What's a word for the opposite of Accountability?

I'm trying to say something to the effect of: "While practitioners before the war were in an environment of **___ __ ___** , practitioners after the war were in an environment of accountability." Meaning the previous era's practitioners weren't holding themselves to the results of their contributions. Anyway, something other than "unaccountability" would be appreciated, of course.


"Feeling safe? So do I!" — is this grammatical?

I have a small question regarding the usage of the present simple, present continuous and auxiliary verbs. Is this correct English? >   1. Feel safe? (Do you feel safe?) → So do I! >   2. Feeling safe? (Are you feeling safe?) → So am I! >   3. Feeling safe? So do I! > In this particular case (3), a question is asked in present continuous and gets answered in simple present. The addressee is making a (powerful) statement that the he/she 'always' or 'infinitively' feels safe, not just actively at this moment. I'm not a native English speaker, but I was under the impression that this is a perfectly accepted exception to the general rules of English language. Can anyone confirm this or explain why this is not acceptable? **Edit:** The actual phrase in question is "Feeling ambitious? So do we", which is a phrase I made up myself. I replaced it with 'feeling safe' to present a more neutral case.


Does ‘the moment’ clause always need an unpleasant or surprising situation?

When I wrote thank you to a commentator in this site, I added a message to it like this: “It all clicked into place the moment I saw your comment!” After a while, I came across an article about the usage of ‘the moment’. I’d like to know if my comment sounded offensive and what I should have written in the comment to express ‘ _just_ after’ like feeling. Here’s the article. >   1. Scarcely had Jake answered the phone when his boss started shouting at > him. > >   2. No sooner had Jake answered the phone than his boss started shouting at > him. > >   3. The moment Jake answered the phone, his boss started shouting at him. > >   4. As soon as Jake answered the phone, his boss started shouting at him. > > > > Only No.4 is emotionally-neutral. No.1,2,3 express the resultant event is > unpleasant or unexpected, though the resultant event of No.3 is less > unpleasant and unexpected than the other two. Therefore, in a general > sentence, for example, “as soon as he arrived at the office, he sat down at > his desk and started work”, it isn’t natural to use No.1,2,3 patterns. (The script is originally written in English, but the book I have is translated into Japanese. These lines are my English, so please excuse me for its strangeness.)


Which is correct: "this people" or "these people"?

**This** people or **these** people? Different sources suggest different ways. What's the right way and why?


What does "salad days" mean, and when was it coined?

What does _salad days_ mean? I've heard the term used to describe past better days, but what does that have to do with salad? Also, when was the phrase coined?


Is “ ’s ” ever correct for pluralization?

A relatively modern dictionary (I don’t know which one, because we’ve cut out the pages and used them as wallpaper in our bathroom, but I know it’s less than 20 years old) indicates that _R’s_ is one correct pluralization of _R_ , as is _Rs_ , but whichever dictionary this is, it’s kind of a no-name brand, so I’m not sure I trust it. I’ve always wondered what the best way was to pluralize single letters or numerals, like _2’s_ or _2s_. What’s correct?


Meaning of "I never give a sucker an even break"

What does this phrase mean? > I never give a sucker an even break. Does it mean that the author of this saying is unwilling to offer somebody who he doesn't like a break/rest while he is working?


How to call an email address for email-based submission to a blogging site?

Many online sites generate a customized address for you like CAeporFsks2373454-submission@myblogging.com. You may write an email to that address and what you write in the body of that email gets published or entered in a database. Some sites like Trello refer to it as "your email" but it is not 'your' email account (e.g. From: amanda23@hotmail.com) but a dummy electronic mail address you are supposed to write to (To: CAeporFsks2373454-submission@myblogging.com). How to call an email address for submission?


Common ground between Deck and Graveyard in trading card games

I am developing a Trading Card Game and I am in need to extract functionality from two of my classes as they are both doing almost the same. it is about the Deck and Graveyard constructs which are visible on the field. The Deck is where the cards are which you can still draw, the Graveyard is where your used cards are. What word could I use to describe both a Deck and a Graveyard, Stack is already taken unfortunately (by the Java language) and I'd personally describe it as a Pile, but not sure if that is the best wording.


Is "surveillance" adequate for observing a patient in a hospital?

Can this word be used to mean observing the patient's condition in a hospital in order to make a diagnosis?


Which expression is correct for past version of "think"?

I don't know which of the following expressions is correct for depicting past version of "think":   1. I _didn't think_...    2. I _don't thought_...   3. I _didn't thought_...


'uplink' or 'interfaces'

I wonder, which sentence fragment is better? >   1. ... effectiveness of the **interface** failure detection >   2. ... effectiveness of the **uplink** failure detection >


Is "purchased" more formal than "bought?"

It was suggested to me that the correct verb to use referring to something I paid for in the past is the word _purchased_ : > I purchased x. instead of > I bought x. As far as I can tell, the words are almost the same in this context. The only thing I've seen online is that _boughten_ is a colloquial past participle of the word _bought_. Is _bought_ ever, if rarely, considered colloquial? Is it ever improper to use when referring to a recent purchase? * * * Edit: not spoken English, and not sure how relevant, but here's an ngrams graph of "bought vs purchased." http://imgur.com/IEO1D2e


What is the meaning of the phrase: "N weeks ago tomorrow"?

Please explain to me the meaning of the phrase: > Two weeks ago tomorrow. It seems to be in the past ( _ago_ ) but with a link to the future ( _tomorrow_ ).


What is the antonym for 'conversely'?

What is the antonym for _conversely_? Or what is a concise way to say, "because of x, y follows"?


Client who orders directly, what do we call who outsources their work?

Well, am working on a business project where I need to name a category, say clients, now this applies to the people who directly places an order to the company, but the company also accepts outsourced projects, so they want to maintain records for the other companies who outsource their work to them. So what is a correct word that can be used for a comapany/individual who outsources their projects?


"Death Panels" and "Job creators": Is there a word for these?

Is there a word or expression that describes phrases like "Freedom fries" or "Death panels"? I'm thinking of phrases that seem intentionally designed to either re-frame a familiar concept or to be purposely evocative. The examples I can think of are mostly (US) political: "Job creators", "Death panels", "Death tax", "Freedom fries", etc.


What's the perfect word that brings to mind a red-headed woman?

I'm not talking an artificially-dyed Hollywood redhead, either. I'm looking for a word that perfectly recapitulates the kind of redhead who has lots of freckles, an extremely light complexion, and the kind of fiery red hair one would never mistake for the fake stuff. Basically, the stereotype of an Irish lass (though I've read that in fact the proportion of redheads among the English is higher).


Active or passive verbs

What is the difference between the following sentences: > This product is sold very well. > > This product sells very well. If the meaning is the same, what pragmatic difference is there?


"sunk" or "sunken"?

> The boat lies half-sunken in the bay. _Sunken_ is an adjective, right? But in the previous sentence, it seems to be acting as adverb modifying _lies_. Should the sentence be: > The boat lies half sunk in the bay.


Are "ins", "hrs", "mins" and "secs" the technically correct plural abbreviations for "inches", "hours", "minutes" and "seconds"? I'm hoping that all examples below could possibly be correct. Examples: _Plural: He finished the race in 4hrs 34mins 9secs._ _Singular: His 4hr 34min 9sec finish was unprecedented._ _Plural of 'inches': Garry was 5ft 10ins tall._ _Singular of 'inches': Garry was a 5ft 10in man._


What is an alternative for "thank you"?

So... I am seeking a new job and several recruiters are helping me. Instead of saying 'Thank you', should I say 'I appreciate'? Which one is more polite? Could someone please tell me how to express one's gratefulness to someone else in English?


What is the origin of the British "guv"? Is it still used colloquially?

I.e. is there a known historical reason behind why the British began calling each other "governor" and "guv"? The various online dictionaries I've consulted say it is now a way to refer to those of elder status, but I was wondering how it was adopted in the first place. And is it still used frequently amongst native British speakers?


Do any non-transitive (in a mathematical sense) slang terms exist?

Are there any words that are slang for another word which is itself a slang term for something else, but the secondary slang term is not slang for the original word? That is, given words `Y` and `Z`, where `Y` is a slang term for `Z`, does there exist a word `X` such that it is slang for `Y`, but not for `Z`?


Is English becoming easier or harder to learn?

As we all know, English is evolving. Constructs considered repugnant 100 years ago are widely-accepted today. Thousands of words in our vocabulary have fallen into disuse while thousands more have been adopted. My question: is English becoming easier to learn or harder? This is especially relevant given that--for better or worse--learning English is fast becoming a requirement for many non-native speakers.


Is 'town' or 'Barrie' a proper noun in this sentence?

> I live in a small town called Barrie. Which noun is proper – _town_ or _Barrie_? I answered _Barrie_ and the examiner marked it as wrong. And another one: > Last night, I watched the movie My Cousin Vinny on television. In this sentence, is _Cousin_ a proper noun or a common noun?


Is "Technical skills precisely" appropriate for a list of specific technical knowledge on résumé

If I am going to put the list of specific technical knowledge on a résumé, is it appropriate to use the term "Technical skills precisely", or is there a more appropriate term to use?


Origin of the name "Rijndael"?

Why is the standard for implementations of the AES algorithm called "Rijndael"? Is it simply a name? Or has it some kind of meaning? I tried googling this one, but without any helpful results.


Eliminated out at this cut off

Can we write: " Something is already eliminated out at this cut-off."


Another word/phrase for precipitation?

Is there some word that I could use in place of precipitation when I don't know if it's raining, snowing, or hailing outside? Saying "there is probably precipitation right now" (in place of something more certain about the state of the precipitation like "I think it's raining right now") sounds stiff. For instance, if I walk into a building while it's raining or snowing and ten minutes later someone asks about the weather (which is liable to change, especially during early winter), what could I say?


ethic vs ethics

Would someone please compare these two? Or is this correct, even though it adduces nothing? > As a noun (and not adj), ethic = A set of moral principles, especially ones > relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct: > > ethics [usually treated as plural] = 1. Moral principles that govern a > person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity: I do see that the second definition for ethics on that page differs from ethic.


