texts: How to find formal way to say informal sentence in TV shows?

texts:
A lot of online articles recommend learning spoken English from soap operas, such as Friends, and How I Met Your Mother. I know that most of the expressions in the TV shows are informal. They are good for daily informal conversations. However, I want to learn formal English as well, which can be formal spoken English and formal writing. More importantly, it is a good exercise to transfer between formal and informal sentences. It produces the following two questions.

How can I find the corresponding formal sentence for any sentence in the soap operas?

How can I find the corresponding informal sentence for any sentence in the formal TV shows, such as Ted talk or lectures?


texts: Is "uplift your life" grammatically correct?

texts:
A superior would like me to go with this structure for advertising headlines, e.g. Uplift your life / Uplift your recipe.

I'm not certain if this is grammatically correct and would like to check it with you before I go ahead with the work.


texts:
As an official translator, I need to be loyal to the text in such a manner that no words are omitted. In translation of title deeds there’s a section which specifies the metes and bounds of the property in question. In this very part, the specifications of the parking space has been mentioned in to the bargain where there are TWO words meaning “ entangled parking”.

To be more specific, there are some old buildings with the capacity of 4 parking space. These four cars, particularly the ones which have been parked ahead, cannot leave the parking since there are two other cars parked behind them! Now how can I translate this?

  update: I have asked this question at law community as well.

https://law.stackexchange.com/q/44573/27535


texts: What does "scratch below the surface" mean?

texts:
In Outlier: The Story of Success Chapter 2 Section 4, there is a sentence saying

  Is the ten-thousand-hour rule a general rule of success? If we scratch below the surface of every great achiever, do we always find the equivalence of the Michigan Computer Center or the hockey all-star team - some sort of special opportunity for practice?

I look it up in LDOCE5 and Merriam-Webster but only find what scratch the surface means. Googling this expression seems only examples rather than a good explanation.


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  Gerund preceded by possessive pronoun (e.g. “He resents your being more popular than he is”)

Until a few months ago, I had always thought that sentences like this were correct:

  They always hated me being an atheist.

Only later to find out that the correct form is:

  They always hated my being an atheist.

I came to understand the reason behind this and started using the proper form, but as I've seen the latest futurama episode, I found out the problem is far from over. The main cast character, Fry, said the following:

  Never bet against me being stupid.

And now I'm totally lost. I've tried googling for an answer and all I found (by @Cerberus here or by others here, here, here and here) seems to disprove the fact of "me being" being correct.

So I ask: did the creators of futurama make such a horrible mistake, or does this problem go deeper than meets the eye?


texts: A word or phrase for when someone who is highly respected and thought well of, doesn't meet those expectations

texts: I'm looking for a word or phrase that describes the effect of when someone is over-hyped, and when they don't meet expectations, they're criticised much harsher than they would have been if they weren't over-hyped. I hope this makes sense


texts: Asymmetricity vs asymmetry, is there any difference in meaning or usage?

texts: Is there any difference in meaning or usage between asymmetricity and asymmetry?


texts: Semantic difference between "spectator", "beholder", "observer" and "viewer"

texts:
As I understand it (not being a native speaker), a beholder has a more active relation to the scene or object he is beholding. It is "in the eye of the beholder", but not in the eye of the spectator who is passively spectating, not relating him- or herself to the object in a way that necessarily implies a subjective evaluation. This personal distance is shared by the observer who, in contrast to the spectator, has an abstract or technical interest in the object of observance. A viewer seems to me the least specific superordinate concept for all three of them, of course also encompassing a non-personal, technical meaning.

Is this understanding correct and are there any other semantic differences I may have missed so far? Does the term "beholder" give an archaic impression?

Thank you for any contribution!


texts: Any differences between "slander" and "libel"?

texts: Are there any differences between slander and libel?


texts: Plural or singular meaning of the word "Filter" in a phrase "Filter updates"

texts:
I would like to know if the phrase:
"Filter updates" means "updates of filters" or "updates of 1 filter".
So can this phrase "Filter updates" be used in plural meaning, so to say? Instead of saying "updates of filters".


texts: What’s the rule for the sound of the letter A in the middle of three-letter words?

texts:
How do you actually pronounce A when it's in the middle of a 3 letter word like mac or rap?
I hear many Americans say those words with a clear AAA sound, like the AA sound of the start of the word Umbrella: 'mAAc' and 'rAAp', but some people pronounce those words with the E sound of pEncil so it sounds like 'rep' and 'mec'.
So what is the correct pronunciation of those words and what is the rule?
Also, the word gay is actually pronounced 'gey' and not like 'guy', how come? is it because it ends with a vowel?


texts: what does "wonder" mean in this sentence?

texts:
He would remember his expression, remember the tears starting to well up in dark green eyes, and wonder.

Is the "wonder" here a noun or a verb?
What does it exactly mean?


texts:
I just heard a song. The lyrics were:

  I've been done, I've been moving on...

In conversation, is that correct grammatically?


texts:
I know my question may seem silly to native speakers, but l am really interested in knowing which construction is more common in everyday speech:

He is married and has two sons.
He is married, with two sons.

Thanks


texts:
This is an excerpt from a newspaper:

  They demanded the removal of Mr. X and Mr y, who have been accused of involvement in the pqr scam.

Why does the author use have been and not are accused?


texts: What's the term for a window cut into a hedge?

texts: French derivation, I think. At first I thought "parterre" but that's not it. I'm thinking about a window or opening cut into a tall privet hedge, usually made of yew or laurel.


texts: What all should they think about_ Is this sentence correct grammatically


texts: Proper complements that may come after "jealous"

texts:
Is it correct to say that a husband is jealous to his wife? meaning that he always get jealous about her relationship with  male colleague...etc.

I was not able to find a right phrase to describe that.


texts: Where can I find examples of really bad writing?

texts:
Do you know where I can find examples of really bad writing?

I'm looking for garbled sentence structure, errors in spelling, grammar, and vocabulary, redundancy, tautology, internal contradictions, go-nowhere phrases, truncation, abuse of idioms, anything like that.

Ideally it would be scientific or technical writing, but anything factual rather than poetic would be helpful. It needs to actually have some meaningful content, albeit badly presented. Thanks.

Clarification: I'm looking for paragraph-long examples, not fragments. Here is an illustrative example.


texts: Why does British English use "Collective are" and others use "Collective is"?

texts: Since Indian English uses "Collective is" I feel British English has adopted it after the colonial days. When did countries diverge on is/are and which countries use the British system?


texts: Can you use a lowercase letter after an apostrophe at the beginning of the sentence?

texts: Let me start by saying that I'm aware you're supposed to capitalize the first letter after an apostrophe at the beginning of the sentence. My question is can I not. I have this inspiring piece of dialogue: “’kay" and I really much prefer it with the 'k' lowercase. Is that completely incorrect, or can I make the stylistic choice?


texts: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde unknown ( Biblical?) Reference

texts:
Okay, so I am an avid reader, and have recently undertaken a challenge to read Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, along with Robert Louis Stevenson's other literature. Having recently completed Jekyll & Hyde, which, during my reading, I had marked a few phrases or terms that I did not know and came across this text:

(pg.69)   "Small indeed was my appetite. This inexplicable incident, this reversal of my previous experience, seemed, like the Babylonian finger on the wall, to be spelling out the letters of my judgement; and I began to reflect more seriously than ever before on the issues and possibilities of my double existence."

I have no clue as to what the late Robert Stevenson is referring to by the seemingly Christian-based Babylonian "Doom Hand", although I have heard there have been paintings of it by the likes of Rembrandt & John Martin.


texts: Double or Embeded Abbreviation (or an abbreviation inside a part of another abbreviation)

texts:
In the abbreviation "MMG", the 1st "M" stands for another abbreviation which is "MBC", while the 2nd "M" stands for "Media" and "G" stands for "Group".
What do we call the 1st "M" (which is an abbreviation already) in the abbreviation "MMG"?!
Is there such a case? If so then what's it called?


texts: Where did the expression "have at it" come from?

texts:
Couldn't find its etymology...  anyone knows?
What does its meaning break down to?
Also, when should it be used best?

Thanks.


texts:
I occasionally paint my cityscapes in this manner because I like it, and also because it's a good selling point. I call it grisaille or verdaccio. Both terms are wrong.

Grisaille is executed entirely in shades of gray, or another neutral color.

Verdaccio is a mixture of black, white, and yellow.

Both sound elegantly mysterious and all, but one ought to know the name of one's own product.

To summarize: is there a term for a painting that's mostly black-and-white, with just a splash of color somewhere (not necessarily in the logical center of the composition)?


texts:
I'm sure many will know Rick's famous line from the film Casablanca:

  Here's looking at you, kid.

While I can guess at it, I was never fully confident about the meaning of this phrase.  I am not a native speaker.  It's clear that it's a toast.  Would someone please explain in detail?

In more detail,

Here's [to] because it's a toast
Was this phrase a common American expression at the time?
Why looking?  Is it simply part of a common phrase or does it refer to looking at her as looking at a woman?
Can you give me examples of similar (or the same) phrase, in context?
Is the meaning unambiguous to native speakers or is there room for interpretation?


texts: Phrase for habitual scoffing at someone & then asking for his help

texts: In our cultural language we say that he always spit & then lick the same spot... at least something like this. However, can I get some convenient phrase for such a person habit.


texts: What is the best way to say and use commas in "Missing items in, or damages to, your room"?

texts:
If there are missing items in, or damages to, your room at the start of the year, you may incur a fine.

My question is about whether or not there is a grammatical term or rule for what I'm trying to do here. If there is, I want to know whether or not I am following it.

Forgive me if the question is ambiguous — I don't know the words used to describe the things I'm curious about.


texts: When to use "throw" and when to use "toss"?

texts:
I have never been able to spot the difference between throw and toss.
For instance, both of these sentences make perfect sense to me:

He is going to toss a rock at you.
He is going to throw a rock at you.

How should I know when to use one or the other?


texts: "How best to handle" vs. "how to best handle"

texts:
Are there rules on the placement of 'best'?

