texts: Is there any all-purpose opposite for "in person"?

texts:
I'm looking for a term or single word that can be used as the opposite of "in person" in situations we might be involved in a given activity without our direct (physical) presence, like:

Taking online courses instead of taking part in classes

"_____ courses" vs "in-person courses"
Having a videoconference instead of meeting someone in person

"_____ meeting" vs "in-person meeting"
Having an interview over the phone instead of a face-to-face interview

"_____ interview" vs "in-person interview"
Shopping online instead of going to the market

"_____ shopping" vs "in-person shopping"

I have found "absentee" like in "absentee vote" but I don't think it can be used as the opposite of "in person".

Is there really any opposite for "in person" that can be used generally, so that I can fill all those blanks with that?


texts: What is a catalog of images and their description called

texts:
I am creating a game in which I want to create a "What is what section", it is basically going to be a list of items containing an image with its name per item (Example image of the lead character with his name, image of a magical cube with its name etc etc).

What should such a section be called?

Example:

  Confused knowing what is what? Visit the ____ section."

I need a word for the blank space.


texts:
In Portuguese we say à luz de, which is close to based on, but more sophisticated. It is mostly used in academic writings. I'd translate it as in the light of, but I know we can hardly ever translate idioms. Here's a sentence it might apply:

  He developed his ideas in the light of Einstein's work.

Can I use this? If not, then could you tell me some ways to say this? Thanks.


texts: There are 4 students and 2 textbooks, so each two students share one textbook. Is it share or shares here? My apologies for this easy question, but please let me double check.


texts:
"Foobar: Your one-step stop for assorted candies."

"Foobar: Your one-stop shop for assorted candies."

I am really confused about which one sounds right. I've heard the second one before, but came across the first one recently. Are both phrases correct, or is "one-step stop" just plain wrong? Can there be another refined alternative to these phrases?


texts: What is the meaning of the first line in the song "Stand By You" by Rachel Platten?

texts:
Hands, put your empty hands in mine
  And scars, show me all the scars you hide
  And hey, if your wings are broken
  Please take mine so yours can open, too
  'Cause I'm gonna stand by you

Does it mean to hold hands?
P.S.: Just curious ;)

Link to Video Song


texts:
I want to say that: "I contributed to drafting proposals", and unsure if I use a preposition after "drafting"...

Thanks!

The website wants more symbols, so I keep typing. In fact, I am quite sure that my question is clear.


texts: Is "Sink" the proper word for responsibilities/people/projects that drains you without providing any benefit?

texts:
I'm trying to create some categories to help myself and eventually others to organize tasks, projects, and their life in general.

For example, one category is habits. If done frequently over time habits provide major benefits. E.g. exercise, sleep, reading.

The opposite category would be vices. If done frequently over time vices causes major negative consequences. E.g. angry outburst, junk food, excessive TV watching.

Here comes the problem. One of my categories is somewhat hard to put a label on. So far I have called it Sinks. Sinks are responsibilities, projects and people which provides little to no value for you, and at the same time costs you a lot of time, energy and money.

Examples of sinks

"Friends" whom you have grown apart from, but still feel forced to be with.
A promise you made to be nice, but now have turned into a long term responsibility which you absolutely hate and really want to be free of.
A job which causes you so much stress and misery that the salary seems negligible in comparison.

I hope this gives you a rough idea of what I'm talking about.

Sooo... What do you think? Is the word sink appropriate, or is there an even better word out there? I'd love to hear your opinion.


texts: In what (semantic) context might "REFUSE" be used with a gerund complement?

texts:
I know that, prescriptively speaking, that the verb "refuse" is supposed to be followed by an infinitive. For example:

The parents refused to buy the dangerous toy for their kid.

Since language usage isn't clear cut, I was wondering whether using a gerund instead of infinitive would be acceptable at all as in the following sentence:

The parents refused buying the dangerous toy for their kid. *


texts: Does "consult" mean "ask for permission"?

texts:
Given the following sentence:

The manager may not incur debt without consulting the board.

Does that mean that the manager must have board permission to incur debt, or only that the manager must hear what the board has to say about the matter before making his or her own decision (possibly contrary to the board's opinion)?


texts: "yell at" vs "nag at" vs "scold" vs "reprimand" vs "tell off" differences?

texts:
What are the differences among the words mentioned above?
To me "yell at" and "nag at" are informal way to say that someone disapproves something to someone else, with the difference that "yell at" involves the action of actually "yelling" while the other one doesn't necessarily. "Scold" as far as I've understood means the same thing (disapprove something) but it is old fashion. "Reprimand" never heard of it, but Cambridge dictionary suggests that could mean the same thing (in a formal context maybe?).

Like for example, a colleague of mine could be told by my boss that he has done something wrong. If I had to tell the story to a close friend of mine I would say "The boss yelled at X" (because maybe he actually yelled), while to a generic random colleague Y I would say "The boss reprimanded X" (because formally it was what happened, and I don't want to tell him how rude my boss was). "Tell off" apparently is used to express the same thing but in a parenting situation maybe.

Am I wrong? If yes, could you clarify the differences?


texts: "Couldn't be more wrong" or "is wrong", facing trouble in correlating the expressions

texts: When someone says "I couldn't be more wrong", how is the phrase synonymous to saying that is way off mark. I am not getting a feel of this negation statement. Can anyone please explain me elaborately with an example ?


texts: Do I so often encounter simple past for past participle (e.g., “I have went,” “what was did to her”) because of where I am or when?

texts:
Since moving to small-town northern Minnesota (USA) two dozen years back to teach English, I have noticed a lot of instances in spoken language where the simple past is used in lieu of the past participle, as in the examples listed above. Of course this is only noticeable or an issue for such irregular verbs as have two different forms for simple past and past participle. As a SCUBA diver, I encounter the perfect formation “have dove” with particular frequency.

Since I had no previous experience of living in northern Minnesota before 1990, and not much experience of living anywhere else since (except Greece), I cannot tell whether this usage is more a function of where I am as an observer of spoken English, or when, though I tend to suspect the former.

For those who are curious, my adopted small city was recently used as a fictional location for the TV miniseries spinoff of the Coen brothers’ film Fargo, but as with the film, the dialect in the miniseries is rather a caricature. (The show was not filmed here, and in representing Bemidji as a town with a strip club and without a library it was wrong on both counts.) The local dialect does show at least one notable Germanic influence: upon sighting a pretty infant, locals will exclaim “Oh for cute!”—which for I am pretty sure is more closely cognate with the German intensifying prefix ver- than with the English preposition. Other historically likely other-language influences, besides the Germanic Scandinavian languages, would include Finnish (Finno-Ugric), Ojibwe (Algonquian), and French.

N.B. Ngram is hard to read on this, since hits for “was did” might well be such as “What exactly it was, did not matter in the least,” and similarly for other word sequences.


texts: What is the object of these prepositions?

texts:
The regulations set forth in this part and in parts 211, 225, and 226 of this chapter contain the minimum current good manufacturing practice for methods to be used in, and the facilities or controls to be used for, the manufacture, processing, packing, or holding of a drug to assure that such drug meets the requirements of the act as to safety, and has the identity and strength and meets the quality and purity characteristics that it purports or is represented to possess.
  https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=210.1

Hi, I am rading the regulations of FDA, and this sentence is so complicated.

I would like to know the object of the prepositions, "in" and "for" here.

I think the object of them might be "the manufacture, processing, packing, or holding of a drug", but it might be wrong since there is a commoa before it.
Please help me.


texts: by remaining calm- a dangling participle?

texts:
I am wondering whether "remaining" is a dangling participle in the following:

By remaining calm, a solution is usually possible.

I'd appreciate your help.


texts: Abbreviation for "Dimension" and "Measure"

texts:
I have two terms that need abbreviation (to 3 or 4 letters).  They are from the field of Data Warehouse (Information technologies)

Dimension
Measure

One can abbreviate the first one as "dim".  Some suggested the second one be abbreviated as "mea", but somehow I find this abbreviation ugly.  Is there a better alternative?

Would "meas" be better?  Or is it even worse?

Or "msr"? (dropping the vowels)


texts: What is the difference between supposed to and meant to

texts:
It is because it was always meant to be so.
It is because it was always supposed to be so.

What is the difference between meant and supposed? There must be more but all I can deconstruct is that meant is a verb dependent upon the unquestionable intention of the subjects purpose and supposed is a description of intention realized without as much value for outcome given to absolute per determination. Can anyone clarify this for me?


texts:
Ones on epidemiology find relative risk ratios (RRs) very close to a value of 1, [...]

Does that refer to a group of people, or to some specific concept?

Source: https://examine.com/faq/is-saturated-fat-bad-for-me/ -> Heart Health -> 4th paragraph


texts: Is there a word similar to "condolences" that doesn't involve death?

texts:
This is related to the recent entry in the web comic xkcd: http://xkcd.com/945/

I never say, "I'm sorry," because people interpret that as if I feel at fault, when I don't.
I've been simply saying, "that sucks," or, "that is very unfortunate".

If someone dies you can say, "my condolences," and it's perfect; however, that obviously can't be used in a situation not involving death, like in the comic.

Preferably I'd like something like, "I'm [x]," or, "I give you my [x]."

I suppose sympathetic/sympathies would work, but is there any other word or phrase, perhaps something less aggressive so as to be unlikely to be considered sarcastic?

I personally find myself feeling awkward every time this comes up.

EDIT: Keep in mind, I very much dislike adding unnecessary bias to my reply. So saying things like, "that's terrible," is not something I'm a fan of doing. What if it was an icy day and the bus came 20 minutes late? I wouldn't say that's terrible, because I'm implying the bus did a terrible job, when it probably did a great job keeping it's passengers safe.


texts: I wonder what is the opposite of "an action in vain"? I thought of "a useful action", but I would prefer a phrase like "an action in ABC". Is there one like that?


texts:
Holmes and Watson are alone in the room.

Holmes: I shall work better for silence.
Watson: Oh, well. I dare say I can find something quiet to do.

