texts:
I live in Thailand and we pronounce "w" and "v" the same. When I spoke to American people they told me that the "v" sound was different from "w". They told me to move my lower lip to the upper teeth, then say "v", but I don't get it.

I want to know how to pronounce "v" in English. If you can suggest me how to practice it, that would be great!


texts: Name for the specific advertisement stands

texts:
What is the name of these type of advertising stands, or, to put it another way, how would you call them?

To clarify, there are two types of objects (shown in the link in ascending order):

Table promotional stands
Outside ground advertising stands

Of course, they could be called the way I referred to them, but maybe the community could propose a better term or the term that they have been using but is not an "officially approved" way of using the word.


texts: What is the difference between initialize and initiate?

texts: What is the difference between initialize and initiate words? Where should we use and can somebody explain it with some examples.


texts: You can have 'it is important to do X'; can you have 'it is urgent to do X'?

texts:
I'm proofreading an academic text, and I came across
'It is urgent to develop new theories for...'
Intuitively this use of 'urgent' seems non-standard to me, and while I've resolved (or I suppose avoided) the issue by offering the synonym 'imperative', it got me thinking about the uses of adjectives. To me,
?'it is urgent to develop...'; ?'it is pressing to develop...'
*'it is blue to develop...'; *'it is happy to develop...'
while
'it is important to develop...'; 'it is madness to develop...'
seem fine. Which, given that 'madness' is a noun, intrigues me. The adjectives in
'it is an urgent matter'; 'it is an important matter'; 'it is a pressing matter'
seem to behaving in the same way as each other. I don't think the variance in my first set of examples is to do with expletive pronouns ('it is raining'-> what is raining?/'it is important to develop...' -> what is important to develop...?) because 'is important to develop' is treated as a whole unit as far as 'it' is concerned, so the adjective distinction doesn't come into play. But maybe I'm wrong there?
My other guess is that it's about adjectives that allow/don't allow linking to an infinitival phrase. I haven't been able to form a coherent distinction between adjectives that do link, and those that don't - I've failed to find anything online that seems relevant about adjectival classes, but maybe someone here knows? Is some sort of adverbial conversion going on? Or are my intuitions out of whack, and do 'urgent' and 'pressing' behave just the same as 'important' in this context?
Maybe I'm overlooking something obvious...any help greatly appreciated.


texts: Word, Phrase or Idiom for "seemingly OK, but internally bad"

texts:
There are things that are seemingly OK but have problems within. For instance a food might seem OK but be poisonous. Or a translation might seem OK but in fact be awful since it has omitted or changed the main message. How can we describe such things? Even people might be seemingly nice but internally wicked!

I am particularly interested for words/phrases/idioms that describe the above-mentioned like translations.

For example:

  This translations is the word I am looking for, it seems OK but
  actually says something completely different to what the original
  sentence says!

I am interested especially in a word with a formal register, which is suitable to be written in an academic text. Is outwardly good/flawless a good fit?


texts: When to use "commitment" or "obligation"?

texts:
I am asking for the British English use of "commitment" and "obligation".

Referring to the Cambridge definitions:

Under no "obligation" to pay something...
Players must make a "commitment" to play for a full season.

In both definitions, it seems to me that there is a liability. I am asking for its use in business contracts, sales & projects etc.


texts: Rules for rising and falling intonation in similar questions - what are they?

texts:
Consider these two questions:

  Would you mind saying a little bit more about that?

and

  What do you mean by that?

When they perform the same function, and I expect an answer to both, why does the first have a falling intonation and the second one which rises?

My group of learners are as puzzled as I am - what suggestions does this group have?


texts:
I heard the idiom "put the hurt on" a lot growing up and I have a rough feeling of what it means but I'm not quite sure how to boil down the meaning to something I can explain to someone else.

A good example of the idiom being used in context is: https://youtu.be/NMV5wwzLVSY?t=62

My rough understanding is that it means something along the lines of "did someone a disservice but because they deserved it" but maybe someone knows more about the etymology of the phrase and can help clarify it.


texts:
Why are gym rats so called?

  someone who spends a lot of time exercising in the gym, and who cares very much about the shape and condition of their body

Is it an analogy between a rat living in a gym and the muscle freak visiting the game and spending an awful lot of time there?


texts: Noun Clauses + Prepositional Phrases + Adverb Clauses

texts:
I have come again to ask for your help!
I have doubts about specific sentences and their grammatical structure. I tried to figure out by myself, but I couldn't, so I am asking you guys for your wisdom.

"Notice that machine learning isn't going to give us solutions all by itself"

In this first sentence, I don't understand where are the subject and the predicate. For instance, "that machine learning isn't going to give us solutions all by itself." is a noun clause, which can act as a subject and as an object, and then we have "Notice", which is a verb. Is very confusing. I thought that "Notice" might be a reduced form of a grammatical element and the sentence could be rephrased like this:
"You can notice + NP".

2."At each step in the search, it tries the candidate drugs on the model."

Is the first part of the sentence, "At each step in the search", a Prepositional Phrase?

3."In the game of chess between humanity and cancer, Cancer Sol is checkmate."
I have exactly the same doubt than in the second sentence.

4." Even before the cancer mutates, the model predicts likely mutations, and Cancer Sol prescribes drugs that will stop them dead in their tracks."

In the first part of this sentence, are the words "even" and "before" being used as a joint Adverb to create and Adverb Clause? I ask this because I know that each one of them by itself is an Adverb, but it seems weird to me that they appear together.

I will appreciate all the help I can get!


texts:
I saw this short sentence in the Merriam Webster.

"slopes off into the night"
— Wolcott Gibbs

What does "slopes off into the night" mean in this case?

Thanks.


texts: Using hyphenated words in technical writing?

texts:
I always get confused when using hyphenated words in my research papers. Is there any specific rule for using hyphenated words? For example, which one of the following is the correct usage of co scheduling? One has smallcase s, while the other one has uppercase s. Is it just simply a taste of the writer? Google shows both the words along with coscheduling.

Co-scheduling or Co-Scheduling

Moreover, wikipedia tells that:

  Certain prefixes (co-, pre-, mid-, de-, non-, anti-, etc.) may or may not be hyphenated.

Could someone clarify this?


texts: Is it wrong to use "All" when there are only two?

texts:
If there are two of something, can you say "all of" instead of "both of"?

For example, if an email is addressed to two people, and you start off with:

  All,
  This is to inform you, etc., etc.
  ...
  Regards,
  Me

Is that at all appropriate?


texts: Should there be a comma before "if" in this sentence?

texts:
"I was home-schooled in middle school, if that counts."

I think that without the comma, the sentence implies that the speaker was home-schooled in middle school only if "that" counts, whereas with the comma, the speaker is saying "if that counts" as more of an aside. I'm definitely going more for the latter meaning, so is the comma correctly placed, then?


texts: Linking or connected speech in reading English

texts:
I tried to read novel and could read every word correctly. But one thing that hindered me was the "connected speech or linking in English". I listened to the audio version of the book but as I listened, some parts they connected the words together but for some parts they didn't.

For example: " the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green..." . As I heard in the audio, I dont know why they didn't link "deep" with "and" but just "deep" + p + "and"

And example 2: "trees—willows fresh and green with every spring...." : should I link "with" with "every" to become "with devery"

My main problem is I dont know where I should link the words and not link (I know all the rules of linking C+V...but sometimes the speaker didn't link C with V that made me confused) , because of that I couldn't read smoothly. And as I listen to the audio, I found it hard to figure out whether the speaker/reader was using linking or not because it 's hard to detect the linking in the audio voice.

Thank you very much for your explanation.


texts: Why the does 'tu' get pronounced 'tyu' in British English?

texts:
Despite being a native Brit, I've always found it an oddity that words like "tutor", "tube", "tumour", and "duty" are pronounced as "tyutor", "tyube", "tyumour", and "duty" in British English. For me, this doesn't seem phonologically simpler/easier at all, and given that it seems to be absent in American English (possibly other forms of English too?) for these sorts of words (beginning with "tu" or "du"), I would suppose it's a somewhat recent innovation in historical linguistic terems, almost surely after the Middle English period. So that's my first question: when and where did this pronunciation originate, and as a bonus, why?

Now, there are certain words that have this "y" sound inserted even in American and other forms of English, though I can't think of any where it's inserted in the "tu" or "du" sound. e.g. "beautiful", "cute", "futile". Notably, this pronunciation seems much more natural to me in these cases, unlike in the "tu" and "du" cases. Of course, the pronunciation of these words in the original Latin (or even the intermediary French when applicable) suggests that this innovation happened within English, and most likely within England itself. (N.B. I can't think of any Anglo-Saxon words with this mode of pronunciation right now, but quite possibly there are some too.) So, my second question is: is there some clear linguistic/phonological reason why the insertion of the 'y' sound is more natural in the non-"tu"/"du" cases, and did this phenomenon originate earlier in the English language?


texts: “Where's the servant whose business it is to answer the door?”

texts:
“Where's the servant whose business it is to answer the door?"

I just read this in Through the Looking Glass. If I said that sentence, I would have said "business is". Why is the 'it' necessary? Is this because this book is 200-years old? Can one still say like that?


texts: Meaning of "just as much" and "just as"?

texts: Could someone please tell me their meanings? I know these two have different meanings. And I have been trying to Google them, but they are no help. Can we replace much in the first phrase with any other word too? How does this work please tell me


texts: Any idiomatic expression in American English for eating too much?

texts:
Is there any idiomatic expression in American English for eating too much? I would especially want to have an expression that could be applied in a situation when the action of excessive eating is taking place at the moment of speaking. For example, if the idiomatic expression is, say, "to expand one's belly" then it could be used this way in the following situation:

  Having spent the whole morning looking for Jack, Peter finally gave up
  and decided to have a cup of coffee at the "Swagger's". As soon as he
  entered it, he saw Jack sitting inside at one table and consuming
  probably the third portion of his favorite smoked chicken. "Here you
  are/he is!" cried Jack with anger. "I've been running everywhere
  trying to find you/him, but you are/he is sitting here and expanding
  your/his belly! Very nice!"


texts: What is the best way in which to understand bracketed text?

texts:
Though a native English-speaker, I've always had trouble understanding bracketed text. It's fairly clear that parenthesis indicate "optional" text, as in below:

  The (unusually quick) man stormed into the store and grabbed every lighter from the stand near the cash register.