  They are deciding how to best handle the matter.
  They are deciding how best to handle the matter.

Is one of them wrong?


texts: Does "I wouldn't do this, if it wasn't compulsory" sound natural?

texts: Would the above sentence sound natural? If not, what would be the modification?


texts:
The original meaning of premium is a reward given for some specific act or as an incentive; a prize. as per its etymology:
Premium (n.) (Etymonline):

c. 1600, "reward given for a specific act," from Latin praemium "reward, profit derived from booty,"

The OED cites early adjectival usage examples referring mainly  to petrol especially  in AmE:
Premium:

(Passing into adj.)  Of a commodity, etc., esp. petrol: superior in quality and therefore commanding a higher price; of a price: such as befits an article of superior quality; higher than usual. orig. U.S.

1928 National Petroleum News 24 Oct. 115 (Advt.),  This is our anti-knock gasoline, a premium motor fuel.

While according to Etymonline its first usage was in 1925 referring to butter;

Adjectival sense of "superior in quality" is first attested 1925, originally in reference to butter.

Questions;
What's the origin of premium  as an adjective? Was butter given as gift/prize, from which the sense of "top quality"? Was its origin from  AmE usage because of its common reference to petrol or was "premium butter" a BrE expression?


texts: Use of article 'the' before author's name

texts: Is is correct to write: 'Author Martin Amis describes...', or should we use the article 'the' in front of 'author'?


texts: Mass nouns and counts nouns. Does getting it wrong ever matter?

texts:
Less/fewer, too much/too many, amount/number... When people get these things wrong, it bugs me. But I cannot think of a situation where mistaking a mass noun for a count noun (or vice versa) would ever introduce any kind of ambiguity.

Is there such a case?


texts: A personal project that one improves constantly

texts:
There's this phenomenon that occurs when one takes on a personal project, as a hobby, in a domain one is still learning. The project will progress, but then one will look back on what has already been done with the skills that have been gained in the meantime, see new ways to improve it, and scrape a good chunk of it to remake it better. Rinse and repeat.

I'm looking for an idiom, word or short phrase for such a project.

Things I have thought of :

Sisyphus' boulder: this one doesn't fit, because although the project could be seen as a neverending work loop that leads to no fruition, it remains a pleasant activity, not a punishment. The knowledge acquired through the iterations is also a net gain.
Pet project: this one comes close, but doesn't (as far as I know) convey the "endless remaking" part.


texts: Want feedback from someone I've disappointed

texts:
What word should I use in the following situation?

I have done some work for somebody, but he is not satisfied. I still want the feedback from him, and am trying to convince him to give me some feedback (likely bad); I honestly wouldn't like to get negative feedback, but I would prefer to receive some form of response rather than nothing. Is this a good way to ask?

  Please, at least give me feedback (maybe bad).

What should I use in place of maybe to make it a good sentence?


texts:
Which sentence is grammatically correct?

  We learn that environment shape civilization and influence liturature.

Or

  We learn that environment shapes civilization and influences literature.

I'm confused if the verbs, "shape" and "influence" need to agree with the word, "environment."  In microsoft grammar-check, both versions seem to be correct.


texts: Can a phrase be the object of a clause and how would its subject change?

texts:
Take the  sentence:

  I speak all over to whoever will listen.

...at first blush, I thought, "Ah — whoever should be whomever."

However, I then noted that in the phrase "whoever will listen", whoever is correct.

I think the central issue is that if the sentence had ended without the "...will listen" then it would be correctly stated, "I speak all over to whomever."  As it is, it seems like the last part of the sentence ("whoever will listen") ends up being the object of the 'to' rather than the single word: 'whoever'.

Is this sentence grammatically correct, and why?


texts: Is "standard" an archaic synonym for an athletic team or club?

texts:
This was passed along to me (native US speaker) by a non-native speaker.
A school in the UK asks for the following details...

Games
Teams and Standards
Extra-curricular Activities

...in their application form for prospective students.
Our best guess was that "standard" was a synonym for "team" in British English, but I decided to research it.
Couldn't find a definition for "standard" in Wiktionary, Cambridge or MacMillan dictionaries that fit this context.
Web search with exact-match terms "teams and standards" didn't turn up anything conclusive.
Perhaps the obvious conclusion is they meant "ability", in which case they'd be asking for "teams and playing standards". In that case, the phrasing is unfamiliar to us.
The school is in Oxfordshire, on the off-chance regional dialects need to be considered.


texts: important for me to vs. important to me to

texts:
Please note that I am posting this question because I'm still not sure if I understand the difference although I did a comprehensive study of a great number of answers to the "for versus to" questions.

This issue turns out to be much more complicated than I expected. I chose to pick this among many and different questions still to be made.

(A) It is important FOR me to speak proper English.

(B) It is important TO me to speak proper English.

(A) It is important FOR me to speak proper English.

Could this imply that he or she is an English learner and wants to improve his or her English very much, making it possible to rephrase it as "it is important that I speak proper English?"

(B) It is important TO me to speak proper English.

Could this imply that he or she, presumably a native English speaker, expects English to be spoken properly no matter who the speaker is, making it possible to rephrase it as "it is important to me that English be spoken properly" or "speaking proper English is important to me?"

My guess is that they wouldn't be interchangeable and could have different meanings as above. I would appreciate any advice, hopefully including any rule of thumb.


texts: A word for a person who can "quickly adapt to change"

texts:
What is a word for (or how would you describe)

A person who can adapt to changes

in the workplace
newer technologies
in requirements for his work


texts:
Hi guys,

Pls kindly refer to the diagram shown above.

Which prep is ok in the sentence: The trends for / in / of  both commodities are very similar.

I have looked up my Oxford dictionary and I found only 'in' might be appropriate. However, I saw a prestigious teacher use 'for' instead. Thus, I am a bit confused.

Thanks a lot!


texts: "Glance" is to sight as _ is to hearing?

texts:
I'm looking for a word which describes a brief auditory examination. Analogous to “glance” in the sense of the following example:

  At first glance, the object appeared round.

  At first ____, the theme seemed to be in a minor key.


texts: Do I need to use "the" as an article when referring to the Home Office?

texts:
Is it grammatically correct to say:

1) I am working at the Home Office

2) I am working at The Home Office

3) I am working at Home Office

Moreover, if one were to be asked to write down their employer, which option would be correct:

1) Employer: Home Office

2) Employer: The Home Office


texts:
I can't get this lyric out of my head:

when the man you've scripted's hands are lifted to the sky
— Darwin Deez, "Free"

It seems so grammatically wrong, but I'm not sure.  I can't pinpoint what parts of speech everything is; "you have scripted" could be the adjective describing the man, but this adjective in itself is a past participle phrase, and can a phrase like that inherit the possessive (apostrophe + s) in that manner?


texts: Twelfth Night: Why does Olivia call Sir Toby “cousin”?

texts:
I’m reading Twelfth Night, where in Act 1, Scene 5, Olivia says to Sir Toby Belch:

  Olivia:  Cousin, cousin, how have you come so early by this lethargy?

How come she’s calling her uncle “cousin”?


texts: What is a more politically correct way to call something a "Red-Headed Step-Child"?

texts:
I can't use the phrase "second-class citizen" either.

This is for a professional blog post, so I'd rather stay away from "red-headed step-child".  I can't use "second-class citizen" because I'm talking about a topic with very few similar posts and one related post uses that same term.  If I really need to use "second-class citizen" then I'll probably just reference the other post.

EDIT: For those of you who are not familiar with the term, it is meant to be like a child who is cast away and treated differently than the rest of the family.  If you watch Game of Thrones, Jon Snow is the red-headed step-child of the Stark family.

I think the term "black sheep" might be similar, but "black sheep" usually means that the person did something to harm his own standing.

EDIT2: I'd rather not get into the details of the blog post because it's pretty niche.  Let's just use the following example:

"When you talk about smartphone OS development, iOS and Android are the over-achieving college kids, Windows Phone is the unemployed pot-smoking brother, and Blackberry OS is the red-headed step-child."

I won't actually be mentioning the other competing products, but I just wanted to illustrate what the term would be calling out.


texts:
My professor (whose first language is not English) keeps adding "It is recalled that" at the start of different sentences describing facts/products.

I do not think it is used appropriately.

What do you think?

Example:

  It is recalled that this technique has the following advantages: bla
  bla bla...

I think this kind of usage implies, falsely, that I have mentioned the advantages in a previous section/paragraph.


texts: Are there “X -scolds” formula words that go current other than “deficit scolds”?

texts:
I was interested to find the word, “deficit scolds” in Paul Krugman’s article titled “Hawks and Hypocrites” in New York Times (November 11).
It appears in the following sentence:

  Back in 2010, self-styled deficit hawks — better described as
  deficit scolds — took over much of our political discourse. At a time of mass unemployment and record-low borrowing costs, a time when
  economic theory said we needed more, not less, deficit spending, the
  scolds convinced most of our political class that deficits rather than
  jobs should be our top economic priority. It’s not just the fact that
  the deficit scolds have been wrong about everything so far.--
  The deficit-scold movement was never really about the deficit.
  Instead, it was about using deficit fears to shred the social safety
  net.”

Oxford online English Dictionary defines “scold” as “noun, archaic or U.S. meaning a woman who nags or grumble constantly.

Cambridge online dictionary doesn’t show the usage of “scold” as a noun.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “scold” as a noun meaning 1. One who scolds habitually and persistently. 2. A woman who disturb the public peace by noisy and quarrelsome behavior.

From Merriam-Webster I interpret “deficit-scolds” are those who are critical of the government’s financial policy and growing deficit.

I wonder how new and how popular this word is in the U.S.

Are there “X-scolds” formula words that run current, say “Communism scolds” “Abortion scolds,” “Gay-marriage scolds,” “SN and NC-17 movies scolds,” other than “deficit scolds”?


texts:
A coworker replied to an earlier email from me with some very good news. I wanted to thank him for his help. I was hoping to start with

  Thank you, Jim. That is wonderful news...

OR is it

  Thank you Jim. That is wonderful news...

