texts: What's the term to describe this kind of sentence?

texts:
What is the term to describe this kind of sentence:

  I don't know why people like to study things that they don't like to study.

There's some kind of logic error with this statement, and it's meant as a joke. What's an appropriate term to describe this sentence? (I was thinking of things like irony, etc.)


texts: Should the 'or' come at the end of the first line or beginning of the second?

texts:
I'm working on a webpage that has a form on it where the user can type into a box, or pick some options instead to fill it for them.

If I am writing about a choice of options, and splitting that over two lines, should it be written:

Enter your name in the form above

or pick Liz [_], Charles [_], William [_]

Or should it be:

Enter your name in the form above, or

Pick Liz [_], Charles [_], William [_]

To me the first one seems to read better, but I then have the concern that it from just reading that one line it isn't clear that there is another option. But adding a comma and an 'or' to the end of that line just looks clunky.

I guess there's a third option; having a middle line with the 'or' in there (kind of how I've structured this question) but that's going to add a whole lot extra space for potentially very little benefit. (Space is at a premium in web design, so a whole extra line of content that just has the word 'or' is maybe not ideal.


texts:
I think I have seen usages like below:

The book is good in that it shows you the different options that might result from your choices.
The media was clear in that they obviously despised the president.
The suggested method is more effective than previous ones in that it requires less resources and achieves the result more quickly.

Is this [adjective] + that ... usage correct? Under which grammatical topic does it go if it is?


texts: How did the "erogation" word end up on displays of coffee machines?

texts: According to many dictionaries, erogation comes from the Latin for "the art of giving out or bestowing", but currently seems to be heavily linked to the coffee business. I'd like to know how this happened.


texts:
Today I heard the word "lest" in our daily chat with some teammates and I even thought it was a typo.
As far as I understand, it means 'avoiding', but can I use it normally in my daily speaking ?
I read some examples, but none of them from daily life:
"lest" examples

Large shell collections are built up by exchanging duplicates with other collectors. Hence it is wise to take a number of specimens. A notebook should be carried in which records may be made at the time of collecting, lest important data be forgotten.


texts: Origin of the expression "Good governor."

texts:
In Season 3, episode 2 of the sitcom Modern Family, Phil uses the expression "Good governor" to express his incredulity when he realizes that his wife has an obsession about proving she is always right.
I presume this is a variation on "good grief" and similar exclamations but wonder if anyone is aware of the origin of the use of the word "governor."  Is it a Britishism that has entered US English, from the informal use of "governor" ("guv'nor) to talk about a person in a position of authority?


texts: When referring to a previously sent text, would you say 'I text you about that' or 'I texted you about that'?

texts: I realize texted is not a word, but text doesn't seem appropriate in the above sentence. What would make more sense?


texts: In Wikipedia, it's more like "Music notes" or maybe that's intended to make the title simpler. It seems that both are correct. Are there any differences?


texts: Parse tree of "the ports of Santo Domingo and Cartagena in present-day Colombia"

texts:
There is a Wikipedia article with the following line:

  Drake sailed to the New World and sacked the ports of Santo Domingo and Cartagena in present-day Colombia.

Never mind the facts as we might know them; does the second part mean that Santo Domingo was sacked along with Cartagena, which is in present-day Columbia, or does it mean that both Santo Domingo and Cartagena are in present-day Columbia?


texts: Is there a term for a word that means itself? For example the word word means itself and is a word.


texts:
In an exercise, a sentence is given:

I think it would be best if you didn't mention John's behaviour to his mother.

The task is to write a second sentence that has exactly the same meaning, using between 2 and 8 words inserted into a given template:

I don't think you ... John's behaviour to his mother.

An additional requirement is that the word say in exactly this form must be included.
Can someone please help?


texts: In UK politics, is there a metonym for the National Assembly for Wales (like Westminster, Holyrood, Stormont)?

texts:
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has a national parliament with an internationally used metonym Westminster after the City of Westminster, London, where the parliament is located (or perhaps after the Palace of Westminster, which is in turn named after the City of Westminster).

The devolved parliament for Scotland is often referred to as Holyrood after the Edinburgh area of Holyrood (Brexit talks divide opinion between Holyrood and Westminster)

The Northern Ireland assembly is often called Stormont after the Stormont estate (Stormont failure over gay pardons 'a disgrace').

The National Assembly for Wales is located in a building called the Senedd in Cardiff.  I'm not sure what the neighbourhood of Cardiff is called.

The word senedd is simply Welsh for senate and therefore not a metonym.  Is the word Senedd word used for the National Assembly for Wales?  Is there any metonym in use?  If so, which one?

Searching far senedd at site:news.bbc.co.uk yields very few results, and a large fraction are about the senedd building rather than about the assembly as an institution.


texts: What's the phrase for things that get better with age?

texts:
What's the phrase for things that (seem to) get better with age?

For example:
JJ Abrams Star Trek is to TNG as Lucas's prequels were to Star Wars.


texts: Difference between Can you please explain me or Could you please explain me

texts:
Which one is best and why ?.

Can you please explain me or

Could you please explain me.


texts: Word for "complementing each other, while showing an increase in intensity"

texts:
I have 2 sentences. The sentences are:

  In college, I wrote a simple calendar program. Concurrently, 2 years on, I am working on developing a complex universal calendar system.

Here, I want "concurrently" to be replaced with an appropriate word. If the 2 sentences were opposite of each other, I would have used "conversely". But in this case, the 2 sentences complement each other while showing an increase in intensity.


texts: The word for a man who hunts a dangerous mountain cat without prophylactic?

texts:
Hello once again special team stack exchange and a usage.

I search many hours dictionary for a man goes into woods for hunt dangerous mountain cat or similar enemy despite no protection or prophylactic caution. Maybe he take only small catpalt for kill crow or moose. So when cat comes he catch him with no pants.

Sorry my friends. I need to clear that man think his tool is bigger than reality it is. So the word is not reckless for this man.


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

texts:
I am wondering why would someone say “I fail to understand” instead of simply saying “I can't understand”. Is there any specific difference between the two? Is it correct to say that the following two phrases are equivalent?

  Excellent point, but I fail to understand how the example at the
  bottom is related.
  Excellent point, but I can't understand how the example at the bottom is related.

  If you fail to complete the form before departure, this may result in...
  If you can't complete the form before departure, this may result in...

I am also wondering if “fail to do something” is equivalent to “can't seem to do something”.


texts: Using relative pronoun "who" with "team" or "bunch"

texts:
I would like to know if this sentence is grammatical, with its usage of the relative pronoun who.

(I) Our team is a happy bunch who works night and day.

I am getting two parses for this sentence:

(II) Our team is [a happy bunch who works night and day].

(III) Our team [is a happy bunch] who works night and day.

(for sentence (III), the relative clause who works night and day is modifying our team).

I am not sure if the usage of who is correct in either parse or the original sentence.  For what it is worth, the sentence was written by a non-native speaker.  Please advise.

Note this issue does not appear to be trivial.  See this discussion as well: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=2935603.


texts:
I'm confused about the structure of this sentence when I read this text:

  And that's why I start the businesses that I start, that's usually
  consumer brands, that have embedded in them the very best of my
  African culture. And what I do is it's all packaged, 21st century,
  world-class tendered, and I bring that to one of the most
  sophisticated markets in the world, which is the US

.

  And what I do is it's all packaged, 21st century, world-class tendered

What kind of word is "world-class tendered"? As what I saw in dictionary, "world-class" is an adjective, but how about "tendered" here? is it a participle? This confusion makes me misunderstand the meaning of this sentence. Please help me.

Thank you.


texts:
In this sentence

Do you know if she's coming ?

We ve 2 subjects (you and she )
2 verbs ( know and coming )
And noun clause (as an object ) ( if she's is coming )

What is the second object in the sentence ?


texts: Idiom for someone who buys all the best gear to do something before they even have a basic proficiency?

texts:
I'm looking for an idiom to describe someone who decides to take up a new hobby, then buys an excessive amount of gear before they've even started. Perhaps they believe they need this gear to master the hobby, or that having the gear will make them better at it.

For example: someone decides they're going to learn how to play guitar. They buy a top-shelf guitar, a half-stack amplifier, a graphic equalizer, effects pedals, direct boxes, and a gig bag full of gadgets. Eric Clapton might be jealous of their equipment, but they haven't even learned how to play one chord yet.

Another example might be someone who decides they're going to try to get in shape, so they go out and buy a multi-station gym, an expensive bicycle, a heart-rate tracker, top of the line athletic clothes, but they can't even walk a mile without fainting.

How do I put this insanity into words?


texts: what does "lost a shilling and found a penny" mean?

texts:
I am translating a British story and I came across this expression

"you look like you lost a shilling and found a penny". I am not sure I understand what it means.


texts: Is “agone” still a current dialectal expression?

texts:
Agone is defined in dictionaries as an archaic form of "gone" (TFD)

but according to Etymonline the term is still used as a dialectal variant:

Ago:

  ago (adj.)
  early 14c., shortened form of Old English agan, agone "departed, passed away," past participle of an obsolete verb ago "to go forth," formed from a- "away"  Agone remains a dialectal variant.

I presume that it refers to some regional dialect in the UK.