Above, it's not necessary to include the text "unusually quick," as it can be determined somewhat from the context, but its inclusion indicates a reaction of the author or a point desired to be emphasized. The general idea seems to be that a sentence with parenthesized text should be able to be read without the parenthesized text. While the parethesized text adds to the sentence details, it is not necessary in and of itself.

However, square brackets seem to indicate complete literary freedom to rewrite a quotation entirely:

  ...[he] had [indicated that he had] made the gesture without  [complete knowledge and] familiarity with [Taiwanese] custom.

What are the rules with using square brackets and their general implication? I, as the reader, am completely at the mercy of the author in trusting him that he has conveyed the quote in its proper context and intention.


texts: Name for cognitive bias suggesting a person is special or important

texts:
I'm looking for the name of the cognitive bias that leads people to think that they are extraordinary in some aspect.

This is similar to Illusory Superiority but generalized to encompass uniqueness in general, not just positive traits.

It's the "Why is it always me?" bias.

Added
This is the belief that unusual things happen more often to you, and is typically caused by the fact that unusual things get more of your attention when they happen to you rather than when they happen to others.

Clarification
I'm not looking for a disorder, I'm looking for the name of the trait that is common in nearly everyone such that they think that things that they don't notice in other people is believed to only happen to them.


texts: "your and Mr X's publication" vs. "you and Mr X's publication"

texts:
I came across your and Mr X's publication

or

  I came across you and Mr X's publication


texts:
I would appreciate it if anyone can comment on my analysis of the sentence, "Isn't that the point of school, that between 8 and 3 he's your problem."

This is the basic form of the sentence: "That is the point of school  that he is your problem" = That (extraposed subject)  +  is ( verb ) + the point of school (complement)   + that he is your problem" (noun clause as complement) .
This can be rewritten as an interrogative: "Isn't that the point of school that between 8 and 3 he's your problem?"

The first "that" functions in the same way as "it" (a 'dummy' subject)  in a sentence like "It is obvious that he has a problem."

Thanks.


texts: Do native speakers also call Remote Cotroller just Remote always?

texts: I always thought calling TV Remote Controller just Remote is incorrect(I know in literal it's wrong ). But While watching Modern Family Series I found they mentioned Remote Controller as Remote. Is it so common saying just Remote?


texts:
I would like to know whether the following is correct:
Someone is knocking on your door.

  Who could it be?

As far as I know, modal verbs do not change its form in reported speech:

  He asked who it could be.

After the knocking on the door has finished, you ask yourself:

  Who could it have been?

Do I get it correctly?


texts: How do I list multiple married couples names on an inviation

texts: I am listing multiple married couples as hosts for a wedding shower. Do I have to use Mr. & Mrs. before every name? The space on the invitation is limited.


texts:
I was reading a legal contract and came across this sentence about the termination of the contract:

  This Agreement may be terminated by either Party on provision of seven
  (7) days written notice to the other Party.

Two questions:
1) "on provision of": Does this mean "on the action of providing a seven days written notice", which I think technically means the day the notice is provided but not seven days later?

2) "Seven days written notice": Does this legally mean a notice to inform that the contract shall be terminated seven days later? I ask this because "seven days written notice" in itself doesn't express the intention to terminate the contract.


texts: Word that means approximately "an object that provides emotional comfort" and sounds a bit like "carpenthy"

texts: What word that sounds somewhat like "carpenthy" which is used to describe an emotional crutch for example Linus's blanket in Charlie Brown? I feel like I learned a word like this eons ago and poof I can't find it anywhere. Perhaps I dreamed it.


texts: What expression could I use for the meaning "I understand" in biz e-mail?

texts:
What expression could I use for
the meaning "I understand" or "I see" in business e-mail?

For example,
A seller informed me that a shipment which I request will be arrived at tomorrow.
And I would like to say "I see". What expression is appropriate in formal business e-mail.


texts: Is there an idiom for "I'm not an expert when it comes to kinds of feces"

texts:
There is an idiom in my language, which literally sounds like "I'm not an expert when it comes to kinds of feces". Which means that one considers all the instances of some group as equally bad, not to make an opinion about any (for example, politicians). Is there an exact equivalent in English for it?

The original version is in Ukrainian. It is "В сортах гівна не розуміюся". In Russian it is "В сортах говна не разбираюсь". It's a relatively young, but very common expression.


texts: What do you call the state, that when you see something or somebody or something is accruing reminds you something else even though unrelated?

texts: Sometimes it feels like what is accruing at the present time  is attached to something else, every time you hear or smell something or  see something accruing reminds you the situation that you have been or experienced longtime ago, so what do you call it?


texts:
which one is  appropriate
(i) "  6 numbers of student got scholarship in this year"
                      OR
(ii)  "six students got scholarship in this year".


texts: "The cat that got the cream" - is there any innuendo?

texts:
I think this is a British idiom.

The American version would be, "The cat that killed the canary."

I was about to say this to a female friend, intended as a "well done" sort of compliment, specifically on something to do with her relationship, when my internal filter suddenly held back. Given there exist innuendo definitions of "cat" and "cream", and that she's American, not British, would the phrase have mis-communicated some innuendo?


texts: "A begs B" or "A begs for B" when we mean that A asks for B

texts:
Here's the actual sentence

  "A subjective question begs a subjective answer..."

Something inside my head says it should have been

  "A subjective question begs for a subjective answer..."

Which one is correct in that context?


texts: Is there a word to describe someone who is, or the state of being, content with hanging around others without interacting with them?

texts:
I've always been one to enjoy the company of others while off doing my own thing. Examples would be driving along in the car where everyone is laughing, conversing, and having a good time but I don't need to interact or join in. Alternatively, having company over at my house while I'm watching Netflix or playing a video game.

Not because I'm nervous or introverted, but because I simply enjoy the presence of others. I'm content and happy with the fact that I know everyone is okay and having a good time. In fact, I'd probably describe myself as an extrovert because I gain energy from being around others and will still at times chime in and interact with ease.

Is there a word to describe this kind of person or perhaps the state of feeling that way?

I've done countless searches on Google for a word that fits this description. I haven't been able to find a single result even close to it.

Possible Example Sentences:

For the possibility that the best fitting word is a noun:

"He found himself in a state of bliss knowing all his friends were
okay. As a __________, he thought this very comforting."
"She was a true __________; always happy with people around but never
feeling the need to join the conversation."

For the possibility that the best fitting word is an adverb:

"She sat quietly, happily in the state of __________ reading her book
while her friends splashed about in the pool."
"Feeling somewhat __________, he was perfectly okay with playing his
video games while remaining somewhat aloof from his friends who were
drinking and being rowdy."


texts:
Is there a single word for the action of taking someone's advice?

Example sentence:

  I was told to sign the check, and I ________ed [took his advice].


texts: Using 'that' and 'the' with 'negotiations'

texts:
I came across this phrase:

  I see negotiations have gone as planned.

Why is there no article before negotiations? For example:

  I see the negotiations have gone as planned.

I think that the determiner 'that' should be in this sentence too:

  I see that the negotiations have gone as planned.

Is there something special about the word 'negotiations'? What is the rule here?


texts: A word relating to sad emotional drunkenness

texts:
I tried googling the word but no success. I recall it was used in a pejorative manner, but it isn't slang, at least in this day and age.

And maybe it even describes a pathetic or morbid rambling of a drunk.


texts:
What is the difference between characteristic and typical?
I've seen that they both are used with kinda the same structure (be characteristic/typical of sb/sth)

Like: "This hospitality is characteristic of him." Or "Being late is typical of him."

But it seems to me that typical is usually used to show annoyance, but characteristic is not, right?

I wanted to know if it is possible to use typical with just the same meaning as characteristic, i.e. not to show annoyance, in a sentence like "This hospitality is typical of him".

And what about using characteristic to show annoyance, in a sentence like "It's characteristic of him to ruin his friends' parties"?


texts: Meanings of grammatical terminology to describe verbs

texts:
I am new to this site. A recent answer used two terms I am not familiar with, 'indicative' and 'preterite'. I cannot ask the expert at the chatroom I usually frequent; I am the expert on such questions there.
May I describe the way I believe verbs are classified and then ask questions about the best terminology to use?
Verbs, when used as verbs, make either Imperative, Interrogative, or Declarative statement. There are no subclassifications of either Imperative or Interrogative statements.
Declarative statements have a "Mood" which is either Indicative or Subjunctive.
Either mood has several classifications which determine the "Tense" of the verb. Those classifications are:

Present, Past, or Future
Perfect or not Perfect
Progressive or not Progressive
a "Voice" which is either Active or Passive (The Passive Voice only exists for transitive verbs)

A verb that is neither Perfect nor Progressive is usually said to be Simple. Otherwise, they are usually said to be Perfect, Progressive, or Perfect and Progressive.
As far as I can tell, the term 'Indicative' is one of two moods, with the other being Subjunctive. Also, 'Preterite' is a term for what I would call the Simple Past Tense. Do I have those right?
My questions about the preferred terms I should be using are:

Is there another term for the classification of a verb into either Imperative, Interrogative, or Declarative statement?
Is there a better term than 'Not Perfect'?
Is there a better term than 'Not Progressive'?
Is there anything else I have missed out or it appears I need to know?

I am aware I have not mentioned Modal Verbs. I have a question or two about those but those can wait until after I get my terminology sorted out. :)


texts: When did the word "intercourse" become sexual?

texts: When reading books written in the 1800's, the word intercourse is used without any sexual connotation. Example: during our intercourse with others. It is similar to relationship or dealings.


texts: Use of word 'significant' in non-technical sections of a paper

texts:
As the resident data analyst, I write the Quantitative Analysis sections for policy papers at my work. In doing so I use the word significant if and only if I am discussing statistical significance.