Do I place the comma after the "Thank you"?


texts: Should there be an article before "mayor" in "the role of mayor"?

texts:
SimCity, for example, casts youth in the role of mayor.

I'm not sure if I understand the usage of zero article correctly. There is no article before 'mayor' as this is the instance where we refer to something that is already unique. Is that so?

(for anyone who's interested, the context is in the middle of page 6 here)


texts: Substitute for F*** in emphasizing disbelief, anger, etc

texts:
How do I replace F*** while expressing fully my disbelief, anger, etc?

E.g.,

"I think Homer Simpson is incredibly sexy"

My reply "Get out of here! That's f***ing ridiculous."


texts: "X is inequitable because Y is disproportionate to Z." Is there a better way to put this?

texts:
While a full Major League Baseball season is 162 games, the first
  round of the playoffs is only a 5 game series. I feel that this
  system is inequitable because the length of the opening playoff
  series is disproportionate to that of the MLB season.

The bolded sentence above feels wrong:

Would "this discrepancy" work better than "this system" in the above sentence?
Is there a clearer/stronger way to express the opinion that "X is inequitable because Y is disproportionate to Z?"


texts: What is the proper use of [square brackets] in quotes?

texts: I sometimes see square brackets used while quoting.  My assumption is that they are replacing a pronoun with what the object of the pronoun, but I never know for sure because I don't usually get to see what the original quote looks like before the modification.  What are these called and what are the rules of use?


texts: When would you capitalize "Management", if ever?

texts:
I'm editing a technical policy/procedure document, and it says:

  ...does not limit the right of Management to impose additional training....

Is the capitalization correct?


texts:
I write an essay and need to use the phrase like:

  He will pay for a laptop in ten years (I suppose he borrowed
  money, but I don’t want to use “pay back”)

Question: should we use “in” preposition?

He will pay for a laptop in ten years.
OR
He will pay for a laptop ten years.


texts: "Until you apologised" vs. "until you have apologised" vs. "until you apologise"

texts:
What is the most correct way of saying to someone that I won't speak to him before he has apologised.

  I won't speak to you until you have apologised for what you have done.
  I won't speak to you until you apologised for what you have done.
  I won't speak to you until you apologise for what you have done.
  I won't speak to you until you have apologised for what you did.
  I won't speak to you until you apologised for what you did.
  I won't speak to you until you apologise for what you did.


texts: Is there a word for a person who doesn't think the rules apply to him?

texts: I'm trying to write a letter to the editor of my local paper about their report of a man who doesn't think the rules apply to him.  Is there a word for this?  He's a bit of an egoist, demanding to speak at city council meetings after the public hearing portion of the meeting has been closed.


texts: "I got to shoot a few animals" - kill or take a picture?

texts: I wanted to say that I had managed to take a few pictures of some animals. But when I say "I got to shoot a few animals", is that clear? As shooting animals to me sounds more like killing..


texts: Could anybody give me a few interesting examples of neologisms of Latin or Greek origin, or containing affixes from Latin or Greek which are popular nowadays but haven't entered the dictionaries yet? There are quite plenty of examples in The Oxford Dictionary of New Words from 1999 for instance, but I am interested in the ones which are not in the dictionary but still very popular nowadays. Thanks


texts: How many possible meanings does " inclusion" have?

texts: I want to know how many possible meaning does " inclusion" have in this sentence, I cant get its meaning. " I am all for inclusion. but that part of the country? those are not my people."


texts: Should I capitalize peace, love, and happiness?

texts:
I am writing in our family Christmas card this year:  Wishing you peace, love, and happiness.  My question is, should peace, love, and happiness be capitalized?  It's driving me crazy!

Thank you!


texts: While writing some text, I used the phrase "tensal structure" in order to refer to a structure of tense. To my surprise, "tensal" is not a word. What is the correct equivalent?


texts: Usage of comma to separate additional phrases with the subject

texts:
I picked the from sentence from a reading comprehension passage question of a competitive exam.

  Dr. Doran's long and interesting records of the triumphs of Garrick,
  and other less familiar, but in their day hardly less astonishing,
  players, do not relieve one of the doubt

This is my understanding of the sentence:

Main Subject: Dr. Doran's long and interesting records of the triumphs of Garrick
Predicate: do not relieve one of the doubt
Meaning: In simple terms, this means, Doran's record leaves one with a doubt.

All other stuff (highlighted) in the below sentence: "Dr. Doran's long and interesting records of the triumphs of Garrick, and other less familiar, but in their day hardly less astonishing, players", are the phrases associated with the main sentence.

I am confused by the presence of these phrases. Can any one please dissect the phrases and explain to me please. Especially, I couldn't make sense of the phrase players.


texts: Usage of "please + imperative" and politness

texts:
I'm wondering about the rudeness of the imperative mood, particularly in a professional context. I recently wrote these 2 sentences:

"Please consider doing 2 tickets when you have 2 different issues."

"Please stop entering multiple problems in a single ticket. This is problematic for follow-up and resolution." (as an escalation because the first demand had resulted in no change)

They have been judged as extremely rude and impolite by my co-workers. I won't use this structure anymore in this particular context. But since this is a structure I have been using for years I would like to know how rude this construction is. Can it be used in formal and professional context or should it be restricted to familiar style ?

As none of me or my co-workers are native speakers, I'm interested in gathering the opinion of experts on this structure.


texts: "Back your life it is". What does it mean?

texts:
The following excerpt is from the story 'Adolf' by DH Lawrence, in which there is the expression 'Back your life it is'. What does it mean? I googled to find a definition and looked up in many dictionaries, but all in vain. Is it an idiomatic expression or a fixed phrase—slang or dialect?

When morning came, and it was light, I went downstairs. Opening the scullery door I heard a slight scuffle. Then I saw dabbles of milk all over the floor and tiny rabbit-droppings in the saucers. And there the miscreant, the tips of his ears showing behind a pair of boots. I peeped at him. He sat bright-eyed and askance, twitching his nose and looking at me while not looking at me.
He was alive — very much alive. But still we were afraid to trespass much on his confidence.
"Father!" My father was arrested at the door. "Father, the rabbit's alive."
"Back your life it is," said my father.
"Mind how you go in."


texts: What's the difference between “client” and “user”?

texts: I want to know the difference between client and user.  When should we use client, and when we should use user?


texts: Is there a word that means made of the same constituents but in opposite proportion?

texts:
Example:

Progressive music with funk elements:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tdu4uKSZ3M

Funk music with progressive elements:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzxwZ6wjDAM


texts: Pronunciation of "every body", "every thing" etc. when written as two separate words

texts:
How shall I pronounce the words every body, every thing etc. when meaning everybody, everything, but written separately in the 19th century, like Jane Austen did? As two words, or as one?

In the sentence:

  Every body was there

is there an extra stress at the first syllable of the second word, like in

  Every baby was there

or is there only one stress at the beginning like in

  Everybody was there

?

I've sometimes heard Americans pronounced everybody as [ˈɛvrɪˈba:di] - is it just a local slang, or can it be a relict from the old times where these two parts were perceived as separate words?


texts: What is the best word to collectively describe a street, suburb, town, district etc.?

texts:
What is the best word to collectively describe a street, suburb, town, district, state, territory, country, continent etc.?

  In a sentence: He does not live in the same [street / suburb / town
  etc.] as me.

The only two words I can think of are "region" and "locality". Which of the two is more appropriate? Are there any others?


texts: Can anyone tell me the meaning of this word "cool" in these sentences?

texts: "I know you don't like me back. It's cool."


texts: Is this comparative always applicable? as + much + adjective + a/an + noun + as

texts:
In my schoolbook there are three as ... as grammatical structures introduced:

  as + adjective + as

  as + adverb + as

  as + much/many + noun + as

What bothers me, is the last one.
What if I want to say:

  He gave as much accurate an answer as he could.

This structure appeared when we were doing CAE, Part 4, and this was the following sentence:

  He answered the judge's question as accurately as he could.

  ACCURATE

  He gave ... as he could to the judge's question.

This is the best source I can find (it's from Cambridge), however, it hasn't mentioned this structure and I want to teach it to my CAE students as we have come across it in transformations (as the aforementioned one). Can you help me find a source that explicitly says this is the structure we need to use for the situation?


texts: Can the expression "toys out of the pram" be applicable for describing that someone is having a bad day?


texts: What is the 2-word term (3 syllables each, I think, and definitely Greek sounding/Greek roots) that describes the technique of reversing phrases or parts of phrases, e.g. " bred and born" instead of "born and bred"? I just can't remember it!


texts:
Today in the newspapers I read

  Rodgers yesterday claimed had Sturridge  been with his club he would have been given extra time to recover in the same situation.

I don't understand how this sentence is built up. I understand that we are supposing but there is no if or whether and so on.


texts: Someone who is cunning but depicts themselves as innocent to others

texts: What can you call a person who is cunning but depicts themselves as innocent to others?


texts: How to correctly tell that I’m able to work with different time zones

texts: I'm looking for a remote job and I want to specify that I'm flexible regarding the time zone (so I can work according to almost any work hours i.e. German, US etc.) How to write that correctly? Thanks!


texts:
English speakers seem to prefer "less powerful" over "not as powerful", and "not as big" over "less big". There's at least a ten-to-one ratio in both cases—See this Google Ngram. There also seems to be a trend over time where English is moving from "less" to "not as", but I'm most interested in current usage.

Is there a rule for which adjectives we use "less" with, and which we use "not as"?


texts:
Lyrics from The National's Ada:

  Stand inside an empty tuxedo with
  grapes in my mouth waiting for Ada

I've not come across the phrase before, nor can I find an attributed meaning.

One of the song meanings forums suggests this means "unable to talk since one's mouth is full"

Is that correct, or is it a phrase the song writers have invented?


texts:
I was very surprised when I first heard "this elevator going up". But then I heard it in a bunch of other places, so it is not a mistake. So, why is it not "the elevator is going up/down"?

