texts:
I can not get meaning of  just day hikes. Here is a dialog which I have seen:

"I didn't see the whole thing, and I spend three days there walking different parts every day, so I really don't know the size of it except that it's massive."
"So you just went hiking and then you camped overnight, or did you just hiked for the day?"
"Just day hikes, the tour I had been organized with had rented us a hotel, just stayed in the hotel, slept there at night, and walked most of the day."

Can anyone explain this?


texts: "Can I have one apple from your box?" vs "Could I have one apple from your box?"

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  When do I use “can” or “could”?

I was doing some reading on usage of can and could. I understand that can is used when asking for ability, and could for willingness.

I would use can in the following sentence.

  Can I have one apple from your box?

After reading about the usage of can and could, I am confused. Actually, this is not about my ability of taking the apple; of course, I can take (snatch) the apple even if he/she does not give it to me. So I guess according to the above rule I should be using could and not can. Using could here somehow does not sound correct to me. So I just wanted to confirm whether it is correct or not.


texts: Why not concatenate two frequently used words into a new one?

texts:
I will probably get a lot of flak about this, but why not combine the often used together words "with the" into "withe" which is pronounced similarly, and it much shorter and easier to write?

I am sure there are other candidates for such concatenations, which are bound to show up especially in the world of Twitter and SMS messages.

PS. English is my 2nd language.


texts: Is "relatively big compared to" redundant?

texts:
If I say something like

He is big compared to the other guy.
He is relatively big compared to the other guy.

is the adverb relatively wrong because of redundancy?


texts: Can funct (v) be used as synonym of function(v)?

texts:
There is a word Defunct which means to make inactive or dead but there is no word like funct although function is used as a verb.
Why we can't use funct? Why can't we use root funct as it is?


texts: What's the difference between "I lost the key" and "I have lost the key"?

texts:
Let's say one girl is crying in front of her house door because she can't get into her house. Incidentally, her neighbor sees her crying there and comes to ask what happened.  He asks" why are you crying?". She responds, "I lost the key to the front door". He asks again, "Did you lose your key?.
In this situation, I am wondering if I could say " I have lost the key" instead of "I lost the key".  "Have you lost the key?" instead of " Did you lose the key?"  If possible, what's the difference?


texts:
During what period in the history of the English language was diahrrœa most used as a variant spelling of the word?  Whence did this spelling originate?  I would like to contrive to play this word in Scrabble as the 'hrr' sequence is generally not found in any words (to my knowledge), so the time period will help me locate dictionaries likely to contain it.

Sources: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101002664

https://english.stackexchange.com/a/132919/113307 <-- quote with same spelling found in many places

similar spelling also with 'hrr':

https://www.memrise.com/course/961999/a-level-biology-aqa-2015-onwards/1/


texts: Near, near to and nearby. What's the difference?

texts:
Why isn't near, near to and nearby always interchangeable?

They can precede the noun.

I live nearby the railway station
I live near the railway station
I live near to the railway station

When they are adverbs they can follow noun +  be

The railway station is nearby (my house)
The railway station is near my house
The railway station is near to my house

But we don't normally say:

  ?Meet me at the near railway station
  or
   ?Meet me at the railway station near (to)

The accepted version is:

  Meet me at the railway station nearby
  Meet me at the nearby railway station

Why?


texts: Why is bass pronounced like base? If bass sounds like base, why isn't ass pronounced as (nearly) ace instead?


texts: Take the example "one-second interval". Is there a dash between "one" and "second"? Also, should second be plural if I say "three-second/s interval"?


texts: Gerunds - Should they be a word class of their own?

texts:
I'm a bit astonished about the long discussions in the post How can I prove a word is a noun? I admit that there a certain problems, especially with gerunds.

Smoking cigarettes is unhealty.

In this example, containing a gerund with an object, it is indeed a bit difficult to say to which word class "smoking" belongs. Is it a noun or a verb?

Traditionally the gerund is seen as a verb form with a double nature. It can behave as a noun and as a verb.

I think it would be practical to see the gerund also as a special word class, a noun-verb thing. In this way we could avoid a lot of problems that arise about the word class noun when we come across gerunds with objects.

My question: Would it be practical to see gerunds as a word class of its own?


texts: Does "effusive" have a negative connotation?

texts:
He was very effusive in his praise of the features.

The definition on wordnik shows a lot of words that gives me the feeling that effusive has a negative connotation:

unrestrained
excessive
extravagant

And the related meaning of a volcanic rock that is pouring heightens that feeling.

Is effusive a negative word or can it express positive connotation, too? Does the connotation change if I replace effusive with gushy?


texts: Same combination of innocence and sand [Mark Twain Adventures]

texts:
in the movie "The adventures of Mark Twain", what does sand mean in these dialogs:

00:07:39 More every day you remind me of my wife, Livy, God rest her.

00:07:44 Same combination of innocence and sand.

00:07:48 Same carefree laugh of a girl.

00:07:52 What happened to Livy, Mr. Twain?


texts:
With this sentence I'm a bit confused:

  And when our ancestors finally did make their first cave
  paintings, what were the first designs? A downward slash, lightning bolts through the bottom
  and middle—behold, the Running Man.

Specifically, I can't get it why the author used the word "behold" so I can't imagine the drawing that he described.


texts: Origin of the phrase, "Up close and personal"?

texts: What is the origin of the phrase, "up close and personal"?


texts: Where do all the fox references come from?

texts:
A person can be crazy like a fox, and attractive lady is foxy or even a fox, an old book might have foxing, to outsmart someone is to outfox them, if you are confused you are foxed, and there are probably even more examples that don't immediately spring to mind.

Where does this obsession with foxes come from?


texts: How do you ask people to help if you see somebody feeling sick?

texts:
I'm translating a manual for doctors concerning cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The original text is in Russian. There are 2 phrases I'm confused about:

"Человеку плохо" - it means that a person has suddenly become very ill, maybe unconscious, but not necessarily. For example, you see a man in the street suddenly falling down and you say this.

The text goes something like this:
Step 3. Call for help: "Help, ...!"

I'm thinking about "a person is sick" or "a person in distress", but are they appropriate in this case? If there is no one general phrase for that, then what would you say about an unconscious person? I need something that would look appropriate in a manual.

Please note that all the details are given later, here I need only a very short "general" phrase.

"Жест безопасности" - a gesture of safety or something like that. As far as I understand, it's a gesture a doctor makes before starting CPR: hands stretched in front of the body and then moved to the sides. Is there a standard English equivalent?


texts: How do I use the word "obtain" together with mathematical formulas?

texts:
Until now, I thought that one can use the word "obtain" together with "that", as in

  By ... we obtain that a²+b²=c².

(Many mathematicians who like me are not native speakers are doing this!)
Now I found two documents saying that "that" doesn't belong here: This Polish site, and the guide of the London Mathematical Society to writing mathematics, which says that "obtain" should usually not be followed by "that".

Now my question: if instead of the above I write

  By ... we obtain a²+b²=c².

how do I read that sentence? "We obtain a square plus b square equals c square"? Then it appears that I use "obtain" with the verb "equals", which sounds a bit strange to me.

What would be the correct version?


texts: Looking for a term to describe an obnoxious behavior

texts: What is the term when someone says how busy they are but in a sarcastic way, such as, Sure, I can do that for you, because I have absolutely nothing else to do. Work related for someone who constantly says, sure I just sit around eating bon bons all day. She's trying to make sure that everyone knows how busy she is. There has to be a word!


texts: Word meaning something terrible or terribly bad

texts:
I swear I've seen a word like this before, meaning something terrible or terribly bad, used in a sentence like "...resulted in such [plural form] as (bad thing 1) and (bad thing 2)"

I can't remember what the word is, the most reasonable spelling or the cloest I can think of is "horridity/horridities", which isn't even a real word lol. I feel like the root of the word is horror/terror or something similar, but I'm not sure


texts: I am looking for alternatives to the phrase "way too" or "far too" as in "Way too often..."

texts: I am editing a work written for professions and have come across a sentence beginning "Way too often I encounter ..." First, this seems very colloquial. In doing some research on google ([alternative to "way too"], [alternatives to saying "way too", grammar girl and grammarist, which did not not pull anything, I came here. Urban Dictionary states: A phrase originating from Welland, Ontario, Canada. The phrase means to do/be something to a great extent. The alternatives are professional than what I am starting with: [urban dictionary.com]. Any help appreciated. This is the first question I've posted; Apologize for posting errors.


texts: Why can't we use the verb 'reveal' in the following sentence

texts:
In this 'spot the word that doesn't fit' question I am not clear as to the reason why revealed is not correct - something related to passives perhaps?

'As details of the scandal _______ , the story became a big news item.'
Which of these cannot be used:
Revealed/Emerged/Surfaced/Unfolded


texts: A shorter word to describe a secondhand marketplace?

texts:
I am looking if there is a word that describe a place where people can selling/buying used things.

For example: Seller come to sell their old things which they never use it anymore for whoever need it, for a cheaper price. And buyer come to buy stuffs for lower price instead of buying expensive new one.

I have found word "thrift shop" so far. However, it doesn't look like exactly same meaning as above. (Correct me if I'm wrong)

Thanks all!


texts: In the context of cooking, what is the difference between "flipper" and "spatula"?

texts:
I'm genuinely confused about this because at first I thought a spatula was a cooking tool resembling a flat pallet attached at an angle to the handle that could be used for activities such as flipping eggs.

Then I noticed in stores what I thought was a spatula was labelled "flipper" and a "spatula" was something else that was flat in profile as having the handle parallel with the head of the device.

Now people are telling me there's no such thing as a flipper in terms of a cooking device.

I believe the terminology may vary by region. What is a flipper and what is  a spatula and in which parts of the world do the definitions apply? For completeness sake, do some people call one of the devices a "turner" (I've never heard this before @choster used it)?


texts:
Can anybody please tell me the subject, verb, and object of this sentence:

  Thank you all for conducting a landmark experiment.

