texts: Contemporary equivalent of the word "moxie" as defined herein

texts:
I'm fiddling around with a piece of prose that my other half once wrote, trying to get it translated to English.

The text is basically an inner monologue. After a burst of (verbal) aggressiveness, the "inner" speaker gradually gets hold of himself/herself, and despite the fairly reasonable content of what has been said, he/she is left with a certain sense of remorse due to the severeness of his/her manners.

At that point he/she says something like:

  -A stupid grit is all that's left...

Now, that was just my very first attempt to render the sentence; but I know that grit [courage and resolve; strength of character (Oxford D.)] isn't quite the word I'm looking for. It's just familiar enough to be used without noticeable hesitation.

I asked a reliable elder for a piece of cyber-advice and he recommended foolish bravado.

I objected, saying that "bravado" gives me the impression of a slightly masculine word, whereas I'm looking for something unisex, so to speak. Eventually I got convinced my impression was wrong, but "bravado" still sounds a bit "cowboy" in my (European) ears, probably due to its phonetic resemblance to Rio Bravo and its overall Spanish/Mexican features.

For now, I've changed grit to chutzpah, meaning "extreme self-confidence or audacity" (again, according to Oxford D.).

But whereas grit was a bit too close to courage (which can hardly be a bad thing), chutzpah seems to be at the other end of the spectrum, connoting excessiveness (which is rarely a good thing).

I felt I'd like something more ambiguous. So I eventually stumbled upon this word:

  mox·ie  (mŏk′sē)
  n. Slang
  1. The ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage.
  2. Aggressive energy; initiative:
  3. Skill; know-how.

Macmillan is more concise about it: energy, confidence, and determination.
It does however tell you that apart from being slang, the word is also old-fashioned.

And I wouldn't want to use outdated language.

The triplet of possible interpretations does, however, serve my intentions perfectly, aggressive energy (2) being a potential downside of an overall courageous character...

Thus comes my question: what would be an accurate modern equivalent of the word moxie, able to connote all three aforementioned aspects of someone's personality?

And I'm not looking for anything offensive, like b@ll$ or whatever. Just a pertinent word one might hear "on the street", with a fair share of potential to fit in this sentence:

A stupid ***** is all that's left.
(kinda muttered in a state of confusion; a stalemate between pride and remorse).


texts: What is the serious version of "dabble"?

texts:
At Merriam Webster, the word dabble is defined as follows:

to work without any deep involvement, or to take part in an activity in a way that is not serious, as in

  I just dabble in art.

I'm writing a blog post about the general process of mastering skills in life. Two of the steps are: 1) observation of the skill to learn its finer details, and 2) repetition by copying seniors in the field in order to get said details burned into the nervous system.

I first thought of calling these two steps combined as "the dabble phase". In other words, you "dabble" around as you learn the ins and outs of your chosen skill.

According to the definition above, however, dabble does not encompass this meaning very well. What I need is a word or phrase that describes a slow but serious effort to learn.

More simply, I need a word which means to take part in an activity in way that is systematic and serious. In other words, I need a definition which is really the opposite of the definition for dabble.


texts: Until you have confirmed + past or present?

texts:
Which one of these sentences is correct?

  The contract will not be signed until you have checked the manuscript and confirmed that everything is
  ok.

  The contract will not be signed until you have checked the manuscript and confirm that everything is
  ok.


texts: Where does the phrase "makes sense" come from?

texts:
"Makes sense" seems to have two meanings: that someone understands something or that something is logically sound. How did this phrase enter the english language? What are its origins?

It looks like this phrase dates back to the early 1800's. I clicked through some of the books that came up in my Ngram utility search but I could not find anything indicating what the origin of the phrase is.

Interesting trend pointed out by RaceYouAnytime: the positive "makes sense" diverges with the negative "does not make sense" in the mid 1940s


texts: Can anyone tell me if the expression "we had a tete-a-tete" or just "tete-a-tete" is commonly known for all English native speakers? Thanks a lot!


texts:
There are some pet fish of the same species, which 'fish's is to be used when asking what their names are? Would it be:

What are the fish's names?
What are the fishes' names?
What are the fish names?


texts: "would rather" + subject + past subjunctive

texts:
What is the difference between:

The company would rather each employee be provided with ID card.
The company would rather each employee were provided with ID card.


texts: Is the expression "one's cup of tea" used in American English?

texts:
OK, the Free Dictionary defines this as

  one's cup of tea: Something that is in accord with one's liking or taste. For example, Quiz shows are just my cup of tea, or Baseball is not her cup of tea.

This expression is very strange to me and I am not sure whether an American would understand me if I said it in the USA. Do Americans say this expression?


texts: Hypernym for "pens", "pencils" & "erasers"?

texts:
I'm looking for a term (ideally a single word) that could be used to describe tools used to draw/write/erase. I'm trying to avoid single words like "tool" or "implement", which don't conjure up the correct image without context.

My first thought was "writing implement", but that presumes that the implement is used for modifying text rather than any drawn marking. Also, I'm not sure it quite works for an eraser.

Edit to provide some context. I'm looking for a term to use as a title for a tab in a piece of software. For example, you might select this tab and see a list of pens/pencils/erasers. The term "pencil case" (as suggested by JAM) unfortunately doesn't work in this context, as the tools wouldn't necessarily all be stored in the same pencil case.

Perhaps another way to think of it would be to imagine going into a stationery shop (a strange, hypothetical stationery shop) and looking at the shelves that contain only pens, pencils and erasers.

I might be being a little ambitious with this one! I don't mind if no such term exists, but I'm trying to avoid a tab titled something like "Pens/Pencils/Erasers".


texts: "We want someone who has the utmost attention to detail." is this usage correct?

texts:
We want someone who has the utmost attention to detail.

I've not come across this before. Usually one pays attention to detail and has the ability to attend to details, can one have attention to detail? Why does this sound ungrammatical?


texts:
I'm looking for the etymology of the word tomnoddy which, according to Wiktionary, either refers to a puffin or a fool or dunce.

From Tolkien's The Hobbit,

  Old Tomnoddy, all big body,
  Old Tomnoddy can't spy me!


texts:
I've seen someone type "All of a time" before and I've often used "All of the time".

Should it be:

All of the time
All of time
All of a time
<your answer here>

As in:

  I make mistakes all of the time.


texts: What is the difference between "in-between" and "between"?

texts:
Do in-between and between have different meanings?
What is the difference between in-between and between?


texts:
I need help with a word in some part of the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (Random House, 2018)

The Tarahumara immediately gave chase. The two canny old vets,
Sebastiano and Herbolisto, boxed Jenn in from the front while the
three other Tarahumara surrounded her on the sides. Jenn looked for a
gap, then burst loose and pulled away. Instantly, the Tarahumara
swarmed and bottled her back up.

I can't understand what is the meaning of "bottle her back up"?


texts: A single word for someone that makes a person up mentally definition

texts: Someone I know keeps making someone up and acts like "she" is real, like to know a word to define this.


texts: What is the word for thinking about what someone is thinking?

texts:
In chess you are constantly thinking about what your opponent might be thinking. Is there a specific word in English for this?

Meta-cognition comes close but not exactly what I am looking for. Guessing, predicting, and psychoanalysis are obviously not what I am looking for.

Edit: I am looking for a single word (not a phrase) that is closest to this.


texts: Are "worshiping" and "worshipping" interchangeable?

texts:
Every online source seems to agree with the preconceived notion I had that the correct usage is "worshipping" with two p's, saying that "worshipping" is an exception to a rule about doubling the leading consonant when the preceding vowel is stressed. However, the spell-checker in my browser seems to think that the correct spelling is "worshiping".

This leads me to believe this must be one of those interchangeable British/American things (e.g. "colour/color"). I can't find anything about this on Google, as it just returns a bunch of articles about religion, failing to understand use-mention distinction.


texts: What is the word for a mistake made in effort to prevent a separate one?

texts:
E.g. if someone said "He sent a message to he and I." because they were trying to prevent the common error of using objects as subjects but ended up making the inverse mistake when they used subjects as objects.

Sorry for this trivial question on a word I can't seem to remember, I haven't found what it's called through Google yet.


texts: Is there a good way to something may be required if something else is not provided?

texts:
Is there a better way to state the following:

Column C must be provided if neither column A or column B are provided.

I am trying to find a way that simply and quickly expresses when something is required versus when it is optional for users that may not be reading carefully and for users who may not have English as a first language.


texts:
I asked a question some days ago about if an atributive-only adjective  can be followed by a pronoun one, for example in this sentence

  When the Olympics began in 779 B.C. There were not a lot of events. There was only one.

...but the answers just got me more confused because I thought one, as Oxford and Longman dictionaries say, is a pronoun; but someone said it is a noun.

Could you please tell me if my sentence above is correct or not, because I think there is something wrong with that — especially with the attributive adjective only  and the noun or pronoun one but I really don't know what.


texts: "The title of Bachelor of Engineering" vs "the title Bachelor of Engineering"

texts:
... obtained the diploma and the title of Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.).
  ... obtained the diploma and the title Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng).

Which sentence is correct? Which is better?


texts: What is a word for being dead yet alive at the same time

texts: Let's say that Limbo is real. This is a place where you're in a state of being alive and dead at the same time. What would this state of life/death be called?


texts:
The boys will not receive any trophy.

Does this mean that the boys will not receive a trophy?
What does this sentence mean and is it grammatically correct?


texts:
I have read a passage recently, but there is something that makes me confused. Why there is a comma after "eliminate", before "many", and I reckon that this sentence may be correct without the comma. Hope you guys can help me with it. Thanks a lot!

Here is the passage.


texts: What is the origin of this triplet: Time, Talents, and Treasure?

texts:
I am 50 years old, and I just became aware of widespread usage of "Time, Talents, and Treasure" in religious circles, maybe especially Catholicism. My own religion, Mormonism, has a temple covenant about consecrating time, talents, and "everything with which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you" to the LDS church. And I was not aware until recently that it might be a conscious deviation from an old triplet.

