Usage of past participle in "He said he thought it having had seen my medical record"

I'm trying to work out if this sentence is correct, especially the usage of "having had seen". > He said he thought it having had seen my medical record.


Can I use the term 'America' to signify just the United States?

I write legal marketing materials. Does the term 'America' signify Canada + USA + Mexico, etc. to readers abroad or will they know that I'm talking specifically about the USA?


What's the meaning of "plays in the minds of someone"?

What's the meaning of the phrase "plays in minds of someone". For example, in the sentence below. > The significance of the IELTS is a fact that plays in the minds of hopeful > migrants like Mr. Want2Immi.


What's the word or name for a person who can naturally & accurately estimate measurements such as size, capacity, ballance & angles?

I'm sure I met someone like this a few years back & they provided me with a single word/name for the "condition". I say condition as the person who this affects automatically, & sometimes to the point of frustrated distraction, will be able to see (can't ignore) the smallest discrepancy in any of these measurements within their environment & will also accurately estimate correction. I'm not just talking about noticing a skewed wall mirror but rather an acute & often minute sense of balance in their surroundings.


Can abide be extended to imply enforce or act?

In a legal document, such as a contract or agreement between two parties (where party refers to entities or individuals), what is the exact meaning of the word _abide_ ? The clause in question : > I will abide by the then-current Terms of Service of `<entity>`, and other > policies made available to me Can _abiding by a clause_ also imply that the individual is expected to _act on_ or _enforce_ the clause within the applicable domain of the contract?


When should I use archaic and obsolete words?

I'm learning the English language, and while reading Merriam-Webster I often see common words with additional "obsolete" and "archaic" descriptions added to their definitions. When should I use them, should I use them at all, and what's the difference between these descriptions? Also, should I spend time to remember these archaic and obsolete meanings?


Grammar - has or have

Which of the two following texts below are grammatically correct. "The Board finds that **both** the identity of the member and the facts surrounding the alleged conduct **has** been proven on a balance of probabilities." "The Board finds that the identity of the member and the facts surrounding the alleged conduct **have** been proven on a balance of probabilities."


Difference between “I will call you” and “I give you a call”?

What is the difference between _I will call you_ and _I give you a call_?


more X than X for nominal clauses

In a translation I'm doing, I am struggling with a certain sentence. This is how I've worded it at the moment. It doesn't sound to natural to me. Any other way of phrasing it? > I think that one of the main messages that should be conveyed to the West is > that Morsi’s ouster was the result of a decision made by the people, moreso > than the result of a decision the army made in response to the 22 million > Egyptians that took to the streets. Also- is it right to capitalize "the West"? Thanks Ilan


'See' and 'Hear' in the progressive?

I'd like you to go into details about the difference between **'see', 'hear'** and **'seeing', 'hearing'**.   I'm not a native speaker, so it's a bit hard to understand this explanation that   **'see'** and **'hear'** can be used to **highlight**   **the active, immediate aspect of 'seeing' and 'hearing'** , (Someone has told me this)   because I think that **'seeing'** and **'hearing'** can't have duration.   I mean, they're moments, and so we can stop watching, looking and listening   but we ourselves can't stop seeing or hearing something, can we? So I really want to know the meanings of the verb 'see' and 'hear' in the progressive   except for the cases (and there will be more cases with changing their meanings)-   a) **hallucination:**       : I'm **seeing** stars.   b) **meeting someone:**       : I'm **seeing** the doctor in the afternoon.   c) **listening to people giving their opinions:**        What are you **hearing** from people there?   I understand that **'see'** and **'hear'** with **'can'** means something like other verbs in the progressive.   I've been thinking hard about the following examples and here are my takes.          _1.a. I can't believe what I'm **hearing** here!_            _1.b. I can't believe what I (can) **hear** here!_   : I found **1.a.** when I was watching an America drama.     'hear' doesn't go with the progressive in the meaning of sounds coming through the ear, AFAIK.     Up to now I still feel 1.b. is more natural     and I can't seem to find the difference between 1.a. and 1.b.     Is there any good reason for the hearing in 1.a? Exaggeration?          _2.a. I've **been seeing** the dark entity that haunts your house and your land._            _2.b. I've **seen** the dark entity that haunts your house and your land._   : **2.a** is a line from an America horror movie,     and the female main actor did just see the ghost hanged from a tree just one time.     2.b. is more natural to me and I don't know why 2.a was said.     Someone has told me that 2.a. would mean that she'd happened to see the ghost a few times.     Is it better to think that it is highlighted the fact that she was in the state of seeing the ghost?          _3.a. Can you see what I'm **seeing**?_            _3.b. Can you see what I **see**?_   : It might have been 'do you see...?', but I'm not sure.     I heard **3.a** when I was playing a computer game.     I've been guessing it might be a change of meaning; watching or something like that.     I don't know why, but it wouldn't be good to say,     "can you see what I (can) see?",     maybe on account of saying 'see' and/or 'can' double.          _4.a. Why am I **seeing** this?_            _4.b. Why do I **see** this?_   : I don't understand this the most.      **4.a** is a message box that Windows pops up     when it asks if you want it to remember passwords for websites.     4.b is better to me and there seems no reason for putting emphasis on the activity of 'seeing' here.      I've put up this question on some forums and here are the opinions;      (A) Your analysis of the verb see is correct.          However, 'we're seeing' this use of the verb          recently to indicate that **it is something going on recently**           **that hasn't been the norm in the past.**               _a> I never used to see him on the street alone,_               _but I'm **seeing** him a lot more often, now that his wife has died._               _b> I'm looking at the same painting you are,_               _but I'm not **seeing** all the symbolism that you are._          I feel I haven't explained this very well,          so I hope someone else will chime in with more help. (B) Hmm. It depends what you mean by "normally".          "see" in the progressive doesn't seem so abnormal to me,          especially when "see" is not being used literally.             _Why am I seeing this? ~ **Why is this being presented to me?**_           If the message said,             _"Why do I see this?"_          it would give the impression that you regularly or often see it,          i.e., that it is regularly or often presented to you.      Some more good context and practical explanation on the differences between the pairs   would help me to get a fix on this interesting usage.


Achilles heel and Achilles tendon

Studying possessive apostrophes I have searched on ELU the questions correlated to this matter. I have found the following: «What is the correct possessive for nouns ending in s?» and «When did it become correct to add an 's' to a singular possessive already ending in 's'?» Reading both the first one and the second one I am not able to understand* why " **Achilles heel** "† is correct, as we can read on Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Precisely I am asking why we should write " **Achilles heel** " rather than " **Achilles' heel** ". Does it depend on etymological reasons strictly correlated to the Greek origin? if so, in different no mythological cases, should we write, for example, either " _Achilles tendon_ " or " _Achilles' tendon_ "? > ***** _I am not able to understand the issue because there is no answer to > my question._ > > **†** _Named after the Greek hero Achilles. When he was a little child, his > mother held him below the surface of the river Styx to protect him against > any injury. She held him by his heel, which therefore was not touched by the > water. Achilles died after being wounded by an arrow in the heel._


Is "host" gender specific?

Is there anything that implies that a "host" (noun- e.g. host of an event) is a male? Is there anything preventing a female from being host (as opposed to a hostess)? In context: An organization holds a weekly event. One of several representatives from the organization hosts each event, and both genders are in the group of potential hosts. Thus, is it sufficient to say "please contact your host..." or would this be inappropriate considering some of the representatives are female?


Does using the word "crony" necessitate a negative connotation?

I have always heard the word "crony" in the context of acquaintanceships between people exploiting their closeness for less than noble means. Despite its definitions in the usual places as simply long-standing friends and close associates, the examples on m-w are both loaded with the aforementioned baggage. Is it possible to use the word as a neutral (if not positive) synonym for friend?


Does using the word "prefer" contain an implication of "necessity"?

> I would prefer you come in and not your friend to get the signature. Above is the sentence in the email I received from my supervisor. I was in another city so I had no choice but to ask my friend to get the signature for me. When my friend came to see her this morning, she seemed angry and repeat the word "prefer" again. I was just wondering that if the word 'Prefer' could have the meaning of 'necessity'? And if so, how can I tell?


Is it okay to say "Yes, we do" in answer to "Are you having a good time?"

How to correctly answer the question "Are you having a good time?" Imagine a parent coming into a room, in which his 12-year-old son is having his birthday party with his classmates. Kids are really having a good time. So what would be the right answer in that case?   1. Yes, we are.   2. Yes, we do.


What is an adventurous term for "housekeeping"

I'm working on setting up an adventure based metaphor for my son's chores, and one of the categories of "challenges" he'll be tasked with completing is housekeeping (making his bed, washing the dishes, vacuuming, etc.). Only I don't want to call it housekeeping. Is there are more adventurous term I could use with a similar meaning? The only thing I've been able to come up with so far is "castle maintenance", but I'm not in love with that. Any other suggestions?


Location of day of week in non-U.S. long format dates?

In the United States, the long/expanded/full form of a date with day of the week is: Monday, February 24, 2014 I understand in other countries the long date form is often: 24 February 2014 So where does the day of week go with this format and is there a comma between the month day and day of week?


Rephrasing "the Lord's our Banner"

How to rephrase "the Lord's our Banner" for kids to understand referring to the story of Moses praying for Joshua to win the battle in Exodus 17:10-15. I am thinking of "God gives us victory" or "He leads us to win". Any suggestions? Thanks


I have double yours

I would like to know whether the following dialogue would be correct english: "I have 2 litres of milk. How much do you have?" - "Double yours." Is it okay to say "double yours" in this context? Thanks in advance for your answers.


Is the adjective "abject" ever found with any word other than "poverty"? Does it mean something other than "very" or "utterly"?

Reading over an answer at the Skeptics StackExchange, it occurred to me that I had never really seen the adjective _abject_ used with any other word other than _poverty_. Has _abject_ become inexorably intertwined with that word, or are there other common usages or stock phrases? Also, does the word have a more subtle meaning or connotation other than an intensifier that might be summarized as "utterly"?


"User's expertise" or "user expertise"?