What is a friendly way to say ' Now processing'?

I'm developing software something like iPhone's 'Siri'. If I call its name, it will answer, > What can I help you with? If I say "Turn on the TV", it will answer, > Now Processing ... But, I think "Now processing ..." doesn't sound friendly. So, isn't there a more friendly way to say "Now processing"? For example, > I'm turning on TV, processing, please wait


The pronunciation of "... no matter how minute" vs "5 minutes past the hour"

I was just checking dictionary.com and the pronunciation of "minute" doesn't seem to change in these two setences:   * **It is five _minutes_ past the hour.**   * **I'll take any change, no matter how _minute._** However, I always hear it pronounced differently. On dictionary.com you can hear the pronunciation of _minute_ in the context of, "5 minutes past the hour". However, the pronunciation -- as I've heard -- in the phrase "no matter how minute" isn't on the pronunciation key. I'd have thought that I'm spelling this word wrong but others are having this problem also and ChaCha confirms the spelling. I always heard "minute" in "no matter how minute" pronounced **my • noot**.


"Memberify" or "membrify"?

Which is the correct form when adding the _-ify_ suffix to _member_?   1. memberify    2. membrify I know it's not a regular word, I want to use it in a context for something like "make me a member".


'Rollover'/'Roll over' in computer world

While Oxford Dictionary of English does not have definition of _rollover_ , Wiktionary defines this word as " _a graphic element that changes its shape or colour when the cursor moves over it_ "; in other terms, when we roll the trackball of a mouse over this element without having to click. Also, it is common to use _rollover_ as adjective and as verb, at least on internet. Is this usage of _rollover_ acceptable nowadays? Since most people use now either optical mice or trackpads, has the term _rollover_ become technically obsolete? If so, is there a better word?


What is a negative word to describe people that love showing off their knowledge?

Similar to this question: One's brilliant vocabulary and a tendency to show it off and What's the word for "overly proud of your education"? But the word I'm looking for is not limited to vocabulary. These people often drop words and also random fact tidbits even when it's:   * A) obvious to everyone in the room   * B) it's obvious that he/she just wants to show off the fact that they know it    * **C) not always founded on knowledge or fact** Also, I'm looking for a word that has a negative connotation.


"Ontology" vs. "ontography"

I have yet to find a good description of the difference between _ontology_ and _ontography_. Can anyone help clarify?


"Fillet" or "filet"

My significant other asked me today whether or not she should use a _fillet_ or _filet_ of steak in a recipe. What is the difference between _fillet_ and _filet_ , and the history behind these words? Is there a context in which one should be used and the other shouldn't? _Filet_ sounds rather French as in _filet mignon_. My own brief experiences with the terms are that _fillet_ is the term for the cut of meat whereas _filet_ would be used for fish. I've also read that one is American English and the other is British English.


Yoga (proper-case) or yoga (lowercase)?

I've seen it written in both ways. I'm tempted to use the proper case, because I was under the impression that it is also a form/name of religion. What do you think?


Are the phrases “both in water and land” and “for the loss and damage to” grammatical?

I have asked this question in linguistics forum, but as I was not getting answers I decided to ask it here. A. Consider the phrase that is boldfaced in sentence (1): (1) "It can live **both in water and land**." Is the phrase grammatical as it is, with no preposition before "land"? Or should the phrase be "both in water and on land"? B. Now consider the phrase that is boldfaced in sentence (2): (2) "He is responsible **for the loss and damage to** the article." In the phrase grammatical as it is, with no preposition after "loss"? Or should the phrase be "loss of and damage to"?


What allows the omission of subject relative pronouns?

> “There’s some men **wouldn’t** look at a girl with a baby.” (Ken Follett, > Fall of Giants) > > There is a young student **comes** here some evenings. (James Joyce, > Dubliners) > > “That’s a smell **could** raise me out of a concrete grave.” (East of Eden) > > “I guess it was Cal **asked** Lee.” (East of Eden) > > I have a friend **called** me yesterday. (The Syntactic Phenomena of > English) There are sayings that subject relative pronouns can’t be omitted. But from the examples above on novels and a syntactic book, the construction seems not a rare case or wrong. What allows them the omission?


Commas After Conditionals

It seems to me that commas for conditionals are falling out of favor. I often see the comma dropped in sentences like: > If you get stuck in a passive sentence always ask the question: I would put a comma after _sentence_. But I think my writing ends up with too many commas. How do I decide which ones to drop? Do I just arbitrarily get rid of a few that come after reasonably short conditionals?


Use of "the" in sentences--when is it redundant?

1. He played with the items in the house.   2. He played with items in the house.   3. Target the addictions that plague your life.   4. Target addictions that plague your life. What exactly is the effect of removing "the" in such sentences? I've had it crossed out a couple of times now, but I'm not sure which ones I should edit away from my sentences. Is either sentence wrong? Is the sentence without "the" better?


Can the phrase 'is contained in' be substituted by a single word?

If a lunchbox contains an apple, then the apple _is contained in_ a lunchbox. Is it possible to replace the phrase 'is contained in' with a single word? I can't think of one, and the thesaurus hasn't been very helpful, either.


Is it correct to say "What's the best search tools in windows?"

I saw a question in superuser.com, and the title ran: > What’s the fastest desktop search tools you’ve used on Windows? It uses `'s` with `tools`, is this correct? Or should it be `What's the best tool` or `what're the best tools`?


Is there a word/term for "verbs which indicate the underlying sentiment of a statement"?

Sorry, I'm not sure the best way to describe this, but hopefully you understand what I mean. Something like the result of the verb(to say) and any adverb(insultingly) = verb(to insult). Another way of putting it: to "insult someone" is an example of what? Examples: To compliment, to question, to inspire, to insult, to demean, to be sarcastic, etc. Again, I'm wondering if there is a word or term that describes words such as these. The best I can think of is "methods of conversation" but that's vague.


How should "a $5 item" be read?

Taken from this article (image): > ...indulge in a **$5 coffee**... How should I read this? Is it a _five dollars coffee_ or a _five dollar coffee_?


What is the origin of "in a jiffy"?

## What is the origin of _"in a jiffy"_? Etymology online Dictionary says _origin unknown_ but speculates that it was slang (cant) for lightning and dates it as 1785. Wikipedia agrees but adds that the American physical chemist, Gilbert Newton Lewis (1875–1946) was the first to actually specify how long a _jiffy_ was, a mere 33.3564 picoseconds. Nowadays a _jiffy_ is the delay interval between one computer animation frame and another, particularly in Autodesk Animator, it being defined as 1/100th-of-a-second (10 ms) jiffies (if I've understood that part correctly). Grammarphobia mentions the OED entry and goes on to say > The Chambers Dictionary of Etymology speculates that the word might have > been “spontaneously coined” by Raspe, a German librarian, writer, and > scientist. The earliest recorded use of "in a jiffy" I found is dated **1780** from _The Town and Country Magazine, Or Universal Repository of Knowledge, Instruction and Entertainment._ ..........![](http://books.google.it/books?id=-wM3AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA88&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U3GagvoNZJDnkHls1C8uJkuYbGeXA&ci=70%2C719%2C458%2C176&edge=0) This was pure luck, a serendipitous moment, I had been looking for variations of the idiom _twist someone around one's finger_ when I saw "in a jiffy" being used in conjunction with the metaphor. In fact, if one types "jiffy" in the search box, Google informs "there are no results for _jiffy_ in this book" but I found two instances! > Most of the limbs of law do everything **_in a jiffy_** ; but ask what they > mean, and they would be as much puzzled, as if you required of them the > explanation of a common act of parliament. If such gibberish were confined > to hackney clerks of twelve shillings a week, we should not notice it, as we > should scarce ever have our ears grated with it; but the misfortune is, by > degrees it has found its way into more polite assemblies, and a lady of > taste was heard to say the other evening at the Pantheon, that _she could > turn Sir William B_____ round her finger_ **_in a jiffy_**. If people of > sense or common understanding, would reflect one moment on the folly of > using words and phrases they could not explain, they would certainly explode > them, and shun those who used them, as being afflicted with a verbal > contagion, ... As fascinating this felicitous episode may be, it didn't explain _the origins_ of this expression. * * * ## jeffy A spelling variation in Francis Grose's book, _Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue_ (1796) > It will be done **in a jeffy** : it will be done in a short space of time, > in an instant. * * * ## giffy Another spelling variant was **_giffy_** I found several instances of this word in Google books but none told me their origins.   * 1822 (London); "he saw Mary walking along the road we a strange man, [...] that Mary fell in a fit and the man attempted first to help her, but that William sent him flying over the hedge **in a giffy** , and threatened Mary,..."    * 1833 (Middlebury College, Vermont); "Done, and O the philosophers scales effected nothing half so wonderful! The seven were raised **in a giffy** , and we verily concluded it would take five more to restore the equilibrium."    * 1833 (New York); **Giffy** , a rapid and brief space of time.   * 1866 (Lincolnshire); **_Giffy._** —Immediately. Ex. I'll be with you _in a giffy_. **_Giffling._** —Moving about impatiently * * * ## in a jiffing The expression, **_in a jiffing_** was apparently well-known in the USA. In _Dictionary of Americanisms_ By John Russell Bartlett (1859). The term _To rights_ is defined as _Directly_ ; _soon_ and by the expression **_in a jiffing_**. _In a jiffing_ was also used by Dickens in his _All the Year Round, Volumes 15-16_ dated 1866. * * * ## jiffle I found the following excerpt in _The Dictionary of English Etymology E - P, Volume 2_ By Hensleigh Wedgwood (1862) ![](http://books.google.it/books?id=NGdJAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA282&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U1PDWLzTmJC5O2rvPOcUrRrxZh13Q&ci=129%2C372%2C777%2C140&edge=0) Finally, it appears that a _jif_ and _jiffy_ is a shortening of _jiffle_. Or is it? Is _jiffle_ a diminutive of _jiff_? Is it older? Which language is it from, Welsh? Cant? Hal.— stands for _Halliwell's Dict. of Archaic and Provincial Words_


"No Limit" Versus "Unlimited"

Senior programmer in my team in developing hotel management program and there is something about hotel rooms limit, how many room the hotel can provide to customer. He want to add option to indicate that hotel is sure to welcome any amount of customer and he was asking me that should we use "No Limit" or "Unlimited"


"My work has done" vs "my work has been done"

Please tell me that what is the difference between > My work has done and > My work has been done problem is with the use of has and has been


Why are "he", "she", and "it" distinct in the singular, but all "they" in the plural?