Does he mean he needs silence to work? And why does he use for? Isn't it right to say in silence?


texts: What is the horizontal equivalent of "all of the above"?

texts:
All of the above tends to be used to refer to options that have been described in previous lines in a bulleted list, and I'm wondering how to do the same in a sentence. For example, would the following sentence be correct, and would there be a better way that merely saying "all three":

  They could purchase the Cadillac, the Mercedes, the Hyundai, or all three.

I'm also unsure whether an extra or should be used because I'm unsure where the list ends:

  They could purchase the Cadillac, the Mercedes, or the Hyundai, or all three.


texts: Can "refrain" and "avoid" be used interchangeably for everything?

texts: "Refrain" feels like something to use about "verbal behaviour", whereas "avoid" feels like it's about something physical. Is it?


texts: Is there a word (or expression) for when you can see someone doing something wrong

texts:
Is there a word or expression
that succinctly describes/conveys
the following:

  I am watching someone perform a reasonably complex task/activity.
  I can see a person doing something wrong,
  I know how to do it "right" from years of practice/experience,
  but it would take me too long to explain/train them
  to do it the right way,
  (and they may not want to learn / modify their existing behaviour)
  so I just let them continue
  without causing a "fuss",
  but it still "bugs me" inside.

A single word would be awesome (however I expect it's unlikley)
failing that an Expression or "Parable" would be good too.
Essentially I just want to convey this idea
without telling people "You're Doing it All Wrong"!


texts: Is there a word for the act of simultaneously pulling and twisting an object?

texts:
I have the impression I once saw a word's definition the meaning of which was exactly that, the act of forcefully pulling and twisting an object (e.g from someone's hands).

Another example would be if I was to break a branch off a tree, and just pulling or twisting it wouldn't be enough, so I should be doing both simultaneously.


texts: "Committed to supporting X" vs. "committed to support X"

texts:
I'm trying to edit a speech and found a commonly used phase which I'm not sure if I should amend it or not. The sentence goes like this:

  [a subject] is committed to supporting [a project].

Should I amend it to the following?

  [a subject] is committed to support [a project].

Is the original version fine? Does the meaning change if I amend it?


texts:
You take something in your hand (e.g. a cross) and then wrap your fingers around it. In other words, you hold the object in your fist. What would be the best way to describe that (in US English)?

You clench the cross in your fist.
You clasp the cross in your fist.
Or something entirely different?

I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Edit: One user asked for more context. Although I am actually looking for  a word that would work in all scenarios, I was thinking about a religious person, who clenches (clasps? grasps?) a cross whenever (s)he prays.


texts: When did we start talking about "going viral"?

texts: I am trying to determine when the phrase "going viral" was first used.  Similarly, when did the phrases "viral video" and "viral marketing" get their start?  I have looked online at various sites, but none really address this question (other than saying "recently").


texts: Which is correct here: "arbitrary" or "arbitrarily"?

texts: Do you say "an arbitrarily small constant epsilon" or "an arbitrary small constant epsilon"? Or are both correct?


texts: Phrase for Knowing Everything About Someone

texts: I'm new to this awesome site! There is a popular saying that, in a conversation, one is sarcastically telling someone they know everything about another that begins with I know "your rank, serial number and ?" I cant remember what the third descriptive word is. Can you help? It comes from the military.


texts: New friends that feel as though they have known each other forever


texts: Is using 'perhaps' in an essay appropriate?

texts:
My teacher was criticizing me much for the informal words used in my essay today. It was blatant that she couldn't understand the half of them anyway, but she said 'perhaps' was also an informal word.
I can kind of understand her wording for this one, because apparently in essays you  need to speak without doubt or something around those lines...
So yeah, just wondering if it is appropriate for a formal essay.

Perhaps the greatest similarity shared in the novel extract and graphic novel, is how the woman followed her will to the very end.

This is what I said. This is a comparative essay BTW.


texts: Is there a hidden [y] vowel sound in /u:/?

texts:
My native language is Danish, with its gigantic number of vowel sounds, and this undoubtedly affects how I hear English vowels. However, one phenomenon in English has bothered me for many years, especially in Received Pronunciation, and I have so far been unable to locate any descriptions of it.

No matter how many times I listen to the English /u:/ sound, like in “do” /du:/, what I really hear on the phonetic level is not a pure, single-vowel [du:], but something like [dyu:] or even [dyu̯:].
And by this [y], I really mean the vowel sound which in IPA is written [y], that is, the sound of “u” in French and “ü” in German. So what I hear (and, I admit, also say) is a diphthong, starting with a short [y] and ending in a semivowel version of [u]. If I say simply [du:], it sounds in my ears completely different from how I hear most native (RP) speakers say it, and more like something you might hear from people with a strong Italian accent.

Is it just me hearing things, or is this an actual phenomenon?

EDIT: This question is similar to Pronunciation of ‘few’ as [ˈfjyu̯], but not identical, and importantly, the answers to that question do not directly concern the pronunciation phenomenon I am talking about. This is the case, however, for the answers to the present question.


texts: What's the difference between "I..." and "I have..."? For example, what would be the difference between saying "I recently moved back to Portland" and "I've recently moved back to Portland"?


texts:
When using the vocative comma, would it go before "all"?

"Thank you, all, again!"

Or would it be without the comma?

"Thank you all again!"

Is this different from "everybody"?


texts: Did the word "Crocodile" have a dreadful connotation in London 1600s?

texts:
I am writing a period-piece play based in London circa 1660s and wrote a poetic line that alludes to the crocodile as a "fearsome foe" or of much "danger and dread".

I examined every mention of the word "crocodile" in Shakespeare (not too-too before the play's set-period) and its etymology origin (which states it meant a large amphibious reptile) dates from the 1560s.

Shakespeare never considers the "crocodile" like an animal of dread but rather, according to its mention in Othello being the much older "crocodile-tears" reference, which I thus conclude that it must have been regarded as having a cunningness to it, but would it have been considered in any way of "exotic horror" or "dread"? Which I arguably will consider as the more accepted, modern-day connotation which lies in them.

  O devil, devil!
  If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
  Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
  Out of my sight!

And furthermore, if my distinction and confinement of basing the connotation to London 1660s is much too specific, then any insight on the connotations of the word anywhere in the 17th Century would be most well regarded and thanked.

P.S. Since I am already asking on the basis of the "crocodile", anything on the timed connotations of the "alligator", which I know is attested to the mid-16th century origin, would be appreciated likewise.


texts: "having worked" vs "having been working" difference

texts:
I would like to have someone explain the difference here:

Having worked there for a year.
Having been working there for a year.


texts:
If I take this quest, I shall be redeemed in her eyes.

vs

  Take up the quest to receive a handsome reward!

Which usage is semantically correct or (if both correct) better? Take or take up or take on (thanks, @mplungjan!) or maybe even take up on?


texts: In 'unless', how would've 'negative connotation' caused 'on' to change to 'un'?

texts:
unless (conj.)
mid-15c., earlier onlesse,
from (not) on lesse (than) "(not) on a less compelling condition (than);" see less.
The first syllable originally on, but the negative connotation and the lack of stress changed it to un-. "Except could once be used as a synonym for unless, but the words have now drawn entirely apart" [Century Dictionary].

I ask about only one determinant of change:  the negative connotation. 1. How'd it cause 'on' to change, when the negative connotation is wholly spwaned by 'less'?

To a Middle English layperson, wouldn't prefixing 'less' with 'un' reverse the meaning of 'unless'?  As 'less than good = not good', wouldn't

un + less than good
= not + not good
= good?


texts: What does this context mean? "the juxtaposition of someone as strong-willed as you being forced into dressing up like a chicken."

texts:
Someone says:

  Don't take it personally, Clem, they're merely laughing at
  the juxtaposition of someone as strong-willed as you
  being forced into dressing up like a chicken.

What does this mean?
juxtaposition means "the fact of putting things that are not similar next to each other" but I am confused when I read this sentence.


texts:
In the UK there are a lot of insulting words which end in -er, like this: scrubber (slut), tosser (masturbator), chancer (untrustworthy person), poofter (homosexual), wanker (masturbator, generally despicable person), nutter (insane), poser (affected/overdressed person). I think it’s a relatively modern British phenomenon because it seems like American English doesn't have all these -er insults. Can anyone give any insight into this?

(p.s. I am creating a plural tag "insults" since plural is winning votes over at meta.english.stackexchange.com; please give your vote on whether tags should be plural or singular.)


texts:
Context: I have an automated test that sometimes fails for unknown reason. It's a sort of false positive: the feature it tests is not broken. Most of the time, either it succeeds or fails for right reason (the feature is broken).

How would you describe this phenomenon of doing the expected job most of the time, but failing a few times for (apparently) no reason?


texts: Is it correct the word "footprint" referred to the space occupied by a machinery inside a factory?

texts: The question is referred to the bulk of pasta producing machinery. I found several texts that say "footprint" but according to what I f


texts:
I'm looking for a word that would represent the motion of swinging a melee weapon (Bat, Sword, hammer, axe, etc) starting at your legs and moving upward.

The end of the weapon would be starting on or close to the ground, then it would be making an uppercut motion.

Examples that don't quite fit:

Bash - Thrusting a blunt object forward
Slash - Diagonal upward or downward attack
Stab - Thrusting a sharp object forward
Sweep - Swinging from one-side to another
Crush - Downward swing of a weapon (exact opposite of what I'm currently looking for)


texts: Does the idiom "stop shooting the ball to my opponent" make sense?

texts: Getting into a fight with someone, I think the other person is accusing me of being the wrong one and is trying to show that everything that has happened is my fault. Stop shooting the ball to my opponent is what I would say because it is what I would translate the idiom in my native language into. Does it make sense to native English speakers? What is the common English idiom in such situations?


texts: Is there a word or phrase for something you start but later abandon?

texts:
Say, I started a long-term task, like a college degree, but real life happened before I could finish it, so I never did. Or I started to work on a submission but I couldn't finish it in time.