What is the correct form when referring to the expertise of a user (e.g. in programming, writing)? >   1. user's expertise >   2. user expertise >


"Machine" as a 1920s American term for "car"

I've recently been reading some of the short stories of Dashiell Hammett featuring the Continental Op. These stories were written in the 1920s and are about a detective investigating crime in and around contemporary San Francisco. I noticed that the characters frequently use the word _machine_ to mean an automobile, and I wondered whether this was common usage for the time and place. I had not heard it before. To a modern reader, it has an archaic sound, as if the car were such a new development that there was not yet a specific word for it. But of course by the 1920s cars were very common, so this does not make sense. It may also be slang; given their criminal associations, Hammett's characters tend to speak mostly in slang. Does anyone have more information about this usage and its history?


What does it mean by "get out there"?

I'm watching a program from VOA from here. In the 48th second of the video, there is a sentence: > I can't wait to get out there! I'm confused about this sentence. Does it mean "I will **_get out from there and will go to some other place_** " or "I will **_get out from some place and will go to there_** "? Thanks. * * * Edit: Can I use **_get out_** followed with a place, e.g.: > I want to get out school. > > I want to get out this room.


Why "out to sea"?

I read the following sentence somewhere: > Also keep an eye out for shy but curious harbor seals, which have been known > to bob in the waters just out to sea, watching people as they walk along the > shoreline. Just wondering why it is "just out **to** sea"? What does it exactly mean? Why not "just out of sea"? Is there any other ways to say the same?


Touch the blue paper

I have recently heard that phrase ( _touch the blue paper_ ) from a native English speaker¹. Is it an erroneous alteration of the expression _light the blue touchpaper_ or is it a correct² phrase in its own right? 1\. from the West Midlands, if that matters. 2\. by _correct_ , I mean _in current idiomatic usage_


How should I write sounds?

How should I write "boom," when it's the sound of a cannon? Or "creek," when it's the sound of a door? Or "wham," when it's the sound of an impact? Should I use quotation marks? Italics? Both? What do authors use? Thanks everyone! - Jim


What is the verb used to indicate that you have travelled from point A to B by motorboat?

Please consider the following and fill in the blank. This has driven me crazy ever since I moved to florida. How would somebody say the travel often by a boat without any sails.   * I **drove** from New York to California. <\-- By Car   * I **flew** from New York to California. <\-- By plane   * I **sailed** from New York to London. <\-- by Sailboat   * I **blank** from New York to Florida <\-- by motorboat


What did James V mean by “afferandly”?

In this letter  from 1536, King James V of Scotland wrote in 1536: > Veilbelouit frend, we grete yow. Forsamekill as we ar of pourpas   >  to pas to Kelso, and to vesy owr Bordouris for ordoneng of the samyn   >  and for dunputting of sic thyngis as owr pour legis ar hurt hy : Heir-   >  for, we prey yow ry'cht afiectuusly that ye addres yow to be at ws in   >  Sterling with yowr honest howshald, rady and bodin in hors and geir,   >  to remane xx days, **afferandly** to yowr honor and ouris, the penult   >  day of Meii, to pas with ws, as ye will do ws singular plesowr. Gewin   >  at Sterling, the xxi day of Meii, and of owr regne xxiij yeir. The King’s atrocious spelling notwithstanding :), what does the word **_afferandly_** mean above? Is this just “some strange Scottish spelling” for something to do with “offering” something? Has James’s _afferandly_ been replaced with another word in contemporary English, or could _afferandly_ still be used? Would it be understood on both sides of Hadrian’s Wall, or only northwards?


Framing with real evidence

Normally _to frame somebody_ means > _3 informal_ produce false evidence against (an innocent person) so that > they appear guilty Now what in case of a cautious criminal who took care to hide/remove the evidence of their crimes, and now someone in the know returns the evidence to its place, replaces false records with real ones, restores removed clues etc., so that the authorities can find the criminal rightfully guilty? Does that still count as framing? If not, is there a name for this kind of activity?


What's the meaning of "Shrubbery"?

> A **shrubbery** is a wide border to a garden where shrubs are thickly > planted; or a similar larger area with a path winding through it. This is a sentence from wikipedia: shrubbery. I do not quite understand it. Does this sentence mean this? A shrubbery is a wide **border** to a garden, and that garden is thickly planted with shrubs. A shrubbery is also a wide **border** to a larger area (similar to a garden), and that area has a path winding through it. So shrubbery is a border? But OALD says that shrubbery is an area planted with shrubs instead of a border.


When did we start naming our dogs Rover, and why?

One stereotypical name for a dog is _Fido_ , from the Latin for faithful. Another stereotypical dog-name is _Rover_. How long has _Rover_ been a common name for a dog in English? Does it have anything to with the the famous Sea Dogs from the dawn of the Age of Sail, who would often do battle with sea rovers, if not indeed become such themselves? Were ships’ sea-dogs the first ones to be named _Rover_? ![logo of the HMS Sea Rover](http://i.stack.imgur.com/9h29q.jpg) * * * **EDIT:** Another way to phrase the question is, during what period of English literature did _Rover_ first begin to appear as a common dog’s name? 1300s? 1900s? There should be a discrete answer here.


What exactly constitutes a verb in English, and is it the same thing as a predicate?

In the following sentence: > John McAdam and Thomas Teleford made important advances in road construction > during the early 1800s. Why is "made advances" not the verb? Are predicate and verb the same thing?


Is there a word to describe something that's perceived to be funny or clever only because it makes a reference that appeals to a certain group?

Consider the following pun: > "What do you say when you see an empty parrot cage?" "Poly-gone" It's funny in the way that bad puns are, but it had a sense of novelty when my grade school teacher told it shortly after we started learning geometry. The pun was relevant then, the concept it referenced was on the cutting edge of the classrooms knowledge. Now that I'm older and take the definition of a polygon for granted, the novelty of the reference is gone. Even if I'd never heard it before and it was presented in the proper context for a geometry pun (whatever that would be) it wouldn't be the same. I could say that I've become jaded to describe how I feel about the pun now, but is there a word to describe the original impact? Edit: To clarify, I'm not referring to the fact that the pun wouldn't have been funny unless I understood it, like with an inside joke. I'm looking for a word to describe a concept that is perceived as being novel lending it's novelty to an otherwise uninspired joke or statement which references it. Edit 2: A better example would be a remark about a current event. For example, if I was to watch a current episode of the Daily Show, it would be funnier now than it would a year from now even if I clearly remembered the news items that were being satirized. The jokes are funnier because I find the topics, which are not funny per se, interesting. Edit 3: Another way of saying this would be a joke that is funny because it aligns with my interests. In the original example, students who were in the same class but found math boring would have found the pun boring, even though they understood it just as well.


What does "Yeah, you did" mean?

This has been a question since I watched the episode Ted Mosby, Architect [HIMYM, Season 2] long time back. Yesterday I came across this again and I still don't get it. What does " _Yeah, you did_ " actually mean? Copying the conversation here: > Marshall: Well, all skyscrapers kinda look like a... > > Ted: Marshall, it's a seventy-eight story pink marble tower with a rounded > top and two spherical entryways at the front. > > Marshall: Wow, so it's the whole package. > > Barney: **Yeah, you did**. [fist-bumps Marshall] > > Marshall: Had to. > > Barney: Oh, dude, if they're selling condos you gotta get me in. And don't > give me the shaft. > > Marshall: **Yeah, you did**. > > Barney: Had to. [they fist-bump again] > > Ted: It's a travesty! It's gonna define the skyline of the city. If it was > me, I could have designed something amazing. Instead, I'm spending twelve > hours a day designing the cornices. > > Marshall: **Yeah, you did**. [holds out his fist for a bump] > > Ted: That wasn't one. [PS : I am not a native English speaker. I guess I am not so familiar with a lot of colloquial phrases]


"We have" vs. "we have that"

In a mathematical context, which of the following options is more appropriate? >   1. Since the fact A is true, we have B=C. >   2. Since the fact A is true, we have **that** B=C. >


Is there a synonym for lazy with a positive connotation?

Is there a word or phrase to describe someone who is willing to do extra work in the short term to avoid work in the long run? I have seen "lazy" used for this, but I'd like to know if there's a more precise term.


What does it mean to be "mortally wounded"?

The only source I could find for a definition of this phrase was Wikipedia, which states a mortal wound "leads directly to the death of the victim. Death need not be instantaneous, but follows soon after." The rest of the article seems like speculation. The crux of my question is these two points:   1. Must a mortal wound lead to death?   2. Is declaring that something is a mortal wound equivalent to saying that death is certain and unavoidable in the present situation? For example, if a wound is bad enough that the victim will bleed out unless he receives appropriate medical attention immediately, is the wound a mortal wound? Could the same wound be a mortal wound in one situation and not in another, depending on whether such attention is available? That is, does a mortal wound describe the wound itself, or the result of that wound?


Hypernym for "veg" and "non-veg"

We often ask "Are you veg?", "Are you non-veg?" to ask if someone is a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian. Is there a hypernym for both of them? So you could ask "What is your [...]?" or maybe "Are you a [...]?" In the same way we might ask for someone's gender.


Contact back to somebody?

Here is the scenario. A colleague who is working remotely is working on a review of my design for some work item. We came up with a comment several weeks ago but I just haven't got a chance to update the design document until today. Eventually I updated the design document and submitted it for review. But I also want to write an email to him to apologize for taking so long before contacting him again. So I want to start the mail with "Sorry for contacting you back so late. But...". My question is, is it proper to say "contact you back"?


Where does the word "dog" come from?

I discovered on a quiz show the other day that the word "dog" appears to have come _from nowhere_ and displaced the German word "hund". Has any research revealed how it arrived in the English language?


"Miami installed the first ATM for rollerbladers"

This is Snapple Real Fact #851. Is this sentence ambiguous between   1. They installed the first _ATM specifically for rollerbladers_ , and   2. They installed the very first ATM, coincidentally for rollerbladers I'm assuming they mean the former. Does the grammar imply solely the former as well? And would a comma - "the first ATM, for rollerbladers" - explicitly imply the latter, or would it still be ambiguous?