Questions:

Is the term commonly used within the UK? Which region of Great Britain is one most likely to come across this term?
Is agone heard or used  outside the UK?


texts: When did 'going to ...' replace 'will ...' in the future tense in colloquial usage

texts: The future tense in standard written English uses 'will' as the verbal modifier, but increasingly English speakers use 'going to' as the verbal modifier. When did this come into common usage?


texts: Can't have (been) V.S. couldn't have (been)

texts: Alright, I'm having this huge ongoing debate with my friend about 'can't have' and 'couldn't have'. So I was talking to him a few days ago and, quite naturally, said, "No, she can't have passed the test!'' and he said that I meant 'couldn't have passed the test'. But 'can't have' sounds correct to me. Since then, we've been constantly arguing over 'can't have''s correctness. I say that both are right but he initially said that 'can't have' is totally incorrect, then switched to saying that it is correct, but MY context was wrong. Final question: would it be (in)correct for me to say, 'she can't have done that'. Please enlighten me.


texts: What is the word for something that has been covered in a lot of sources?

texts:
I'm looking for a word or phrase that describes when a topic has been subject to a preponderance of in-depth coverage, similar to "well-trodden" but more fitting. I'd like to avoid any kind of moralizing language like "trite" or "notable/important" in terms of how it's been covered—at most, it would be acceptable to say that the subject has been adequately covered—but I'd like the connotation to be just that it has been covered in a lot of sources.
Sample sentences:

We can say that issue of the tampon tax is [well-covered] now that
dozens of journalists have written about it.
I can write her biography now that her life has been [well-covered in sources].


texts: Term for neologisms created to distinguish between new and old technologies

texts:
For example:
book -> paper book, e-book
phone -> telephone, smartphone
Term to describe the creation/modification of words because of the advent of technology.


texts: What preposition should follow "jealousy"?

texts:
My favorite online dictionary tells me that jealousy is followed by the preposition of:

  jealousy (of so.|sth.) - die Eifersucht (auf jmdn.|etw.)

(LEO)

But when I checked just-the-word, I noticed that of is used only precedent to jealousy.
Prepositions following the noun are between, about and at. Looking at the examples for jealousy about and jealousy at, it seems to me that about and at are the prepositions which are taken when referring to the reason why someone is jealous.

  ... that it was jealousy about her ideas.

  ... jealousy at the younger man's superior talents.

As I mentioned above, the dictionary says it is possible to say jealousy of sth. In my understanding, this something can just be the reason but not the thing I'm jealous of.

(Q1) Is it jealousy of sth or jealousy at sth or jealousy about sth when referring to the reason why someone is jealous?
Note: I mean is it possible to say jealousy of the talents or must it be at as in the given example?

I don't find any reliable sources that show the use of jealousy of sb. Though, I know that it is correct since there are many examples for to be jealous of:

  They're all jealous of me.

(Q2) Is it common to say jealousy of sb when referring to the person I'm jealous of?
Supplementary question: How do I combine in one sentence both pieces of information — the person I'm jealous of and the reason why I'm jealous?
I could probably use a genitive as in Peter's car, but maybe my jealousy does not refer to the car or Peter himself but to his money or his parents' money (suppose they gave him the car as a present). How could I handle such a thing?

(I'm sorry for combining a couple of questions into one question but they are too related to be separated.)


texts:
Now I'm abroad, and my girlfriend is still in my country, her birthday was two days ago and I said " If I were there, I would do everything I could to pamper you"
Is that the correct usage of If I were or I should have said If I was?
Thanks in advance


texts: Find the right technical word for a composition of names

texts:
I have the following text from which I extracted the pair of words Abbott Laboratories

A unit of pharmaceutical giant Abbott Laboratories agreed to pay 600
million dollars to settle criminal and civil charges of defrauding
government health care agencies.

Question
What is the grammatical identification of Laboratories or what is the right technical word.
What is the relation between Abbott and Laboratories. Laboratories is telling us that Abbott is the name of a laboraty which is an organization and not a person.


texts: What does "vanilla" mean in the context of gaming?

texts:
Consider this comment:

  I've been playing WoW(an online multiplayer game) since vanilla. I'm an older white male, my first toon was female, created with my wife coaching me. We did it just for fun.

What does vanilla mean here?


texts: What is the function of "that" in sentence?

texts:
I have heard the following type of sentence in many stories, podcasts, etc.:

  All were happy that the bus suddenly came and everyone got upset.

I would rather wonder whether conjunction that is an adverb clause introducer here, or is another type of clauses.


texts: Is there any "swearword" in English not associated with excrements, the genitals, sexual activity or religion?

texts:
SWEARWORD - A popular term for a word or phrase that is obscene, abusive, and socially offensive.

For some reason, all of them seem to be associated with excrements, sex and religion. This question is specific about offenses, not intensifiers.  Can you identify any that doesn't follow the rule and tell when and where it originated?

I don't mean mild offenses like "dumb", "idiot", "jackass", "blockhead" or the like, but words or phrases that will shock those who overhear them.

EDIT - It seems my question has been misunderstood by some. I'm looking for swearwords that are not related to excrements, sex or religion, and still might shock someone. I don't expect a list because I believe they are few, and some of them have already been mentioned in the answers below.  If I find them together in one answer and there is some reference as to where and when each one originated, I'll accept that answer.

ps. Of course, whether or not we find a word shocking or offensive largely depends on where (and how) we have been brought up, our educational background and elements of culture. I would therefore consider the average man (average income, age, education) as a reference.


texts: Why is "yeah" considered unprofessional?

texts: I have read in many places on the Internet that "yeah" is considered unprofessional. And that using "yes" is preferred and considered more formal. What is the reason behind it?


texts:
As an Australian, I like to follow British forms of words such as license/licence and practise/practice. I have no problem with licence the noun and license the verb, but I find it hard to keep practise and practice straight.

To get better, I practise my juggling. When I see a doctor, I visit their practice. But what about preparing a set of practice problems? Are they a set of problems that are used for practising, being instead practise problems? Is there a use of the word practice besides referring to, say, a doctor's establishment?


texts: The placement of "just" and the sentence meaning

texts:
Consider the two sentences, please:

I just want to add a few details.
I want to add just a few details.

How does the meaning change depending on the placement of just within the sentence?
Thank you!


texts:
I am wondering which one below is grammatical:

I sing a song every ride.
I sing a song on every ride.

So I guess the question boils down to whether "on every ride" servers as a preposition here?

Thanks.


texts: Is there any other way I can say " W and X have helped me develop Y and Z skills?"

texts: I want to say my internship and project have helped me develop research and analytical skills but in a different way. How should I do it?


texts: How do I know when to use Jon and I, or Jon and me? I can't really figure it out. I've tried to teach myself, but I just can't seem to do it. Will someone please help me figure this problem out?


texts: What does "working a system of favors" mean?

texts:
Can anyone please teach me what this phrase "work a system of favors" mean?

In the novel I'm reading now, a hero is blackmailing a heroine, who is an expert safecracker, to crack a safe which has important documents the hero is looking for. He doesn't tell her what kind of documents they are, and she is so scared to take a risk and asks if the documents are worth risking their lives.

And here's the thought that goes around in his mind in response to her question:

  It was so much easier to ask a question like that from the outside of a mission, when you hadn't established the relationships, worked a system of favors, laid the groundwork.

I've looked for the meaning of "a system of favors" and guessed it would mean "a form of exchanging favors" (and please correct me if I'm mistaken), but the word "favors" sort of pops up in this paragraph, and nobody is talking about doing or exchanging favors even in this chapter, so I can't grasp its context and nuance.

Also, is "a system of favors" a thing you work? Can it be rephrased as "established a system of favors"?


texts: What's the meaning of "vertical" in a software project description?

texts:
I'm a programmer from Brazil and have here a software project to estimate. In the description I found these sentences:

  ...to provide the use cases for the vertical they might be interested.

  ...that would be suitable for that particular user and vertical.

  ...and the selected vertical.

I really don't get it. Does someone know the meaning of vertical in these cases?


texts: Is it true that if a gerund can be replaced by a noun, the 'gerund' in question is not a present participle?

texts:
Take this sentence for instance: We began shouting at the top of our lungs for the bus to stop.
Since the phrase in question 'shouting at the top of our lungs for the bus to stop' cannot be replaced with a noun, the mentioned phrase definitely functions as a gerund.
Is this rule correct all the time?


texts: Does "head start" imply a comparison or competition with others?

texts:
I'm working on an application for a summer school. In the letter, I am explaining how I have been preparing to get into the field in question and how the summer school would further help me with that and I just typed, without thinking too much:

  The XY summer school would not only give me a head start in this regard [in preparing for a career in this field] and help me further prepare but also allow me to connect with researchers from the field as well as like-minded people from all over the world.

However, is this usage of "head start" idiomatic? Am I implying that I would like to get an "advantage" over someone else (which is not what I'm intending to write, of course)? I am sure I have seen "head start" being used simply in the context of "helping you get started effectively" (as in "Doing X and Y will give you a head start when it comes to preparing for your exams"), without reference to anyone else. But I'm now starting to doubt my (purely contextual) understanding since I had never explicitly looked up "head start" in a dictionary and all dictionaries seem to consider "head start" to imply a competitive context.

Also, if I am indeed wrong, I would be very happy to receive comments with suggestions on what other idiom / expression I could use instead.


texts: 'Received' - path from literal to figurative

texts:
'Received' as an adjective is interesting - considering that the past -participle is literal reverse of 'to give':

We have received the gift

(someone has given us a gift)
But as an adjective it is only figurative:

We speak Received Pronunciation

(we speak a standard, commonly accepted pronunciation

Ecclesiastes pronounces received wisdom

(the bible book states wisdom that is conventional or understood by everyone once presented to them)
The OED starts its historical listing of meanings of the adjective with this figurative meaning.

a. Generally adopted, accepted, or approved as true, authoritative, or standard. Frequently in received opinion, received wisdom.

And the OED's first use is:

1440   Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 425   Receyvyd, receptus, acceptus.
1543   R. Record Ground of Artes ii. sig. S.viii   Procedynge by no grounded reason, but onely by a receaued fourme.
1597   T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke Annot. sig. *4   I am loth to breake a receiued custome.

The difficulty I'm having is with the metaphorical leap. It's a bit of an understated but authoritarian inference: the thing you 'get' is the thing you're supposed to, and you're supposed to follow that as the right thing to get/do. That's a long tortuous abstract semantic path to go from 'I got it'.
I feel like there is a missing link, some intermediary usage.
Is there any evidence of such an intermediary usage, not exactly  'we haughtily presume this is what you follow', but not just the boring literal 'this is the received gift'?


texts:
Old people did not know enough once, perchance, to fetch fresh fuel to keep the fire a-going; new people put a little dry wood under a pot, and are whirled round the globe with the speed of birds, in a way to kill old people, as the phrase is.

