texts: What would an alternative sentence for percentage in writing?

texts:
What would be an alternative sentence or word for percentage in writing? For example, when referencing to a sentence, if the sentence has 50%, we can use words like half of the total amount or similar.

What would be the alternative word or sentence for 9%?


texts:
An envelope is an object that contains a letter and a recipient. When you have a lots of received envelopes stored in a box or similar,

What word can I use to describe the place where you store them?  I want to use the plural of that word.

The same way you describe a bunch of birds as a "flock" of birds; and when you say "flocks of birds", you can describe multiple groups of birds. That's the equivalent word that I need for "envelope", if it even exists.


texts:
How would I correctly place a list at the start of a sentence? For example, how what is the correct way to write:

  Pens, markers, pencils I had it all.

If a comma doesn't work, could I use a hyphen like this:

  Pens, markers, pencils-I had it all.


texts:
Possible Duplicates:
  Which style of Latin plurals should I use?
  Irregular plurality situations in English

This is really weird IMO; the plural of cactus is cacti, so why is not the plural of chorus, chori?


texts: What is the most concise way of saying "mystery enthusiast"?

texts: Occult investigator, mystery enthusiast, ghost hunter; these are all phrases that I am considering. But I was wondering if there was any ONE word that describes it perfectly.


texts: How can I paraphrase this in parallel writing style?

texts:
I'd really appreciate it if someone can show me how to better paraphrase the italicized part in the following sentence:

I always used to call him "Professor", so I will continue to refer to him in the same way here without giving you his real name. This is not so much out of discretion on my part as that I feel it more natural: I can never think of him as anything other than "Professor" when he comes to mind.

I'm hoping to find a way to rewrite that italicized part so that I can incorporate an element of parallel writing, by which I mean I would like to find an adverbial phrase that can replace the italicized clause.
The original: ...not so much OUT OF DISCRETION (an adverbial phrase) as THAT Subject + VERB (a noun clause)
The paraphrased: not so much OUT OF DISCRETION as ???? (an adverbial phrase)
I hope this makes sense.
Thank you so much for your reading and time, in advance.
HK


texts: I want to write some mathematical sentences in the English language

texts:
I want to write these mathematical sentences in the pure English language:

In this paper, for every vertex a v in G, we find a shortest path joining v and w in G.

My proposed sentences are:

In this paper, we (will(?)) find a shortest path joining w, and any arbitrary vertex in the graph.

Is it true?
Thanks in advance.


texts:
I was filling out a form to request apartment maintenance, and it let me select a priority from a list of options. The choices shown in the drop-down list were emergency, low, make ready, and normal. The form also included this note:

Priority: make ready

What does "make ready" mean in this context?


texts: A verb for fluid rushing out in small amount

texts:
What is a verb to describe fluid rushing out from an opening in small amount?

"Gush out" sounds like in huge amount. "Seeps through" on the other hand lacks the force that brought the fluid out, like with in "gush".


texts:
I am writing an academic paper.
I wrote the following sentences

Notation A ↔ B stands for that A corresponds to B. Qualid and ident
stand for qualified identifiers  and simple identifiers,
respectively.

In the above example, I used "stand for" twice. My friend suggested me to replace the first
"stand for" with "represent".
Thus, I should use "Notation A ↔ B represents that A corresponds to B".
However, he told me that using "stand for" for "Qualid and ident" made no problem.
I cannot understand the reason why "Notation A ↔ B stands for that A" is unsuitable.
Moreover, I am confused with the reason why "Qualid and ident stand for" is fine.
Thanks in advance.


texts: Where is the placement of "all" in this sentence and why?

texts:
Where is the placement of "all" in this sentence?

  We all had better get ready to be flexible...


texts: Idiomatic phrase for small type words at end of a document

texts:
Is there a phrase in English that that can be used in the following situation:

You read an article and from the title you understand that this is something positive, but if you read it all, very carefully, you will see that "small words" at the end reveal the reality.

The same situation is when signing contracts, when something negative for the customer is indicated in the end with small letters


texts: Why is "taking a biscuit" a bad thing in the UK?

texts:
So, I'm reading up on a list of English Idioms and I see two that bear a striking similarity.

"Take the biscuit (UK): To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.
"Take the cake (US)": To be especially good or outstanding.

Now I can understand why cake is "good" and "outstanding". In the USA we're rational, and that makes sense to me. However, why are biscuits "bad", "objectionable" or "egregious"? It would seem to me that if the country thought so poorly of biscuits they'd naturally go away. Personally, I like biscuits too; and, I especially like biscuits with gravy.