Do accents still play a role in British class distinctions to the present day? How have things changed since the 1960s and Received Pronunciation?

> An Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him.   >  The moment he talks he makes some other Englishman despise him. > > If you spoke as she does, sir,   >  Instead of the way you do,   >  Why, you might be selling flowers, too! Those are probably my two favorite lines in my favorite song of my favorite musical, _My Fair Lady_. I have to admit I've been caught quoting them once or twice when asked by friends or family why I tend to be exacting about proper English speech. The movie made huge impression on me since I first watched it at age 6; Henry Higgins is kind of a personal hero of mine. **But how true are his words to reality today**? Now, I've read all about Received Pronunciation, and hypercorrective hs, and they are indeed interesting topics to discuss, but I get the impression that not even the upper-class adhere to Received Pronunciation anymore, and that much effort has been invested by many British to be more colloquial in speech so as not to seem outwardly too posh or upper-class. I get the impression that many view speech distinctions as something to be publicly denounced or abhorred. That doesn't mean that those distinctions don't exist of course, but Received Pronunciation in particular seems to me a social distinction of a long past age, and besides there are a ton of other English accents to talk about. Discussing RP as the totality of what it is to be said on the subject also seems myopically centered on London to detriment of the rest of the UK. I think it's also important to consider that the demographics of the classes and thus the linguistic baggage different ethnic groups brought into British speech might have changed the different distinctions. For example, I know that upper-caste Indians have become a prosperous group in the UK; have they in any way changed the markings of the upper class speech? What about the ascendance of Jews escaping from the Holocaust, and a "Yiddish" manner of speaking they might have brought with them? Have wealthy and prominent Russian moguls changed speech patterns? (For example, in this question the question-answerer remarks on the middle class' willingness to use _na zdrovyeh_ as a toast in place of _cheers_ ; have other things changed?) The converse probably holds too: I'd guess that immigrants from Commonwealth Carribean countries and Polish migrant workers have possibly changed distinctions on what it means to have "working-class" speech patterns. What can be broadly said about all this? **TL; DR summary** : What examples can you offer of accents or speech differentiating social classes in the present day that doesn't discuss Received Pronunciation?


Appropriate contexts for the phrase "impedance mismatch"?

I rather like the phrase "impedance mismatch". I understand it was derived from the realm of electronics, and it's now also commonly applied to problems with object-relational database mapping. I've heard it used to describe more general misunderstandings between people, and I think it's a very neat phrase. For example, person A wants to communicate some information to person B. The message from A to B inherently includes some assumptions about what person A believes that person B believes about the world. If these assumptions are incorrect, person B's interpretation of the message may differ from the interpretation person A expected. There is an impedance mismatch between their understandings, and so the message fails to communicate all of the intended information. Surprisingly, Google doesn't seem to return any results for the phrase "impedance mismatch" that don't relate to electronics, sound or ORDBMS. Is this use of the phrase really that uncommon? Am I perhaps using it incorrectly?


Why do we use "to" after "how"?

For example: > How to makes this? Why do I use the _to_ after _how_?


Can I say “across” in the next two situations? > If I sailed the Pacific from Japan to America, making a detour by way of an > island, can I say “I went my way **across** to America from Japan?” > > If I moved from a stand in a soccer field to the opposite side, making a > detour along the round stands (circular path of the arena), can I say “I > went my way **across** to the opposite stand from where I was.”


What does "U" mean in a "2U herd"?

In the song _Old Chisholm Trail_ , a famous cowboy song there's the following line: > I started up the trail October 23rd   >  Started up the trail with a **2U herd** _(emphasis mine)_ For lyrics. I know **2U** can be "to you", but it can't be that slang here.   I've come across **U** meaning a rack unit in computer lingo. So the only explanation I can imagine is that this **U** in the lyrics means "unit". Would then a "2U herd" be a herd with two heads of cattle? But then, why just not say "two heads"? (OK, ok, syllable count and rhymes in versification).   If not, what does it mean? If I'm right, I'd like to know if cowboys usually count their cattle heads as "units"? And if this use of **U** for "unit" is relatively common.


Adverb placement

Are the sentences below grammatically correct?   1. I didn't support Gheddafi and I _will never_ support him.    2. I didn't support Gheddafi and _will never_ support him.    3. I didn't support Gheddafi and _never will_ support him.


Do you "buy on" or "buy from" online webshops?

Some sites use the prase " **buy on example.com** " when they link to products using some affiliate program. For me " **buy from example.com** " sounds better since you're going to follow that link to example.com and buy the product **from** them. What would be the reason to use **on**?


"Zoom out the map"? "Zoom the map out"?

On a website, I show a Google Map with markers. I have some text that says > If you can't see them all, zoom the map out to reveal the rest. This sounds kind of lame, I also considered: > If you can't see them all, zoom out the map to reveal the rest. But that sounds even worse. Can anyone offer a more pleasing alternative?


What's that word? Does it mean "circular reasoning"?

This is really a two part question. How do you find a word that you forget, but you remember its definition? I have this problem routinely. I usually try googling "word that means _fill-in-words-from-the-definition-here_. But that doesn't always work. For example, there is a word which means circular reasoning. What is it? I tried googling (that is, _searching_ ) **word meaning circular reasoning**, with no luck (on the first page of results). Same results at Bing. I also looked up "circular reasoning" on dictionary.com. That site **had a definition**, but no synonyms. I know for a fact the word I'm looking for exists (I've seen it). You'd think Google could find it. I thought the word was _tautology_ , but that seems to have a **slightly different definition**. P.S. **Example** : So-and-so, on Fox News is a right-wing partisan (am I displaying my bias here?). How do you know? Because they're on Fox News.


When to put "River" before or after its name and why?

Unlike mountain names, where "Mount" always precedes its name, e.g. _Mount Everest_ , I've noticed that some rivers have "River" before its name, e.g. the _River Nile_ but others have it after, e.g. the _Colorado River_. How does one decide where it should be and how did the difference come about?


Why is "gee-gee" slang for "horse"?

According to http://www.word-detective.com/0806A.html , 'many small children had noticed that a lot of grownups were shouting "gee" at horses and decided that "gee" was another name for "horse."' but according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_Gee-Gees , 'The term "Gee-Gee" is taken from horse racing where a Gee-Gee is the first horse out of the starting gate.' Are these correct?


Subject–verb agreement — two schools of thought?

I wrote a sentence for our web site that was submitted for proofreading. The proofreader "corrected" my sentence. I asked how sure he was that he was correct and that I was incorrect. He explained that there are two schools of thought on what's correct and he chose his way as the right way. I suggested that there were certainly two schools of thought: the right way and the wrong way.   1. School One: > There is a large number of companies.   2. School Two: > There are a large number of companies. Can you tell me which is the correct school of thought and why? **Update.** I think I should be able to reverse the sentence and still have it makes sense. When I attempt that, it works only with one of these sentences: > The number of companies is large. > > The number of companies are large. This suggests to me that the correct sentence uses "is". Does this make any difference?


Does the term "garbledy gook" have racist origins?

For me, the term _garbledy gook_ simply means garbage; unintelligible text or speech. An example usage would be: > If you open that binary file in notepad, you'll just see a load of garbledy > gook However, I just used this on the phone to a customer and, as I said it, I wondered about the origins. The word _gook_ by itself is a racist or derogatory term for people of south east Asian origins (source) and the last thing I want to do at work (or anywhere, to be honest!) is use that kind of language. Where did this phrase come from? Does it have origins in racism?


Are you being served/helped?

Being an L2 English speaker, quite often I get into funny - and sometimes embarrassing - situations. It usually happens when I say something pragmatically inappropriate for a situation. For example, once I was on campus (in the US) taking care of some paperwork. So I was patiently waiting in line, being helped already. So a guy shows up and asks me if I am in line. And then - a terrible faux pas. I say, "I'm being served." You can imagine - those office clerks were almost rolling on the floor. So here are my questions:   1. Is "be served" used in British English now? What about "help", as in They are helping me? Any difference?   2. In American English, when - if at all- is it appropriate to use "Are you being served?" or "I'm being served." At a restaurant maybe?


Is grownup, grown up, or grown-up the correct usage (as a noun)?

When used as a noun (meaning an adult), is "grownup", "grown up", or "grown- up" more appropriate?


Why is it ‘A God,’ not ‘God' in Mark Sanford’s “I want to acknowledge a God not just of second chances, but third, fourth, eighth chances”?

There was a quote of ex-South Carolina governor Mark Sanford in his victory speech in the House vacant seat election in the New York Times article (May 13) written by Gail Collins under the title “Guess who’s back”: > “I want to acknowledge **a God** not just of second chances, but third, > fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth chances,” I thought the word, ‘God’ is an uncountable noun, - unless you are in a polytheist world. (BTW, according to Japanese myth, there are 8 million! gods and godess in the universe). Is it grammatically right to place an infinite article before the capitalized 'God'? Did he mean that there is a merciful God who awarded him many chances albeit a lot of scandalous misconducts he had committed among many Gods, or there is **a** merciful aspect of God in the God?


Why are flutes called recorders?

It seems that a certain type of flute (like the wooden one children are often given in school) is called "recorder". How did that happen?


Is there a difference between "Grecian" and "Greek"?

As far as I can tell, "Grecian" and "Greek" both mean "of or pertaining to Greece." Is there any difference at all between them?


"On reality" vs "in reality"

I am not sure of the difference between these two phrases, especially the meaning of _on reality_. I found the phrase _lost his grip on reality_ ; can I use _in_ instead of _on_ in this case?


Do "thereafter", "ever after", and "ever since" mean the same?

Do _thereafter_ , _ever after_ , and _ever since_ mean the same as _after that time_? Are they always interchangeable? For example, > live happily **thereafter/ever after/ever since**


What's a useful replacement idiom for "money shot?"