I think this is "in a way that kills old people."

But I've only encountered this version: "the way to do something...".

Am I right? Is this usage not common?


texts: What is the etymology of the word shivereens?

texts: Merriam Webster states that shivereens is the synonym of smithereens but there's no mention of the origin of the word.


texts:
does an adjective imply the existence of the opposite ?

Like:
You're tall.

Does that mean that there is someone shorter than the tall person ?
I think that at least one person has to exist which is shorter, to tell someone that he is tall.

Sorry English is not my mother language. Hopemyou guys understand what I mean.


texts: What exactly is a nonkit personal computer?

texts:
Source: Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 21st Edition by Scott Mueller (2013)

Example:

  1973: The Micral is the earliest commercial, nonkit personal computer based on a microprocessor, the Intel 8008.

What exactly are these nonkit personal computers and how are they different from the regular ones?


texts:
If I have to introduce someone in a meeting what should I say?

  I would like to introduce X who has joined us from Y company.
  I like to introduce X who is joining us from Y company.


texts: End of a predictable story: "flat" or "plain"?

texts: I am looking for an adjective which could work with the "end of the story", meaning predictability, shallowness. Now I am deciding between "flat" (in Freedictionary 5th,6th, and 12th explanations work well) and "plain" (because it helps to transfer the obviousness, simplicity). Unfortunately, I can't really see the difference between the two synonymes. What would you advise to focus on?


texts:
In the sentences like these:

  I thought of my new watch as crippled.

  The girls perceived the school as decisive.

  I thought of this as damaged.

Word "as" is followed by adjectives. I knew that it is possible, but I am more familiar with the "as" followed by nouns like "I thought of my new watch as a crippled watch." What makes it possible? Is there a official rule that enables me to do this? Or is ellipsis used?


texts: Is "vernissage" in common use in American English?

texts: I'm translating a novel from Swedish to English. The book is slightly above the level of chick-lit, so I don't want it to sound too fancy. In Swedish vernissage is a common word. I have personally never heard or used this term in English.


texts: Are these two sentences distinguishable on contextual grounds?

texts:
1) Let me see if I can find a match on tinder?

2) Let me see if I could find a match on tinder?

For instance, in healthy banter with your friend, you tell him he's so ugly that no one would swipe right on him. He rebuts in either of these counter statements.

(As for my own rationale: the first sentence conveys an 'ability' while second implicates a 'possibility')


texts: What do you call a word that follows a punchline or a practical joke and is used to emphasize it?

texts:
Popular culture often has people use a specific kind of word to capitalize on a joke they've just told, or a prank they've pulled on someone.

Examples of such exclamations would include hey-oh that might follow an especially raunchy joke:

  I got a powerful urge to help you out

  So what's your wish? I really wanna know

  You got a list that's three miles long, no doubt

  Well, all you gotta do is rub like so (rubs his buttocks) HEY-O!

(Disney's Aladdin - Friend like me)

... bazinga, coined by the Big Bang Theory show:

  You actually had it right in the first place. Once again, you've fallen for one of my classic pranks. Bazinga!

Similarly, there are more aggressive exclamations such as "Boom!", "Bam!", "Bang!" etc. that are sometimes used to double down on a hostile statement or action, and are meant to cause additional embarrassment and pain.

Is there a single word used to describe such "punch line markers".

I've already thought of "slam", "burn", "exclamation", "interjection", and "catchphrase", but they're either too generic, or don't work in all scenarios.


texts: What’s the difference between “way” and “road”?

texts:
I saw this sentence:

  I couldn't help but hear. You've been on the road, so to speak.

Why didn't he use way? What is the difference between on the way and on the road?


texts: English equivalent Polish saying "Dumb people are not sown, they're born"

texts:
I often wonder if there is any similar English idiom to Polish saying "Głupich nie sieją, sami się rodzą" literally meaning "Dumb people are not sown, they're born."

Short explanation:

This saying is similar in meaning to There are always dumb people and you can't do anything about it, you must deal with that.

Long explanation:

When I try to explain the meaning behind this saying I always explain it like this: imagine we have cereal. Cereal can be sown randomly and naturally by wind or wild animals that are transporting the seeds in their fur. That just happens. But there is a need for cereal to feed all the people so they're planting them on purpose. If we compare that to a baby, we can say that no one is ever planning to give birth to an idiot because no one wants idiots in society and there is no need for them. Dumb people are not 'sown'. That just happens and they're born (or to be more exact they're becoming dumb along the way).

More details:
This saying is commonly used to describe a person that made something obviously stupid or wrong only because he or she believes it is right despite the fact that majority of society finds it simply stupid. Be sure that it is not used to describe a person that have done something wrong because of unawarness. It must be done on purpose and because of ignorance. It can be done because of stereotype but doesn't have to. I guess this saying can be used to describe at least teenager. Below that age you'd rather use it to describe parents than a child.

Example
 - Jack did you hear what Mike did? He thought the snow is thick enough and he jumped out of balcony and he broke his leg.
 - Are you serious? Dumb people are not sown, they're born.


texts:
In this sentence:

  The body will not be kept comfortable unless the air be maintained at a temperature higher than necessary.

Why did the author use "be maintained"?

When do we use subjunctive after "unless"?


texts: Does American "condominium" as applies to building ownership have an equivalent term in British or Australian or other English dialects?

texts: An American "condo" is a building, usually residential or industrial, that is owned in condominium by multiple parties. I've recently learned that this term isn't used in conversation in Britain or Ireland. Does it still exist as a legal term there? What is the equivalent conversational term?


texts: Do you capitalize an alias that is in quotes? for example, what would be the correct way to capitalize the following statement: Mary became known as "the girl with the wooden shoe".


texts: "May" & "Might": What's the right context?

texts:
I may not be coming in tomorrow...
  I might not be coming in tomorrow...

When should I use "may" and "might"?


texts:
I have this text here:

  How many daydreams have ever been brought to pass throughout history? (IC: How lamentable!)

It seems like usage of IC: is similar to that of i.e.: but when I look up IC in Oxford online all I’m getting is:

  Definition of IC in English:

  IC
  ABBREVIATION

  1Integrated circuit.
  2Internal combustion.
  ‘the IC engine’

Is it just a misspelling of i.e.:? Or something completely different.


texts: What are the most common letters used in pairs after others in the English alphabet?

texts:
I have a question which is somewhat similar to What are the most common consonants used in English? (on wikiHow). What are the most common seven letters that come second in pairs after consonants and seven ones after vowels?

For example, it might be something like this:

After consonants: E > R > A > I > O > U ...
After vowels: R > T > N > S ...


texts: Does the word 'effortful' have negative, positive or neutral connotations?

texts:
What is the correct, common usage?

Can effortful be used in a complimentary way or does it more closely align with words like laboured that often, (but not always) have neutral or negative connotations.


texts: Make "will have been going to go" correct

texts:
Is there a situation or question where the phrase will have been going to go is the best, most natural, or clearest response (or included in said response)?

I'm asking this probably somewhat silly question just for fun. It comes from my past musings on English's complexity and my observation of how difficult it must be for some people to grasp the meaning of multiple helping verbs. I imagine this phrase is one that very few non-native English speakers would be able to understand very quickly (and for that matter, perhaps not very many native English speakers, either).

Can this be a good way to express something and not just a contrived difficult English phrase?


texts: Can I say, "the article claimed", "the focus of the article is", etc.?

texts:
I once went to a writing centre at a community college and asked if it's more correct to write the article explains... or the author explains.... The instructor replied that the latter was preferable, as the article is not saying anything. Is this right? Can the concept be extended farther?

I just caught my self writing The focus of the article is.... Does the same principle apply in that it's the author's focus, not actually the article's focus?

I'm assuming it doesn't matter if it's an article or other piece of written (or spoken) work.


texts: Are/is "headquarters" always used as plural?

texts:
I'm studying Intelligent Business English, there is a question like this:

... The company has offices in six countries, but the -------- are in
Brussels.
a. headquarters
b. main
c. bank
d. house

I think b, c and d don't make sense, so a is the answer. But the word is "are", which means it is a plural. I looked up a source:

My dictionary tells it is always plural.
This discussion: (Link too long, please click here),

So, in most cases, which type is headquarters? Plural or singular?


texts: Meaning of “placing a high price” in this context

texts: I recently received an invitation to review an academic paper. In the letter, the editor indicates “we request you place a high price on length”. What does that mean???


texts: Is there a word for an existing word to which one gives a newly coined meaning?

texts:
A neologism is a newly coined word or expression. Is there a word for an existing word to which one gives a newly coined meaning, and perhaps a different pronunciation?

An example from a recent post (reworded):

  What is the hypernym of "indentation" and "outdentation" in text
  editing? "Dentation" is an obvious possibility, but none of the
  dictionary definitions have the desired meaning.

  It would seem that the same logic that gave rise to "indentation", and
  that seems to have given rise much more recently to "outdentation",
  could be used to justify "dentation".

In any event, the example aside, is there a word for an existing word to which one gives a newly coined meaning, and perhaps a different pronunciation?


texts:
What is the difference between suspension and suspensions?

I know suspensions is the plural form for dispersion but in what circumstances the word "suspensions" can be used in a sentence.

"Suspensions containing only water and PEG40S were also prepared."

Why the author used plural form of suspension?


texts: Can transcend be used to imply a negative condition? For example, "an unappointed ruling elite that transcends both of the member groups." The implication would be that the elite group is comprised of members from the two different groups but is not beholden to the groups. Not in the sense of say, statesmanship, but in the sense of manipulation. Is there a better word than transcend to use to connote that meaning?


texts:
"Hediger acquired a drone after losing half of her harvest in one year to weeds. She estimates that identifying problems faster with timely crop data and using less weed killer will save her tens of thousands of dollars in future years. Considerably more than the $7,000 she paid for the drone and any potential costs associated with reviewing images."

