texts: Why do I have to say "want you to do" instead of "want you do"

texts:
example: "I want you to eat fish" instead of "I want you eat fish" or "I want that you eat fish".

Can you explain to me what is te grammatical reason for this?


texts: Capitalization of the word "municipality"

texts:
When I am referring specifically to the Municipality of Durham, for example, and I write the following sentence:

  The Municipality has approved Article 5.3 of the meeting agenda.

Is the word "municipality" capitalized? Because I am referring to the Municipal Council.  I am asking this question because I am under the impression that when we refer a governing body, as opposed to a region, the word should be capitalized.


texts:
Some verbs can have double Ls in the gerund form; for example:

modeling; modelling
traveling; travelling

Which form should we use, or which form is used more in the literature?


texts: Is it "Chinese simplified", or "simplified Chinese"?

texts: What is the correct way to call one of the scripts used for Chinese? Chinese simplified, or simplified Chinese?


texts: Can “come out” and “come down” be used in expression related to cheques?

texts:
Can I use them in expressions like these:

  The bill came out to five dollars.
  How much did the bill come down to?

I checked on the web, but did not find many matching results


texts:
Within the context of 17th century witch-hunting, a kittling was apparently commonly known as some kind of animal.

Perhaps the obvious first guess is a misspelled kitten, or some kind of bird, or a white calf – or lamb?

What animal was “Holt” the witch's familiar spirit?

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyewacket_%28familiar_spirit%29
http://preview.tinyurl.com/zyp8kp4 (Preview to a Google Books link: The Esoteric Codex: Witch Hunting, By Samuel Covington)


texts: what's a word for someone who accuses you of something just because they're doing it themselves?

texts: What's it called when someone blames you or accuses you of doing something because they're doing it themselves? For example, when your boyfriend/girlfriend is cheating on you, so they assume you're also cheating on them. I remember finding a word for it, but I can't seem to find it anymore...


texts:
What is the correct tense when writing an academic paper? For example, assuming [1] is a reference, are the following sentences correct?

Alice et al. [1] showed that ...
[1] shows that ...
We show the results in Table 1. We observe that (1) A was better than B; (2) ...
As shown in Figure 1, the time taken by A is comparable to that by B.
The results show that ...


texts: What tense should I use for describing an ongoing action which has started a long time ago?

texts:
Suppose I started working on a project several years ago and right now I'm still working on the same project. If I want to express this to someone else what tense should I use? The statement should make clear that the action in question is still ongoing, i.e. that I'm still working on this project.

  I have been working on this project for several years.

  I have worked on this project for several years.

Both sound like the action recently finished. Or am I wrong here?


texts:
This question seems to indirectly ask the question, but the upvoted answer says "the actual sentence is...". So my question is this: Are commands considered to be grammatically sound, complete sentences in the English language?
Some examples:

Go.
Add a note.
Do work.


texts: Indefinite articles and chemical elements ("an Mg salt"?)

texts:
I am working on chemistry papers and I came across the term "a Mg salt".

I am unsure if chemical elements are read out as their constituent letters (for example, "em gee" for Mg) or if you read them out as the element they represent (magnesium).

Should this term be "an Mg salt" or not?
What about compounds with formulas, such as oxides? (e.g., "a Na2O container", "a sodium oxide container")

Thank you.

Clarification: I am interested in knowing if I should use "a" or "an" in written documents. I do not care much about how these terms should be read out in conferences, but feel free to leave comments about that too.

I am editing papers, so the question would be along the lines of if "an Mg salt" would be incorrect usage of the indefinite article in a written document.


texts: What happened to "proceed" and "precede"?

texts: As far as I can tell, these words have practically identical etymologies, both with the suffix coming from the Latin cedere, which means to "go", then to the Old French "proceder" and "preceder" respectively. What happened that caused "proceed" to be spelled this way, instead of "procede"? Why did one diverge, but the other didn't?


texts: words pronounced with their letters reversed

texts:
Why are some words pronounced as though their letters were reversed?

For example, why is bible pronounced “buy-bel” and not “bib-lee”, or Favre pronounced “far-vuh” and not “fav-rah”?


texts: Do native people pronounce "it is on the table" as "ɪt sɑːn ðə ˈteɪbl" or "ɪt zɑːn ðə ˈteɪbl"?

texts:
Sometimes, when I watch American films, I often hear people say "ɪt zɑːn ðə ˈteɪbl" (it is on the table).

I learned in textbook that "it is" can be contracted as "it's" and since "t" is voiceless so we have to pronounce "it's" as "ɪts" not "ɪtz".

But people, especially American ones often say "ɪt zɑːn ðə ˈteɪbl" (it is on the table).

Then I checked the dictionary

  is

  UK  strong /ɪz/ weak /z/ /s/ US  strong /ɪz/ weak /z/ /s/

So I guessed that there is no contraction in the sentence "it is on the table", people pronounce it as  "ɪt zɑːn ðə ˈteɪbl" and /z/ is the weak form of "is".

did I guess right?


texts: Difference between "mingle" and "intermingle"?

texts: How does adding the prefix "inter" affect the meaning and usage of the word "mingle" ?


texts: Need for using the article "the" before "United States of America"?

texts:
Usually, we do not use the definite article, the, before names of countries but we use the before "United States of America".

Is there a specific reason for using the article before the country "United States of America"?


texts: Six feet/foot five: Does adding "inches" affect the grammatical form of "foot"?

texts:
Is it possible to say "six feet five" (inches are left out here)?

Or is "six foot five" the only correct variant? Does incluing "inches" affect the grammatical form of "foot"?


texts: Is using "all" instead of "all used up" a regional thing?

texts: My inlaws from Central Pennsylvania will say, "The milk is all" instead of "The milk is all gone". Another very common example, "Can you bring me some cookies?" "Sorry, the cookies are all". Anyone familiar with the usage?


texts:
Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair

What is the meaning of repair in this context??


texts: What is a word that means regretful and happy at the same time?

texts: I want to know if there is a word that can express regret and joyfulness at the same time.


texts: Small word to describe the purpose or status of some data

texts:
I'm designing a data transmission pattern template for some Arduino development, and I want to designate a field in the data to describe the purpose and status of that packet of data. Before transmission it'd be used to describe if the packet is empty or malformed, and during transmission that same space would be used to convey the purpose of the packet. I'd like it to be an extensible but sensible field, so I want to name it appropriately so users don't stash information in it that ought to be stored somewhere else.

This value will always be included in the packet header, whereas the payload (contents of the packet) is optional.

Some earlier considerations:

META - describes itself, possibly too broadly
FLAGS - used to indicate a set of true-false values, not a single complex value
STATUS - doesn't imply that this field also describes the intent of a packet


texts:
I was recently told in class that this sentence is correct:

"He reprogrammed the system, and in doing so, we lost crucial data."

It just doesn't feel right to me - my intuition is that the subject on both sides of "in doing so" should be the same. Something like "He reprogrammed the system, and in doing so, caused us to lose crucial data."

Is my intuition off, or is the original sentence wrong?


texts: Is the pronoun "us" grammatical in: "it is worth us examining"

texts:
Is it grammatically incorrect to add "us" in this sentence or should it be removed?

  Strong arguments exist in support of both sides which implies it is worth us examining both points of view before drawing any conclusions.


texts: "Fugly" is a vulgar slang adjective as far as I know, and I wonder how common it is, and how do people react when they hear that word. Native speakers are appreciated if they share their opinions.


texts: A proper name for an official letter stating that somebody works at a specific company

texts:
I'm asked to translate a letter into English. The letter is about one company stating that my mom really works there.

How is this type of a letter called?

I would like to google for an exampe of a similar letter, but i don't know the right keywords.


texts: A learned scholar and the pronunciation of learned

texts:
Source: Cambridge Dictionary

learned
adjective fml US   /ˈlɜr·nɪd/
having or showing much knowledge:
a learned scholar

I was checking the word learned and the example sentence made me wonder if there is unlearned scholar/professor?
In addition to that, there are three pronunciations of the word learned. /lɜːnd/ /lɜːnt/ /ˈlɜː.nɪd/
I have always heard /lɜːnd/. When I use software to read the paragraph, interestingly it pronounces learned differently depends on the sentence structure. How do I know when to pronounce as /lɜːnd/ and when to pronounce as /ˈlɜː.nɪd/?


texts: Are words with "cata-" and "ana-" prefixes related?

texts:
While revising Greek vocab, it suddenly struck me that the words "ανα" (up) and "κατα" (down) form the basis of some pairs of words such as "catabolic" (chemical reactions where things are broken down) and "anabolic" (where chemicals are built up).

Are there other words with these prefixes related in a similar way, if more convoluted, way, such as "catalogue" and "analogue" or "catalyst" and "analyst"?


texts:
Longman Dictionary says that banquet is a formal dinner

a formal dinner for many people on an important occasion
a large and impressive meal

Macmillan and Oxford Dictionaries say that a banquet is a formal meal

a formal meal prepared for a large number of people on an important occasion

An elaborate and formal evening meal for many people, often followed by speeches.

Does "Banquet" refer only to dinner or extensively to a meal?
I want to receive an answer to my question.


texts:
Consider the sentence,

  A is better than B and C.

Does it mean A is better than B and C individually?
Or, A is better than B and C combined?

Consider the following paragraph picked from this blog post.

  "Also note that nepotism is not limited to college admissions only. Every other domain, which is supposed to be merit driven like public job recruitments/promotions, tender allocations etc., is susceptible to such corruptions. In all such domains, invisible networks will be far more successful in hiding corrupt behaviours than visible networks and individuals."

I am referring to the usage of and in last line - "...than visible networks and individuals".


texts:
To my ear, the former should be pronounced "vurb-ij" and the latter "fohl-ee-ij" (the endings may vary among "aj", "edge" and "ij").

I occasionally hear people say "vurb-ee-ij" and often hear "fohl-ij".

Are they interchangeable? Regional?


texts: Dissertation: correct writing of a numbered list

texts:
Are there any grammatical rules for numbered lists (my university does not have a guideline for this)?
Which format would be correct for the given example of numbered objectives? Two things that I prefer: I would like to use numbered list with points (not brackets) and I would like to use an introductory/leading sentence above.
The first sentence should end with a "dash"? Each of the objectives ends with a full stop?