As pointed out in the answer to Connotation of significant or considerable, the term can be used in nontechnical writing without implying statistical significance. In sections of these larger reports other than Quantitative Analysis, the word significant is often used as meaningful, notable, of note etc.

My question is whether or not significant might be used in its lay meaning if I make a point of always using the term "statistically significant" when referring to mathematical significance? (My thought here being that would be similar to using the term "liquid nitrogen" to refer to nitrogen in its liquid state, thereby implying that the word "nitrogen" alone refers to nitrogen in its more common elemental form.)


texts:
What is a suitable word for stopping doing something that had already became part of our habit, like drinking wine or to stop drinking beer?

I had a computer dictionary and the word that comes out is commandment when I translate it from Chinese to English but I think it is just too weird.


texts: Single word for " adding too many things and caused confusion"

texts:
Let's imaging this scenario: I added some texts to a document and deteriorated  its cohesion and caused some confusion.

Can I say?

  I messed up the document


texts: An idiomatic phrase meaning that you are aware of a coming change based on minor signals you've observed over time

texts:
I feel like there's a phrase that people sometimes use in order to indicate that they have been aware of an impending change or event.  The phrase draws on the metaphor of a soldier placing his ear to the ground to listen for faraway armies approaching.  It's something like, "I have heard the ground tremors."

For instance, my coworker sent me an article about how JSON has almost fully supplanted XML as a data transmission standard.  I have been picking up bits and pieces of knowledge on this shift over time, so I wanted to express that I was already aware of it.  Thus, I wanted to say e.g., "Yeah, I've been hearing the ground tremors on that one for a while now."

I've googled the phrase and different variations of it so I could make sure I got it correct, but I can't find any evidence of its existence.  Am I just making this up?


texts: what does it mean"This status anxiety fuels the ambition needed to reach for success"?

texts:
Is there anyone who explains it to me?
" This status anxiety fuels the ambition needed to reach for success."


texts: What is the exact meaning of "sth gives way on"?

texts:
I'm reading an article and i'm not sure what this means. "The steep cliffs give way on the eastern side where there seems to be a lawn beside the sea"

Thanks in advanced!


texts: A better phrase for saying "Do you Find" I want to say (do you find yourself always seeking the house for Gloves while running to the school bus)

texts: I want to say (do you find yourself always seeking the house for Gloves while running to the school bus)A better phrase for saying "Do you Find"


texts: I'm looking for idioms and synonyms for "guesswork". Especially i'm looking for idioms and synonyms for given word connected to unscientific ways of predicting future. Both - pejorative and positive - idioms and synonyms are welcome.


texts: "last year" vs. "the last / whole of the last year" vs. "whole the last year"

texts:
I would have question related to other question I asked today.
I know that:

last year refers to something that happens in the last year (which could be yesterday if today is 1.1.)
the last year — means the last 365 days including today.

But what about "for the whole of the last year" and "for the whole of last year"? In an answer I received it is mentioned that this "of" disctincts between last year and last 12 months, which I thought is done by "the"?


texts:
I found the following example in my vocabulary:

  The town is situated on a plateau high up among the mountains of the north.

Can I replace situated with located for the example above? What's the difference?


texts: What is the difference between syntax and semantics?

texts: As a computer scientist and a writing hobbyist, I really ought to know these terms' meanings for memory. Can anyone clarify the difference between syntax and semantics, and provide some examples? For example, where does punctuation fall? Spelling? What about sentence (or code) structure?


texts:
What is a word that means to bind a connotation to a word in literature? Generally how I am trying to use it: Shakespeare binds an ironic meaning to the word fair blabla so every time somebody says fair, it turns out to be foul blabla... ¶ After the initial [blank] (of the ironic usage of fair)... succeeding uses of the "fair" show this...

If there is no such specific word, how can I say this?


texts:
I am reading an economist article. For some reason the writing seems extremely simple and colloquial.

For an exercise, I want to re-write it by retaining the arguments, refutation, facts but by changing the wordings.

What could be a word for "tend to ignore"? (ignore something good, or bad)

Original text:

  the migrants tended to ignore its potential for making a new home

Like discard? reject? inconsiderate? (these do not feel right though)


texts:
Should we write "the" before the word "condition"? that is,if two conditions A and B are known which of the following is correct?
Conditions A and B.
or
The Condition A and B.


texts: Semantics of 'the extent which' vs 'the extent TO which'

texts:
'the extent which'    vs    2. 'the extent to which' :

3. Semantically, how do these compare?  I know that to is a preposition and so a Functional Morpheme, but does  'to' affect anything semantically?

4. Sociolinguistically, 1 appears obsolete whereas 2 is commoner and current, per Google Ngrams and my comparative Googling of "the extent which the" vs  "the extent to which the". But I ask about Semantics here, and not Sociolinguistics.

The question emerged while reading p 309, Thinking Like a Lawyer: An Introduction to Legal Reasoning (2010, 2 ed) by  Kenneth J. Vandevelde., which I include only for context; please advise if you know of better examples featuring 1.

  Thus, the
  court has considered the weight given to the policies as well as the extent to which
  the prohibition furthers the policy of tranquillity and impedes the policy of free
  speech, that is, the relationship between ends and means.


texts: Idiom or word for the accessing a thing that is far away

texts:
Imagine that something is physically located very far from me, but I have some kind of mediator that allows me to reach it, touch it, communicate with it. The example is Skype that allows to get in touch with the loved ones. Or google start page allows to communicate with the most powerful search engine ever.
What would be a word or idiom(which does not stick to technical terms) for such a mediator?


texts: Formal / academic phrase for there is more to the story

texts:
I want to find a more formal or academic sounding way to express the notion that "there is more to the story." Essentially, this phrase is a bit too casual (not to mention over-used)
Context:

However, after factoring in the latest earnings reports, it's clear
that ___________________.


texts: "Greetings from Patrick of ABC company" or "Greetings by Patrick from at ABC company"

texts:
For business needs, I need to connect to people on LinkedIn and send people a note to tell them who I am.
Should I say

"Greetings from Patrick of ABC company"

"Greetings by Patrick at ABC company"
(I am not sure about the use of "at" here, but it was sent to me back by an Ozzie client)

"Greetings from Patrick of ABC company"

Which one is correct?


texts:
I'm looking for a word that sort of sounds, and smells like, particularly. I can't grasp it..

Something along the likes of "peticulity" I believe

In a sentence:

"peticulity" crafted door knob


texts: Please fellows, how and what is the best usage, application and difference between the word "Am" and "I am"


texts: a word for "to make something bland and boring"

texts:
And also, what is a word for when sb walks quietly as though being fearful. Kind of like "Surreptitious" but not because one wants to keep it secret. Example: these people won't harm you, nor do u have any reason to be afraid of them. Don't walk.... Like that!

Edit:i mean to put the two questions here because I think somebody who might have an answer may not stumble upon both. I'm new here, and I admit I haven't read the rules clearly. Sorry!


texts:
The product is eligible for export

or

  The product is eligible to export

Which would be the correct preposition to use?


texts: Can a noun functioning as modifier of an NP fuse with the head?

texts:
In a section titled "Fused modifier-heads", A Student's Introduction to English Grammar says:

The modifiers which most readily fuse with the head include these:
•   determinatives used in modifier function following a determiner (e.g. these two)
•   superlatives and comparatives (the best, the most important of them, the taller of them)
•   ordinal numeral words (the second, the eighth)
•   certain semantic categories of adjective, e.g. colour adjectives as in the blue and nationality adjectives that aren’t also count nouns, as in the French, the English, the Dutch (we don’t get *The Belgian are very courteous because we use the count noun instead: The Belgians are very courteous).

Since a noun can also be modifier of an NP, I wonder if a noun functioning as modifier of an NP can fuse with the head.
In (a), for example, the nouns labor and transportation are modifiers of the respective NPs labor secretary and transportation secretary.

a. The president nominated [XXX] for labor secretary and [YYY] for transportation secretary.

Can the modifier/noun transportation here fuse with the head secretary as in (b)?

b. The president nominated [XXX] for labor secretary and [YYY] for transportation.

If (b) doesn't work, are there any examples where a noun functioning as modifier of an NP can fuse with the head?


texts: What does "programming in a vacuum" mean?

texts: I'm not sure what that exactly means.  Why do people use the term vacuum like this?  Please advise.


texts: Which is right: "In one of the computers" or "On one of the computers"?

texts: Do you say IN one of the computers or ON one of the computers? Which is right?


texts: A word meaning someone who can speak well to influence people

texts: I am looking for an adjective/noun for someone who is able to speak/ makes speeches very well and uses words effectively to influence/impress people.


texts:
Is there a word, or an expression, that describes the act of deceptively offering a person(s) a choice of future possibilities, that mollifies them long enough to complete a task, knowing that the end result is already determined?

Example: Mother at grocery offering unruly children a visit to either ice cream shop or candy store afterwards in exchange for calming down. Knowing full well after the grocery they will go straight home.


texts: Choice of tense to describe continuing status of an object

texts:
Hi I am so confused by the English tenses when I try to describe, for example a status change, something happened in the past, just at a point in time, but is still true until now.

Please list those that are grammatically correct and state the meaning you get from these sentences:

Ticket #123 opened on 01/01/2014 is closed on 02/02/2014
Ticket #123 opened on 01/01/2014 was closed on 02/02/2014
Ticket #123 opened on 01/01/2014 has closed on 02/02/2014
Ticket #123 opened on 01/01/2014 has been closed on 02/02/2014
Ticket #123 opened on 01/01/2014 had closed on 02/02/2014
Ticket #123 opened on 01/01/2014 had been closed on 02/02/2014

My personal feeling to these sentences is like

The ticket is now closed, but adding "on ..." makes it sound wrong
The ticket changed to closed status on 02/02/2014, but not sure the current status
I think this is grammatically incorrect
Same as 3.
I think this is the correct saying
Same as 5., but with the additional piece of information telling me that the ticket did not close by itself, someone closed it.

Please correct me.


texts: "I went to the hotel you were staying at" vs. "you stayed at"

texts:
Is there a difference in meaning between these two sentences?