Does anybody know from where the pithier version originates? My completely uniformed guess would be that it might have originated in some sort of Catholic catechism or papal pronouncement.


texts: Suppose I need to mention two nouns in a phrase so that they are joined with either "and" or "or". Do I use "the/a/an" with the both of the nouns or just with the first one?


texts: Writing "U-shaped" and "V-shaped" in novel

texts:
If you are describing a valley as U-shaped, what is the correct way to write that in a novel.

U-shaped
U shaped
u shaped
u-shaped
"U" shaped
"U"-shaped

other variations?


texts: What are different forms of a verb falling under the same criteria

texts:
I have seen many different verbs that have different forms based on the conditions in/by which they may occur. Example can be as following:

See
Watch
Gaze
Stare
Glimpse

Is there a name for these kind of verbs (falling under the same criteria, yet expressing different forms of its occurance)?


texts: What does this sentence exactly mean? “like the s**t you are”

texts:
I don’t know what exactly the like + the + noun + you are structure stands for. In a movie I watched (Fallen Angels, 1996), the main character cursed someone by saying:

  I will flush you down the pan like the shit you are.

I don’t know what she meant by that, and would like to learn what it is.


texts: Is the pronunciation of "oa" in "broad" unique?

texts:
The "oa" in the word "broad" is pronounced like the words "or" or "awe".  In phonetic symbols that is ɔː .  However in all other examples I can think of it is pronounced like the "oe" in "toe". Or in phonetic symbols, əʊ . For example, in goat, toast, oat and so on.

  Etymology:  Common Germanic: Old English brád , identical with Old
  Frisian brêd , Old Saxon brêd (Middle Dutch breet -d- , Dutch breed ),
  Old High German (Middle High German and modern German) breit , Old
  Norse breið-r , (Swedish, Danish bred ), Gothic braiþ-s < Old Germanic
  *braido-z : no related words are known even in Germanic, except its own derivatives

Although perhaps not directly relevant to the question, where it makes  a difference I am talking about British English pronunciation. So broad is pronounced  /brɔːd/ , both or and awe are pronounced  /ɔː/, toe is pronounced /təʊ/, goat is pronounced /ɡəʊt/  and so on and so forth.


texts: Quote about making simple things complicated and complex things simple

texts:
I'm sure I have heard a quote in the past from someone famous (maybe Einstein? maybe not) about how it is easy to make something complicated but extremely difficult to make something simple.

Is there a well-known quote about this?

Thanks


texts:
In...

At the sight of blackbirds
Flying in the green light,
Even the bawds of euphony
Would cry out sharply.
(Wallace Stevens)

.. is it that (1) the bawds of euphony are seeing  the blackbirds flying in green light and because of that, would cry out sharply, or (2) the bawds of euphony are seen by the blackbirds and because of that, would cry out sharply, or (3) it is ambiguous, both interpretations are possible ?

Thanks in advance!


texts: Bring from subconscious memory to conscious

texts:
Is there an English word that adequately describes the action of bringing the subconscious memory to the conscious?

For example, showing a watch to someone that makes them remember a forgotten event from long ago.


texts:
There is this sentence:

  There are several parts to this problem, the most important (part) being that many of the learners find it rather boring.

I would like to know if the phrase in bold-faced type is short form of a clause or something.
If yes, what is the original form of the sentence?

To me, it sounds like the original form is "the most important of which is that..."
As in:

  The man who lives next door = the man living next door

Does it follow the same rule or is the case different?
And, can we simply use the verb "is" instead and say "the most important is that ..."
If yes, what is the difference between "...being that..." and "...is that..." in the sentence? Is it only a matter of style?


texts:
I am writing a question for a quiz.  I need some advice on what the "right" way to word the question.

The question follows a short passage in a foreign language.  The question is asking about the color of the speaker's father's car.

As I have it written, the question reads:
"What color is the speaker's father's car?"

Is there a more concise way to ask the question?


texts:
Searching online, I see the two definitions for liege (noun) given by Merriam-Webster

  a: a vassal bound to feudal service and allegiance
  b: a loyal subject
  a feudal superior to whom allegiance and service are due

So, how are you supposed to identify which meaning being referred when you say "My liege"? Or is my understanding flawed in some way?


texts: Is this usage of "aren't" proper English?

texts:
Aren't you going to go outside?

My wife insists this is improper English, Hillbilly speak, she calls it. The proper way to ask, she says, is Are you going to go outside?

I say it's the same as asking Won't you play with me?, which I do not find offensive.


texts:
Is this sentence correct?

  Jared loudly knocked on the door with a force that would be considered
  as smashing by neighbors, but still no one opened it

Or do I need another comma after still?

  Jared loudly knocked on the door with a force that would be considered
  as smashing by neighbors, but still, no one opened it

Putting a comma after still is looking awkward to me.


texts:
I became a little unsure regarding to grammar while writing a sentence that, "... will either pass through the top-right or bottom-left corner, during which ...", in which case "which" has an implied antecedent of "passing through". I believe this sentence is clear enough, but wonder whether such usage of "which" may be disapproved in formal or academic writing.

more examples:
"He resigned that post, after which he engaged in ranching."
"He died of cancer, which is what I predicted"


texts: Why is “underhaul” not listed in dictionaries?

texts:
“underhaul” is not listed in dictionaries.

Did I spell it wrong? Or is it slang?


texts:
Where did the phrase "you're it" come from in tag?

I've researched online and cannot find a clear answer.

The person who is being tagged is being referred to as an object ("it").

Why is this so? It seems like originally when tag was created, one would say something like "You are tagged", rather than an informal phrase like "Tag, you're it." So what is the history of this phrase?


texts: A word like "visual" but for music and sounds

texts:
I'm writing a design document for a certain software project, and am wondering about what to title the section discussing the style of visuals, music, and sound effects. However, I'm lacking a word that would identify the elements related to hearing things.

For example, I would like to title the section along the lines of

  "Visual and xxxx style"

Any suggestions?


texts:
Adjective [a compar. of] little [with] least [as superl.]

fewer: less than a dozen.

https://www.wordreference.com/definition/less

A dozen is semantically plural ("twelve") yet it is grammatically singular, so which form is correct fewer/less than a dozen?
Secondly, what about Fewer/less than a dozen people?

Determiner (preceded by a or a numeral):
a.) (a group of) twelve: two dozen oranges.
b.) (as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural) There are at least
a dozen who haven't arrived yet.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dozen


texts: How do we refer to "whose absence" when it's an object instead of a person?

texts:
Explanation of what I'm trying to communicate:

Suppose that there is an object, Vinegar (say).

And we're marinating chicken before roasting it. If vinegar was added to the marinade then the roast turns out to be good. If it wasn't, then it's going to be smelly and "rubbery".

Now let's say that I didn't know this and some person X found out about the requirement of vinegar and informed me.

My sentence:

"Today, I added a new ingredient, Vinegar, in the marinade, whose absence causes chicken to be smelly, found by person X".

Is the above sentence correct? It feels somewhat off. I have 2 queries regarding this:

1) Is the phrase "whose absence" correct? If not then what other phrase can we use in its place?

2) Is there a better way to frame this whole sentence rather than breaking it into smaller sentences (for the sake of improving grammar)?


texts: Why is the position of reduced adjective clauses inconsistent? E.g. "the broken window" vs. "the man responsible"

texts:
The rule is that if the adjective clause has only a single adjective, we should replace it before the noun e.g.: "the window that is broken was fixed by Tom" is reduced to "the broken window was fixed by Tom".

However, I have seen on several occasions the reduced clause placed after the noun, despite being single in the complete clause e.g.:

The man responsible told me get out of here = the man (who is responsible) told me get out of here
The people present started to shout  = the people (who are present) started to shout

Is there any explanation for this?


texts: Is Donald Trump using the word "sarcasm" correctly?

texts: During the 2016 election cycle, Donald Trump invited Russian hackers to hack Hillary Clinton's emails and later claimed that President Obama founded ISIS.  A few days later he walked back his statements after criticism, saying it was just "sarcasm".  Is this the right use of "sarcasm" or "sarcastic"?


texts:
This is from a famous passage from an ancient work:

  And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness.

What does "implicate" mean in this context? My guess is that the various translators (ancient Greek to English) want to convey from the author that the ugliness is a crime figuratively and phrased it implicitly to preserve the wit. But I think I am mind reading to get this explanation.


texts:
When the stars, at set of sun,
  Watch you from on high.

Why not "at set of the sun"?


texts: What is the significance of the name John Doe in the 1940's?


texts: What is the difference between ruptive and disruptive

texts:
My brother asked me this question:

  You can be disruptive, but can you be ruptive? For example, one can be
  disrespectful and it is also possible to be respectful...

I thought ruptive would have to mean the opposite of disruptive (because...pattern?). I have looked up the definition of ruptive and it seems that both ruptive and disruptive have the same meaning. Why is this so and why is there a distinction if they both mean the same thing?

Upon further investigation eruptive and irruptive are also in the same boat. Again why? Is this a common pattern? Examples?


texts: Is there a single word meaning "good night vision"

texts: Nyctalopia is a medical condition meaning poor night vision.  Is there an equivalent single word meaning good night vision, either in medical or general parlance?


texts: Is this clear? vs. Is that clear? vs. Is it clear?

texts: I cannot get the difference between Is this clear?, Is that clear? and Is it clear?. Could anyone please help me?


texts:
Sites like thesaurus.com suggest "friendly", "sociable", and "warm" as antonyms, but those are the middle of the spectrum. I'm looking for a single word that goes beyond that, to describe someone that is overly "friendly", who takes liberties, who is unaware or slightly uninterested in other people's boundaries. Not in a clearly perverted or malevolent way. "Handsy" would be too strong and specific of a word (because it implies physical contact). "Oozing" would also be wrong - there may be little to no liquid. But you're having something like "ooze" foisted on you (any substance or practice that you don't want near you).