Specific objectives of the study are listed as below -
1.    To assess ... .
2.    To evaluate ... .
3.    To examine ... .


texts: Is it possible at all to you both with or?

texts:
Is it possible to say:
"I am open to BOTH  MSc  OR  Ph.D. positions."?

As I can not possibly have both positions at the same time, using and here seemed a little bit strange to me. I may say "I am open to either an MSc or a Ph.D. position"; However, I got curious about the possibility to say the same thing using both.


texts: Is "Draw the line" an inclusive or exclusive term?

texts:
When someone uses the phrase "draw the line", for example:

  I will do most household work, but I draw the line at laundry.

or

  I draw the line at Bill Nye when it comes to trusting popular scientist opinions.

do these phrases have an implicit inclusion or exclusion of the topic the line is being drawn about, or is it always contextual?


texts: Does anyone know a word that means 'small item of high importance'?

texts:
I'm starting a novelty website and am currently trying to name it. We want the same feeling you get when you see a nice old store that has thousands of small gits n' gadgets that make you want to find a trinket to take home. Basically, the feeling i got from the movie "Mr.Magorium's Wonder Emporium" if anyone has seen it.

Me and my friend want a two word title, and currently have this:
________ Emporium

So you can see we're having some trouble. The closest word i've found is 'Memento', but we are trying to find one that better phonetically rolls of the tongue. Any suggestions will be helpful!


texts:
If I take the sentences  "The sky grew dark" and "They made him captain", the last word of each of these sentences is an object complement (adjective and noun, respectively).
If a similar sentence is made but with a clause attached at the end instead of one word, how could one tell how that clause functions?
Take for instance this sentence:
Books and words have made me what I am.
Here again the part "what I am" is an object complement that describes the object "me".
Is the clause an adjective clause or a noun clause?
Both an adjective as well as a noun would fit well at the end of this sentence (Books and words have made me smarter/a poet), so how can one tell in case of a clause appearing in such sentences?
Regards,


texts: How do I write that I have received a grant and that the work I am currently doing is being supported by that said grant?

texts: I am writing to an educational institute that I am doing work/study with the grant that I have received from a specific foundation. Do I say, I am working alongside the grant? I am working through the grant? I am doing work using the grant?


texts: Are alpha and omega common abbreviations for birth and death?

texts:
In Italy, perhaps due to our Greek-Roman influence on culture, it is not uncommon to see something like:

  alpha January 9, 1913 — omega April 22, 1994

...written on tombstones to mean dates of birth and death respectively. While I thought this was pretty much universal and my previous use of this symbolism didn't seem to raise any eyebrows, I was mildly surprised to see it wasn't suggested on a question like this, especially because it seems to fit the description fairly well.

Now, instead of adding yet another answer to that question — 23 are more than enough — I have to wonder: are alpha and omega commonly understandable symbols for life and death in English culture?


texts: Is it correct to omit preposition before date?

texts:
Today, I received a mail from Steam and noticed that there was no preposition before the date. This is the part of the mail:

  SPECIAL PROMOTION! Offer ends 26 Apr 2:00am KST

Shouldn't it be:

  SPECIAL PROMOTION! Offer ends on 26 Apr at 2:00am KST

If it's okay to omit the prepositions before a date, are these sentences grammatically correct:

  The gift will arrive 26 Apr 2:00am KST.
  He sent the message 26 Apr 2:00am KST.
  It happens every Monday 2:00am KST.


texts: Will a "certain number of people" write "a letter" or "letters" of recommendation?

texts:
Which of the following is correct?

  You will need to have a certain number of people write a letter of recommendation.

or

  You will need to have a certain number of people write letters of recommendation.

I intend to communicate that one needs to find a certain number of people, each writing one and only one letter of recommendation.


texts: Are "Fish in a barrel" and "Sitting ducks" similar?

texts:
Do the phrases "Fish in a barrel" and "Sitting ducks" convey the same thing?

In my opinion, they have the same tone and express something to be an easy target.

Eg:
Out there, they are just fish in a barrel.

Out there, they are sitting ducks.

Can they be used interchangeably or are there some differences in their usage?


texts: would have liked - past of " would like " ( want ) or third conditional

texts:
A soccer coach said this at a press conference a couple of days go .

“I think that out of all the teams we were looking at, certainly from my point of view, Australia was the team I would’ve liked to have played".

His team hasn't faced Australia yet. The match is going to be held in Sidney this november.

I think wanted to play sounds better than would have liked to have played in this context.

It should be" Australia was the team I wanted to play "

*a british guy in another forum told me that it was right but I don't think he read my post carefully.

There's quite a difference between wanted and would have liked although they mean almost the same in the present tense (want-would like), e.g

-I wanted to get a iPhone 8 for my birthday so I asked my mom to buy me one. She bought me the gold one .

-I would have liked to get an iPhone 8 for my birthday but when i asked my mom to buy me one, she told me to forget it and bought me a chinese phone  instead.

Would have liked (to) is the same as I would have wanted (to). They are 3red conditionals.

third conditional describes an unreal situation with reference to the past that didn't happen. And although the match hasn't happened yet, the odds of the match against Australia happening are almost 99%

What do you guys think ?

disclaimer: I know the sentence in question is not a conditional but you what you know what mean. the same rules of the third conditional are applied in this type of would -have sentences


texts:
I'm looking of a term or adjective for extremely high temperatures.
One that can describe the temperature of the sun or the hottest thing in the universe.

Words like conflagrant or Blaze doesn't fit what I want.


texts: Shakespeare's “say sooth” vs. “tell truth”

texts:
The noun sooth, pronounced /suːθ/, is now archaic and means ‘fact’,‘reality’ and ‘truth’. Its legacy persists in the words soothe /suːð/, and soothsayer meaning someone who sees the truth, a synonym of fortune teller and the French loanword clairvoyant.

In Shakespeare's plays, sooth is often used with the verb say and in the expression in sooth whereas truth is often used with the verb tell

From Shakespeare's Macbeth

    Sergeant:
    If I say sooth, I must report they were
    As cannons overcharged with double cracks, so they
    Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe:

(Act I, Scene 2)

    Banquo:
    And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
    The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
    Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s
    In deepest consequence.

(Act I, Scene 3)

    Macbeth:
    [Aside] Two truths are told,
    As happy prologues to the swelling act
    Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.

(Act I, Scene 3)

    Macbeth:
    If thou speak'st false,
    Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,
    Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth,
    I care not if thou dost for me as much.
    I pull in resolution, and begin
    To doubt the equivocation of the fiend
    That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood
    Do come to Dunsinane:'…

(Act V, Scene 5)

Merchant of Venice

    Antonio:
    In sooth, I know not why I am so sad:
    It wearies me; you say it wearies you;

(Act I, Scene 1)

Etymonline tells me that truth meaning "something that is true" was first recorded in the mid-14 century. In the 1560s, truth came to mean "accuracy, correctness". Meanwhile, the noun sooth is dated 900 and was derived from soð.

I would like to know what difference in meaning, if any, was there between sooth and truth?
Why did “sooth” become obsolete, and when was it eventually overtaken by “truth”?


texts:
When explaining an experiment from a paper which one of the following seems more suitable and natural.

  In this paper they study the genetic structure of human body. They have examined over 100 patients...

Or should it be simple past:

  In this paper they study the genetic structure of human body. They examined over 100 patients...


texts: Was the use of accents in -ed adjectives ever common-place? When were they first used in modern books?

texts:
The distinction between the words blessèd (/ˈblɛsəd/) and blessed (/blɛst/) (see Grammarbook) appears to be wearing thin in modern language, possibly due to reduced accent usage and its resultant lack of different pronunciation between the two terms.

Wiktionary refers to the word as

  poetic, dated

And most damningly of all as an

  Alternative form of blessed (verb)

While I understand that little usage of terms such as blessèd and cursèd cause them to get blurred with their verb counterparts, some adjectives like naked, talented, sacred are still used, always written without the accent. In some legal and political circles†, learnèd is still used for specific traditional purposes but it is now starting to fade.

The reason some of these words are pronounced with /əd/ is explained by the answers to this question: "Why pronunciation of “Crooked” is “Crook-ked”?"

David G said:

  If the normal form of the word (crook, twist) ends in t or d,
  the -ed is enunciated (such as wanted or bedded).

This explains the pronunciation of talented, but not that of naked, sacred, or blessed. The pronunciation of naked is however explained by coleopterist's answer  to this question: Where does “wicked” get its /ɪd/ from?

  According to A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary and Expositor of the
  English Language, 1839,

    The adjectives naked, wicked, picked (pointed), booked, crooked, forked, tusked, tressed, and wretched, are not derived from verbs,
    and are therefore pronounced in two syllables. The same may be
    observed of scabbed, crabbed, chubbed, stubbed, shagged, snagged,
    ragged, scrubbed, dogged, rugged, scragged, hawked, jagged; to which
    we may add, the solemn pronunciation of stiff-necked; and these when
    formed into nouns with the addition of ness, preserved the ed in a
    distinct syllable, as wickedness, scabbedness, raggedness, &c.

What is the history behind writing these words with accents?

With this explanation out of the way, what I'd like to know is whether it was common, in the past, to write these words with grave accents, and in which  contexts people did this.
An answer to a question of mine (Are -èd adjectives still usèd words?)  explains that:

  [Shakespeare] was somewhat inconsistent. But he never used an accent, and he generally used belov'd for the two-syllable pronunciation and beloved for the three-syllable pronunciation.

Was it ever common for people to add accents to or ommit the 'e' (as in belov'd) from their writing to show this pronunciation?

†Interestingly, Hansard don't include accents at all, even when one looks back into the 18th and 19th century records. This may, however, be a result of typewriting and modernising of the records.

Note: Bits of this question have been copied from this question because, looking back on that, it is rather broad and it would be better to split the question up.


texts:
I often write texts where I offer an explanation of some issue followed by a paragraph discussing the implications for the reader. I generally start those paragraphs with "this means":

  [Longer explanation that cutting yourself in the foot hurts]

  This means that you need to be careful and wear safety clothing when operating chain saws. There are several types of safety features ...