Other languages have gender-specific third-person plural pronouns (e.g., _ellos_ and _ellas_ in Spanish). English does not, despite the masculine/feminine/neuter distinction being obligatory in the singular. Is there a historical reason for this situation? Was there a time when English had gendered versions of "they"?


Use of "-en" suffix

"Woollen" is an Old English word that uses the suffix "-en" to turn a noun into a verb. As I understand it, the use of this suffix died out in Middle English. Do any more modern words use this suffix? Have people mixed and matched, for example taken a Latin word and added on OE suffix? "En-" as a prefix seems to be (Old?) French in origin, so "enlighten" seems to mix it up a bit.


The use of "not" in a sentence

> "His failure to register was not knowing and willful." This may seem like a stupid question, but does the sentence above mean he was not knowing and not willful, or not knowing and willful?


Why is common law referred to as "at common law"?

While researching the differences between modern penal codes with common law I noticed that in many places it is written as at common law. An example is, "A crime at common law defined as unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman by a man without her consent and by means of fear or force." Does anyone know why it is worded this way?


Tasks for tutorial class sessions, not at home

Writing worksheets for students at university, I'd like to distinguish tasks intended to be solved in tutorial classes from tasks intended as homework. What would be the appropriate term to refer to non-homework tasks intended for class? So far my worksheets have been in German, and the term I used was “Präsenzaufgaben”, meaning tasks (“Aufgaben”) intended for when people are present (noun “Präsenz”) in class. But your solution need not be a close translation of this as long as the meaning is clear or the term is established. Preferably both.


Have you been vs you have been

For how long ............ employed here? a. you are.   b. are you.   c. you have been.   d. have you been. What will be the answer here I thought it shall be d _have you been_ but someone is saying _you have been_. Can anybody explain please


stuck in how to differentiate between regular and irregular verbs

As I know that in regular verbs we put 'ed' and in irregular verb we do not put 'ed' while changing it into past or past participle but anyone who does not know about the 2nd and 3rd form of verb so how he/she should know that word is regular or irregular verb??


Term that implies design and engineering

I want know if the English language has a term that means "design and engineering".


Is there a word for a non-geek?

I am looking for a term which clearly defines somebody as a non-geek, without being derogatory. The best example I have seen is `muggle`, but it needs context to be understood, as in "You don't meet many muggles at a comic convention", or "even my muggle friends like my autologlyph fractal decal". But while "muggle" makes it clear that he is a part of the "majority which is different", it is often hard to guess who the minority is. There are also more specific words, but they are mostly so derogatory that I would consider them rude even in a joke, like `luser` or `n00b`. I definitely don't want to use them in a normal conversation. A search in antonym dictionaries didn't bring up anything. Is there really no such word?


How to wish someone "Happy New Year" in a professional, formal and friendly way

English is my second language. I still struggle with it especially when I have to write a formal email. I need to send an email to several of my business associates in reply to theirs. It contains some technical explanation related to our project, after which I would like to wish them _Happy New Year_. What is a professional, formal and friendly way to say this?


Which is correct — "I told you" or "I said you"?

I often hear people using "I said you" in Asia, but people in America use "I told you". Is there a difference between the usage of _said_ and _told_? And to be more specific which is correct English — _told_ or _said_?


Meaning of the word 'function' in this context?

The concept of execution environment is an essential part of the definition of software reliability. Consider that a software system supports 10 different **functions** _f1_ ,..., _f10_ , and there are two groups of users. One group of users use only **functions** f1,...,f7, and the second group uses all the **functions**. Let **functions** _f1_ ,...., _f7_ be fault free, but there are faults in **functions** _f8_ , _f9_ , _f10_. **function** a. the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists b. mathematical functions c. function keys Everyone I talked to takes the word function in this context to mean one of the above three. Which do you think is right?


What does "straightforward" mean?

Very often I hear sentences like: "This approach is pretty straightforward." What is a synonym describing "straightforward" in this context? Simple? Complicated? Intelligently solved?


What is the word used to describe a particular type of sound made with language? Is it a "tone"? For example, the "ai" in Thailand produces a sound. And, what is the word for this language system of producing different sounds from different combinations of characters? Why does it seem like same set of characters can produce different sounds based on which words they are in?


Is there a name for the rhetorical device that uses difficult but irrelevant theories to advance one's argument?

Some arguments cite quantum mechanics as evidence to suppose the existence of a metaphysical being. In order to argue with these people, one would have to study quantum mechanics which is very difficult. Dialectical materialism adopts a form of metaphysics suggested by Hegel. Even Bertrand Russell admits that Hegel is difficult. The former uses physics to infer existence in metaphysics; the latter uses metaphysics to predict affairs in the physical world. As Bertrand Russell points out, the belief that metaphysics has any bearing upon practical affairs is a proof of logical incapacity. I wonder if there is a name for this type of rhetorical device.


What are the patterns/rules for determining U.S. state abbreviations?

I vaguely recall memorizing the state abbreviations in grades school. And I seem to remember my teacher sharing a few ground rules for helping us memorize them.   * No two states may have the same abbreviation.    * If there are two words in the state's name, take the first letter of each. (NY, SD, WV, etc)    * Take the first two letters of the state name to form the abbreviation.   * Take the first and last letter of the state name to form the abbreviation. The first two rules are never broken. The second two are broken as needed in order to obey the first one. But which one takes precidence? What other considerations come into play that would have led to choices such as FL, HI, NV


Verb mix-up in a sentence

I have this sentence, and I have a feeling that the verbs and subjects do not agree with each other, and it continues to bother me. How can I fix it? > Furthermore, both mates in a couple **could** also each be albino (aa), > meaning that because each mate **is** homozygous recessive, each child > **would** also be an albino, which is greater than just "a quarter of all > babies." Excuse the weird sentence, but does it make sense? I bolded the words where I think I may have made my mistakes.


Present perfect vs present perfect continuous for past unfinished actions relevant to the present

John has stood there for 5 hours. vs John has been standing there for 5 hours. Is there any difference in meaning between the two sentences? Both actions are unfinished. Both are relevant to the present (John is tired and sweaty and hungry). Are there situations where we'd prefer using one tense over the other?


A word or phrase to describe documents that can expire

I'm looking for word or phrase that describes documents or credentials that by definition have an expiry date. Examples of such documents can be:   * Passports   * Certifications   * Licenses   * Credentials


Is there an adverb for "quickly at first, slowly later"?

When water comes out of a faucet at the bottom of a tank, it comes out quickly first and then it tapers off. Is there an adverb for such a case?


Why does the police use "K-9 Unit" instead of "dog"?

Throughout North America, I keep seeing police cars labeled "K-9 unit". I know "K-9" is a homophone of "canine", but why don't they just use "Police dog"?


Is "that few" a correct expression?

We quite often hear the utterance "that many" as in > I haven't had that many sweets! But is the opposite standard speech as well? Can one say: > I don't have that few followers on Twitter! If so, is there any difference in usage? I.e. is this acceptable in written as well as spoken conversation? Formal and informal?


What is it called when you write what someone is saying?

Imagine you're sitting in the corner, writing down a conversation that is occurring in the middle of the room. What are you doing? "Copying down" is what I'm using, but it seems like there should be a better word.


You quench your thirst. What do you do with your hunger?

What is the equivalent of "quench" when speaking of hunger? Is it appropriate to say you quenched your hunger?


Is a comma appended to an ellipsis in the middle of a quotation?

Digging through every _ELU_ question I can find on the matter, I still can’t locate a specific answer to this question of punctuation. Which of these is correct? >   1. “Maybe...” I said, injecting an intentional pause, “we will find him.” > >   2. “Maybe...,” I said, injecting an intentional pause, "we will find him.” > > Note that this is an interrupted quotation. It is not a “voice trailing off incomplete sentence,” followed by another sentence. Without the textual interruption, it would be “Maybe... we will find him.” Comma or no? ADDENDUM: I'm adding a bit more here, because despite the excellent answers I've already received, there's a point I want to make which hasn't _precisely_ been addressed, and it's this: I want to retain the structure of the sentence exactly as it is, as a creative choice. The pause implied by a comma alone, although generally sufficient (e.g. "Maybe, we will find him.") is not adequate to my purpose here. _Mea culpa_ , I could not include the amount of contextual material that would have made this clear, but if you accept that I want to get a long intentional pause with a dying inflection (and not the more abrupt pause signified by a dash), then would you consider a comma to be nice punctuation, or unnecessary? A simpler way of looking at the same question might be this: Which of the following works better? >   1. "Maybe..." I said. >   2. "Maybe...," I said. > Perhaps all I'm really asking is, is the usual comma that comes before _I said_ necessary after an ellipsis?


Spacing after Mr./Mrs./Ms.?

Should I put a space after Mr./Mrs./Ms.? In other words, should it be "Mr.Jones" or "Mr. Jones?"


Can we say "The student can do still better"- with the same meaning as "The student can do better ?"

A teacher remarked in progress report of a student that she "can do still better" to say that she can do better than what she did now. Is it correct?


Is there a difference between "way of doing something" and "way to do something"? It is on purpose that I did not write "a way of doing something" or "the way of doing something" and "a way to do something" or "the way to do something"… because I feel this is where the answer lies. Michael Swan's _Practical English Usage_ (third edition, page 607) reads: > After _way_ (meaning 'method/manner') we can use an infinitive structure or > _of … ing_. There is no important difference between the two structures. > _There is no way to prove / of proving that he was stealing_. I, on the other hand, think there must be a difference, however slight… !