In order for the bolded section to be grammatically correct, do I need to use a semicolon (;) or an em dash (-)? I would also appreciate it if you could explain the reason why as well.


texts:
I was surfing on the web when I read the following sentence :

"Many TV shows today use animation and animation gives them that more of a unique look, allowing them to do more than what they could do with actors."

The expression "that more of a" seems unusual to me although I understand the sense.

Is that sentence correct?


texts: looking for a word or expressing to express matching, symmetric

texts:
Background:

  A packet has a source IP and a destination IP.
      I set the source IP as 10.0.0.3.
      The destination IP can be set as 10.0.0.1, 127.0.0.1 or 138.9.32.4.
      These 3 IPs belong to the same computer.

My sentence is

  The destination IP can be set as 10.0.0.1,  127.0.0.1 or 138.9.32.4,
      but here we choose 10.0.0.1 for formality.

My aim is to describe the reason why we choose 10.0.0.1 as the destination.
I just want to express that the reason is 10.0.0.1 looks symmetric, matching, comfortable or whatever when it is matched with the source IP 10.0.0.3.

I think formality is not suitable here.
How to modify the sentence to express the reason? it is really abstract


texts: Word for "Having had considerable thought put into [x]"

texts: I am trying to describe a plan that has "had considerable thought put into it" with a single word. Any ideas?


texts: Possessives of Communal Nouns with Prepositions

texts:
I've come across an intriguing problem while grading a student's work.  She wanted to discuss the feeding ground of a whale pod.  The original sentence reads "the pod of whales feeding grounds."

My initial reaction was to advise changing it to "the feeding grounds of the pod of whales."  However, this feels overly repetitive regarding "of."

Is there a way to correctly punctuate "pod of whales" with an apostrophe to make it possessive?


texts: Difference between "sleeping with Sean Parker" and "sleeping on Sean Parker"?

texts:
In the movie Social Network, there is a scene where Sean Parker corrected a sentence said by a girl who he just spent a night with:

She was rather astonished when she realized the man standing in front of her was Sean Parker so she wanted to double confirm, "I just slept with Sean Parker?" Instead of replying her with a yes or a nod, Sean Parker said, "You just slept on Sean Parker." And he laid stress on the word "on".

  Sean Parker: I founded Napster.

  Amy: Sean Parker founded Napster.

  Sean Parker: Nice to meet you.

  Amy: [Surprised] You're Sean Parker?

  Sean Parker: Ah ha! You see, the shoe is on the other...

  Amy: Foot?

  Sean Parker: Table. Which has turned.

  Amy: I just slept with Sean Parker?

  Sean Parker: You just slept on Sean Parker.

Is there a different between "slept with Sean Parker" and "slept on Sean Parker"? What is the significance of emphasizing on the preposition "on"?


texts:
When a speaker resumes speaking mid-sentence after an interruption, what case would be correct or better practice to use at the start of the sentence? As the resumed dialogue would not be a complete sentence, would this require lower case?

"When I was in the military, we had to watch out for scorpions—"

"Oh no, not more boring army stories."

"especially, the small brown ones, that could kill you!"

Here, I believe that the lower case e at the start of the sentence is correct.


texts: Edification is to knowledge as _____ification is to food

texts:
There is a good possibility I'm just crazy, but I wanted to use a word in a sentence the other day that I could not find in the depths of my memory.  If it exists, it ends in -ification, and means something like "the giving of food/nourishment" in the same way that edification means loosely the giving of knowledge.

Any ideas?


texts: What is the origin of "Indian Summer" and is it offensive?

texts:
I am discussing San Francisco's "Indian Summer" and happen to be surrounded by people from India (the country).

As I was speaking I got terribly uncomfortable thinking I was offending someone, (there also is a person of Cherokee heritage behind me).

Is there any chance that me calling the weather an "Indian Summer" would offend anyone?


texts: When do we use cost and costs in a sentence? Like for instance in this sentence.. "Secrets have their costs or secrets have their cost?"


texts: Why is it that when we use "though" at the end of a sentence, a comma is needed? For example, take the sentence "Good punctuation helps, though." Why is it incorrect to say "Good punctuation helps though"? I've been told the former is correct and, intuitively, it feels correct, but can anyone elaborate on the reasoning behind this? Thanks!


texts: Is there a term for “neutral” words whose connotations are limited to being either positive or negative?

texts:
I've been wondering for some time now if there is an existing term for a rhetorical phenomenon I've noticed.  It occurs when a word, instead of being used in its literal or etymological sense, is used only to refer to what is perceived as an especially "good" or "bad" manifestation of that sense.  That's a bit obscure, I know.  Let me move to concrete examples.  Here's a partial list:

Classy/classical
Economical
Humane
Phenomenon/al
Predicament
Dilemma

Here's an analysis: "classy" or "classical", strictly and literally speaking, should refer only to something that is a member of a class in some way (in other words, practically everything).  And yet, of course, that's not what those words mean: they refer to things that belong to the "highest" or a superior class, not just any class.  "Economical" can refer to anything that has to do with managing money, but it's most commonly used only to refer to managing money well, i.e., being thrifty (cf. "economy-size").  "Humane" looks like it should refer to any behavior that's typical of humans, but it refers only to nice behavior typical of humans (bullies are acting in a very typically human way, yet we don't call them humane).  "Phenomenon", in its original, philosophical sense, means more or less anything that appears to the senses.  Yet we say Serena and Venus Williams are "phenomena" or that they're "phenomenal", as if that wasn't true of all humans and indeed all material objects.

On the "bad" side, a "predicament" used to mean (I quote Webster's) "a particular state, condition, or situation", derived from a philosophical term that described any class of things that could be ascribed or "predicated" to another class of things.  Yet it has come to mean only (again I quote) "an unpleasantly difficult, perplexing, or dangerous situation".  A "dilemma" is, literally, simply a choice between two options.  Yet we most commonly use it to refer only to a difficult or unpleasant choice, or even more generally, any unpleasant situation or "predicament".

This sort of semantic shift seems to me to bear a family resemblance to synecdoche (in this case, using the whole to refer to a part), so my makeshift terms for these two phenomena have been "eusynecdoche" and "dysynecdoche" (i.e., "good" synecdoche and "bad" synecdoche).  But these terms, besides being generally infelicitous, don't seem quite accurate to me: I'm not sure this is an instance of synecdoche.  Every example of synecdoche I've ever seen uses a word to replace an entirely different word (using "hand" to refer to a sailor, for example).  But this is just taking one limited sense of a word and using it as the only or primary sense.

Does anyone have any ideas, either about what this is called, or what it could be called, or whether it's even a thing at all?

Much gratitude in advance.


texts: Present perfect with a past temporal expression

texts:
I know the present perfect tense may not be used with temporal expressions which define a timeframe which does not include the present. For example:

WRONG: I've visited him on Monday.

However, when reading The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, this is what I have found:

The final section looks at what has happened to the English language
in the 20th century, and in particular at its increasing presence worldwide.

I understand that grammar rules have their exceptions, but I can't wrap my head around why David Crystal used the present perfect instead of the past simple. It can't be a mistake, can it?


texts: Idiom to express 'being good at something'

texts:
I am currently working on a translation project for university (nothing profressional) and I have a question regarding the translation of a French expression which goes "je ne crains personne". It literally means "I don't fear anyone", though the expression means not having any opponents regarding something, being very good at something (and therefore not fearing opponents). Its meaning is in my opinion very subtle and allows for the person saying it to come across as quite modest. I would like to find an English expression with the same meaning that also keeps this modest aspect of it. Does anyone have a suggestion for this?
Thank you so much
Kindly
Elsa


texts: "Live as long as" or "live for as long as"?

texts:
Which of these should I write?

  Humans should live as long they wish to.
  Humans should live for as long as they wish to


texts: Use of AND or OR with the maximum of a list of things

texts:
Which is correct:

  I will pay you the maximum of $10 OR 10% of sales

or

  I will pay you the maximum of $10 AND 10% of sales

Thanks!


texts: Why do signs read "wet floor", not "slippery floor"?

texts:
Every other time I see a "wet floor" sign the following idea comes to my mind. That sign forces me through unnecessary mental effort to deduce that wet floors can be slippery.

I think it's like providing a set of differential equations that describe slippery floors and expecting that everyone recognizes them and deduces that there's danger of falling. The sign actually means "man, the floor is slippery, you can fall and break apart" and IMO it could just read "slippery floor" instead.

Is there any reason why those signs use "wet floor" phrasing?


texts:
Could you explain what making a fetish of society means  in the following context please?

  French conservatives—who in the years preceding World War I turned
  against the Sorbonne, which they charged was unduly swayed by the
  prestige of German scholarship—railed at Durkheim, who, they thought,
  was influenced by the German urge to systematize, thereby making a
  fetish of society and a religion of sociology.

Another example sentence I found in Cambridge Dictionary is as follows

  She makes a fetish of organization - it's quite obsessive

And there is something I could not understand in the passage above. For example the part "...which they charged was unduly swayed by..." Was the relative pronoun, which,  used a pronoun and at the same time object in the same sentence? That would be nice if you could explain the meaning of the whole passage briefly which it is a bit hard to understand.


texts:
I've been analysing Winston Churchill's speeches a lot recently and I noticed that he tends to say the "harsh truth" in his speeches in order to gain credibility for his claims/himself. Here's an example from the speech Give Us The Tools:

  (Hitler's) clutching fingers reach out on both sides of us into the ocean. I have never underrated this danger, and you know I have never concealed it from you. Therefore, I hope you will believe me when I say that I have complete confidence in the Royal Navy...

What is the technical term for this in terms of rhetorical devices?


texts: Word for using only the irrelevant part of an idiom as a stand-in for the whole idiom

texts: For example, you say "I have to get the worm" to mean you must wake up early, when the pertinent bit of the idiom "the early bird gets the worm" is the "early bird" part


texts:
In another question here I got the word for a person to whom the gift is intended for.