I don't like the "this means that" phrase very much, but I'm not a native speaker, so maybe it is fine? If not, what alternatives should I use?


texts: Word to express whether a field of study is invented or discovered

texts:
Today I was discussing how Computer Science is different from e.g. Physics because the architecture of computers was designed and improved by humans, while the laws of physics are figured out through experimentation.

This got me thinking: is there a word that expresses this difference?


texts:
I heard this phrase when I was watching Battleship. An old man said,

  "Somebody is gonna kiss the donkey."

I do not know what it means, I only heard it in a movie. What is this phrase mean?

In Addition:

I think it was Rihanna who said "Saddle Ridge will be in weapons range in five minutes," then the old man stated the phrase.


texts: Do footnoting superscripts go inside or outside punctuation?

texts:
When using superscripts to indicate a footnote, do these fall inside or outside adjacent punctuation?  If there is an answer, is that answer applicable worldwide, or just to specific regions or publishers?

Does it matter what the particular punctuation is, including such punctuation as commas, colons, parentheses and other brackets, periods, and quotation marks?

Does it matter whether the footnote applies to just one gloss1, or to an entire phrase in toto?

Does the answer change if, instead of using instead of numeric footnotes, you use the traditional  sequence of symbols  (*, †, ‡, §, ‖, and ¶)2  ?

OED: “A word inserted between the lines or in the margin as an explanatory equivalent of a foreign or otherwise difficult word in the text; hence applied to a simliar explanatory rendering of a word given in a glossary or dictionary.”
As enumerated on pp 68–69 of Robert Bringhurst’s The Elements of Typographic Style (version 3.2); Hartley and Marks, 2008.  Bringhurst goes on to say “But beyond the asterisk, dagger3, and double dagger4, this order is not familiar to most readers, and never was.”
That is, the † character at codepoint U+2020 DAGGER, also known as the obelisk, obelus, or long cross.  The classical plural of obelus is obeli.
That is, the ‡ character at codepoint U+2021 DOUBLE DAGGER, also known as the
diesis or double obelisk.  The classical plural of diesis is dieses.


texts:
Blue lines suddenly appeared before her— one end of each pointing at her chest, the other disappearing into the mists. Vin immediately jumped to the side, dodging as a pair of coins shot past in the night air, leaving trails in the mist. She flared pewter, landing on the cobbled street beside the wall . Her tin-enhanced ears picked out a scraping sound; then a dark form shot into the sky, a few blue lines pointing to (1)his coin pouch.
Vin dropped a coin and threw herself into the air after her opponent. (2)They soared for a moment, flying over the grounds of some unsuspecting nobleman. Vin’s opponent suddenly changed course in the air, jerking toward the mansion itself. Vin followed, letting go of the coin below her, instead burning iron and Pulling on one of the mansion’s window latches.
Her opponent hit first, and she heard a thud as he ran into the side of the building. He was off a second later."

As a non-English speaker who is not accustomed to pronouns, I get in trouble whenever I come across them.
Am I right in saying:

his indicates "a dark form"?
they indicates "Vin and a dark form"?


texts: Word for expressing a purchase by installment

texts:
I'm wondering how can you ask a store for splitting the price of a good in parts and then paying it in some fixed intervals? I'm looking for something that's casual and not too formal.

I searched online and found some words which I provide in the following. But I'm doubting they might be very country/case specific.

financing
time plan
installment plan (may work, but sounds very formal)
hire purchase

Could you please elaborate as a native speaker?


texts: Word that conveys being absent from an appointment

texts:
Is there a word that conveys being absent from an appointment? The closest words I can think of are "ditch" and "dump," but both are rather informal. I want to say something along the lines of:

  I went in the office at 3pm to meet Bob, but Bob ditched/dumped me.

I realize that it's perhaps more common to say, "Bob did not show up," but I want a stronger expression that connotes a willful act of neglect or carelessness.


texts: What's the rule behind the use of the articles to refer to something in general?

texts:
I'm very confused about the use of English articles in generalisations with singular countable nouns. I read in a grammar book that in case of the word 'man' -  the rule is that, if you want to say something that generally applies to all people, you use zero article e.g.,

  Man need happiness.

So why do I come across sentences that apply in sense to all people in general, but are written with either the definite article 'the' or the indefinite article, 'a'? For example,

  A man deserves a second chance
   or
  The man's duty is to work

So what's the rule? Or if you want to generally say something about a type of thing, not meaning a particular thing such as giraffe —you will say:

  Giraffe is my favourite animal

It means that you like all giraffes in general, not one giraffe. In this case you put zero article. Fine. it's a countable, singular noun. But let's take another singular countable noun such as, computer. If you want to refer to computers generally you will not say 'computer' without the article, but instead the computer e.g.,

  The computer changed the world

meaning that all computers generally changed the world. Let's take another singular countable noun— 'child'. To say that generally all children need love you will say:

  A child needs love

In this case you will use the indefinite article 'a' ... so you see.. these are the examples of sentences I found and all of them are to give some generalisations with the use of singular countable nouns. Each of these examples have either 'a' or 'the' or zero article.. and now I'm really confused.. if anyone could help  me , I'd be grateful a lot. :)


texts: What does it mean by "Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold"?

texts:
There's a famous Mario Puzo quote from The Godfather.

  Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.

How to interpret this sentence?


texts: How to refer to something that is beyond postmodern?

texts:
Here are a few common amalgamations that use 'post' to mark a new reference point:

modern art -> postmodern art

modern portfolio theory -> postmodern
portfolio theory

This is all very intuitive. But suppose that we have a need to add another reference point to show that something is more recent than "post." I initially considered "post postmodern art," but the repetition of words comes off as slightly brute force. I'm hoping there is a more elegant solution for this.


texts:
I've lived in USA only for a while and people sometimes say to me (when we meet):

How's it going man?

Or

How you doing man?

What do I answer? Do they ask me how is it going? I try to say:

Thanks, it's going good, and you?

Or

I'm doing fine thanks, and how are you?

But it always gets somehow awkward. Is that right way to answer? I'm trying to figure out how to just get past this and answer it quickly and effortlessly.

Sometimes I hear people just not respond anything and keep the conversation going.

I'm very confused. Thanks for help!


texts: Is "the changes you intend to make will not do us any good" polite?

texts:
I would like a polite (formal) way to say:

  The changes you intend to make will not do us any good.

or should I say "intend on making"?


texts: Should you use "I thought it was" or "I thought it is" when talking about an eternal fact?

texts: When you're talking about how you were mistaken in the past, but this fact your were mistaken about is not about something in the past. "I thought/I used to think 'red' was called 'orange'" "I thought/I used to think 'red' is called 'orange'"


texts: I'm always confused about of and for. :( -- From a scene of New Girl, why didn't she say it's like a whole secret life 'of' you? Would appreciate if you could explain what it means if she said it this way (even if it wouldn't make sense)


texts: is it correct to say, "I like having." as a standalone sentence?

texts: I consider, "I like having," to be the reciprocal action of, "I like giving," which stands alone on its own without much confusion.  In, "I like giving," it is implied that there is some object, wealth, knowledge, etc that is given without having to define it.  Can it also work that one can like "having" implicitly in a broad sense without there being a concrete object in one's possession?


texts:
What is the proper way of saying:  "Jim, John, and I am going to the beach."

Whenever I say "Jim, John, and I are going somewhere", I stumble over "I are going".

Should it be "am" or "are", or should the "I" come first, or should it be "me".

When reading everyday messages, I usually see people write "Me, Jim, and John are going somewhere", avoiding the stumble, but that doesn't seem correct at all.


texts: Should pronunciation of the r in "heart" be the same as r in "rabbit", in UK English?

texts:
My 5 yr old daughter was given a task by her teacher to "find as many things as she can that have the sound r" with examples of rabbit, barrow, and ruler (all r's were underlined in the 3 words).

She was criticised by the teacher for answering with the word "heart", because "it's the sound r not the way the word is spelled". This bugs me because I'm not 100% sure whether it's correct!

We are in New Zealand, and I have to admit we generally pronounce words like heart and harder as haat and haada. If we were to use (reasonably) strict UK English, would the r be carefully pronounced or can it be essentially silent?


texts:
I heard the question: "Are you mad at me?" in a youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7GfP7kX9gY pronounced in two different ways:

'ɑr yu 'mæd æt mi?

and

'ɑr yu 'mæd ət mi?

Sometimes the preposition "at" is pronounced in the strong (æt) form even if it's not stressed. In a normal context like the youtube video above, does it matter if I use the strong form (æt) or the weak form (ət)?

When I pronounce the question above I put a bit of stress on "are" and "mad". Am I correct? I think that we also have a rising intonation at the end of the question, because it's a YES/NO question.


texts: What do you say when you don't know someone's gender?

texts: For example, I want to refer to someone on the internet, but I don't know this person's gender. Which personal-pronoun do I use? (as article I mean he, she, it, etc)


texts: Using "may not" when something is not sometimes true

texts:
When we want to say something is sometimes true or happens sometimes, we use "can":

A vegetarian diet can provide enough calories for a child's normal growth.

What modal would you use if you wanted to say something is not sometimes true or doesn't happen sometimes? Would you use "may not"?

A vegetarian diet may not provide enough calories for a child's normal growth.

I think we wouldn't use "can't" there. Am I right?


texts: What's a single word for a person who doesn't follow the crowd?

texts:
I'm looking for a word with a positive undertone to describe a teenager who does her own thing and doesn't cave in to peer pressure.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

Question edited 1/30/16.  Someone marked this question as a duplicate, but I think the other question is quite different from the one already posted.  The other question is asking about a single word to describe someone who doesn't follow the crowd for the single purpose of being contrary.  A contrary state of mind has nothing to do with what I'm looking for.  I'm writing a recommendation for a teenager who is polite, independent, confident, and doesn't follow the crowd...  NOT out of a sense of being different for the sake of being different, and not because she's ornery and contrary, but because she's her own person, and not swayed by what the other teens are doing.  Can we re-open this discussion?


texts: What do they mean by “I’m good either night”

texts:
Let me know if Thursday or Friday for Miami spice works or not.