I search for this word every once in a while, with no success. This week I had to set up a Windows 10 computer. After opting out of Microsoft's invasive default settings, here I am again, trying to find a word that describes similar people (and companies). Sample sentence: "I try to avoid Windows 10, because it's the _____est software they've ever released (Clippy included)."


texts: Idiom for doing "space age" stuff instead of what is necessary

texts: What is a good way to call someone out who prefers doing the new, cool, and shiny thing over doing what is really necessary?


texts: Road to English fluency for advanced speakers

texts: I have been learning English all my life. I have been in the US for three years. I consider myself an advanced English speaker. There are many resources on the internet that are geared towards beginners and intermediate English learners. However, I am looking for fluency. I want to be able to speak English as fluently as native English speakers. I guess one problem I have is that I have a good repository of vocabulary that I don't really use when I speak. May be because I am not used to. My vocab repo helps when I am listening or reading but it sometimes fails me when I speak since I dont have much time to think. Can anyone (especially EFL teachers) recommend how to reach fluency especially speaking fluency? and I am not referring to the accent or pronunciation but to the correct usage of vocabulary and correct structuring of sentences.


texts:
This article 'My Partner Is Ready To Get Married And I'm Not—What Do I Do?' starts with this:

If you’ve ever watched a romantic comedy, you know the drill. Boy and girl meet, fall in love, and all seems like it will be happily ever after. Then, there’s the twist: She wants to get married and he, the man-child he is, wants to live a bachelor life without a ring tying him down.

Why is it there's no article in front of boy and/or girl?

A boy and girl meet...
A boy and a girl meet...

Shouldn't it be either of the above?


texts: What is the term for comparatives that cannot be formed with -er and -est?

texts:
Is there a term to describe the case where using "-er" and "-est" is incorrect to form a comparative because it is formed by using "more" or "most"?

For example:

  more difficult instead of difficulter
  most difficult instead of difficultest


texts: What is the difference between "responsibility for" and "responsibility to"?

texts: I thought "responsibility for" is about the responsibility for an action or an object, and "responsibility to" is about the responsibility with a person, like if I say "I must have the responsibility to her for losing her money", it means that because I lost her money so I must have the responsibility with her. But when I searched on the web, I found a page titled that "Responsibility to our environment", environment is an object and why they use "responsibility to" instead of "responsibility for"? Is that usage of that page correct? Thanks for your help!


texts:
I keep hearing from native speakers the phrases like these:

There is a lot of cars (books, hotels)
There is a couple of cars (books, hotels)
There is five (ten, etc.) of cars (books, hotels)
There is a few of cars (books, hotels)

Nevertheless, somebody told me that the phrases like above are incorrect for sure and there should be there are instead of there is.

Whom could I believe?


texts: What's the usage difference between 'quarter' and 'quadrant'?

texts:
Are these two words interchangeable in most usages?

My specific example is:

  It smells bad in this [quarter/quadrant] of the building this morning.

Could both words be used correctly in this sentence; would they have the same meaning?


texts:
Consider the following sentences:

  She will probably come to the party.

  He may probably forget his umbrella.

In the second sentence, isn't the word probably redundant? The uncertainty is already stated by the use of may. In the first sentence, it's almost an oxymoron!

Why is probably used in cases like these? Or am I wrong thinking these usages exist? (I'm not from an English speaking land)


texts: Generic terms for people on opposite sides of a transaction

texts:
I'd like to find 2 terms to represent the people involved in a transaction. The transactions vary in their semantics, so I've had trouble finding a single set of terms. Here are some sample transactions and potential terms:

Give a Reward: giver/recipient
Mete Punishment: giver/recipient
Assign a Chore: initiator/assignee
Ask a Favor: requestor/?

The 2 terms will be used as variables in software code, and not exposed to users. I'd like them to be as descriptive as possible (x and y would work, but not be very readable), but generic enough to cover all the transaction semantics.

To complicate things, each person may be sending/receiving emails within the transaction, so I'm trying to stay away from "sender/recipient" to avoid confusion. The "recipient" of a request can be the sender of an email.

Some other terms I've thought of:

initiator/acceptor
originator/terminator (kinda creepy)
requestor/responder (not really precise)

Any help is appreciated.


texts: Does recordee exist in English? The word doesn't exist in Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries, but I was hoping to use it as "someone who is being recorded".


texts: Does the term "Methodical" have a negative connotation associated with it?

texts:
It seems to me that the only times I hear the term Methodical in journalism/press are to describe negative people such as killers or psychopaths. I don't believe methodical inherently has a negative connotation but it seems society over time through its use in the media has given it one.

Does Methodical in fact have a negative connotation? Is it viewed negatively in literature or is this only in news outlets?


texts:
What does an atomizer spray? A spritz? A drop? Something else? I'm helping a friend write marketing copy, and we'd like to give the instruction "spray two drops onto your hand", and we would especially like to avoid the comical "spray two spritzes".

Edit: the substance in question is essential oil.


texts:
I had this question in mind for long and I think this is the perfect spot to ask.

Consider the following sentences (Just for instance).

  We are an equal opportunity employer. However when applying for this job he/she should also mention his/her gender.

So my question is, is there any other proper usage for he/she or his/her instead especially if the description is getting longer ?


texts:
What's the meaning of “tight” in the following sentence?

  This is the least tight thing that's ever happened for me.


texts:
In this sentence which one is better; had to go or must have gone?

Last week Tina broke her arm and ..... to the hospital

I think must have gone is better but on the other hand the second one is true


texts: What are the rules for preposition use in Canada, England, US, Australia, etc?

texts: I am looking for 'rules' for all (most?) prepositions: which one to use when/where and why. I assume there will be different rules for different parts of the English speaking world. I was born and raised in western Canada. I 'know' what 'sounds' correct to me but I haven't been able to find formal rules. I listen to several BBC podcasts & I noticed they often use prepositions in ways that sound strange to me. Also I am helping a Quebec French speaker learn English. I am finding it almost impossible to explain which preposition to use when and why.


texts: "An SQL Server database schema" or "a SQL Server database schema"?

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  Do you use “a” or “an” before acronyms?

I got the following sentence from the book I'm reading:

  You can take a database-first approach
  by first creating a SQL Server
  database schema.

From what I learned, I think it should be "an SQL Server database schema", not "a SQL Server database schema". So which one is correct?


texts: grammar / meaning Does “treating” in the example sentence mean “because he treats” or “and at the same he is treating” or just “and he treats”?

texts:
(“treating”) “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends…!”

And does “verb + ing” in the following examples belong to one of the three cases in the title question? Or other meanings?

(fearing, knowing) He enfolds us with His arms, never fearing that He will become unclean; but knowing that we will become clean!
(having) He is accurate with the longer clubs in his bag, having learned how to manage his normal 'fade' ball flight.
(sipping, taking) Follow the direction of ushers to approach the Communion rail, kneel to receive the bread and wine, sipping from the common cup, or taking an individual glass of wine or grape juice.
(baptizing) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,


texts: Word for the opposite of a [thing]-snob?

texts:
Looking for a word or phrase that implies you are not picky about the thing in question.

As in:

  Do you have any coffee?

  I'm out of coffee grounds, the only thing I have left is this half
  empty pot of cold coffee from yesterday.

  That's fine, I'll just throw it in the microwave, I'm a _____


texts: When did the UK stop using full stops in abbreviations and acronyms?

texts:
I have noticed that in older (usually over 30 or 40 years old) British books and newspapers, abbreviations are without exception typeset with in full stops, as is still the practice in the United States.  Yet, virtually without exception,  modern publications typeset all the abbreviations without full stops.  So, for example, in an old text one might see:

  Marshall Hall K.C. — U.K . — Walsh v. Lonsdale — James Maxwell
  F.R.S.

Whereas  virtually all modern British publications would write:

  Marshall Hall KC — UK — Walsh v Lonsdale — James Maxwell
  FRS

When and why did this change happen? As best I can tell, it was sometime in the 20th century, but I have yet to find details on the change in style.


texts: What's the term for denying something so as to raise doubt?

texts:
Topical example:

'There was a scuffle outside the local pub. There appears to be no connection with religious extremists.'

...but now you're wondering if there was. It's a nasty tactic used to raise fear and doubt - deliberately calling attention to something by explicitly denying it.

What's the term for this?


texts:
I just looked up majorant to see IPA and found none. I googled, and found this, which has what sounds like /'mæ.dʒɔ.ɹənt/, /mə:'dʒɔ.ɹənt/ and /'meɪ.dʒəˌɹæənt/ to my ears, this, which also has /'meɪ.dʒəˌɹæənt/, then this, which sounds like /'meɪ.dʒɔ.rənt/, this, which has explicit IPA as /ˈmeɪdʒər(ə)nt/, and then I got fed up of looking :). I do not know how to classify these pronunciations, nor if there are nonstandard ones, so could someone read these and put them into the article with appropriate classification (and perhaps narrower IPA)?

I posted the above on the Wiktionary Tea Room on May 7. Nobody answered, so I thought I could post it as a question here. How do you pronounce majorant? Which of the above IPA matches which accent, and which (if any) are nonstandard?

PS I personally would have gone for /'mæ.dʒəɹ.ənt/, but I just wanted to be sure, hence I checked the Wiktionary.


texts: Is there a non-religious alternative to the expression "mixed blessing"?

texts:
In my writing I'm looking for an alternative way to say that something is a "mixed blessing". The word "blessing" seems to carry a religious connotation.

I'm seeking to convey to the reader that a specific thing that has happened has both positives and negatives for this character.

  "Getting invited to the party was a mixed blessing for Charlie. Sure, he was hoping to be invited, but this now meant that he was expected to bring a gift for a person who is impossible to shop for."


texts: If prepend is not part of English, why is there no postpend or subpend? And who introduces them?

texts:
I wanted to ask it already for some time but was in doubt until I've read the comment by Stan Rogers to this answer:

  In the case of prepend, we have
  created an artificial term that is
  meaningless outside of the "in group",
  since to append means merely to add --
  it does not have a positional
  implication; it can be prepositional
  or postpositional.