I thought about "never got the chance", or "never got around to it", but it doesn't capture the fact that I started it before stopping.


texts: What is a person who stalks other's monitor?

texts: What would you call a person who stalks other's monitor? I have a colleague at work who looks at my monitor whenever he passes by. How would I describe such person?


texts: Ways to say the cashier is handling my bill/check in a restaurant?

texts: How do I say the cashier is calculating my bill in a restaurant? Can I say "The cashier is ring me up?" or "She's closing me out" or "He's ringing up my bill?" Is "ring up" only applied to grocery store situation?


texts: What does “Buckle up” mean when "Trump and allies go on war footing"?

texts:
There was the following sentence led by the headline, “Buckle up: As Mueller probe enters second year, Trump and allies go on war footing.” It follows:

“The investigation has already delivered indictments or guilty pleas involving 10 people and three companies. Many of President Trump’s aides and associates say they are confident the president will be exonerated. But they privately worries that the probe may yet ensnare more figures in Trump’s orbit.”

Cambridge Dictionary simply defines “buckle up” as;
u.s. informal. to fasten the belt that keeps you in your sheet in a car or plane. u.k. = belt up.

Oxford Advanced Learners’ English Dictionary defines it as;
1. to fasten sth, or be fastened with a buckle.
2. (AmE) belt up at belt.

Freedictionary defines it as;
(slang) prepare for what is about to happen, such as danger, excitement, trouble.

I wonder if it could be interpreted as "brace for a challenge / critical situation."

What does “buckle up” here exactly mean?


texts:
I am doing exercises for English and I am asked to match 1 and 2 with A and B, but the sentences look very much alike to me.

1: "I don't believe the plan succeeded"

2: "It wasn't really possible for the plan to succeed"

A: "The plan couldn't have succeeded"

B: "The plan can't have succeeded!"

Can anybody distinguish the meanings of these sentences?


texts: Idiomatic phrases for Major, Minor and Equal shares

texts:
I know the first one: For a major share, its "Lion's share."

I Don't know the terms for the other two. For equal share it was something like M(Mottley) Share.
I can't recollect.


texts: White Women's T-shirt vs Women's White T-shirt

texts:
Which way of describing a women's t-shirt is grammatically correct out of the following two descriptions? 'A white women's t-shirt featuring a flowery design.' or 'A women's white t-shirt featuring a flowery design'.

I think 'white women's t-shirt' is correct as I read it as a women's t-shirt which is white but my colleagues disagree as they read it as a t-shirt for white women.

Any help help settling this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


texts: Cutover: adjective, action noun, state - all the same?

texts:
I'm a product Manager writing about a technological system in which a computer system is cutover (switched from one location to another).

Cutover is the action.

Is it also the state that the machine is in after the action is done?

Think of Delete and Deleted...


texts: Meaning of a quote from "The Quiet American"

texts:
Innocence always calls mutely for protection when we would be so much wiser to guard ourselves against it: innocence is like a dumb leper who has lost his bell, wandering the world, meaning no harm.
  —Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Does the part 'when we would be so much wiser to guard ourselves against it' mean that we should stay away from being innocent? or stay away from the notion innocence itself?

Does 'Innocence is like a dumb leper who has lost his bell, wandering the world, meaning no harm' mean that innocence is harmful although it does not intend to? What was the author trying to imply?


texts:
"You are going to fight in the war like David once did."

I have two questions:

Should "like" be replaced with "as"?
Is it ever acceptable to use "like" in this sentence even though "as" is the proper word to use?


texts:
I’ve heard, on rare occasion, a subtle differentiation between be as a state (to passively embody) and be as an action (to actively embody). The latter form often occurs in parallel with do to add emphasis to the active nature of the verb.

What do you do with all your money?

Be rich.
I be rich.
*I am rich.

What does the Pope do?

Be Catholic.
He bes Catholic.
*He is Catholic.

Does he always be idiotic like that?

Yes, he always does (be).
No, he doesn’t always (be).
*No, he isn’t always (idiotic like that).

Rhetorical questions demonstrate a similar, possibly related device:

Why don’t you be sure first?

If I take the time to be sure, I’ll be too late.

It is not at all related to African-American Vernacular English and its use of be as a tense marker. It’s also not necessarily indicative of a habitual action (e.g., (will) be).

Is this standard? Moreover, is it predictable? Could it be a vestige of a distinction that used to be marked in English but has since been largely lost, or is it a wholly new development?


texts: Ending a sentence with abbreviation and ellipses

texts: When using an abbreviation at the end of a sentence, such as "etc." and a ellipses, would you use three or four periods?


texts: What is correct: "I am saying..." or "I am telling..."?

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  “Nothing to tell” versus “nothing to say”
  “Told” vs. “Said to” somebody?

Are both of these sentences correct? If so, what is the difference between them? My friend told me that first one is not commonly used. I would be glad if someone can clarify this.

  I am saying this for the second time that I am not coming.

or

  I am telling you this for the second time that I am not coming.


texts: "Have you ever been" to France? vs. "Have you ever gone" to France? vs. "Did you ever go" to France?

texts:
Which of the grammatical constructions above is (or are) more typical of what is commonly said and heard in colloquial AE?

If all three options work, is there any difference to them meaningwise?

Also -- excluding grammar rules and switching to nonstandard -- what would be the typical response(s) from John & Jane Doe in casual speech to the question:

[FYI I'm asking this question in consideration of the following source http://www.antimoon.com/forum/t3137.htm focusing on the various ways to respond to a present tense question starting with "Have you got..." in casual speech, and so I wish you could tell if the same ungrammatical "rule" might also apply with present perfect questions.]

  Have you ever been (or gone) to France?

  Would it be:

  Yes, I have/No, I haven't.
  Yes, I do (have been to...)/No, I don't (have been to...).
  Yes, I did/No, I didn't.

-

  How about if I say: Have you been to the dentist?

  Would the usual, most commonly heard response(s) be:

  Yes, I have/No, I haven't.
  Yes, I do (have been to...)/No, I don't (have been to...).
  Yes, I did/No, I didn't.

If all of these options are possible, is there any difference to them?


texts: Is "numerous" somehow different to "common"?

texts:
From this Wikipedia page (referenced by this deleted question)...

  Buckley is the 99th most numerous name in Ireland.

Can anyone explain why I find the above usage "odd", whereas I have no problem with...

  Helobdeila stagnalis, a carnivore, is the most numerous and widely distributed leech in Colorado.

(I know "most common" works for both contexts; why doesn't the same apply to numerous?)


texts: Term for which the net effect of a number of actions is zero?

texts: If there are one or more actions take and the net effect is no effect, what is a word for this?


texts: Help me figure out where to place 'object pronoun'?

texts:
I try to figure out if there is a need for placing "them" after the verb"translate"?

1)Regarding the list,it comes with partial Japanese that needs you to translate into English terms for our tech staff.
2)Regarding the list,it comes with partial Japanese that needs you to translate them into English terms for our tech staff.


texts: Is there one word for 'six and half-a-dozen'?

texts:
I was asked to visit a different client last night, other than my usual one. I said 'Yes, sure. It's six and half-a-dozen.' (In the nature of my work, I can choose what I do; it was a request not a demand.)

I meant that, to me, there was nothing to choose in terms of travel distance or client requirements, so I was happy to accept either assignment.

But could I have said 'it's six and half a dozen' in one word ?

'Yes, sure. It's _ _ _ _ _ '


texts:
My high school English teacher taught us to never start a sentence with conjunctions, but throughout the years I have seen a lot of such usage in academic writings and novels. I have also read various articles, saying that such usage is now acceptable. Is it merely a preference of style or is it grammatically wrong? Does it otherwise imply different semantics from the usage that follows a comma(,)?

For example, are the following sentences acceptable in terms of grammar/formality?

"The organization should have taken the blame. Or, its leader can sacrifice himself for the well-being of all."
"She is one of a kind – she displays high empathy on each and every strangers she meets. But, she lives in a fiction."
"The city is wondrous, in spite of its proximity to my hometown. And, a highly regarded culture resides there."

Thanks in advance.


texts: usage of Beyond in the sentences and its grammar

texts:
Check the following sentence and say whether beyond is adverb or main verb in the sentence

This is beyond the scope of this level.

This is a correct sentence and I just need to eradicate the difficulty of understanding the grammar of this word.


texts: What's the difference between in calculation or in the calculation?

texts:
The scenario is I am going to show how to process many uncertainty terms in the calculation, but the title of the slide should be "uncertainties in calculation" or "uncertainties in the calculation?" I feel it is more appropriate to use the latter one, but what's the subtle difference between these two?

It's about: When we need to do a calculation on the quantities that have uncertainties, how do we do it? For the case including addition or subtraction... Please refer to part of the slide I uploaded.


texts: In the statement, "A man sitting next to you at a movie theater was very disruptive," what is "sitting" - a gerund, a verb, or an adjective?


texts: What is the correct use of ie as in 'that is' and how is it written, capitals or small and with a colon?

texts:
What is the correct use of ie as in 'that is' and how is it written, capitals or small and with or without a colon or semi colon?
Thanks


texts:
I've been told by a person that the sentence below is incorrect grammatically and it does not make any sense. Specifically, that person told me that the part ''could do'' is wrong. ''Could do'', for him, should rather be replaced by ''had'' to make sense.

Pretending to be a beggar on the street was the only way such a shameless individual as you could do.

As I'm not a native speaker, I'm not sure whether this sentence is correct or not grammatically? Therefore, I'd like to ask some native speaker here about whether the part ''could do'' is correct and whether the whole sentence is correct ? thanks


texts:
English is not my primary language so I have hard time with this problem. I am currently writing comments to computer code. There is setting that enable/disable some functionality. What would be correct comment to this? Is there noun form of word enable? The comment would be something like:

Sets ??? of functionality.

I am thinking about:

Sets working state of functionality.

Sets turning on/off of functionality.

Sets availability of functionality.