“I’m good either night”


texts: Mass noun equivalent of 'music' for 'movies'

texts:
Do we have a mass noun equivalent like 'music' but for 'movies'?
If not, what nature of the meaning of 'music' makes it a mass noun as opposed to countable nouns like 'movies'?
I was wondering why something that is so close in meaning has two different types of conceptualization in our lexicon.


texts: What would you call a person from India?

texts:
My guess would be Indian, but that sounds like a guy with a feather on his head who hunts buffalo.

Is there a better name?


texts: Alternative for double genitive in "the author's master's thesis"

texts:
Im my PhD thesis I'm referring to my master's thesis.
Avoiding first person, I would refer to it as "the/this author's master's thesis", but the double genitive s sounds clumsy to me.

Are there better alternatives?

Is it acceptable to write "the author's master thesis"?
As discussed here, here and here, it is generally preferable to say master's thesis, but master thesis seems not totally uncommon, as well.


texts: I just saw that "Cinderella" is being released again as a live action film, and it's directed by Kenneth Branagh. This makes me so bored, but in an enraged way. Is there a word for this?


texts: What do you call one who believes in a higher power but doesn't call it "God"?

texts: What do you call a person who believes in a higher power but doesn't call that higher power "God"?    Someone who respects every religion as a subject of study, or a valid belief system, but does not believe entirely any religion's faith himself?


texts:
In the introduction of my thesis, I have the following statement: "It has been stated [...] from both __ theoretical and __ experimental standpoints.".
My advisor is saying that I should put indefinite articles ("a" and "an", respectively) in the blanks. However, I don't think any articles are necessary, and it even sounds better without them. A reasonable middle ground for me seems to put a "the" in the first blank only. Are any of these options correct? If so, which are better sounding?


texts:
sorry for my not good english

I am looking for one word to express the concept of "technical area".

By "technical area" I mean a virtual place (in a web site) where users will find various technical stuff like projects, manuals, drawings, finishes and references about certain products (furnitures).

"technical area" is too long and I am looking for a one word definition (possibly short).

I was looking in various dictionaries but I can't even guess a word since english is not even my mother language.


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  “Special thanks go to” or “Special thanks goes to”

I heard a lot of time the following two sentences.

  Many thanks also goes to xyz and abc for [...].
  Many thanks also go to xyz and abc for [...].

Which one of these two sentences is correct? Is thanks singular or plural?


texts:
Recently, a student wrote the following sentence:

  Despite Dr.Guitierrez’s assertion that Tina was bit by a lizard, he knew that he was wrong to assure the Bowmans about lizards bite children normally.

The correct way to write this sentence could be:

  ...that lizards bite children normally"

or

  "...about lizards biting children normally".

But I had trouble explaining to the student why their version was incorrect. Can someone help me find an explanation?


texts: Is there a sesquipedalian word meaning "first and maybe last"?

texts: As in "Welcome to the First And Maybe Last Vernal Equinox Quest". We are having an over-the-top egg hunt-like event at the office, which we may never want to do again. ;)


texts: What is the most appropriate word for the reverse of ableism?

texts: This is a writing question for a realistic sci-fi book I'm working on. Ableism means discrimination against people who are disabled. What would be the best word, made up (or not made up) for discriminating against people with enhanced abilities? Superableism? Reverse ableism? Is there a better term that isn't used much?


texts: Are these the correct nouns? "... responsibilities consisted of ensuring continuity of reception and in-house mail services."

texts:
"... responsibilities consisted of ensuring continuity of reception and in-house mail services."

Is it "continuity" or "continuation"?
Is it "reception service" or "receptionist service"?


texts: What is it called when in the statement "she recommended that I read a book", the phrase "a book" can refer to a specific book or any book?

texts: If she recommended a specific book, then I could say that "She recommended that I read a book" where "a book" refers to a specific book. However, the same sentence could mean that she was recommending that I read any book. What is the phenomenon called?


texts:
The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the term marketing is a word that is related to advertising, business and commerce. A colleague once said to me that she went to do some marketing. I came to realise that she meant shopping for grocery in the supermarket, only after dwelling further onto the subject. But this is something that is rarely used in such context based on my own personal experience.

My question is: Is the usage of the term marketing in the literal sense still appropriate in the English speaking community?


texts: Placing a comma after a conditional statement

texts:
I've always had difficulties in figuring out where commas should be placed. For example, in a phrase containing a conditional statement, how should I write...

If they don't arrive by noon, she'll be worried.
If they don't arrive by noon she'll be worried.


texts:
I am looking for a new laptop, and as I scrolled down the page of this specific model, I encountered this:

So, bottom line: shouldn’t it be Respond Faster?

I am didn’t post a link because I’m not sure if it’s allowed to link to other websites, and since I don’t want to promote anything.

So just out of curiosity, am I right?


texts: I've noticed that some people in my office spell out "data import tool" as D. I. T., whereas others will say "dit" (like "ditty"). Is trying to pronounce an acronym as a word, as opposed to spelling it out, ever correct?


texts: Hyphens after the prefixes “non-” and “anti-” in mathematics

texts:
Is there a convention when to attach the prefixes non- and anti- to mathematical terms using a hyphen and when without?

One uses non-zero but also noncommutative.

Likewise for anti-. I no longer know which is correct – anti-isomorphism or antiisomorphism, anti-isometry or antiisometry.


texts:
Decoding and encoding can be thought of as the same process, but in opposite directions. The generic word for a bidirectional encoder/decoder is “codec”:

a portmanteau of coder-decoder.

Parsing and serialization can also be thought of as the same process, but in opposite directions.
Is there an equivalent word to “codec”, but for the bidirectional process of parsing/serialization?


texts: What are possible alternatives for "housing" in this context?

texts:
In the following sentence:

  Yosemite National Park recently posted video of this bear climbing a tree near ranger housing.

I understand that housing here is a collective for quarters serving as accommodation to rangers during their shifts.

Would it saying "... climbing a tree near ranger houses" mean the same thing? Or would it carry any additional meaning (for instance would it imply they are the primary and permanent residence of the rangers, where they live with their families maybe, instead of being just their workplace?).

Or maybe are there any requirements for one to call them houses? For instance, if they lack a kitchen or living room found in common houses where people live then they can't be considered houses?

Another question: would "ranger dwellings" fit in this sentence as well?

Thanks!


texts: How should an imperative sentence with multiple verb phrases and differing prepositions be worded?

texts:
The following are two version of a tagline.

  Ask questions and share your unique knowledge about trains with the hobbyist community.

and

  Ask questions about and share your unique knowledge on trains with the hobbyist community.

I would never say "Ask questions with..." so are these grammatically incorrect or just awkward? Is there a better way to word this without breaking it into two sentences?

The goal of the author was to have "hobbyist community" apply to both verb phrases. The desired meaning is as follows.

  Ask the hobbyist community questions about trains and share your unique knowledge of trains with the hobbyist community.

However, that's a little long and redundant for a tagline. The only smooth wording I have come up with is the following.

  Ask questions about trains and share your unique knowledge with the hobbyist community.

However, that changes the intended meaning somewhat.


texts:
What's it called when you like to do something because you're skilled at it?
My searches didn't yield much but I watched a presentation with this term in it and I can't remember what it was.


texts: Any relation between visor and supervisor?

texts:
I am about to buy a domain name. The domain name represents an application with monitors a computer system. Supervisor or monitor are words that might fit for describing the tool but I wonder if I could just use "visor" in the domain name or will it give a totally different meaning?

An example of domain might be:

computersystemvisor.com


texts: "Handsome is as handsome does," and the puzzling use of "as"

texts:
When I saw the film Forrest Gump, I first heard the expression “Stupid is as stupid does,” and inferred that (to Forrest, at least) it meant something like “Don’t judge me stupid because of my words, judge me only by my actions.” This sense was not totally clear, because he said this expression to people who had in fact judged him by his actions. And what’s more, the wording of the expression did not seem very suitable to that message. It seemed about equally amenable to "Each of us is as stupid as the things we do," which at least made some use of that word "as."
Anyhow, the other day I was watching the much earlier film The Candidate, and someone asked a woman whether she found Robert Redford handsome. She responded “Handsome is as handsome does.”
I’d never heard that before, and it was news to me that this is sort of a set phrase, with different adjectives swapped in.
But today I’ve been looking into the expression on the web. I’ve found a lot of people there trying to puzzle out this weird construction. But here’s where things stand with me.

As the ancient adage is, goodly is he that goodly dooth. - A. Munday
View of Sundry Examples in J. P. Collier John A Kent (1851) 78, c.
1580
He is handsome that handsome doth. - N. R. Proverbs 49, 1659
To be sure, I never thought as it was any harm to say a young man was
handsome; but to be sure I shall never think him so any more now; for
handsome is that handsome does. - Fielding, Tom Jones (Book IV,
Chapter XII), 1749
They are as heaven made them, handsome enough if they be good enough;
for handsome is that handsome does. Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield, 1766
Mr. Digweed has used us basely. Handsome is as handsome does; he is
therefore a very ill-looking man. - Jane Austen, Letter to Cassandra
(1813-01-24)
‘They are – at first sight at any rate,’ laughed Pippin with a sudden
relief after reading Gandalf’s letter. ‘But handsome is as handsome
does, as we say in the Shire; and I daresay we shall all look much the
same after lying in hedges and ditches.’ - The Lord of the Rings, Book
One, Chapter 10, Page 170 Handsome is as handsome does. - Spirit of
Times 297, 23 Aug 1845
‘Don’t you think her much better looking than Alda?’ ‘If handsome is
that handsome does.’ C. M. Yonge, Pillars of House II. xvii., 1873
‘But he’s such a handsome, chivalrous, man.’ Handsome is as handsome
does, thought York grimly. A. Williamson, Funeral March for Siegfried
xxiv. 1979

So it appears that from the very start there was some ambivalence about adjectives and adverbs. But everyone before Jane Austin had “that” rather than “as,” going a long way toward making this construction understandable.