I would also like to please know what part of speech  thank you belongs to when it’s used the way it is in the sentence given above.


texts:
How are intent and intention distinguished in terms of usage?

My guess after checking my pocket dictionary is

Intent is used to mean a bad purpose.

  Their intent to kill the boy is crystal clear!

Intention is used in other cases.

  Their intention is to enjoy seeing the cashflow.


texts: Using the word "So" too much that it is annoying

texts: So, ...........I'm tired of using the word "so" and I'm tired of hearing everyone using it also!  What are alternatives and how long will it be before I can make myself stop using it?


texts:
Can any one tell me for meaning about the difference between game and sport in the broadest context possible?

I mean, Magic: The Gathering tournament play is still a game, while hunting is considered a sport.


texts:
I am comparing two qualities of some countries quantitatively from this figure.

which sentence is correct or maybe both wrong?

(1) Other countries’ figures were around a quarter or less than those of the USA’s.

(1) Other countries’ figures were around a quarter of or less than those of the USA’s.


texts:
Symbols generally seem to have their own names.

For example, # is referred to as an 'octothorpe'.

It seems reasonable that roman numerals, like I, V and X should have their own name, that is distinctly different from the numbers they represent, and the characters we use to depict them.

However, I have not been able to find a more suitable name to describe them.

Is there indeed a name for them?


texts: What is the difference between 'tube' and 'tubing' in technical writing?

texts: I write technical documentation. Our products include fluid conduits. People call them tubes, tubing, hoses, lines. When would the word tube be insufficient and tubing be required?


texts:
I'm having a problem with "and/or" as I write technical descriptions for audience segments. Audience segments are people who have been put in a group based on similar interests, attributes or behaviours.

An example of what a segment currently looks like:

Segment Name: Finance Enthusiasts

Segment Description: These are people who: have read articles related to stocks, bonds, dividends or investments; and/or have read the finance section on Finance Journal at least once in the past 30 days; and/or have an interest in Credit Card or Loan products.

The data scientists I work with have stressed that and/or is necessary as each attribute is both inclusive and exclusive in defining a segment. So people in the group may exhibit one of these attributes, or any combination of them.

I only have roughly 50 words to work with. Is there a more elegant way to phrase this, without becoming over-verbose?


texts: "Suffer from a headache" vs. "suffer from the headache"

texts:
I am not sure which article to use in the following context:

  She has been suffering from a headache.
  She has been suffering from the headache.

Please clear up my doubt.


texts:
We usually use the word 'sick' to refer to something that you are tired of or don't like. So it is quite clear when we say

  I'm sea-sick,

that we mean, one is sick of travelling by sea (eg: boat) due to the constant movement.

I think we can use the 'sick' postfix in different situations to mean the same negative feeling.

But is there are rule to indicate that you're sick of not having something?

For example, when we say that we're

  home-sick,

we mean that we're missing home - thus the absence of home, and not of being at home.

So how would one identify that what is meant is having too much of something or missing it?


texts: Usage of "being" in "I am always afraid of being bitten"

texts:
Does anybody know what 'being' means in the following statement?

  I don't like dogs. I am always afraid of being bitten.

Why is being used in this statement? It looks like a passive statement, but if it is, it shouldn't start with the subject, but rather be object + verb + past participle. But here it starts with the subject I. Please advise.


texts:
What is the meaning of this Phrase?

How was it by you if it comes to christmas presents?

Is it correct? I suppose it should be "how was it with you...."


texts: A synonym or alternative for a "chivalrous" or "gallant" man but with more negative connotation

texts: I'm looking for a slang term describing a man who always tries desperately to get the attention of ladies. This type of dude is always polite to chicks and he is highly likely to forget even his best male friend when it comes to having a flirting opportunity with a female, no matter she is a human or she belongs to another species. Is there any suggestion?


texts:
With nouns like age or gender, the phrase "Distribution disaggregated by age/gender" sounds fine (at least to me).
As for the noun "year", which is countable, "disaggregated by year" makes me doubt whether an indefinite article should be used.
It seems that no article is normally used in the case above, but I would like to understand an explanation of why the article is omitted.
Is this some sort of a fixed phrase?


texts:
I'm looking for an etymology for the word turnip. Now, According to Wiktionary:

  From turnepe, probably from turn + Middle English nepe, from Old English nǣp, from Latin nāpus.1 The component turn may be due to the round shape of the plant as though turned on a lathe, or because it must be turned and twisted to be harvested.

I tried to realize and check if there is a real association between this etymology to the reality:

As far as I know, radish as the same characteristics of harvesting.
It is difficult to see that turnip has a special way of turning while harvesting (this video shows an harvest of turnip)

According to etymonline:

  c. 1500, turnepe, probably from turn (from its shape, as though turned
  on a lathe) + Middle English nepe "turnip," from Old English næp, from
  Latin napus "turnip." The modern form of the word emerged late 18c.

But also this etymology isn't simple, since we can find a lot of fruits and vegetables with a 'turn on a lathe' form.

So it's difficult to understand these etymologies. It may be that it has an association with turning but not in the way it's described there. Is there another possible reasonable etymology for this word?


texts: What dictionary provides gender association for each word?

texts:
As a nonnative English speaker, I often struggle to define gender in many words. Earth is a “she”, war is “he”, for example, but what gender a word “person” belongs to? Same about thousands of other words. I hear people using opposite gender identifiers for the same words, with “she” being a growing trend in the English-speaking world.
In case with indeterminate gender, like a word “child”, what noun do I use, given sex is unknown. Is it “he” or “she”?
Example: “A child of your own is a blessing. He/She will give you joy every day.”

Is there a dictionary that includes gender associations? I checked Merriam-Webster and other main publishers, but could not find anything.


texts: Is using "more correct" a grammatical faux pas?

texts:
I caught myself saying "to be more correct", is this strictly possible given that something is usually correct or incorrect.
If this is a grammatical faux pas, what is it called?


texts: English idiom for "After us it may flood"

texts:
There is an idiom in Russian "После нас хоть потоп" that can be roughly translated as "After us it may flood". It means the speaker doesn't care what happens after his leave (more often implying death rather than actually going elsewhere) to the place he leaves behind. Usually it's not actually said aloud, but attributed to others to denote their attitude. Example usage:

He doesn't care how much trouble this contract will cause to the company ten years down the line. With his retirement coming in a year, he probably thinks to himself: "______________________".


texts: Is "like" in these cases a stative or transitive verb?

texts:
I like eating apple
I like that dog

I was wondering if these two "like" are both stative and transitive verbs since they can both describe a state and can take direct object. However, my teacher told us these are both transitive.


texts: Is there a term to describe a woman that looks at men purely as objects of sex

texts: The term "pig" is colloquially used to describe a man that looks at women purely as objects of sex. Is there such a term that describes a woman that looks at men purely as objects of sex?


texts: What does the single letter 'P' in email mean?

texts:
I notice that many of my emails have this single letter 'P' beside a sentence and that sentence is usually about protecting nature.

Example:

P Print Only When Necessary

What does the P mean? Is it just a typo error?

Update

The P is not "Please", it is a icon

The icon can be find under the letter P in the following link:
http://speakingpowerpoint.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/symbol-fonts-full-page2.jpg


texts: Difficulty in understanding a sentence said by Mr. Einstein

texts:
I am unable to understand the meaning behind the sentence: "Einstein adds: “I noticed how little difference there is between men and women; I don’t understand what kind of fatal attraction Chinese women possess which enthralls the corresponding men to such an extent that they are incapable of defending themselves against the formidable blessing of offspring.” ".

Specifically, I don't get the meaning of "formidable blessing of offspring"?
Can anybody help?
Thanks in advance.


texts: Word that means having a choice between two options

texts:
Is there a word that means having a choice between two options? I can't use Binary Options as that is associated with a "financial option" or gambling.

Example

Mike got two job offers in one week after being unemployed for a month. He was happy for his _____ (adjective noun)


texts: Resources for native Anglo-Saxon vocabulary building.

texts:
Are there any dictionaries or thesaurus' out there that specialize in native English vocabulary, that is to say, real English words that are not of foreign (Latin, French, or Greek) origin?

It's often said that the best writing chooses Anglo-Saxon vocabulary instead of lofty Latin or french words. But how does one having little knowledge of the subject and scarcely being able to tell the difference go about doing that? For example, if I wanted to look up the Anglo-Saxon equivalent of the verb "to use" or the English word for "respect", is there a resource for that?


texts: Dealing with multiple layers of embedded quotes

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  How are embedded quotations used?
  What's the Difference in Usage Between Using Single and Two Quotation Marks/Inverted Commas?

Let's say I want to write a question here at ELU about how to deal with punctuation in the case of embedded quotes. How would I deal with this three layered beast of a quote?

"Something like "Is this meaning okay: 'The police suck because they are bad because they only want my money'?", perhaps?"

I guess using a double for the first layer, single for the second and a double again for the third and so on would make most sense.


texts:
I couldn't really find anything on this, but it has been bugging me for a while.

Say for example, you have the following dialogue:

  'I'll let Mr. Hall know.'

If you want to emulate "dropping the H" (similar to dropping the "A" and "D" in "fish 'n' chips"), does the first letter after the apostrophe have to be capitalised:

  'I'll let Mr. 'All know.' vs. 'I'll let Mr. 'all know.'


texts: Phrase - Agreeable premise to trick someone into supporting additional stuff

texts:
I'm having difficulty in articulating this idea without giving a long bloated explanation when calling it out.

The idea is where somebody states a vague generally agreeable and innocuous premise in an attempt to get the other person to accept/subscribe to the rest of their argument or doctrine or whatever... Once you accept their initial premise, you are expected to accept the rest of the baggage that comes with it - that usually was never mention beforehand.

It's usually a deceptive tactic and I'm not sure if there's a name for it.

It's also commonly used in relation of political issues - "Are you for equality*" or "Are you against terrorists*", then you must vote for this policy/laws (which usually has additional conditions and requirements that may not be agreeable).