Best word for.....different types of physical constructs

I have a triple request but they're related.   1. Word for a solid filled object in a given shape (ie triangle made out of steel sheet)    2. Word for object in a given shape with only the outline (ie. A set of steel beams that form a triangle)    3. A word like shape to refer to something that has x number of sides and/or is made with y shape


"Like fun, but dangerous"

> That looks like fun, but dangerous. Is that sentence grammatically correct? Is there anything wrong with it? I think it might be grammatically incorrect because if you remove the word "fun," then it becomes > That looks like dangerous. which is obviously incorrect. I think to be grammatically correct, it should be something like > That looks like fun, but it's dangerous. or > That looks like fun, but it also looks dangerous.


Is there a single word for "money-mindedness"?

I'm looking for a single word for describing a person "whose motive is dictated by money"...I seem to recall there was an elegant word for this, but I can't remember it now...can someone help?


When do you leave out the preposition in a relative clause?

A non-fiction titled "Do the Right Thing" published in 1998 has this sentence: > (1) _Am I treating this stranger with the same consideration **that I would > a friend**?_ Another book (fiction) titled "Strong Rain Falling: A Caitlin Strong Novel (by Jon Land)" published in 2013 has this sentence: > (2) _...and treat the enemy with the same consideration **with which they > had treated the residents of Willow Creek**._ Are both these grammatical and natural English? If so, it seems to me that the _that_ clause of (1), as well as the _which_ clause of (2), is a relative clause. And that in (1) the preposition _with_ has been left out of the relative clause. Assuming that both are correct English, my question is why (1) is possible without the preposition _with_ stranded at the end? ( **Edit:** Is it because the relative clause of (1) lacks the lexical verb "treat"?) Also, if preposition stranding is possible with these relative clauses, are these possible English? > (1a) _Am I treating this stranger with the same consideration **that I would > treat a friend with**?_ > > (2a) _...and treat the enemy with the same consideration **which they had > treated the residents of Willow Creek with**._ **Edit:** Here is another example without ellipsis, and it's taken from a hospital website in England: > (3) _We Ask That Our Patients:_ > > _treat our staff with the same consideration **that you would expect to be > treated yourself**. Violent, abusive or intimidating behaviour of any kind > will not be tolerated and will lead to immediate removal from the practice > list._ Now, should the editor of the website have added _with_ at the end of the boldfaced portion?


"Questions" have "answers". What do "problems" have?

If _questions_ have _answers_ , then _problems_ have ____? I know it sounds simple but I am not sure what the best word is.


Origin of "It's been a slice"

What is the origin of the phrase "it's been a slice"? I understand its meaning, but cannot find any listing of its origin, or possibly to what specifically "a slice" is referring.


What is the origin of "kiwifruit"?

What is the origin of _kiwifruit_?   Is there any relation between the fruit and New Zealand? ![kiwifruit](http://i.stack.imgur.com/dPShh.png)


What is the origin of "rag" meaning newspaper?

In Australia and the UK, some folks refer to a newspaper as a _rag_ , and I am curious how this term was coined. Although most people would ask for a newspaper, I have gone around asking "Have you got a copy of today's rag?" today and only one out of twelve people I asked (I asked in coffee shops and the like) didn't know what I meant straight away. I am trying to make a connection - dirty rag, newspaper commonly used to pack stuff or for cleaning (not a good idea anyhow) but I am stumped as the actual origins of the word.


Alternative word for playgoers' behavior

Is there a word for playgoers' behavior when hissing and booing the villain?


As yet + past simple/present perfect

I was unable to find out the rules here and what is the difference: > As yet, he has not received the package.   >  As yet little was known of the causes of the disease.


What metaphor do countries that don't play baseball use for intercourse?

> Related question: In sex talk, how many bases are there and what do they all > mean? There are lots of English-speaking (or English-learning) countries where baseball simply isn't played much if at all. Other sports -- soccer, rugby, polo, cricket -- are likely more common. Since language follows culture, I'm curious: **what do English-speaking nations with little interest in baseball use as their metaphor for physical relations?** Effectively, I'm asking for equivalent metaphors in other English dialects. Note that, in the baseball metaphor, there is an implicit "escalation" idea baked into the metaphor. As a "player" progresses from base to base, the conduct associated with each point represents an increase in intensity and/or intimacy. I'm hoping equivalent alternative metaphors preserve this.


Can't understand the meaning of "flogged" in this sentence

> There are products to be flogged and, Ms. Barberich added, “stars to be > made.” What does it mean by flogged here? I got these synonym: struck, propelled, electrical, beaten, flogged, chastised Full Context for Original Quote: Who Am I Wearing? Funny You Should Ask.


Difference between 'I would like to be' & 'I want to be'

> I **would like to** be and > I **want to** be What is the difference between them? I think 'want to be' sounds stronger than 'like to be,' but I'm not sure if this is true.


Difference between "pull over" and "pull away"

What is the difference between _pull over_ and _pull away_? I am still trying to get used to American English. It seems like if I do not understand the driving vocabulary I am going to fail in the driving test.


What does the "s" in "thanks" mean?

I'm teaching English in a non-English-speaking country where plural "s" and third-person "s" get confused a lot with no "s" at all. The dialogue in the textbook was explaining how you should respond when someone compliments you: > Mike: For example, when you have a new bag, I can say, "I like your bag."   >  Yuki: What should I say then?   >  Mike: You should say, "Thanks."   >  Yuki: Should I say anything else?   >  Mike: No. Just "Thanks." I was asked what the "s" in "Thanks" means, but I couldn't give a straight answer. I know in the phrase "give thanks" it's a plural noun, but what about when it's used as an interjection? Why does it go from "Thank you" to "Thanks"?


Is "if zoomed out" a complete clause?

Consider the following: > The picture loses its quality _if zoomed out far enough_. I found many instances of this on Google, but I dont see any subject in the _if_ clause and I wonder if it's correct at all?


Usage of "(in)capable"

I read the following question on meta: Questions incapable of a simple answer Now I am confused: Is that a possible correct usage of "(in)capable"? Can a question be capable of an answer? Wouldn't it have to be "incapable of being answered"? Or am I just confused by the possibly different usage of the German (my native language) "fähig"?


What does "first thing" mean in "You can change it back first thing tomorrow."?

What does "first thing" mean in the following paragraph? > "I'm Steve from IT. We're running network tests for the rest of the day. I > need you to reset your password to 'test123'. You can change it back first > thing tomorrow. Thanks!"


What is the term for a string that is made up of fixed-length components?

I have a data string that is defined as having two characters for the ID value, six characters for longitude, etc. "Fixed-length string" does not convey the requirement for internal bits of the string to be fixed-length as well.


What is the difference between "something else" and "something extra"? The answer for the blank in this question is "else", but is "extra" an alternative answer? If "EXTRA" IS WRONG, WHY IS IT WRONG? > "A land free from destruction, plus wealth, natural resources, and labor > supply – all these were important factors in helping England to become the > center for the Industrial Revolution. But they were not enough. Something > **__** was needed to start the industrial process. That “something special” > was men – creative individuals who..."


Phrase or idiom to mean "one at a time"

When you have too many tasks in your to-do list, you will like to clear them one at a time. Is there another way to say this? Or to say "worrying about the next one only after finishing the current one". In my native language, we say something similar to "cut one branch at a time (of a tree)"


Word for curiosity that gets one into trouble

Is there a term that describes a person's quality of being curious but getting into trouble because of it? For example, Odysseus in "The Odyssey" wants to see the cyclops so he decides to stay in the cave but because if it his crew almost dies. I am looking for a word that I can use to say: "Because of Odysseus's [insert word] he makes several decisions that nearly lead to the loss of his crew".


"How can you say it" or "How you can say it"

Just a simple question, which one is right? `How can you say it` or `How you can say it`. It's not a question. Thank you, guys!


The plural of "conch"?

There is a lengthy thread on the pronunciation of "conch" however I am curious about the plural form "conches." I've noticed that it can be found as "conchs" as well, but "conches" appears to be the prevailing spelling in British usage at least. Insofar as it ends in _-es_ it would imply a second syllable which would lend itself to the softer "ch" sound. Any opinions?


What does "buggy" mean in "a hot, buggy August morning"?

While reading a short story, I came across a use of the word "buggy" that I'm not familiar with: > It’s a hot, buggy August morning, too early for lunch, so we find a deserted > picnic table without much problem. I found two definitions of buggy (Dictionary.com):   1. infested with bugs.    2. _Slang._ crazy; insane; peculiar. To me, neither makes sense in this context. Why would anyone call a morning "buggy"? So I though maybe I'm missing something here. So my questions are:   1. If it means one of the above, is it in a good sense or a bad sense. Does the sounds of bugs make it a lively morning or an annoying one, etc. Is it a lovely morning or a gloomy one?   2. If it means/implies something else, how would you describe it?


"Each X" vs. "each of the Xs"

Are _each X_ and _each of the Xs_ interchangeable? For example, in the following sentence, I would use _each of the characters_ : > **Each of the** main characters is interesting. But one could also write the following: > **Each** main character is interesting. Instinctively, I prefer the former. Am I right, and if so, is there a written rule favouring the former sentence? For what it's worth, Google returns 724,000 entries for _each main character_ , and 11,600,000 results for _each of the main characters_.


The practice of identifying authors from their writings

Is there an English word for the practice of analysing texts to determine their authors? For example, comparing three texts A, B and C and realising that the choice of words, grammar and style of writing between A and B is so similar that they're likely of the same author, while C is clearly by a different author.


Word to describe a situation which is "untainted" by a character's usual circumstances

I am looking for a good word to describe and emphasize a duration of time in a different environment, where the relationship between two people is "unaffected" by the worries of their usual environment. A couple of words that came to mind were "unaffected" and "untainted," but they don't feel quite right with what I'm trying to describe. I feel like those words imply too much negativity. Do you have any suggestions?


What is the word or phrase for the revelation of finding a word for a concept you already knew but did not have the word for?

This has recently happened. I discovered Object Orientated CSS. I had the concept for a long time but had never had a title for the concept. Discovering this was a joy for me. **Is there a word or phrase that encapsulates that feeling?** Another example I have is being told about the German word _schadenfreude_ many years ago. Finding a word for that concept was a great feeling.


If subscription is a contract to receive something, what is a contract to send something called?