Thank you!
Cheers


texts: Difference between "be a bit of" and" be a bit"

texts:
I've heard two sentences:

  I'm a bit shy person
  I'm a bit of a shy person

If they are both correct grammatically, then what's the point to add OF in the second sentence?


texts: How to say the opposite of "check" (for lists)?

texts:
Suppose you enumerate points of some list, adding "check" after each one. How to speak about the reverse of a "check" (i.e. omission or an opposite for the item)?

Like if you have:

Big scary horns ☑
180° mounth ☑
50-cm claws ☑
Predatory glare ☒

and say

  Look there! Such a beast: big scary horns — check; yawning mouth — check; loooong claws — check; predatory glare — _____, hovewer..

Variants that come to mind:

"no check"
"ex"
"miss"
"no"
"without check"
"cross"


texts: Should I capitalise only part of a brand’s title?

texts: When I use only part of a brand’s name or the title of a company, should I be capitalising that word? For example, when referring to the Environment Agency, if I were to just call them the Agency, would the A be uppercase?


texts: Why do we say "there is butter on your chin", not "there is the butter on your chin"?

texts:
Now I looked at your face & I saw some butter on your chin. I know what specific butter it is.
But why do I still say "there is butter on your chin", why not "there is the butter on your chin"?
This is a question of a test.

Q36: There's ..... butter on your chin.
A: the
B: no article

Do you choose A or B?
The correct answer is B


texts: better expression for telling about your uncertain schedule

texts:
I am responding to an email where another person is asking about when I will be available next week?.
Now, I am not yet sure about my next week schedule. It depends on couple of important must-have meetings which are not scheduled yet. I wrote following response:

  Right now, I am not certain about my next week schedule. It depends on couple of must-to-attend but yet-unscheduled meetings.
  I will send you a follow-up email by end of this week about my availability.

Can you please suggest some better way to describe it?


texts:
This is the story of a man whose wife suddenly loses her money.
This is the story of the man whose wife suddenly loses her money.

Do both sound natural? My teacher from Vietnam said that we have to change ‘a’ to ‘the’ in the relative clause. But I don’t think so.
Can someone clarify this for me?


texts: I wasn't sure I had ever used/heard the word recency before but, when trying to come up for a word to describe proximity in time, it popped into my head. It's in the Merriam-Webster dictionary so I must have come across it somewhere before. They do not list a synonym. Is anyone aware of one?


texts:
What's the correct construction:

  Middle-aged man in a baseball cap and a blazer

or

  Middle-aged man wearing a baseball cap and a blazer


texts: passive Vs active or omission of 'which is'

texts:
What is the part of speech of 'regarded' in the following?

  "a quality of beauty and intensity of emotion regarded as characteristic of poems" (NOAD)

Why isn't it "... [which is] regarded ..."?

And in another case:

  "a small lizard with wide feet, found especially in warm countries"  (CALD)

And also:

  "Words used to describe writing or speech style" (Macmillan)

In all these examples, why shouldn't the verbs be in their passive form (e.g. which is found, words that are used)?

I am a ESL learner and I am very confused by these usages!


texts: Comma preceding subordinate clause in the middle of independent clause

texts:
I have a case of nested subordinate clauses that are, in addition, separated by a modifying adverb (namely) to help structure the sentence:
Note that we adopt the same stance as [authors] concerning [topic],
    namely that,
        as long as [condition that is fulfilled],
    then the fundamental statements about [X] apply equally to [Y].

My question relates to the second line in the above formatting, i.e., whether it should be

namely, that, as long as ...,
namely, that as long as ...,
namely that, as long as ... or
namely that as long as....

On the one hand, we have the modifying introductory adverb namely, and on the other hand there's the interjected subordinate clause beginning with as long as. The adverb potentially needs to be followed by a comma in this case?
Since the innermost subordinate clause is without question closed by a comma, it goes against my inner logician to not use a comma to separate it from its parent clause (though CMOS 6.26 seems to specifically recommend this). Then again, it seems that this might result in an awful lot of commas.
For reference, the version I prefer is the one given in the text snippet, probably because it most closely matches the intended prosody.


texts: Why do we use an article before some words like

texts:
I have a problem with the use of article
There is a rule that we can't use an article before an uncountable noun but in many words we do, the words are a headache, a cold, a hurry
Can anybody tell me what the reason behind it?


texts: A noun for “phony” or an alternative to "phoniness"

texts: I visited some famous tourist hotspots in a country where I enjoyed some beautiful sceneries. However, once we were told some trees planted there were actually fake (the trees were carefully sculpted to appear natural), we felt betrayed by the __?


texts: Why is "to switch gears" used for "to change topic"?

texts:
The expressions

  to switch gears, to shift gears

are often (too often for my taste, but that is a different matter) used to announce a switch from one topic to another in an oral presentation (e.g., a scientific talk).

As far as vehicles are concerned, gears are switched to change speed, not direction. Hence, I would rather associate a "switch of gears" with a change in the speed of the presentation. Therefore, expressions such as "to change lanes" or "to change direction" seem to be more appropriate.

Does anyone have knowledge about the origin of the phrase? I could not find it in the respectable dictionaries, so I'm also not sure how common it really is.

(Another interesting point is that the phrase seems to be particularly popular in the United States, despite the dominance of automatic cars.)


texts: to wonder versus to ask onself - are these really synonyms?

texts:
I  came across either of them meaning guesswork , consequently I'm more than confused.  Tried several sources to get it.

Would like you to re-open it:)


texts:
I am unsure, should I use pronoun it or that at the end of this sentence.

The legislature seems to talk at great length about reform but to do almost nothing to achieve it/that.


texts:
I found the following sentence on someone’s webpage which was written about some Japanese traditional things.
I can’t get it why the sentence starts with’A lot has to do with’.... Is that an Anastrophe sentence? Or can we use ‘A lot’ as a grammatical subject?
Please help to understand this sentence.
A lot has to do with the very brief life of the flowers, blooming only for about a week to ten days.


texts: Chapter ranges: chapters x-y or chapter x-y?

texts:
I am doing some proofreading using an in-house style guide and the Oxford Style Manual as references. However, I cannot find a convention regarding whether to use chapter or chapters when expressing something like:

  see chapter 2-4

Am I not reading the Oxford Manual thoroughly enough? Is it just chapters? This seems obvious but I am unsure.


texts: Describing disparities in different levels

texts:
I am struggling to describe disparities in different levels.
Let's take an example, showing disparities in income between the different regions of UK.

Does the map show country-level disparities or regional level disparities?

And let's assume an increased variation of income in of the regions of UK. This means an upward trend in inequality in income. Should I call it regional level or citizen level trend?


texts: Can infinitives serve as direct objects?

texts: In the sentences Jack wants food and Jack wants to eat, it seems like food and to eat both serve as direct objects of the verb wants. Can a verb in the infinitive serve as a direct object in a sentence like this, or does it play some other role?


texts:
I was speaking with a friend recently, and I remarked on how odd it was that most people do not know the meaning and/or etymology of their own name even though they are called by it every single day.

She mentioned she had a horse named "Carinio" (apparently it used to be a famous race horse, I believe). I thought it sounded Italian, but I have had zero luck in finding any references concerning the name "Carinio" for a horse or otherwise (the only thing I managed to find was a reference to Carino's Italian restaurant).

Does anyone have a reference for such a name (or can point me to a proper place to look for references)?


texts:
This is a question from a GRE practice test. I am confused about the term "uses evidence" and why the selected sentence is correct. Here is the question:

  17. Select the sentence in the passage in which the author uses evidence to support an assertion about the difference between Chaucer and the Romance Poets"
  If we ask ourselves wherein consists the immense superiority of Chaucer's poetry over the romance-poetry--why it is that in passing from this to Chaucer we suddenly feel ourselves to be in another world, we shall find that his superiority is both in the substance of his poetry and in the style of his poetry. His superiority in substance is given by his large, free, simple, and clear yet kindly view of human life--so unlike the total want, in the romance-poets, of all intelligent command of it. Chaucer has not their helplessness; he has gained the power to survey the world from a central, a truly human point of view. We have only to call to mind the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. The right comment upon it is Dryden's: "It is sufficient to say, according to the proverb, that here is God's plenty." And again: "He is a perpetual fountain of good sense." It is by a large, free, sound representation of things, that poetry, this high criticism of life, has truth of substance and Chaucer's poetry has truth of substance.

The bolded sentence is supposedly the correct answer to this question, with the justification being:

  The author uses the selected sentence to support the following assertion: "He has gained the power to survey the world from a central, a truly human point of view."

Now my question is about whether or not the bolded sentence is actually using evidence. I thought the following sentence was the one that most conclusively used evidence, since it's an actual quote (evidence) that seems to support the author's claim. I don't see how calling to mind a prologue is using evidence, rather it merely identifies the source of evidence. The last sentence might also be a better candidate for the right answer, since it actually explains how the evidence supports the claim (which in my mind fits the bill of using).

For the record, I don't really understand what the quotes are supposed to really mean (I haven't read Canterbury Tales), but it seems to me to fit the question better. Can someone explain how the selected sentence is considered using evidence? Am I over thinking this? Is it a bad question?

Bonus question for people who have taken the GRE: are the questions really like this? I hate questions of this format.


texts: What are the differences between 'incident', 'issue' and 'affair'?

texts: What are the difference between incident, issue, and affair? How should one use them?


texts:
The word in question is "thraal", a species from the Dr. Who universe (http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Thraal) and coincidentally also a species from the Transformers universe (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Thraal).

The only similar word I know of is "Baal" and I've heard "bal", "bail" and "bawl" for that as well... so that doesn't help.

Any guidance?


texts: Does "morning sickness" only relate to pregnancy? Did it always?

texts:
As far as I'm aware, "morning sickness" as a phrase relates specifically to pregnancy. So, even if you have a medical condition causing regular nausea/vomiting when you wake up and you typically wake up in the morning, "morning sickness" would not apply.

Is this accurate? If so, has it always been so (for reasonable values of "always") or does the phrase as we use it now have a more interesting etymology?


texts: Word for someone who pities, insults or complaints about their situation or life just to make the other person flatter them

texts:
I want to know a word or a phrase that would describe a person who "intentionally" (because some people hate themselves even when they don't want to, or some people are insecure - making some generalizations, forgive me if I miss out something.) insults themselves to make others try to make them feel better by complimenting them. Here is an example of a conversation :

A: Hello B, how is it going?