He is handsome that does handsome things.
Handsome is [he] that handsome [things] does
Handsome is that handsome does.

But since Jane, it’s been dicey.
Do I have this basically right? Is there a good story here about why Jane switched to "as," and why the switch prospered? Did she understand the expression some other way, or was the “as” construction somehow appropriate on the one understanding? I feel like I’ve heard British people in literature do this, using “as” where we would expect “that,” but as a mark of vulgarity.


texts: What is the meaning of phrase "death to the"?

texts:
Recently read an article which contains,

  Death to the macho is not a metaphor...

What is the meaning of death to the here?
Is it same as to the death?


texts:
There's a proverb in my native language (Norwegian) which is used as a reply to a person who complains about a poor answer given to his/her poor question. It says that the quality of the answer is relative to the quality of the question.

You asked me a poor question, so I'll respond with a poor answer.

Roughly translated:

As asked, so answered

Is there a similar proverb in the English language?


texts: Is there a correct way to do arbitrarily many nested parentheses? What would come after braces, and after that, etc.?

texts:
I know it's poor form to have nested parentheticals, but I want to do it as a kind of joke. What would be the correct way to nest arbitrarily many parentheses in writing? If I wanted to write a whole piece of nested parentheses, where would I go after braces? Surely there can't be an endless list of symbols to go through - there'd have to be a pattern to it at some point, no?

([{...}])?


texts:
I am confused about this fill in the blank questions. What should I use, which or who?

Humans are the only factors in the ecosystem _____ are responsible for the changes in the ecology.


texts: Problem to understand "to manage" in a sentence

texts:
Usually I don't have problems to understand technical English texts, but in that case I don't know what it means:

  Notice that during a license check, your application does not manage
  any network connections or use any licensing related APIs in the
  Android platform.

What does "does not manage" mean? Does it mean that I need any network connection or not or does it mean that it cannot handle network connections while license check or maybe something else? I don't understand the meaning of this sentence.


texts: Is it ever correct to call someone "Great British"?

texts:
People from Britain are referred to as British.
However I recently learned that Britain is not technically the same as Great Britain.

Source 1
Great Britain and Britain do not mean the same thing.
Great Britain is made up of Scotland, England and Wales, where as
Britain is just England and Wales.
Source 2 (emphasis mine)
Great Britain is the official collective name of of England, Scotland
and Wales and their associated islands. It does not include Northern
Ireland and therefore should never be used interchangeably with ‘UK’ –
something you see all too often. Here at Ordnance Survey, we’re
responsible for mapping Great Britain, which is why we don’t make maps
of Northern Ireland. Technically, if you lose the ‘Great,’ Britain
only refers to England and Wales.

So is it accurate to describe someone from Great Britain as Great British?
I've certainly never heard it. But I wonder if there was ever a time when the phrase was ever in common usage? (NGrams seems to suggest it was most commonly used in the 1830s- although some of these uses are for objects not people.)
Update: It seems my question has sparked an side-argument about exactly what the differences are between "Britain" and "Great Britain". This was not the intention of the question. I simply wanted to ask whether it has ever been acceptable to call a person "Great British".


texts: Is there a word used to describe a weekend plus a one-day holiday?

texts:
I'd like to ask my friend out this coming weekend plus the coming Martin Luther King holiday.

I was about to say: How's your weekend shaping up? But I feel like he might also be available on the Monday holiday. Is there a better word than just weekend (basically just Saturday and Sunday) here?

In my native language, there is a word literally means "small holiday" (a weekend plus a one day holiday usually connected to the weekend); is there something like this in English?


texts: Is it possible to combine "super" and "slightly" to mean something smaller than slightly?

texts:
For example : "She looks super slightly similar." would mean she looks a really small bit similar.
From a french background, we allow ourselves to combine certain superlatives in this way, but I cannot find anywhere with such usage in english.


texts:
I've Googled for a while now, and can't seem to find any good answers to this.

Which of the following is correct?

  X is the second installment in a trilogy.
  X is the second installment of a trilogy.


texts: Can the word smell be used for something nice?

texts: I ask because I feel the word Smell is to connote something awful and the word scent or aroma for something pleasant.


texts:
All, I read this paragraph from a read. But not sure about the exactly meaning. please help me to understand it .thanks.

  Grant focuses on making it fun for beginners to learn Ubuntu Linux.
  If you're just an ordinary user, who's not sure what's going on behind Windows or Mac OS X's glossy interfaces and you don't really
  care either, this is the Ubuntu book for you.

Grant is a linux book author.


texts: What do you call someone who believes in ghosts?

texts: What do you call someone who believes in ghosts and ghost stories?


texts: Single word to describe someone who changes topics a lot

texts:
Is there an adjective that describes a person who changes the subjects a lot? As in, conversation subjects.

EDIT: I found the word "discursive" which means to digress from topic to topic. Considering people tend to digress subconsciously this isn't 100% what I was looking for but it will do. Thanks to those who tried helping.


texts: Can I say "help myself to" when I'm being offered something?

texts:
Background
I was travelling with my clients( from US/Canada) when one of them graciously offered me a portion of Lindt bar. Since I wasn't sure what a polite response would be to a native speaker, I ended up refusing her offer saying

"Sorry, you please go ahead".

After the episode, while searching for an appropriate polite response, I came across this expression - "help myself to" which, according to The Free Dictionary, means

To serve or provide oneself with

Is it considered informal by native English speakers?  For example, if I replied this way when she gave me a chunk....

I can certainly help myself to some Lindt now.

If yes, is there a better response?


texts:
"Please summit your registration forms to John, Jay, or myself before the end of the day."

My homework says "myself" is incorrect and "me" should be used in the context of this sentence. I don't understand why.


texts: Please help with understanding with a short sentence?

texts:
So I am a beginner translator working for a manufacturing company and today I'm having trouble understanding this sentence.
"Material must be straight before being laid off or worked." in fabrication section of work specification.  Anyone understands what this sentence exact means??   Thank you in advance.

"Material must be straight before being laid off or worked.  If straighting is necessary it shall be done by methods that will not impair the metal. " is the original paragraph.


texts: “This video was recorded with a sandwich”

texts: It is a top comment from this youtube video. I'm sure it is a way of expressing sense of humor, but I just can't get it. My guess is that they are just saying the video is just as short as the time it takes to make a sandwich.


texts:
Are the words contentious and controversial synonymous AND interchangeable? or is there some difference in some contexts or in emphasis?
For example, take this sentence I found in an excerpt from a book, "....the answers would be complicated and hugely revealing. The answers would also be contentious and controversial."
if they are indeed interchangeable then it should have been considered redundant to use both words in a sentence, so I am wondering if the two words have slightly differing meanings.


texts: Word for someone between technologically illiterate and literate

texts:
I know that you call someone who is familiar with technology "technologically literate"
and someone who isn't "technologically illiterate"

I am looking for a word for those who are in between those two.


texts: a noun for "people who are fatigued/to tired to walk"

texts:
In the context of a story about victims of Nazi persecution during World War II, the victims are described as "the elderly and those suffering from exhaustion".

EDIT - I will elaborate a bit on the "exhaustion" part. I'm referring to roundups and death marches. The exhaustion is after people had walked a great deal - some of the people in the group will have suffered from exhaustion, and could barely stand on their feet. The Nazis would have separated out the elderly, and those who couldn't stand anymore, and would probably have sent them to their deaths.

Can we say "the elderly and the fatigued", or "the elderly and the exhausted"?
If not - are there alternatives?

Thank you!


texts:
Can we use yours twice in succession? As in:

  My sign governs my style; and yours, yours.

Any other possible usage? Is my example otherwise grammatically correct?


texts: What is the correct use of commas when using the word "attached"

texts:
What is the correct comma use in the following sentence?

Per our earlier conversation, attached, please find the document.


texts: Does it sound natural to say: "I've proofed your homework and it's ok"? I'd like to say something different than I've corrected your work, or I've checked your work.


texts: Is “what is the mind” is a clause like “A is B”?

texts:
I have seen some people use the sentence “what is the mind is being debated widely” instead of  “what the mind is is being debated widely”.

Their reason is that “what is the mind” is a clause like “A is B”, so it can be used that way.

Is it correct? If so, is the first sentence below as grammatically correct as the second one, which is constructed in a usual form?

  He tries to explain what the mind is.
  He tries to explain what is the mind.


texts:
I just wondered if you could use "of" instead of "on" before a date in some instances. (Sorry if the question has already been asked, I couldn't find an answer).

For example:

I won't attend the meeting of 3rd March. (From the French "la réunion du 3 mars").

Many thanks, have a nice day!


texts:
I think the title says it all.
Are they called boxes? Columns? I really don't know. It you could help me, that would be very useful :)


texts: Conjugation of 'shall' in Early Modern English

texts: In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the Third Witch says to Banquo: "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none" (1.3.65); if I want to quote that line and write it in the third person singular, how should I conjugate the verbs "shall" and "be" correctly?


texts: Enumerating verbs where just one is used with preposition: correct placement?

texts:
I need some advice about the proper placement of the preposition "on" in the following sentence:

  This is a tool used for creating, collaborating on, and presenting
  design prototypes.

In my understanding, it makes sense to put "collaborating on" last in the list as it's the only one using a preposition:

  This is a tool used for creating, presenting and collaborating on
  design prototypes.

However, I dislike this order as I believe it modifies the meaning of the sentence. It doesn't follow the logical sequence of events: first create, then collaborate, finally present.

I'd appreciate some advice if the first quoted sentence is grammatically correct.
Thank you!


texts: Run-on, comma splice or just too many clauses?

texts:
I'm grading my student's paper and this is his sentence:

Without wasting any time, Lady Osbourne took the boys with her after bribing the head lady and they set off in a fleet of luxurious cars back to her home which was located amid the most elite neighbourhood full of wealthy business tycoons.

Is his biggest mistake too many clauses in one sentence? Or is it a run-on or a comma-splice?