Is there any word for a person who gives the gift?

As per this link giver means benefactor, donor, contributor etc. but there is no specific word which can be used in gift context.

This link shows gifter as a word (noun).


texts: Why is "will not" contracted as "won't"?

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  What is “won't” a contraction of?

The Why is "cannot" spelled as one word? post brought back another oddity I noticed when learning English. The contraction won't seems to break a common pattern in similar contractions:

cannot => can't
do not => don't
should not => shouldn't
would not => wouldn't

In these examples, the o sound in not is dropped and the letter o (no in the case of cannot) is replaced with an apostrophe.

However, will not => won't drops ill from will and replaces it with the o from not. This contraction is probably derived from shifts in speech rather than writing. How did the contraction won't emerge?


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

texts: Sometimes I hear the emphasis placed on the second syllable, and other times on the second to last syllable. I myself use both pronunciations depending on context, and it makes me wonder if there is an underlying rule that I can't quite put my finger on.


texts: Merriam-webster lists the word etymology but not ethymology. Is the latter spelling wrong, or is it used in some regional variation?


texts: "Bad with something" or "bad at something"?

texts:
In a question on Spanish.StackExchange, a question came up about expressing that you are bad at remembering or doing something. Is one "bad at something" or "bad with something" (nouns)? What about "bad at doing something" vs. "bad with doing something" (verbs)? If there are regional differences, what are they?

Examples:

I'm bad with names.
I'm bad at names.
I'm bad with cooking.
I'm bad at cooking.


texts: Where do these numbers come from, and do we still use them?

texts:
I began to read the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and several times already, I came across numbers the form of which surprise me...

First, in A Study in Scarlet, Chapter IV:

  "Give me food," the other said, hoarsely. "I have had no time for bite or sup for eight-and-forty hours." He flung himself upon the cold meat and bread which were still lying upon the table from his host's supper, and devoured it voraciously. "Does Lucy bear up well?" he asked, when he had satisfied his hunger.

Then, in The Sign of Four, first in chapter II:

  If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now, — a sweet age, when youth has lost its self-consciousness and become a little sobered by experience.

Then in chapter VII:

  The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight-and-twenty hours' start.

These numbers may also be found in some short stories, such as The Red-Headed League and The Five Orange Pips (and probably others, but I might come across spoilers if I search further...). Additionally, I also found "standard" numbers, for instance when giving time:

  It was twenty-five minutes to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. (A Scandal in Bohemia)

... and even when talking about age (even though my first quote of The Sign of Four uses the other form) :

  All red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of twenty-one years, are eligible. (The Red-Headed League)

While I understand that these respectively mean 48, 27 and 28, I am very curious two know more about this formulation, for instance: what is specific to the time? To some writers? Is it still used? Were there rules as to when it should and shouldn't be used? Or does it depend on who's speaking, and on the context of the discussion?


texts:
This summer we are running week-long series focusing on a single subject. Here, in the first article on travel and tourism, we assess the sector’s overall state of health
It is the closest thing to an industry banker. In recent decades the global travel sector has grown, on average, one percentage point faster than GDP every year. In 2017 travel and tourism accounted for around a tenth of global GDP and employment. That is testament to its resilience. Blips, caused by terrorism or recession, tend to be quickly overcome. Even a destination hit by a significant terrorist incident can expect tourist levels to return to normal in about a year. The industry also has demographics on its side. While many sectors fret relentlessly about millennials, the ageing populations of Europe, America and China should boost travel firms; older people, with more money and spare time, are keen globetrotters. And in China they still have a huge potential market. Bernstein, a research house, reckons the Chinese will provide $400bn of extra tourism revenue by 2025—perhaps the largest opportunity of any segment of any industry.

Does it mean the assessment is something similiar to what an industry banker would do?


texts:
I am searching for a fitting word for a story I am writing. The setting is fictional medieval (so not fully historical correct), and there is a group of bandits who have a leader.

I am wondering, how the bandit members would call their leader. Sir? Boss? Or is there a better word?

In my opinion, "sir" sounds too honorable for a bandit, doesn't it?
And "boss" sounds like a modern word to me and reminds me of modern gangsters.

As stated in the single-word-requests tag rule, here an example sentence:

  "We’re ready, sir. Do you want the black horse?"


texts: Difference between "Talk to me" and "Tell me"

texts:
Is there any difference between the usage of those two expressions in a conversation?

Thanks in advance.


texts: Is it necessary to add a comma in this sentence “Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America. ”

texts: If we delete the comma between "large" and "cat-like",does it make a difference?


texts: Mothers and Fathers are called parents, grandmothers and grandfathers are called grandparents, so what do you call aunts and uncles?


texts: Searching for a better term for fulfilling a request for money?

texts:
I'm looking for better wording in a translation for an App where you can send and receive money as well as request and pay it.
So under transactions, there are 4 categories: money sent, money received, money requested and money paid (meaning fulfilled requests).
I think that "paying" could be confused with sending money.

Also, I'm thinking of splitting the 4 categories into in and out.

What do you think? Any ideas for better wording?

I'm not a native speaker.

P.S: I know this intersects with UX, if you think it would be better suited there feel free to let me know.


texts: "depends upon developing" vs "depends upon development"

texts:
This is an English test item:
The human eye is nature's most fantastic organ, and the high degree of development of human society probably depends upon ......... .
a) developing of this organ
b) the development of this organ
Which choice is correct? And why is the other one not correct?
Thanks


texts:
In Faulkner's The sound and the fury two sentences arrive close to one another which have made me wonder about the usage of grudge and begrudge.

  I know you grudge what I give him.

And shortly thereafter,

  I know you begrudge him.

Now I wonder if the subtle difference of a person or action implies the need for different words.

In essence, I am wondering about the correct usage of these two words in comparison with one another.


texts: "cleared from" vs "cleared up from" vs "cleared away from"

texts:
I always have problem deciding which one to use.

Example:

  After understanding that, the darkness finally [...] from my
  eyes.

Should I use cleared from, cleared up from, or cleared away from?


texts: A single word for "the space in between"

texts:
Is there a single word that can be used instead of "the space in between"? I am looking for something general.
Few words I thought of are period, interspace, mezzanine.
For example:

The space in between fear and love is filled with uncertainty.
The space in between birth and death is life.
The space in between knowing and believing is something.

I like the word mezzanine but I am not sure if it fits since by definition it relates to architecture. Interspace, on the other hand, sounds like something related to science fiction. Period is about time.
An example of how I would like to use it:

[Word] of fear and love is filled with uncertainty.
[The mezzanine] of fear and love is filled with uncertainty.
[The interspace] of fear and love is filled with uncertainty.


texts: Does the word "peoples" exist, and if so, when do you use it?

texts:
Possible Duplicates:
  “People” or “peoples” when referring to an indigenous population?
  Person, Persons, People, Peoples

I've seen someone using the word "peoples" today, with a vehement claim that it "is NOT grammatically incorrect". I searched on the net, but I got links (such as this) which suggests it is correct. Either way, is there a reference which could settle this issue ?


texts: My courier service provided updated the status as "Customer to be called". What does that means? Should I need to call them or they will call me?


texts:
"Decision Making? I believe I do okay in/on this matter."

Should I use 'on' or 'in'?


texts: Usage of the Past Perfect of "to be" for 2 (discrete) past events?

texts:
He wasn't resolute thus he confabulated with her.

How would I rewrite this sentence using the past perfect tense, because I sense that the sentence above currently is flawed?

The first action was his lack of resoluteness, so wasn't should be in the past perfect. Yet this sounds wrong. Is it?

  2. He hadn't been  resolute thus he confabulated with her.


texts: It got you paralysed vs It paralysed you

texts:
I know "get" has a lot of meanings. But what is this one - to cause something to happen? I do not think it is "have sth done" but not sure of course.

  It got you paralysed.

What is the difference against

  It paralysed you.


texts: "Rather than doing" vs. "rather than do"

texts:
I can't do anything rather than waiting.
  I can't do anything rather than wait.

Which one is correct and why?


texts:
A 'couple' is two of something, typically two people or a matching set of things.

But it seems like there is ambiguity over what 'a couple of' means.  Dictionaries often claim that, 'a couple of' means two as in, 'a couple of friends' and using 'a couple of' as in 'a couple of minutes' to mean several minutes is informal.

However, it seems as though 'a couple of' to mean several is far more common in usage than to mean specifically 'two'. To the extent that I struggle to come up with an example of, 'a couple of' that isn't ambiguous out of context. And 'a couple of' to mean precisely two almost never seems to be used in formal or technical writing.

Furthermore, it seems as though, 'I've made a couple of wine and cheese' is a perfectly fine sentence.

I'm thinking that 'a couple of' is potentially an ambiguous amount to the extent that it could mean almost any number. That is, instead of 'a couple of' meaning 'there are two of this thing,' it means, 'there is a coupling of these things,' and potentially the individual parts of those couples could contain an infinite amount.

Meaning 'a couple of minutes' or 'a couple of biscuits' could mean more than two without it being informal English.

I'm curious if there's a historical/logical/grammatical explanation for why 'a couple of' should mean two.


texts: I want to know answer of this question:- "Do you like something?" the friend asked.(remove inverted commas)


texts:
Often times, I use to verb to recover to state that somebody is returning to normal health after having been ill, for instance:

  he is recovering from illness

Recently, I've heard somebody using the verb to recuperate in the same context and with the same meaning:

  he needs time to recuperate from surgery

Can to recuperate and to recover be used interchangeably?
If not, what is the difference?


texts: How should I understand "He was a wise man who invented beer"?

texts:
I love beer, and I recently saw a magnet with this phrase on it:

  He was a wise man who invented beer

My knowledge in English is limited, and I'm not sure if I understand correctly this phrase. In fact I hesitate between two interpretations:

  He was wise the man who invented beer

or

  There was a wise man who invented beer in the old time

Can anyone explain which is the correct interpretation?


texts: Is there a word for someone who's skeptical only of statements that challenge their assumptions, and credulous of those that support them?

texts:
I think of a skeptic as one who thinks critically of whatever statement they encounter (looking for alternate explanations, questioning sources, etc.)