I'm using the word _subscription_ with the following meaning: > subscription: an arrangement to receive something, typically a publication, > regularly by paying in advance. ( _Definition taken from Google, I'm not sure how to link to the source_ ) Basically, I'm looking for a word that is _an arrangement to **send** something_. Does anyone have any good suggestions for what that might be? I have thought about Producer & Publication, but they seem a little off to me. A 'Producer' can produce the _something_ to send, but doesn't necessarily have to send them and a Publication seems like the _something_ that is being sent.


Are -er insults a British phenomenon?

In the UK there are a lot of insulting words which end in -er, like this: scrubb **er** (slut), toss **er** (masturbator), chanc **er** (untrustworthy person), pooft **er** (homosexual), wank **er** (masturbator, generally despicable person), nutt **er** (insane), pos **er** (affected/overdressed person). I think it’s a relatively modern British phenomenon because it seems like American English doesn't have all these -er insults. Can anyone give any insight into this? _(p.s. I am creating a plural tag "insults" since plural is winning votes over at meta.english.stackexchange.com; pleasegive your vote on whether tags should be plural or singular.)_


How can I speak as though I were from the Victorian era?

I think that it would be really cool to be able to speak as though I was from the Victorian era. How can I learn to do this?


Solution to needs

Is this expression correct? "solution to your recruitment needs" You don't really solve ones needs, I suppose... You meet somebody's needs... I see it being used widely but I'm not sure if it's logically correct. Thanks for your thoughts!


Is this sentence a run on? How to properly use 'such as' for this example?

> Many new forms of entertainment were unveiled, such as jazz music, salsa > dancing, and silent films. Should _such as_ be accompanied with a colon? Should there be a comma after _unveiled_?


He who accuses the whole world convicts only himself

Or something like that. Does anybody know the exact text and source of this quotation?


Pronunciation of "applicable"

Do you pronounce the word like...   * Ap-PLIC-a-ble Or:   * APP-lic-a-ble And if so, is there a difference between the two?


How to use "then" as a modifier

Which would you use or expect to see?   1. "Iggy accidently caught me in the eye when he was hugging a then friend, Howard Devoto."   2. "Iggy accidently caught me in the eye when he was hugging a, then, friend, Howard Devoto."   3. "Iggy accidently caught me in the eye when he was hugging a then-friend, Howard Devoto."   4. "Iggy accidently caught me in the eye when he was hugging a (then) friend, Howard Devoto."


Can single quotes be used as double quotes for the purposes of denoting words?

I've noticed a whole spate of questions here on this StackExchange using single quotes `' '` as a substitute for double quotes `" "` , in their function of denoting words as words. Is this usage kosher as long as one sticks to the same convention within a text? Is there an idiosyncratic use of single quotes in this manner by an authority, like the _New Yorker_? **EDIT** : I probably should have added an example to make my point more clear. Which of the following titles is better stylistically: > Is 'passion' a more descriptive word to use in this sentence versus 'love'? versus > Is "passion" a more descriptive word to use in this sentence versus "love"?


Single word for "crucial, but often overlooked"

> This side pursuit, however, is important, as it influences my approach to > teaching in a **crucial, but often overlooked** , manner. Is there a single word that would work the same way as "crucial, but often overlooked"?


Usage of the word "meet" in the context of a phone call/video conference

Is it acceptable English to use the verb _meet_ in the context of a phone call or a video conference? To provide a bit of background, I am writing an email to a business associate overseas. There is little chance of an actual face-to-face meeting taking place anytime soon, however a phone call or a video conference would obviously work fine. I don't want to be the one to suggest a method of communication, but would rather let the business associate decide in what way would they prefer to conduct the conversation. For this reason, I was thinking of using a neutral verb, e.g. _meet_. Can I use a phrase such as "I hope we can meet to discuss topic X in the near future" in the context of a phone call or a video conference? Intuitively, I would say that this sounds a little awkward. Nevertheless, given the fact that phone conference calls are often referred to as meetings, I was thinking that this sort of usage of the word might be acceptable after all. What do you think?


'Do you know where I'm coming from?'

I have heard conversations similar to this: > 'I am an Indian and I don't like racial slurs, do you know where I'm coming > from?'   >  'Yes sir, I understand where you are coming from.' I am quite familiar with the phrase _'where one is coming from'_ since that is used a lot where I live. It simply means, > 'I understand your point of view' or   >  'I can see why you think that' or   >  'I can see that your experiences lead you to that conclusion'. I would like to know if this phrase is acceptable to native speakers of English because I should be careful not to annoy anyone or commit a _faux pas_. I hope you know where I'm coming from.


Meter in Clare's "I am"

I've determined that almost all of John Clare's "I am" is in iambic pentameter. But I'm having trouble identifying the meter of the following line: > But the vast shipwreck of my life's esteems My reading was the following: > \- - x x x - - x - x (i.e., anapest, spondee, anapest, iamb). Please let me know if you agree or disagree. I'm open to any and all suggestions.


Are both "see you at the lesson" and "see you in the lesson" correct?

I have been studying English with many teachers. Some of them say "See you in the lesson" while others say "See you at the lesson." Yesterday, one of them told me that the correct way of saying it is "See you at the lesson." Are both of them correct? If one (or both) of them is incorrect, please tell me why.


Difference between "delete" and "remove"

I am writing a mobile application that will, as a part of its functionality, display a list of recorded _thoughts_. Now I am deciding the textual content of the menus and that left me thinking whether there is a logical difference between words _remove_ and _delete_. Which one is more appropriate when speaking about taking an item off the list? I guess _remove_ is, but why?


"It was my op" what does it mean?

I heard this in this movie.   `It was my op.`   What does it mean?   Googling gave me : 'Original Poster'.   But that doesn't seem very meaningful.


Small change, big difference

Is there a way of saying that a small change will make a big difference? The current sentence doesn't sound very good. I do not want to say something along the lines of a domino effect.


Is there a word for this clever piece of marketing?

I was shopping the other day when I decided to buy some Cranberry juice - you know, juice from cranberries - so I picked up what I thought was exactly that. It was only when I got home that I realised I had bought a Cranberry Juice _Drink_. This drink contains the minimal amount of fruit, tons of sugar and, of course, water. Here is my question: **Is there a word for telling the truth, yet trying to mask it in some way?** This clever bit of marketing can be seen everywhere now, you really have to look twice at the label. The seller can't get in trouble because technically they advertised the product for what it is, yet we all feel cheated when we realise we bought the wrong thing. I guess there's the phrase **"bending the truth"** but I am looking for alternatives.


"Spoon feed" vs. "spoonfeed"

Is there a whitespace in _spoonfeed_? I have to choose between writing _Spoon Feed Code_ and _Spoonfeed Code_.


"Into darkness" vs "Into the darkness"

I was watching an interview with Zachary Quinto (the actor who plays SPock in the new Star Trek movie Star Trek: Into Darknaess) on Jonathan Ross and Jonathan introduced them in the first minute and he says: "Into **the** darkness" And Zachary correct him and say "Into Darkness" You can watch and hear it here (around 0:45 - 0:55): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfKswyqcwR8 I have made the same mistake when I was searching this movie on piratebay :) and "Into the darkness" gives me just "Elvis Presley - Blazing Into The Darkness" and not the new star trek movie, but then I remove "the" and the results appears ;) So, my question is why Elvis Presley used "the and they don't and which one is correct one? I assume that "Into the darkness" is gramatically correct and "Into darkness" is wrong. Or am I wrong?


Phrase for experiencing a negative conclusion to a positive experience

Suppose I read a book and really enjoy reading it until I reach a certain point where I am suddenly not enjoying the experience anymore. I was trying to come up with a good phrase to describe this experience and couldn't really come up with a good one. Things I've considered:   * Left a bad taste in my mouth (doesn't really conote that the experience had been pleasant up until the negative point)   * Turned to ashes in my mouth (a little better, but seems a bit harsher that what I'm looking for. It seems like this conotes an extremely bad ending, like someone dieing or something)   * Unsatisfying experience (again, doesn't include the previous good)   * Turned sour (Seems closer to what I want....)   * Didn't pan out (Implies that I had high hopes, but no actual good experiences) Are there any really good phrases/words that describe this phenomenon?


What part of speech is "on" in "on fire"?

A while ago, there was an answer on _Jeopardy!_ along the following lines: > In the sentence _he was on fire_ , the word _on_ is this part of speech. The judges ruled that it was a preposition. But I think that only works if the guy was physically located on top of a fire. After discussing it with someone, I think it's the first half of a compound adjective. There's a convenient parallel to the single word "afire" there. So, who was right? And why?


I need one-word expression for "Ignoring someone intentionally"

How can we express the "intentional ignoring" or someone in one word? Particularly if someone is ignoring others by his/her behaviour, showing that he/she isn't interested in talking or communicating, etc.


Is there a plural of "metropolis", not "metropolises", that would sound better in a less formal register?

I am aware that the plural of metropolis is metropolises, but to me it sounds stilted and to be honest I cannot recall ever hearing it used. Is there an irregular plural of metropolis that would be in a less formal register. Any common mistaken pluralizations?


"Bride" is to "bridal" as "groom" is to …?

Instead of taking a bridal portrait, my niece and her fiance had photos taken together which she insisted on calling _groomals._ While I guess this term is the accepted name for this new trend, I found it annoying. What is an adjective form of _groom_ equivalent to _bridal?_


"I'm to arrange the meeting"

The principal told me to arrange a meeting. Which of the following (if either) is correct, and why? >   * The principal says _I'm_ to arrange the meeting. >   * The principal says _to me_ to arrange the meeting. >


"Saving on the parrot's chocolate is futile"

In Catalan there is an expression " _ser la xocolata del lloro_ " that can be translated as "saving by not giving chocolate to the parrot is futile", conveying the meaning that when a household wants to save money, there are ways by which not much saving is going to be made. As an example, if you stop giving little bits of chocolate to the parrot to enjoy, although it looks like a saving measure, it's more posturing than real savings, so that doesn't make much difference: you actually won't end up saving much, because the amount of chocolate is very small. Is there any equivalent expression in the English language for the same kind of saving efforts that won't make a difference?