B: Nice. I just wish my purple dress didn't make me look even uglier.

A: That isn't the case babe, I think you are amazing. You are really soo beautiful.

B: NO I am HIDEOUS, and I know it, don't lie to me.

A: No, I promise. I won't lie you're my BFF. You Rock girl.


texts:
“You can tell him...."

  "Me tell him?”

Is this structure appropriate? Why / why not?

“Me” is usually an object pronoun. I would say that the structure is inappropriate, because “Me” is an object pronoun and here a subject pronoun should be used, in my opinion (i.e. “I”).


texts: How do Americans pronounce "it would", "it was", etc.?

texts:
How do you pronounce "it would", "it was", etc. in American English? That is, how do you pronounce the T when it precedes a semi-vowel such as "w"? Is there a stop T or not when the words are pronounced fast?
I know, when followed by a vowel, it's a flap T (as in "it is"), and, when followed by a consonant, it's a full T (as in "it looks"). Yet, I can't put my finger on this.


texts: To combine two simple sentences, is using a semicolon ';' a correct way to do it?

texts:
I found this example online of a "synthesis of sentences" question for joining two simple sentences into one compound sentence.

Larry watches the news. Bill makes news.

The site has two solutions give for this question.

Larry watches the news, but Bill makes news.
or: Larry watches the news; Bill makes news.

I have always assumed that a conjunction is required for this type of synthesis, so is using a semicolon ';' correct?
Here is a link to the site for reference: https://www.englishhints.com/compound-sentences.html


texts: What is the word for when people use associative words for technical terms?

texts:
Examples:

the word "canned" is used for multiple items within a list
"breadcrumbs" is used for specifying a part of a webpage used for navigation on the site
"bootstrap" is used for start up (an Internet-based business or other enterprise) with minimal financial resources, among many other meanings.

Is there a word that signifies these "metaphors"?


texts: Is there a single word for a cemetery full of tombs that are above ground?

texts:
Most cemeteries have graves which are dug out of the ground. However, a few cemeteries have tombs that are all above ground. Is there a single word that describes these types of cemeteries?

Mausoleum is not the answer I'm looking for, because a mausoleum is a single building that holds one or more tombs. I'm looking for the word for the land that would hold many mausolea, for example.

Edit

For example, all the cemeteries in New Orleans are above ground because New Orleans is built below sea level in a flood plain. The tombs are all called vaults. All the references I can find refer to the land incorporating the vaults are above-ground cemeteries. But I thought one time I heard a single-word term for the same. Here is an example.


texts:
There is a famous poem from Kipling: In the Neolithic Age.

There it says:

  "There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays,
  "And every single one of them is right!"

My question
What are "tribal lays"? Is "lays" something like "laws", in the sense of "the way you organize society" (values, customs, culture etc.)?


texts:
I write code for a living and I'm trying to find the right word for a flaw in logic.  "Error" seems too vague, I'm looking specifically for a word that describes a flaw in logic.

Addendum 1: This would be an unintended flaw in logic.
Addendum 2: Preferably 1 word, please.


texts: Does the phrase "I'm so in my head", that I have heard in multiple songs, have a special meaning?


texts: What wouldst thou beg, Laertes, That shall not be my offer, not thy asking

texts:
Here's from Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2

And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?
You told us of some suit; what is't, Laertes?
You cannot speak of reason to the Dane,
And lose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes,
That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?
The head is not more native to the heart,
The hand more instrumental to the mouth,
Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.
What wouldst thou have, Laertes?

I wonder what "what wouldst thou beg, Laertes, That shall not be my offer, not thy asking" means.


texts: "Put on a brave face" is to express that someone try to hide it's feeling and pretend to be alright. What if someone tries but fails,  can I say, "He lost his brave face after that"? Or what would be a better word or phrase to express this situation?


texts: Rhetorical device - listing rejected answers

texts:
Is there a name for the rhetorical device whereby you ask a question and then list the rejected answers? For example:

  "What was it then? It wasn't x, nor y, nor z. No, in fact it was . . .."

The Cicero De Imperio passage is as follows:

How was it, do you suppose, that he was able to display that excessive rapidity, and to perform that incredible voyage? For it was no unexampled number of rowers, no hitherto unknown skill in navigation, no new winds, which bore him so swiftly to the most distant lands; but those circumstances which are wont to delay other men did not delay him. No avarice turned him aside from his intended route in pursuit of some plunder or other; no lust led him away in pursuit of pleasure; no luxury allured him to seek its delights; the illustrious reputation of no city tempted him to make its acquaintance;


texts: What's the best adjective to define a person's attitude to project thoughts into the future?

texts:
Regardless if optimistic, negative, or realistic, it should depict an innate quality or ability, rather than a professional skill. I'm not trying to adjectivalize the scientific thinking of a sociologist analyzing and studying possible futures.
I'll take an excerpt from Gallup Strengthsfinder blog to focus the question, which better describes the persona that I have in mind:

  [...] You are the kind of person who loves to peer over the horizon. The future fascinates you. As if it were projected on the wall, you see in detail what the future might hold, and this detailed picture keeps pulling you forward, into tomorrow. While the exact content of the picture will depend on your other strengths and interests -- a better product, a better team, a better life, or a better world -- it will always be inspirational to you. [...]

Even if "futuristic" (rather than "dreamer") would be acceptable, I think it's better to use it to describe the look-and-feel and the qualities of a product, especially technological ones.

Is there a word which best suits?


texts: Does the word nightclub have any negative/shady connotation with strip clubs and gentlemen's bars?

texts:
Nightclub, from MW:

  A place of entertainment open at night usually serving food and liquor and providing music and space for dancing and often having a floor show.

I am curious if there is any part of the English speaking world where a casual sentence, like: I am heading to a nightclub now. is/should be understood, as I am heading to a shady place to spend a ton of money on ridiculously overpriced alcohol, strip girls, and/or hookers.

Is the difference between nightclub and strip club/gentlemen's club chrsytal clear at all times?


texts: I am having difficulty understanding which is correct as each seems to be singular and them seems to be plural.


texts: Identifying the main clause and subordinate clauses

texts:
I’m preparing for my exam and in one of the practice questions i have to identify the main clause, subordinate clause/s and the subject,predicate and/or adverbials. the sentence is:

"The Mausoleum has an interesting place in Greek history because it was a building that was not dedicated to the gods".

i thought the main clause could be "The Mausoleum has an interesting place in Greek history"

with "because" being the subordinating conjunction.

but I'm really struggling to identify the subordinate clause/s. is there 1 or 2? what type of clause is it and what would the subject and predicate be?

thanks in advanced


texts: 'These umbrellas are boomerangs' means 'they have to be returned'?

texts:
This afternoon, my manager bought some umbrellas for our office, saying: 'These umbrellas are boomerangs'.
I was puzzled as I only knew this word as a weapon originated in Australia, or in the noun phrase 'boomerang effect', or likewise in the verb phrase 'to boomerang against'.
So, my manager explained that he meant that we should always return those umbrellas to the office after using them.
Have you, as a native speaker, ever heard of this usage?


texts: How to use "for some reason" in a sentence?

texts:
Some examples (right or wrong, I do not know)

He went to the store--for some reason.
He went to the store, for some reason.
For some reason, she went to the store.

A grammatical explanation as to what exactly "for what reason" is would be great too.


texts: What do you call someone who commits a traffic violation?

texts:
People who commit crimes are criminals, people who commit felonies (heinous crime)  are felons, is there a specific word for people who commit traffic violations (minor crime) i.e. crosses a double yellow line, runs red light, etc. Is there a word for people who commit these types of infractions?

So for clarification, the violations I'm talking about are ones you would be ticketed from by a police officer, but would not receive jail time for. These violations are in the context of California law. Also, I am looking for a word that would describe someone who habitually commits these violations.

Sentence: X run the risk of getting ticketed, or even losing their licence, because they constantly ignore traffic laws.


texts: Meaning of "He's got more bottle than a milkman"

texts:
I was watching a game of snooker the other day and heard one of the commentators say "This player has got more bottle than a milkman" after a particularly good shot. What does this mean and how could it be used in other contexts?

PS. google yields no useful results for this expression.


texts: Use of hyphen between a number and percent

texts:
Should I use a hyphen between a number and percent? Two examples:

Which is right: fifty percent increase or fifty-percent increase?

The population of the city was second highest with 13.5-percent share to the total population of the province.

Is it okay to put a hyphen between 13.5 and percent?


texts: Replace "in possession" with in / at / on hand?

texts:
Another related question but I have not found a clear answer over there. Which one is closer in meaning to "in possession" of an object? This doesn't have to mean physically in hand or physically close, but the requirement is just you own it aka the fact that you have or own an object aka in possession. For example: The condition will not be met unless you still have the item "in possession" (which one "in / at / on / to hand" can replace this?)

Tis not a very clear example, but it is similar to the sentence I'm currently facing. Note that I would like to know both the BE and AmE version of the answer if there are differences.


texts: Is there a standard for simplified pronunciation hints?

texts:
Often in introductory textbooks, new terms are introduced with a simplified pronunciation hint.  For example,

  pharmaceutical (FAR-muh-sue-ti-kal)

It's certainly not IPA or even the types of pronunciation cues, with schwas and accented vowels, you'd see in an older American English dictionary.  The syllable with the (most) emphasis is written in caps, and all the syllables are written out phonetically.

Is there a name for this type of pronunciation hint?  Is there a standard for it?  By standard, I mean a (perhaps de facto) guide that would explain how to convert from a more formal scheme, like IPA, to this phonetic scheme.


texts: Accurate British English term for an oblong deck from shore out into a lake where you tie your rowing boat

texts:
This is a typical image of the structure in question:

There are also some variations, shown in this Google image search.