My instinct says that I should tell him to simplify his sentence, and separate the clauses. Should I follow my instinct?


texts: A term for the disillusionment that occurs when a source reports inaccurately on a subject in which you are knowledgeable

texts: I think I remember there being a specific name for the experience when you realize that you've been taking the credentials of a source of information (news network, online personality, etc.) for granted after they go into inaccurate detail on a subject in which you are knowledgeable. Or the name may refer to being irritated by the inaccuracies, but not having the realization that it likely means there are inaccuracies in the content related to subjects you don't have knowledge in. Can anyone help me find this term?


texts: What does "wicking" mean in "aircraft quality wicking"?

texts:
I read the following in an aircraft magazine where it describes a product:

  XXX Product is Aircraft Quality Wicking!!

The product is a polishing product that one can use to polish something smooth and shiny. How does the meaning of wicking fit in this context? Having liquid moving from inside of an aircraft to outside doesn't sound like it.


texts: "Rapture" and "Anguish" at the same time

texts: I sometimes listen to incredibly moving music on YouTube and find myself regarding the music as both causing "rapture" and "anguish" in my soul at (almost) the same time.  Is there a word that would embody "rapture" and "anguish" in this sense?  I know they are antonyms but I'm wondering if there's such a word to describe this feeling.


texts:
Here's the sentence: "I'm going to stab the next person if he or she invites me to play 'Who will be your Valentine' again."

Is proper grammar being used here?


texts: Difference between “thesis” and “dissertation”

texts: Is there a difference between thesis and dissertation in a British academic context? I saw that thesis was more used at Masters level while dissertation at PhD level but would like a confirmation.


texts: Difference between Was and Were. Correct usage

texts:
Which is the correct usage in this case?

The salary on both days was 500.
The salary on both days were 500.


texts: Is it correct to replace dashes with hyphens and how should it be done?

texts:
I often see sentences like this--made when people don't have the care or ability to input the correct character--where two hyphens are supposed to form an em-dash.
Based on the sizes of various dashes, I would assume you would represent them using hyphens as follows.
em-dash — : ---
en-dash – : --
hyphen - : -
Is it correct to perform this substitution and are you really supposed to use two dashes rather than three in the case of the em-dash?


texts: When did "committee" become a collective noun, and why?

texts:
According to dictionary.com, "committee" comes from late Middle English, with the suffix -ee added to the word "commit". Typical use of the -ee suffix would imply the meaning of "one who commits" or "one to whom something is committed". Wiktionary agrees, and I understand that both of these meanings see usage in British Parliament today, according to Oxford.

When and why did it become a collective noun meaning "a person or group of persons elected or appointed to perform some service or function" instead of only a single person?


texts: Wracking my brain for the word meaning "to have started on the path to the end result..."

texts:
Edit: answered in comment from Dan - anticipated is what I was after.

Reading a recent paper in the mathematics field, the result seemed familiar, and indeed, I found in a paper I had from 25 years prior with pretty much the same result.

I thought "this presaged / predated / foreshadowed ... that.", but I'm sure there's a much more precise word for the context that eludes me (as in, I'm sure I've seen the desired word in that context used before).

I've been scouring thesauri with no joy, any ideas?


texts: When can I omit *the* from certain prhases?

texts:
After reviewing an interesting question and answer here: Is 'at the time of writing' correct?, I'm wondering if I couldn't do something more simple:

  At time of writing, this is all that has been released publicly.

Another example I hear people saying is:

  In future, _____________________

But to me, this sounds strange. Maybe it's just a pet-peeve of mine, but I would never say "in future." I would always say "in the future."

Is my brain just weird like this? Am I having early symptoms of schizophrenia? It seems I have conflicting inclinations regarding when to omit "the" from certain phrases.

Are either or both forms (with/omitting "the") acceptable? Or is there no magic bullet, and we must evaluate on a phrase by phrase basis each and every time?


texts: Should "the" ever be dropped from the beginning of a name/title?

texts:
Imagine two places exist, both called The Haunted Forest. How would I specify which forest is being referred? Would one say the northernmost Haunted Forest, or the northernmost The Haunted Forest?

If the is dropped, what is the rule that makes it appropriate to do so, and would it be any different if instead of a place, I referred to, for example, a book title?


texts: The form of the verb to be in the questions with "and" and "or"

texts:
Should I use was or were in sentences like this:

Who was/were the bride and groom?

In my opinion, both are possible, but I don't know why. What to use if there is or instead of and?


texts: What is it called when you begin to exhibit similar personality traits as someone close to you?

texts: Especially someone you live with, whether that be a partner, roommate, family, etc. I feel like there’s a psychological term for this. Like how we pick up little quirks in passing, or how the behaviors of someone we’re close to tend to rub off on us. There’s a term and I can’t for the life of me find it. “Influence” is as close as I’ve gotten but that’s not the word I’m looking for.


texts: "Would" vs. "would have", "could" vs. "could have", "should" vs. "should have"

texts:
What is a good example to understand these words at once? I am quite confused by these and feel like I am using them incorrectly. Please guide me how and when to use them properly.

E.g., "I eat rice".

If I use will, "I will eat rice", it means I am going to eat at some point in the future.
If I use would, "I would eat rice", does that mean the same thing? When can I use it?
If I use would have, "I would have eaten rice", it's about the past.

Likewise for "I could eat rice" vs. I could have eaten rice"; "I should eat rice" vs. "I should have eaten rice"; "I may eat rice" vs. "I may have eaten rice"; "I might eat rice" vs. "I might have eaten rice"; "I had eaten rice" vs. "I have eaten rice" vs. "I have had eaten rice".

I went through my English books but kind of messed up which to use when.


texts: Term for someone who always changes their aesthetic?

texts:
I seem to always change my aesthetic, or at least fit into most aesthetics and adapt to them easily. This mainly affects my fashion and choice of wallpaper customization.
For example, I'd be into a more edgy grunge aesthetic for a month, and suddenly I'm into soft aesthetics the next month. I'm wondering if there's a term for someone who does this specifically or at least does something similar to this. Answers are appreciated!


texts: Montgomery Summit occurs each year at the start of March. This year, it was held March 8-9, offering participation from first look companies, emerging firms, and growth businesses.


texts: Term for Gift that Turns out to be a Burden

texts: What is the English term for when someone thinks they are doing something nice for you but it ends up making things worse. EX: Someone buys you an elephant -- nice gesture and cool! But now you have to take care of it, and it becomes a burden on you.


texts: Are the cats and dogs of the idiom "it's raining cats and dogs" plural in usage?

texts:
I recently heard someone say the following:

  It's cats and dogs out there!

As in "it's raining cats and dogs out there." I then thought that person should have said

  Those are cats and dogs out there!

because the phrase refers to multiple objects. My hobbyist-linguist friend then said to me that the person was correct because cats and dogs were a compound subject - a result of the idiom itself. I'm inclined to believe my friend, but I'm not sure. I think I may have initially been confused because of the diversion from the format of use of the idiom.

Which is correct?


texts: "I could be something approaching myself''

texts:
This sentence

  Partly this was because she was the only person on the island with whom I could be something approaching myself

is from John Harding, The Girl Who Couldn’t Read (2014). I can't understand the structure, nor the meaning. Is it that the narrator can be himself around her or what? And why is it put in such a strange manner, it's the first time I see something like that.


texts: Why do Americans call hair that turns white "gray hair" not "white hair?"

texts: I searched on YouTube for the reason why hair turns white then I found that Americans called it gray hair not white hair. In my opinion, its color is white so I don't understand why they call it gray hair.


texts: Using hundreds to express thousands: why, where, when?

texts:
The question title refers to expressing thousands using multiples of hundreds, like saying "twelve hundred" instead of "one thousand two hundred"

This is somehow new to me. I may have heard it, like, less than five times in the past (and totally ignored as some kind of weirdness), but due to a huge increase to English exposure (I moved abroad, so it's either English or be silent) I've begun to hear it much more often. I didn't do a statistic, but I've got the feeling that 99% of it comes from watching movies and documentaries on Netflix.

I made some search on Google, but I couldn't find a satisfying answer to the basic questions: why/when/where. I mean, what's the origin of this habit, where does it come from, and why people use it at all? Don't you stumble every time doing the math for it, either you are saying or you are hearing?


texts: Healthcare: Correct english term for an urgent referral

texts:
I am translating a Swedish text, and I am having problems translating the term "akutremiss" to British English. The term is commonly used in Swedish healthcare. It is basically a referral, of any type, where the medical issue is urgent. I have done some basic googling on some of the options, just to see which ones are the most commonly used.

GOOGLE SEARCHES AND HIT COUNTS

healthcare "acute referral"
19 700

healthcare "emergency referral"
95 400

healthcare "urgent referral"
56 800

The clear winner is "Emergency referral". "Urgent referral" is the runner up. But I feel there is a big difference in the level of urgency between "urgent" and "emergency", with an emergency being way more urgent than something which is just "urgent", at least to my ears.

Note: I included "acute referral", mostly because it is a direct translation of the Swedish term, but it sounds really strange to me. I have never heard anyone use the word "acute" to mean "urgent". The pages I checked seem to be mostly about eye damage, so perhaps the term is eyes-only (pun intended).

What are some thoughts? Is there anything like an "official" term used in the healthcare community?


texts: Is this an Auxiliary verb or a Lexical one?

texts: I am studying auxiliary verbs, and I saw that "to dare" is a modal auxiliary. However, this sentence is somehow confusing, "He does not dare to interrupt." My question is: Is "to dare" a modal auxiliary or a lexical verb?


texts: Is a text is composed of the following elements?: header, body, footer, insert

texts:
I'm creating software where users can build a textfile by inserting small snippets of text into one file. the user interface currently contains the following four buttons:

Add a header
Add a footer
Add a body
add an insert

I'm worried about the use of the word "body". What do you think of the alternative "Add a main part"? In general, how do you call the portion of a text that is NOT a header,footer or attachment? I'm finding that the word body translates very poorly to dutch, as we only use the word body in the literal sense of "the body of an organism", not the abstract meaning of "content of a text"

My second issue is with "insert". In our software we already use the word attachment, as in an e-mail attachment, so we needed to use a word that kind of means the same but sounds really distinct from the word "attachment". Are there better alternatives? Perhaps an addendum or appendix?


texts: Which is correct: "staff that may have this information" or "staff who may have this information"?

texts:
Should I use 'who' or 'that' in the following sentence?