I'm afraid I have been somewhat innocently causing offense by using the term "money shot" in its general, non-pornographic sense. My coworkers either have dirty minds or lack awareness of the other context. Seems I'm not the first to make this gaffe. Regardless of the speculation on the term's origin being pornographic or not, I'd like to sidestep the sniggers and raised eyebrows. Is there a different, equivalent idiom or word I can replace it with? The closest I could come up with is "there's the rub"... which isn't exactly equivalent (and isn't passing muster with the juvenile minds either :)


Should I use life or lives in the following question? > I would promote prayer as a part of the pupils' everyday _life_ > > I would promote prayer as a part of the pupils' everyday _lives_


What is the proper way of making a conditional statement with question marks?

Say I make a conditional statement, or an either/or statement, > 1) Do I eat the bananas? Or do I eat the apples? > > 2) Do I eat the bananas, or do I eat the apples? Is it right to add the second question mark like in option 1? How do I punctuate a sentence like this?


Indian English use of "only"

I am from Bangalore and people here tend use the word _only_ to emphasise something in a sentence. For example: > We are getting that **only** printed. What is the proper way to put it?


Does quoting in British or American English depend on the quoted or the audience?

If you are quoting/documenting the conversation between two people -- one is British and one American -- do you use a consistent approach directed towards your intended audience or switch to the spelling of that person's dialect? For example: > British person: "I realised that I was wrong" > > American (in response): "Yeah, I realized that too" Probably a silly question, but thought it would make for an interesting discussion.


Word to describe two processes which function at opposing times

I'm drafting up a workflow report that I need to present in a meeting tomorrow and I'm reaching for a word, it's on the tip of my tongue but it's alluding me. I'm writing about two processes which run over the course of two weeks and repeat, over and over again. The first process starts, and the second starts one week into the first and ends one week into the next. So the two processes run parallel but always one week apart. A crude example: Process 1: a a a **a** b b b **b** c c c **c** d d d **d** Process 2: ..... 1 1 1 **1** 2 2 2 **2** 3 3 3 **3** 4 4 4 **4** _notice 1 starts after a is half thru and ends in the middle of b.. this is the sequence of operation_


Pronunciation of "theodicy"

I am confused: Please listen to the audio file from google here **This can't be right, can it?**


Why do some people say "there have voted"? Is it grammatical, or maybe historical?

In a certain debating chamber, it is routinely stated ("content" means a yes vote): > There have voted -- [such-and-such]: content; [such-and-such]: not content." I'm not sure that this is grammatically correct. I think you can only have "been" or "not been" after "there have" at the start of a sentence. Could someone educate me as to why this is grammatical, or if it isn't, why they choose to repeatedly use an ungrammatical construction?


Meaning of "hardliner raising cowed, sullen kids"

What is the meaning of this sentence taken from this article? > Who wants to be the hardliner raising cowed, sullen kids?


Single word for plaintiff or defendant

What's the single word for someone who is either a plaintiff or defendant in a court case? Plaintiff -> the accuser Defendant -> the accused Plaintiff or defendant -> ??? I'd rather not refer to "plaintiff or defendant" every single time in my essay.


Do you need commas setting off a "when" clause in a sentence?

As an example: > In Quantum Physics when particles are observed their behaviour changes in > relation to the fact they're being watched. Does this sentence require a comma before _when_ and a comma before _their_? In other words, should it be written as: > In Quantum Physics, when particles are observed, their behaviour changes in > relation to the fact they're being watched.


Preposition choice: impression "of"/"about"/"from"

Please advise me on what preposition I should use to be sure that I don't make a grammar mistake. This is a question in a company's questionnaire, where the customer is asked his opinion about the company. The sentence is required to be concise and goes like this: "Impression of ABC Co." Is _of_ correct usage here? Or possibly _from_ or _about_? And is there any general rule about this?


Ordinal numbers as adverbs

I was once told not to end "firstly [point 1], secondly [point2], thirdly [point 3]" in -ly and to leave them as first, second, third etc. Is this always true or only in certain situations? Is it ever correct to use the word "firstly"? I came accross this article where the author writes > Firstly: hogwash. (True, the oboe doesn’t have a built-in tuning slide. But > an oboist can “tune” by switching reeds, and can humor individual notes > sharper or flatter on the fly, just like any wind player.) Secondly: if we > tune to the principal oboe because it can’t be tuned, then what is the > second oboist expected to do? Is it correct to separate the ordinal numbers into different sentences like this? Is there a specific name for the speech pattern where people are making multiple arguments to prove a point?


How to rigorously define independent clauses?

Consider the following sentence: > The independent filmmaker Ira Sachs’s drama “Keep the Lights On,” which > opened on Friday, is neither an especially good movie nor an especially bad > one, but it is an exemplary one. (source: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/movies/2012/09/the-problem- with-the-liberal-cinema.html#ixzz25u38hVsZ ). I am confused about the comma that precedes "but." Is "It is an exemplary one" an independent clause? The rule of a thumb I use is a can-it-stand-by-itself test; the sentence above sounds kind of awkward by itself, though I guess it could work. If it's not an independent clause, then why the comma?


Which is correct: coming down the "pike" or "pipe"?

Is the expression "coming down the pike" or "coming down the pipe"? I've always used pike, but I've heard a few people use pipe recently. I can see how both could make sense, but which is correct?


When to use 'an' and when to use 'a' with words begining with 'h'?

Some h-words need 'an' for the indefinite article (I will be there in an hour). Other h-words need 'a' for the indefinite article (It is a history of sadness). What is the general rule?


From the statistics point of view, does an estimator may have a bias or it may be biased?

Will it be correct to state that a statistical estimator **_may be biased_** , or that I must state that the above estimator **_may have a bias_**? Is it acceptable to add the / **-ed** / to the word bias in the above conditional future form?


Is it proper to use a cause clause as the major statement of a fact?

I am reading a manual explaining the usage of symbols. I was stuck at below paragraph(The software-context may be ignored.): > As _a ‘\’ is not special inside a character alternative_ , it can never > remove the special meaning of ‘-’ or ‘]’. -ref: See last paragraph Note that the _italic_ part is the statement of a fact that is firstly seen in the cause clause `As...` above, but not earlier. And it is immediately used to support the reasoning of the main sentence that follows it. I have rarely seen such usage before. Is it reasonable to do so? Or shall I keep searching for previous statement instead? (I did not find any.)


Narrative tenses (for things that haven't happened yet)

I learn that when we are telling a story, we should use past tense. What if in our story there's an event that will happen after the story being told? For example, in the following sentence: > When he called me last night, I was in the middle of preparing my itinerary > for my next travelling adventure which **_will/would(?)_** be in the coming > month. What should we use there? Present future or past future?


The words "objective" and "subjective"

We say _subjective_ to indicate that something is based on feelings and opinions, and _objective_ to indicate the opposite. Why are these the same words as _objective_ and _subjective_ referring, in grammar, to nouns and pronouns in a sentence? Is this a coincidence? I'm looking around for the roots of the words… they seem like they've gone through a lot since medieval Latin—their current meanings in English are only vaguely related to their meanings in Latin: > from medieval Latin **_objectum ‘thing presented to the mind,’_** neuter > past participle (used as a noun) of Latin **_obicere_** , from **_ob- ‘in > the way of’ + jacere ‘to throw’_** and > from Latin **_subjectus ‘brought under,’_** past participle of > **_subicere_** , from **_sub- ‘under’ + jacere ‘throw.’_** –NOAD I cannot find an association between their two sets of meanings, either logically or in their etymology. Perhaps I'm missing something obvious here? I sure hope not, because in that case I would look silly.


Should I use the word "object" as a singular or plural noun?

I'm writing a paper. I wrote, "Many phenomena that heavier objects are reported to fall faster than the lighter ones are observed." However, Microsoft Word corrected to "object." Which one is right? And how I can


"They have been replaced by..." or "They have been replaced with..."

We replace something old **_with_** something new. >   * The Mayor has replaced all the old school buses _with_ new ones. > When the sentence is written in the passive voice, **_"by"_** is used. >   * All the old school buses have been replaced by new ones. >   * All the old school buses have been replaced by the Mayor. > But what about a sentence in the passive voice that mentions the object that is substituted and the subject who performed the action, the agent? Which preposition should be used? >   * All the old school buses have been replaced by the mayor ....... new > ones. >


What does "amortized" mean

In this link I see following: > A recent talk about unordered_map in C++ made me realize, that I should use > unordered_map for most cases where I used map before, because of the > efficiency of lookup ( amortized O(1) vs. O(log n) ). In dictionary it says: `amortize: to gradually reduce or write off the cost or value of (as an asset)`. But I'm still not sure what does "amortized" mean here.


Is "after" in this context solely a local colloquialism?

There are a number of turns of phrase that I have to avoid as an English person speaking to an American audience. Would it be possible for someone to clarify whether this colloquialism is American-friendly: > Q: Can I buy four candles? > > A: Is this what you're **after**? I'd speculate that this is an abbreviation of "chasing after", which in itself is a colloquialism for "looking for". Does this phrase cross the Atlantic? Or even make sense outside of the West Country?


Term used for punishment where guilty person is forced to do community service

What is the proper term used for punishment where the guilty person is sentenced to community service?


Should I greet my customer at 6pm with "good evening" or "good afternoon"?

How should I greet my customer if I meet him/her at 6pm for a discussion? Should I say "good evening" or should I say "good afternoon"? From my understanding, "good evening" is used at around 6pm, while "good afternoon" is used for from noon time until around 6pm.


Describe someone who stays "True to themselves"

What's another word or phrase for " _true to himself_ "? > He remains true to himself even when his friend is murdered. In this case, let's say 'He' is some sort of activist whose friend is murdered by a gang wanting 'He' to shut up. However, 'He' does not shut up and continues to raise awareness for whatever it is the gang members do not want to draw attention to. Basically, 'He' keeps doing what he knows is morally correct, despite something bad happening to him as a consequence.


How to describe a person who loves normal room temperature between 26C to 29C

How can I describe a person who likes room temperature between 26 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius. The person dislikes any temperature beyond this range.


Meaning of "I'm not your friend, buddy", besides the literal meaning

Does the expression "I'm not your friend, buddy" have a colloquial meaning? I've now seen it used twice. I am guessing it has more than just a literal meaning.


What's another word for considered ?

I was always considered different ? I have always been labeled as different ? I have always been categorized as different ? Is there a good word I can replace "considered" with ?