Why do people in the UK hate biscuits, and how did the saying "take the biscuit" come to be?

You can hear an example of "taking the biscuit" thanks to Thunderf00t


texts: Frequent use of word not found in dictionary, "programatically."

texts:
Here's a word I see often on StackOverflow, "programatically."

Used to indicate that a programmer intends to do something within the code of a program, rather than through user interaction.

For example, "a user can check a checkbox on a form, but a programmer may also do it programatically."

Since this word isn't in the dictionary, I assume it to be either incorrect to use it at all, or this is a new word that's essentially slang.

Is there a better alternative?


texts: Is there a common English phrase for the 'so absurd it must be true' logical fallacy?

texts: There are various common (often Latin) phrases for various logic fallacies, such as post hoc ergo propter hoc, argumentum ad populum, slippery slope fallacy, etc.  Is there a common phrase used to describe the fallacy of saying that because a claim seems so unusual or specific, it must be true, because 'nobody would ever make something that unusual up'?


texts: What is the history and distribution of the two pronunciations of 'lichen' /ˈlʌɪk(ə)n/ and /ˈlɪtʃ(ə)n/?

texts: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/lichen says 'lichen' has two pronunciations:  /ˈlʌɪk(ə)n/, /ˈlɪtʃ(ə)n/.  In contrast, Oxford English Dictionary  only registers the former. What is the history and distribution of these two pronunciations? (Which one do you use and where are you from?)


texts: Is "in the years to come" only used as a verbal expression?

texts: I want to use this expression in my writing but my teacher said it's a verbal expression. However, I have seen it in some formal speech. Please tell me if my teacher is right.


texts: Which tense to describe tests/surveys in an APA paper?

texts:
I use past tense to report the results, but not sure if past tense is appropriate when it comes to the description of the survey itself, example below:

"The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to evaluate the severity of general psychiatric morbidity.The total scores range from 0 to 12. The internal consistency of the GHQ-12 in the present study was .85. Questionnaires for health outcomes included two items, one is designed for collecting the information whether the participants had chronic diseases, it was ranked in 4 levels (1 = 0 -2 times, 2 = 3 - 5 times,  3 = 6-9 times, 4 = equal or greater than 10 times). "


texts: Is "any of (plural noun)" used with a singular or plural verb?

texts:
Does one say, "If any of my grandchildren does not attain the age of eighteen..."

or does one say, "If any of my grandchildren do not attain the age of eighteen..."

The second phrase seems to imply that more than on grandchild must not attain the age of eighteen before the contingency comes into play.  Whereas, the first implies that if only one grandchild does not attain the age of eighteen, then the contingency is "activated".

Does anyone have "any" thoughts on this subject?

This question is not a duplicate of the question "Should the noun after "any" be singular or plural?". That question is about whether a noun that is positioned immediately after any should be singular or plural: e.g. "any grandchild" vs. "any grandchildren". This question is about whether a verb used with the structure "any of [plural noun]" should be singular or plural.


texts: What is the difference between Perfect Participle and Perfect Gerund?

texts: is there the difference between Perfect Participle and Perfect Gerund?


texts:
In the following context (excerpt from this answer):

  They're examples of the double genitive/possessive, which is perfectly valid and has been around in English for centuries. The "of" already denotes "possession", but we do this again when we use mine/his instead of me/him.

I think has been around means exists in this context, but I can't confirm it. I tried to look it up in the dictionaries, but with no luck except as follows:
From Wiktionary, have been around the block is an alternative form of verb phrase to have been around, which idiomatically means "To be experienced in worldly matters; to be seasoned, not naive."
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, the 13th entry for around (have been around, informal) is

  a) to have had experience of many different situations so that you can deal with new situations confidently :  [eg] You could tell this guy had been around a bit by the knowing way he talked.
  b) to have had many sexual experiences – used humorously

Can anyone help me to confirm that has been around means exists in the context I quoted?


texts: A word for a squared layout of differently shaped objects

texts:
I am looking for a word which describes a layout of differently shaped and oriented objects that are all square relative to each other, and which leaves a minimum but necessary amount of space between each object.

These images are examples of the type of layout I mean:


texts: Why does a written note sent through the mail have the same name as an individual letter?

texts:
A good question from a child: why does a written/printed message sent through the mail (a letter) have the same name as an individual symbol in the alphabet (a letter)?

Wiktionary's etymology doesn't clear this up:

  From Middle English letter, lettre, from Old French letre, from Latin littera (“letter of the alphabet"; in plural, "epistle”), from Etruscan, from Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā, “tablet”).


texts:
1) With his boss busily working back at the office, Terence continued his stroll down Main Street.