The meaning of "muted kinetics"

An excerpt from a book I'm reading: > The doctrine of Israeli nuclear exclusivity was carried out in muted > kinetics. What is the meaning of "muted kinetics"? ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/q1fBI.png) Fortress Israel By Patrick Tyler


What's the difference between 'foliage' and 'leafage'?

OED defines these words as: > **foliage** : the leaves (of a plant or tree) collectively; leafage > > **leafage** : leaves collectively; foliage Both of them seem to mean almost the same. Google NGram gives the following picture: ![Google NGram for foliage vs. leafage](http://books.google.com/ngrams/chart?content=foliage%2Cleafage&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=0&smoothing=3) So, aside from the fact that _leafage_ is much less widespread in comparison with _foliage_ , is there any difference between their semantics or the way they are used?


Dabbles in cooking?

I want to say someone dabbles in cooking - is it correct? -is there a better (fancy) way to say it? (this intends to add bit of humor too)


Synonym for "application"

I am looking for a synonym for the word _application_ as in _mobile application_. In Spanish I would use _programa_ but I am not sure if English speakers would understand me if I use _program_ to refer to an _application_.


Why do we use the word "thereof"?

Firstly I am not very good in English, so pardon me, is my question sounds too silly.   * Why we use "thereof"?


Is there a way to measure how "emotive" a verb is?

I've read that "People buy on emotion and justify with logic" and that, when writing sales copy, one should use "emotive" words. Now understand my background is intensely technical and, while I can bang out a well-written technical manual without a second thought, I am struggling with verbs that "arouse intense feeling" especially since I am selling something (software) where technical precision matters. My goal is to connect emotionally with my prospects (using strong verbs of moderate comprehension complexity) while still weaving such emotion around the technical fabric of my actual business. So my question: is there a clear method to know where a particular verb falls on the spectrum of emotional to logical? Consider this construct: "Ever feel like your business ...". Ok, "feel" is clearly an emotive verb, but it's weak. Replace that with "Ever suspect your business...". Now "suspect" is a stronger verb, _but is it emotive_? Probably, it's about trust. But another synonym is "reckon", which is getting closer to "measuring", which is logical. And going further to "calculate" we're clearly in logical territory. So when I choose a stronger verb, is there a clear technical way to know the emotional impact of the verb, or do I just need to tap into my inner emotional self and take off this logical hat?


"In case" or "in cases"?

Which is the right one: _in case_ or _in cases_? What's the difference? For example, what if I'm just trying to FYI a team? > If in ( _case/cases_ ) you are not sure, we'll be using this form moving > forward.


What does "We don't see things as they are – we see them as we are" mean?

Can someone please explain the meaning of the quotation > "We don't see things as they are – we see them as _we_ are."?


Proper way to say you haven't met someone

What options are there to politely say you haven't met someone yet? For example if you have a common acquaintance online who asks if you know each other. "I haven't had the pleasure to meet him yet" or "I haven't had the opportunity to meet him yet" Are there better expressions?


term for "finding correct solution by excluding wrong solutions"

In German we have the pretty common term _Ausschlussverfahren_ for this, especially used as a line of reasoning when solving a puzzle/problem. Linguee gives out several options, but imho no coherent and representative term/phrase, I would trust. _Process of elimination_ sounds awkward to me, but seems much more common than terms I thought of, like _exclusion method_. Which terms/phrases do you know matching the meaning in the title?


Capitalization of German words in English sentences

If I write an English text and use some German nouns in there do I have to write them capitalized or not? If I would have a whole sentence or quote in German I would probably use German grammar and capitalization rules but what about single words in an English sentence?


Unforgettable or Memorable?

I was writing a thank you letter to someone I had good time with. I was fighting between two adjectives to describe the experience. These are: 1. unforgettable, 2. memorable. The questions that I was asking myself are:   1. Is there any difference?   2. Does one make more impact than other?   3. Does "unforgettable" have slightly negative feeling associated with it?   4. Is one of them not OK to use in a formal setting? Thanks in advance.


Meaning of quintuple-quote punctuation: '' ' ''

In a book my daughter is reading, I found the following usage of the unfamiliar symbols: > But those words dont help. So I reach over, wipe away his tear with the side > of my thumb, and say the only words I know will calm him: "'"Frog, you are > looking quite green."'"   >  David sniffles. "'"But I always look green," said Frog. "I am a frog."'" I > pause, pretending I don't remember what comes next, though I can do the > entire book word for word, by heart.   >  "'"Today you look very green, even for a frog," said Toad.'" David looks at > me. What does `"'"` mean?


Using "sorry" to mean "pardon"

In British English, a common way of expressing a polite request for a person to repeat what they just said because you didn't hear (all) of it is to use the interjection, "sorry?". I was wondering how common this is outside of British English. Is this as common in the US, Australia, etc.? Would it be understood as a perfectly normal thing to say, or as a quaint British expression?


How should I understand "turn" in this context?

The following line is from a song, so I suppose it could have omissions or use non-standard English: > A man can be _turned_ by a pretty face. I'm not entirely sure the word used is actually "turned", but various lyrics websites seem to confirm it. So, what exactly does this refer to? Physically turning around? Changing in a specific way? Attracted?


What does “Safety net in the coffin” mean?

There was the phrase “ _the safety net in the coffin_ ” in reference to Mr. Paul Ryan, running mate of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Maureen Dowd’s article, titled “Cruel conservatives throw a masquerade ball” in New York Times (September 1 issue). It reads: > As the writer Dermot McIvor notes, Ryan has “the so sincere, so phony air of > a gloomy Irish undertaker standing outside the funeral parlor where you’ve > come to plant your mother, shaking his head consolingly and giving you that > firm two-handed Irish handshake.” Except with Ryan, it’s _the safety net in > the coffin_. I thought “ _the safety net in the coffin_ ” a weird, but amusing combination of a positive word – safety net, and an uncomfortable word – coffin, but I don’t understand what it implies. Why on the earth, a coffin requires the safety net inside it? To hold the corpse gently and warmly? It’s impossible. Does it describe Mr. Ryan’s disguised harshness and indifference to the poor and illegal immigrants under the cloak of a sincere visage and consoling air? What does “ _Except with Ryan_ , it’s the safety net in the coffin” exactly mean? Why is it “Except with Ryan”?


What's the meaning of "structure" here?

How do you define structure in this context? I'm unsure which definition is appropriate from the dictionary. > P1: Healthy, fit people that can't die are like poison to big pharma. The > new technology won't replace the lost profit from slinging drugs by a > longshot. > > P2: How can you possibly say this without having the slightest clue of the > potential demand and cost structure of this treatment?


"Least expensive" vs "most inexpensive"

My doctor wanted me to inquire which generic medication would be the smallest burden on my wallet before issuing a prescription. When I asked the pharmacist which of the generic options was "least expensive," his response irked me. > The generic for Flonase is the most inexpensive. It seems clumsy, and I feel that the "most" adds an incorrect perception of weight. Am I alone on this?


What does “bathe someone in a glow” mean?

I found the phrase “ _bathe someone in a glow_ ” in the following sentence of the New York Times columnist, Maureen Dowd’s article titled “Memoirs of a Geisha.” (September 13). I was attracted to the caption, and I thought it was a review of a memoire of the famous former Geisha residing in New York (I don’t know why Dowd likened Jacqueline a Geisha), but it was about the tape of an interview of Jackie Kennedy with Arthur Schlesinger, which was discovered 47 years after the interview took place. > “In the 1964 tapes, the 34-year-old widow can be unsparing and caustic, > except about her sometimes imperfect husband, whom _she bathes in an > impossibly perfect glow_.” As I’m not clear about the meaning of “bathe someone in glow,” I checked Google, and found no definition, but for an example of the usage in A Wagnerová - Czech Sociological Review, 1996. > “It also affected the poor and property-less since they were no longer > _bathed in the glow_ from men at the peak of the social hierarchy.” What does “ _bathe imperfect husband in glow_ ” mean? Does it something to do with “put someone in the limelight”?


Can an object be clumsy?

I was writing something in English when the word clumsy came to my mind to describe a French concept "inélégant". However, I use clumsy to describe an object and I am not sure it is appropriate. Here is the beginning of the sentence: > While active tags are big and clumsy


The Guardian: "It does indeed [...] misleading them [...]"

Reading an article by The Guardian, I stumbled upon a sentence which I cannot make sense of: > Yes, the worst things you may have heard about the National Defense > Authorization Act, which has formally ended 254 years of democracy in the > United States of America, and driven a stake through the heart of the bill > of rights, are all really true. The act passed with large margins in both > the House and the Senate on the last day of last year – even as tens of > thousands of Americans were frantically begging their representatives to > secure Americans' habeas corpus rights in the final version. > > **It does indeed – contrary to the many flatout-false form letters I have > seen that both senators and representatives sent to their constituents, > misleading them about the fact that the NDAA destroys their due process > rights.** Under the act, anyone can be described as a 'belligerent". As the > New American website puts it, ... I understand the meaning of the sentence. I just can't make sense of the grammar. It does indeed what? It does indeed misleading them? Or does "It does indeed" refer to a previous sentence, as in > I think it violates my rights. It does indeed - contrary to the fact that > many lawyers might tell me otherwise. I posted the previous paragraph so that you can see that this isn't the case either.


Is there a word that means "doing the right thing for the wrong reason"?

Is there a word that means _doing the right thing for the wrong reason_ or _getting the right conclusion from the wrong set of presumptions_?


"You could do worse than [x]"

I can't really tell what someone means when he says "you could do worse than [x]." Live example: > If you are just interested in a simple command line processor which uses > MSXML 6 then you could do worse than using a simple JScript application. Does anyone know what, exactly, he is trying to say? What nuance is he trying to convey?


What can I do instead of [sic]?

I have a quote that has a misplaced "to": ... they will put you to back to sleep ... It seems like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can either:   * Just delete the mistaken "to" (then I would be deliberately misquoting them)   * Put [sic] next to it (which looks unbelievably pedantic, especially since they write better than I do) Is there a way around this?