But it just seems wrong. Is there some better words that could describe this?


texts:
Understanding social context 'heavily impacts' our connection to the characters.

Need to cut this sentence down and heavily impacts is a bit clunky!


texts: Most common answers for “thank you! (e g for your help)

texts: What are the most common answers in AmE when a person says “thank you”? Thank you;)


texts: Is it professionally okay to use the term "caught flat-footed"?


texts:
I did some research about word nightmare. In most cases this is what I've found:

  night + Old English mære "incubus."

I would like to use the word mare for poetic purposes, but its meaning in the modern English is an adult female horse or the female of other equine species.

Is there any possibility to use the word maere, excluding the grapheme "æ", for nightmare?


texts: The opposite of "equal" is "unequal", yet there is no word "unequality". Why do we use "inequality" instead?


texts: Word to express a building's potential to be guarded against a forced exit

texts:
I am looking for a word that expresses the idea of a prison being difficult to escape because of its physical construction, in a similar way that 'fortified' means a structure is difficult to attack from outside because of its physical construction.

The context of this is something like, "The school building is more heavily guarded/fortified/etc. than the prison," but without the sense that there are actually people there guarding it or that existing architectural measures (like barricades, fence gates, security balcony with bulletproof shields at intervals, etc) are in active use. Rather, it is just constructed in a way that would make it easy to guard, or has such features.


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  Why use “need not” instead of “do not need to”?

In English, why could I say, "No-one need know" and not "No-one needs know".  I would say, after all, "No-one needs to know".


texts:
So I'm programming something, and it has the property to be toggled. Now I want to enable or disable this property. In other words, I want to toggle the toggle property.

This property, whether or not something can be toggled, should it be called 'Togglable' ? If not, what should I call it?


texts: What's the feminine equivalent of "your obedient servant" as a letter closing?

texts:
I'm a student learning English and recently came across the United Kingdom's declaration of war on Japan, which ends with:

I have the honour to be, with high consideration,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Winston S. Churchill

I'm impressed by the polite style of that declaration and want to occasionally use this closing in my emails, but I'm female. My gut tells me that because of my gender, this closing might look somewhat awkward in my letters --- similarly to how mistress would be more appropriate than master if used to refer to a woman.
My question: How should I adapt the above letter closing in view of being female?

UPDATE: To clarify, I intend to use this closing in emails of the following kind:

Dear Mr. Smith,

Just humbly letting you know that I haven't yet received the advance payment for my translation services requested by you. I understand that you are extremely busy as a business owner navigating through the storm of the current pandemic and might have overlooked the matter --- we are all humans and accidentally forget about one thing or another. I just humbly beg your understanding that since we are located in different jurisdictions, and I am an undergraduate student who has to pay her rent and bills, I cannot hit the ground running to do the job you kindly chose me to do unless I receive the advance payment. Given the deadline by which you need my translations, I beg your urgent attention to the matter.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Mitsuko XXXXXXXX


texts:
Something I've always been confused about even as a native English speaker...

Say, someone is discussing a concert and they say: "there was a huge amount of people there".  Is this correct, or should it be "there were a huge amount of people there"? People is plural while huge amount is one singular thing.  Can someone explain this to me?


texts: "road" vs. "pavement" vs. "roadway" for French "chaussée" [road surface] in AmEng vernacular

texts:
What's the difference between those terms? Can they be used just about interchangeably?

  road: a long, narrow stretch with a leveled or paved surface, made for traveling by motor vehicle, carriage, etc.; street or highway. Random House Kennerman Webster's College Dictionary

  pavement: n. (Chiefly AmEng) A hard smooth surface, especially of a public area or thoroughfare, that will bear travel. American Heritage® Dictionary

  roadway: n. A road, especially the part over which vehicles travel.
  American Heritage® Dictionary

  chaussée: nf (voie de circulation)   road n; (US) pavement n; roadway n

  Il y a des nids de poule sur la chaussée, fais attention !
   There are potholes on the road [surface], be careful! WordReference


texts:
I've been discussing with a few people about a certain phrase in a piece of co-authored writing that bugs me. I can't put my finger on it, but half of us think the phrase is correct, the other think it is incorrect.

Context:

  The workers have been trained on how to continue the construction, and, when time, man the structure.

It's evident what is trying to be said with the phrase, but the "and, when time" part sticks out and feels wrong. The ones who think it is incorrect suggest the following tweak.

Tweak:

  The workers have been trained on how to continue the construction, and, when the time comes, to man the structure.


texts: Which is correct: interested on or interested in?


texts: Is there a word that describes all items in a sequence or list which is not the first item?

texts:
Is there a word that can be used to refer to all the items in a list or sequence which is not the first item? For example, take this list:

(oranges, apples, raspberries, pears)

How can I refer to (apples, raspberries, and pears)?


texts: Why is the word business shortened to biz?

texts:
I don't know why biz is short for business.

Can somebody explain to me why how and when biz was used?

Thank you!


texts: Why in "think about/of" and "talk about" the "of" and "about" sometimes are omitted?

texts:
I sometimes see, more often of late, that in sentences like this:

There're less known but high performing currencies: think of Georgian Larry, Armenian Dram.

"of" or "about" get omitted:

There're less known but high performing currencies: think Georgian Larry, Armenian Dram.

or

There're less known but high performing currencies: I'm talking Georgian Larry, Armenian Dram.

I see it happen in writing too.
Is this the latest trend, to talk this way? Or has it always been grammatically correct?


texts: "If I knew something about [X], I couldn't tell you what it is!"

texts:
Someone has told me that, because I asked about X. I know that the person has confidentiality concerns about the X-related issues. Now I'm wondering: does that statement imply anything specific? Something like "I know something about X, but I can't tell you what it is"?

PS: the guy is a native English speaker.

Apologies if wrong tagging..


texts: Use of noun "immovable" and its plural form

texts: I'm not sure about the plural form of immovable (immovables). By the way, is "immovable" a word that English speakers use when referring to "real estates, properties etc."?


texts: How is the ending -le or -el determined?

texts:
I'm busy working on a ladle model at the moment, and as I am idle and inattentive this phrase sometimes comes out as ladel model, sometimes ladle modle, and sometimes ladel modle in addition to the occasional correct spelling.

Is there any particular reason for the two differently-spelt but identically sounded endings? Perusing the dictionary suggests that model is from French and ladle from Old English. Is that why the words are spelt differently?


texts:
I'm reading a book and I stumbled upon the following paragraph, in context of doing a conceptual analysis, to quote:

Ml: Motherhood  is  the  conjunction  of  femaleness  and  parent-hood.
M2: To be a mother  is to  be a female parent.
M3: Being a mother  is being  a female parent.
M4: 'Mother' means the  same as 'female parent'.
M5: x is a mother  at t  =  df. x is a female parent  at  t.

For the life of me I cannot figure out what that "df." in the last sentence supposed to mean.
The Book: Confrontations with the Reaper


texts: Why is the present perfect used for a past action?

texts:
I know I've been asking a lot of questions lately about tenses. But please bear with me here.

  NASA scientists have decided to delay the space shuttle's launch in order to determine whether recently repaired parts will cause damage if they break off in orbit.

So for the above example, I know will is correctly used. But I don't understand why there needs to be Present Perfect. Since this happened in the past shouldn't there be Simple Past?

Is this because NASA's decision is continuing into the present?


texts: "not as ... as I crave" or "not as ... as what I crave?

texts:
In the sentence I wanted to build my knowledge through a variety of opportunities, but at my current school these opportunities aren’t as vast as what I crave

I want to convey a meaning like "not as vast as the opportunities I crave". My theory is that the what is necessary to convey such meaning, and that not as vast as I crave sounds weird and unnatural

Which one is correct, "not as vast as I crave" or "not as vast as what I crave"?


texts: Why is "sure" pronounced with a "sh" consonant (voiceless postalveolar fricative [ʃ])?

texts:
A recent ELL HNQ post about "sure" put a question in my head: Wait, why is "sure" pronounced the way it is?
The initial consonant is a voiceless postalveolar fricative [ʃ] as opposed to a voiceless alveolar fricative [s]. Another common word example is "sugar". I have always considered the phonetic oddity of "sugar" easily explainable. It originally came from Sanskrit by way of Arabic and the "sh" sound as a holdover indicating its provenance makes sense. Sugar originated in the Indian subcontinent and for much of European history it had to be imported into Europe by Middle Eastern merchants. Etymology Online:

sugar (n.)
late 13c., sugre, from Old French sucre "sugar" (12c.), from Medieval Latin succarum, from Arabic sukkar, from Persian shakar, from Sanskrit sharkara "ground or candied sugar," originally "grit, gravel" (cognate with Greek kroke "pebble").

That Etymology Online page has one vague line on its pronunciation change that doesn't tell us much besides unsubstantiated speculation:

The pronunciation shift from s- to sh- is probably from the initial long vowel sound syu- (as in sure).

But what about "sure"? It doesn't seem to have come from either Arabic or Indian languages

sure (adj.)
early 13c., "safe against attack, secure," later "firm, reliable" (c. 1300); "mentally certain, confident" (mid-14c.); "firm, strong, resolute" (c. 1400), from Old French seur, sur "safe, secure; undoubted, dependable, trustworthy" (12c.), from Latin securus "free from care, untroubled, heedless, safe").

Another word with a similar pronunciation pattern I can think of is "sumac", but in addition to [ʃ] it can also be pronounced with [s]. But we don't pronounce "super" with [ʃ], nor "suicide", nor "sue".


texts:
What is the difference between the two? They seem so similar to me.

In everyday speaking, can I use just one of them?


texts:
Saw these examples:
They were accused of aiding his escape.
They were accused of aiding him in his escape.

http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/aid_2

Is there any difference between these sentences and If there is how do I use aid and aid in properly?