2) Terence continued his stroll down Main Street, his boss
busily working back at the office.

Sometimes I see that writers use "with" to start  absolute phrase. But I don't know the reason behind that. I think both of my sentencess are correct. But what's is the difference in meaning?


texts: Replacements for "i.e." other than "that is"

texts:
I frequently write technical texts, in particular mathematics. As the subject matter tends to be difficult, I have made it a habit to augment each potentially confusing phrase with a clarification. The abbreviation i.e. has become my trusted tool for this task.

However, I have never been very satisfied with i.e., mostly because I am beginning to use it like a unique grammatical construct, even though it is just an abbreviation. My problem is that I find the commonly cited synonym "that is" to be worse, I think it breaks the flow of sentences too much.

Let me demonstrate this with a typical example

  Assume that this is not true, i.e. that there are counterexamples X and Y such that the statements Y < X and X < 2Y are false.

If I want to replace "i.e." by "that is", I have to remove the second "that"

  Assume that this is not true, that is there are counterexamples X and Y such that the statements Y < X and X < 2Y are false.

but I find this version to be less readable than the original. The reason is that the i.e. invites the reader to repeat the preceding clause, i.e. the reader can enhance the flow by reading it as follows:

  Assume that this is not true, i.e. (assume) that there are counterexamples X and Y such that the statements Y < X and X < 2Y are false.

If I wanted to enhance readability with "that is", I would have to repeat a part of the first clause explicitely in the text

  Assume that this is not true, that is assume that there are counterexamples X and Y such that the statements Y < X and X < 2Y are false.

Such explicit repetition would grow old really fast, though.

The underlying problem seems to be that the phrase "that is" carries no meaning by itself, it is again a shorthand for "which means that", "this says that" or "in other words".

My question is:

What are other alternatives to i.e. that can I use in the sentence above?


texts: Difference between 'created by' and 'created from'

texts:
I am writing an essay and I was stuck in the middle of it because I was wondering if I should use from or by in this sentence:

'Incapable to detect that his own circumstances are created by/from his inability to see and act based on reality,~~~ (I have to continue)'

Should I use by or from?


texts:
I am trying to translate to English a German sentence where a car is called a "Schlaglochsuchgerät" (literally: "Pothole detector"), which is an ironic name for cars small enough to fit into a big pothole, with small tires that make for a really bumpy ride on degraded roads.

"What makes you think five people could fit into your __________?"
"If the condition of that road degrades for another year or two, I may have to trade in my ________ for an AWD."


texts: What is the name of this rhyme scheme: ABABCCDDC?

texts:
What is the name of this rhyme scheme:

  A B A B C C D D C

A list of (other) rhyme schemes can be found here.

An example can be found on this page.

  Sweet Destiny by Jan Turner (stanza 1)

  Oh destiny, sweet destiny,

  Come silent in the night,

  And teach my spirit how to see

  Within tomorrow's light.

  I know I'll strive to do what's best

  For humankind's eternal quest. . .

  I know I'll strive

  I know I'll strive

  Oh destiny to meet the test.


texts: If 2 is double and 3 is triple, what is 1?

texts: I am just assuming that there is no term for "1" because it would just be implied. If someone were telling you to check the door to make sure it was locked, they would ask, "Did you check the door?" That would be when the "1" would come in. But if he/she asked you, "Did you double check?", then that would be where the "2" (double) would come in. Pls, share your ideas or comments.


texts: Terms describing the pages comprising a magazine's cover

texts:
I'm translating a media kit, and the "Advertising rates" section specifies how much the client would have to pay to place his ads on the four pages that comprise the "outermost" part of the magazine and are part of the same sheet of paper.

The client may not place an ad on the "1st cover page": this page is the "face" of the magazine, the front page, and its design is up to the editorial board to come up with.

So the "Ad rates" price list goes a bit like this (in Russian):

  2nd cover page: 100 000 rubles
  3rd cover page: 90 000 rubles
  4th cover page: 120 000 rubles

The 4th cover page is on the back of the magazine, so naturally it costs more to place ads there.

Am I right in calling them thus, "2nd cover page" etc., or are there some special publishing terms for this?