I'd like to convey that it's like a Trojan horse where they deceptively sneak in extra conditions under the cover of something innocuous. But a Trojan horse isn't exactly right and usually gets people to think of a different connotation related more to war.

So what's the best way of phrasing it, when calling out someone that's doing it and explain to other people what tactic is being employed?


texts:
Is there a proverb or quote in English that has similarity with this one:

  "If the big two ox fight then the rubble gets the brunt."

This is a Maldivian idiom that explains how juniors get affected when elders quarrel or perhaps, when two ministers fight public gets the brunt etc.


texts:
Suppose I have done some computer projects (i.e. built some programs). Now instead of the word "projects" I want to use "work". How can I use it to mean projects?

  Work or Works?

Do they convey the same meaning? If so, which one (project or work) do you think is better to use in this case?


texts: Should I say "When did you born?" or "When were you born?"?


texts: What do call individuals who express their opinions as if they were facts?

texts:
We all know some individuals who don’t express their opinions as:

  I think this is going to happen...

Instead, they express it as if it were fact or news, e.g.:

  Next month the price of (something) is going to increase by 10 percent.

What do you call such people? And are there any idioms or sayings to describe them?


texts: Is "say to X" grammatically correct but not colloquial?

texts:
So I'm living in South Korea and nearly everyone who is conversational in English says "say to X" instead of "tell X."  For some reason, they avoid using "tell X" or "told X" and they stick to "say to X" and "said to X" when making statements, which to me doesn't sound colloquial (and perhaps grammatically incorrect). Furthermore, they always feel the need to add "me" when using "say" or "said" when the statement was made to them.
For instance

"Say to John he needs to be here by 9:00 p.m." (instead of "tell
John...")
"John said to me he loves me" (instead of "John said..." or "John told me...")
"John said to Alice he loves her "  (instead of "John told Alice...")

They also use the "to" preposition in other instances when it is not necessary.
To me, "say/ said" should be used in statements only when quoting something that was said to the speaker. So adding "to me" to "say/said" is completely superfluous. Also, "say/said" shouldn't be used to quote something that wasn't said directly to the speaker.
Are the examples above grammatically correct but not colloquial?  If not, what is the appropriate grammar rule to cite?
Thanks for the help.


texts: Word for "ability to find & leverage advantages in the environment"?

texts:
I'm hoping for a contemporary word to use in a computer game I'm developing that describes a person's ability to continuously find the best locations, paths that avoid danger and maximize protection and security while traveling through unexplored and dangerous terrain, or to find and use natural defenses during a modern combat situation (to lessen the chance of being discovered or ambushed while still being able to shoot at the hostiles).

"Survival" is too generic (no need to find edible plants and avoid poisons or cure illness/wounds) and "Tactics" doesn't focus on the terrain aspect enough and is too mixed with giving orders to a team regarding combat formation.

A ninja, for example, would be at an "extraordinary" or "superhuman" level at this skill.


texts:
I see some people make mistakes in conversation then they counter-attack you if you point out their mistakes. Let's take an example:

  Jay: I don't like Chinese food because I hate china.
  Xu(Chinese Guy): How can you say these things about Chinese.
  Jay(Careful manner): I was talking about specific people. You are my brother how can you even think it was against you, I am ashamed.

So Jay did the mistake and he is trying to defend by diverting the topic. Do we have any specific word or slang for such type of act or behavior of Jay?


texts:
sample: Humanity has made important discoveries(,) thanks to the development of science and technology, and yet we do not know what exists in the deepest parts of the sea and the universe.

I feel like I need to put a comma in between "discoveries" and "thanks".
which one would it be more proper?

Removing it or putting it in between the words?


texts:
I know that a friend of mine is a used phrase, but is the phrase also used with other personal possessive adjectives?

  I met a friend of his.


texts: What does “the lowest common denominator” mean in the context other than math?

texts:
In the New Yorker’s (May 31) article under the title, “Stephen Hawking angers Trump supporters with baffling array of long words,” Andy Borowitz wrote;

  “Speaking to a television interviewer in London, the theoretical
  physicist, Hawking called Trump “a demagogue who seems to appeal to
  the lowest common denominator. --- “For a so-called genius, this was an
  epic fail,” Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, said. “If
  Professor Hawking wants to do some damage, maybe he should try talking
  in English next time.”

  Later in the day, Hawking attempted to clarify his remark about the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee, telling a reporter, “Trump bad man. Real bad man.”

From the context of Professor Hawking’s remark, I take “the lowest common denominator” as referring to the  “social segment of low educated, unsophisticated people,” but I’m not sure.

I thought  "common denominator" is a simple mathematic term. What does it mean in the context of the above quote?

Mr. Trump’s campaign manager says Professor Hawking should try to talk in English.
Is this a farfetched way of using “common denominator” from math to politics?

Did Professor Hawking misuse "the common denominator"? Or does Mr. Trump's campaign manager not understand the meaning of "common denominator", which some call an "everyday-use" English phrase?

P.S.

I found the following definition of 'common denominator' in Oxford Advanced Learners English Dictionary;

2) an idea, attitude or experience that is shared by all the members of group - see also Lowest common denominator.

Readers English Japanese Dictionary at hand, published by Kenkyu-sha, a foreign language, especially English language dictionary specialist publisher in Japan, and rated as the most reliable English Japanese dictionary totally dropped the reference to this paticular meaning.

It was a learning. I told to myself that I should have made more homework on English-to-English dictonaries beforehand.


texts: What does "write the bill with a ‘double meat ax’" mean?

texts:
What does writing the bill with a "double meat ax" mean?

I found the phrase double meat ax in today's Washington Post article, House approves dramatic cuts in federal spending in 235-189 vote, dealing with last night's House vote on drastic federal budget cuts.

I know the meaning of double ax as a double-bladed ax, but I don't know double meat ax, and why the phrase was used with quotation marks, which suggests the writer used the phrase with special implication. Can you tell me exactly what writing the bill with a "double meat ax" means? The text reads:

  During the bleary-eyed final roll call at 4:35 a.m., 235 Republicans were joined by no Democrats in support of dramatic spending reductions that they said were needed to address a soaring annual deficit of $1.6 trillion; 189 Democrats—as well as three Republicans—opposed it, accusing Republicans of writing the bill with a "double meat ax."


texts: Term for 'Do not worry about what you cannot control'

texts:
I am looking for a word or term [English or another language] that summarizes the concept:

'Do not worry about what you cannot control, only worry about what you can control'

Thanks!


texts: Is there a single word for "one who speaks/boasts a lot about everything"?

texts:
I'm looking for a single word to most aptly describe a person possessing the following "qualities":

Appears to be superior in every technology/skill under the sun, which he deems worthy of knowing
On being questioned/assigned the task, is found to have only superficial/no knowledge of the said skill.
Inherent tendency to "one-up" anyone and everyone - example: "I didn't work hard at all in my undergrad days, but yet I have better/equal grades than you have! "

Could someone help?

Edit: I've got some very good responses, but despite popular opinion for "braggart", I'm going with "pretentious" as it suits what I was looking for more aptly IMHO.


texts: What do saints supposedly do on behalf of humans?

texts:
What is the word that denotes what saints do (according to religious belief) on behalf of worshipers? The word starts with "inter-", I think.

This would be an example sentence where this word would be used:

  The god of thunder was preparing to execute the man to punish him for stealing a
  lightening bolt, but a saint _____ to delay punishment because there
  were also gods involved in the theft.


texts: English phrases created or popularized through Seinfeld

texts:
Seinfeld has been very influential in transforming how Americans (and possibly other English speakers) speak, see:

What does "yadda yadda" mean?

What sayings or phrases in common parlance can be traced back to their use on Seinfeld?

NB I am not looking for a list of all the funny phrases that people have compiled elsewhere.  I am looking for a list of words that don't have to be referential to the show to be useful. The "yadda yadda" link from above is a good example.


texts:
This is my first question here.

I am not a fluent English speaker. I just know the basics.

My question is how many m's should be there in "hmm" as when I try typing it anywhere, it suggests "hmmm," even on SO sites, including this one.

Is there is any reason for this ?


texts:
What does the following mean?

  If you press me to say why I loved
  him, I can say no more than because he
  was he and I was I...


texts:
My copy of "Chambers Dictionary Of Synonyms and Antonyms" lists the following synonyms for informative:

  informative adj. chatty, communicative, constructive, educational, enlightening, forthcoming, gossipy, illuminating, instructive, newsy, revealing, useful, valuable.

I searched online dictionaries for meanings of informative but none came close to anything like gossipy or chatty. So in what sense is informative a synonym of gossipy>chatty? If it is, of course.


texts: When should a singular word ending in "y" end in "ies" plurally?

texts: Words like "sky" and "money" have "ies" as a plural suffix (i.e. "skies" and "monies") but other words like "monkey" and "Emmy" do not ("monkeys" and "Emmys"). Is there a rule dictating the use of "ies"?


texts: Is there a word to describe the desire to not have desires

texts:
Basically the title. I want a word to describe wanting to not want. For example, if I wanted use this word in a sentence to say I don’t want to be materialistic:

I wish I could be more [insert word] with materialism because it’s too much work to keep getting stuff.


texts:
In elderly, there are a lot of people who poop against their will.
How do I describe in conversation that situation if I have that unwanted, embarassing symptom?


texts: Is there a term for a particular word used in the general sense?

texts: I read that the word "Professor" means "Highest grade of faculty" in some contexts, and is a general term for many types (Associate Professor, Adjunct Professor, etc) in other contexts. Why would we take the term for the highest form of something to be the general term? Is there a name for doing this?


texts: Adjective/adverb that means "seemingly clever, but actually foolish"

texts:
Is there a single word in English (or borrowed) that describes someone or some action as being clever or smart on the surface, but is actually quite foolish or unproductive?

I used to think "disingenuous" meant this (which of course it doesn't). The closest word I'd use would be something like "dis-ingenious".


texts: History and heritage = hypernym and hyponym?

texts:
I'm not quite sure how to phrase my question...but anyways.

History and heritage are often confused with one another.
"Heritage is owned by someone or some group; history is not. History is what people study in order to preserve and extend their heritage."