What do you call a person who leads a charge?

What do you call a person who leads a charge, or otherwise leads a body of soldiers into combat 'from the front'? My context is historical but with a request this specific I'll take what I can get.


What's the difference between "pervasive" and "ubiquitous"?

The words pervasive and ubiquitous seem to mean almost the same thing. > **pervasive** : existing in or spreading through every part of something <a > _pervasive_ odor> > > **ubiquitous** : existing or being everywhere at the same time : constantly > encountered : widespread <a _ubiquitous_ fashion> Is there a difference in connotation or usage, and if so, what is it?


Meaning of the verb 'snort' in a sharp dialog

I could not figure out the meaning of the verb 'snort' implied in Sir Elton John's reply to Lily Allen during some award ceremony, after her disrespectful comment on his age. He said: > I could still snort you under the table The context for this reply, in their public conversation was: > ...and now the most important part of the night (Lily)   >  What? Are you going to have another drink? (Elton)   >  F*** off Elton. I am 40 years younger than you and have my whole life ahead > of me! (Lily)   >  I could still snort you under the table. (Elton)   >  F*** off. I don't know what you are talking about. (Lily) (There's a link to the video with this dialog: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1051912/I-snort-table-Eltons- shocking-reply-worse-wear-Lily-verbally-assaults-onstage.html) I could just find 'snort' related to sniffing cocaine, thus being not able to grasp the meaning he wanted with his reply. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!


What is a trope, and how does it differ from a metaphor?

The synonym of trope is defined as metaphor, but there seems to be some other implications when using the word trope that metaphor does not have. Can anyone explain this simply and sensibly?


Question about words to use to end quick notes

I am not a native and I would like to be nice when ending informal quick notes but don't know how. For formal writings is easy, you can say "Sincerely", "Regards", etc, but for informal writings I don't know the exact translation to make sure is the appropriate way of saying.


Why are there 3 different ways to pronounce "oo"?

My German colleagues were laughing at the way I pronounce _google_ , and it led to a discussion.   * With words like _google_ , _yahoo_ , _poodle_ and _loose_ , the _oo_ has a sound similar to the German _ü_ sound.   * With words like _good_ and _book_ , it is more similar to how Germans pronounce a _oo_ sound.   * For words like _door_ we are not sure if that is the same or different. The Germans want to know what the pronunciation rules are so they can improve their English. I am guessing that there are no rules, and the pronunciation possibly comes from the original language that the word comes from. Are there any rules? Is there any reason why there are two different pronunciations? Can non-native speakers work out the correct pronunciation by looking at the other letters in the word or the etymology?


Is this an adverbial or a noun clause?

> Yet the days crept by, and there could be no doubt **that** Fluffy was still > alive and well behind the locked door. (Harry Potter) Do you call the that-clause as an adverbial clause, or a noun clause in apposition with the previous noun? If you call it an adverbial one, what would you say it modifies?


Enumeration that starts with "in the"

What is grammatically correct? > I participated in the math club, in the cycling club and in the computer > game design club. or > I participated in the math club, the cycling club and the computer game > design club. or more formal. If you write an enumeration that starts with _in the_ , do you have to repeat the words _in the_ each time?


Clauses, and comma before “nor”

Does this sentence have two independent clauses? > I do not like biology nor do I like chemistry. To me the last clause seems dependent, but I find sources that tell me to place a comma before _nor_ , thus making it an independent clause. What are your thoughts?


Adjective for "a person who really suffers when it is cold"

I am looking for a word to describe a person who really suffers when it's cold. Let's say, cold is not their cup of tea. And (maybe) with a nuance that they are over-sensitive. > John is so [the word I'm looking for]; It's just 5C and he's wrapped up in > two sweaters and a winter coat!


Phrasing of "What knowledge is required [at/in] [a] university?"

In British English, how should I properly write a sentence like > What knowledge is required at university? Basically, I want to ask what knowledge is required for study at a university or in a university, or in university, as appropriate to the sense of being a student at the university.


In navigation, what's the difference between bearing, heading, direction, and course?

Specifically, in real-world use, I would think that "course" and "heading" tend to imply a vector of movement, while "bearing" and "direction" might refer only to which way one is facing. I am looking for two words to correctly assign to these physical components of a vehicle. I suppose I may be looking for military, or naval terminology. For example, if you were in a submarine, being buffeted by currents, so your vessel was being pushed sideways, how would you correctly say, "we are being pushed east but we are facing north?" Would it be correct to say "we are bearing 0°, but our heading is 270°?" It doesn't _sound_ correct. **Edit** As I note in a comment below: when I clumsily wrote that I was "looking for two words to correctly assign to these physical components of a vehicle," what I meant was, single-word attributes to distinguish between the direction a vehicle was facing, and the actual direction the vehicle was moving in, voluntarily or not.


Do English speakers tend to use verbs in passive form?

Is my understanding true that English speakers tend to use passive instead of active form of verbs? Compare these: > _Let's do it_   > **Let's get it done** > > _I will cook it_   > **I will get it cooked** > > _Starting_   > **Getting Started** (mostly seen in the beginning of tutorials)


What is the word for someone who has been recommended?

Does the word recommendee exist? If so, is it spelled as such? What would be the opposite, or the person who is doing the recommending?


What would be an appropriate opposite of "advance" in this sentence?

I want to convey the ability to navigate up and down a list of features*, similarly to the "next" and "previous" scene buttons in a DVD. What would be the appropriate opposite of _advance_ in "advance to the next feature"? Is "revert to the previous feature" the appropriate phrase? * Feature in this case refers to a GIS feature (record), though this is irrelevant for the question.


Correct use of comma?

Should there be a comma after 1975? > Peter Singer wrote Animal Liberation in 1975, igniting the modern animal > movement.


What's the difference between "Conference" and "Meeting"?

See:The meeting will be held in a conference room at 10:00 am. Is there any problem if I change the position of these two words in the sentence like "The conference will be held in a meeting room at 10 am"?


"He feared a U.S. invasion" vs. "He feared U.S. invasion"

It it accurate to say this? > He feared a U.S. invasion. Or should I say, > He feared U.S. invasion. I'm trying to figure out when to place "a" in front of the U.S. when U.S. comes with a noun like invasion/attack/sanctions. What is the difference?


What is the difference between Past perfect cont and present perfect cont?

Could you explain the differences between the two tenses? When should I use present perfect continuous and when should I use past perfect continuous? "I had been doing before I was young" "I have been doing"


Does a statement such as this require quotation marks?

If a person said something like "Who threw that?" and after getting no reply, he then said "I said who threw that?" How would one punctuate the second sentence? Would it be: I said, "Who threw that"! or I said "Who threw that"! or I said who threw that!


Proper use of "context" in a phrase

Which of the following phrases is correct? > Everything is in some context. or > Everything has some context.


Is there such a thing as a "pre-anniversary"? Or a better word?

I suddenly find myself trying to describe a date that's an exact number of years before a scheduled event and I can't think of a better word to describe it than "pre-anniversary" or maybe even "preanniversary". Both seem rather ugly and open to misinterpretation, for example I can see how they might be interpreted as meaning some arbitrary period or point in time before a specific anniversary date. So how might I be more specific? Example: something is known to be going to happen on, say, 20-May-2024. I'm looking for a word to describe 20-May-2023, being exactly one year before (the "minus-oneth" anniversary). Or other 20th Mays even further back.


Advanced rules for shortening relative clauses with a participle?

Once again, a problem encountered while marking German pupils' exams. We teach them the following rules: > A present participle can be used to shorten an active relative clause: > >   * The boy who was driving the car didn't stop = The boy driving the red > car didn't stop > > > A past participle can be used to shorten a passive relative clause: > >   * Strawberries which are grown in California are delicious = Strawberries > grown in California are delicious. > While marking, I encountered several problems. For example, why does this not work: > The girl who has black hair is in the corner   >  NOT   >  The girl having black hair is in the corner or > That's the man who is happy to be here   >  NOT   >  That's the man being happy to be here Does this all have to do with:   1. the verbs _have_ and _be_? (But "The girl, being happy, phoned her friend")   2. the continuous and simple forms? (But "We help people who live in ghettos = we help people living in ghettos")   3. the tenses?  Or what? I'm totally stumped by this problem and do not know how to explain the pupils' mistakes to them. The problem seems to occur mostly with the use of the present participle. Who can help with some explanations or even better, specific rules!


"Y'all" or "ya'll"?

I've seen it spelled both ways. Are both correct?


SCUBA upper or lower case?

In a university project which I am writing I have been reprimanded at least 10 times for using the word scuba in lower case. i.e. Scuba tank, Scuba diving etc. Is this permissible and can I tell my tutor that I will stick with my preference of lower case scuba.


Is "I asked many questions that I had before" correct?

I would like to ask whether this sentence is grammatically correct or not: > I asked her many questions that I had before. I think it sounds better if I say "I asked her many questions that I have had before".


Grammar questions on the usage of "some" and "some of the"

I am correcting a short journal writes up from my student, who is from Korea and notice that I am so lacking of grammar knowledge in explaining to her why it is wrong in her sentence. Below is one of her work: "Today, some teachers who are from a University in Canada came to our school to give an introduction talk about their University." This is the opening of her journal. For me, I think it sounds not very right. Below is my correction: "Today, some of the lecturers, who are from a University in Canada visited our school to give an introduction talk about their University." What do you think of my correction? And after you have answered the above question, can you give me some tips on how to correct students' essay? Shall I change their whole sentence? Or I just change their grammar mistake?


Should I use "when" or "where" in this sentence?

I am glad to have met you on Wednesday last week **where** we discussed... OR: I am glad to have met you on Wednesday last week **when** we discussed...


How to use refer to previous literature/researches in research papers?