Has language begun to converge in the age of mass media?

I understand that this question may be perceived as a bit broad for this site, but I've decided to post it anyway. I figured that with the number of linguists, linguaphiles, and all-around language geeks on this site, I might get a rather intelligent (brief) answer pointing me to more detailed discussions on the subject. It is my belief that **one of the ways** language evolves is similar to all other forms of evolution. Certain usages fall into and out of favor depending upon local necessity, and geographic separation can often lead to wide divergence in common languages (accents, sentence structure, etc.). One need only to look at the wide variations in English spoken in England, Australia, Canada, and the USA for proof of this divergence. Clearly loan words and other factors have a strong influence on the evolution of a language, but I would like to set those aside for a different discussion. I have long theorized that with the advent of mass media, and particularly the growth of the internet and social media, that language is now passed without the restrictions imposed by geographic separation. I think this should be a fairly self-evident statement, but as an example: _If Hollywood movies are viewed world-wide, then American English and idioms should be spread world- wide to no small degree._ So, after that long-winded introduction. My question: Is there any evidence that language (particularly English) is undergoing convergent evolution, where we are all beginning to speak more similarly to one another since the advent of mass media? Has this been a focus of study? While the process is _slightly_ different in the biological sense, I think that convergent evolution is an apt term here.


Another way of saying "to pay close attention to"

The complete sentence goes: "This is not a perfunctory guideline. (...) This is something you need _to pay close attention to_ while you code." Something in "to pay close attention to" is bugging me. Any suggestions on how I could improve it? Or does it sound ok as it is? **Edit:** there have been some suggestions to use _"focus on"_ , which should work in most cases; however, in this particular case, I'm not saying that it should be the center of one's attention, rather something very important that needs to be checked constantly.


Is it considered offensive to describe someone as a Saracen?

Prior to the 17th century 'Saracen' was the name given to a Muslim, whether of Arab or Turkish origin. It originates from the Crusades, from a region called Sarakene in the northern Sinai peninsula. The name survives on pub signs across the country. There are many called 'The Saracen's Head'. One, of which I am aware, changed its name to 'The Turk's Head', and then to something completely different. What I am wondering is whether or not it is considered an offensive term among Arabic or Turkish people.


What are the possible meanings of positive "any more"?

Ordinary **any more** [usually with negative or in questions]   * to any further extent; any longer:  > she refused to listen any more _**Positive any more_** is the use of the adverb _any more_ in an affirmative context. > A servant being instructed how to act, will answer 'I will do it any more' meaning: _from now on_ > Pantyhose are so expensive anymore that I just try to get a good suntan and > forget about it. meaning: _nowadays_ Can you always substitute it in place of either of these? Does it have any other uses? I can't answer this for myself because as a native British English speaker it sounds totally wrong to me.


How to use an independent structure to modify a sentence within a sentence?

After one year, I quit my job, said goodbye to my friends, went to Beijing to study philosophy, participating in a lot of classes given by professors, but never having been registered as a formal student.（self-made） Will it be ambiguous to use "participating", since it is not clear in this sentence that the phrase following participate modifies "to study philosophy". So maybe it is necessary to divide it into two sentences?


Is this superlative degree because of usage of most or is it positive degree?

> _Most of the rare plants_ are found in silent valley. Am confused as to which degree this sentence belongs, as it has the word ' _most_ ' which is superlative, but also the adjective, ' _rare_ ' is in positive degree.


What is the difference between an anthology and a florilegium?

Both words have origins meaning a gathering of flowers — one from Greek and one from Latin. Both appear to have the same definition. When should I use one rather than the other?


Does the adverb "quitely" exist?

I was surprised not to find the adverb "quitely" in my dictionary whereas I am pretty sure that I saw it several times. Does it exist or is it a (common?) mistake?


Why did 'verboten' come into use when we already have 'forbidden'?

Why did 'verboten' come into use when English already has a perfectly good word, 'forbidden', that means exactly the same thing but is much more widely understood? Is there a subtle difference that I do not get?


Use of articles

I'm not sure whether this is the right forum to post my question. In my job I frequently come across instances where the article in front of a common noun used for a person is omitted. Example: Defendant denied his involvement. as opposed to: The Defendant denied his involvement. As it is used so often, and done in text of "trustworthy" sources, it obviously seems to be correct, but I wonder whether this phenomenon is a specialty of/limited to legal language and where it originates. Is this phenomenon limited to written language or also present in spoken English? I still find it very funny and always have the feeling that it is wrong... - how do native speakers perceive this omission? And are there any rules as to when the article may be omitted in this way? Usually, authors are not consistent in omitting the article, sometimes they use it, sometimes they don't. I would be very thankful if somebody could scatter some light on this.


Do they call this *it* expletive?

Given the example: > Was it then that I thought of Alan? No, earlier. From the very first wave of > panic my mind reached out to him. Yes, even then, in the heart of the fear, > there was a still small voice saying, This will change your life. Sometimes > that’s **what** _it_ takes to bring people together, a crisis, a tragedy. > You could say that’s **what** brought David and I together. I would not have > been in that place were it not for my crisis. There are two nominal relative clauses starting with **what**. The first one has _it_ after what. Do they call this _it_ expletive?


What's an antonym of 'monolithic' as in 'monolithic architecture'?

I want to describe an architecture/system that is composed of diverse and modular parts. What's a good antonym for monolithic architecture to describe a technical system?


“I fail to do something” vs “I can't do something”

I am wondering why would someone say “I fail to understand” instead of simply saying “I can't understand”. Is there any specific difference between the two? Is it correct to say that the following two phrases are equivalent? > Excellent point, but I **fail to understand** how the example at the bottom > is related.   >  Excellent point, but I **can't understand** how the example at the bottom > is related. > > If you **fail to complete** the form before departure, this may result in...   >  If you **can't complete** the form before departure, this may result in... I am also wondering if “fail to do something” is equivalent to “can't seem to do something”.


What is the origin of the phrase "raise a flag"?

What is the story behind the phrase "raise a flag"?


What does "throw back" mean?

In this sentence:               I've throw back a lot of orange juice.      what does "throw back" mean?


Should we worry about what precedes a preposition?

Should we always worry about what **precedes** a preposition? Many times we come across people concerned with what preposition comes **after** a certain word. A preposition's _raison d'être_ is qualifying what typically **follows** it, not add to what precedes it. The Oxford Dict.: > a word governing, and **usually preceding** , a noun or pronoun and > expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in ‘the > man on the platform’, ‘she arrived after dinner’, ‘what did you do it for?’ merriam-webster: > a function word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase > which usually expresses a modification or predication reference.com: > used **before** nouns, pronouns, or other substantives to form phrases > functioning as modifiers of verbs, nouns, or adjectives, and that typically > express a spatial, temporal, or other relationship, as _in_ , _on_ , _by_ , > _to_ , _since_. [emphasis added] **Does the selection of the right preposition depend also upon what is said before it?** Right here on englishSE,   what preposition should one use with _redundant_   which one is more appropriate to use _send you_ or _send to you_   proficient _in at with_ what is the correct usage   what preposition should I use here written _of_ me or written _about_ me   which preposition should I use here thinking _of_ or thinking _about_


Can we use **In which** or/and **By which** at the beginning of the sentence

I am wondering if it is accepted to use **In which** or/and **By which** or any other similar phrase at the beginning of the sentence and then use a comma. For example: _""Thus, only the hardware-based solutions have been taken into consideration. **In which** , the revolutionary hardware technologies’ advances are being exploited"_ I tried to find something and I found it used without any comma at all in the middle of a sentence like this or after a comma like this.


Why does gasoline have the word "gas" in it, if it's never gaseous?

The etymology according to Dictionary.com: > **gasoline**   >  coined 1865 as gasolene, from gas (q.v.) + chemical suffix -ine/-ene. > current spelling is 1871; shortened form gas first recorded Amer.Eng. 1905. > Gas station first recorded 1932. Why was it originally called "gasoline"?


How did antonyms "ungodly" and "unearthly" come to have the same meaning and usage today?

Inspired by the debate on this question, **unearthly** has the original meaning from 1610s, of "heavenly, sublime" which makes it an antonym of **ungodly**. Today both have the meaning of outrageous or ridiculous and are used in similar phrases as "ungodly hour" and "unearthly hour" How has this developed?


"technical Support of" vs "technical support for"

We created a software, but we run a business that provides technical support. In other words, we receive fees for providing technical support. We need to specifically imply that the support is limited to only the software that we created. How do we say it in a sentence? Do we say > We are in the business of providing technical support for Software X. OR > We are in the business of providing technical support of Software X. Is there any difference between the two forms? I suspect the first form is the correct form, but I have received draft documents from the legal team that use the second form. I am in correspondence with them on this, but they are slow to respond, sometimes taking months just for such a simple question.


Comma before "although", or is it a matter of style?

I know it technically isn't correct, but to me it just looks awkward without it. For example (just reading through a friend's gig review): > The videos were surprisingly hard hitting, although equally I don’t think > Muse will ever get to the Rage Against The Machine level of political > activism. I think this could be substituted for 'but', which is why I think it works best with a comma. However, the phrase 'even though' sounds better without one: > It was incredibly heartwarming to witness even though I wasn’t able to see > him myself. What are some opinions? I'm bad with commas (a serial abuser of them), and I'm only really starting to learn English punctuation properly!


Different syllabic boundaries in various dictionaries?

Consider, for instance, the word "university":   * **American Heritage:** u·ni·ver·si·ty   * **Collins Cobuild:** uni|ver|sity   * **Merriam Webster:** uni·ver·si·ty As you see, syllabic boundaries differ. I read somewhere that this is _codified by orthographic conventions_. So, does this mean that there's no standard, even in purely American (or British) dictionaries?


What is the subject of a survey called?

For example, the subject of an interview is an interviewee. So, I was wondering what the subject of a survey might be.


Success is not something that just happens (by accident or by chance)

Which word is more appropriate? And why? Success is not something that just happens by ___.   A. accident   B. chance


Where is the root in these words: miniature, minimal, minimize?