So, in a relationship between history and heritage, is history the 'hypernym' and heritage the 'hyponym'?

I am not sure how correct these terms are, as it is my first time seeing them. I found them, with examples, on this website: http://www.fun-with-words.com/nym_words.html


texts: Which one is the correct phrase, and why?

texts:
I am confused about the following two phrases:

Generalising them is very easy. If you talk to some of them chosen at random, other largely share their views.
Generalising them is very easy. If you talk to some of them chosen at random, others, largely, share their views.

I construct what I thought to be best possible candidates to convey what I mean. By reading them, if you feel that I am missing some basic grammar, then please correct me. Also, comment freely about any better construct in your opinion which is most suitable here.


texts: Referring to an event that occurred before another event in the past

texts:
I'm writing about an event(A) in the past and relating this to another event (B) which occurred before the first event. Which is a better way to frame this:

In the backdrop of the September 11 attacks which happened two months ago, the capture of Kabul ...

Is it better to use 'prior' or 'earlier' instead of 'ago'?


texts: Single word for a pattern of behaviour where you keep swapping between possibilities

texts:
Some people don't have the ability to make up their mind. They keep swapping between two (or even more options). I'm not looking for a description of the type of person (like indecisive), but for a verb to describe this kind of behaviour.

Example sentence:

  Bob's {swapping behaviour} is really annoying me!


texts: "Clicking the button saves... " vs. "clicking the button will save..."

texts:
I wish to describe just what gets saved when the user clicks the 'Save' button on a web page. Should I write "Clicking the Save button saves all changes" or "Clicking the the Save button will save all changes."

I don't want to use "Click the save button to save all changes", as I prefer my hints to have a less active form. The user knows they must click the Save button, but it is not obvious whether all changes are saved or only currently visible changes?


texts: Alternative way of saying "allows us to...."

texts:
What are some alternative ways of expressing the following?

  This fact allows us to focus our attention on XYZ.

I keep writing "allows us to..." over and over, unable to think of another way of writing this.


texts: 'We are wearing a jacket' or 'we are wearing jackets'?

texts:
I’m having a hard time distinguishing the following sentences. Which one is correct?

  We are wearing a jacket.

and

  We are wearing jackets.


texts:
I found the phrase "your time is done" in the following sentence of New York Times (May 12) article titled "When a batting order becomes a reflection of disorder."

  After all the hits and heroics, all the good deeds and game-winning hits and homers, all the championships won — after all of that, forces far greater than you decide that your time is done. For the athlete, the force is nature, and the manager and general manager wind up confirming what nature has wrought.

Though I understand that "one's time is done" means "one's time is finished," I don’t think I’ve heard this phrase many time. Is it used equally with, I mean as often as "your time is over" or "You run out of time"?

At the same time, there were the following lines in the same article:

  Posada recoiled when someone asked point blank if he was he [sic] considering retirement now. He repeated his refrain that his back was tight and that he needed time to clear his head.

Isn’t the repetition of he in the first line a typo?


texts: How to greet two person in the beginning of a letter/email?

texts:
Dear Prof. Hartman,

  Dear Prof. Dore,

  Thank you very much for letting me know about the result of my
  application.

or

  Dear Prof. Hartman and Prof. Dore,

  Thank you very much for letting me know about the result of my
  application.

?


texts: Seeking a word or term for being sadistically pedantic or law enforcing

texts:
It’s a term I heard 10+ years ago and it slipped my mind. It’s either a word (possibly a compound word) or maybe two-word term (it may even be a longer phrase but I doubt it) for ruthlessly following the rules or enforcing the law with sinister, sadistic or nefarious intent.

Please note that it is NOT Draconianism.


texts:
What is the origin of the phrase "(lets) walk and talk"?

I have heard this being said explicitly in conversation, for example, when you're having a conversation with someone but you also need to be somewhere else it's not uncommon to say something like "I have a meeting in 5 minutes, lets walk and talk"

I have also seen this in reference to a film making technique that is commonly used in shows like The West Wing, where characters are literally walking and talking

I'm wondering when this phrase was first used, and whether it originated from a single source?


texts: "If I were you, I'd apologise to my/your mum"

texts:
I'm stuck with this example which I don't know how to solve:

  A: I've said bad things to my mum.
  B: If I were you, I'd apologise to your mum.

Is it supposed to be your or my instead?

My feeling tells me that your is right, but my sounds more logical.


texts: Can we describe the number of something as： XX(noun) is more than xx (number)?

texts:
In general, when we need to describe the number of something, we can say: over 100 people live here/ the number of people live here is over 100.
If my expressions are: people live here are over 100 / residents here are over 100 people, do they make sense?
Thank you very much.


texts: If you ask: Where do you live? Versus: Do you live at so & so and vice versa. Is one is called general and the other is called particular?

texts:
If you ask someone "Where do you live?" versus "Do you live at so & so", is a question like the first called general and the second called particular?

Another example is "What do you think about sex?" versus "Do you think so & so about sex?"


texts:
"Mix of" is most frequently used to show that two or more items are included in the creation of something. Is it still grammatically correct to use "mix of" when there's only one item, but the item is a category or in the plural?

For example:

  Apple is the only company that offers products via a mix of in-house technologies.

It seems like it would make more sense if it was:

  Apple is the only company that offers products composed entirely of in-house technologies.

However, is this truly a grammar issue or not?


texts: Moving the interrogative pro-adverb to the end of a question

texts:
I am not a native speaker of English. From what I learn, 'wh' questions in English should normally be like this:

Why should we believe you?
How did she participate in the massacre?

However, recently in TV shows (from US and UK) I often hear this:

We should believe you why?
She participated in the massacre how?

Of course, the latter form is still less common than the former. From the shows, I feel that it is used more often as a quick reply to some previous statement, and/or when the speaker has some attitude, and/or when the situation is urgent.
In a sense, the latter form is easier: it does not need an auxiliary or modal verb, and it keeps the word order of a normal declarative sentence.
I wonder:

How often do you (who live in English-speaking countries) hear the latter question form?
Is it a new form? (maybe a tendency for English grammar to become simpler?)
Or have these two forms co-existed for long, just serving different functions?


texts:
At some point in the Archer series, Lana starts saying very emphatic Yup!s. I was recently wondering about triphthongs and whether they occur in English, and found the Wikipedia entry had only a few examples, in the British Received Pronunciation and Cockney, which led me to believe they don't occur so often in English.

Are Lana's Yup!s examples of triphthongs (i - u - a - P)? Particularly the one around 0:05, when she's in the car with Cyril, where it even sounds like a quadthong (i - u - o - a - P)?


texts:
It's correct to use the definite article before the name of a river, canal, sea and ocean:

  When my father dies, we will have to wash him, wrap him in rich cloth, cremate him, and then sprinkle his ashes into the Ganges
  river.
  The terminal is located to the north-east of the Suez Canal.
  Land based pollution is relatively high in the Mediterranean compared to the other regional seas.
  Titanic is at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean.

However, we don't use an article before a lake:

  Look, this is Lake Victoria.

Why are lakes so special and different from rivers, canals, seas and oceans if it comes to the use of the article?


texts: Can I say "a brown and a black horses" when referring to two horses?

texts:
Is the following sentence (grammatically) correct?

  I've got a brown and a black horses.

The sentence was meant to express the fact that I have two horses, a brown one and a black one.

I am especially curious about the plural form of the noun horses, as it seems to be grammatically correct (it's two horses) but unnatural.


texts: Interrogative form without the use of auxiliary verb (not about inflection or informal convo)

texts:
I've looked up some threads before writing this and haven't found what I'm looking for. This is not about informality or oral use of the language.
Consider these two questions:

What happened to him?
Who killed your husband?

Are they correct or should they be:

What did happen to him?
Who did kill your husband?

From where I stand, the first example is gramatically correct. However, I can't see a subject (you, he, etc) nor the use of the auxiliary verb or modal verb.
Is this a different case for interrogative form or just oral communication messing with "formal" grammar?


texts: Where do I position the apostrophe in a plural possessive?

texts: I wanted to write parents birthdays but I wasn’t sure whether the apostrophe went before or after the s in parents. Please explain which is correct and why.


texts:
Concerning the usage of the following forms "to do" and "to be doing," are the continuous ones correct?

  There is nothing to laugh at.
  There is nothing to be laughing at.
  There isn't much to talk about.
  There isn't much to be talking about.


texts: Relative Clause - Ask for more understandings

texts:
For example, this is the sentence which is picked out from the Oxford English Grammar Course Book.

  The man that looks after our garden has had the accident.

I want to inquire that can we leave out the phrase The man that looks in the sentence above.

Please let me know because I see the answer for it on the book and it showed that we can remove that phrase but I'm confused whether it is true or not.


texts: Is it correct to refer to the last 2 items in a list as "the latter two"?

texts:
For example, the phrase:

  I should quit trying to go to the gym on Fridays, and maybe Wednesdays and Mondays, and go on Thursdays plus any of the latter two.

What the speaker is trying to say is that although on Fridays is definitely not possible to go, Mondays and Wednesdays are likely (but not always) along with Thursdays.

Probably the last two is better or the correct way but using latter sounds not so wrong to me.


texts:
According to an online hyphenator, the hyphenation of ‘editorial’ is

  ed-it-or-ial

in British English and

  ed-i-to-rial

in American English. I'm interested in the hyphenation of the noun ‘editorial’. (There is also an adjective with the same spelling; I don't care about it.)

Is the online tool right at least for the Britisch English version?
Why is there such a difference?


texts:
Wiktionary says this of "screw the pooch":

  The term was first documented in the early "Mercury" days of the US
  space program. It came there from a Yale graduate named John Rawlings
  who helped design the astronauts' space suits. The phrase is actually
  a bastardization of an earlier, more vulgar and direct term which was
  slang for doing something very much the wrong way, as in "you are
  fucking the dog!" At Yale a friend of Rawlings', the radio DJ Jack May
  (a.k.a. "Candied Yam Jackson") amended this term to "screwing the
  pooch" which was simultaneously less vulgar and more pleasing to the
  ear.