I went to the hotel you were staying at when you were in New York.
I went to the hotel you stayed  at when you were in New York.

Perhaps one reading is that they went to the hotel where their friend was (still) staying, but another is that they went to the hotel where their friend had (previously) stayed. The use of the past tense were staying at when you were in New York would seem to mean that the friend was no longer there.

With I went, which represents a definite action at a point in time, does it matter if the stay at the hotel is described with the past continuous you were staying or not? Is one more correct than the other?


texts:
I googled it and even though it's been used on the Web, I can't find any entries for it on online dictionaries.

If it's not a real word, then is there a good equivalent?

The context is a record where new items can be added but existing items cannot be edited.

A good example would be the minutes of a meeting, where you can add new entries, but not change entries that have already been entered.


texts: Is writing "wishing you the best of health" at end of a letter considered a sentence fragment?


texts:
What is the correct way to specify the operating system you are targeting or using?

Is a program running on or under an operating system (OS)?

Is a machine running an OS or under an OS?


texts:
I took out the reports. He pored over them.

In this sentence, what is the meaning of "over them"? I guess it would be "fully".


texts: Where did the word "cocamame" come from?

texts:
Where did the word "cocamame" come from, and how did it get its connotation of meaning "idiotic"?

Is "cocamame" considered to be more or less severe than "idiotic" on the scale of idiocy?

Are there any words that would be even more idiotic than cocamame?


texts: Word/phrase request for a unique speech style

texts:
What do we call, when a person pronounce a few words in some unique way of his own, i.e., a wrong pronunciation and this is not because of any speech disorder. It's just that for them such words are tongue-twister.

This usually happens in case of speaking a foreign language, and speaker cannot avoid mispronouncing some words.

I can use "dialect" or "speech style" to say a sentence like this:

  this person has a speech style of his own.

I don't want to use words like: mispronounce/wrong/peculiar.

Do we have a name for this type of speaking manner, or any suitable phrase to describe this situation?


texts: Specifically, what makes "your first next purchase" improper?

texts: I'm hoping this picture loads. I received a flyer in the mail from a company that i have previously done business with several months back. I assume that, in an attempt to bring me back, they sent me this promotion code for 20% off. The problem lies in the way they presented this 20% off deal. They promise "20% off my next first purchase" with the use of the provided code. Next first? I know that this is not correct, but other than it being plain wrong I can't find the best way to articulate exactly how or why it's incorrect. Help?


texts: Can introspect be used only in first person ? Or better word to replace it, in following context

texts: Meaning of introspect is examine one's thoughts and feeling. In fact, i have to find word for "introspect". I m writing a technical report, can I use the word "introspect" but the meaning i want to make is "examine the information further in specific area and try to figure out something" ?


texts: Meaning and origin of "eat your heart out"

texts:
I never understood what this phrase meant or where it came from.

I've heard it used in the movie Grease:

  Danny: You're looking good, Riz.
  Rizzo: Eat your heart out.
  Danny: But sloppy seconds ain't my style.

And other such times when used with a celebrity:

  "Marilyn Monroe, eat your heart out!"


texts: "The first step in making" vs. "the first step on making" vs. "the first step at making"

texts:
I have this sentence:

  I strongly believe that the first step in making the most efficient solution for any problem is analyzing it well.

Would it be better to use either of the following?

  I strongly believe that the first step on making the most efficient solution for any problem is analyzing it well.
  I strongly believe that the first step at making the most efficient solution for any problem is analyzing it well.

The context is as follows:

  First of all, I concentrate on understanding the big picture of any problem. I always try to recognize all the factors that have caused the problem. Then, I start planning the solution at a very high level in order to create  long-term benefits. I strongly believe that the first step in making the most efficient solution to any problem is analyzing it well. In my opinion, "What to do" is much more important than "How to do".


texts: I often hear the word gold as a slang to describe something great such as "last night's party was gold" or "that movie was gold" etc. What exactly does gold mean and how do you use the slang?


texts: Is there a slang word or phrase for a middle-aged woman who serially dates much younger men?

texts: Such practice is observed more often in the artistic world and among socialites. Is there a slang word or frase for these ladies?


texts: Is there a difference between "subsidy" and "subvention"?

texts: Is there a difference between subsidy and subvention? If yes, what is it? When should I use either?


texts: Word For the Process of Finding Return on Investment

texts:
I am told that if I invest $20 in this Apple Stock, in one years time there is a:

10% chance I'll get back $25
10% chance I'll get back $20
30% chance I'll get back $15
50% chance I'll get back $10

So my what I'm calling my "Return on Investment" would be: $25 * .1 + $20 * .1 + $15 * .3 + $10 * .5 = $14

I'm assuming this is some sort of statistical calculation that I just did, but I'd like to know the name of this statistical process. (I would say something like amortization, but that's not right.)


texts: Singular or plural after multiple noun adjuncts?

texts:
After a series of noun adjuncts (attributive nouns), do we use the singular or plural form of the common final noun?

Example:

The bank lends to companies in power, steel, and textile industry.
The bank lends to companies in power, steel, and textile industries.


texts: What phrases exist which are apparently contradictory, but actually mean the same thing?

texts:
I have several items of clothing for which their dark colours could run on washing.

Some have a warning label in that says 'wash dark colours together'. Some have a label that says 'wash dark colours separately'. These apparently contradictory labels actually tell me to do the same thing, when context is taken into account.

What other examples are there, either out in the wild, or that could be constructed, of opposite messages meaning the same thing?


texts:
I was describing a system where two opposing forces (not necessarily physical or chemical) have an interesting relationship to each other - in particular how a change in one affects the other etc.
I said that "there's an interesting dynamism going on"
However should I have used the word dynamics instead?


texts: What's the term for a phrase made of two words that have the same meaning?

texts:
Sometimes we place two words together that have the same meaning, thus making one of the words unnecessary. Examples:

Body corporate ('corporate' comes from Latin 'corpus', which means 'body'), so it's like saying "body body".
Naan bread ('naan' means 'bread' in Hindi), therefore it's like saying "bread bread".

Is there a term for these kind of phrases in English?


texts:
I was reading a book about ww2 and i am in doubt about two terms:

Nazi Hunters : about people that tracks down Nazi after ww2

Nazi Killers :  used to refer the actual nazi in some parts

So in the first Nazi is like an adjective, in the second looks like it is Killers. Why?


texts: Usage of the expression “He is no longer your uncle.”

texts:
I was watching last night the third episode of the first season of Endeavour, a British detective series set in the 1960's, when I came across the idiom “He is no longer your uncle,” when someone was talking about a dead man.
As I have not seen this anywhere, I am asking if this is common usage among native speakers at all.


texts:
Which is correct, and why?

  identifying you and your competitors’ relative market performance

or

  identifying your and your competitors’ relative market performance

Each entity is in possession of “relative market performance”, so I think grammar dictates both be your, but it sounds godawful.


texts: Word for the sky as seen from a spaceship not in orbit

texts: Since the word sky indicates "the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth," what word would best be used by an astronaut on a spaceship no longer orbiting the Earth to describe what the astronauts saw looking out a window. Example-when the Apollo astronauts were traveling to and from the Moon.


texts: What does “Lamar Odom did not appear to be an ingénue along for the ride.” mean?

texts:
I was drawn to the word, ‘ingénue’ being used in reference to a male sportsman in the New York Times’ (October 15) article reporting that Lamar Odom, basketball star who won two N.B.A. titles with the Los Angeles Lakers was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel. It reads:

  When the E! network unveiled its plans for a spinoff called “Khloe and
  Lamar,” in January 2011, Odom did not appear to be an ingénue along
  for the ride. It was a calculated business decision made by someone
  who grew up aware of life’s hard realities. “As an athlete, you’ve got
  to take advantage of opportunities,” Odom said at the time. “When the
  ball stops bouncing, it stops bouncing.”

  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/16/sports/basketball/lamar-odoms-decline-played-out-on-tv.html?

Oxford Advanced Learners English Dictionary defines ‘ingénue’’ as noun. an innocent young woman, especially in a film / movie or play.

Does ‘ingénue’ match a male athlete even as an analogy or metaphor? What does “Odom did not appear to be an ingénue along for the ride.” mean?


texts: Meaning of "but if one turns it thither ever so little" in context

texts:
I am reading the book Pensées, and I can't understand a paragraph. Please help me review it.

  The difference between the mathematical and the intuitive mind.—In the one, the
      principles are palpable, but removed from ordinary use; so that for want of habit it is difficult
      to turn one's mind in that direction: but if one turns it thither ever so little, one sees the
      principles fully, and one must have a quite inaccurate mind who reasons wrongly from
      principles so plain that it is almost impossible they should escape notice.

My understanding of this paragraph is that the writer wants to tell us the mathematical mind is not for ordinary use, and it is difficult to turn one's mind in a mathematical way because of the habit. (If this is wrong, please correct me.) The sentences after that ("but if one turns it thither ever so little...") is the part I didn't understand.

What exactly does "inaccurate mind" mean in this context?

Edit: One more question. What are the plain principles that anyone cannot escape?


texts: What's the difference between 'scribble' and 'draw'?

texts: 'SCRIBBLE' can be a piece of careless text +/or drawing while 'DRAW' is only drawing? Is it? In that way sometimes 'scribbling' can be used as a substitute for 'drawing'? Thank you for your attention.


texts: What's the difference between "dissatisfied" and "unsatisfied"?

texts: Is there a clear-cut difference between dissatisfied and unsatisfied?


texts: Word meaning in "Radio frequency site survey"

texts: I have noticed that "Radio frequency site survey" is translated to my native language with omision of "site" word. The same goes for "wireless site survey" or just "RF site", "site survey". What is the meaning of "site" in this context? Is it "place"?


texts:
Is there a word that means “plant part”?

As in, “member/organ is to body as ______ is to plant”.

Root, stalk, leaf, petal, stamen, are all what?


texts: How do I write out a list as a narrative?

texts:
How do I write this out as a narrative in a small amount of words?