If "prepend"

is not an English word. It was created to sound like the opposite of "append," which means to add to the end. The correct English word is "prefix;

and

Although it sounds correct, prepend is not an English word. It was created to sound like the opposite of "append," which means to add to the end. The correct English word is "prefix;"

then why there are no words "postpend", "subpend", "sidepend", "uppend"?

Who does introduce incorrect words into English which are not English words?


texts: Is there a name for a factually incorrect statement, made for instructional benefit?

texts:
Is there a word or phrase, describing how an educator might "lie" about something, to help students understand a new concept?

I mean this in a generally positive sense. For example, the Rutherford model with electrons orbiting an atomic nucleus would be a gross oversimplification to a particle physicist, but just within reach of an elementary school science class. Or a math teacher might simply say "you can't take the square root of a negative number" when it's actually more complex than that.

I mistakenly thought that "didactic fiction" was such a term, but apparently that term is more meant to describe a genre of "ancient Greek edutainment", rather than an instructional tactic.


texts: Appropriate punctuation for removing letters in offensive words

texts:
Letters in offensive words are often removed to make words less offensive, like f----ed, or n-gger. (Though this isn't just for offensive words—see G-d).

What is the best typographic punctuation for the dash? A standard -, or an en-dash (–), or an em-dash (or dashes) for multiple dashes (e.g. f——d)?


texts:
In our country, we really don’t have the “unstressed schwa”

How do I find this one? is there a technique?

How do I find the unstressed schwa with these word? Thanks

occur
history
curious
actor
frozen


texts: Word, Idiom, or other Fixed Expression for "Stopping someone from doing something"

texts:
In my office I had stopped one of my colleagues from working on a project.
And I had to inform someone about it.
And using sentence

I had stopped him from working on it.

shows some disrespect for the person who was asked not to work on that project.
I searched for other options and found the words "Restrain" & "Refrain".
Which of these(or any other word) would be best to use here?
And is there anything other than this (like idioms or phrases) to use in these situations, so as to sound a bit more formal and respectful?


texts:
I would like to ask about a basic sentence that really confuses me.

  My favorite sport is swimming.

I think it is strange. "Swimming" can be interpreted as a gerund ("I like to swim; it is my favorite sport") but also as a verb ("What my favorite sport does is swim"). I would like to resolve the ambiguity, so swimming can only be interpreted as a gerund. How do I go about that?


texts:
What can I say about a thing happened at night?
Someone stole my phone at night.
OR
Someone stole my phone in the night.
Which one is right to say?


texts: Is this sentence, containing "struck upon", grammatically wrong?

texts:
This is the sentence:

The purpose of this paper, however, is not to pass any serious criticism upon Pragmatism, which indeed is superfluous, but to point out the resemblance which has struck upon me between this popular philosophy and a sort of mentality satirised in a popular novel.

I think this sentence is grammatically wrong, because the idiom "struck upon" is used incorrectly and that made the sentence inapprehensible. Am I right?


texts: Do "coterminous" and "conterminous" have exactly the same meaning?

texts:
I am under the impression that both coterminous and conterminous have exactly the same meaning. There was a remark that Latin purists prefer conterminous. Why?

Is there any significant difference between the two? Do co- and con- have same effect on words?

I am looking for any additional information about these two words which would help me understand them better.


texts:
I'm looking for a word meaning "to understand deeply".

Profound is the word I want to express. However, profound can only be used as an adjective. I'm looking for a verb form.

Example:

  Susan _____ her sister's troubles.


texts: Should a suggestion have a question mark?

texts:
Should

  Why not read our story?

have a question mark? It is a suggestion, not really a question, so I assume it shouldn't have the question mark.


texts: Which name should I use for a category of pictures: lifeless/still life/?

texts:
I created a website for my photographs which are organized into three categories: people, nature, and lifeless (see here).

It seems to me lifeless could seem derogatory. Is it?

If it is, what would be a better word to use to categorize photographs which are about neither people nor nature?


texts: "Satisfied with" vs. "satisfied by" vs. "satisfied in"

texts:
He was satisfied with his test result.
  He was satisfied by his test result.
  He ws satisfied in his test result.

Is there any difference between these?


texts: What are the historic definitions of the word dragon?

texts:
Today, the term dragon is universally used for mythical, non-existent creatures that resemble dinosaurs in some ways. I thought I heard once from someone quoting a dictionary from 1600 something that the definition was "A very rare, but still living creature". This implies that the author thought that dragons were a real thing.

I don't expect there to be much overlap today from its ancient use because there is a lot of entertainment fiction written on the subject since 1900.

I want to know how the word has been used in the past and if there were descriptions of what a dragon actually is/was from before 1850's, when the word "dinosaur" was coined. I am also particularly interested if the people of those times thought the creatures were real.


texts: When should I say "post to" or "share with"?

texts:
I need to explain that an app can post/share images to social networks and blogs with up to 5 services at the same time and that it's managed through outh.

Can anybody help me with some inspiration? I'm a bit stuck with that, especially if I should say upload to -, send to-, post to - or share with social networks.


texts: Is there a word for a shared idiolect or a dialect understood by only two people?


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  Is there a name for this type of sentence structure: “She looks as though she's been poured into her clothes, and forgot to say 'when'”?

Is there a term for sentences which are an altered form of a famous quote, the alteration being a change in the second part of it for humor?

Examples:

  To err is human, to forgive is not a company policy.

  A bird in hand might sh*t on your wrist.

  People living in glass houses should use public restrooms.

  If you can keep your head when everyone around you are losing theirs, you're probably the executioner.

I remember there was a term for such sentences but cannot recall. What is it?

EDIT: I also remember: It's not just with famous quotes — any sentence which sounds normal at first, but has an unexpected ending to it which compels you to re-read the first part, is also classified as the same thing.


texts:
The passage below comes from the webpage, reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/gifs/comments/6cvlnv/korean_politician_swag/?sort=old

  This is actually sad and not "swag". Humanity should not reward such a
  self centered and scummy character.

I am not familiar with the usage of the verb, REWARD in this context and however hard I check on Google, I couldn't find any similar usage of 'reward' to this one.

If I wrote the same sentence myself, I would do it as follows:

  We should not reward humanity to such a self centered and scummy character.

Or,

  Such a self centered and scummy character should not be rewarded with humanity.

Do you agree with me?


texts: Using word same without a definite article in technical documentation

texts:
Is the following phrase correct (in whatever sense):

  Geometries passed to this function must have same length

the phrase is used in technical documentation so it would be especially useful to get comments from people who come from a technical background

The following question gives details about the usage of word same with a definite article:

Can you use "same" without "the"?

however there is a statement "The word same is usually used with the definite article. However, it can be used with any central determiner which marks the noun phrase as definite."


texts:
I need a word for "located outside of the body." For instance, blood found outside of the body can be described using this word.

Thank you.


texts: What does “Sleep through the Second Coming” mean?

texts:
There is the following statement in Jeffery Archer’s fiction “Kane & Abel,” in which William Kane, one of the two heroes looks at his wife sleeping soundly on bed unaware of his big problem:

  He put the phone down and looked across at the sleeping Kate,
  blissfully unaware of his latest problem, how he wished he could
  manage that. A curtain only had to flutter in the breeze and he would
  wake up. She would probably sleep through the Second Coming. He
  scribbled a few lines of explanation and put the note on her bed side
  table, then he dressed, packed, and set off for New York.

OALED defines ‘the Second Coming’ as a day in the future when Christians believe Jesus Christ will come back to earth.

Wikipedia says

  “The Second Coming” is a poem composed by Irish poet William Butler
  Yeats in 1919 ... The poem uses Christian imagery regarding the
  Apocalypse and second coming as allegory to describe the atmosphere in
  post-war Europe.

Near the beginning of the second stanza of “The Second Coming” we find:

  Surely some revelation is at hand;
  Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
  The Second Coming!  Hardly are those words out
  When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
  Troubles my sight: ...

However, I’m not able to relate the above definitions of ‘the Second Coming’ to merely sleeping as used in the above lines of Archer’s.

Does “Sleep through the Second Coming” simply mean to sleep soundly, or have specific meaning? Why has it to be ‘the Second Coming’?


texts: "Specialize" as a transitive verb and an antonym for "generalize"

texts:
In mathematical writing, I would like to find a transitive verb that means to "apply a general theory to a special case in order to get a theory for this special case". In other words, it should be an antonym for "generalize" when it means to "make a theory widely applicable". For example,
"One of the most important branches of mathematics is the study of objects known as manifolds, which results from generalizing these ideas to three or more dimensions."
"Caution should be used in generalizing this study's results to other student populations."
I wanted to use "specialize". For example,
"We specialize this theorem to the case that ..."
Here is more or less the real situation. We have a theory that concerns a sequence of functions {f_k} and a sequence of matrices {M_k}. In the theory, under assumption A({f_k}, {M_k}), we have conclusion C({f_k}, {M_k}). This is our general theory. Meanwhile, we have another sequence of functions {F_k} and a sequences of vectors {v_k}; defining f_k = f(F_k, v_k) and M_k=M(F_k, v_k), and apply the aforementioned theory to this special configuration of {f_k} and {M_k}, we get our special theory. In this process, we do nothing but expressing A({f_k}, {M_k}) and C({f_k}, {M_k}) in terms of {F_k} and {v_k} (with reformulations and simplifications).
However, "specialize" seems to be only an intransitive verb, and it means to concentrate on and become an expert in a particular subject or skill. For example, see
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/specialize?q=specialize,
https://www.lexico.com/definition/specialize ,
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/specialize ,
and
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/specialize .
Fortunately, in the 2nd item of
https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/185980?redirectedFrom=specialize#eid ,
"specialize" can mean "to make special, specific, or narrower in scope; to invest with a special character or function", which is what I want. But it is mentioned to be "now somewhat rare", which explains why this meaning is not mentioned in the aforementioned dictionaries.
Question:

What is the best word to work as the antonym of "generalize" in the above-mentioned scenario?