Thank you


texts:
"My brothers, my cousins, and I"
"My brothers, my cousins and I"
Which one is correct?


texts: What is a single-word synonym for "train of thought" that would cover exposition to someone else and internal philosophising?

texts: I am seeking a single word to denote a character's train of connected thoughts, both when they are expounding a view or explaining something to another person and when they are analysing in their mind a set of circumstances or a problem.


texts:
I am not asking about a synonym

Google's result shows the meaning of pretentious as

  attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent,
  culture, etc., than is actually possessed.

What would be the word to describe someone who attempts to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., but because he actually possesses it?

Is condescending or patronizing the right word here?


texts:
Steal the enemy’s warhead from their base and deliver it to safety

Does it mean "deliver safely" or "deliver it to a safe place"?


texts:
My mother says this phrase all of the time, to mean "That is hilarious".

Supposedly "killing" is short for "killingly-funny"(!) but I must admit I have never ever heard anyone else say it.

Is it a genuine expression? And if so, what are its origins?


texts: Is the word "all" implied by this question?

texts:
I saw a post on Programmers.StackExchange in which someone asks the question:

  Why do programmers [or anyone] give the "dead fish" hand shake in an interview?

The responses to that question say things of the nature "not ALL programmers do that."  The OP then replies, "I didn't say ALL programmers did that, I just said that programmers did that".

However, to me, it seems like saying "why do programmers do __" is equivalent to asking why all programmers do _____.

Who is correct?  How many programmers give the "dead fish" hand shake, according to the phrasing of that question?


texts:
1) How to add space between every word when typing into Word?

  2) There is a marked line between each person in this row.

I believe usages of 'between each/every' in the contexts above are nothing out of the ordinary. But the logic behind it has always struck me as odd. 'Between', by definition, should logically be followed by a binary phrase (involving two entities). Yet, there doesn't seem to be a clearer way to express those two example sentences without shifting the focus: I could say 'between every two persons' in the second example but that would clearly lead to some confusion.

So is this just a case of idiomatic dictation, or are there better ways to phrase these example sentences? Many thanks in advance.


texts: "I'm thinking of" vs "I'm wondering" vs "I wonder"

texts:
When we want to say that we have been thinking (for days) before taking a decision, I'm use to saying

I'm thinking of hiring another employee...

Are there any other ways of saying the same thing?

I wonder hiring another employee...

By the way, is that right saying I'm wondering?


texts: Word to describe explicit comparison between somethings original state and its current state

texts:
I'm trying to find a good word that properly points out the difference between any nouns original state and its current state, assuming the original and current will always be the only two states of the noun.

For example, if I want to compare the original condition of a phone to the current condition, what word would be used to describe the inquiry itself, explicitly dealing with the original phone state and the current phone state?

I would imagine "history" would be one answer, but to me, "history" implies several potential states (original, at this date, at this other date, currently, etc.), whereas in my case I will only ever have exactly two states, no less and no more (since a new phone will be in its original and its current state).

Another could be "comparison," but that again sounds to me like it could be a comparison of any two states, not explicitly the original state and the current state.

Does such a word exist?


texts:
what is the the difference in meaning when we say

  "help me"

and when we say

  "help me out "

i saw so many verbs like this,and i dont know the exact difference.


texts: What is the difference between "Alphabet" and "Alphabets"?

texts: I am just having a debate with one of my friend regarding the use of the word "Alphabet". when I use the word "last alphabet" instead of "last letter of Alphabet" she told me that I used the wrong word and I have to correct my self. can anyone explain to me the difference and if I am correct or not?


texts: By this time tomorrow or at this time tomorrow or tomorrow at this time

texts:
I will be watching a movie at this time tomorrow.
I will be watching a movie tomorrow at this time.
I will be watching a movie by this time tomorrow.

Which one  is correct to use?

Please help me.  Thanks


texts:
There are words in the song "Mad about You" by Sting

  A stone's throw from Jerusalem
  I walked a lonely mile in the moonlight
  And though a million stars were shining
  My heart was lost on a distant planet
  That whirls around the April moon
  Whirling in an arc of sadness
  I'm lost without you. I'm lost without you

Does the April moon means something special? Google does not enlighten.


texts:
Are these adjectives interchangeable?

I always hear: 'An Arab man.' but never 'An Arabic man.' and I always hear 'Arabic coffee' but never hear 'Arab coffee.'


texts: "Habitat selection in/of birds", "concept in/of statistics", "theme in/of evolution"

texts:
It seems to me that in and of work equally well in sentences such as these:

  Habitat selection in birds is frequently studied.
  Habitat selection of birds is frequently studied.

  Variation is a key concept in statistics.
  Variation is a key concept of statistics.

  The function of behaviour is an important theme in evolution.
  The function of behaviour is an important theme of evolution.

Should either in or of be favoured in the above sentences?


texts: A synonym of 'failure' in the context of failing a challenge. (one word)

texts:
Positively I'm using completed or success (I don't want to use successful) together with the word challenge.

Now I'm looking for the negative equivalent. However I can't use unsuccess because that doesn't exist. (And not unsuccessful either because I don't want to use successful)

I don't want to use incomplete either because that implies the challenge is still open for completion and I don't want to imply that.

I don't want to use failure either because some people could read that as "(you are a) failure".


texts:
When used after a list of nouns, does the pronoun who refer to all items in the list or only the last one? How can one avoid ambiguity?

E.g.:

a) The Romans and the Etruscans, who inhabited modern Tuscany, fought for dominance of central Italy.

Does who refer to the Etruscans only or to the Romans as well?

b) We had dinner with the Smiths and the Thorpes, who are visiting from California.

Who's visiting from California? Just the Thorpes or the Smiths as well?


texts: Use of semicolon to separate items within a list that appears within a parenthetical element

texts:
For low-complexity ML detection, breadth-first approaches, such as ... , have been chosen as a reasonable alternative..."

There are three examples of said breadth-first approaches, which appear in the following form:

A        (item 1)
B and C  (item 2)
D        (item 3)

Should I use semicolons to separate these three items? As in

A; B and C; and D


texts: Is there a term for using Google or other search engines to cheat at trivia?

texts:
In a most meta act, I've been trying to search for such a term, but as you may have guessed, it's extremely difficult to get meaningful results when including the words in my question. Lots of noise, no obvious signal. So, does such a term even exist for using search engines to cheat and find the answer to trivia or brain teaser type questions?

My goal is to use the term in a trivia question, e.g. "What does '_____' mean?" so that the person I suspect of cheating can embarrass themselves. ;)


texts: as close to ours as vs closer to ours than

texts: Does as close to ours as in "Several studies on monkeys, whose immune systems are as close to ours as that of any animal, have been promising, showing a strong and lasting immune response." mean closer to ours than ?


texts: What does "Do you even North America?" mean?

texts:
English isn't my first language and I'm having a problem with understanding the meaning of this question.

Does "Do you even North America?" mean that they're asking if I'm from North America?


texts: Where and why "dispirited" lost its "s"?

texts: That word just doesn't feel right, it's not "di" (like in "dipole), it's not "de" ("depressed"), it's not "dis" (at least not from the spelling point). When did it go wrong?


texts: "50-or-so candles" or "50 or so candles"?

texts: My gut tells me the correct answer is "50-or-so candles," since the "50-or-so" is a modifier of candles -- just how many candles are we talking?


texts: How can I say that a chord (music) lasts for a period of time related to the rhythm of a song?

texts:
This is the first time I ask a question here and I hope someone can help me out. My question about English language is related to music, thus, although I can be wrong, I think it would be good to write about some musical concepts to help you to help me.
The conception of time in music is related to the way we feel the rhythm. We usually write music according to stressed and unstressed pulses, which causes a song to be divided in smaller parts called measures. Within the measures we have the strong and weak beats. Along with the rhythm, there are chords that are changed according to way the song was composed. Sometimes a chord can last for a whole measure, other times there are two or more chords that last small portions of the rhythm inside the measure.
Suppose there are 2 chords within a measure of 4 beats. The first chord sounds from the first beat of the measure until the middle (or first half part)  of the second beat. Then other chord starts to be used from the middle of the second beat until the end of the measure as shown in the figure below:

My question is: Is it wrong to say that the first chord lasts from the beginning of the measure until the middle of the second beat or would it be better to say that the first chord is used from the beginning of the measure until the middle of the second beat when the other chord will start to be used? I'm very confused about this. I'm not sure if I can say that the chord lasts, remains, is used for a part of the measure, or even sounds from the beginning until a given part of the measure. Could you help me please?

This is the real musical example:

Best regards,
Renato.


texts: Should this use of "est." be "etc." instead?

texts:
A client of mine is using text like this:

  The planter has been developed to plant row crops like maize, sunflower, soya beans, est. in a single pass without any prior soil preparation through cultivation.

I have never seen "est." used like this before, and have Googled and asked two other people, who agree.

Should this not be "etc."? Or, in full:

  The planter has been developed to plant row crops like maize, sunflower, soya beans, etc. in a single pass without any prior soil preparation through cultivation.


texts: How to respond politely and professionally to an email requesting information?

texts:
I have received the following email

  Hello,
  Thank you for applying to UCB.  We would like to call you
  briefly between the hours of 10:50 A.M. EST and noon on January 31.
  Please provide primary and secondary phone numbers.
  Best regards,

How do I respond to it politely and professionally?

  Hi

  Please find the requested information below.
  primary   :
  secondary  :

  Thanks

Which is the professional and polite way to say that the following is the information you asked for.

  Please find the requested information below.
  Please find the requested information as follows.
  Kindly find the requested information below.
  Kindly find the requested information as follows.
  The following is the requested information.
  Requested information are as follows.


texts: Punctuation and Intonation in Enumerations Occurring in Mathematics

texts:
Here, John Lawler writes the following:

  Commas are not determined by grammar or by which words they follow. Comma indicates a particular intonation. If you would use that intonation in speaking the sentence, use a comma; if not, don't. So it's important to hear what you're writing, in your mind if nowhere else.

Sticking to this advice, how would you punctuate the following sentence without setting a comma before "then"?