"Add reagent A to each of four test tubes, then
To test tube 1 add H2O
To test tube 2 add urea standard solution
To test tube 3 add plasma A
To test tube 4 add plasma B"

I've tried "Reagent A was added to four test tubes, and then to one of each H2O, urea standard solution, plasma A, and plasma B respectively." But am not sure if this makes sense and describes what is actually being done?


texts: Are there exceptions to the "place yourself last" rule for listing people?

texts:
Forgive me if this has already been asked. I understand that some aspects of this lovely language have dependencies on where and when things are used so I'm not quite sure if this question can be answered by other general questions (most of which specifically focus on when to use "me" or "I" which is not my question).

Some useless backstory: Two of my coworkers had a disagreement today about the placement of a "me" in a binary list of people. I was roped into this discussion near the end of the day and sided with one coworker that when discussing yourself via a "list" you should always list yourself last. This is the rule I was taught at a young age and have adhered to since. I tried to bring up some reference and discussion about the rule but none was found convincing enough for my coworker to conceded her point (she was obviously wrong, isn't that how discussions go?).

The piece in question is this statement. "... due to the disagreements between me and Anthony." I feel that this grammatically incorrect and it doesn't even sound right when I speak it aloud, but my coworker is dead set that in this case the use of "me" before the name is acceptable and more correct (maybe I added that aspect to her argument, I can't recall 100% at this moment in time) than the other coworkers (and my) suggestion of "Anthony and I."

So the question is (as I was really unable to google for a decent resource to explain this rule) does this rule apply to all situations in which you are part of a list or only in certain situations, and in that case - which situations does it not apply?

(forgive invalid tags please, I'm open to suggestions/edits but this not a place I frequent so I'm not quite sure what to tag this as correctly)


texts:
Objective Proficiency 2013 Workbook, Unit 7 UOE

In view of his appalling behavior, it's doubtful whether/if Geoff will be invited to the wedding.

Why whether/if but not "that"? I don't mind whether/if though. I looked everywhere, so far no luck.


texts: Is there a word that means "render dependent on"?

texts:
If I convince someone to abandon a contract for some product they were buying, and get that product from me instead, I have "made them dependent on" me. Perhaps I have "dependify'd" them.
Is there a real word with this usage?
Thanks! :)


texts: What do we call a grocery store’s action to hand milk and egg to a boy who was asked to buy them by his dad?

texts:
In connection with my previous question - What does “make the last word on word” mean?,
there was the following sentence in New Yorker’s article titled, “Salia’s word game”

“true buyer” of the handgun in question was not Bruce Abramski, who
went to the counter, filled out the forms representing himself as the
purchaser, and bought the gun, but his uncle, who had given him the
money and, as arranged, took possession of the gun just after the
sale. This, to Scalia, is sophistry. “Abramski’s uncle was not the
"In his dissent, Scalia heaps contempt on the majority’s view that the
‘person’ to whom the gun was ‘sold.’” The “plain language of the Act”
makes that obvious; so does “ordinary English usage.” “If I give my
son $10 and tell him to pick up milk and eggs at the store, no English
speaker would say that the store ‘sells’ the milk and eggs to me.”
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2014/06/scalia-word-games.html?printable=true&currentPage=all#ixzz34w8wi3l5

What have the store done to "my son" in this case, "in ordinary English usage," if the store didn’t "sell" to me as Scalia asserts no English speaker would say? The store just “gave,” “handed,” “passed,” "offered," or “entrusted” milk and eggs to the boy?
I’m asking what verb is used for the shopkeeper’s action to the buyer instead of “quote unquote" sell,”regardless the son is actual, in effect, nominal purchaser, or just an erand boy.


texts: Writing a sentence about a reason and a result in the past

texts:
I want to say that since something happened a few months ago, since it happened, I did some action a few times, as a result of the thing that happened.

How should I say that?:

Since it had happened, I did the action
Since it had happened, I would do the action

I guess that both of my above tries are incorrect :/


texts: What does "so many men, so many minds" mean?

texts:
I've come across the phrase "So many men, so many minds".

Apparently, the full quote is from Leo Tolstoy, and is "If so many men, so many minds, certainly so many hearts, so many kinds of love."

What does the quote mean?

I'm interested in both the original meaning, and also how it's used nowadays, if the two differ.


texts: Term for "the story referred to by the title of the collection"

texts:
Many short story collections are titled something like Foobar and Other Stories.  Suppose I am writing a review of such a collection and want to refer to the story entitled "Foobar".  I wish to say something like

  The [story referred to by the title], "Foobar", is the highlight of the collection.

What term or phrase can I use in place of "story referred to by the title"?

If Foobar were a character, I would use the adjective "eponymous", e.g.
"The eponymous Foobar and his sidekick Baz must embark on a quest to...".  But this doesn't seem quite right when the entity is a story title.


texts:
The number 103 can be pronounced as “One hundred and three” or “One o three”.
Can “103rd” be pronounced as “One hundred and third” or “One o third?” (Especially in referring to a name of a street, like 103rd St)

edit: typo. One hundred or third → One hundred and third


texts: Is there a difference between the phrases "I am fine with it" and "it is fine with me"?

texts:
In my experience there has been a diachronic split between these phrases:

  It is fine with me.

  I am fine with it.

The latter has overtaken the former in usage although they continue to compete for the exact same meaning (which is discussed here). Is there a meaningful difference between the two phrases? Is the first one indeed on its way out?


texts: I don't understand why this sentence need the to +ing

texts:
This is the sentence:

I was looking forward to drinking at the new pub  , but it was closed.

Thanks in advance.


texts: Verb to use when your finger are being "pushed" by the current of a stream?

texts:
What's the adequate verb to use to describe the current of a stream "pushing" your fingers downstream as you immerse them in it? Like for example:

  I immersed my fingers in the stream. Its current [...] them
  vigorously.

I also thought of "dragged" but I think that implies they are being washed away?


texts: When used in a nonrestrictive clause, does “which” have to be the first word?

texts:
I understand that “that” is used for restrictive clauses, and that “which” is used for nonrestrictive clauses. However, I’m unsure if the placement of “which” in a nonrestrictive clause changes the rules that govern it. Specifically, if “which” is not the first word after a comma, does it alter the rules of the clause in any way? For instance:

  Henry was a mechanic, a job which requires a keen eye.

I understand that “… a job…” can be removed and the sentence rewritten. However, is it correct in its present form? Or should “which” be replaced with “that”?


texts:
In the sentence "We sell you clothes for value.", what does "for value" mean?

Is the above sentence even grammatically valid?


texts: How to ask about one's availability? "free/available/not busy"?

texts:
Are the following equally appropriate to be used at work with a colleague or client? I don't want to be informal, but I don't have to be too formal either.

  Let me know when you are free so that
  we can discuss this in more details.

or

  Let me know when you are available so that
  we can discuss this in more details.

or

  Let me know when you are not busy so that
  we can discuss this in more details.

Disclaimer: I'm not a native English speaker (as if I had to explain that)


texts:
When talking about going to a local bar one person says, "Let's go to 1020!"
The other says, "Let's go to the 1020!"

The first statement without an article seems correct. Yet, by comparison, "Let's go to the supermarket" seems correct, while "Let's go to supermarket" doesn't seem correct.

What rule is at work here?


texts:
I'm trying to explain a situation where a person has made a mistake. They have made up for their mistake. They have been forgiven. The wise boundary is not to give them responsibility for the area in which they made a mistake.
I've come up with a few examples that don't quite work:

Putting the chocolate thief in charge of the lolly jar

This is snappy, but thief implies larceny which isn't appropriate.

Putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.

This is the classic one. Fox implies a defective character which is mean and isn't the case here.

Putting the person who dropped the Ming Vase in charge of the China Shop.

This is kind, and almost works because dropping something is a mistake. But it isn't snappy.
My question is: Is there a kind aphorism for someone who has made a mistake, been forgiven, but shouldn't be given responsibility?


texts:
Merriam-Webster implies both are correct:

side effect (without hyphen)
side-effect (with hyphen)

Which is more common? My go-to litmus test, google searching both and comparing the number of results, does not work here. My specific context here is the body of a medical research paper.
To avoid debates and polling: I'm not asking which is correct (it seems both are acceptable), I'd like to know which is more common.


texts: Is *race* a synonym of *species* or is just a common mistake?

texts:
It's very common -- specially in fantasy and science-fiction -- to use race instead of species.
For example:

“In Middle Earth (...) Aragorn (race: men) (...) Bilbo (race: hobbit)” 1
“Tarkin's motivation was the enslavement of the Wookiee race for use as manual (...)”2
“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.”3

Shouldn't be used species instead?
From the Oxford dictionary:

species.
Biology. a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of
exchanging genes or interbreeding. The species is the principal natural taxonomic unit,
ranking below a genus and denoted by a Latin binomial, e.g. Homo sapiens.
race2.
each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics:
people of all races, colours, and creeds.


texts:
The passage below comes from Report From The Interior by Paul Auster.

In fact, it's from an article written by F. W. Dupee, a highly respected English professor in the College, five months after the Columbia revolt.

So little unchallenged authority survives anywhere at present, even in the Vatican, that those who think they have authority tend to get ‘hung up’ on it. Many of my fellow teachers shared the Administration’s ‘hang up.’

In this passage I'd like to know the meaning of the first sentence.
Here are my thoughts but they are two conflicting ones.

One thought,
There is none anywhere at present, even in the Vatican, that doesn't get their authority challenged, and to address this challenge the authority have to get tough on those who challenge authority.

The other thought which conflicts with the former.
There is none anywhere at present, even in the Vatican, that doesn't get their authority challenged, but that's the current of the new age so the authority has no other way but to accept the change.

Which one is right?
If any one of the two doesn't make sense could you give me the right and precise interpretation?


texts: What is the correct pronunciation of "pizza"?

texts: I have a friend who is constantly suggesting we eat "Pixa" for dinner. It grinds me every time she says "Pixa", so I am trying to make sure it is truly incorrect to pronounce the 'x' sound in this situation before I try to correct her.


texts: Does the following structure have a name in grammar?

texts:
The structure in question is in the form of Don't + be + verb + ing + rest of the sentence
I've heard sentences like this in movies, especially by African Americans, and it seems to be something informal. Does anybody have any information about this form of sentence like what the name of this structure is(if in fact it has been given any name) or the meaning and usage.

examples:
Don't be hatin' me


texts: Are the rules regarding absolute modifiers too absolute?

texts:
A common grammar lesson that was taught to me in the US and that I've had to teach abroad in EFL classrooms is that we're not to use adverbs of emphasis with absolute modifiers, just as we're not supposed to use them as comparatives or superlatives.