Is it good to use "specialize" as a transitive verb in this scenario?

(new) Is "particularize" of "specify" a good choice?

Any comments or criticism will be highly appreciated. Thank you very much.


texts: Is there a sense of "caravanserai" which includes an elaborate transportation - such as of a circus?

texts:
The OED lists only one non-metaphorical sense of the word caravanserai - (from caravan - etymology Persian).
A kind of inn in Eastern countries where caravans put up, being a large quadrangular building with a spacious court in the middle.
This is endorsed by Wikipedia which provides much the same meaning.
However I have most often heard caravanserai used to describe a motley transportantion on a number of vehicles - such as of a circus moving from one place to the next. Of course a caravan was originally: A company of merchants, pilgrims, or others, in the East or northern Africa, travelling together for the sake of security, esp. through the desert. So the notion of transportation was inherent to the word's beginnings. Hence I am puzzled by the idea of caravanserai being a fixed building or settlement.
Consider the following use - which accords entirely with the way I have most often heard the word used in Britain- from Six Wives: the Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey (London 2003) p.230.
It was in any case a day of upheaval at Court as it was the beginning of the Progress. The whole courtly  apparatus of 'portable magnificence' - the tapestries and cushions, jewels and plate, household utensils and the King's own clothes, bedding and travelling library, medicine chest and personal petty-cash - had been packed into their special bags, boxes and chests and loaded on to carts. The carts had been covered with bear hides to protect them against the elements and the great caravanserai of the Court stood ready to depart from Greenwich to the first port of call of the Progress: Waltham Abbey in Essex.
This seems to refer, as I would have expected, to the travelling body rather than to anything fixed.


texts: How would Shakespeare have said "Thank you"? Can't decide if it is thee or thou, since it isn't really a sentence.


texts:
Cars have proved helpful to human beings.
Cars have been proved helpful to human beings.

What are the differences between them?


texts: Is a comma appropriate/required when using "the fact of the matter is" without "that"?

texts:
For example:

"The fact of the matter is[,] we have a government that will do what it wants to do for the next two years."

"The fact of the matter is[,] he lost because he didn’t try very hard."

"I'm no scientist, but the fact of the matter is[,] I've lost ten pounds in two weeks on my shake diet."


texts: Why is h silent in honor but not in hone

texts:
Hone and honor both start with "hon" but h is silent in honor but not in hone.

I googled it and searched everywhere but didn't find the answer. Can you help me please?


texts:
Dear English native speakers!
Could you please tell me, if a comma is needed in this sentence:

If for any reason (,) you are not 100 satisfied with the quality of our services, we will refund 100% of your money back.

As far as my little research on this shows, a comma is not needed, but I’d like to have a feedback from native speakers. Thank you in advance!


texts:
I can't really tell what someone means when he says "you could do worse than [x]." Live example:

  If you are just interested in a simple command line processor which uses MSXML 6 then you could do worse than using a simple JScript application.

Does anyone know what, exactly, he is trying to say? What nuance is he trying to convey?


texts:
I'm lost for words to complete this sentence:

  The sound of the chair _ against the floor can be heard clearly as the room silence with my sudden action.


texts: x-stor(e)y or x-floor or x-level house/building?

texts: Which is the correct for British English? I need the correct for both a separate house and an apartment building, if this makes difference. I can't find any concrete answer online.


texts:
The class is/are all working on a project together.

I am curious to know whether I can use both is and are in this sentence - with a small difference in meaning.


texts:
When a person is employed by a company, they are normally issued some sort of equipment or tools that they are supposed to use in a regular course of their work. If they decide to quit the job or they are laid off they will have to return the tools or equipment in proper and working condition. The tools will be inspected, their number and condition, and in case anything is missing or broken that person will have to bear the cost of replacing that tool or instrument.

But what word or phrase could I use to say that someone who is quitting his job is required to account for the condition of a larger, immovable piece of machinery that he worked on.

Clearly I can't say that he was "issued with the machine" or that he "returned the machine", but he's still responsible that the machine is in proper and working condition. For example, there must not be missing parts, or defects due to his negligence or anything like that, for which he could be held responsible, and would need to pay for.

How can I say that he was "put in charge of the machine" when he started working for the company and also that, on quitting the job, and inspection of the machine he is "relieved of the responsibility for it".


texts: Usage of "expect to" and "expectation to/of"

texts:
I've written:

  I expect to see you on Monday. I'm
  counting the days.

To improve it, I've changed it in:

  With the expectation to see you on
  Monday, I'm counting the days.

A friend told me: No! You should write the following.

  With the expectation of seeing you
  on Monday, I'm counting the
  days.

Who's the smart one? My friend or me? Is there a general rule to apply here? Like with expect/expectation, but also for willing/wish, etc.


texts: difference in meaning depending on placement of "already"

texts:
Maybe the bus already left.
Maybe the bus has already left.
Maybe the bus has left already.

I am not a native speaker so don't know if there is any difference among those three sentences, not knowing if there is any grammatical error as well.

Which one is the best??


texts: what's the meaning of "stations in life"

texts:
What is the meaning of 'stations in life'?

Does it mean religion?

'stations in life' as in:

Nonetheless, seams can make borders “semi- permeable membranes,” relatively more or less porous to people, depending upon their nationalities and stations in life, to economic
exchange, to the passage of ideas …


texts:
From Jack Kerouac's On the Road

  Through halos and rolls and gold foals that were like the existence of the gleaming spear in His right hand which sayeth c’mon boy, go thou across the ground. Go moan for man. Go moan. Go groan. Go groan alone. Go roll your bones. Alone. Go thou and be little beneath my sight. Go thou and be minutest seed in the pod. Go thou go thou – die hence, and if this world report you well and truly.

It can be inferred from the text that Kerouac probably uses it to mean "Go!" but where did it come form?


texts: A word/phrase for "Wanting what you can't have, whilst having what you don't want"

texts:
So for example if you're doing a certain degree, always wanting to do other things except for the one you're doing.

Is there a word or phrase for this?

Thanks


texts:
I heard these lines in several places - Don't patronize me .
what does this exactly mean? Checked the definition on google.
But I couldn't get a feel for it.


texts:
We often see a screenplay noted to be “loosely based” on a novel or true story. This usually means significant portions of the story, or major plot turns, have been rewritten. Sometimes even major characters are dropped or added.

What is the opposite of that phrase, something that mostly has fidelity to the original but may differ is some relatively minor points?

To be used in a context where we want to provide disclosure about imperfect fidelity, but we do not want to draw too much attention or be overly dramatic about the differences.

I thought of “closely based”, but that does not sound right.


texts: Since when did kidnapping come to include adults too?

texts:
As per this link, the word 'kidnap' originated to denote nabbing away of a child. When and how did kidnap come to denote nabbing of adults?

Update: Just found a link to a 1650 book that mentions kidnapping of souls. Now not sure how correct the above link is.


texts: Why is 'which' the correct relative pronoun in this sentence, and not 'when'..?

texts:
At ten to nine, which is just before the exam begins, please make sure you assemble outside the hall.

This sentence is giving me a headache. The relative pronoun refers to the time ten to nine so why is the use of when incorrect?


texts: Is it common to use the borrowed noun-adjective form for borrowed French phrases?

texts:
Lately, something has struck me.  I've been hearing several expressions in English, some clearly borrowed from French and preserving their noun-adjective form.  Some examples are:

Attorney General
Secretary General
Court Martial
Notary Public

I suspect there are more that I have missed.  However, in each of the 4 cases listed above, I feel 'OK' saying them the 'English' way; that is, adjective-noun, which is the way we almost always do things except for these borrowed phrases.  One might receive a statement from the General Attorney, or be sent to a Martial Court.  My father is actually a lawyer and does indeed describe himself as a Public Notary.  Doing things this way makes the plural sound a lot more sensible in English, too; which sounds better: General Secretaries, or Secretaries General?

How common is it for people to flip these borrowed phrases around and say them the more standard English adjective-noun way?  Might it be clearer in the long run if we did so?


texts: How can I ask a user to select from some different modes for an application?

texts:
I have a mobile application that has three modes: Learn, Practice and Quiz.

Above the buttons that I would like to write a message that would in the most friendly way ask the user to pick one. What I have thought of so far is:

"Choose one of the modes below to tailor your learning experience"

But I am not sure about the way I have used the word "tailor" and also if this is the best way to tell the user to pick one of the modes.

Does anyone have any advice / suggestions.

Thanks


texts: What do we call a person who cannot read people?

texts:
A person who has a low emotional IQ and is bad at reading people and decoding their expressions and body language. I don't think I need to give any statement for it.

Edit: They do not have any physical or mental disorders but more like lacking empathy but are not psychopaths. Looking for synonyms of 'socially illiterate'.


texts: "It would the best thing I have ever seen" vs "...I had ever seen"

texts:
Just heard a song "Majestic" and as I am continuously trying to improve my English, I noticed something a bit unclear to me.

  A sight for sore eyes
  To the blind would be awful majestic
  It would be the most beautiful thing
  That they ever had seen

Why is there the past perfect tense? Would it work with the present perfect ("have seen"—because they still might see it in the future)?


texts:
Should apps be plural in the following circumstances?
"1 New and 1 Updated App(s)"
"150 New and 1 Updated App(s)"
Or would it be correct to write...
"1 New App and 1 Updated App"
"150 New Apps and 1 Updated App"


texts:
I came across the following phrase:

  I was wondering if you might be able to give me some advice.

Is it a natural construction for a conversational context?

Can I use the following instead in order to sound less formal:

  I was wondering if you could give me some advice.

Or is it less polite?