Is it possible to identify one and the same root MIN in all these words: Miniature, minimal, minimize, minimum minor, minority, minus, minute ? From etymological point of view they all came from one Roman root, but what about Modern English? If we consider MIN as a common root for all these words in Modern English, how shall we treat the other components -im, -ute, -us in those words? As derivational suffixes (if yes, then for sure not in Modern English).


Noun-adjective pattern name

This is a quick question mainly because I want to remember this word that I saw somewhere on Wikipedia. What is the name for the word structure noun- adjective? For example, _director-general_ , _directorS-general_ , etc.


"It was not to be closed" or "It should not have been closed"

I would like to use the phrase "this question should not be closed" to refer to a question that someone closed—but the expression seems defective because it doesn't get at the fact that the closing already occurred. Must I use > This question was not to be closed or are there better ways to express the idea, e.g., 'it should not have been closed'? Please, let explain the difference between the alternative expressions and give the context in which one should be preferred to the other(s).


Is there a word for a rookie computer programmer?

I'm looking for something like "greenhorn" or "neophyte" that applies specifically to writing code. Does this word exist?


"Graf" or "paragraph"

I've often seen the words _graf_ and _paragraph_ used seemingly interchangeably, but I've never read or heard it explained when each should be used (or if they are indeed interchangeable). Are they equivalent, or are there circumstances in which one makes more sense than the other?


"This box of matches is empty"

There are several Japanese books teaching Japanese students how to write in English. I found this example in 『英作文参考書の誤りを正す』 ( _Correcting Errors in English Composition Manuals_ ) by Michio Kawakami and J.D. Monkman. The authors of this book claim that this sentence is incorrect: > This box of matches is empty. They note that a “box of matches” is a box containing matches (and not a box made out of matches), hence the sentence should instead be: > This **matchbox** is empty. Likewise, an “empty bottle of beer” should instead be an “empty beer bottle.” Is this actually an error that I should avoid in writing English? If so, is it a grammatical error or something else?


A word for all animals that walk on all of their limbs

Is there a single word for animals that stand and walk on all of their limbs, such as cats, ants, and millipedes?


In "Who would have thought he could do it!", is "could" "was able" or "would be able"?

In the sentence "Who would have thought he _could_ do it!" does "could do" mean " _was able to_ do" or " _would be able to_ do"?


Subjunctive mood

I am just curious, how often this form of Subjunctive mood is used and what alternatives are available to express the very same thing. Examples:   * I suggest that he implement a budget cut in March.   * It’s essential that they be heard and so on.


At the beginning of "The hands of Mr. Ottermole" by Thomas Burke, an expression 'discolored themselves', which I can't simply understand

Murder (said old Quong)—oblige me by passing my pipe—murder is one of the simplest thing in the world to do. Killing a man is a much simpler matter than killing a duck. Not always so safe, perhaps, simpler. But to certain gifted people it is both simple and entirely safe. Many minds of finer complexion than my own have discolored themselves in seeking to name the identity of the author of those wholesale murders which took place last year. Question: What exactly 'discolored themselves' means in this novel of "The Hands of Mr. Ottermole" by Thomas Burke ? Many thanks in advance !


Alternative way to phrase the relative clause "which I don't find X to be"

I wrote down the following sentence. But I think it's quite awkward. Besides, Google tells me that the clause _which I don't find him to be_ occurs only twice across the internet. > He'll do this if he's smart, which I don't find him to be. I was trying to combine two thoughts into a single sentence. > I don't find him to be smart > > He'll do this if he's smart. Is there an alternate way to articulate the thoughts in a single sentence that's more elegant?


Is "of all manner" as grammatically correct as "all manner of"?

I think the sentence I'm working on feels better lyrically if I say: "strangers of all manners." As opposed to: "all manner of strangers." At the very least I think it might be a bit awkward when read as a part of the larger piece, but from a grammatical perspective, is it even proper? Is "manners" used in this way (basically as a full blown substition for "types")?


Noun for something important

Is there a noun for something important, something that plays a big role in a given situation? The term _game changer_ doesn't fit the description in my opinion (because it implies the important thing being something introduced recently), and the term _biggie_ seems kind of rare and informal.


Is Working a noun or a verb in this sentence?

"Working for the man". Does "Working" act as a noun, verb or something else in this case and why? If I said, "I am working for the man." Then clearly working is a verb. However, I'm confused by the colloquial phrase "working for the man." It seems to have a "poetic" tone if you will. Because the subject does not exist I wonder if "Working" is a state of being in this case? _As "Peter Shor" pointed out Maybe the answer is that because this is not a complete sentence then we don't know what role "working" plays in the sentence._ _FWIW, I'm imaginging how I can translate the phrase into Japanese. Which word I use for "Working" depends on whether it is a noun or a verb._


What is "a torn man"?

How can we understand "a torn man"? I found it in Love Is a Fallacy. > I sat down in a chair and pretended to read a book, but out of the corner of > my eye I kept watching Petey. He was a torn man. First he looked at the > coat, with even more longing in his face. Then he turned away, but with not > so much resolution this time. Back and forth his head swiveled, desire > waxing,resolution waning. Finally he didn't turn away at all; he just stood > and stared with mad lust at the coat. Does it mean that the man is easy to change his mind?


... browsing in/from?

> He is browsing for potential acquisitions in magazines. This sentence looks odd. Should I replace "in" by "from", or should the sentence's structure be changed entirely?


What's this word?

I'm watching a video on youtube and just heard a new word/expression that I can't seem to spell "right enough" to have google correct me and bring me to its definition. I've included the context and put the word/expression in bold below as well as linked to the part of the video that it is taken from. So, to be clear: what is the word/expression he's using? > There are certain singers, certain players, you can tell that their overall > objective is to make sure you know they're good. And this sort of gets into > the overplaying thing and it's not like that was the most **DE MERE** > performance I've ever given of a song. Source: John Mayer speaking about honesty in songwriting


Feeling of losing one's love

Suppose I break up with my girlfriend and I still love her very much. And it is impossible for us to resume our relationship. What's the best word or expression that will describe my feeling? I feel great pain? I feel terribly miserable?


Term to identify siblings - one dutiful, one rebellious towards their parents

In a story, one person has two sons. One of them loves his parents and other hates his parents and beats them. In Hindi, the person who cares for his parents is called "Sapoot" and the person who beats his parents is called "Kapoot." Are there equivalent terms in English?


What does "Our climate is indisposed to favour us even this once" mean?

Please help me to understand the meaning of this expression: > Our climate is indisposed to favour us even this once. (The Cherry Orchard). What does "even this once" mean in this phrase?


Should I use the word "degree" or the symbol ° for expressing angles in a scientific text?

I hope this is the correct StackExchange to ask a question like this. For a scientific text (in computer science), which is the correct way of expressing angles (e.g. the yaw, pitch and roll angle of an airplane or any 3D model) - Should I use the word "degree" or the symbol "°" (^\circ in latex)? Also, would I use "degree" or "degrees" (plural)? Example sentences would be:   * The yaw angle ranges from -60 degree to +60 degree.   * We show experimental results for the images with 10 and 20 degree pitch angle.   * X works well for angles smaller than 10 degrees roll angle.


What is the origin of the expression "proudly placed on our mantelpiece"? In what context started to be used?


"Had you been there for quite sometime?"

Can we say "Had you been there for quite some time?" without saying "before" this and that? Or should we rather say "Were you there for quite some time"?


"Prison workout" — what is the origin of this term?

We are wondering about the origin of the term 'prison workout'. It is a series of exercises that you work down to finish a set or a group of sets. For example of a 15–1 prison workout for pushups. Start set of 15 pushups, next set 14, next set 13, and so on to one pushup.


Better way of saying "Go-to man"?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a gender-neutral alternative to the phrase "Who's the go-to man?" _The go-to person_ feels stylistically awkward.


What's the difference between "FWIW" and "IMHO"?

What exactly is the difference between FWIW and IMHO?


Is my use of "the" in this example correct?

I encountered many rules and even this article here on StackExchange. However, this is not about going to "college" or "the college", I think it more difficult. I wrote: > "Bad recommendations that might occur when testing could decrease [the?] > customers' trust in the quality of the system." Is the use of "the" correct here? In my opinion, it is as follows:   * I describe any bad recommendation; no "the"   * I do not talk about a certain customer but about customers in general; no "the"   * The system has only one state of quality, so it is "the" quality   * There is only one system, so it is "the" system I'd like to do this correctly as I write abstract and mathematic articles; often it is difficult to distinguish between a certain instance and the abstract concept of a word when the whole text is rather abstract.


What is an alternative word for "downvote"

I am curious about what another way to describe the negative action of "downvoting" could be. Is there another word out there that could be used as a replacement?


a word/couple to express eagerness to win

Winning is a thing that is supposed to happen during an event. Before the event, of course, there are many competitors eager to win. I need a nice word or phrase to express eagerness to win — but not winning itself.


Use of "ever" instead of "more and more"

I wonder if I can use "ever" in place of "more and more". For example, do the following two sentences have the same meaning? >   * Software is getting more and more complex. >   * Software is getting ever complex. >


Do you use a comma after an exclamation inside quotes?

Mary listens to Joe say, "Hello!", and then he leaves.


Single word for cast and crew of a movie

What do you call a person that works for a movie? _Celebrity_ comes close, but is that all? I am making a list of people (each and everyone) that worked for a movie. Wondering what the name of that list should be!


Stative and Dynamic Verbs

Please explain how a stative verb and a dynamic verb can have the same subject without breaking parallel construction. How correct and reasonable is this: I travel around the world and enjoy flying, where travel is a dynamic verb and enjoy a stative verb?


Formal word for 'emit anal air'?

Is there a formal single word for 'emit anal air'? I've heard 'eructate' being used, but this means air from the mouth only; not from the other end.


The use of the word “what”

Which of the two following sentences is or are correct?   1. Excessive logging of forests in the past century has resulted **in what becomes known** as deforestation.   2. Excessive logging of forests in the past century has resulted **in what known** as deforestation.  What is the role of _what_ in these sentences?


When should one use the comma versus the semicolon, and vice versa?

I cannot understand the difference between the comma and semicolon. Can you please clarify?