But I'm after the often not very wide, some 20-30 feet long wood construction a family builds (or hires someone to build...) for their summerhouse. For the kids to get out a bit so they can dive in the water or do some fishing, and to tie their small rowing-boat or motorboat to (not yacht). It's rarely the big, square deck with chairs to sit and look over the lake; usually no more than 5-6 feet wide; just for walking out to the boat or the front of it to jump in the water.

What I've come up with so far is landing-stage, but a Google Images search for this brings up big entertainment piers and some other things, so I'm unsure.

Purpose/context:
This is for a translation into British English of a text concerning construction of decks, front steps, "landing-stages", gates and other objects using the same product: pressure-impregnated lumber.

I'm after the synonym that you think conjures up the image at the very top in the mind of British readers. It can be an accurate term or collective term; as long as it's distinct from "deck".

If not a construction term, at least a term for the construction, as opposed to "object for doing x".

I need to describe the construction/object itself, not a place or a generic word pertaining to function (without it ALSO meaning the concrete object itself). Using a term for the construction in which poles are driven into the lake bed is fine, although some float they have poles with rings to hold the construction in place horizontally.

Which one of pier, jetty, or landing(-stage) is most apt?
Which of these can one person order deck planks, joists, and screws for, and build using normal tools and apply oil on with a paintbrush? This is what I'm after.


texts:
I know we would not say a 3 months period, but why exactly? Is it because period is noncount? But why is it correct to say a period of 3 months

How do you know when to pluralize nouns and when not to? Is there a website that breaks down examples like period for me?

Thank you!


texts: A person who criticizes his own homeland/city/country?

texts:
He was born and brought up in this village, but after staying and studying abroad his childhood friends seem backwards to him; he _ this place now.

Or

He had lived in this city all his life but whenever he gets a chance he starts counting the flaws. He thanklessly _ his homeland.

It might even apply to a situation like say you party every weekend but if somebody else does the same you criticize them.

Note:
Read title: act of crticizing one's own homeland/city/country

I can use words like criticize, betray or badmouth in my sentences, but I am looking for more like an idiom or phrase or even a proverb, that may or may not fit into my sentences but explains the intent.

The intent here is being a hypocrite to an extent, yes but there's an addition of viewing one's own homeland or people as backwards(where I don't think that person has changed, they are just trying to show off).

In hindi there's a saying "jis thali me khaya usme ched kiya" which means destroying the plate in which you are served. I'm kinda looking for an english analog for this proverb. I thought "don't shit where you eat" would be the close but it was hilarious to find out it's meaning and of course that it's nowhere close.


texts:
Explain how the changes in intonation affect the meaning of the following sentences:

"My brother bought her a red dress."
"My brother bought her a red dress."
"My brother bought her a red dress."
"My brother bought her a red dress."
"My brother bought her a red dress."


texts: Synonyms of noun "uncontrollableness" (or related adjective)

texts:
Is there a better word for "uncontrollableness"?
After significant googling I have come up short of -- to me -- an appropriate answer.

Is there such a word? I'm looking in the context of "...To suggest the weather's "uncontrollableness"" -- or some other arrangement, but can't find a suitable direct synonym.


texts: "That following summer" vs "The following summer"

texts:
She moved to our school in the middle of her first year in high school. That following summer, she asked the coach if she could join the team as a sophomore.

1) What's the meaning difference between 'that following summer' and 'the following summer'? Especially, what meaning does "that" add?

2) What part of speech is 'that' in the "that following summer"? a determiner as in [[that][following]summer] or an adverb as in [[that following] summer]?


texts: What's the correct way to address someone in a letter when you know their name but not their gender?

texts:
I'm writing a formal appeal letter as a reply to a letter I got from a government agency. Unfortunately, the person sending it only put their name with an intial, e.g. "J. Smith" and no title. They're in a foreign French speaking country, and I don't want to be too informal.

What would be the correct way to address them in my reply? "Dear Sir or Madam", "Dear J. Smith"... any suggestions?


texts:
Which of these sentences is more correct?

ABC should not be referenced from file X.
ABC should not be referenced in file X.
ABC should not be referenced by file X.


texts: Is there a single word to lay emphasis on something?

texts:
Is there such a word that does this?

  He's a scientist, a natural scientist _______.
  That is a crime, a federal one _______.

A single word which emphasizes a preceding statement by/and giving additional information, used more often after the phrase being emphasized, and not exactly "not to mention".


texts: What is the sound of nails scratching a chalkboard called?

texts:
Does the high-pitched sound of nails scratching a chalkboard have a name?

I thought of "squeaking" or "screeching" but I don't think either of them correctly describes it.


texts: Meaning of the phrase "Death by a thousand paper cuts"

texts:
Context: Talking about a product or a project. During a meeting someone used the expression "Death by a thousand paper cuts".

I understand the concept of the original version Death by a thousand cuts that in this case would translate to something that suffered so many micro or mini criticism that it eventually got canceled or finished.

My first take on the paper cut version is that it has the same meaning with a more "light/comic" version to remove the dark+torture effect from the expression.

Does it make sense? Or does it mean something entirely different?


texts: Can "wonder if" be followed by a subjunctive clause only?

texts:
In the book A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin, I've noticed the use of the subjunctive mood after wonder if:

  In truth, he had scarcely considered the mudmen at all, beyond eyeing
  Meera once or twice and wondering if she were still a maiden.

And again, later in the book:

  He listened to the blasphemies and wondered if he were dying.

My (non-native) grammatical intuition makes me think this sounds really wrong. I would say "he wondered whether he was dying" and therefore also "he wondered if he was dying".

I would be tempted not to use the subjunctive with an if that can be replaced by whether, and to only use the subjunctive with an if that actually has a conditional value, for instance: "he wondered, if he were dying, why he was feeling so alive".

Also, I believe that using Martin's structure in the present tense may sound even more wrong: "he wonders if he be dying" (present subjunctive)...

So, am I right, or is it correct to use only a subjunctive clause after wonder if?


texts:
What is the adjectival form of "turmoil"?
Might it be "turbulent"? I have a feeling that that isn't it, though.


texts: How do I express the action of working as a teaching assistant (i.e. TAing) professionally?

texts:
In many emails and in-person conversations I have used the word 'TAing' as verb to quickly communicate that I am working as a teaching assistant. For example:

  I'm TAing Finite Elements this term.

Is there a more professional way of saying this concisely? Or do I just have to find alternate ways to express the same ideas?

Specifically, I'm trying to rework a bullet point from the Skills Summary section on my resume which currently reads:

  Strong leadership skills demonstrated through TAing several university courses


texts: Female names associated with healing/caring and peacefulness

texts:
I am looking for some extremely non threatening sounding female English names, that is, names which have connotations, for native speakers, which would be the opposite of killing and maiming -- names that would make you think "This woman is worthless in battle".

I am looking for names which are based on words or word origins associated with peacefulness or healing/caring. Many female names are also words found in the English language, for example Rose and May, but these do not have the meaning I am looking for.

This will be ironic (names for the two most deadly starfighter pilots of one faction).


texts: What should I call each book in a series of similarly-themed books?

texts: I am putting together a 'playbook' which contains resources related to a key growth driver for the operations team of my company. It is a series of playbooks designed to provide resources / guidelines / standards. So the first release had foundational stuff, the second has the latest priorities, the next one will have info on capital investments and so on. In the accompanying email, I was planning to say "We present to you the latest issue of our very own xxx Playbook - #2 in a series of planned Playbooks designed to support you in your market’s priorities with xxx" My question is: Is the word "issue" suitable in this context? The content is different from the first issue however it revolves around the same main item (the business growth driver). FYI, this playbook is released quarterly. Thanks very much in advance!


texts: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors - what category?

texts: Is there a single-word category for the status Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors? I've heard it called as "batch status" but can't seem to find the right single-word category for it.


texts: What is a word meaning 'beggar' or 'panhandler' but without implying poverty?

texts:
I’m looking for a word in English for men and women that beg money from people in the street.  But they are not really poor, they are just pretending, and it’s their job actually.

As far as I know if they are really poor we called them “beggars” or “panhandler“, but what if they are not?


texts: What is the symbolic meaning of "die without a sound"?

texts:
There may also be a poetic meaning, but is it purely context dependent; or is there a common connotation associated with this phrase?

My Internet searches have come up blank. Would it be reasonable to give it the opposite meaning of "died with an awful sound"? From "Smoke on the Water"


texts: What does "it's really stuck" mean here?

texts:
I came across the following sentence in Washington Post:

  Obama hasn't smoked a cigarette in about nine months, Gibbs revealed. "It was a commitment that I think he made to himself at the end of the health care and with his two daughters in mind," Gibbs said. "It's really stuck."

What does Gibbs' phrase, "it's really stuck" mean in this particular case? Please teach me.


texts: Is the phrase "a stark contrast" redundant?

texts:
Merriam-Webster defines stark as "sharply delineated."

The same dictionary defines a contrast as a "juxtaposition of dissimilar elements."

Doesn't it follow then that "a stark contrast" essentially means "a juxtaposition of very different different elements?"

If so, would "a great contrast" make an acceptable substitute?


texts: Should I remove the comma in the sentence?

texts:
I have a sentence in my writing:

I believe that my interest, abilities, combined with
my IT experiences make me an ideal candidate for this programme.

The Grammarly application suggests to add a comma after experiences, I don't understand why, as there is no explanation in detail.

Can you help me to point out what the incorrect in my sentence?

Thanks for your help.


texts: Is it "damping" or "dampening" when referring to sound?

texts: When one refers to the act of modifying a physical object so as to make it better at absorbing sound vibrations, is that "damping" or "dampening" the object? I've seen both, and looking them up in the dictionary they appear to be more or less interchangeable.


texts: "Two people got hurt and five people died in the tragedy"

texts:
Can you say so? In other words, are deaths counted among people that got hurt?

Does it make a difference if you say:

  Two people were injured and five people died in the tragedy.

Let's imagine someone stabbed a knife into someone else. Then the victim is injured and then let's assume he dies afterwards. Does the victim need to be counted both as injured and killed? Then let's assume someone died immediately because of a heart attack or something. Does that count as injured?


texts: Word meaning "close in time, or presently happening"

texts:
Is there a word that can be used to describe something that is either close in time, or currently happening?