Or which phrase would be better to use instead?


texts: What is the adjective for something which has vertices?

texts:
I am looking for a word which describes an object which has vertices. It will be applied in the statement "Think Outside of the Eight ____ Regular Hexahedron," which is a play on words of the common phrase, "Think Outside of the Box."
I am struggling to find the proper adjective. So far, I have scoured the web. The closest word to "vertex" that I could find would be "index." When describing an object which has indices, the word "indexed" is used. Because of this, I imagine that the proper word would be "vertexed" as in "Think Outside of the Eight Vertexed Regular Hexahedron." However, I am still unsure.
Your help on the subject would be greatly appreciated! :)


texts: An adjective or noun for one who cracks lame jokes

texts:
Can someone please suggest an adjective or a noun to describe someone who always cracks 'lame jokes'? All I could think is 'Lame Joker' :/

I am specifically looking for a word/adjective that has negative connotations.

Thanks


texts: How to describe a person with the qualities give in the body of this question?

texts: Which term can be used to describe a person who usually does his works by his own, for example, repairs his car himself, learns through self-studying, etc. (I look for something more specific or specialized term than "independent")


texts: What is a word for someone who is concerned with holding up their image?

texts: By this, I do not mean someone aware of how other people see them. I want to describe someone who is concerned with their personality being consistent. For example, someone who feels the need to always seem cool in front of his/her friends. Is there a word for this?


texts: Best use of wondering if "there was something" or "something was"

texts:
I would like to ask whether an object is included in a package or not, which of the following expressions should I use:

I was wondering if there was any chassis support in the package?
I was wondering if any chassis support was included in the package?

Can I use the present with I am wondering if + there is instead of the previous questions?


texts:
I've sometimes come across the expression 'speak for', not a phrasal as such, but an expression to say 'is a clear sign of' as in

  The regular attendance at the course speaks for its great success.

It is clear that the usual construction is with a noun (speak for + n).
The question a student put to me a few days ago was whether the expression could be used with a nominal phrase headed by a 'wh' word, like:

  The constant clashes between locals and immigrants speak for how difficult it is to incorporate foreigners into our society.

What does everybody think?


texts: If I say "here's some tips", is that correct? Doesn't sound right to me. I would have thought it should be "here are some tips".


texts: Page range abbreviation "pp.164–71" — a typo or a common shorthand?

texts:
I have to translate the following sentence into French:

  Scrapers and abrasives are used to prepare the surface of a workpiece before a finish (pp.164–71) is applied.

I believe there is a mistake in the page range and think it should be:

  pp.164-171

By any chance, is there any rule in English that allows to drop the hundreds of a page number when abbreviating a page range, or is this a mistake, as I do believe?


texts: What's a good word for a judged member of a tight-knit community?

texts: I'm trying to describe a character in a small-town community who is still judged based on her actions in the past, but I want it to be clear and concise. Is there a word for this type of person?


texts: How can I say we are going to start developing a new system?

texts:
Would you give me advice on how I can say we are　developing a new system?

The context is train accidents, and the system I am mentioning is a signaling system which checks the train speed and applies brakes automatically when the train speed exceeds its speed profile. I was asked to talk about the history of the system at a meeting and am preparing presentation material.

I would like to say:

  We started developing a new system triggered by the accident.

Does this sentence make sense, or can I make the English clearer?


texts:
Was just wondering whether 'remarkedly' is a word or not. When I typed it in Office Word it doesn't come up as a spelling error but I can't seem to find anything about it online or a concrete definition. Searching it up in Google Scholar however does show some uses of the word. I stumbled upon it after seeing the word 'markedly' in an academic journal article and then thinking how similar it would be to 'remarkably' if I added re- at the front and then finding out that it didn't show up as incorrect.

My feeling is that the two words markedly and remarkedly are variations of the same word as Merriam-Webster funnily puts markedly as the definition for remarkedly. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remarkedly


texts: Phrasal verbs for stop working at the end of the day

texts:
I want to ask my friend when she will leave the office at the end of the day.
I have found two phrasal verbs for this purpose.
Knock off and get off

  What time do you knock off work?
  What time do you get off work?

What is the difference between these two phrasal verbs in expressing the meaning "leave the office"?
Is there any other phrasal verbs to express this meaning?


texts: I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.

texts: The quote by Carl Jung sounds grammatically incorrect to me. "I am not what happened to me" sounds weird. Is it correct or no?


texts: Describing event with “greatest” date value

texts:
I'm struggling with a way to describe one of a series of datetime values that has the greatest value.

My first thought would be to call it the "latest", but the suggests that the event is in the past, not possibly in the future.

How would you describe an event at a time which is after all previous events in the series, and can have already happened or is possibly in the future?


texts: left arrow, left-pointing arrow, or leftwards arrow?

texts:
In the context of a figure caption referencing a left-pointing arrow in the figure in the following parenthetical way:

Fig. 1 | ... Here I describe some process (left arrow). ...

A colleague suggested "left arrow" should be replaced with "left-pointing arrow?"
After a bit of research online, I seem to see all three versions in use, with "left arrow" being most popular, though in the Chicago Manual of Style, I see the use of "left-pointing arrow" in a different context.
While "left-pointing arrow" is certainly not wrong, is it just as correct and accepted use to say "left arrow"? Or would this be considered more colloquial?  (There is also the option of "leftwards arrow").


texts: What is the most appropriate word to describe the phenomenon of many church bells ringing concurrently?

texts:
Usually in celebration of a wedding or Christmas morning? Although I know I've read a word that describes this event exactly, I can't recall where or when. I've polled some pals and gotten "jubilee tolls" and "exultation tolls" but neither of these -- forgive the pun -- ring a bell.

Thanks!


texts: What would an adjective to an adjective be called?

texts:
In the sentence "The very fast dog ran outside.", the words are article (adjective?) adjective noun verb adverb.

Would it be correct to say "very" in that sentence is also an adjective word? Or would that not count as an adjective, since "very" is not an attribute to "dog" but to "fast"?


texts:
When I write about software development (IT sector), what is correct term:

"at an early development stage" OR "at an early stage of development"?


texts: Which one is more appropriate to use: "send you" or "send to you"?

texts:
Are both of the following sentences correct?

Let me know if there is still something I need to send to you.
Let me know if there is still something I need to send you.

Which one is more appropriate to use?


texts: Idiom similar to wolf in sheeps clothing?

texts:
I’m writing lyrics for a song about xenophobia and have a line that I like
“Just because there has been one wolf in wool, doesn’t mean we all have fangs”
I’d like to follow that up with another deconstructed idiom like that but I hit a wall. Any ideas? Thanks!


texts: Hypernym for "compassion", "malice", "hatred", "love", "inspiration", etc

texts:
It's not specifically an emotion, a feeling, or a state of mind—it's something else. Anyone have an idea what is is I'm looking for? Maybe if someone could complete this sentence:

  Anger, rage, jealousy, bitterness, malice, hatred, doubt, melancholy, fear, apathy, ambivalence, dread, anxiety, greed, lust, desire, loss, emptiness, corruption, sympathy, belief, conviction, faith, hope, love, compassion, goodwill, trust, understanding, wisdom, empathy, honesty, and openness collectively are ___s.


texts:
I know that "Doctor" is capitalized when their name follows, like Dr. Watson/Doctor Watson, but what about when addressing a doctor without mentioning their name?

They're ready for you now, doctor.

vs

They're ready for you now, Doctor.


texts: alternate phrase for 'satisfying the thirst'?

texts: I am trying to compose a poetry. There is a line which goes like this - 'you are like a river that'll satisfy the the thirst of the sea/ocean ' . I want to know if there are alternative phrases for 'satisfy the thirst'. I have thought of quench the thirst but i am looking for a one word substitution or just a different phrase for it. Please tell me if there is any exact term for 'satisfying the thirst' or anything relative that can be used. Thank you.


texts: Verb to use to describe a photograph "losing" its colors?

texts:
At first I wanted to just write: "A photograph slowly losing its colors."

But I think losing isn't the right verb here. What can I use instead of losing? (I want to keep the word colors.)


texts:
I have trouble expressing my thoughts when talking about animals that belong to the same kind. Is it correct to say
"It appears that certain behavior shared by animals of the same kind is due to..."
and
"They investigated the behavior of several animal classes, namely birds, snakes and fish."


texts:
The future continuous tense is made by combining "will" with "be" + present participle, e.g. He will be speaking.

The future simple can use "will" or "going to", i.e. He will speak and He is going to speak.

Using this logic, is a sentence such as He is going to be speaking future continuous (going to), or is it present continuous + "be" + present participle?


texts: Can 'trains' be used as a synonym for 'postponement'

texts:
Was solving a cryptic crossword clue recently which reads

  Coaches for postponement (6)

The answer is 'trains' obvious from coaches , but dont get the postponement reference. The solution mentions

  Trains = postponement (collective noun)

Is this correct? Or is it even a synonym reference or something else?


texts: Word meaning: "by people/peers for people/peers"

texts: I'm looking for a word that means something along the lines of "by people/peers for people/peers".


texts:
As et cetera states "and the others" and et alii does "and others", it occurs to me that using etc. would need any specification which makes "the others" clear. I've usually seen times as many etc. as et al. even in the sentences where et al. could do better. Do people usually use etc. instead of et al.?

Thanks.


texts: Shall & Should & the “Mandative Subjunctive”

texts:
I came across this distinction between shall and will in Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage:

That-clauses after intend or intention, desire, demand, be anxious, &c., have shall & should for all persons. Among the &c. are not included hope, anticipate, & the like; but the drawing of the line is not easy; roughly, shall & should are used when the word on which the that-clause depends expresses an influence that affects the result, as a demand does, but a hope or fear does not; a serviceable illustration is expect; mistresses expect (i.e. demand) that their maids shall wear caps; but we expect (i.e. are of opinion) that tomorrow will be fine.