Classic egregious examples of this mistake include very unique and more perfect, which seem obviously flawed to me. Other instances of further modified absolute modifiers are similarly meaningless or contradictory in nature.

I wonder, though, if the rule that I learned isn't overly broad, and whether it's taught similarly in the UK and elsewhere. I find myself modifying absolute modifiers quite regularly, and in some circumstances I think it's not only logical and correct, but quite meaningful. Phrases like almost exactly or virtually all or practically infinite possess a specific meaning that can't really be replicated using nonabsolutes like very nearly or most or quite long.

In my own speech and writing, I use such phrases exactly as I see fit, so this isn't a request for permission, per se. I'm more curious about whether there's a more appropriate rule regarding absolutes that you rely on (and might be used in a classroom).


texts: Usage of care: can I say that "I care about how the news paper wrote about me"?

texts:
Can I say that "I care about how the news paper wrote about me"

I am sure about the usage that I care about my family.
It implies that I love my family, I am emotionally attached with them, and they are important to me.

However, can I say that " I care about the news paper wrote about me "?
I ask because I am not implying that I LOVE the news paper, but it is true that how they wrote about me is important to me, and I am emotionally attached to what it says.
More precisely, I will be happy if it says something good about me, and vice versa.
PS: is EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED describes correctly the situation?


texts: "One of my desires in life is to meet you up directly at least once in my lifetime"

texts:
Is this statement grammatically correct?

  One of my desires in life is to meet you up directly at least once in my lifetime.


texts:
Since "quixotic" was coined with Don Quixote as its basis, why is it pronounced "kwicks-OTT-ick" when it should by rights/origin be pronounced "Key-HO-tick"?

It even sounds more onomatopoeiatic the latter way, as it resembles in its sonorous qualities "chaotic," which suits the subject.

Or is trying to make sense of English pronunciation a quixotic quest?


texts: What is an action verb that is less committal than "invite" but more specific than "share"?

texts: Imagine you are looking through a selection of events. One event takes your fancy and you want to see if a friend is interested too. I am looking for a verb that captures this. You are not quite inviting them, that is too concrete. On the other hand, you are sharing but you expect a response. Any ideas?


texts:
I recently ran into a word that I hadn't encountered before in my life in this context:

  "Well, thanks a lot [BlackVegetable] both for your quick reply and disponibility."

(It's in a comment on Stack Overflow.)

Intrigued, I performed a quick Google search on the word "Disponibility" which led me to the Wiktionary entry stating:

  Noun: availability

What on earth?  I thought I would have encountered this in a thesaurus or some other context for such a common word by now.  When is this word (supposed to be)  used, and is it an exact synonym?


texts: Use of comma before or after "specifically"?

texts:
I am interested in software engineering specifically software testing and program analysis.

Do I need to use a comma before or after specifically in the above sentence?


texts: Social, Political, and Economical in One Word?

texts:
As Afro-Eurasia means Africa, Europe, and Asia, what is a similar word for social, political, and economical? Sociopolitical and socioeconomical exist, but is there a way to incorporate all 3? I find myself in need of such a word when writing history papers.

  The __________ situation of Haiti during the Haitian revolution was very dependent on France's ideals.


texts: Word that means "of or relating to 'vocabulary'"

texts:
I'm looking for an adjective that would mean essentially the equivalent to the meaning some might ascribe to the made up word "vocabularic."  Is there a word that means "of or applying to vocabulary?"

For example: "I hope this utilitarian endowment proves itself by aiding in the construction of constructs and the eschewing of [vocabularic] obfuscation."

I realize this word is found in some dictionaries, such Wiktionary, but I was wondering if a more general, scholarly, or accepted word is commonly used.


texts: Being confused with how the author describe the time frame

texts:
Dasgupta,2019,p.2597 said that

the treated group comprises all firms that are headquartered in
countries that have passed a leniency law by year t. The control
group comprises firms in countries that never adopted a
leniency law in our sample period and firms headquartered in countries
that adopted a leniency law at some later point of time.

Whether the control group includes firms in countries that implemented this law at some earlier point in time? My understanding is: for example, from Table 2, Dasgupta,2019, page 2599, Korea passed the laws in 1997, therefore, the control group including all firms in all countries not implemented this law from 1995 to 2002, including the US.
From my point of view, it should be the case because base on this identification, firms in the US will not be affected by the laws passed in Korea based on this identification so these US firms from 1995-1996 and 1998-2002 can be control observations for Korea.
But if it is the case, why they need to write down "adopted a leniency law at some later point of time". Because in Korea case, the word "our sample period" means "1995-2002" already.


texts: Why does Joseph Addison use 'her' to refer to 'soul'?

texts:
I’m reading an article by Joseph Addison, The Tatler #108, dated December 17, 1709. He says:

  The finest authors of antiquity have taken him on the more
  advantageous side. They cultivate the natural grandeur of the soul,
  raise in her a generous ambition, feed her with hopes of immortality
  and perfection, and do all they can to widen the partition between the
  virtuous and the vicious, by making the difference betwixt them as
  great as between gods and brutes.

Why doesn’t he use ‘it’?


texts: Can adverbs of high/increasing speed be applied to not doing something?

texts:
There was some chat earlier about adverbs. We were trying to demonstrate that maybe is an adverb.

Reg did this deftly by replacing maybe with other adverbs and then a noun, to show that the noun doesn't make sense. The original sentence is:

  The detective maybe does not solve the crime.

In my head I replaced maybe with hastily. It passed my grammar check, but my semantic alarm went off.

  ? The detective hastily does not solve the crime.

I am happy that

  The detective hastily solves the crime.

makes sense.

I have the same issue with quickly, but not slowly or lackadaisically.

Can I say "I quickly didn't do something"? Why is it ringing semantic alarm bells?


texts:
I've seen both usages in articles published by reputable media like NYT and the Entrepreneurs. I've seen both being used to refer to what seems to me to be the same thing. It's so puzzling to me.

An example taken from the Guardian (para 5):

  Working culture remains horribly gendered. The report that working
  full-time increases a mother’s stress hormones by up to 40% puts
  numbers on ...

So I wonder which one is correct and is there any subtle distinction between the two variants?


texts: Which symbols can I use as shorthands to convey specific meanings?

texts:
For example, "/" (slash) can be used to mean "or" for two things that are interchangeable:

  I am taking my car/automobile to meet with my date/girlfriend.

Are there other symbols like this that I can use as shorthand? (Except the mathematical ones,  <, >, +, -, =, ≠.)

I'm looking for one that would mean two terms are opposed to each other, are antagonists. For example "stand duck". What could I put in-between? I was wondering if "\" had any meaning.


texts: What do you call words such as “the, an, a, to, and”?

texts:
I am looking to identify list of words that I can add to my search algorithm for a database.

I would like to know if there is a list of words that I can identify that serve little purpose.  I would like to search a database for exact matches without the use of certain words.  For example, the, an, a, to, and.  I am not sure what you call these type of words.


texts:
What is the literary term used to describe long vowel sounds?

For example in Ted Hughes's "Your Paris" in his Birthday Letters anthology "Eerie Familiar Feeling", what term would be used to describe this literary long vowel sound technique?


texts:
In his song "Cont.", Tim Minchin uses two expressions I cannot find in a dictionary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmTexiEZmL8

Can somebody explain the meanings?

"..., who lean on their horn..." (5:34)
"talk camply" (6:04)


texts: Word beginning with "auto" which means "to watch over and over again in mind's eye"

texts:
I encountered the word I am searching for in R.C.Robertson-Glasgow's Crusoe on Cricket; but, since I do not have the book, nor online access to it, I cannot search for that word.

The meaning is roughly "to watch an act over and over and over again in mind's eye" and in the context he mentioned of a cricket match that can be watched over and over before going to bed.

Any help?

Edit: In response to comments, I checked the list of all the words starting with "auto" and could not find it. If that is the case, then it could be a word, he coined.


texts: What is this menagerie doing in my bread-basket?

texts:
I have just been visiting the supermarket, and been bewildered by some of the products on offer. I have previously enjoyed tiger bread, which appears to be a long flat loaf with sesame oil on top.

I encountered a novelty this evening, though which was giraffe bread, the ingredients of which are unclear. It is long, but otherwise not all that reminiscent of a giraffe.

Could anyone refer me to a source to help me out with the meanings of these strange names? Are there others of this sort? Where should I look for a definitive list of bread names?

Edit, as Mark Beadles suggests: this shopping was done in the North-East of England. I didn't notice any tiger or giraffe meat being involved.


texts: What is the meaning of 'exhausting the evidence' in the sentence?

texts:
Here is the sentence

  ... let us call the relevant, overall sets of scientific belief ‘theories’; different, conflicting theories are consistent with the data; the data exhaust the evidence for belief; therefore, there is no evidential reason to believe one of these theories as opposed to another.

What is the meaning of this (should I say subsentence?) 'the data exhaust the evidence for belief'?

Should that have been 'the data exhausts the evidence for belief'?
If so, I think what it means is that the existent data is completely fulfilling, or sufficient enough only for our belief. But then, it doesn't seem to fit the context of the argument as a whole. Maybe I'm missing something!

Here's the link from where the sentence is snipped - http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-realism/#UndTheDat


texts:
I have a sentence like this:

Of the thousands of expectant mothers.

I need to change the word thousands with many or numerous.
Could anyone help with the correct format?


texts: "Applicable to you" or "Applicable for you"

texts:
As the question title suggests, which one of the following is correct?

I've sent the file, see if it's applicable to you
I've sent the file, see if it's applicable for you

Intuitively, I feel #1 to be correct, but #2 doesn't look like a completely wrong sentence either. What are the rules?