Something like "proximate" or "imminent", but without the implication that the thing has not happened/started happening yet.


texts: Are there metaphoric expressions to express the frustration you feel when you are not allowed to speak up before people?

texts:
In Japan we have a saying, “もの言わぬは腹膨るる業 - You feel like your stomach swelling, when you are not allowed to speak up (in public).”
The origin of this phrase can be traced back to “Tsurezuregusa – Essays in Idleness” written in 1330 – 31 by Buddhist hermit, Kenko Yoshida who was forced out of public activity in his early life, and still being in popular currency.

The phrase can be applied to the frustration people, particularly journalists, novelists, and poets in despotic countries feel as well .

Are there similar metaphoric phrases to express frustration you feel when you are silenced by someone else, say your teacher, boss in your office, political authorities, (or even close votes of the forum, ha, ha)? Or there’s no such expression in the countries where everyone can enjoy freedom of speech?


texts: "sit back down again" — Tautology or no?

texts:
I'm curious about whether the phrase "sit back down again" (along with anything similar, like "stand back up again") would be considered a tautology or if another term would be a better fit here. To clarify: I feel plenty confident in saying that it isn't a perfectly grammatical construction (both "sit back down" and "sit down again" are far better options), so my question is specifically regarding what label might fit best in this situation. Again, my educated guess is that it would be a tautology, but I figured I should hear other opinions to be sure!

Any and all help is much appreciated~~ ^^

EDIT: It looks like people are still coming across this post (judging from the two or three new replies), so I wanted to add an update. I eventually managed to work out on my own that what I was describing - the use of "to sit back down again" for "to reassume a seated position" - would most likely be a pleonasm. Regardless, thanks to everyone who gave their input~


texts: What is a noun for "one who is responsible"?

texts:
The word "responsible" works as an adjective only. What is a noun for a person who bears some responsibility (i.e. is accountable for something)?

Note: Originally my question was longer, but the added context seemed to mislead people into providing the wrong answers. I have edited the question and removed the superfluous information.


texts: Phrase for (confirm it before you send email or letter)

texts:
I have a person who regularly makes mistakes in spelling or the data he writes are wrong, so I  want to tell someone that

(Please check and confirm the data or spellings before you send email or letter).

Is there any phrase for it?


texts:
I saw that "foo" has been used to name a lot of computer-related things.

I wonder

if foo has some meaning itself beyond computer science?
what it means in computer science?
how it should be used?


texts:
I'm a native English speaker (American).  I was trying to explain a sentence to a non-native speaking friend, but didn't do a very good job of it.  The sentence is:

  Sam got to the station just in time to catch the train to the airport.  If he had missed his train, he would have missed his flight.

I explained that the words "had missed" could be changed to just "missed", but now I'm not sure.  I've researched mixed conditionals in sentences and have found answers that support my use of the language and some that do not.  Perhaps being American has made me use the language a bit "less formal" or just plain wrong.  If there is anyone that can help me, I'd be most appreciative.

Thanks a bunch.


texts: Backstabs you constantly in a subtle way

texts:
What do call call when someone Backstabs you constantly subtlely with you only realizing it after a fixed time because of the subtle nature and you always giving them the benefit of the doubt. The negative action causes you mental anguish.

Example:
In a friendship situation what do you call it when someone is  fake nice to you so you think they act in your benefit but in subtle ways they intentionally cause you mental harm e.g. they give excuses to you constantly and they do so intentionally and you realize they do so because they want to do harm to you

Words that don't quite fit.

Backstab - The word is a bit too harsh as it doesn't convey the subtleness of the behavior and it isn't a single event but constant behavior over a long time

Condescending -  I want to convey more the fact that they are not
overtly/obviously doing the negative action but it is done subtlety which cause harm since you only realize it after a long period because initially it isn't

Sly - This is probably the closest I can think of but I am looking for a phrase or words that convey the slyness and the negativity in a phrase like the phrase backstab does

I am looking for a word, phrase or expression to convey this in speech and writing


texts: What is the word or saying for when you pay money for something, but don't end up using it?

texts:
For example, I buy a bouncy house as a service, but I don't end up using it. I still have to pay for it, because the contract had me pay upfront.

Here's another. I sign up my kid for computer lessons and pay up front. But he doesn't gain anything out of it.

I think it's "lost my damage deposit", but after a quick Google search, that's something you pay to ensure an item isn't damaged.

So what's the word or saying for my case?


texts: What is the correct verb to imply the move of a moveable bridge?

texts:
Moveable bridges are the ones that can move, to allow the boats, etc. pass, like this one:

For such purposes, the traffic on the road needs to be stopped, so that the bridge moves and allows the water traffic to pass.

Once when I was cycling, trying to cross the bridge, I noticed they had blocked the entrance to the bridge by putting signs and bands. I asked one of the technicians over there if the bridge is going to be opened, (meaning to see if they will fold(!?)/move the bridge away), to which he replied: "It will, but after midnight. You better take the other road".

This conversation was quite confusing, since each of us meant something totally different by the two words "open" and "close"; and "move" is somehow more general because it can refer to the both status changes, rather than specifying the current/next state; especially if you're having a conversation about this later to someone who wasn't there to see the situation.

Is there a clear alternative to use for this situation (when the bridge moves away), other than open, close, or move?

Update: I've already seen the Wikipedia article on moveable bridges, including the various bridge types and the names, and the verb move that's been used generally all over the article, but I would like a clear, preferably single-word verb to explain this independent of being on the roadway or the waterway, and avoiding using a phrase or a whole sentence to explain this.


texts: Why is "did" italicized for emphasis in "Where did you come from?"

texts:
Where did you come from?

What is the nuance of this emphasis?
I could understand it if the emphasis were on where.


texts: "Public Inquiry" or "Public inquiry" – correct capitalisation

texts: What is the correct capitalisation for a "public inquiry" ?


texts: "Logged-in", "log-ined", "login-ed", "logined", "log-in-ed", "logged in"?

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  “log in to” or “log into” or “login to”

This following  question, where and how to append "-ed", is not addressed in thу "possible duplicate" in any way.

Which of the following expressions (are they expression, phrase or word?) are correct in technical English?

logged-in
log-ined
login-ed
log-in-ed
logined
logged in
log ined
Other? Which?

in relation to a user reading this question?

Which of the following is correct to use as verb?

to login
to log in
to log-in


texts: Sentence structure: As ... as ... is, ... could be even worse / better / more

texts:
Tell me the meaning & structure of the sentence.
Normally as ... adj/adv ... as is used for comparison between two items, as cool as a cucumber.

As dangerous a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than it is under the current leadership.


texts: Must a participial phrase always modify the subject of a sentence, or can it modify the object?


texts:
I want to express concisely an impish attitude some clever scientists have. I want these properties:

Explicitly playful (or maybe mischievous)
Intellectual, but in action: Not always verbal, as in witty
Ethically neutral: No connotations of underhandedness, as in crafty

In particular, I read a biography about a scientist who would crack his coworkers' safes. He did not use his knowledge malevolently, but he also shouldn't have been doing it. When a coworker suspected an intruder stole files, the scientist let him panic for a while before confessing.

Is there a single word for "intellectually impish"?


texts:
What do we call the food that we made/prepared by following a recipe?

It doesn't have to be a single word actually. I just want a shorter term for that.


texts: What's the meaning of the phrase "be just beyond"?

texts:
This is a poem by Emily Dickinson:

  To wait an Hour—is long—
  If Love be just beyond—
  To wait Eternity—is short—
  If Love reward the end—

What's the meaning of the phrase be just beyond here?


texts: "hands-on mentality" - what does it mean?

texts: Some employers demand "hands-on mentality", it is often used in job descriptions. Can someone explain what exactly this phrase means?


texts: Is "you don't understanding why" just a mistake or yet another not widely known idiom?

texts:
From here

  Good advice comes with a rationale so you can tell when it becomes bad advice. If you don't understanding why something should be done, then you've fallen into the trap of cargo cult programming, and you'll keep doing it even when it's no longer necessary or even becomes deleterious.

The person who wrote this is a very smart fellow which usually writes well, so this makes me wonder if it's an idiom I don't know instead of a simple (and ugly) mistake.


texts: What is a "Select Committee" in the context of an 1833 English report?

texts:
I'm French, and I'm currently working on a historical report on English society in the early 19th century for a school exam. I'm working from an English book, and I have a translation problem.

I don't know how to translate "Select Committee" into French, as I'm not quite experienced with juridical terms. Should I translate with Commission d'Enquête Parlementaire ("Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry") or by Commité sélectif/restreint (a word-for-word translation)? Below is the complete sentence of the book, for the context:

  In 1833 he gave evidence to the Select Committee on the employment of children in factories.

EDIT: I finally found the information! For people interrested: the french translation is - apparently - "Commission Restreinte". It seems to be organised by the House of Lords - a part of the Parliament. Thanks to all of you!


texts: is the phrase 'accelerate success' proper english?

texts: Is the phrase 'accelerate success' proper english?  Any suggested phrases to replace if this is not?


texts: Are “Pull away the punch bowl from somebody’s hand” and “Leave punch bawl out there” an established English idiom?

texts:
I found the phrase, “pull away the punch bowl out of X” and “leave the punch bawl in X” in the following sentence of Time’ magazine’s article (May 17) titled “Is the Fed to blame for JPMorgan’s $2 bill blow-up”:

“It is said that the job of a central bank is to *pull away the punch bowl before it gets out of hand. While the Fed pays close attention to inflation, it has left the punch bowl out in the chase for risk assets and is contemplating spiking it even further.”

When I consulted the usage of “punch-bowl” with Oxford Advanced Learners’ English Dictionary, it simply states its definition as ‘a bowl in which punch is served.’ There was no mention about its idioms. The definition was almost same with other English dictionaries at hand.

I assume “punch bowl” here signifies the merit, benefit, advantage, offer, and anything people are attracted to. Am I right?