The unsourced part about Rawlings and May was added by an anonymous
user in 2008.

Since then, this information has been repeated on numerous websites.
While it's quite plausible that "screw the pooch" is a euphemization
of "fuck the dog" (Green's Dict of Slang agrees), the rest of this
seems a little dubious. Various sources suggest that there was indeed
a Joseph L. "Jack" May who DJ'ed "The Candied Yam Jackson Show" on the
Yale radio station WYBC when he was an undergrad from 1947 to 1951.
And Rawlings is mentioned alongside May/Jackson in this article about
the Chi Delta Theta literary society in the Feb. 7, 1950 Yale Daily
News:

  "The chorus of the gods at dinner," as the motto of Chi Delta Theta
  requires, was sung and played, soothing the more savage breasts, by
  David Chavchavadze, 1950, "Candied Yam" Jackson and Med Bennett, 1950,
  and John Rawlings, 1950.

Anyone have firmer evidence about the origins of the phrase?

(Question from Ben Zimmer via ADS-L.)


texts: Is it proper to say John Smith is the CEO of ABC Company or John Smith is the CEO at ABC Company?


texts:
I'm just reading a story, whose title is 'Sad Beauty'. This is translated in our language as 'beauty of sadness'. The story is that an unhealthy woman gets sick and finally passes away. Actually this is a SAD story, but I think the translation is wrong and 'sad beauty' has any meaning like slang, such as 'pity' or 'sad princess'.
If somebody knows the meaning of this, please let me know.
I saw the following sentence (the old poem about a thousand years ago), so I decide to ask this question.

Kokoronaki mi ni mo aware wa shirarekeri shigi tatsu sawa no aki no yugure
(Even one who claims to no longer have a heart feels this sad beauty: snipes flying up from a marsh on an evening in autumn).


texts: What is the term for feeling down because of bad weather?

texts:
I am looking for the word that refers to a state of tiredness or slight depression because of bad weather conditions. The opposite is also true, that is feeling well or well-disposed because of nice, sunny weather.

The only term I could come up with is meteoropathic, but it is present only in Wikipedia.

What is the the appropriate common term for the condition described above?


texts:
I have used a sentence today like below but not sure I used if so correctly here;

  Additionally, we could make your
  booking via e-mail if you prefer to
  proceed that way. Please let us know
  if so.


texts: Is it right to say that a product has been "proofed" by its company?

texts:
I saw a company (in germany) advertise its product by saying that it is "Proofed by [company name]".

Is that right? I was a little confused, i can imagine that it is "right", but it is common to say it like this? I would have expected that "Verified by ..." is more common, because the sentence with "proofed" just sounded awkware to me.

To me - as someone whose first language is not english - "proofed" sounds more like something is "something is bullet-proofed", or a house that is "burglar-proofed".
At the same time, "proofed" in this context sounds to me like the german "geprüft" (lit. tested, verified) and someone just took proofed because it sounds so close.


texts: Inversion when using "not only ~ but also."

texts:
Is the following sentence correct?

  Not only can the coverage be easily increased, but the topology can also be more robust.


texts: The use of "among" in subject construction

texts:
I came across the following sentence in the newspaper yesterday: "Among the questions is who fired the fatal shots that killed nine."

This construction just doesn't seem right to me. Is there some case in which a prepositional phrase such as "Among the questions" can be used as a subject?

Best,

Doug


texts: Is there any reason for saying "he is good-looking", instead of "he is well-looking"?

texts:
A person who has............is said to be..............

  "good manners".........."well-mannered"
  "good behaviour"........"well-behaved"
  "good intentions"........"well-intentioned"
  "a good reputation"....."well-thought-of"
  "a good upbringing"...."well-bred"
  "a good education"......"well-educated"
  "a good proportion"....."well-proportioned"
  "a good taste"..............."well-tasted"

But someone who has "good looks" is said to be "good-looking".  Would it be wrong to say "well-looking"?


texts:
I'm an English teacher. I have a question about REPORTED SPEECH - PAST SIMPLE

In the book that we use there are two similar direct questions but the answers are different. I am confused, can you help me?

DIRECT SPEECH

  Ned: How old were you when you decided to become an astronaut?
  Mr. Nash: I was 12 years old and I was in a physics class.

REPORTED SPEECH

  Ned asked Mr.Nash how old he was when he decided ...
  Mr. Nash said he had been 12 and he had been in a physics class.

Why did we use past simple in the first one then past perfect in the second?


texts: What is a word that describes when you try to fix something bad but destroy something good in the process?

texts: I am watching a video of a person releasing a mouse from a plastic trap into the "wild," but it was actually released in an open field. The freed mouse gets across the field and then a large bird happens upon it. Is there a word that describes "Hell is paved with good intentions?" Kind of ironic, but saying more than it merely backfired.


texts:
I am a regular editor on Wikipedia and one of the things I do often is dealing with so-called "vandalism". I do this on many different language versions of Wikipedia and found out that in these other languages there are plural forms of the word "vandalism". For example:

French: "vandalisme" => "vandalismes"
Italian: "vandalismo" => "vandalismi"
Hungarian: "vandalizmus" => "vandalizmusok"

I could easily verify these on Wiktionary.
Now, when it comes to the English word "vandalism", I have always come to think of the term as uncountable, because I have almost never encountered the use of "vandalisms" in public usage. But on Wiktionary the entry "vandalism" is listed as this:

Noun
vandalism (countable and uncountable, plural vandalisms)

Willful damage or destruction of any property with no other purpose than damage or destruction of said property.

As we turned down the street I was appalled by the vandalism; spray-paint and smashed windows that were everywhere.

Somehow I find the use of "vandalisms" very unnatural-sounding, yet a Google search quickly proves that such cases do exist:

Police investigating spate of vandalisms in northwest Lincoln
Deputies receiving reports of political sign thefts and vandalisms
Moreno Valley man arrested in connection with more than 100 vandalisms

The first of the above headlines could be written as "spate of vandalism" and not change the meaning, and the second could be "political sign thefts and vandalism" for the same reason. But in the third, "100 vandalism" would just not sound right, yet "100 vandalisms" would sound odd.
As a side note, the Wiktionary entry vandalization also lists the noun as both countable and uncountable, while the similar term cybervandalism is only uncountable.
All that being said, are there any rules as to when the word "vandalism" and its derived terms could be treated as countable nouns, and vice versa?


texts:
Is it true that when pronouncing "I can do that" in American English when the "can" is stressed, there is a slight delay between the "can" and "do" and the primary stress is usually on I, while in "I can't do that" the primary stress is on "can't" and there is no delay?

Talking about cases with only one stress.


texts: Satan - when did the word come into every day use?

texts:
Some terms now used to refer to the Devil (for instance, Lucifer) didn't come up until rather late (at least in Portuguese, Wikipedia isn't much clear for the English term).

On the other hand, some terms were in use since the Middle Ages. Wikipedia mentions that

  The Modern English word devil descends from the Middle English devel, from Old English dēofol, that in turn represents an early Germanic borrowing of Latin diabolus. This in turn was borrowed from Ancient Greek Greek: διάβολος (diábolos), "slanderer",[6] from 'Greek: 'διαβάλλειν (diabállein) "to slander": διά- (diá-) "across, through" + βάλλειν (bállein) "to hurl", probably akin to the Sanskrit gurate "he lifts up".

So it's obvious that the term devil (in an older form) was in use in the British Isles since a very early age.

My question is about the term 'Satan'. Despite its origin being very old (which the etymological dictionaries I checked online clearly show), I wonder when did it come into common use. After all, folks say 'what the devil' but not 'what the satan', or some such. Is it only because it is a mouthful, or is it because it was a late newcomer?

P.S.: I believe the answer to my question is to be found in OED but, alas, I cannot access it.


texts: I went window-shopping and I was window-shopping

texts:
Can you tell me about 2 sentences below. I don't know which one is make sense or both of them are right?

I went window-shopping.
I was window-shopping.


texts: Pterodactyl and Archeopteryx: Silent P vs Voiced P

texts:
These words share the Greek root πτέρυξ (pteryx), meaning feather/wing, but the P in pterodactyl is silent (in the initial position), while the P in archeopteryx (in the middle of the word) is voiced.

Why is this, and what's the rule? Is it just that that's how the ancient Greeks pronounced it, or is there something more subtle going on?


texts: Does "fork out" only mean "pay unwillingly"?

texts:
I was wondering if I could use the word "fork out" in the following context, implying that a person doesn't wish to spend a lot of money.

If you don't feel like forking out, we could go to a cheaper joint.

Or is this word only used to emphasize reluctancy? Which word could you use to replace it, then, in order to communicate the above-said properly?

Thanks.


texts: Is it grammatically incorrect to use comparative forms without an explicit object of comparison and without progression over time?

texts:
In colloquial English, comparative forms can be used ungrammatically. However, suppose I want to write in a strictly grammatical fashion.

I know that some comparative forms can be used with an implicit comparison to the same object over time:

  Its revolutionary features, futuristic design and host of exciting
  applications will turn you everyday into a smarter celebration.

or

  This course will help you become a better person.

That was addressed in:

Use of comparative degree when no comparison is being done

There, "smarter" makes sense because the you of today is being compared to the you of yesterday.

I typically use comparatives with "than" or "as."

Colloquially, I might say:

  Taller athletes run faster.

And by that, I probably mean:

  Taller-than-usual athletes run faster than average athletes.

However, to the best of my knowledge, it is necessary to say "taller-than-usual" or "taller-than-average."

Is there any grammar book or style guide that would endorse "Taller athletes run faster" as grammatical?


texts: What is the etymology of the word "spell" when used to mean a short period of time?

texts:
Every now and then - usually when talking with an older individual or someone from the United States Midwest or South - I hear the word "spell" used to mean a short period of time, such as: "Come sit down and rest a spell." I've also heard it used as a verb, like, "When Pete arrives he will spell Tito, who has been working since dawn."