He enumerates a few more examples, one of which is, “And it is intended that this shall be extended to every division and important branch.”
I acknowledge that it’s been about hundred years since its publication, and that Fowler was more pedantic than I could ever hope or want to be, but I had to wonder about the changes in what we call the “mandative subjunctive” in the intervening time. For example, I would have written the sentence, “It is intended that this be extended to every division and important branch,” in preference to shall. But had I written shall or should, would the meaning of the sentence have changed? Moreover, is there any meaningful difference between shall and should in this case? Maybe only among hyper-fastidious speakers?


texts: 'Come on, it's time to go home' here home is an adverb or noun?

texts: I have 2 options. A) Noun B) adverb then what should be the answer.


texts: "Would you mind if I write X?" vs. "Would you mind if I wrote X?"

texts: What is the correct tense of the verb "write" if I wanted to ask someone "Would you mind if I [write/wrote] your name on this list?"


texts: Is "liaised" the past tense of liaise?  If so, is this correct or common usage?


texts:
What is an English noun for whom you have a conversation with?

I expect a word like 'counterpart.' I want a simple word for it to name a model in my web application.


texts: Word for "something writtenly so vaguely that it's nearly meaningless" (like Weasel Words)

texts:
I'm looking for a word (or expression) for "something writtenly so vaguely that it's nearly meaningless." The context is a professional IT document that tries to use technical-sounding words, often inappropriately, to convey authority, where in effect the author says nothing substantial.

Example: "Product X is supported on Windows 10, however compatible [probably meant "companion"] products are not currently supported on this platform. A common compatible operating system must be used."

Wikipedia calls this "Weasel words: words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated. A common form of weasel wording is through vague attribution, where a statement is dressed with authority, yet has no substantial basis."

Is there another, more formal term or expression?

NOTE: Yes, I'm aware of the comma splice joining the two independent clauses.


texts:
I am having a very hard time finding the error in one of the two sentences below. I thought they were both correct, however one of them is incorrect.

As you requested, here are some documentaries about famous magicians.
The flock of crows, their black wings glistening in the sunlight, is feeding greedily on the corn in the field.

My thoughts: 1. The only error I could think of is "per" as you requested. 2. I believe i'm correct in assuming that "flock" is singular, therefore indicating that the term "is feeding" is correct.

Which sentence is incorrect?

Thanks!


texts: Is there an expression for the feeling of wishing you had met someone earlier?

texts: Is there a single word or perhaps short phrase to express the feeling one gets when they meet someone amazing, say the love of their life, and wishes that they had met sooner? A cognate would be acceptable as well.


texts: Use of "Yet" in Context of Older Writings

texts:
I've been trying to figure out archaic English grammar for a number of uses - an English assignment and an RPG, specifically - and have run into a bit of a speed bump. I am honestly stumped regarding the use of "yet," particularly in the following quotes:

"Yet a few days, and thee / the all-beholding sun..." - Thanatopsis
"Even if they were to leave Europe,... yet one of the first results of those sympathies for which the daemon thirsted...." - Frankenstein

How exactly is "yet" used in the context of these two quotes?


texts: Your attitude and work ethic “reflect...” or “reflects...”?

texts:
Which of the following sentences would be correct?

"Your attitude and work ethic reflect your desire to succeed."
"Your attitude and work ethic reflects your desire to succeed."


texts:
I am trying to determine if the word predicated is the correct word for the following statement.

  A senior management leader in a Fortune 500 organization whose successful career was predicated on interpersonal skills and collaboration.

I would like to advise the reader that without interpersonal skills and collaboration, I would not have experienced the successful career that I did.

Any thoughts or alternatives?


texts: Is "the" essential in "The Book of Five Rings"?

texts: Is the word "the" in the title necessary? Would it make a difference if the title was "Book of Five Rings"? I've seen many "Book of ..." titles, both with and without "the", and I can't understand its purpose.


texts: I'm looking for single word synonyms for tête-à-tête, which express the idea of a private and intimate conversation. I wasn't able to find any.


texts: I am working on charts to show every day climate parameters such as temperature and precipitation over a period of time. I used the term "time-evolving charts". Is there a better term to show the evolution over time for these charts or diagrams? Besides, I want to use a better term for "climatic parameters"


texts: Is "if winning isn't everything then why do they keep score" a correct sentence?

texts:
We wanted to use this as a T-shirt quote, but I feel that "if winning isn't everything then why do they keep score" is wrong. The correct sentence should be "if winning isn't everything then why do they keep a score".
However, a Google search shows that I may be wrong. Only one person agrees with my sentence. Is the first sentence just incorrect American grammar?


texts:
Example:

  This was my first time seeing him like this: [...], almost speechless.

The first word that came to my mind was quiet. But I think its meaning is closer to not speaking at all than speaking less.


texts: Other words/phrases for "to reciprocate a question"

texts:
Would you say the word 'reciprocate' (in the context of responding to a courtesy/greeting question by returning the exact same question) is too formal a word to expect in casual conversations.

If so what are some more informal alternatives? Does the phrase "ask back" work? As in:

  When someone greets you with 'how are you?', you have to ask back.

Conversely, I would also like to ask for some formal alternatives as well.

Many thanks in advance.


texts: "With pen and paper" <-- Why don't we need an article here?

texts: "I recommend trying it if you like writing with pen and paper". This is a sentence in a book. Why isn't there an "a" article before "pen" since pen is a countable noun? Is it just a style preference?


texts:
I have been working on a software where there is a section to promote and/or demote other users.
For last two days, I have been thinking and searching for a common term to group both of these terms together but it seems like I am out of luck or I am searching in the wrong direction.

I was wondering if anyone is aware of a proper term or word which can convey the meaning of promotion/demotion or level change on itself without requiring any further explanation to the user?

Update

To make it clear, it's promotion/demotion just like done in school. So Level, Rank etc are out of question.
Also the term will be better suited if it's a verb for Promotion/Demotion.


texts: what is the word or term used calling kleenex for tissues or pampers for diaper

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  What is a word/phrase for using a term for a popular special case instead of a generic term?

I remember there is an English term or word used to describe this.

Dell for computers, e.g. "I need to get a dell".

Kleenex for tissues, e.g. "Do you have a kleenex for me please?"


texts:
The etymology of the word "issue" seems to be :

  Middle English (in the sense ‘outflowing’): from Old French, based on
  Latin exitus, past participle of exire ‘go out’.

The many usages of "issue" are in keeping with this root. Supplying or distributing, magazine and similar periodicals, outcome of an action, children (archaic?), etc. But I really don't understand how it came to mean a problem.


texts: Question mark when ending sentence with "I wonder"?

texts:
I know that when a sentence begins with "I wonder" followed by a question, it is typically ended with a period.

  I wonder why that is.

However, when "I wonder" is moved to the end of the sentence, does the same rule apply?

  Why is that, I wonder?

It seems harder to deny the writer a question mark in this case if one is felt.


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  How would you abbreviate surnames starting with Mc/O/D?

How would I abbreviate Jane deLuze?

If I were listing a numbe of people by initials, like John Doe or John Smith, I could use JD, JS etc.... but how would I do deLuze?


texts: A phrase or word that is like "on the other hand" but for opposite ideas supporting the same argument

texts:
A sentence such as "I should go cycling because my head says it is good for my longevity and on the other hand in my heart I am passionate about it" does not make much sense.

On the one hand the usual head versus heart comparison is intended to provide alternative views, on the other hand in this case the head and the heart premises support the same conclusion. Hence, the second sentence uses "on the other hand" correctly (in terms of logic) but the former does not, since there is no real contradiction.

What is a suitable alternative to "on the other hand", to emphasize the two different perspectives that nevertheless support the same conclusion?


texts: What does "delineate" mean in this context?

texts:
I was reading a Scientific American story, “Controversial Spewed Iron Experiment Succeeds as Carbon Sink” by David Biello, when I came across this sentence:

  The problem for scientists is that oceanic waters tend to mix, which makes monitoring and delineating an experiment in the ocean challenging.

I'm wondering what delineate means in this context. Does it mean “describe” or “trace the outline of”?

Could someone kindly enlighten me on this?


texts: Word for attaching blame to inanimate objects

texts:
In a recent court case in Darlington, a man was convicted of destroying a door with a machete. He was sentenced to some trifling inconvenience, but the magistrates were careful to order the destruction of the machete; clearly they have identified the real culprit, and have ensured no further offences will be possible.

The same thought processes were embedded in English law up to 1846 in the notion of the deodand, some object that caused a death and was therefore forfeit to the Crown.

The fellow who tripped over his shoelace and destroyed some crockery was quick to blame his shoelace; having just converted Ming vases worth £500,000 to fragments worth £diddly he was probably rather shocked and thinking in an instinctive way.

This thought process is sufficiently old and common to have a name. Does anyone know what it is? (I don't think animism quite covers it.)


texts: Word for someone who pretends to be a customer to generate interest

texts:
Could someone please tell me the word for what a person is called who is arranged to place the first call and place an order in order to make others believe that the product is really a good one to buy.

To give you a context, in the movie "JOY", when the protagonist goes on about how to use the mop, her friend calls her and asks questions which in turn causes others to start calling about the mop.

I would like to know the word.

Thanks


texts: Is "Sad sometimes what happens when kids stop being kids and grow up to become the kind of adults we simply detest" ambiguous?

texts:
In the Collins Dictionary entry for the verb detest, the following citation taken from a 2003 Ottawa Sun article is given to demonstrate that verb:

  Sad sometimes what happens when kids stop being kids and grow up to become the kind of adults we simply detest.

I can’t understand the exact meaning of this sentence. Which of the following is it?

One sometimes finds themselves sad at witnessing that children come of age so obscurely, forging their way towards the very kind of adulthood we simply detest.
One sometimes finds themselves sad at the way children occasionally behave like the very kinds of adults we usually are inclined to detest.

Or is it neither?


texts:
I don't quite understand something:

  source
  Brazil will, in one form or another, be ready for the World Cup. But when it comes to hosting the tournament, those famous Brazilian smiles may already be slipping.