  If f, g, and h are functions then f(gh) = (fg)h.


texts: What does "quotable" mean in this sentence?

texts:
Afters years of being one of the most quotable political operatives around, I developed a case of political laryngitis.

All quotable's meanings have to do with putting something in between quotation marks, making excerpts, citing and repeating. None of these feel right in the context of this sentence.

To mean, quotable in this sentence probably mean to be trusted. But I do see how the meaning "worth quoting" can fit here, somewhat.

Anyways, I am not quite sure. My command of English is pretty bad.


texts: when talking about phonics, is this use of the word "sound" correct?

texts:
Sound is a verb, so you can say "the computer sounds the noise"
But can you say, "the letter K sounds kuh" and "what does the letter K sound?"

I understand you can say "what does K sound like, what is the sound of K, etc." but when trying to make that sentence as simple as possible, asking "what does the letter sound?" and "the Letter sounds __" seems grammatically correct, but doesn't feel like its correct. sounds very weird to me.

So is my sentence correct? and if it isn't, what would be the absolute simplest way to ask and answer that question.


texts: Which word best describes a story made up of analogies, metaphors and perhaps parables?

texts:
Which word (if any) best describes a complete story that is made up of analogies, metaphors and possibly some parables?

For example, if I was writing a story about someone's life journey, but writing it as if it was a boat on a river that started as a small trickle, then gained momentum and energy, had periods of calm, then encountered rough waters etc.  Would that be an analogy? Would the fact it is a story be too much for an analogy?  I think of an analogy more like a one-liner or a sentence at most.

I don't think parable would fit.  A parable appears to require a moral to the story.  My story may not have a moral to it.  Also I don't think a metaphor is broad enough.  Perhaps a sustained metaphor?

Please help..


texts: Other word for practitioners of parkour or other free/obstacle run styles

texts:
I am searching for a single word noun describing someone who practices free-running, obstacle courses or simply parkour.

Other sources I found simply call them "practitioners of [the said technique]" or are not single-worded. In german there is the word "Parkourläufer" which is a trick as it stitches two nouns together, but "parkourrunner" but this sounds clumsy to me.

It does not have to address parkour specificaly, any technical or slang noun describing someone who does similar activities regarding running and jumping over obstacles a lot will suffice. The less specific about the kind of obstacles or courses (e.g. rooftops, cars..) the better.


texts: How would you call a person who shares their private life details way more often than others?

texts:
Most of the time I encounter it in form of excessively sharing their personal life details through social media without any obvious goal like money or popularity.

I have an impression that I've heard this word before but somehow can't find it.


texts: What is Character B doing to Character A?

texts:
Character C was unfortunate to get infected with West Nile virus and now has wide rashes all over her body and has turned into an ugly looking woman(she was really hot before) and now faces the judgement and laughs of the society. She wants to seek a solution to this daily problem and hence, posts it on a forum where she writes her problem, asking self-proclaimed unattractive girls of forum about how they manage with these everyday problems?

I will write a dialogue piece between 2 people, A, an ugly woman, and B, a man, talking over the issues of Character C and apparently trying to sort it out.

  A: So you want ugly girls to advise you? You are really fucked up.

  B (to A): No, I think she meant to seek advise from people who share the same problem and is seeking comfort(or sympathy), not trying to demean ugly girls like you.

It seems that A has taken offense to what C has written (probably because of the awkward use of words on the part of C).

Here, B comes to support C and instead has intentionally/unintentionally ruffled A's feathers by passing an offhanded comment. He seems to support C but is being plain insensitive to A who is not wrong to get offended on her part. Also the audience viewing this comment will find it humorous.

What would this act of B be labelled? Could anyone explain this scenario?


texts: My student said "I watched a TV at home" but I corrected it to "I watched (the) TV at home". I said "the" is not absolutely necessary. My student doesn't understand why "a" is not appropriate. How can I simply explain this? (The student isn't familiar with grammar jargon so I'm trying to make the explanation as simple as possible)


texts: Unique way of saying fulfilling some one else's dream for them

texts:
My daughter is a famous motorcyclist and has to answer hundreds of interviews.  In her interviews she says that she is fulfilling her father's "legacy".  I have always felt she is using the wrong word.

She could say she is "fulfilling her father's unfulfilled dream".

My daughter wants to use a dramatic word but I feel she is using the wrong one. "Legacy" has to do with money.

Can someone suggest a unique word?


texts: What is the editing term for a section of text in a translation which was already in the target language and therefore has not been translated?

texts:
I'm wondering if a Latin or special editing term exists for texts which was already in the target language in the original, and therefore has just been copied over onto the translation.

The situation is that I have an original document which contains text in the original language and short passages already in the target language. The text which can be found already in the target language is not 'pre-translated' - it  is provided as it was originally spoken/written.

There are many mistakes throughout, in both languages, and I'd like to indicate that the text copied over is not my handiwork using a special term, if such a term exists.

I am aware of the term 'sic', and would like to know if there is a more specific term that could apply here.

Perhaps I need to post this is a separate question, but I'm also wondering if there is term to indicate that the translation provided is a 'best possible' / 'word-for-word' translation of a section from the original text which is incomprehensible due to it being written so badly, or because of a lack of context.

It is a legal document.


texts: Meaning of the "forthcoming" in this sentence

texts:
I'm going to be as forthcoming as I can be, Mr. Anderson.

from The Matrix.


texts: In “…displaying your name” is ‘displaying’ a gerund or a participle?

texts:
I've learned so far that a Gerund can be used in 6 cases: Subject, Object, Subject complement, Object complement, Object of preposition and Object of possessive.

Participles are used as adjectives, such as; falling monkey, burning building, etc. A participle must modify something in the sentence.

In this sentence:

  My phone will ring displaying your name

can someone please explain whether displaying is a gerund or a participle? I can neither put it in any of the 6 gerund categories nor can I get how it is modifying anything in the sentence.


texts: How do you express in english the idea of noticing something

texts:
I'm writing an essay, and I'd like to write at the beginning of the text that it is important to notice the ambiguity of the question I'm asked. How can I do that properly in english?

I'm my language, I would have said :

"We remark".
Or :
"One should notice that..."

thank you!


texts: What class of word are "to" and "past" in "ten past two", "five to three" etc

texts:
When talking about times,

5:30 can be read "half past five"
5:40 can be read "twenty to six"

etc.
What is the name of this type of word: to or past, in that context?
I'm not sure if it's "conjunction", I'd hope there a more specific word.


texts: Why do people say "over-" and "underwhelmed" but never just "whelmed"?

texts:
We've all been overwhelmed with work, or seen an underwhelming movie... but it occurred to me that I've never heard anyone use the root word, whelm.

whelm (verb)
1. to submerge; engulf.
2. to overcome utterly; overwhelm: whelmed by misfortune.

If whelm is "to overcome utterly," then why is it you never hear anyone say, "I was whelmed at work today."

And wouldn't underwhelm mean something more like expected or normal, rather than the implied less-than-expected?


texts: Is it 'buy-in to', 'buy into', or 'buy in to' in the following sentence

texts:
"I don't understand why people <insert words here> products that have a reputation of hardware failures."

What is the correct way to form this sentence?


texts: I want to use the phrase "Horse's Mouth" in one of the applications that I am creating to refer to a group that have the original story. In the same application, there is another group of people, who just reports/narrate the original story. What can be a good word/phrase to describe such a group of people?


texts: The difference between an analogy and a metaphor?

texts: Many a time I've asked what the difference is between an analogy and a metaphor. I've asked it to my teacher, on internet sites, to my parents, so on and so forth. I got a different answer every time, and I never fully grasped what the difference is, so what is the difference?


texts: What is the word used to descibe someone who grooms someone for future personal gain?

texts: I have a "friend" who used to socialize with me a lot and we had a lot of fun.  She'd invite me over for dinner and to parties she threw.  I got really close to her, or so I thought.  She has a second home in my subdivision and comes here twice a year for vacations.  During the time she's not here, she used to ask me to do things at her house and to keep an eye on it.  Now that she has a new next door neighbor who does these things for her, she has completely stopped inviting me to dinners and social functions.  What is the best word to describe a person who grooms someone for future personal gain?  That is the type of person I am beginning to believe she is.  My heart is broken over this.


texts:
Imagine my surprise, then, when, one Saturday, she agreed to go on a hike with me.

'Then' needs a comma on either side of it because it is an aside, and I think 'one Saturday' needs commas because it is an inserted element, but the result seems strange to me. Are all of these punctuation marks strictly necessary?


texts: Single word for a person who is addicted of using internet

texts: I want to know a single word for a person who is greatly addicted of using internet. Please don't answer the word internetmaniac. I already have this one.


texts: What is a possible equivalent for *not worth the paper it's written on*

texts: What is a possible modern equivalent, in our internet, and supposedly paperless age, of the expression not worth the paper it's written on.


texts:
I want to know if this english word 'Take Care' that we use in greetings have the same deep meaning or approach as our language is.

In my language (Filipino), it was 'Ingat po kayo' which is, if studied deeper, tells that 'Take Care, because something bad might happen to you' unlike if we're using the English term, we just understand it as closing greeting but doesn't contain any other meaning.


texts:
I am trying to find out why I see product composition written with capital letters, such as 70% Polycarbonate 20% Silicone 10% Thermoplastic Elastomer. Why is that? Is there an official rule or is it like this to make it look better?

Thanks for all answers.


texts:
I am trying to list the proportion of x and y.  I wrote the the first sentence and my boss changed it to the second one. Is it wrong to use and in this situation?

Out of 50,000 admissions, about 8% were due to X and 30% were due to y.

Out of 50,000 admissions, about 8% were due to X , while 30% were due to y.


texts: Is the term "ice cream" considered one word or two?

texts:
My question is a little broader than the title and applies to a term which is described by more than one "word". Is the term (in this case "ice cream") one word, or two?