Is there a different word for unevenly applied skepticism, e.g. if I am skeptical of things which challenge my worldview, and credulous of things which support it?


texts:
Using common greek or latin roots, is there a word that can be constructed that would properly convey the Study of Time Travel?

Sample Sentence: Dr. Caroline is experienced in ____________ology.  She studies the mechanisms required for, and the effects of, effective time travel.  Dr. Caroline has been instrumental in minimizing the adverse effects of time retroversion, both to the human body, travel devices, and the Continuum.


texts:
In English we often add "as it were" to indicate that a phrase is not to be taken literally; for example:

  He's flown from the nest, as it were.

... would indicate that a boy has left his parent's house, via the "flown from the nest" idiom.  But, why does "as it were" clarify that this is an idiom?


texts: Are there instances when a new term has been purposely introduced into the language and actually put to use?

texts: I am thinking of the suggested use of ze as an alternative for he or she. I cannot think of an example where such a thing has actually been adopted and put to general use.


texts:
I tend to use the following construction often in my e-mails:

  It would be great if you could...

However my German colleague repeatedly reminds me that according to the rules he was taught, using "if" together with "could" in the way I do is strictly speaking incorrect. I am however certain that this construction is quite common (see here) and can often convey willingness rather than ability.

Is the above construction strictly speaking incorrect, and is there a better replacement for it?


texts: Meaning of a sentence in The Man Who Was Thursday

texts:
From G. K. Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare.

  WHEN Gabriel Syme found himself finally established in a chair, and opposite to him, fixed and final also, the lifted eyebrows and leaden eyelids of the Professor, his fears fully returned. This incomprehensible man from the fierce council, after all, had certainly pursued him. If the man had one character as a paralytic and another character as a pursuer, the antithesis might make him more interesting, but scarcely more soothing. It would be a very small comfort that he could not find the Professor out, if by some serious accident the Professor should find him out. He emptied a whole pewter pot of ale before the professor had touched his milk.

I am having trouble understanding the sentence in bold.

Edit to provide more context: Gabriel Syme had just been accepted into the inner circle of a secret society of which the professor is a member. After the first meeting, he found the professor had been following him around the town. They are now at a bar, and Gabriel Syme is worried that the professor might have guessed his identity.


texts: Is “Now I lay me down to sleep” grammatical?

texts: This is in a song I’ve heard.  Is it grammatically correct?


texts: What do you call the sheet that a barber covers you with?

texts: It's that sheet/blanket that they put on you so you don't get covered with hair. Is there a formal name for it?


texts:
I would like to write the following:

(...) but some concepts take their time to sink in.
(...) but some concepts take their time to soak in.

I am not sure which one is better, or even if both are correct at all.
They sound alright.
I like the "sink" one better.
I know what sink and soak mean.
Cheers!


texts: Is it "thousands of postmen and women" or "thousands of postmen and -women"? Is the use of a hyphen correct in the latter case?


texts: What is the proper phrase for being in one's official limits, probably when quoting something?

texts: While quoting something, the consideration of the fact that it does not offend the sentiments of a community or culture one belongs to. How do we ask that in one sentence e.g Did I remain in my limits/Did I not overdo my limits?


texts:
Do I put a question mark after the following sentence?

  Do you know where it is because I cannot find it?

I guess it is quite simple but I get really confused when the 'because' is there. To me the question doesn't seem like after the 'because'. Should it be two sentences?


texts: Are there other ways to say "from when I was younger" or "from my childhood"?

texts:
For example:

I loved the cartoons from when I was younger
I loved the cartoons from my childhood

I was wondering if there were other possible variations of saying this.
Any colorful new words? Or rearrangements?


texts: Is "The eviction process coincided with the deterioration of John's, Vlad's son, health." correct?

texts:
The eviction process coincided with the deterioration of John's health, Vlad's son.

or

The eviction process coincided with the deterioration of John's, Vlad's son, health.

The second sentence seems cumbersome to me. Vlad's son is to be a parenthesis only, to remind the reader who is John, in case the reader forgot his introduction several paragraphs before. Are both sentences correct?


texts: Does the phrase "to be reviewed and approved by [someone]" indicate that the actor must take the specified actions (i.e., review and approve)?


texts:
Well, I have been searching the meaning of "put the top down", but I didn't find anything useful. Let me show you a little bit the context.

I'm gonna put the top down
I'm gonna talk about old times
I'm gonna put the top down
I'm gonna let myself unwind
I'm gonna put the top down
I'm gonna watch the day roll by
I'm gonna put the top down
This time.

It's the song's chorus. If you want to listen it, click here.

I was searching on UrbanDictionary, they have two meanings of top down but I consider that they are not so appropriate.

If someone have any idea of what this phrase means, I will be happy.


texts:
I've seen prior discussions of ending a sentence with "etc." and I know there should only be one period.  But what if the "etc." comes inside parenthesis which then end the sentence, such as:

.....blah blah blah (blah, blah etc.).

That looks awkward to me.  Because the period inside the parentheses is used for the abbreviation I don't think it suffices to end the sentence with it; so I'm thinking:

.....blah blah blah (blah, blah etc.)

is incorrect.

I know I could always simply write-out et cetera but I'm wondering if there's an actual rule for this.

Thanks in advance.

Ok, so multiple people have marked this as asked and answered.  Could someone please post a link to that, because I can't find it.

@tchrist: unicorns???

Never mind.  Found the link in the right margin.  Thank you.


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  Should I use capitalization when mentioning a domain name?

Is there a rule or preference for capitalisation of domain names?

I'm aware that folder and file names are case sensitive, but should domain names (particularly with proper nouns) be capitalised?

www.joeblogswidgets.com

or

www.JoeBlogsWidgets.com


texts: If “cleanliness” is a word can I say something is “cleanly”?

texts: As per the question, I might have spelt cleanly wrong...


texts: How to tell someone that what they're looking for doesn't exist

texts:
If someone asks you, say, "Is there a dollar store around here?" and you're pretty sure there aren't any dollar stores in the area, what would be a grammatically correct (and gentle-sounding) way to tell the person "No"?

I’m afraid not.
I'm afraid there is none.
I don’t think there is one.
I don't think there aren't any.

Which one is correct/best?
(I get confused about none/not one/not any, etc.)

Thank you in advance for any advice.


texts: Who is ‘Brad’ who doesn’t want you to succeed in public speaking?

texts:
In association with my yesterday’s question about the meaning of ‘metaphysical impossibility’ of the chance of making speech at Oscar Award wining for most of us, I found the following sentence in the New York Times’ (February 23) article titled “Tips for Public Speaking”:

  “Nearly everyone gets some anxiety about public speaking — even
  Oscar-winning actors. Here are some tips to help you through a big
  speech: --

  Remember, the audience really wants you to succeed. Except that one
  guy in the back, Brad.”

Who is Brad who sits in the back of the hall? If it is Bradley, why should he be Bradley, not Dick, Charles, John, or anyone else?

Why those who don’t want you to succeed is only one person while there could be several of your rivals who don't like your success at anytime.


texts: Does "capitalistic enterprise" mean capitalism in this sentence?

texts:
The question is simple. In the following sentence, can I replace "capitalistic enterprise" with "capitalism" without any change in meaning?

  Capitalistic enterprise involves a ruthless belief in the importance of increasing material production to the utmost possible extent now and in the immediate future.

Definitions of "enterprise" in Concise Oxford English Dictionary are:

a project or undertaking, especially a bold one. ▶bold resourcefulness.
a business or company

Which meaning is used in the above sentence?


texts: Can 'Dumb Discourse' be considered as an Oxymoron?

texts: I was just going through 'The Tempest' by Shakespeare and noticed this phrase that is 'an excellent dumb discourse'. Just for the sake of knowledge, I wanted to enquire whether it would fall under the category of an Oxymoron.


texts: What is a good idiom for telling someone something that they already know a lot about?

texts: Like when you're in a conversation with someone about something and you're telling them about XYZ, but it turns out they are already experts in the subject matter, an idiom like trying to teach the teacher.


texts: Why does the term "gondola" refer to BOTH a Venetian canal boat AND an enclosed lift up a mountain?

texts:
The first time I encountered the word “gondola” was as a 20 year old on her first visit to Venice. Gondolas, to me, were written in my memory as a flat, fancy, romantic (and expensive to ride) boat structures that traverse the canals of Venice, Italy.
But soon thereafter, on my first visit to Banff, Canada (Canadian Rockies) -- Gondolas was also the term for ski-like lifts (enclosed from the elements) to get from the bottom to the top of steep mountains (vice versa).
What is the etymology of “gondola”?
And how did it develop to reference two completely different transportation devices?  One on water, the other on mountains? What is the relationship besides their obvious transportation connect?


texts: Noun or best suggestion to describe the accumulation of interaction (pos/neg) between two people

texts:
I'm looking for a noun preferably that I can best describe as:

The opinion someone has of you - due to the actions which have occurred between the two of you.

For example - When two people first meet, there are hundreds of 'ratings' piling up with each interaction between them. Person A might tell a crude joke not knowing Person B finds such humor as barbaric. This event then causes a 60% negative effect - as opposed to exercising bad sarcasm which would only have a 10% negative effect. I'm also thinking in terms of an RPG dashboard context. Hopefully that gives you a bit more to go on. The sum of these actions should constitute a single word. I'm trying to find that word. Thanks for the help.

---- Edit

I'm building an interface for an RPG project. The word has to literally describe the numeric value 0% = Pure hatred guts TO 100% = Soul Mates. Each action chosen by the player has a multiplier and I guess percentage of effect on the person they encounter. So I need one word to describe (Unisex) that value between the player and the NPC (AI).


texts:
Is it correct English to use the term zipped instead of compressed when dealing with computer files?