What is the history and origins of this meaning and use of the word spell? And is it a colloquialism or can it be used in more formal settings?


texts: Takeout vs Pickup, is there a difference?

texts: A restaurant offers "Takeout or Pickup" and it appears the difference is that takeout are orders placed onsite to be consumed offsite, and pickup are orders placed offsite that are retrieved from restaurant to be consumed offsite; delivery being orders that are both orders and consumed offsite? Is this correct, what is the history of the use of these terms?


texts: Is "I make my hot pizza" the correct way to write "I make my pizza hot"?

texts:
I make my pizza hot.
I make my hot pizza.

Which sentence is correct?

The first sentence was written by a 7 year old learning English. The second was the "corrected" sentenced written by the teacher. The student does not understand verbs yet.... I was wondering what the teacher was intending to teach with the correction.


texts: “I believe this machine works so you need to prove my theory”. I want to say that I am not sure that the machine works and you need to check it. Can I say “I believe” or do I need to use “I think this machine...”?


texts: How (and when) was it that the verb 'go' began to mean 'say' in common usage?

texts:
i.e. "So then she goes, 'Hey!' and I go, 'What?' because I was on my way out..."

I was musing about this the other day, so I decided to try to find out.  Unfortunately, my skills lie in different areas than language research.

My instincts tell me that this is an outgrowth of hippie culture in the West during the late 60's, but I have no proof of this at all.  I remember being in elementary school in the 80's and my teachers would absolutely flip out over this construction and lecture "People don't GO, Brian.  People SAY."  Lecturing notwithstanding, listening to students at recess revealed many students 'going' this or that.

It seems now to be relatively accepted in spoken English, though not written.  It also seems to apply to a wider range of use cases than say, e.g.:

"So he goes (makes face like a duck) and then..."

So, it kind of has taken on a meaning of 'to communicate, to embody a message, to say' as well as to literally move from one place to another.  At least it has in the midwest...is this in use anywhere else in the US?


texts:
Online we have five different meanings for canary:

having the color of a canary; of a light to moderate yellow
any of several small Old World finches
a female singer
a moderate yellow with a greenish tinge
someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police

I have a sixth:

a fail bird that dies as an warning indicator

My question is: What is a synonym for canary? (being a fail bird that dies as an warning indicator)


texts:
I extracted this from L.R.H Chapman grammar two book.
An example was given like this :

Question : Who did jack meet at the station?
Answer : Jack met his uncle at the station

I am not sure whether is it correct to make every question like the example format given above.
Is this sentence correct?
Question : who did the rich woman pay yesterday?
Answer : The rich woman paid her servants yesterday.
I assume that the correct sentence would be "To whom did the rich woman pay yesterday?"
Here are the sentences for questions to be made :

The rich woman paid her servants yesterday.
I saw a lot of soldiers outside the palace.
The angry man hit the boy.
Mary wrote a letter to her aunt.
The teacher helped the weak pupil.
The old man knew everybody in the village.


texts:
Oh my!

In the above example, to me, "oh" seems to suggest one should pronounce "o" as a short vowel, whereas "o", seems to suggest one should pronounce "o" as a long vowel. In other words, I would expect it to be spelled as:

  O my!

I would expect "oh" to be used in this example, meaning to express "oops":

  Oh o!

... or used an an expression of excited amazement, when watching beautiful fireworks for instance, like this:

  Oh!

So why is "Oh my!" spelled this way?


texts:
I don't understand the part in italics. What does immediacy mean here? I'd appreciate some clarification on it.

A strain of intense female sexual fantasy and eroticism
runs through the first four chapters of the novel and contributes
to their extraordinary and thrilling immediacy. The
scene in the red-room unmistakably echoes the flagellation
ceremonies of Victorian pornography. As in whipping scenes in The Pearl and other underground Victorian erotica, the mise-en-scene is a remote chamber with a voluptuous decor, and the struggling victim is carried by female
servants.
Elaine Showlater: A literature of their own, 1977


texts: What is the story behind the word "hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia"?

texts: Was someone just trying to be funny by being ironic?


texts:
1: She said she would do it when she came home.
  2: She said she would do it when she comes home.

Which is correct, and why?


texts: Combination of independent clauses containing quantities

texts:
The Zaragoza-Ysleta International Bridge in El Paso, Texas, is one of the 330 ports of entry where customs officials inspect the more than 350 million travelers and 100 million vehicles, trains, and aircraft entering and exiting the U.S. every year.

Is the author talking about 100 million as the total combination of vehicles, trains, and aircraft? (A) That is, 100 million == x vehicles + y trains + z aircraft. (B) Or is the author saying there were 100 million vehicles, 100 million trains, and 100 million aircraft?
If the answer to (1) is (A), what would be the best way to write (B)?

My thought:
(A) seems correct, because the same number of aircraft as the number of vehicles arriving to the same point is unrealistic.


texts: Origins/meaning of “is dis/this a system?”

texts:
Does anyone know the origins of the phrase “Is dis/this a system?”?
After seeing it in 1920s and 30s era American comic strips, and later scattered in multiple pop-cultural contexts, I was wondering if the phrase was tied to any specific event or cultural phenomenon.
Here’s an example from Victoria University:


texts: Can you say "She has been slandering me"

texts:
This sentence sounds a bit odd to me; however I believe it's grammatically correct. Could you please corroborate for me.
Sentence:
"She has been slandering me/her/him"


texts: What is the difference between "on the map" or "in the map"? Is one of them grammatically incorrect? Thanks!


texts: Is there an old saying/joke about "Where would I go if I were a [name of lost object]?"

texts: In the 1950s my mother used to say, if I lost (for example) a glove, "Where would you go if you were a glove?" More recently I read this in a novel by my father from the mid-1960s: "... the old gag about looking for a lost dog. Where would I go if I were a dog?" Was this actually an expression people used (whether using the example of a dog or not)? I cannot find instances online.


texts: I remembered ‘seeing’ or ‘having seen’ him.?

texts:
I was wondering how to express the sentence correctly:

I remembered seeing him before.
or
I remembered having seen him before.

And what if remember wouldn’t be in past tense but in present tense?
I remember seeing him before.
or
I remember having seen him before.

Thanks in advance :)


texts:
I am reading some quotes in the Bible to find some wisdom saying on "blaming others" :)
But I came across this long quotes and have some questions.

  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

  1 "the Spirit helps us in our weakness"

-> I am not sure what the word "in" means in this context.
So I looked up in the dictionary and found possible candidates for this but still not sure.
Does it mean:
1. when we "experience" weakness
2. the Spirit helps us fix our weakness itself?
3. or the Spirit helps us fix ourselves who has this weakness?

  2 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

  "for those who are called according to his purpose."
  Is this sentence connected to "all things work together for good"?
  Like in "for those who are called according to his purpose, all things work together for good."


texts: Infinitive or gerund in the beginning of a sentence

texts:
Is the following sentence correct?

  Living in US for 10 months helped me to grow culturally, academically, professionally and personally.


texts: Can I say "I was gifted" in the sense of gratitude?

texts:
Can I say

  In India, I was gifted in so many unexpected ways

in the sense of immense gratitude, like "I received so much", "I got so many gifts and blessings"?


texts: Come to (regain consciousness) and pull to (shut)

texts:
I don't know if it's part of my regional dialect, but around these parts we use the phrase "pull to" to mean 'close the door all the way.' It wasn't until last week that it struck me as odd. Pull the door to...what? To itself?

I didn't find much explanation on pull to as a phrasal verb, but a friend pointed out that it was probably like "come to", which he always figured was reflexive and essentially a shortening of "come to one's senses".

So in terms of these two phrasal verbs, pull to and come to, are they reflexive? And if so, why does the object get dropped? Is that a usual occurrence or do these two examples represent some kind of unusual feature of English?


texts: Can protagonist be an antagonist, and vise versa?

texts:
The protagonist, is the main actor, no matter what his character is--good or bad. Normally, it centralized the story with the protagonist.
On the other hand, the antagonist is the opposing character of the protagonist, with conflicting characteristics with the protagonist.
What if the protagonist and antagonist change roles? Is there any special term for that? Like when either the protagonist and antagonist lead the story, having different plots, and both have the part in causing the trouble. Some stories use an interrelated parallel story plot that helps one another develop each plot.
So, back to the question, how do you call that instances? How if the protagonist act as the antagonist, and vise verse for the antagonist? What's your idea about this?


texts: Is the stress necessary on Don't in Don't mention it

texts:
the phrase "Don't mention it" phonetically looks like [ doʊnt ˈmɛn ʃən_ɪt ]
I think the primary stress is on the second syllable "ˈmɛn". Am I right? But my question is, is it important to add any stress on "don't" or is it optional? The last two syllables are connected together "ʃən_ɪt" and I don't think they need any stress. Any suggestion appreciated.


texts:
I have the feeling that this sentence is not correct and that it would be better to split it in two, but I can't seem to get my head around it. I would appreciate any hints as to whether it is a correct grammatical sentence in the first place.

'Books offer a major learning curve as well as sharing some general ideas.'


texts: Is there a word for one who drives in the direction opposite the one prescribed for the given lane?

texts:
After having found the image below, I’m wondering whether there is a word that English speakers use to describe someone driving on the opposite side of a road.

A bit of searching pulled up geisterfahrer, which is a German word whose translation into English is at best unclear. In fact, according to Google Translate, geisterfahrer is rendered in English as ghost rider. However, I’m unable to find this two-word phrase in any dictionary I have consulted — and besides, I’m interested to find a single word.

Thus my question is, is there a word for someone who drives in the direction opposite the one prescribed for the lane they are driving in?

