Age   * A as in Apartment Should I use the first one? The second? Whichever?


Usage of "as" in a context

Is the following sentence grammatically correct? The part that I am not confident about is the usage of "as". Can you please see the use of "as" in the parenthesis within the following sentence? Also if the following sentence doesn't sound smooth enough, can you please advise me why? > Up to this point, the item is described (as) it has full warranty until > 10/2013 but this is not true.


How to use "It ain't over till the fat lady sings"?

I know the meaning of this phrase: One should not assume the outcome of some activity (e.g. a sports game) until it has actually finished. I'm curious as to whether it would more likely be used when   * the speaker refers to an assumed **favorable** outcome that might turn _unfavorable_ : > "The Giants are going to win this game, no question!" > > "It ain't over till the fat lady sings."   * the speaker refers to an assumed **unfavorable** outcome that might turn _favorable_ > "Might as well go home, no chance the Giants are going to win this one." > > "It ain't over till the fat lady sings." Or does the phrase apply to both situations equally?


The instrument that measures the consumption of water

What is the English name of this instrument, that measures the consumption of water? In Hebrew we call it "Sheon Mayim" (literally: "water clock"), but in English, water clock is a clock for measuring time, based on the flow of water. Another Hebrew name is "Mad Mayim" (literally: "water measurer"), but in English water measurer is an insect. Google Translate says "Hydrometer", but a Hydrometer is an instrument for measuring some properties of water.


What's a single word to name a person/entity that determines?

I am looking for a single word (noun) describing a person or any other entity that _determines_ something. For example: > John determines next year goals for his employees. John is a ... of employee > next year goals. I was thinking about **determiner** but that somehow does not sound well...