Are “Pull away the punch bowl from somebody’s hand” and “Leave punch bawl out there” idioms? If not, are phrases using “Punch bowl” as a metaphor in such way frequently observed in writings and daily conversation?


texts:
Being an Australian I am accustomed to -t past tenses like learnt and spelt, so naturally I would write and say "earnt". However, when I wrote "earnt" in an email, Outlook underlined it as a misspelt word.

I did some further research and discovered that in all English dialects "earned" is used instead of "earnt". Why is this the case, and for how long has it been?

As mentioned in a similar question on this site, Wiktionary is the only online dictionary with an entry for "earnt".

NOTE: I checked for this same question on this site, but it only had what I already knew (the validity of the word). I would like to know why "earnt" is not a word.


texts: What does (the expression) "to stir the paint" mean?

texts:
In today's Family Guy episode, called Seahorse Seashell Party, when Meg was complaining to her mother Lois, her father Peter came to her and whispered something in her ear. Then Meg said:

  Meg: (complaining) And you never let dad stir the paint anymore, whatever that means.
  Peter: I didn't know you knew that, Meg, but I'm glad you brought it up.

Any idea what does the phrase mean? I guess it's sex-related, but I'm not 100% sure.

EDIT/UPDATE

So far the answers say that the phrase means to have sex while the woman is menstruating. This sounds plausible and fits, but the answers are backed up by the entry in the Urban Dictionary, which was created right after the Family Guy episode aired. Therefore, I assume people simply guessed what the phrase means and submitted it to the Urban Dictionary and thus I don't consider it to be a reliable source in this case.


texts: Why do we use the base form of verbs instead of the past form in past tense questions?

texts:
In regard to this answer, my question is similar but that answer is not clear. I want to know why we use base form of verb, e.g. 'go' to form the past tense instead of past form such as 'went'?

  Question: Did you go to a bank?  (Why we use 'go' here, rather than 'went'?)   Answer: I went to a bank.

Am I confusing verb forms with tenses? Please note that I'm not a native speaker so some clarification or reference on this would be helpful.


texts: Some people say. "I does what I want to" is this in any way relative to "I always do what I want to" or it's totally wrong to have it so


texts: In poetry, what can I use to refer to someone without gender?

texts:
I am translating a poem from Korean. The poet is deliberately avoiding a gender reference (or, deeming it unnecessary) by using a neutral impersonal pronoun. In Korean there are generally few inbuilt gender markers; you have to put them in deliberately. The poet here does not specify. The context seems to refer to a woman, because as far as I know he speaks of his wife, but judging from the language I thought he meant for this poem to appeal to anyone in any relationship - be that friendship, romantic, hetero or homo-sexual etc. There is also a contrast between the impersonal pronoun in the beginning and a switch to a personal pronoun in the end when he refers to his companion. I want to preserve that too.

So how can I refer to this person?
"They" is just aesthetically displeasing to me for some reason, and may even confuse someone into thinking the poet is actually referring to a plural number of people rather than one. I tried it, and I can see how it could make it confusing.
"He or she" is even worse, it sounds a document, and is very clumsy to fit into poetic structure.
I don't want to use 'you' because the poet is using an impersonal pronoun, and I'm sure he has a reason.
Is there any other way?

Here is a draft of my translation using 'they' as an interim. It is a beautiful poem.
The title is 'Flower'.

Before I called their name

They were but a gesture, no more.

Yet when I called their name

They came to me

And became my flower.

Now I call out

To anyone out there

Of colour, and scent akin to mine:

Please, call my name.

I want to be called,

By such a kindred spirit

And to come to them.

To become their flower.

We all of us want

To become something.

You to me, and I to you

Want to become

Just one meaning

To never be forgotten.


texts:
What does the term "hot dog lawyer" mean? I've heard this term quite a few times, and I am not sure what does the term "hot dog" as an adjective describe?

For example:

  “And they usually don't have a hot-dog lawyer waiting for them when  they arrive at the station.”

From the book: 'Death by Sudoku' by Kaye Morgan

  Sally Yates is a hotdog lawyer who never should have been the acting attorney general.

Joe diGenova, on Fox News (with transcript of video).

  He was a hot-dog lawyer from Dallas with one of those seven-figure houses on Truman Annex.

From the novel 'Air Dance Iguana' by Tom Corcoran


texts: Phrase which means to "code in" a programming language

texts:
What do you do with a programming language?

  I know C++, but it's been years since I last worked with it.

  I know C++, but it's been years since I last worked on it.

Of course, we could always use the seemingly more obvious (and safer) alternative:

  It's been years since I last coded in C++.

but that's not what I want.

Is there any word/phrase which means to "code in" a programming language?


texts: What’s the rule for adding “-er” vs. “-or” when forming an agent noun from a verb?

texts:
What’s the rule to decide whether you add -er or whether you add -or when creating an agent noun from a verb?

Sometimes it’s -er:

read > reader
hate > hater
hit > hitter

But other times it’s -or:

meditate > meditator
collect > collector


texts: Xylophone-like, piano-like, and violin-like

texts:
Is there a word or expression for a musical instrument which,

like a xylophone or a set of bells, has set pitches (fixed frequencies) that no one can change or adjust (except by some extraordinary measure like sandpapering the bars),
like a piano, has pitches that can be changed by a tuning professional but are set for the performer, and
like a violin, can give the performer any pitch he wanted in some range.

If you had these words you could ask a question like, 'Is a trumpet a piano-like or violin-like instrument,' or make a statement like, 'a guitar is somewhere between piano-like and violin-like.'

The word need not be an adjective.

I am not asking what would be a good word we can start using for these things.  I am asking, if music theory, physics or any other discourse already has such words or expressions, what are they?

Please excuse my ignorance if, for instance, a xylophone can be easily tuned or a guitar is not meant to be violin-like at all.


texts: Word to describe "fleeting, wandering and prone to drifting off" of thought

texts:
I was wondering if someone could help me find a word based off of my description.

I would like a word that means something along the lines of "fleeting, wandering and prone to drifting off" or something like this.

I'm trying to describe thought in a "Men fear thought" analysis.

Trying to breakdown the line "Men fear though more than ruin" I was trying to assert that thought is _ as it is "fleeting, wandering and prone to drifting off".

If anyone has some insight into a particularly helpful word, or one that seems to fit well, please let me know!

UPDATE:

I would also like for the word to possibly carry a little bit of a negative connotation, so it can be tied into the analysis of "more than ruin".

Also, I think the word should have its emphasis on "prone to drifting off" and also "leading to other kinds of malicious thoughts/things" if you know what I mean.


texts:
The president's wife is often referred to as "the first lady". What would be the wife of the vice president be called (if one had to follow the systematics here)?

the first vice lady
the second lady
the vice first lady

Or maybe something totally different?


texts:
Wikipedia:

  The letter R is sometimes referred to as the littera canina (canine letter). This phrase has Latin origins: the Latin R was trilled to sound like a growling dog. A good example of a trilling R is the Spanish word for dog, perro.

  In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, such a reference is made by Juliet’s nurse in Act 2, scene 4, when she calls the letter R “the dog’s name.” The reference is also found in Ben Jonson’s English Grammar.

Do you know other letters in the English alphabet that have a nickname besides ICAO phonetic/spelling alphabet?


texts: "Non-restrictive appositive" vs. "non-defining relative clause"

texts:
Could you please kindly provide some explanation as to why the second option (B) is the only correct answer to the following question? And why is it not the case that both A and B could be correct depending on whether a non-restrictive appositive (B) or a non-defining relative clause (A) is used?

Recently, severe management problems have afflicted Coca-Cola, ____.

A. which is a large multinational corporation

B. a large multinational corporation

C. there is a large multinational corporation

D. a large multinational corporation is it

Your insights, recommendations, and corrections are much appreciated.


texts: Parsing: a sentence from Russell's The History of Western Philosophy

texts:
The Persian satrap at Sardes represented that he intended to rebel
  against the Great King, and would pay vast sums for the help of
  Polycrates, who went to the mainland for an interview, was captured
  and crucified.

My parsing:

The Persian satrap is Subject.

Subject represented that (Clause A).

Clause A:

S intended to do sth, and (S) would do sth for the help of Polycrates, (Relative clause B), was captured and crucified.

My question: is "was captured and crucified" part of Relative clause B?


texts: Is there any well-known British accent which aʊ is pronounced like əʊ in?

texts: I think I've heard the word "about" pronounced with əʊ (as in "Poland"). Is it just me or there's indeed such an accent in Great Britain or, more specifically, in England?


texts:
There were few things more second eleven than counterattacking with excessive force. Hence, the shots were only to buy time.   (Justina Robson, Selling Out, 2008.)

In context, it's clear that counterattacking with excessive force is something that one should not do. “Second eleven” is an adjectival phrase that qualifies something as inferior in some way.

In what way, precisely, is “second eleven” inferior? A web search suggests that this is about second-rate sports teams, though I don't fully understand the nuances of what it means for a cricket team to be “second XI”. But does “second eleven” necessarily mean weaker? In the context of the novel, either “gauche” or “having the potential to trigger a war” seems more plausible.

In addition to understanding the exact nuance of the meaning, I'm curious where and when this expression would be used outside of a sport context.


texts:
But few realize that we are all adversely affected by a pollutant so common that it tends to be overlooked.

What is the grammatical name and function of the bolded part?


texts: What is a gift called that is given to you to possess and keep but can be taken back at any time?

texts: I have this gift that was given to me as a present for my birthday, but was informed that is not mine permanently but to keep until my friend wants it back. What is that kind of gift called?


texts: What goes first: Sometimes, I bring X (1)'with me' (2)'to Y'?

texts:
Is one of the following constructions incorrect?
If not, do they differ semantically in any way, even if only mildly so?

Sometimes, I bring my lunch to work with me.
Sometimes, I bring my lunch with me to work

Usually, I prefer fewer words between 'to' and its complement. However, I don't actually know whether, or how, the arrangement of the words affects the meaning of the sentence or whether some people regard some common arrangements as incorrect.

Edit: Although, thinking about it now, 'I bring' entails 'with me'; perhaps I should just write Sometimes, I bring my lunch to work.

Thank you.