Based on my research, the three dictionaries that I consulted, Merriam-Webster (MW), MacMillian (MM), and the Oxford Dictionary (OX) all seem to provide some leeway in expressing exactly what a word is and if it must be delimited by spaces and/or punctuation. See definitions below:

  MW(b)(2): "any segment of written or printed discourse
  ordinarily appearing between spaces or between a space and a punctuation mark"

  OX 1a: "single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing,
  used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and
  typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed"

  MM 1: "[countable] a single unit of written or spoken language"

MW and OX use words like typically and ordinarily indicating that there is the possibility for multi-word words, but don't exactly provide sample sentences with any. Even MM doesn't quite spell out what comprises a single unit. However, I would argue that "ice cream" independently, that is, taken as two separate words, is two units of language, rather than one.

Even in looking up compound word examples, these are delimited by a space on either side, that is, condensed into one clear-cut word by means of placement (such as backstab) or they use a hyphen (such as white-collar).

With this predicament in mind and as a yes or no question (providing justification), is "ice cream" as is, no hyphen and not stuck together as "icecream" or "ice-cream", one word, or two?


texts: another greeting aside from "I hope you are well" in an email?

texts: I'm stuck with "I hope you are well" every time I compose an email. What other similar opening lines can I use in an email?


texts: "Latter" when referring to more than one

texts:
There are 3 scenarios and I want to contrast the first with the second and the third. So on one side there is one single scenario and on the other side there is 2 scenarios. I like to use "former" and "latter" to refer to these two sides as in the following sentence:

  The first case can not be compared with the second and the third cases, because the material used in the former is water-based while the one used in
  the latter is oil-based.

But then there seems to be an ambiguity in terms of plurality/singularity of what "latter" is referred to; it seems to me that "latter" has the connotation that there is just one scenario in the second side of the contrast. Is there any way to overcome this ambiguity? It seems to me that "latters" in plural is not a word.


texts:
I recently wrote something where I indicated a technical task was not for the faint at heart.  What I meant to say was that the task would require a lot of technical knowledge which most of the audience would not likely have. They would need to spend time and effort to learn technical details they probably wouldn't be interested in.  So a task only undertaken by someone with the appropriate technical knowledge or someone highly motivated to learn how to do it.

Upon re-reading, I realized that some might take this as implying that if they couldn't or wouldn't do such a thing, they were in some way inadequate.

Without starting an endless debate on whether or not the expression already removes that implication, could I have put it better?  If I had been speaking, I wouldn't be concerned, but writing lacks the nuance of delivery.


texts: Difference between "There is to be" "there has to be"

texts:
"There is to be an urgent ministerial review of language learning."

Does this mean that the review is going to take place, or does this mean that there should be a review? I am a little clueless.


texts: A friend of Jane and Tom or A friend of Jane and Tom's?

texts:
We can say:

She's a friend of mine.

She's a friend of Tom's.

She's a friend of my parents'.

But today I saw this: She's a friend of Jane and Tom.

Is it correct? Or should it be: She's a friend of Jane and Tom's?


texts: 'not fool enough to dance on the old strings', is it an idiom? This phrase is from 'The Invisible Man' by H.G Wells

texts:
In the book of 'The Invisible Man' by Wells, there is this sentence; "Kemp, you're not fool enough to dance on the old strings. Can't you see my position?"

In this particular scene, Griffin(the invisible man) was telling Dr.Kemp(they went to the same university) a story about how he became invisible and what happened since. When Kemp heard about Griffin's invasion and attack a man, he said something negative and Griffin got angry and said that sentence. It sounds like something that he thought Kemp would not be that much old-fashioned. Is it right?

While Griffin was telling, he described how he tied a man in a sheet to keep a man from attacking him, Griffin said "It was rather a good idea to keep the idiot scared and quiet, and a devilish hard thing to get out of—head away from the string." Here is another string. Are those tow words of 'string' related?


texts: Looking for a word to describe an independent contractor's workers

texts:
In a contract I am trying to describe the workers that an independent contractor will supply my company when required to do so. These workers will carry out tasks such as cleaning and driving. I would not describe them as consultants. They are not my employees as they are employed by the contractor. I have thought of:-
Candidates,
Assignee,
Worker
Example of usage:-
"You shall keep record of all the hours worked by each candidate."


texts:
What do list titles such as "bull arguments" and "bear arguments" mean?

My guess is that they are arguments in favor / against a proposal that's being discussed.


texts: What do you call the collective singular as a rhetorical device? (e.g. 'the Hun')

texts:
I’m trying to figure out how to refer to the rhetorical device in which one refers to a collective as an individual member of that group, e.g. ’the Hun’ for soldiers of the German Empire during the first World War, or ’the Bantoo’ or ’the Hindoo’ in older ethnographic writing. An example, from the movie Patton:

'Now there’s another thing I want you to remember. I don’t want to get any messages saying that we are holding our position. We’re not holding anything. Let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly and we’re not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy. We're going to hold onto him by the nose and we're going to kick him in the ass. We're going to kick the hell out of him all the time and we're gonna go through him like crap through a goose.’

The general is referring to German soldiers collectively, but through an imagined individual (perhaps because for military purposes, there's little point in differentiating among the individuals?).

It seems like this might be a subcategory of synecdoche.


texts: Single word request: to learn or the act/state of learning something without awareness that one is being taught

texts:
You'll often hear people reference how they learned so much about something, but it didn't feel like they were learning. Is there a word to describe this?

Sample sentence:
"I had no idea how much I learned from the trip to the planetarium. It was _____."


texts:
I was reading a New Yorker article regarding Donald Trump's inauguration (A Dark Inaugural By Benjamin Wallace-Wells) and I came across this sentence at the very end:

  Today, Melania Trump’s coat was pale blue and Michelle Obama’s was maroon, and that seemed to capture the day: patriotic, yes, but a few shades off.

What does "a few shades off" mean here? Is it pointing to the somber colors of their outfits or perhaps to the overcast, dark tone of Trump's message to the American public?

Checked the Internet but couldn't find an answer.


texts: "Dazzling images do not a shining nation make"

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  Why is “xxxx doth not a yyyy make” considered valid English?

Is

  Dazzling images do not a shining nation make

correct grammatically? To me it should be

  Dazzling images do not make a shining nation.

Does the shifting of make emphasize the meaning?


texts: meaning "upon which the system depends for"

texts:
In sentence "A system’s trust model defines the set of software and data upon which the system depends for correct enforcement of system security goals."
I don't understand the mean of "upon which the system depends for".any idea?

Thanks.


texts:
I was having a discussion with my coworker because I was sending a mail in English (we're Mexicans), and I wanted to end the mail with:

Saludos!

My coworker insisted that I ought to stick to the language of the rest of the email and end it with:

Regards

or something like that.

I know that in our country we are less formal than workers in the USA, and I kind of want to still be achieve a mix of laid back style while keeping a formal tone. My question is, do you feel that this is a bad idea in a work situation?

Saludos!


texts:
Kodak moment

  (informal) A sentimental or charming moment worthy of capturing in a photograph.

Is there another word(s) to describe such a moment? (Something not simply a slang)

Does picturesque suit here?

Closest I've got is photo worthy.
I've also considered photo op or photo opportunity, but that deals mostly with promoting celebrities with photos.


texts: What is the etymology of "Augenphilologie"?

texts:
Augenphilologie was used in the Scripps National Spelling Bee last night, and it seems like a fantastic word to use in writing. But I’m not sure how to use it in a sentence, or what its definition is really getting at. The definition given by Webster’s Third is:

  linguistics that misrepresents the realities of speech because of overemphasis on writing.

Is it saying something like “writing tends to be much more florid than regular speech, thus misrepresenting it”? What are some other examples? Or does it mean something different?


texts: what is it called when someone talks about something they dont know about

texts: What is it called when someone says something inaccurate about something they know nothing about??


texts:
It seems clear to be an American idiom with the approximate meaning, "to waste time or procrastinate."

My curiosity is about its possible relation to the Goofy, the Disney cartoon character.


texts: What does "I won't never" mean in this phrase?

texts:
I won't never regret these scars from trying to hold on to you.

I came across some poetry from America's Got Talent and was confused about what "I won't never" is actually intended to mean.
Is there really such a thing in English language as double negation?


texts: Word describing people who need to establish trust, But aren't friends

texts:
I'm looking for a single word that would describe two people that need to establish trust between them but aren't friends. An example might be buyer and seller, if person A buys a car from person B. Both of them need to have some trust however they won't meet each other ever again.

Thanks.


texts:
Which is correct, "Oh, dear!" or "Oh dear!"?

My understanding is that the word oh is an interjection, and should thus be followed by a comma. However, is the second usage the correct one because the two words form a phrase and the word dear is not a vocative here?


texts: The use of conjunction "and" to avoid repetition

texts:
I apologize if my question seems trivial for people who study literature and English language in depth.

My question is basically related to the following statements:

The existence of X
The convergence of X to Y

Here, X and Y are nouns. So I would like to ask the following questions:

Assuming I combine statement 1 and statement 2, when I write "The existence of X and the convergence of X to Y" seems to be redundant. So, is this grammatically correct?
Now, if I reduce repeated words to obtain "The existence and the convergence of X to Y", does it automatically mean X satisfies both statement 1 and statement 2 in general English language?

I apologize if my question is out of context or the way I phrase my question to be strange since I come from mathematical background and English is not my native language.

Thank you very much! Any comment is much appreciated!


texts:
I presume this must be an exception to "pronounce it like the locals", since what I hear is something like 'Norlin'. Or is this just the movies?

Is it a mistake to attempt to pronounce it like a local?


texts: What do the President Obama is “smooth without big handles,” and he “got his mojo back”?

texts:
There were two “fancy” phrases –“he is smooth without big handles” and “he is getting his mojo back” in describing recent images of President Obama’s in New York Times’ (April 14) article titled “Come Back, Sarah Palin!”

“Saturday Night Live has always struggled with its Obama impersonation because Obama is “smooth without big handles,” as the show’s inimitable satirist Jim Downey puts it.