If I am talking about the topic _Singapore English_ and I want to briefly survey the previous researches on the same topic, does the following sentences sound natural in English?   1. In literature on Singapore English, Crew (1997) was among the first to observe non-standard tense marking. Subsequently, Alsagoff and Ho (1998) ...   2. Previous researches on Singapore English, Crew (1997) was among the first to observe non-standard tense marking. Subsequently, Alsagoff and Ho (1998) ...   3. Previously, Crew (1997) was among the first to observe non-standard tense marking. Subsequently, Alsagoff and Ho (1998) ...   4. Crew (1997) was among the first to observe non-standard tense marking in Singapore English. Subsequently, Alsagoff and Ho (1998) ... **How else could i start a paragraph that intends to briefly survey/overview previous literature on a certain topic?**


How to write a sentence that explains why the previous sentence is true?

I often have to present a complex result and explain why it is true. Doing so in a single sentence usually makes it too long and difficult to understand. But how do you succinctly do this in two sentences. For example consider the sentence > When stocks increase in price, people want to buy them, increasing the price > further, until the stock reaches a critical threshold, after which people > sell and the price falls. The reason why this is true is that ... I'm looking for some less clunky starting phrases, to start the second sentence, that warn the reader that an explanation is about to follow and not a new idea. Or I am also looking for other ways to deal with this issue.


Word for ascribing animal-like mentality to humans (opposite of anthropomorphize)

I'm wondering if there is a word that, essentially, means the opposite of anthropomorphize- roughly, assigning animal-like attributes or mentality to a human. _Beastialize_ doesn't seem to fit the bill as it: a) doesn't seem to be a'real word' and b) is heavily associated with bestialism. I came across a good example of this in Bill Sapphire's 1993 ON LANGUAGE: Sic 'Em in which they were discussing the connotations of the phrase after Bob Dole used it in reference to other politicians: > When American Speech magazine queried readers about sic 'em in 1961, one > observed that his mother heard it from Arkansas friends who owned hound > dogs. Another reader, the great San Francisco dialexicographer Peter Tamony, > replied: "The remark describes an unresponsive, indolent, shiftless person. > He is like a dog that shows no courageous and instant reaction to the > command 'sic 'em.' " Mr. Tamony gave an etymological insight by adding that > sic 'em is "merely a pronunciation modification of seek 'em or seek 'im."


Where does the word "valuable" fit best?

Which sentence sounds better or correct ? >   1. I have acquired many characteristics that will play a valuable role in > my profession. >   2. I have acquired many characteristics that will be valuable in my > profession. >


Does "the cornet of horse" mean a knight/rider?

The original sentence: > The first that stood up, to open the ball, were a cornet of horse, and that > sweetest of olive-beauties, the soft and amorous Louisa. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Fanny_Hill:_Memoirs_of_a_Woman_of_Pleasure/Letter_the_Second/Part_7


Meaning of "high as cheese"

A Margaret Atwood story taking place in a summer camp features the following passage: > The smell of grime and sweaty feet and wood smoke is getting too potent at > close quarters; the sleeping bags are high as cheese. What does she mean by the simile "high as cheese"? I just don't get it.


Copyright legal note

Since my native language is not english i have to worry about the correct spelling of a copyright legal note. > Any copyright infringement will have the consequence of legal actions > against you. Is this correct? It sounds a bit weird to me. I guess you understand what i want to say.


Meaning of the political phrase "he has bottom"

What is origin & meaning of the phrase "he has bottom" or "he lacks bottom"? This is a phrase used in UK politics a great deal.


Usage of the word halt

I was looking for the meaning of Draw up and this was the definition:" to cause to a halt". The thing is it confused me more because I have no idea what halt means and in what sentences could I use It. Thank you I'll be looking forward for your answers!


Modern use of "bourgeoisie"

How can I use _bourgeoisie_ properly in this day and age? I understand that at one time it meant part of the wealthy "middle class". Back then the middle class owned the means to production (merchants for example). However the social and economic order was totally different. In Italy, the middle class was somewhere between _vassels_ and _peasants_. In France, before the revolutions, the bourgeoisie was part of the rural _Third Estate_ , the lowest estate, which was made of _commoners_. Yet today, I hear it being used to refer to more of an "upper class" sort of folk. So I'm very confused as to how I should interpret the word. I'm not sure if it should even be used today, as it's original context has changed so much.


Reported Speech with was and were

I set a test with the following direct sentence, which the students were supposed to put into reported speech: Interviewer: "Are you fluent in English?" I expected the students to write: The interviewer asked me if I was fluent in English. However, some students wrote: The interviewer asked me if I were fluent in English. I know that "was" and "were" are sometimes both possible, like: If I was/were rich... But to my knowledge this is used in unreal situations. Is it correct to say: The interviewer asked me if I were fluent in English?


Number usage in a series

Is it right to say that the percentage decreases by 10% each time, like in this example: > Around 30% of politicians throughout the world are women. A significant 30% > is represented in Scandinavian nations in which it decreases by 10% each > time in both Asia and Latin America, respectively. How do we say each time in a report?


Medical Equivalent of Disbarred

If a doctor loses his license to practice is there an equivalent word to disbarred? For example: > That lawyer was disbarred   >  The doctor was (medically disbarred).


Interjection for a longing sigh

Is there an injection or at least an onomatopoeia for a longing sigh that works in writing? An example would be two colleagues are talking about the new member of the team on which one has a huge crush: > [the word], he/she is soooo cute. I really should make a move. All the positive interjections I know (oh, wow, phew, gee, awww) don't seem to work... at least for me (not a native speaker of English) To my perception, they are either too surprised, too amazed, to exhausted or too relieved. They are all not longing enough.   * Is there anything or is the only way * _sigh_ *?   * Could I use _sigh_ in spoken English or does it only work in writing?


Was "Rascalism" ever used to mean drapetomania?

> "Drapetomania was a supposed mental illness described by American physician > Samuel A. Cartwright in 1851 that caused black slaves to flee captivity." **Was the word rascalism ever used at the time of slavery to refer to slaves who escaped slavery, to refer to this supposed mental illness? Or is this a modern invention, a fiction?** I've heard an etymology for "rascal" that involves the word "rascalism", where rascalism is another word for drapetomania. I know that the etymology for rascal is incorrect. There are many online sources for that.


Usage of “to find (noun) (adj)”

I am a native speaker of German, and I often see the English verb _find_ being used like its German cognate _finden_. For example: > My students and I find your platform very useful and very appealing > visually, as well. -- Source This just _feels_ wrong to me. Shouldn’t it be something like: > My students and I find your platform **to be** very useful and very > appealing visually, as well. Can you use _find_ like that?


"douche" means shower, and "gauche" means awkward, and lacking social experience or grace. Does "-che" in "douche" and "gauche" have meaning?


Does the sentence "What the fox say?" mean anything?

In the lyrics for the song "What does the fox say" the following sentence appears. > "What the fox say"[sic] It uses the word "say" and not "says", and there is no "does". Does the sentence make sense and is there any meaning to it?


What do you call any person who is in a relationship?

In speaking directly to a person of any gender, what might the identifier be for them in terms of their relationship? For example, "wife" would describe a person who is the female in a married relationship (generally); but is there a good word to use to describe the same, but for any relationship and either partner, other than "person in a relationship"?


"Low self-esteem" in one word

I need an acronym for "low self-esteem", one word is a must, and preferrably archaic.


How can I translate the words for the two types of bathrooms found in Russia into English?

I work in real estate, and sometimes I have to translate respective inscriptions from my native Russian into English. I get stuck in some cases where not only linguistic, but cultural differences have an impact. I’d appreciate it if you would help me to sort out one of these issues. When describing a property, we usually mention about bathrooms. But our conception of bathrooms often differs from yours. :-) For example, we have no need for specifying “2 bathrooms” or “5 bathrooms”, because most of our properties have only one bathroom. But there is another characteristic that Russian property buyers consider important: whether the toilet is separated from bathroom or combined with it. I fail to formulate it correctly in English. Here are the standard terms that we use:   1. _Совмещённый санузел_ ( _sovmeshchonny sanuzel_ ), literally “combined sanitation unit”, means: “The property has one room containing all hygienic facilities, including bathtub, toilet, basin and so on.”   2. _Раздельный санузел_ ( _razdelny sanuzel_ ), literally “separated sanitation unit”, means: “The property has two separate rooms, one with a toilet bowl, and another with a bathtub.” Please help me to understand how to convey these terms in British English reasonably. I apologize if my inquiry seems foolish or is phrased awkwardly.


Proper way to cite Wikipedia according to the Chicago Manual of Style?

In _The Chicago Manual of Style_ , 16th ed., it actually lists two ways to cite Wikipedia content. The first, in section 14.245, is of the form:   * "Style Guide," _Wikipedia_ , last modified July 18, 2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_guide. The second, in section 14.248, is of the form:   * _Wikipedia_ , s.v. "Stevie Nicks," last modified July 19, 2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Nicks. It's not clear which form to use when. That aside, what if I want to refer to a particular section for an entry. For example, assuming I use the second form above, I could do:   * Wikipedia, _Origin of the Term_ , s.v. "Trolley Pole," last modified Mar 22, 2014, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_pole. In order to put the name of the section in italics, I thought it best to un- italicize "Wikipedia." Thoughts?


Looking for the name of a type of painting

What's the name of a type of painting that typically contains a crowd of people posed along a plane? Usually they're all focused on one point or an event that is happening in the painting. I've seen lots of of examples but I can't find any good ones at the moment. The best I could find is this one.


Reversing name order

My current task is to create a (programming) algorithm which reverts a name's order. This since my country's formal name-listing order is different from international ones. The standard is often: > John Doe However, the standard I must comply to has the following priority: > Doe, John Our businesses often receives names in the international style, which needs to be converted to our national style. However, I've yet to come up with a way to deal with double names and similar cases. As an example, how to convert the following name? > John Foo Doe => Doe, John Foo / Doe, Foo John I'm appreciating all input on this broad question. Please list possible problems (and preferably its solution), or perhaps a project which has faced this problem before.


Synonyms for the phrase "stop at nothing"

I am writing a report about someone and would like to convey the sense that he was desperate for success and overly ambitious. I've used phrases like "stop at nothing" to capture the ambition and the willingness to do set aside morals and/or break the law. I would like to use different expressions as I think "stop at nothing" is a bit cliche.


Not well thought out

I need a phrase or word that with the same meaning as the phrase "not well thought out."