  Any information you have, or any leads to staff who may have this information would be very much appreciated.

  Any information you have, or any leads to staff that may have this information would be very much appreciated.


texts: What are the antonyms of "append" and "prepend"?

texts:
I need the antonyms for "append" (that is, I need a word that means "to remove at the end", since "append" means "to add at the end") and "prepend" (that is, I need a word that means "to remove at the beginning", since "prepend" means "to add at the beginning"). Do those words exist?

Would it be possible to use "behead" in a general context or is it limited to killing somebody?


texts:
I am trying to rephrase the "Don't worry" in such a way that it will sound more like a promise  than as advice.

I wonder if this is a wrong way to phrase that.

I actually copy that from love me not, which is "don't love me" rephrased


texts: Two relative clauses together before the main verb

texts:
I would like to ask if the following sentence is grammatically correct because apparently two relative clause was used successively without any relative pronoun or whatever it is that sentence needs.

  An eighteen-year-old Ballina man who drove his car at another youth
  resulting in him being flung onto the roof of the car was given a five year suspended sentence at last week’s sitting of Castlebar
  Circuit Court.

If I disperse :

The following relative clause

  ...who drove his car at another youth resulting in him being flung onto
  the roof of the car...

was used before the main verb "was given" in the sentence. While the part "man who drove his car at another youth" is the first relative clause simple and understandable,  I could not understand the second one "resulting in him being flung onto the roof of the car"  how the writer connected these two parts before main verb .


texts: What's the difference between "right now" and "currently"?

texts:
Can anyone please tell me, what is the difference between right now and currently?

Also, please give some examples for when we should use right now and currently.

Thanks.


texts: Struggling to look at grammatical modifiers

texts:
I have a passion for English, and I am trying to improve my fluency day by day. Today, I am quite confused when my teacher, a non-native speaker of English, tells me that a sentence in my essay is grammatically wrong and does not make sense.
Here it is:
"It is believed that only excellent academic students should attend the university, (which is) to the extent that I beg to differ."
And is "which is" obliged to be there? Can someone help me to get the picture?
I am hoping for any contribution from you guys. Thank you.


texts:
So I saw a post on a funny pictures site...

"In the word "Scent", is the S or the C silent?"

In particular, how does the pronunciation of "scent" differ from "cent" and "sent"?

Small audio references would help me in particular.


texts: Series of letters used by typists to indicate error

texts: What is the series of letters used by typewriter typists to indicate that a typo has been made? It was formed by typing the letters on the row or column of the keyboard, and is I think split into two words.


texts: how to introduce a girl who is friend and not girl-friend

texts:
Often times I have got across situations where I have to tell a girl that

  "I don't have a girlfriend but there are some girls who are friends"

So I was looking for the right word here or a good slang would do.

Googled a lot but couldn't find the answer to what I am looking for.

Also I have seen girls replying

  "I don't have a boyfriend but guy friends"

So , is there any equivalent of guy friends for boys ?


texts: What does long mean before a name? Like Long John Silver in Treasure Island or Long Susan in Ripper Street.


texts:
I would say that the hubris of these statements was extraordinary were it not so commonplace for professors (not all but many) to regularly equate the possession of an advanced degree with virtue.

I'm not a native English speaker, so I find it very hard to understand though I understand all vocabularies of this sentence. It's in NY Times.

Can anyone explain this structure to me?


texts: With regards to SMS, is the past tense "text" or "texted"?

texts:
I've always said "texted" when referring to the past tense of receiving an SMS (text message). However I've noticed a pattern recently that a lot of my friends are saying "text".

  I texted you earlier.

  I text you earlier.

Despite having a red squiggly line under it in Chrome (), usage of the word doubled between 2000 and 2008. Which word is correct?


texts: Does this expression: "it can make us think that we are actually..." clearly showing a negative implication?

texts:
I wrote this sentence:

  Living a busy life, full of stress,
  sweat and sacrifice, can make us think
  that we are actually doing something
  worthy with our lives.

Which is actually saying is that being busy can give us the illusion of doing something worthy with our lives.

Is it clear enough or ambiguous (is it possible for the reader to misunderstand this sentence as "being busy really makes our lives worthy"?)?


texts: claim from? or claim to? which one is correct?

texts:
Which one is right?
For example, I sold A company's products and need to claim commission.

I claim commission from A company.

I claim commission to A company.


texts: "for"as a preposition sometimes can be interchangeable with "because of"?

texts:
He deserves better academic environment for his dedication.

First of all, is it correct to use "for" here in place of "because of" to indicate the reason?

Also, are there any cases that "because of" cannot be replaced by "for", and what is the subtle difference between them when they are interchangeable?

Thanks.


texts: Wanting to see sth.: Progressive vs non-progressive

texts:
What is the difference between

  I want to see the lights leave your eyes!

and

  I want to see the lights leaving your eyes!

?

I would suspect, number one actually means, that you want so see somebody's lights leaving his/her eyes (aka the person dying) and number two on the other hand means, that you want to see the lights, that are (already) leaving someone's eyes. Am I correct and/or what is your opinion about this?


texts: English approximations of Spanish pronouns

texts:
Excuse me if this question sounds familiar, but I've searched and couldn't find what I desired.

In the Spanish second-person, there is usted (formal), tú (familiar), and ustedes (plural for both).

In Argentina, the role of tú is usurped by vos, and in Spain, the role of the familiar ustedes is (usually) usurped by vosotros.

With these verbs comes different conjugation:

You are
Usted es
Tú eres
Ustedes son
Vos sos
Vosotros sois

I'm not a native Spanish speaker but these all seem very natural to me now, and when using them you can understand how they came to be and why they exist in the way they do.

I'm helping my friend with his Spanish and I've told him that there are a few concepts in Spanish that don't exist in English and can't really be translated, diversity in second-person pronouns being one of them.

This got me thinking, though. Are there any English dialects where you isn't simply used for any possible reference to the second-person? Y'all is often considered as a rough approximation of ustedes and vosotros. Is this as far as it goes? Any others? And what's so different about English that causes it to not develop in the way that Spanish does?


texts:
What's the opposite of an upset in sports.  Maybe "expected outcome"...

Terser would be better, but I'd hear anything that came to mind.


texts: "Would prefer to do something " vs. "would prefer doing something"

texts:
I've heard that it is grammatically incorrect to use a gerund after would prefer, for example, you say "I'd prefer to walk" not "I'd prefer walking".
But I'm almost sure that I have heard a sentence like "I'd prefer walking to driving".
I was wondering if it is because in the former there is only one option, whereas in the latter there are two options and you are comparing two things.
I know we can use a gerund after prefer, as in "I prefer driving." Is it also possible to use it after would prefer, and say "I'd prefer driving"?


texts: What is the meaning of the phrase "Those who"?

texts:
There is a question asking a student to fill in the word.
Heaven helps those (   ) help themselves.  The answer is "who"
Is this "who" is a relative pronoun? What is the meaning of this word?


texts: single word which i can use to describe all objects we use in a day such as car, cups , backpack

texts: I need to explain that a boy cannot identify daily routine stuff such as cups, cars, or plates. I need a single word which I can put which signifies these items.


texts:
What is the time _ your watch?

  of
  into
  in
  by

Which preposition is correct?


texts: Word meaning to repeat what another person is saying as a form of mockery?

texts: For example, when a kid repeats what his/her mother is saying because he/she is angry.


texts: present simple plus past simple in the if-clause

texts:
Please help me understand whether I can use the past simple tense with the present simple tense in one if-clause.

My example is the question that I want to ask when speaking with English native speakers:

  Would it be odd to you if I do not say "bless you" when you sneezed loudly and keep silence instead?

Is it wrong to use 'would be' followed by present simple phrase 'I do not say'?


texts:
I was once again distracted by something ridiculous in the HNQ sidebar:
Scientific applications of the tikzducks.
One answer states that

It is possible to form a grammatical English sentence of length n, using only the words "duck" and "ducks", for all values of n.

I'm having a hard time understanding the sentences of length 4 and above. What exactly do they mean and why are they grammatically correct? I tried replacing part of the sentence tree with something else, such as "cows moo", but the resulting sentence "Ducks cows moo duck" does not seem to have any meaning.


texts:
The figure of the legislator is a puzzle. Like the tutor in Emile, the
  legislator has the role of manipulating the desires of his charges,
  giving them the illusion of free choice without its substance.Little
  wonder then that many critics have seen these characters in a somewhat
  sinister light.  http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rousseau/

My opinion is that “see someone or something in a sinister light” is not equal to “to consider it as being a sinister thing”, but means that to apprehend something  unfriendly. And usually, when we read this phrase, we will expect some words about the light in which it is seen. Is my explanation correct?

Assuming it is right, suppose I want to say the opposite thing, can I say something like : many interpreters have seen these characters in a sympathetic light? What is the right expression when it comes to use light to express a sympathetic or friendly interpretation of people’s words or character?


texts: "known unknown" and "familiar unfamiliar" - is there a term to describe this?

texts:
Is there a term to describe when we put two words together like this, like a reduplication? However, the difference they are two opposites or contradictions?]

For example, this quote here: https://english.stackexchange.com/a/35287

Thanks


texts: Is there a word for a person who starts wars as a profession?

texts: I'm thinking of the character of Vizzini from "The Princess Bride", who starts wars on behalf of others. I'm looking for a term that's specific to that particular function, as opposed to a person who starts any kind of conflict or dissension e.g. an instigator.


texts: Should this abbreviated question use "lose" or "lost?"

texts:
The main site Meta is currently displaying a banner that reads

  Lose some reputation points? A system-wide recalc of scores happened.

This raised the question Fix the grammar please? “Lose”->“Lost” some reputation points?

In this case "lose" sounds correct to me, since the full sentence is "Did you lose some reputation?"  Is one form more correct than the other, or does it not matter?


texts: Can I use word 'gathering' for virtual presence

texts:
I was on a group chat with my team, there I have said "Thanks for gathering real quick".