Note that I dislike, and will not accept, wrong-way rider, both because it is too far from the single-word concept and because it seems like a made-up phrase to me.


texts:
Is it correct to use possessive case for referring to the time in consideration, like in

in today's US
in modern's US
in last century's England

etc?


texts: What is an alternative, succinct phrase for something that is not prone to errors?

texts: What is an alternative, succinct phrase for something that is not prone to errors, i.e. the antonym of error-prone? "Error-free" is too extreme in that it suggests infallibility.


texts: What is the difference between "under the aegis of" and "under the auspices of"?

texts: Both seem to mean with the support or protection of. Are they interchangeable? Mostly interchangeable? Is there a difference in connotation?


texts: Why is "you all" contracted to "y'all" and not "you'll"?

texts: Is you'll also valid in the context of this video?  Or is viper just setting new rules down in the English language?


texts:
What is the right preposition to use with the word internet?
on internet, in internet, with internet?


texts: Is there a word for 'acting impulsively'?

texts:
I am looking for a single-word verb that means "acting impulsively". For example,

  "You can never tell what Harley is going to do. She always [acts impulsively] without thinking things through."

I'd like it to be as generic as possible. "splurge" captures the idea I'm looking for, but the connotations of money don't work for me.


texts: "In appropriate time" or "In THE appropriate time"?

texts:
Which one is correct ?
I mean should we use "THE" between "in" and "appropriate" or not ?


texts: Is this wording correct ? Using "howmany" for countable quantity instead of however in this phrase

texts:
Can I have "Show Step 1 of howmany more there are" Similarly to having "Do this regardless of however long it takes" To convey the meaning: "Show Step 1 of N Steps, where N is different for different cases"

I'm looking for the word carrying the same meaning as "however" in the second sentence, but for countable quantity.

Note: English is not my first language.


texts:
You can exonerate, and be exonerated - but the word seems to be used in reference to an other.  Is it proper to use the word when applying to the self?

So, can one literally exonerate oneself?  Of course if the word is intended it conveys the meaning without hiccup - but has this word been used as intended?

(and is exo- a prefix in this instance?)


texts: Usage of "p." vs "pp." to denote two separate pages

texts: I understand that "p." is used for single page references, and "pp." for multipage pages. However, if I'm quoting something from p. 35 and p. 40 from the same book, should I use "p. 35 and p. 40", or "pp. 35 and 40"?


texts: So I encountered the word "emcee" in written form for the first time this week and was surprised to find that it was not simply written "M.C." (short for Master of Ceremonies). Why does the "emcee" form exist?


texts: Why do we use his and him but not her and herm?

texts:
I just thought about this the other day. In the sentences below, the word "her", takes on two meanings. The words "him" and "his" are needed to convey the same two meanings (same with they, them, and their). The female version is less verbose. I am just curious about this construct.
My wife teaches her math skills. (she teaches the baby math)
My wife demonstrates her math skills. (sh shows off her skills)

My husband teaches him math skills. (he teaches the baby math)
My husband demonstrates his math skills. (he shows off his math skills)

They teach them math skills. (they teach the kids maths skills)
They demonstrate their math skills. (they show off their math skills)


texts:
I understand that a sentence can have more than one subject, but I don't understand the grammatical role of he in the question below and which verb he is performing if he is also a subject.

  Who is he?

My understanding is that the above question is a request of information, and hence, the implied recipient of the question, you, is the subject pronoun. The question, when presented explicitly, would be as follows:

  Who (do you think) is he?

If my assumptions are correct, wouldn't that make he the object pronoun, since the subject you is performing the verb think on the object he? However, I read online that him is the object pronoun, not he, so I can only gather that my assumptions are wrong, somehow.

And if they indeed are, that would mean the implied you and the pronoun he are both subjects and he is performing the verb is, but I am not sure.

Please enlighten me if you understand what I am asking. It is much appreciated.


texts: When did 'wyrm' lose its meaning as dragon?

texts: I'm interested in finding out (roughly) when the Old English word 'wyrm' began to lose its meaning as 'A serpent, snake, dragon' due to the competing 'draca' and the later borrowing 'dragon'. I've consulted the OED but it suggests wyrm retains its meaning as 'dragon' until the 19th century, surely as an archaism. Can anyone could tell me approximately when draca and/or dragon became the popular choice to denote dragon


texts: I understand these phrases have basically the same meaning. If so, why does the former have an indefinite article and latter no article? Any logical explanation?


texts: Is there a word that means "a nicer word for a word"?

texts:
I'm looking for a word that I learned when studying for the CLEP analysing and interpreting literature exam. It is a word that means -'a more eloquent version of a harsher word.

Example: saying, 'expecting' instead of 'pregnant'


texts:
Which of the following sentences makes sense?

  We took the new kayak out on the lake as it was a nice day.
  We took the new kayak out in the lake as it was a nice day.


texts: A word for something that comes to mind before other things?

texts:
There is this epistemic phenomenon X and we might take different approaches in explaining it. But one or more approaches come to mind sooner that others, perhaps because they are more well known or more received or ... .

Is there any word for such feature? Words such as "at hand", "close", "available" seem to me to have other connotations.


texts: Umbrella term for organizations that help people?

texts:
Is there a word besides humanitarian which we could use to describe any organization (non-profit, charity, volunteer, or otherwise) whose explicit purpose is to help people? Is that precisely what humanitarian is for?

I associate the phrase humanitarian organization with things like UNICEF and the Gates Foundation, and other big organizations that do their work at a large scale; I do not know if it should or should not apply to smaller organizations, or even to individuals who work towards goals that might be considered humanitarian.

What are your thoughts?


texts:
I'm going to name my new business, I got an idea from another company called "ZZZ Men Supply"  and come up with "XXX Gentlemen Supply" for my business. Since the word Gentlemen slightly longer I want to use the abbreviation for it, which one is better: "XXX Gent Supply", "XXX Gent's Supply" or "XXX Gents Supply"?

Thanks


texts: Pardon my ignorance, but how would the word 'ignore' convert to a noun in this context?

texts:
I was talking to a co-worker about  the fact that he ignored certain guidelines when writing his code. He is fairly aware of the established guidelines and a well-defined copy of the same is present on his PC, but he chooses to ignore them and deliver code that doesn't suit the organizational standards.

I wanted to tell him this, "Your ignorance of this matter is unwelcome."

However, I stopped mid-statement because I realized that this statement would imply that he is not aware of these guidelines. However, he is well-aware of the requirements but ignores them out of choice (probably out of laziness or lack of attention). Is there a better word for this situation? Alternately, how would I phrase this statement in a better way to convey the message that his choice of continuing to ignore guidelines is unwelcome?


texts:
-Metr-, as a root, from http://www.prefixsuffix.com/rootchart.php:

  metr: admeasure, apportion. E.g., metrics, asymmetric, parametric, telemetry

"Admeasure, apportion" means distribution. So I can't understand: how is this meaning of -metr- demonstrated in the examples "metrics, asymmetric, parametric, telemetry"?

Metr, as a word, from http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/metr:

  metr:   meter (unit of length).     measuring tape, measuring rule.

I feel this meaning of metr makes more sense in the examples "metrics, asymmetric, parametric, telemetry".

So how shall I understand the first source?


texts: "Hearts and prayers": eggcorn/malapropism?

texts:
I've recently seen a phrasing that I don't think I've ever heard before. But that is often a sign more of consciousness rather than evidence.

The phrase is:

  hearts and prayers.

There are similar phrases used, usually as condolences or a response to some distant disaster where only words can be given. It seems to appear in the identical situations as:

  thoughts and prayers,

meaning something like "we are keeping you in our thoughts/are worried for you, and we also are wishing hard for you in a religious/mystical way actively wishing for better things."

But there is a similar sounding phrase, but distinct in intention:

  hearts and minds.

This usually is used in the sense of convincing a population of the preferability of something, usually political. I remember it in the context of the last Iraq War, were the invading force had to convert the hearts (the inclination) and minds (thoughts) of the local populace as to the goodness of the invasion.

My question is about 'hearts and prayers'. It seems to be a little pleonastic, prayers being already intimated in the more spiritual heart, and the more rational thoughts or minds being somehow left out. Sure, it sounds like a good condolence, but it feels like something is missing (an 'and' usually goes between two independent or contrasting things). Often such statements are pleasant but empty but at least they hold up to scrutiny.

So is 'hearts and prayers' a malapropism a mangling of the two similar phrases, or an eggcorn where 'thoughts' is replaced by the similar sounding 'hearts'.

The recent example I saw was a tweet from 25 Aug 2018:

  My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!

I have done a Google Books search for instances of all, and there is no clear pattern to me, and since GB only goes up to 2012, I can't tell if there is a trend since then.


texts: How would one test for verbal telicity in verbs, and why would it be usefull?


texts:
I am looking for some common questions used to ask about a person's birth order in their family (to ask if he/she is first, second, third, etc. child).
Do the following questions sound natural?
Where do you come in your family?
How-manyth child are you in your family?

Are there any other alternatives?


texts: Which is best: "with", "by", or "using"?

texts:
When I tried to write research paper about robotics, I felt confused in choosing these 3 words. For example, I want to write that I use mobile robot in exploring room and creating map of that room as following. Which one should I use?

"Do exploration and mapping of the room by Mobile Robot."

"Do exploration and mapping of the room using Mobile Robot."

"Do exploration and mapping of the room with Mobile Robot."

They sound different in my feeling but deeply look into the meaning I think they're the same. Am I wrong?


texts: What's that you say? [Syntactic role of 'you say']

texts:
An opinion article titled "Mattel and Margot Robbie's Barbie movie is not the film 2019 needs" has this passage:

Yet I don't think Mattel gives a tinker's cuss whether we're hating on Barbie or hitting her up for more plastic fantastic fun times so long as the controverting continues.
Because it's actually the oxygen of outrage — way more than the company's production of intersectional-feminism-Barbie and slightly-less-anorexic Barbie — that's keeping Barbie in the media and Mattel moving units.
What's that you say?
Being outraged that there's so much Barbie outrage is still playing straight into the evil one's tiny, Trump-ish hands? And Mattel still gets the money if we buy tickets to hate-watch instead of just watch-watch her new movie?
Oh God, excuse me for a moment.
HLEEAAHHHurkurkBLLEAAHH.