"Left as an exercise for the reader" vs. "to the reader"

I think the most common is "X is left as an exercise _for_ the reader", but it looks like both are in use. Is the "to" variant correct? If not, why?


Erf as term for plot of land in a town or city. Is this word only used in southern Africa?

The Free Dictionary website states and so does Wikipedia: > erf [ɜːf]   >  n pl erven [ˈɜːvən]   >  (Engineering / Civil Engineering) South African a plot of land, usually > urban, marked off for building purposes   >  [Afrikaans] The term _erf_ is used in legal documentation and technical English throughout South Africa and Namibia, maybe even further afield in the region. Is it used anywhere else, except maybe the Dutch/Flemish regions in Europe, where I assume the term originated? An example: > The client purchased Erf 132, Windhoek for a large sum of money. He intends > to build a house on this erf. The capitalisation of "Erf 132" is commonplace, since it is a definition of a location. This is similar to capitalisation of towns or cities. I find it slightly awkward, but that is how it is done.


What is a good synonym for "interesting"?

What's a good synonym for the word "interesting" or "interested"? I find that I use those words a bit too often (e.g. "I'm definitely interested!", "Yeah, that sounds really interesting, I would love learning more about it!", "That's interesting!", etc.)... but I can't seem to find any good synonyms. (Online sites don't really give me good synonyms.) Any ideas?


Is automobiles only a "car"

If we go by the word it should be anything which can move(mobile) on its own. The etymology section under wikipedia suggest so. But dictionary, wikipedia etc. says that its meaning is `car`. My question is can planes, trains be called automobiles. If no, how does this transaction happen(since etymology suggest that it can be anything that moves on its own)?


"For president" vs "for presidency"

Why is this statement correct `Someone for president 2012` and not `Someone for presidency 2012`? **EDIT:** So far my understanding is that neither of these statements are grammatically wrong. However, at this moment Google finds almost 2 million results for "Obama for president 2008" whereas the number for "Obama for presidency 2008" is only 40.


When writing a document that is divided into numbered sections and subsections, sometimes I would like to refer a certain subsection that has been numbered 2.3, for example. Here the 2 represents the section number and 3 is the subsection number within section 2. > Should I refer to "Section 2.3" or "Subsection 2.3"? To me, the latter seems tautological (or at least not completely necessary) since the "sub-" component of "subsection" is implied by the number 2.3 itself. [PS: I picked a fairly vague tag since I cannot create a more suitable tag]


Is "have a face like a fiddle" the same as "have a face as long as a fiddle"?

I found these idioms and I believe that they transmit the same feeling of sadness. I found "have a face as long as a wet weekend" as well.


Third person imperative recommendations/suggestions/requests

My question is on the grammatical correctness of the following sentence with regard to the form of the verb 'join': > The plan is that the group join the party. Other sentences that I think represent the same issue (regarding the verbs sing, consider, maintain) are: > I ask that the choir sing at the banquet. > > The advice is that the committee consider the alternative. > > The advisor recommends that the firm maintain its involvement. In each of these above sentences I attempt to make a command (do this: join, sing, consider, maintain) but to a third person subject (as though not speaking directly to the group/choir/committee/firm). Microsoft Word's grammar features suggest correction to me from 'join' to 'joins'. Is it grammatically incorrect as I have written it? Basically I am trying to write a proposal in which I implore a recommendation. I essentially want to say, imperatively, "do this", but more gently/politely or in a more passive tone. I picked to say "that the group join" because to me it's as though I am saying "that the group will join" or "that the group would join", but I don't want to write that out to avoid being too pushy (saying that it 'will' do as I say) nor too nonpersuasive (telling them that they 'would' do as I say, if they feel like it.. or not.. whatever..). Nor do I want to say "the plan is that the group joins" because my purpose is to recommend (propose) for the group to carry out the action, in the future. What's a correct word choice or conjugation here? What's the best tense for the sentence?


What does the "leave" mean in "parental leave" and "unpaid leave"?

Reading an article on _The Washington Post_ I found this: > "The study pointed out that the United States is the only OECD country that > does not have a national paid **_parental leave_** policy. Some states have > started to adopt such policies, but most parents are offered **_12 weeks of > unpaid leave._** " The article was about children raised by one parent. I'd like to understand two things here:   1. What does **_parental leave_** policy mean?   2. What does **_12 weeks of unpaid leave_** mean? The great problem is the word **_leave_** put together with parental.


Where did the phrase "in a pickle" come from?

To be 'in a pickle' means to be in trouble or a difficult situation. What I'm wondering is, where did the root of this phrase come from and what's its history? Is there a special story that caused this phrase to catch on? Was it someone almost being pickled? _Funny thing is, that I was actually eating a pickle when I thought of this._


Is there a term for the opposite of the greengrocer’s apostrophe?

Is there a term for the tendency to omit the apostrophe in high-profile items where it would otherwise be expected? – such as “Student Manual” instead of “Student’s Manual” (and “Facilitator Guide” instead of “Facilitator’s Guide”)? This seems to be done in news items also, perhaps partly out of a tendency towards yellow journalism. For example, a recent news story in Yahoo! News had the lead, “Robert Kennedy son …”, instead of “Robert Kennedy’s son…”. The casual reader is pulled in by the expectation that the article is about Robert Kennedy himself.


Pronouncing "vis-à-vis"?

When saying "vis-à-vis" in English, would you pronounce it **veez-uh-veez** before a word beginning with a vowel sound, as you would in French?


liking/disliking people or choosing friends. Freedom of ....?

I want to tell my old brother that he should give the freedom for his son to ~~be friends with,~~ like or dislike, whoever he wants to. What freedom is that? Is there one word/expression that I could use. I asked one of my friends and he said you could say: **Freedom of amity and enmity** I Like it a lot, is there a better expression? It doesn't have to be commonly used, as long as it is correct and has a nice ring. Edit: I'm looking for an expression that is appropriate for freedom of liking whoever he wants. - not only being friends with whoever he wants.


Future Perfect with the preposition 'since'

I have a question regarding the future perfect tense and which prepositions go with it. Understandably, _by_ , _for_ , and _in_ work very well with the future perfect. > By friday, I will have been working here for one year. > > In two years, I will have worked here for two years. However, my question is whether or not _since_ is usable with the future perfect. > "Do you want to go out tonight?" > > "Nah, I'll have been working since 9 AM. I'm going to be dead tired." My guess is that this is usable as an approximation. _I'll have been working here since May_ for example. Swan and Cambridge offer no solution for this. My question is: is this possible?


What do you call someone whose rights have been taken away from them?

For example, if someone took my right/freedom of speech, by forcing punishments or such. What do I become? Is there one word to describe this situation (where rights are taken away)?


What exactly is a shindig?

What exactly is a shindig? I tried to translate it in Google Translate into spanish but it gave me two translations   * Fiesta (party)   * Pelea (fight) So which one is it? **Update** The context I heard it on was a chapter of The Firm, where a lawyer tells another one she hopes their "little shindig" didn't scare him off, or something like that. She was referring to a little event they held for their clients, where he was introduced to some other lawyers, who weren't particularly friendly with him.


What word or phrase means "a loss of what was on your mind"?

Sometimes, in the middle of a conversation, a "loss of mind" can affect the speaker. What is the word for that situation and that person ? Are there more specific terms or phrases than:   * _the loss of mind_ (or)    * _empty mindedness_?


Usage of "ever" in a negative statement

I know that "ever" can be used to express the strengthened negation but would it work like that? > I created a session but nobody ever joined. Is it possible? It does not sound right to me. If not, what does this mean?


Word for something that is modified

I am using the word _modifier_ to descrive something that modifies something else. What word should I use to describe what is being modified? For example, in the sentence, > Fat John ate slowly _Fat_ and _slowly_ are my modifiers (an adjective and an adverb, respectively), but what word should I use to describe _John_ and _ate_? _Modifiee_ is not a word.


Does the expression ‘Someone, who took his while presumed innocent, will get bail any time soon’ sound natural?

I found the line, ‘Mr. Strauss-Kahn, who took his while presumed innocent will get bail,’ in the following paragraph of New York Times article (May 17), titled ‘Hotel Keycard of I.M.F. Chief May Tell a Tale.’ Does the ending line mean that the odds are low for Strauss-Kahn, who took time in claiming his innocent to get bail? I’m not clear with the structure of this section. Is ‘take one’s while＋objective noun composition’ natural English expression? I mean don’t you need a preposition between while and presumed innocent? “The director Roman Polanski strolled the red carpet, smiling for the cameras, apparently unworried that the French authorities would notice that he was a fugitive from justice in Los Angeles, where he had drugged, raped a 13-year- old girl. The parallel was striking, a prosecutor said Monday. Mr. Polanski, who took his version of the perp walk as a guilty man, lowered the odds that Mr. Strauss-Kahn, _who took his while presumed innocent_ , will get bail in New York any time soon.


Need a word for "Should not have happened' with a negative context

I'm looking for a word to mean "should not have happened." I'm trying to relate this situation; two paths - one positive, one negative - with the same end result, and the negative path was taken. Help please! Thank You! Update: OK, so the 2 paths being: my daughter had a cut by her eye, the doctor chose stitches instead of suture glue, and the ensuing pain, torn stitches, and inability to remove them all could have been avoided if she'd just used the glue in the first place. The sentence I am trying to finish is: "Based on the open scarring left behind from the use of sutures, the whole experience seems **___ _**."


What  does "no-op" mean?

In the Remarks section of a Microsoft dbset.add page I read > Remarks: Note that entities that are already in the context in some other > state will have their state set to Added. Add is a **_no-op_** if the entity > is already in the context in the Added state. What is _no-op_ used for, and what does it express? Is it "not operational"?   I checked in several dictionaries but was unable to find it.


When and from where did "guns" become slang for biceps?

I first heard the use of guns to mean biceps in high school. I thought it was just a local slang. It turns out to be universally known. I later saw it in magazines and fitness books. I also heard of the term "gun show" to mean a bunch of people (yes, both men and women) showing off the size of their biceps. I'm just curious because I don't think any other muscle or muscle group has a far-fetched term. Trapezius muscles are traps for short. Triceps are tris for short. Quadriceps are quads for short. Why are biceps guns? It doesn't make sense and seems so remote from the literal gun.