Is it a neologism that is widely accepted as part of modern English?


texts:
Is it correct to use "Dear friends" in formal or informal letters?

Can I use it?

And if not, what can I use ?


texts: "vastly" for "to a [very] great degree; extremely" in contexts not involving comparison or measurement: BrEng vs. AmEng usage

texts:
Does using vastly to mean to a [very] great degree; extremely in contexts not involving measurement or comparison, now sound common and idiomatic to British ears, or is it still likely to be considered objectionable, or at least controversial, by a majority of educated native speakers of British English?

  vastly

  Per Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, ed. 1993),

  The use of vastly to mean "to a great degree" in contexts not involving measurement or comparison has been criticized as an affectation, especially in British English. Such use is common and idiomatic in American English (emphasis is mine):

  The soil is a vastly complex ecosystem --Barry Commoner, Columbia Forum, Spring 1968

  I am aware that I have vastly oversimplified some of the most complicated questions --Richard Neuhaus, Harper's, October 1971

  Per Fowler's Modern English Usage, ed. 2004),

  In contexts of measure or comparison, where it means by much, by a great deal, as is vastly improved, a vastly larger audience, vastly is still in regular use (emphasis is mine.) Where the notion of measure is wanting, and it means no more than 'exceedingly, extremely, very' as in I should vastly like to know, it was fashionable in the 18c. (e.g. The City ... was vastly full of People--Defoe, 1722. This is all vastly true--E. Burney, 1782. A'nt you come vastly late?--Sheridan, 1799), but became less common as time went on, and is still now in restricted use.

Here are a few sourced examples of such uses of vastly, which, according to M-W and Fowler, might sound (or should I say, should sound) objectionable to many native speakers of British English:

  I desired by means of this voice to give the impression that the story being told was enormously old and vastly true. Penguin Random House

  They will vastly appreciate it and will cooperate with you more fully. As a teacher, you must be able to think fast and adjust lesson plans as the occasion demands.

  Dude, the internet is vastly full of people who know more than you and have called your bluff. (Source: ft86club.com)

  I had plenty of time and did not need to stick to a schedule - if the train was vastly late (i.e. more than three hours late) it did not bother or worry me, or interfere with my plans. (Source: NYC reviewer on TripAdvisor)

  The account of coercion here is vastly oversimplified.

  This is a vastly complex issue.


texts: Adjectival prepositional phrase as a noun modifier

texts:
Does an adjectival prepositional phrase always immediately follow a noun phrase that it modifies? If not, could you please give an example where the above is not true? Actually I can't think of one right now. Thank you.

Here are a few examples that show prepositional phrases immediately following noun phrases.

The cat on the shed is black.

Here 'on the shed' is an adjectival prepositional phrase modifying 'the cat'. It immediately follows the noun phrase.

Few more examples:

I would like to buy some flowers in a glass vase.

People from many different countries have visited this place.


texts: "Would remain" vs. "would have remained"

texts:
What's the difference in meaning between the following two sentences?

  He thought that he would remain young.
  He thought that he would have remained young.


texts: Is there a word for Condescending , Fake Empathy?

texts:
I am looking for a word to describe the situation :

A poor person describes his struggles of poverty, while a middle-class (economically speaking) lady is faking her empathy to the man – and the conversation goes in the lines of "Do not despair, keep hoping, work = reward... " etc. All these words very often repeated to the poor person, but his state does not change due to certain unchanging social situations. The lady is aware of it.

Nevertheless, just to virtue-signal, the lady who never experienced the struggles of the other – goes on making empty, often condescending remarks to the guy, without genuine empathy, just mechanically repeating the statements everyone else does.

She even goes on to invent some silver lining, such as the positive effects of poverty is that you will not have to manage a big house..

My question
Is there a word to describe the remarks of the lady? Patronizing does not quite hit the nail, and condescending does not quite capture the part in italics. Are there any words to describe what I am looking for?

Example:

  [Name] at this point is truly tired of continuous _______ from every 4th middle-class . The last thing he'd appreciate now is pity.

Part of Speech: Noun;
I searched thesaurus for patronizing and condescension

A single word would be better than a phrase .


texts: Why 'blood vessels' and not 'blood tubes'?

texts: I have a silly question. The way I imagine arteries and veins are as tubes that arise from one part and carry blood to the other part. Why do we call them 'vessels' (which reminds us of cooking utensils) and not 'tubes'? More generally, how should we imagine these 'vessels' - as tubes closed at both ends or vessels closed at one end?


texts: Word for Finally Reaching a Desired State

texts:
Sometimes, one undergoes a sequence of gruelling trials, struggles, etc., an ordeal. But eventually the ordeal is over, and one finally reaches a particular, desired state. What word adequately describes this state?

The best I could come up with was relief, upside, goal, or (reaching a) silver lining. However, none of these feel appropriate.

Here's an example: "After enduring the intolerable advertisements, the _ was in sight for Timmy: in moments, the movie would begin."


texts: What does the "right" in the "The Right Honourable" mean? Why is it there?

texts: I don't think the right in the "The Right Honourable" means "correct", because I can't see how that makes sense in context.   I considered right as a British slang intensifier that means "really", but that didn't make much sense either, because as far as I know "The Right Honourable" is a formal title that slang of lower register wouldn't be found in.  So my question is: What does right add to the meaning of "honourable" here? Is there any particular reason it's there?


texts: Period during which one can step away from a contractual obligation?

texts:
Not a trial period.

In germany - and many european countries - certain contracts have a period during which one of the signatory partners (mostly: private people) can decide that no, the contract was a bad idea and they want to step away from it.

Is there an english term for this period? Working on an computer system with english documentation and - I need a decent term for this.


texts:
I have tried to create a description of a face that shows a condescending feeling towards the person they are looking at also hinting to a past of abuse due to power dynamics. I haven't done much of using face descriptions in writing to show a full picture so any resource or help you can provide will be appreciated
Context:
"We're putting this behind us" he finally says
"But..."
He turns to her, his face [disdain features]... she turns her head to the floor avoiding eye contact
It's for a school project where we are emulating the themes or features shown in the short story flexion from a house on fire


texts: English word to describe a person that never follow popular ideas or goods?

texts:
There is any english word to describe a person with low profile  that never follow or consume popular ideas or goods?
Or a person with his own lifestyle and his own mind set?


texts: "I think him to be about 50" or "I think he is about 50"?

texts:
I have two options. Which one is correct?

  a) I think him to be about 50.
  b) I think he is about 50.

If both are correct, should I avoid one or the other?


texts: Coordinating conjunction at beginning of sentence

texts:
Reading Wallace Shawn’s new book NIGHT THOUGHTS and he uses this construction all the time.

And I knew my childhood memories affected it.
But that theory wouldn’t work.

How do you show that first conjunction in a sentence diagram?


texts:
Does this sentence call for the plural verb "were" here, or the singular "was"?

  Neither he nor the others were aware of it

  Neither he nor the others was aware of it


texts: Can "On a second look ..." be used in a sentence?

texts:
Is "On a second look, I thought / I felt" a correct usage?

The complete sentence will be like this: "On a second look, I thought that the IP address you provided belongs to another network range which is already allocated".


texts: When does the word 'months' get an apostrophe?

texts: Is it '12 month's remuneration', '12 months' remuneration' or '12 months remuneration'? New Oxford Style Manual says it does not get an apostrophe is not used in 'adjectival constructions' e.g. three months pregnant. Confused.


texts: What's the correct pronunciation of 'improcerous'?

texts: The word improcerous means 'low' or 'short in stature'. How is it pronounced?


texts: Looking for a word that means accusing someone else of what you are guilty of.


texts: Etymologically correct pronunciations that few would accept

texts:
Have we been mispronouncing Mount Everest /ˌmaʊnt ˈev(ə)rəst/?
It is true that the peak was named after Sir George Everest who pronounced his surname as Eve-rest. But does that etymological detail mean that the above pronunciation is wrong?

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SAUNDSPEL/conversations/messages/69103


texts:
I know 'status quo' means the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.

When should we use the word 'status quo'?

(Here is a related ELU question.)


texts: Are there some specific situations where one cannot replace the verb begin by commence? All English knowledge I have at the moment I've acquired on my own, and there are still a lot of questions to clarify.


texts: Past tense and present tense in one sentence

texts:
As he rides even in bad weather, sometimes he entered the building with his face and whole body covered with mud.

-> My intention: He regularly rides a bike, and he will probably ride a bike regardless of weather as well. And the times I saw him, he entered the building with mud on his face and body.

Is that a right sentence?


texts: Should hyphenated compound words be permitted to break across lines?

texts:
When using a hyphenated compound word (i.e., a compound adjective, verb, or noun) in a document and the word splits across two lines due to it being at the end of a line, is it considered improper to split it across lines and should one instead force it to the next line with a non-breaking hyphen?

For example, the compound adjective self-supporting:

  A good mat for this purpose should have enough rigidity such that the mat is self‑
      supporting

versus

  A good mat for this purpose should have enough rigidity such that the mat is
      self‑supporting

In other words, should one use a non-breaking hyphen in compound words so that the reader does not mistake the word for not being compound (e.g., selfsupporting) and just broken at a syllable due to being at the end of the line?


texts: "The prevalence of both X & Y increased with age, and * especially high in subgroup." Was/were?

texts:
The prevalence of both diabetes and obesity increased with age, and *
  especially high in ≥65-year-olds.

Should * be was/were?

A professional language checker left my usage of "were" in one instance, but changed it to "was" in another.

The google wildcard searches:

  "the prevalence of both * was high"

and

  "the prevalence of both * were high"

both give a couple of examples, but it does not seem conclusive.


texts: 'He went into the room, opening the door using a skeleton key.' Is the time-sequence correct? Is the ‘using’ clause showing method?

texts:
He went into the room, opening the door using a skeleton key.