How do you analyze the sentence in bold? Specifically, what's the syntactic role of the clause 'you say'?


texts: Single word for one who is a great fan of movies?

texts:
Is there a single word to denote a person who watches more movies in free time?
Single word with meaning similar to "Movie Freak"?


texts: Where should "never" go in "Harris Should Have Never Run for President"

texts:
"Harris Should Have Never Run for President" is the title of an article from the Los Angeles Times about Senator Harris' run for President.

When I read it the placement of "never" really grated, but I am not sure why. I would have said:

  Harris Should Never Have Run for President

Or

  Harris Never Should Have Run for President

However, I am having a hard time coming up with the appropriate rules to determine the correct placement of "never", and what, if any, semantic differences there are between the three placements. Can someone enlighten me?

(Obviously, comments on the merits or demerits of Senator Harris or the related article are completely OT. I am just interested in the grammar.)

Addendum.

A couple of notes: firstly, it looks like the Los Angeles Times has corrected this to "should never have run". Secondly, the discussion about it being a title is a bit of a red herring. I agree that titles do have less constraints on their grammatical form since they must be short and impactful. However, as commenters have pointed out, in this case the title was simply an excerpt from the first sentence of the article. So if y'all prefer we can discuss that first sentence rather than the title.

It has been suggested that this is a duplicate of this, and it is certainly similar. However, there is an important distinction: here the "never" is inserted into the middle of a group of words that together make up the verb "should have run" rather than just before or after the verb as addressed in the putative duplicate.


texts:
I'm in the US, and it would be common at my workplace to refer to the linear measurement numbers stamped on a cable as "footage". For example, "what was the footage of the cable where you spliced it?"

I'm now working an a system that will record some of these measurements on cables. But I'm having a hard time calling it "footage" because in the context, it would be very easy (possibly even likely) in the future for the unit of measure to be meters. And while the system itself could display the in feet or meters based on user preference, it is likely to store meters in its database, which will also require a name for the data field.

"Footage" from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition:

  n. Length, extent, or amount based on measurement in feet.

What would the word be if the "in feet" part of that definition became "in meters" or just went away entirely? Is there a generic word for this regardless of the unit of measure? Or is there a metric system version of "footage"? Or is it normal in places that use the metric system regularly to say "footage" even when the unit of measure is meters? What would someone in Britain say (where they once used feet but now presumably use meters)?

I'd like something short, one word would be preferable.


texts:
There is a passage in The Moonstone (by Wilkie Collins, 1874) which is full of infinitive forms of verbs. ("To xxx").

What I find hard to explain is that despite the infinitives, this passage clearly functions as an imperative / directive. It contains a list of instructions to be followed. For instance, the phase "to walk out on the South Spit" would have made perfect sense without the leading "to".

Although this seems like an incorrect use of the infinitive form, it makes perfect sense and doesn't grate on me as I read it.

I feel like I've occasionally heard or written other text in the same form.

Is this just a "poetic" style which isn't strictly a correct use of the infinitive? Or is it really some other 'tense' which is not actually the infinitive at all?

  "Memorandum:—To go to the Shivering Sand at the turn of the tide. To walk out on
  the South Spit, until I get the South Spit Beacon, and the flag-staff
  at the Coast-guard station above Cobb's Hole in a line together. To
  lay down on the rocks, a stick, or any straight thing to guide my
  hand, exactly in the line of the beacon and the flag-staff. To take
  care, in doing this, that one end of the stick shall be at the edge of
  the rocks, on the side of them which overlooks the quicksand. To feel
  along the stick, among the sea-weed (beginning from the end of the
  stick which points towards the beacon), for the Chain. To run my hand
  along the Chain, when found, until I come to the part of it which
  stretches over the edge of the rocks, down into the quicksand. And
  then to pull the chain."

(Online source. Italics are as in the original.)

Thinking about it more, it almost seems to be a type of future tense.


texts: Why do we "crunch numbers" when solving math problems — particularly in accounting and financial roles?

texts:
I heard someone say this today, and it dawned on me that I cannot see a clear source to it.

Does this go back to adding machines and other mechanical integrators?  It seems plausible, but the term does not appear in print until around the mid 1970's.

update:
Per @JHCL's comment: "number-grinding", and related forms, maybe very relevant to this topic — but they do not yet appear in Google ngrams.  Great digging thus far...


texts: Did the expression "nothing to get hung up about" derive from "Strawberry Fields?"

texts:
In American English, I recognize the expression "nothing to get hung up about" as an idiom meaning, "nothing to worry about."  Based on some googling, it seems like in British English the phrase "nothing to get hung about" is an expression too, which makes sense because of the Beatles lyric in "Strawberry Fields Forever" (released 1967):

Let me take you down
'Cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry Fields forever

So I have a two-part question.  Was nothing to get hung about an expression in BrE prior to John Lennon's use in the song?
Is there any relation to the AmE expression nothing to get hung up about?
Update: Since the expressions do seem to have appeared around the time as the song according to Ngram, I'd be especially interested if anyone can find sources that offer evidence for or against a Beatles connection.  Is the popularity of the phrases "to get hung up about" / "to get hung up on" / "to get hung about" a result of Lennon's lyric, or an unrelated evolution of the term "hangup," as suggested by Peter Shor in the comments?


texts:
Say I'm promoting a product. Which is correct?

  [Product] let's you [do something awesome].
  [Product] lets you [do something awesome].

Or neither?


texts: What tests are used in order to determine the number of syllables in a word?

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  What are the syllabification rules for English?

I would like to know what tests are used for determining how many syllables are in a word. Well, there are no tests, then how would people work out the number of syllables in a word?


texts: Should one capitalise the first word in the body of a letter?

texts:
I think that most people will answer the question in the title with 'yes', and, until recently, I was one of them.  However, my wife, who is not a native English speaker, does not do this; and, when I was about to correct her, it occurred to me that in fact her approach is the more logical.  After all, if it were all on one line, I would write "Dear recipient, this is a letter to you." and not "Dear recipient, This is a letter to you."; and I am unconvinced that the interpolation of a line break after the comma should change anything.

There being no governing body for English, inevitably the natural way to answer is "that's the way it's usually done, and logic can go hang", so let me ask a more precise version of this question:  does any standard reference book require, forbid, or otherwise discuss this practice?  I went Googling, but without luck.


texts: What is the difference between a "technologist" and a "technician"?

texts:
The dictionary offers the following:

technologist — a person who specializes in technology
technician — specialist in industrial techniques: somebody who is skilled in industrial techniques or the practical application of a science

But if I look at Wikipedia's entry they give the following list:

Applied Science Technologist, a Canadian professional title in engineering and applied science technology
Architectural technologist, a specialist in the technology of building design and construction
Cardiovascular technologist, a health specialist who uses imaging technology to help diagnose cardiac and vascular ailments
Chemical technologist, a worker who provides technical support or services in chemical-related fields
Educational technologist, a specialist in tools to enhance learning
Electrical Technologist, a person whose knowledge lies between that of an electrical engineer and an electrical tradesperson
Engineering technologist, a specialist who implements technology within a field of engineering
Industrial technologist, a specialist in the management, operation, and maintenance of complex operation systems
Medical technologist, a healthcare professional who performs diagnostic analysis on a variety of body fluids
Polysomnographic technologist, a health specialist who administers overnight polysomnograms
Professional Technologist, a Canadian professional title in engineering and technology related fields
Radiologic technologist, a medical professional who applies doses of radiation for imaging and treatment
Surgical technologist, a health specialist who facilitates the conduct of invasive surgical procedures

This usage seems to suggest some variant of "technician". Wikipedia even redirects many of the equivalent "technician" articles to the corresponding "technologist" article (e.g. chemical technician; x-ray technician).
Where did "technologist" come from? Are these professions simply relabeling "technicians" as "technologists" or is there a significant difference between a "technologist" and a "technician"?


texts: What does "The dimmer the light the greater the scandal" mean?

texts:
I saw this in a list of quotes, but can't figure out what it means, or find where it comes from.

I've searched extensively on google, but no joy. I assume it's not very common?


texts: Where does the saying "The crying baby gets the milk" come from? I don't think it's from English.


texts: What word or phrase expresses briefly detaining a suspect on the street and then letting him/her go?

texts:
Today, a Dutch paper published a little research triggered by a politician outing the English phrase (abbreviated) "65 percent of them have been detained by the police at least once."

I think, and checking online dictionaries seems to confirm it, that detained means:

  apprehended and keep in custody for a (short) while.

The newspaper however translated it with aanhouden. In Dutch this usually means:

  stopped by a policeman for a (small) offense, which may result in a fine or worse.

The severity of either is different and the research results published by the newspaper will be different depending on the understanding of the English word detained. If you cycle on a pedestrian zone, you are "aangehouden" and fined, but you are not detained (at least I hope not).

How would you paraphrase that in English, or do I misunderstand the wider meaning of detained?

More context

In response to Kris's request below, I'm afraid it's hard to give a better context. The whole reason for the Dutch research article was to check the claims that the politician made. In the speech of the politician, he didn't give a context, he just said "65 percent of them have been detained by the police at least once.", where them refers to a certain minority.

The discussion in the journalistic article is about whether or not the claim is true. It can be assumed that he means to say that "65% of group X were brought to prison", at the same time knowing that the figures he referred to talk about "65% of group X was ever stopped or halted or had otherwise a registered encounter with the police".

I wondered whether the politician would have deliberately chosen the wrong word, or whether the chosen word is just correct, which is why I popped the question.

Since I don't want this to be an extension of any political debate, I didn't want to point to the original source of the politician (you may also call it shame), which he made on Fox News.


texts: Is the preposition "to" always necessary?

texts:
1.She needs to make a phone call to Anna.
2.she needs to make a phone call Anna.

Which one is correct?


texts: What brings you here? What has brought you here?

texts:
Why do we ask people "What brings you here?" instead of "What has brought you here?"
According to Oxford Dictionary, "bring" here means "cause someone to come to a place." The cause of the visit happened before someone's coming. Therefore, isn't the usage of the present perfect more grammatical, as in "What has caused you to come here?"