What does "slip" mean in this context?  I cannot find a good definition in dictionaries.


texts: was and were in the form "X, along with the Y's, [was/were] Z"

texts:
Consider the sentence:

  The aristocracy, as well as powerful merchant guilds, were viewed as restrictive to trade.

Should this be

  The aristocracy, as well as powerful merchant guilds, was viewed as restrictive to trade.

How could it make sense in the latter case, since we are talking about a plurality of "merchant guilds"?


texts:
I do know an adjective (without a noun) in this construction can be followed by a to-infinitive, as in:

It is not acceptable to kill a goat in that way.
It is not good to kill him here.

But, is it also grammatical to insert a noun after the adjective without changing anything else in the construction? As in:

It is not a good job to kill a goat that way.
It's not a wise decision to kill him here.

What I am asking about is the construction in which the to-infinitive modifies the adjective+noun, not the one in which the to-infinitive describes the perception of the doer, like:

It is not an easy question (for me) to deal with.


texts: Word for "edited only for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting"?

texts:
I'm trying to concisely convey that what's presented is not the author's exact original work, but has been edited with conservation of content, voice, and style in mind, changing only to e.g. fix misspellings, add a missing space after a period, capitalize the first letter of a sentence, remove manually-inserted newlines so the text can be reflowed, delete a duplicate sentence, split into paragraphs a text without any.

A short phrase would do too. The most important thing is that virtually everybody reading it interprets it as intended.

Close things I don't like:

"conservatively edited": could be misinterpreted. Was an unimportant paragraph deleted? etc.
"proofread" - proofreading technically means just marking mistakes, not correcting them, and doesn't really include things like reformatting for a new display medium.
"edited for grammar": doesn't include all above classes of edits, and potentially includes edits specifically not made, like rephrasing technically-correct sentences.


texts: Never do the same "with "my smile or never do the same "to" my smile which one is correct

texts:
I have posted a image of my quote
Please correct me if you found any mistake


texts: When did the word "entitled" gain its second sense of "spoiled"?

texts:
It's my informal sense that although its original meaning was simply value-neutral having a right a privilege, overwhelming modern use comes with the implication that someone believes they have some right when really that's not justified.

Merriam-Webster lists both senses, but only notes:

  First Known Use of entitled: 1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

(Entitlement is a little older, 1782, but basically the same applies.)

Wikipedia has this:

  In the 2000s, the meaning of the word has extended to encompass informal expectations of social relationships, social conventions and social norms which are considered unreasonable or unduly prescriptive upon others.[citation needed]

I tried to look but I can't find a good citation. Is it true that this second sense developed in the last twenty years? Has that second sense overtaken the original in common use?


texts:
Is it considered grammatical to refer to a gerund in the subject position with the pronoun "it"?
Example:

  Visiting a dentist regularly is recommended as it can contribute to overall health.


texts:
I have always found use of the phrase "the direction traveled" a bit odd, though not as striking as "travel a direction". People travel a distance and travel in a direction, but do not *travel a direction. However, examples of this phrase abound on Google Books:

A moving van traveled 200 mi west and 70 mi south. Find the distance from the point of origin to the destination, and the direction traveled.
Uniform velocity means that the distances and the direction traveled by an object during a given unit of time do not change throughout the motion.
A compass may also be used to determine the direction traveled on each leg of the outward journey, or the direction may be estimated from the twists and turns taken, sounds, smells, or even the earth's magnetic field.
While the quarry moves from point to point, the squad follows the string of physical evidence along the track line and notes the direction traveled, evidence found, and locations visited.
It would have been a physical impossibility for a gun, falling and striking the floor and exploding from the contact, to have discharged a bullet in the direction traveled by the bullet which killed Ramón Wong.
The longer the jump the wider the variation in the distance and the direction traveled.

What does the passive structure work but not the active form of the same phrase? Is there a name for this grammar phenomenon?


texts: Is it "I read one of your comment" or "I read one of your comments"?

texts:
Which one is correct? The first one implies that I read one specific comment but the second one that I read one comment out of many the person made?
Thanks!


texts:
Is there any word, expression or phrasal verb I can use that has the opposite meaning of "put off"?

The case I have in mind is this:

The meeting would be on saturday, but a lot of things have happened, so we'll have to ___________ for wednesday.


texts:
I was talking about the short story "The Invisible Japanese Gentlemen" by Graham Greene. The narrator is part of the story and also talks about himself/herself. They ask me what we know about the narrator, so I thought I'd give as many details as possible.

  The narrator, who can’t be deduced to be a male or female, describes
  them as (…)

Is it correct or awkward? How would you phrase this concept? ("A person who cannot be deduced to be male or female", and also more generally, the idea that "x cannot be deduced to be y or z.")


texts:
I'm trying to find the word to describe a type of robot.  Here are my assumptions about the terms I have found thus far:

Cyborgs are biological creatures that have had cybernetic implants.
Bionics are similar, but their implants are mechanical in nature and do not enhance / change their thoughts or actions.
Androids are purely mechanical with no biological components.

So, what would a robot (with no higher or "self aware" artificial intelligence) be called if someone then grafted biological material into its design?

Said biological material is not intelligent in itself... it was not a conscious being who was combined with a robot, so it brings no intelligence to the new being.

However, the biological material continues to grow (with absorbed nutrients, etc., and no further surgical procedures), and in time the robot becomes self aware and this is completely attributed to the biological material combined with the electronics that have been combining over the course of a few decades.

Would one need to coin a new phrase for this creature or would it be a cyborg even though it did not begin life as an organic being?


texts:
So, I have been writing this text about agriculture and farming and I got stuck with this sentence.

When the population is in its highest...

Should I say "in its highest" or  "at its highest"? I know that preposition depends on context but I really don't understand which one of them I need to use here.


texts:
"Aren't I" sounds wrong to say, but as far as I know there are no alternatives. Does anyone have a quick, compact alternative to "aren't I" that sounds more grammatically correct?

Thank you so much to anyone who answers or reads this in general.


texts: What is the difference between "here" and "over here"?

texts: Sometimes people use "here/there" sometimes "over here/there" what is the difference?


texts:
I recently read "The Cask of Amontillado" for pleasure, and I found this passage:

  He had a weak point –this Fortunato –although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity, to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires. In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack, but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially; –I was skilful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could.

I found it most peculiar that Poe followed a semicolon with a space and then an em-dash. It seemed natural and made sense.

I've never seen this style of punctuation in any other literature I've read. Is this something that is okay to use in similar situations?  What's the consensus on this usage?


texts:
These are sentences that I saw in a grammar book, called the Oxford guide to English Grammar:

"I find these pills work best."
"We ran slowest in the race."

Why doesn't sentence one they say "…work the best…"?
Again, the definite article was dropped. Why does sentence two not say "…the slowest…"?

Also, this sentence is quoted from a paragraph in The Official Cambridge Guide to IELT: "They contributed the least at only 17%." Why did they use the here, unlike the other two sentences?


texts: Is there a name for the practice of placing too many phrases/clauses between the subject and verb of a sentence?

texts:
I recently had a discussion with a coworker while editing a document, wherein I thought a sentence was hard to read, because the subject was separated from the verb by a large dependent clause describing it.

I was looking for discussion and guidance about this issue, but I don't know if it has a concise name.

Example:

  The girl whose mother had brought a fresh tray of delicious lemon cookie bars to class a week ago wrote a book report.

I realize this is an especially rambly run-on sentence, and is purposefully so, as an exaggeration of what I am trying to illustrate. The core meaning of the sentence, "The girl wrote a book report," is so confounded by having to straddle that huge mess in the middle.

So, is there a specific name for this?


texts: “She left me for another woman” or “She left me for a woman”?

texts:
Assuming a male speaker is referring to an ex-partner, which of the following is more correct?

  She left me for another woman
  She left me for a woman

The phrase She left me for another man has always made sense to me because the omission of another would suggest that she did not have a man before she left (a subtle self-deprecation on the part of the speaker). Similarly, a female speaker would say He left me for another woman.

Should the rules change when the new partner is of the same gender?


texts: Can you format a bullet list as a paragraph (so to speak)?

texts:
I have no objection to using a bullet list, but to save space I'd like to make the list inline. I know it's not strictly correct grammar, but I know with numbered lists like:

  A good article is made up of three things:

  An appropriate title
  Interesting body text
  Humour

they can be written thusly (excuse the fact that the list easily works without numbers; it's just an example):

  A good article is made up of three things: 1) an appropriate title, 2) interesting body text and 3) humour.

How could you do the same for a bullet list? The particular instance comes from a textbook. I want to repeat the bullet points, but in "paragraph" form, while it still being clear that it is a list and not a case of listing (i.e. semantic patterning).

  Adjacency pairs create a recognisable structural pattern. They:

  follow one another
  are produced by different speakers
  have a logical connection
  conform to a pattern


texts: I was wondering what the word was for “to stab in a downwards motion”. As in shanking downwards?


texts: Which word means 'too sweet' - 'cloying' or 'gluggy'?

texts:
I just had an interesting conversation with my NZ colleague regarding some sweets on the table. I turned down her offer, saying it was too 'cloying' for me, which got her stumped. After I explained what I was trying to say, she said that she would say 'gluggy' instead.
I searched online and found the definition for 'gluggy' is 'Liquid and viscous; moving slowly when poured. The jelly was not yet set, but quite gluggy', which doesn't seem to be the right word.
So, I'd like to know what native speakers think about these two words.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,
Danny


texts: How do I explain “The man on the Clapham omnibus” to the man on the Clapham omnibus?

texts:
I have found that I had to explain what "the man on the Clapham omnibus" means to someone.
I had taken it for granted that the phase was in standard usage, as my parents used it when I was a child.

So what is a good and short way to express the same concept in a way that "the man on the Clapham omnibus" can understand?


texts: Which pronoun best completes the sentence? Every woman received ____ prize. Is it her or their? Please explain