Is the time-sequence (participial clause describing an event taking place before the main-clause event) correct?
Is the ‘using’ clause showing method?
Grammarly has an article explaining the use of the present participle clause:

Present participle clauses
A present participle clause can express:

an action that happens at the same time as the action in the main clause:

Tom lost his keys (while) walking through the park. (Tom lost his keys
while he was walking through the park.)
She left the room singing happily. (She left the room as she was
singing happily.)
The participle clause can come first in literary styles:
(While) walking through the park, Tom lost his keys.

an action that happens just before another action:

Opening the envelope, I found two concert tickets. (I opened the
envelope and I found two concert tickets.)

an action that is the result of another action:

Moments later a bomb exploded, leaving three people dead and twelve
others injured.
When I entered they all looked at me, making me feel uncomfortable.

a reason for the action in the main clause:

Having nothing left to do, Paula went home. (Since Paula had nothing
left to do, she went home.)
Knowing a little Russian, I had no
difficulty making myself understood. (As I knew a little Russian, I
had no difficulty making myself understood.)
Working as a sales rep, I get to travel a lot. (I travel a lot because
I work as a sales rep.)

This licenses the ‘opening the door …‘ being placed contrary to logic after ‘He went into the room’. But Grammarly doesn’t seem to provide a suitable classification of the way in which the obviously grammatical second ing-clause, ‘using a …’, is used.
Is there a better overall look at the way in which present participial (ing-) clauses are used?


texts:
If I want to place my luggage at the hotel for a few hours, how is it best to ask if I can do this?

Should I ask the receptionist:

"Can I place my luggage here a bit?"

or

"Can I place my luggage here a while?"

Which one is more correct?


texts: Can someone 'chill' and 'work hard' at the same time?

texts:
My understanding of the word 'chill' is that it is a mix of a 'state of mind' and also denonates a relaxed pace.

A synonym is "easy-going", that can mean not worrying about the future, not being sensible to any sort of pressure and also being friendly with others.

Assuming that 'working hard' can be done efficiently in a widespread range of industries planning and performing tasks in a very clever way, I don't see any reason for the two being incompatible.

Are these two concepts contradictory ?


texts:
I have a question about comparative adjectives.

I read that if an adjective has only one syllable we write its comparative form as:
adjective + er, e.g. bigger and if an adjective has more than two syllables we write it as: more + adj + than. For example, more beautiful than...

But we don't do this with every adjective,  for instance bored. Bored has only one syllable yet its comparative form is more bored instead of boreder. Why?


texts: Is there an English idiom for "when lovers are fighting, they are just having fun"?

texts:
There is a Russian saying "милые бранятся - только тешатся", meaning that when lovers/spouses are fighting(verbally!)/arguing/swearing at each other, they are merely having fun/enjoying themselves.

This is usually said by 3rd parties to calm themselves when they observe vicious marital arguments.

Is there an English equivalent?


texts: Difference between "stir up" and "provoke"

texts: Just I want to know the difference between the "stir up" and "provoke", where it should be placed exactly.


texts: Be it that,were to, and should - what were the differences between these conditionals?

texts:
Be it that John ask me, I shall answer him.
  Should John ask me, I will (or should? or would?) answer him.
  Were John to ask me, I would answer him.

When writers used the foregoing constructions, how, and according to what rule, did the meanings of the other three differ from one another?

Thank you.

-Hal


texts:
Most Asian non-native English speaker pronounce the /r/ clearly in the word everyone /ˈev·riˌwʌn/.

However, when hearing the pronunciation of /ˈev·riˌwʌn/ in some online English dictionary, I hear no articulation of /r/ sound at all.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/everyone

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/american-english/everyone

So the native English speaker seems to say /ˈeviˌwʌn/.

so , do native English speakers completely omit the /r/ sound in /ˈev·riˌwʌn/ (everyone)?


texts: What is the word for a phrase which uses a homonym with two of its meanings?

texts: For example, the phrase "I'm stuck on Band-Aid and Band-Aid's stuck on me" or "He books time to read books".


texts: What to call the duration from when billing start to the deadline

texts: If every month, I am allowed to pay my rent anytime between the 20th of that month and the 30th of that month, then what to call that 10 days period?


texts:
I have heard in several spoken discussions a term (which sounds kind of French and is maybe related to the English verb "rent") for the class of landlords - people who live off renting out properties or lending money for interest, as opposed to productive work.

I don't know how to spell it and was unsuccessful in guessing. Any idea what that might be?

Here is a discussion in which it was mentioned several times by both conversants:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMuIoIidVWI#t=23m22s


texts:
I have seen both spellings of re-engineering used (with and without hyphen). Personally I prefer the hyphenated version as it aids with proper pronunciation of the word.

Dictionary.com seems to prefer reengineering

But then on the other side spell checking software seems to only find the hyphenated version correct.

Which version is correct or are both correct? Is one preferred over the other and why?


texts:
I'm looking to refer to a group of facts and I'm not sure what the best term to use for them would be.  From what I can tell there isn't any sort of standard collective noun for facts, so it's going to be a more a question of what the better way of stating it would be.

To illustrate, a collection of pages may make up a book, so a book of pages makes sense.

But what makes sense for a collection of facts?

Edit 1: to clarify here, I am looking to have the blank filled in:  a _ of facts.

Edit 2: The context is that there are a large amount of small facts.  Things like "The battle of Hastings was fought in 1066".  I need to refer to various set collections of these facts when speaking to people, and so need a collective term for them.  If each fact were a card, I would call a set collection of them a deck.  So the use would be in a sentence like this: When I was learning history I found John's  very useful.


texts: Can "email" be a shortened form of "email address"?

texts:
Can I use the word "email" to mean "email address"?
For example:

Please tell me your email.
You can use your email as an ID.

Dictionaries such as MW don’t list this definition.


texts: can you say "he is in a lively chat with her"

texts: My question is about style. Does it sound natural if you say that someone "is in a lively chat/conversation with someone" or is it better to say "he is ENGAGED in a lively chat with her"?


texts: Better wording for "Mr" and "Ms" on a registration form

texts:
We a developing a Web application. My co-worker, who is a native German speaker, created the following registration form. I assume that he checked a dictionary for the translation of Anrede, found title and address as the options. We already have a field for title which takes an academic title such as Dr. (our software is used primarily by academic researchers), so he chose "Address".

To me, it's rather confusing on a registration form, where a user's first thought is "Do they want me to tell them where I live?". And if one reads the hint to the right, "Name and affiliation will be displayed as address title first name last name", without noticing the field name first, it's even more confusing.

I'll change Title to Academic title, but this still leaves me with the problem of what to call the "Mr/Ms" option. Any ideas?


texts:
In the national lottery 6 balls are drawn with numbers 1 to 49 on them. My father could never believe that the numbers 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 had exactly the same odds to come out as any other set of six you defined (e.g. 3,11,24,34,35,47).

Is there a name for this kind of bias or confusion with numbers?

Should I be asking on this on the Math or English stackexchange ..


texts: Meaning and interpretation of Bilbo's "half as well" quote

texts:
In The Lord of The Rings, Bilbo says the following to his assembled guests at his eleventy first birthday party:

  I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like
  less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

What is the meaning of this quote? Is there more than one way to interpret it?


texts: Is there any difference in the use of "the whole staff" and "all the staff"? Are they pretty much synonymous like all day/the whole day or not? In a corpus I have found several examples of "On behalf of all the staff," but none with "on behalf of the whole staff" and I wonder why that may be.


texts:
Is it correct to use a comma before the word "correct" in the following sentences: You get in tonight, correct? Or her name is Mary, correct?

If so, what's the rule for this?


texts: A single word for someone who is loved quickly by everyone?

texts:
If someone who loves quickly can be called openhearted, what do you call someone who is loved quickly? I can only think of the words which are probably reasons to someone being loved, such as adorable, kind, or maybe famous.

I know some friends who are loved really quickly by people around them. They include ladies, and gentlemen.

So, apart from the condition of the people around that someone (which are probably openhearted), or that someone is an adorable human being, what do you refer to someone who is loved quickly?


texts: Mac OS X "Revert Changes" usage/syntax in dialog?

texts:
The use of "Revert Changes" always throws me off and I was wondering if this usage/syntax is actually correct.

It seems to me that technically speaking, when you select that you're not actually reverting changes per se, but reverting the document back to its state before changes were made.

Shouldn't that button label just be "Revert?"


texts: Capitalization of multi-word geographical feature (river basin)

texts:
I understand the stylistic rules for capitalizing the word "river" in a place name, but I can't seem to find any consistent guidelines on whether to capitalize the word "basin" when it follows an instance where "river" should be capitalized.

example:

"The Hooseywhatsit River Basin is home to several species of platypus."

or

"The Hooseywhatsit River basin is home to several species of platypus."


texts: What term predated "even" when referring to numbers?

texts:
Had this posted on the Linguistics stackexchange, and was pointed here as a more appropriate spot to ask.

In doing some poking around in etymologies, I noticed that while "odd" in the sense of "odd number" is attested as early as c.1300 (and is in fact the original sense of the term), "even" in the sense of "even number" isn't attested until the mid-16th century. Do we have any examples of what terms (if any) were used to describe even numbers during that gap?


texts: What word is complimentary, but sounds like "chunky"?

texts:
For a discussion I'm having with a colleague, we're trying to think of complimentary words that sound ugly.

Any that rhyme with chunky (or anything else for that matter).


texts: Word for confusing one emotion for another

texts:
I'm trying to think of a word for one someone, at the feeling of one emotion; say, sadness or despair, reacts in another such as anger and frustration. Seeing as they don't act in a manner that suggests sadness, their actions confuse people on their emotions.

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.


texts: How can the Chinglish expression "you can you up" be translated?

texts:
The Chinese phrase 你行你上 (literally "you good you up", usually expressed in Chinglish as "you can you up") is used against people who criticize the incompetence of others, yet are not competent themselves. The meaning is basically, "if you know how to do it so well, then you do it!"

Is there an idiomatic phrase in English that conveys the same idea?