Seth Meyers, the clever “S.N.L.” head writer and “Weekend Update” anchor. recalled that, after the Navy Seals raid that killed Osama last year, the show did a sketch with Obama “getting his mojo back.” “It would be really fun to see that Obama again on the show, the confident Obama who comes out on the campaign trail,” he said. “

From the context of the above lines, “get one’s mojo back” sounds like “get back one’s guts or perk up,” but I’m not sure. What do both phrases of “smooth without big handles” and “get one’s mojo back“ which were shown in the quotation marks in the text mean?

Are they both well-established phrases or idioms?


texts: Correct sentence structure, Withdraw deposit

texts:
Our UI designer is saying that our link option 'Withdraw deposit funds" is a correct and acceptable structure.

I argue that we should make it "Withdraw/deposit funds" or "Withdraw or deposit funds", but he is does not agree.

What is the grammatically correct structure?


texts:
I am wondering how many expressions in English can express "Thank you" (I am just running out of them)

Thank you (very much) or Thanks.
Many thanks!
I appreciate it indeed!
Thanks a million!
I can't say enough thanks to you

May I know more?


texts: "well it's actually quite fast if you put it in transit speaking." What does this sentence mean?

texts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9hl9iwas1k&t=2m23s
2:25
The sentence comes from a youtube video about an embarrassing situation when a girl meets her ex's new girlfriend. The girl complains about the slow journey of the subway. The other says, "well it's actually quite fast if you put it in transit speaking."
Is that a kind of expression in English to say "if you put it in ... speaking", which might means "if you consider ..." ?


texts: A shorter way of saying "In view of the fact"

texts: I need a shorter, equivalent form for "In view of the fact". I am a certified Spanish/English translator in Venezuela. Thank you for your assistance.


texts:
Which is correct?

The thief carried the knife carefully so as not to cut himself.
The thief carried the knife carefully not to cut himself.


texts: In calculus there is a formula known as the chain rule, used for differentiating composite functions. What is the origin of this expression?


texts:
In sentences like:

  Also, it provides ...
  Also, It provides ...

is it allowed to place It (with a capital I) instead of it after the adverb Also?


texts: Formality and politeness of the word fine

texts:
I was wondering what I should use to sound more polite.

"If you are with it" or
"If it is fine with you?"

Thanks


texts: "Those exposed to extreme cold" vs. "those who are exposed to extreme cold"

texts:
I saw the following example sentence in a TOEFL preparation book:

  To prevent frostbite, those exposed to extreme cold are advised to
  wiggle their fingers and toes to increase blood circulation.

But shouldn't it be "To prevent... those who are exposed to extreme cold..."? Am I misunderstanding?


texts:
Here's the content:

  What is Stock Music?
  Stock Music, also commonly known as Production Music, is a less expensive alternative to the use of popular or well known music in a production, since it is not necessary to obtain specific permission or pay additional clearance fees for the use of a song that has instant recognition.


texts: Word for sighing through your lips so that they flap and make a silly noise

texts: If you take a deep breath, close your lips gently, and then exhale, the air forces itself past your lips and makes them flap together like a horse. Is there a commonly used word or idiom for this?


texts: Where does "flying in the face" come from?

texts: To "fly in the face of" something means to be opposite it, with a particular connotation that is hard to describe. Where does the expression come from?


texts: Why was the 'hoodie' given the name 'hoodie'?

texts:
There were plenty of pieces of upper-body garments/clothing, which had a hood, before the 'hoodie'.

Was it simply that no one had thought of the name up until then? Or was there something different/special about the 'hoodie'?


texts:
Been watching Masterchef for a while now and I notice than Gordon always says:

  Your sixty minutes starts . . . now!

I notice it often because it sounds wrong to my ear. I was just watching it and now Joe's at it too. Shouldn't it be:

  Your sixty minutes start . . . now!

Or is sixty minutes up there somehow equivalent to:

  Your time starts . . . now!


texts: Moving in a shuttle-like manner, while advancing forward

texts:
Is there a single-word equivalent of moving in a shuttle-like manner while advancing forward, like Corker Spaniels do?

I initially contemplated using the word "to shuttle" but for me it has connotations of moving back and forth rather than from side to side while advancing. The point is in searching terrain in this manner.


texts: Is the definition of a word also a synonym of that word?

texts:
When writing, you can substitute the definition of a word for a word and still make a correct (if more complicated) sentence. Does that make the definition of a word a synonym for the actual word itself?

By the same logic, are words basically variables in a mathematical equation? Is:

3 + Y = 4

Y = 1

The same as saying:

I saw a duck today!

duck = a waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait.

If that's the case, could you therefore expand a sentence infinitely since each word has a definition that is made of words which themselves have definitions?


texts: What's a positive word to describe happily stumbling around on a pleasant afternoon, accomplishing nothing in particular?

texts:
The situation I'm trying to describe is one where someone is tottering around the yard, maybe a little buzzed, enjoying the weather during a lazy summer afternoon.
It's sort of the way I'd think of a Hobbit as being—content to be drinking some cider, mulling around the back yard, not accomplishing anything in particular, but enjoying themselves immensely.
Most words which come to mind—bumbling, staggering, stumbling—have negative connotations.  I'm looking for a happy version of this feeling, not an awkward or negative one.
A sample sentence would be something like, "Bilbo was enjoying his mead, ______ing around the yard, not accomplishing anything in particular this summer afternoon."


texts: Is "corrosion resistant material" incorrect?

texts:
When people say

  They made the material corrosion resistant.

they mean corrosion resistant as an adjective. The word corrosion is only a noun, and resistant is both an adjective and a noun. But in this combination resistant isn't a noun, but an adjective.

The problem I have is that adjectives aren't formed as Noun+Adjective. I think the correct form is corrosion-resistant. But people still write corrosion resistant without the hyphen.

So my question is: Is corrosion resistant without a hyphen correct or not? If it is correct, I would like to know why?


texts:
I am looking for the word that refers to the set of rules/laws within a fictional universe which maintains the realism within the universe.

Eg. Within The Lord of the Rings it is established that magic, elves, trolls etc are all realistic within this fantasy universe as it is established early on in the story, however, were Frodo to suddenly pull out a mobile telephone and let Gandalf know he was on his way to Mt Doom it would be unrealistic within the universe.

Words that it is not:

Realism
World building
consistency
plausibility

I seen it for the first time in a forum I can no longer find. All synonyms of realism are not what the word is either. I believe it to be specific to rules/laws within fictional/alternate universes created that maintain the status quo of realism.

I apologise if this is unclear but cannot think of another way to explain it and simply hope someone reading this knows the word.


texts: Is there a word for positive distraction?

texts:
The word "distraction" has generally negative or frivolous connotations, but shifting your mental focus can often be positive (you go on a walk and solve the hard problem, you spend a few days away from the office and you gain a new perspective, etc.).

  You should get away from it all, that will [insert the word] you.


texts: How to spell out short vowel pronunciations

texts:
Let me put it concisely:

How would you write a word to pronounce like 'o' in 'hot'? (short vowel o)
How would you write a word to pronounce like 'a' in 'sat'? (short vowel a)
How would you write a word to pronounce like 'i' in 'sit'? (short vowel i)

For example, to spell the pronunciation of 'u' in 'shut', you can write 'uh'.

Does anyone know?

If it helps, this is why I want to know. I am trying to build an app that teaches kids phonics, but you can't simply tell the computer to pronounce certain parts of the word. So I need to be able to separate, say, the 'e' sound from 'set'.


texts: Does "there's more to come" require a past tense after it?

texts:
I wrote the following phrase:

  There's more to come once this pull request get merged

(a pull request is something that can be merged)

I saw on various places people using There's more to come once + subject + past tense.

Is using present tense here correct or should I say There's more to come once this pull request got merged?


texts: I am writing a letter referencing a document title. I have several of the same document that I need to include the title of the documents in the letter. Do I write "please find six Form 2322" or "please find six Forms 2322"?


texts: Yet another "substitute" vs "replace" usage question

texts:
While investigating a recent question on the (mis)usage of substitute, I ran across multiple comments and answers pointing out that replace is traditionally preferred over substitute when swapping X with/by Y, ie., replace french fries with mashed potatoes, not substitute french fries with mashed potatoes.

Here's an example of one such unqualified statement taken from the comments in "replace" vs. "substitute" question.

  Replace and substitute do mean the same thing, but in opposite directions. In each case, there is a New and an Old, but the patterns go like this: He replaced Old with New = He substituted New for Old. Having two verbs lets you use either order, to suit your rhetorical purposes. – John Lawler Dec 22 '14 at 4:36

My trouble is I can't interchange replace and substitute this way. I can't think of a single case where this works if you put specific nouns in for Old and New. To me, the verbs replace and substitute take place in mutually exclusive circumstances, and those circumstances govern the choice.

In Substitute X for Y, Cerberus used the example -

  The mechanic had to substitute a generic steering wheel for the original Bentley wheel.

I can't say that, it's unidiomatic. Mechanics, working on a car, only replace, they never substitute. Replacement is a mechanical act. Substitution is a conceptual act or a matter related to decision-making, done in the planning phase, or on paper. The mechanic ended up replacing the original Bentley wheel with a generic one. He should have noted the substitution on the work order.

When a coach needs to replace a player on the field, he notifies the referee of a substitution. The substitution is presented to the ref. The ref documents it, then the players are exchanged.

In a restaurant, I could request mashed potatoes be substituted for the fries while ordering, but not after I've been presented with a plate full of fries I don't want. At that point, they must be replaced. "Excuse me, but I requested the mashed potatoes as a substitute, can you take that back and replace them please?"

And since I can't choose replace and substitute arbitrarily, I treat the order of the arguments of both verbs as flexible (although replace seems more problematic with the reversed order), and the two arguments as equals when both are present. This evidently represents some kind of change from when there was a proper DO and IDO for each verb.

While the idea that you can just choose the appropriate verb which accords with the argument order is very appealing, does anyone really do this anymore? If so who? When do substitute/replace not have distinct usage outside of argument order?