I some how feel that this is incorrect, as I am thinking that gathering is generally used when you are physically present.


texts: Reprimanding (pejorative) Idiom, phrase or expression for when one wants to pay less (minuscule) and get maximum out of a deal (basically greediness)

texts:
What is pejorative phrase, idiom for

one wants to pay less (minuscule) and get maximum out of a deal (basically greediness).

Example
The management wants to get talented employee but hire employees at 1/4 of their actual market value (for peanuts). They are __________ (min. input and max. output). This is not how it works.


texts: A word or 5-6 word phrase for "an aliquot can only be a member of a batch one time"

texts:
I'm a software engineer trying to come up with a word or phrase to describe that relationship in a way that future software engineers can look at the code I've written and either understand what's going on quickly or be a Google search away.
Aliquot - a portion of a larger whole, especially a sample taken for chemical analysis or other treatment
Where I work, batches have many aliquots associated with them.
Another way would be to say "a marble can only be a member of a grouping one time".


texts: What should I say if I am not drunk but I feel that my head is heavy?

texts: Imagine you had several beers, you are not yet drunk but you feel that your head is heavy, you know, feel good. Is there any specific word for that?


texts:
Is there a hypernym for phrase and gesture — that is, a word for an abstract action of communication performed by a person?

For context, I am looking for a term to use in a computer program, rather than in prose, so a precise but obscure term from linguistics is perfectly acceptable.


texts: What differences are there between "sitting room", "lounge", "lounge room", and "front room"?

texts:
Each of these terms seem to be used to designate a room, in a private house or in the front of a public facility, where one can sit and relax and talk. But, are there any differences to them – or do they mean just about the same and, as such, can be used interchangeably?

Also, are any of these terms more typical of an English variety than of another?

Aside from that, what's the difference between a drawing room, a sitting room, a lounge (room), and a parlor, to designate a generally cozy room in a private house or a restaurant where guests can be entertained, or withdraw to after a meal to sit and relax and talk (and drink too!). Is one of these terms more typical of an English variety than of another?

Lastly, can "living room', "sitting room", "front room", "lounge (room)", and "parlor" be used interchangeably to designate a room in a home used by the members of a household for leisure activities or to entertain guests, etc., and are any of these terms more typical of an English variety than of another?


texts:
Patients experiencing this syndrome due to drug toxicity is a common occurrence in Asian population.

Please let me know whether the verb should be is or are.


texts: Graduate in this Spring or graduate this Spring?

texts:
Which one is correct?

Graduate in this Spring vs graduate this Spring.
Graduate in May vs graduate this May.

If they are all correct, then is there any difference in meaning? If there is difference in meaning, when do we need to have a preposition in a sentence like this?


texts: What is the term for lowercase i as word in sentence

texts:
If i have this sentence. i also have this sentence.

Then correct it to:

If I have this sentence. I also have this sentence.

If we know the error is not a typo.

What would such a correction be called?


texts: Meaning of "... for I bought him cheap of a man that was 'bliged to sell out?"

texts:
I'm reading Uncle Tom's Cabin now. It contains:

  He fetched me a good sum, too, for I bought him cheap of a man that was 'bliged to sell out; so I realized six hundred on him.

I can't understand the parts

"I bought him cheap of a man"
"that was obliged to sell out"

Does it mean to say that I bought him cheaply? Then is there any grammar like [adjective(cheap)+ of + person(a man)]?

And for the second part "that was obliged to sell out" — does this mean he will be sold?


texts: How to pronounce to differ spatial from special?

texts: It always bugged me that I do not know how to differentiate "spatial" from "special". I would just say "space" to be clear when "spatial" is the grammatically correct choice. Are the standard pronunciations different? If not, is there a way to indicate that I am saying either of the two?


texts:
When somebody makes a statement with the intention of professing one truth but unintentionally speaks another, which may or may not correspond to the first truth, what do we call that?

For example, someone says, "incredible things are possible when you dare to be you," with the intention of conveying that you'll be happier and more alive when you focus on becoming more of yourself. But this statement can also be looked at in an opposite light, where incredibly bad things are possible when you dare to be you, when you dare to focus on yourself too much. i.e. pride and conceit can eat at you or destroy your reputation or face you with an incredibly unattainable image, presenting you with nothing but grief and a sense of failure.

With the original statement one meaning is intended but another counterproductive meaning can be unintentionally expressed by it.

I don't like the phrase "unintended consequence" because "consequence" most often denotes an undesired result of. I'm looking to communicate that the "consequential" result is actually the truthier meaning, or at the very least a second, unintended meaning, without it actually being a consequence, but more of a true meaning that has escaped via a fallacy.

Similar to a Freudian slip, minus it being an error or a mistake when spoken, and it's true meaning often obscured from the speaker.


texts: What is a single word for something that cannot satisfy?

texts:
For a long time I didn't make the sublime distinction between something that cannot satisfy and something that cannot be satisfied, and so I used the word insatiable for both until I was just now revising an article I wrote where this line appears:

  Like a bit of insatiable gruel in Oliver Twist’s bowl.

What is the correct word to replace insatiable, because obviously it isn't the gruel that is insatiable!

Ps: I'm trying to avoid using 'unsatisfying' as I'm looking for a word that communicates the difficulty or impossibility that insatiable does.


texts: Can "raise a point" and "make a point" mean the same thing generally?

texts:
I personally think "to raise a point" means "to mention some point of interest" while "to make a point" means "to state or demonstrate something of particular interest" but I'm in a conversation with someone insisting both mean the latter to them.
Which non-American English dialects (or possibly even regional American dialects) abide by this other person's usage of those two idioms?


texts: This is a painting by John Singer Sargent. What are those things called, hanging down from the little girl's chest? They're not ribbons, they're ... ?


texts:
After running a certain operation a value is taken from field A to field B. After the operation field A is empty. Is there a word or better phrase for this?

  During the operation field A _________ [becomes empty].


texts: How many syllables were in 3ps endings with -th

texts: When reading the King James Version of the Bible, we often hear, e.g., "maketh" pronounced in two syllables. Is this an accurate reflection of the pronunciation of that word when it was commonly used?


texts: What are the language terminologies for the following kind of clauses?

texts:
I am learning Japanese and right now focusing on clauses. Shortly speaking, I need to know the English terminologies for some clauses below such that I can find their counterparts in Japanese easily.

The clauses are intentionally surrounded by braces for the sake of emphasizing them.

# Case 1:

The clause modifies a noun that does an action.

  The  man (who killed his wife yesterday) has been arrested this morning. His name is John Smith.

# Case 2:

The clause modifies a noun that gets an action from another agent.

  The name of a woman (who John Smith killed yesterday) is Mary Smith.

# Case 3:

The clause modifies a noun but it differs from case 1 and case 2.

  Everybody in this town knows the news (that John Smith killed his wife).


texts: Using "kindly" as an adverb to indicate humility

texts:
Is it the following correct to say?

  May I kindly request ..."

As when calling a celebrity onstage during an event
Would it not be better to say,

  May I request so and so to kindly come ...


texts:
Example:

  With tiny [...], the bird scanned its vicinity, completely ignoring
  me.

I thought of the word hoppings but sounds strange and it only has 1 Google result.

Is there a better option?


texts: Someone with many great ideas/arguments, but who ruins their case with one very bad idea/argument

texts:
Is there a word or phrase used to describe someone who has many great ideas/arguments, but who ruins their case with one very bad idea/argument?

One such case I'm thinking of is Bernie Sanders, who has many great policies, but who destroys his popularity with many voters because of his overly controversial gun control policies.


texts: Is the change from "m" to "n" within the descent from O.E."æmette" to E."ant" a regular one?

texts:
emmet "ant," from O.E. æmete (see ant), surviving as a dialect
  word in parts of England; also, in Cornwall, a colloquial name for
  holiday tourists.

According to Etymonline; I can't help wondering whether there is any other example like this?
Because E."emmet", which preserves the "m" intactly, is the cognate of E."ant", which "changed" the "m" to "n" and is "contracted"?

  ant (n.) c.1500, from Middle English ampte (late 14c.), from O.E.
  æmette "ant," from W.Gmc. *amaitjo (cf. O.H.G. ameiza, Ger. Ameise) from a compound of bases *ai- "off, away" + *mai- "cut," from
  PIE *mai- "to cut" (cf. maim). Thus the insect's name is,
  etymologically, "the biter off." As þycke as ameten crepeþ in an amete
  hulle [chronicle of Robert of Gloucester, 1297] Emmet survived into
  20c. as an alternative form. White ant "termite" is from 1729. To have
  ants in one's pants "be nervous and fidgety" is from 1934, made
  current by a popular song; antsy embodies the same notion.


texts:
What is the proper use of question versus questions. For example,
"Please call me with any question (or questions) you may have."

My boss and I are having an argument over this.


texts: What does "the very idea" mean in this context?

texts:
Here is the paragraph in which "the very idea" occurs:

"Universal basic health care is sensible in the way that, say, universal basic education is sensible—because it yields benefits to society as well as to individuals. In some quarters the very idea leads to a dangerous elevation of the blood pressure, because it suggests paternalism, coercion or worse. There is no hiding that public health-insurance schemes require the rich to subsidise the poor, the young to subsidise the old and the healthy to underwrite the sick. And universal schemes must have a way of forcing people to pay, through taxes, say, or by mandating that they buy insurance."
[Bold emphasis added.]
SOURCE: The Economist: "Universal health care, worldwide, within reach," 26 April 2018 issue.

Can someone explain what the phrase means here?


texts:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/turning-to-the-general-clinton-makes-pitch-to-the-thoughtful?utm_term=.ykbJa5xp8#.pmaPRNzkJ

I saw this sentence in a piece of news "“We will unify our party to win this election and build an America where we can all rise together,” Clinton said after taking the stage to the chorus of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” a departure from campaign’s strict song list, underscoring the occasion."

I kinda understand what it means, by could anyone explain a little bit more about why "to" is used here (to the chorus) ?

Thank you!


texts: Where does the idiom "whole cloth" come from?

texts:
I have heard it used several times recently, but I had no idea what it meant until I looked the term up on the Internet, because I had never heard it before.

Where does whole cloth come from? How and where is it used?