Do people still speak old English in South Africa?

I watched the South African film "The White Wedding", in that film, there is a white couple speaking a very weird language, it sounds like German but not German & a person in the movie said they are speaking an old form of English language. The British came to South Africa since 17-18th centuries, & settled there. These people somehow still keep their old English language. Just like people living in some area in UK that speak their English dialect that is so different that we can't understand. Does anyone know that?


Meaning of "level"

> A scale is a range of levels or numbers used for measuring something. How do you define _level_ here?


Actor's "remuneration" for a "job/gig/engagement"

What's the correct term to refer to the money an actor earns as a result of performing on a movie/film? The contractual "engagement/fee/honorarium" for the service of acting. Slang and official terms, please, if possible. Thanks!


I want to know the difference between "you are false" and "you are wrong"

What is the difference between _false_ and _wrong_? Is there any difference in meaning?


What is the meaning of "Already wet, aren’t they? Little squirts!"?

> “Peeves, get down here NOW!” barked Professor McGonagall, straightening her > pointed hat and glaring upward through her square-rimmed spectacles. > > “Not doing nothing!” cackled Peeves, lobbing a water bomb at several fifth- > year girls, who screamed and dived into the Great Hall. “ **Already wet, > aren’t they? Little squirts!** Wheeeeeeeeee!” And he aimed another bomb at a > group of second years who had just arrived. > > (p172, Harry Potter 4, US edition) **NB** — **Peeves** is a mischievous ghost floating in the air. I’ve lost track of the logical flow of ‘Already wet, aren’t they? Little squirts!’ There are some questions swirling in my mind: Who are _they_? Who is he talking to? What are _little squirts_ (water bombs or children)? I’d like to know the meaning and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the scene. It’d be nice if you could help me!


"Will be/would have been home tomorrow"

Which is correct? > He promised that he **will be** home tomorrow. > > He promised that he **would have been** home tomorrow.


Is "prominence" a verb?

The word "prominence" seems like it is being used as a verb in the definition below – am I wrong? > _work done by several associates with each doing a part but all > subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole_ This sentence comes from the definition of the word _teamwork_ by Merriam- Webster's online dictionary.


Does "way too long" mean "a lot too long" or "slightly too long"?

Does _way too long_ mean _a lot too long_ , or _slightly too long?_ Does _way too_ stand for a huge or small measure?


Similes and Metaphors - are similes a subset of metaphors?

I've always been taught that metaphors and similes both draw a parallel between two disparate ideas/thoughts/objects, but that a simile is a more explicit comparison using the word "like" or "is", whereas a metaphor's connection is more implicit. For example, "His injured ankle burned like a hot stove" is a simile, where as, "His injured ankle was a hot stove of pain" is a metaphor. However, I recently heard a colleague note that similes _are_ nothing more than a special kind of metaphor. In other words, all similes are metaphors. This seems to contradict what I was always taught (and what I've read online, for what that's worth). Can anyone straighten me (or my colleague) out?


Does "give" as in "capacity to bend" derive from "to give" or another word?

I looked up the etymology of "give" on etymonline and it didn't say anything about the noun form. When I say the noun form, I'm speaking about "give" used in this context: > The building foundation has some give to mitigate the effects of > earthquakes.


When to use "around" and "about"?

As I know _about_ and _around_ can be used when we estimate something, for example, > I'll arrived around 3:00 PM. or > I'm here about 10 minutes. I want to know, are there any rules or idioms when to use _about_ or _around_?


Origin of "facial" as a noun

> I got a facial at the beauty salon. Any dictionary I've checked confirms that _facial_ can be a noun. For example, my _Shorter Oxford_ calls it "A beauty treatment for the face" and dates it to the early 20th century. What is the origin of _facial_ as a noun? Did it come from a phrase in which it appeared as an adjective? Did something like "She got a facial _treatment_ at the beauty salon" simply evolve to drop the noun? If so, what _was_ the original phrase? And when did the adjective become the noun? Who dropped the (other) noun - was it the professionals who provided the "facial treatments" (or "facial whatevers")?


Why don't we use the indefinite article with 'software'?

Generally, one doesn't use the indefinite article with a noun because it's plural, but sometimes you get nouns where, for some reason, the indefinite article isn't used even though the noun is singular. I would never say 'a software', though it seems to be a singular noun, and I've heard it said (though it sounds wrong). Instead, we say 'some software' or 'a piece of software' (the latter implying that software is singular), so why does 'a software' sound wrong? EDIT: I really meant to ask why we don't consider software singular. Maybe I should have asked, 'why is software a mass noun?'


Uncountable nouns

When is it possible to use an indefinite article before uncountable nouns? Only when they are defined in some way?   * music, art, love, happiness   * advice, information, news (It was a good advice/information/news)   * furniture, luggage (an old furniture, a heavy luggage)   * rice, sugar, butter, water (a/one rice on my plate)   * electricity, gas, power (a dangerous gas)   * money, currency


uncountable nouns and articles

**This is a software.** Is this sentence incorrect? As per the explanation given, this has to be "This is software.", but I have seen the usage of "This is a software." even in newspapers. Could you please clarify this doubt for me.


Is "a software" really never correct?

> **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Why don't we use the indefinite article with 'software'? In France I have always been told that saying "a software" is not correct English (as a nominal compound), and that "a piece of software" or "a software program/package/product/system" must be used instead. Recently I have doubts... is there any case where it is actually correct? Examples found on the Internet:   * SalsaJ, a software for data analysis at school   * So if you sold a software which required your customer to pay a monthly fee, [...]


A word that means harmful to touch?

I'm looking for a word to describe something that's harmful to touch. A word like corrosive or caustic, but without the implied danger itself (acidic, burning, etc.). Something like: The surface of the floor is highly [word]. Ideas?


The "process" of long-term excessive use of alcohol

This is the kind of a Winter Holidays related question: How is the "process" of long-term excessive use of alcohol during the holidays called in the US and GB? The Multitran dictionary gives me these phrases:   * barrel fever   * skull cramps   * hang-over   * bottleache But I don't really sure if these words are of a wide use in the US. P.S. I'd also like to know how is the "recovering" from the "process" mentioned previously called.


British English: "fantasise" or "fantasize"?

I would like to know which spelling is more common in the UK: _fantasise_ or _fantasize_?


I heard someone use the term "dogs body" what does it mean?

I heard someone use the British slang "dogs body". What does it mean?


How to use word "emanate"

Are these two sentences correct? But it did not take long before the problem started to emanate? But it did not take long before the problem started to emanate itself?


Are the expressions “career day" and "career-high five runs" particular to sports?

I found the word ‘ _a career day’_ and ‘ _a career-high five runs’_ in the New York Times article (July 16) reporting Scott Hairston’s dramatic play against Philadelphia Phillies under the headline, “Hairston Fills in With _a Career Day_ , and the Mets Thwart Hamels Again.” The article is followed by the following sentence: > “Playing in right field and batting third for the first time as a Met, > Hairston did his best impression of the All-Star Beltran, knocking in _a > career-high five runs_ , including a three-run homer, as the Mets pounded > the Phillies, 11-2.” I interpret ‘Career day’ means the best day in one’s life and ‘Career-high five runs’ means best home runs in the player’s life. Can we use ‘Career day,’ and ‘Career event’ like high-five performance’ for any other occasions than baseball or other sports. If I am awarded a summa cum laude at the commencement, can I say ‘It’s a career day for me’? Can I say 'I got a career- high 15 up-votes today'? I’m asking this because dictionaries at hand including Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary I always consult give definitions of the word, ‘career’ no more than (1) the series of jobs that a person has in a particular area or work. (2) the period of time that you spend in your life working or doing particular things as noun, and (3) to move forward very quickly, especially in an uncontrolled way as verb.


Another way to say: "Evidences that show that..."

I need to write something similar to this: > Evidences that show that this method is both safe and provides clinical > benefits support its recommendation. I would like to say it without using "show". I had "Evidence **of that** this method...." written, but I think that it's incorrect. Which would be the correct way to say that?


Although correct, is "the above" to be avoided?

Although the phrase _the above_ is not exactly incorrect, should it be avoided? For example, imagine a letter with a heading "Re: Order for 79 purple cardboard slugs". Should a paragraph in the letter say "your order should be ready in three fortnights" or " _the above_ order should be ready in three fortnights"? Personally, I would tend to avoid _the above_ , but is there any rule on this?


What is the most succinct way of listing requests in a grammatically correct syntax/format?

When I am having a conversation with a a friend, I might say something like this > That's a great idea, but I wonder if 'A' you have the time, 'B' you can get > enough buyers and 'C' the buyers will remain loyal. What would be the correct, most succinct, gramatically/syntactically correct way of communicating a sentence like that in writing? The goal is to list questions for consideration in a sequential order, and with headers like 'A', 'B', and 'C' or 1 2 and 3 (thus **this question is not a duplicate** of this one) I know you could accomplish this by individual questions (i.e. "Do you have the time? If you have the time will you have enough buyers? Will those buyers remain loyal?") but I've found people are more apt to respond to all your requests/questions if you list them or annotate them with letters or numbers. Is there some "legal" way to do this without putting each requests/question on an individual line?


“Suggestion card” vs. “comment card”: Which is more common?

I am about to launch a new restaurant in my country. I also want to have a small paper of survey to collect data from the customers as well to help me understand my users better. The question types in this little survey can vary such as multiple choice, rating, or even comment box. And it contains no more than ten questions to keep it short. I am not sure how to name it. Should it be _suggestion card_ or _comment card_? Or just call it a _survey_ (but I think _survey_ should be something with more detail)


Meaning of the word "FOR" used at the beginning of a sentence

I have encountered the word " **for** " many times. But, even if I use the dictionary, I can not understand the meaning of this word used at the beginning of a sentence. Here is an example: _It would be an excellent match. For he was rich and she was handsome._ Does it always mean because? Thank you.