P.S. - I tried to find if this (or similar) question already existed, so please link me up to the one that answers this already.


texts:
I will be remembered as an individual who was kind, compassionate and
  always helped others.

I checked my sentence on grammarly and it pointed out that this sentence has "passive voice misuse". Can someone please help me fix the error? I am not sure what the error is.


texts:
This one has always bothered me.

Is this sentence correct?

  He shivered, thinking about his and Anya’s first time in the hospital.

It feels awkward, but there's a need to refer to their shared experience.

This would also apply to something like:

  I shivered, thinking about mine and Anya's first time in the hospital.

Again, it clunks, but I can't see an alternative.


texts: "X came with a Y included" vs "Y came included with a X"

texts:
His iPhone came with a phone case included.

  His iPhone came included with a phone case.

Do these sentences have the same meaning? Is one more idiomatic or common than the other?


texts: Can commensurate be used as a transitive verb?

texts: I need to make two datasets commensurate.  Can I "commensurate" them?


texts:
How do you pronounce repo when it means repository?

Is it ˈɹiːpoʊ or ˈɹepoʊ?


texts:
As an engineering undergrad, I refer to "cyclic motion". My friend, an arts student, uses the term "cyclical unemployment" (whatever that means) instead.

The only article I can find on the web about this didn't reach any conclusion except that words with -ic and -ical endings were normally the same, but occasionally the language has evolved to use them in different contexts (for example most people would see a difference between "magic" and "magical") [contrapunctus.net].

Is this divide entirely just convention in respective subjects?


texts: either or both A and B vs. either or both A or B

texts:
When using the phrase "either or both", should we use "and" or "or" for the items coming thereafter? or maybe "and/or"?

Example:

  It must have something to do with either or both external environment
  and/or internal character.


texts:
I consulted the collocation dictionary and found the verbs "raise" and "improve" are commonly used with "standards." But I'm wondering if I can use the words "enhancing" or "increasing" in the following passage. Thanks for help.

As our survey shows, consumer power has great implications for companies, because it is changing the way people stop. Many firms already claim to be "customer-driven" or "customer-centered." Now their claims will be tested as never before. Taking advantage of shopper's ignorance will no longer be possible: people will know--and soon tell others, even those without the Internet--that prices in the next town are lower or that certain goods are inferior. The Internet is working wonders in ________ standards. Good and honest firms should benefit most.


texts: In Charles Bukowski's "Some people" what is the meaning of phrase "It's Cherub, they say"?

texts:
I'm puzzled at a phrase in Charles Bukowski's poem "Some people".

The second paragraph reads:

  it’s Cherub, they’ll say,
  and they pour wine down my throat
  rub my chest
  sprinkle me with oils.

Though I'm aware what Cherub is, I find it hard to understand what's that suppose to do with the story. Does that mean that 'they' are looking at the protagonist and proclaim that he's an angel and a nice person? Is there a different meaning I'm missing out here?

The poem itself can be found online, for example, here: https://www.artvilla.com/some-people-poem-by-charles-bukowski/


texts: Why does the "e" in judge vanish in the word "judgment"?

texts:
The in the word "judgment", the "e" from "judge" is absent. Three questions on this:

Why is this?
Is there a name for such a contraction?
How and why does the "g" still retain its "soft" pronunciation without the "e" following it?


texts: Is "something red" an example of ellipsis or adjectival positioning

texts:
I want to better understand why the construction something + [adjective] makes grammatical sense.
Background: I was recently reading a Washington Post article and came across the following sentence.

So if you fall in that category, [the movie] feels more like magic than repetitive.

(Note: I've copied the relevant spoiler-free sentence above; following the link to the article will open you up to movie spoilers! Source)
The phrase more like magic than repetitive struck me as odd, presumably because it was non-parallel (more like [noun] than [adjective]). I would have expected "...more like magic than something repetitive." (Actually, that needs to be rewritten to flow better, but the point is that at least it appears to be grammatical.) Thus, one would have the noun phrase "something repetitive," of the form "[noun] [adjective]."
This got me to thinking about the use of adjectives after nouns. There is a great Stack Exchange article
here (When can an adjective be postponed) that involves the characteristics of the adjective that indicate it should come after the noun. But I haven't been able to find examples of how the word "something" requires a postponed adjective.
Consider the following sentences:

I want to buy something red.
I am looking for something sweet to eat.

You cannot say:

*I want to buy red something.
*I am looking for sweet something to eat.

But you can say:

I want to buy something (that is) red.
I am looking for something (that is) sweet to eat.

So, my question:

Do the above examples mean that the "something [adjective]" construction is an example of the ellipsis of "that is"?

Is there something special about the word "something" that requires the postponed adjective? Note that I am NOT looking for details about adjectives that are postponed; I'm interested in the word that precedes the adjective (either "something" or similar words).

By the way, I am not interested in the following constructions, which are different:

I want to paint the house red.
I tried to build the brick house taller.

Thanks in advance!


texts: What does 'lay one's shoulder to ' mean?

texts:
I came across the following paragraph when reading Jon Meecham's The Art of Power ( it's a excerpt from the epistle from Jefferson to John Page)

  we have both been drawn from our natural passion for study & tranquility, by times which took from us the freedom of choice: times however which, planting a new world with the seeds of just government, will produce a remarkeable aera in the history of mankind. it was incumbent on those therefore who fell into them, to give up every favorite pursuit, and lay the shoulder to the work of the day.

I Googled the phrase but couldn't find matching expressions. The closest one it showed was 'put one's shoulder to the wheel', which means 'work hard at something', and it somehow fits the context herein. Therefore I was wondering if the phrase has fallen out of use or morphed into other forms?


texts:
And they fell to upon their frugal supper.

(From Vanity Fair)

I can only find either to fall to, or to fall on / upon, but never to fall to on / upon.


texts: one word for "the desire to feel special to someone"

texts: Is there one word which can substitute the meaning of "The desire to feel special to someone"?


texts:
This is the situation:
Ann is going to meet Fred at 6pm. She will give him something and then she has to go because she has another meeting somewhere else at 7.

Could you please give me some tips for sentences which can be used when I want to tell Fred why to be on time?

Something like
"Please be there on time. It's important because Ann ..."
(She has to be somewhere else later/then/after? She has something to do? She has to go?) <- I know it's wrong.

Thank you very much!


texts:
Climate change causes the rise of sea levels, the disappearance/
  disappearing of certain plants and animals.

I got the question: which one is correct in the sentence above between 'disappearance' and 'disappearing'.

I know 'disappearance' would be the right answer but
I'm not sure about 'disappearing'.


texts: Demonstratives [Those, These] with Genitive

texts:
I wonder whether demonstrative pronouns can be appended Genitive 's.
For instance;

  Those's cat is dead.

Is it those's cat?
I know, I need to use "their cat" instead of it.
So, have you ever heard about those's cat?


texts:
I've read another post about excel at or excel in. But it was too general.

What if the object is a language? When we say "in English" or "in German" it means written or spoken in the mentioned language. But what about "excelling" at/in that language? It feels wrong to say "at", and the same with "in".

Native speakers, please help! Which one sounds or feels natural to you?

  excel at English
  or
  excel in English


texts: Use of "Sure" in reply to help offering  and to appreciation

texts:
In American English, "sure" is often heard in reply to offering help or expressing appreciation.  I was wondering if it may not be a good choice? For example,

  - Would you like a cup of water? - Sure.

Is it correct that "sure" here does
not have any meaning similar to
thanks in advance?

I would say "Yes, please". Even
sometimes "Yes, please. Thanks!"
Using "sure" makes me feel that
others might think I take their help
for granted.

  - Thank you so much! - Sure.

Is "sure" here used to emphasize
that appreciation is required or
highly expected?

I would think "You are welcome" or
"My pleasure" are less demanding.

In general, how shall one use "sure" in an acceptable way? What kinds of occasions can it be used, and when better not?


texts: Tag questions of proverbs, interrogative sentences and phrases

texts:
Problem 1: What is the correct tag question of proverbs like
(a) None is none under the sun,isn't it/ are they?
(b) Time and tide wait for none, isn't it/ do they?
(c) Waste not, want not, isn't it?

Problem 2: What is the correct tag question of interrogative sentences like:
 (a) Who cares, do they?

Problem 3:Can we add tag question to phrases like
(a) Good morning, ......?
(b) Happy birthday, ....?

I've given the answer with confusion. I think that as the proverbs are universal, the tag question should be always 'isn't it'. We should not use any tag question with interrogative sentences like 'who cares' because it itself a question. We might not add tag question with phrases like 'Good morning/ happy birth' because they are wishes and we cannot ask for confirmation from the hearer we are wishing. But some teachers of Bangladesh set question like these in exams.

Thanking again. I will be happy if you give solutions with reference.


texts: A word meaning an "indifferent resignation"?

texts:
As the title says, I'm looking for a word that is similar to resignation, but conveys a feeling of indifference.
For example:

  Although I have severe myopia, I've lived with it all my life and have therefore [word here] myself to the condition.

Thanks very much to anybody who can answer this.


texts: What is the proper way to spell and pronounce the name Yoanna or some certain names?

texts:
My name is "Yoanna" but I am not sure of how to pronounce or spell it properly in English. It is derived from "Joanna". Should I write it "Joanna" and pronounce it "Yoanna" or do I stick with "Yoanna" in either cases?

Also, using the example above, is it okay if I write English names that are pronounced differently in other countries the same way they are pronounced or do I just write them like their English form and pronounce them differently based on culture and language?


texts:
This question is of the form "If the answer is this then what should the question have been?"

I'm looking for is a list containing things like:

The Yakuza (Japan)
The Triads (China)
Drug Cartels (South America)
The Mafia (US, 20th Century, now waning)
etc.

Note that this is the answer list that I would give ... perhaps other people with more knowledge would give a different list.

Maybe there's another name for the various Drug Cartels.
Maybe there's another group in China, as well as the Triads.
Maybe The Yakuza have been waning, just like the Triads.

Basically these are names that might come up in an action film as "Someone ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time, and got stuck in the middle of an international turf war between {The Yakuza} and {The Triads}.

Or "There was an internal fight between 2 branches of {The Mafia}"

What term identifies these Groups of Organisations?


texts: What is the meaning of "bring it before the mind"?

texts:
What is the meaning of the following statement?
Does the part "bring it before the mind" is a common phrase?

In the following pages it has been his aim to give an interesting,
and, at the same time, a truthful picture of jungle life—such a
picture as may bring it before the mind of the European reader without
exaggeration or false glitter.
— Forest Life in Ceylon, W. Knighton, 1854


texts:
What is meant by: "He felt something much more keenly"?

Context(From Anne of Avonlea by L.M.Montgomery):

"Anne stood Morley on the platform for an hour and—which Morley felt
much more keenly—confiscated his crickets."


texts: Should I capitalize "Billion" in a bulleted list?

texts:
I have list of values in a report used to highlight demographic information.  For dollar values, should I capitalize the word "Billion", or leave it lower case?

Here's a sample:

  Appraised Value: $4.8 Billion

  Agriculture $0.1 Billion
  Residential $3.3 Billion
  Commercial $1.1 Billion
  Other $0.3 Billion


texts:
Is the phrase "item is ignored for deletion" grammatical and idiomatic?

The context is a software program. I have a list of items to be deleted from a database, and if an item from the list is not in the database, I want to display a message saying that the item is ignored. Since this message can appear among other unrelated messages, I want it to be as informative as possible but laconic.


texts: Is this how to reply to "how is it going?"?

texts:
Someone asked me "how is it going?"

I reply to her: "It's been going pretty good. Thanks for asking! How about you?"

Is there any grammar mistake in it or this sentence is alright?


texts:
I was wondering if a matter-of-fact tone was the same as a straightforward tone, and if these terms all mean “simple” or “without emotions”.  (I am not a native speaker for that matter).
If I speak or say something in a “matter-of-fact way” how am I saying it?
Thank you very much for helping me!


texts:
I was watching The Big Bang Theory series and when Sheldon and Leonard went to a sperm bank and Sheldon changed his mind about giving sperm, Leonard told him

  What, are you kidding? You’re a semi-pro.

What does semi-pro mean here?


texts:
I am confused about this sentence.

"Having updated and accurate maps of land use aid regional planners to plan for the future."

The verb "to aid" in this sentence has to take an "s"?

"Having updated and accurate maps of land use aids regional planners to plan for the future."


texts:
I've been seeing words with umlauts in prominent publications - for example The New Yorker spells re-election like this:

  reëlection

What's going on?


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  “Do’s” and “don’ts” or “do’s” and “don’t’s”?

I always see Do's and don'ts, but in my opinion it must be "Dos and don'ts", or is there any rule where there is an apostrophe in plural? (In German there is never ever an apostrophe in plural, not even in abbreviations, so I guess it's the same in English).


texts: Word for a single picture which can be interpreted in two different ways

texts:
What are pictures that have two visual interpretations called? See the following image:

This image shows a skull from one perspective, and when you look at it a different way, it shows a girl sitting under trees. There are many images like this. What do you call these pictures?


texts:
For example:

  I opened Google. Then, after giving it some thought, I typed (in):
  lolcats.

Should I include the in in cases like this. Why?


texts: Can't remember the word for literal setting of the variables

texts:
It is programming related.

Well, I have a phrase, something like:

  If the parameter wasn't set ..., the default value should be used.

I can't remember the word people usually use here. Something like "wasn't set literally" or "manually". It's on the tip of my tongue. Really frustrating.


texts:
I find myself always wondering which is the grammatically correct expression or, provided that both are correct, whether there are differences between their meaning. One example:

  Passage A in this book is identical to/with passage B in that book.

To me it seems as if both could be used here.

Nonetheless, someone on the net claims that his university's style sheet says that "identical to" is grammatically incorrect and ought to be avoided. (I mention this just as an example)

Yet, the online version of the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary allows both and even makes a difference between their meaning:

  Her dress is almost identical to mine.

and

  The number on the card should be identical with the one on the chequebook.


texts: Where does this pattern of naming products come from?

texts:
I noticed that a lot of product names have random, cool-sounding letters in their name. They seem less random though when you realize that a lot of products use the same or similar random letters.

Examples of what I mean:

Lexus GX (Car)
Pokémon-GX (Trading cards)
Gatorade GX (Sports drink)
Buick GX (Another car)
Windows XP
Disney XD (TV channel)
Pokémon XD (Video game)
Sony XPeria (Phone) (this one's different but it might fall in the same pattern)

It seems a lot of random products follow the same pattern, a letter X accompanied by another letter that just sounds cool with it. Is there a known origin for this naming pattern?


texts:
Ok, a user receives a partnership request from another user and can either accept or refuse it.

Is there a word for that? I mean, a word to indicate the action of taking a decision about it without information on the kind of decision.

Accept, ratify, etc.. indicate a positive response while refuse, discard, etc.. indicate a negative response, I need something neutral/generic.


texts: Word to describe things that have a tendency to melt?

texts:
Things that can catch fire are called inflammable, similarly I want to know the word which describes things like wax or ice which melts as soon as temperature around them rises.

Thanks.

For example sentence let us agree that the word is 'meltable' but it does not satisfy my need.

Example- May be brotherhood is too 'meltable' to survive even couple of days under debris of burned buildings!!


texts: What does "angle they wish to cover" mean?

texts:
Context:

  The University of Maryland has a team of academic experts educating the media about Valentine’s Day no matter what angle they wish to cover. There I’ve read that many people choose Valentine’s Day for getting married. Can you imagine? The list of celebrities who’ve done this includes Elton John and Meg Ryan. And quite a lot of famous people have been born on that day!


texts: "Come through with" for "come up with" in AE

texts:
Does come through with sound like a perfectly acceptable idiomatic alternative to come up with?

  "He came through with an answer, not immediately, that made so much sense."
  – source


texts: When naming a keyboard, key, should the key's name be capitalized?

texts:
I recently received some feedback about an error message on one of our internal applications.  When a user submits invalid input, we send a message that looks something like this:

  "Display Name" is required, must be less than 64 characters and must
  only include alphanumeric characters, dashes and spaces.

The feedback I received was that "spaces" should be capitalized since it's the name of a key on the keyboard.  I disagree, however.  I feel like it should remain lowercase.  Can anyone help me understand the correct usage in this scenario?

Thank you in advance!


texts:
What is the difference between the following statements?

Most men have peculiar manners.
Most men have manners peculiar to themselves.


texts: Is "knowledge *at* photography?" correct grammatically?

texts:
Do you have any knowledge at photography?

Is this sentence correct? I don't think so, the at doesn't sound right, but my friend says some grammar checker tells that its correct?


texts: "Have a seat" vs. "Take a seat" in modern AE

texts:
To answer this question you first might want to consider this Ngram.source

In light of this chart, it's apparent that "have a seat" is preferred to "take a seat" as far as modern day AE is concerned.

Could the reason for this be that saying "take a seat" might sound equivocal to some guileless ears, or, more seriously, that "have a seat" sounds like a more polite wording for an invitation?


texts: Difference between Keep on+V-ing and Keep+V-ing

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Please help me to find out the answer. Am I right if I say

  I keep on walking in this dark way?

or

  I keep walking in this dark way?

What is the difference between the two sentences?


texts: Should I use an article with the word “part”?

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I’ve noticed that some people use an article with the word “part” and the bulk of them does not (at least at some web pages I skimmed through). Which is the correct variant? I think that parts of something are countable, so there should be an article, whether definite or not.
A few examples right out of my head. Please, do not consider it as meaningful sentences. These are just for demonstrating and mean almost nothing.

KDE is a part of the Linux GUI.
The mentioned district is a part of the city.
This stick was a part of that tree.
Something is the main part of his success.

Here you go – a few real life examples I’ve just stumbled with:

… the resulting moc file is included in a _automoc.cpp file, which is then compiled as part of the target.
DarwinPorts was started in 2002 as part of the OpenDarwin project.
It was part of Tax Day protests held throughout the 1990s and earlier.


texts: What is a word/expression for useless advice?

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In Czech there is an expression "hraběcí rada". It refers to meaningless/useless advice - something which is factually true but cannot be meaningfully applied by the recipient of said advice. The best example would be the phrase "Let them eat cake". Another example given in the Czech thesaurus is:

A: Man these loans are killing me. I can barely keep up the payments on time. What should I do?
B: Well if you hadn't gotten a loan in the first place, you wouldn't be in this situation today...
A: Please stop with your <expression I'm looking for>

Is there an equivalent expression in English?


texts: What is meant by "Are you even up there?"

texts:
I have seen "The edge of seventeen" movie last Friday.
In that film, Nadine used to say this sentence (See image)

Can any one tell me what it means?


texts: What are some of the most intense and beautiful adjectives that a writer can use to describe the word "laugh"?

texts: I'm looking for adjectives conveying energy and pure unadulterated joy, specifically modifying the noun "laugh". (Or, alternatively, "guffaw")


texts:
Is there a very restricted subset of English language that is more or less deterministic, captures most of the thoughts that can be expressed by humans and thus solves most of the communication issues we face in our day to day life?

We have so many words in english that each one has its own interpretation (In the sense of strength of emotion that a word describes). While expressing emotions are an essential part of a language, is there a very minimal subset that I can use to convey my ideas in the most simple manner and be confident that there is no way a certain statement can be misunderstood?


texts: Is mentioning full name on email replies considered rude?

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For example:

If someone replies "Sure Deepak Mishra :)" or "Sure Deepak :)".

Should "Sure Deepak Mishra :)" look offensive to me or is it not good email etiquette?

Is using a person's first name or full name in emails considered rude by today's standards?


texts: What does "fringe meeting" mean exactly?

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I'm aware of that 'Fringe' means 'not major', 'not mainstream'.
I hardly understand how 'fringe' and 'meeting' meet as one vocabulary.


texts:
To snowball means to increase gradually. For example,

Inflation has snowballed in the last year.
The debate snowballed into a heated argument.

I am not able to understand the word snowballed. Does it have something to do with snow and ball? How did this meaning develop?