Maybe the term "cover" should be used only for the 1st page out of these four pages? Then I'm not sure how to call the remaining three. I've been googling for terminology, for page layout terms, but haven't found any mention of this yet.


texts: It occurred to me to wonder when I ran across a French reference to practices of the Inquisition; it mentioned that imprisonment was fully intended to be torture that had a strong beginning when a guard-blacksmith shackled the prisoner to the wall of his/her cell. Could this functionary have been the original blackguard? Not in French, of course, where the word would be something like gardien-taillefer and the word itself is canaille.


texts: How did “classic” and “classical” come to mean “historic”?

texts: I assume the words classic and classical have a basis in the word class — which is to say, of a category. Why do we use those words to mean old or historically important?


texts: Is there any semantic difference to have a particle after transitive verb?

texts:
“There was a time when I supposed my job was to pass on the teaching
  of the Church.” (The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life)

The example has the phrasal verb, pass on, and its object (the teaching of the Church).
Is there any semantic difference to have the particle ‘on’ after the transitive verb, or is it just a habitual, idiomatic phrase?


texts:
Are all these forms correct?

Let's be in touch
Let's keep in touch
Let's stay in touch

Thanks


texts: How do you call members that serve a organization/community but also have authority that normal community people have not


texts:
The following passage comes from The American Journey (sixth edition), page 156. It's a quote of George F. Regas, addressing President George W. Bush (not in person). Notice the [sic] after the word preemptive, indicating some kind of misuse of the word or other kind of error.

But what's the error?

I googled this quote and got many hits. Other than the cited book, none use [sic].


texts: Alternative metaphor for emphasizing difficult process

texts: I am trying to describe the development process of some of my work for conference proceedings. We took laboratory research and adapted it for classroom experiences. A metaphor that came to mind was "out of the frying pan and into the fire" however this seems to emphasize the difficult nature of the starting and ending places rather than difficulty of the process between them. What alternative expressions would emphasize the difficulty of the process between to places?


texts:
I know that to indirectly ask:

  What is your name?

I should say something like:

  I don't know what your name is.

But what if the subject of question is longer than "your name"? Something like:

  What is the benefit of closing school when there's a flu outbreak

It just doesn't sound so good to me to indirectly ask the above question when the distance between what and is gets too long:

  I don't know what the benefit of closing schools when there's a flu outbreak is.

So, I am wondering if it is Ok to ask the indirect question like this:

  I don't know what is the benefit of closing schools when there's a flu outbreak.


texts: The grammatical parts of speech in 'As ____ as when ___'

texts:
What parts of speech are the each of the individual words in as penniless as when. For example when used in the following sentence:

  They were as penniless as when the little man found them.


texts: Word that describes something that glows with light, but cannot break the barrier of darkness

texts:
What word could be used to describe a glowing object or mass that though it has a quality of brilliance, does not throw light to illume anything?
Say, "The mysterious ball ____ with a self-contained light."
or of a city that though full of lights and vividness cannot extend its glow past the darkness of night?


texts: Which English to use in Portugal: British or American?

texts:
I'm not sure this is the right place to ask this, but any help is appreciated.

I'm Portuguese, but I also use English for my work. For that, I use dictionaries in my computer. My question is: which dictionary language should I use, British or American English?

Options:

Should I use British because it is the oldest?
Should I use British because I'm in Europe?
Should I use American because I will correspond with people from all parts of the globe?
Should I use American because American words are similar to Portuguese ones (e.g. elevator <-> elevador, film <-> filme)?
Should I use American because of NATO? (This one is maybe a little far-fetched.)


texts: Will we pronounce /t/ like a true T when /t/ is at beginning of a word but the syllable containing T is unstressed?

texts:
This website said

  The t is a regular, aspirated t sound when it is the first sound of a
  word or a stressed syllable

A regular T is the one that is clearly aspirated.

So, my question is that:

Will we clearly aspirate the /t/ (ie True /t/) when /t/ is at beginning of a word but the syllable containing T is unstressed.

For example, Tibet /tɪˈbet/ Source, but I feel like /t/ in Tibet is not aspirated clearly (Maybe 30% aspirated).

Whereas the /t/ in Thai /tai/ is aspirated clearly.


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  Which is correct: “soda” or “pop”?

Is it correct to say soda, or is it pop, or is it soda pop?

My friend and I are going back and forth: he says soda is "Soda ash" (Sodium carbonate) and pop doesn't sound right (ie, "a loud POP", or the "pop" music).

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary gives

SODA (definition 2)
a : soda water 2a
b : soda pop
c : a sweet drink consisting of soda water, flavoring, and often ice cream

SODA POP
a beverage consisting of soda water, flavoring, and a sweet syrup

POP, noun (definition 2)
soda pop

So which one is right? Which would be the correct grammar usage, would I use both, neither or what?


texts: A word for when you're discussing a topic and then take a detour to another topic before coming back to the topic at hand

texts: It's a word professors like to use when they talk about a topic and spontaneously decide to discuss a related topic before coming back to the main topic. I cannot seem to remember the word for that though. Detour is not the word I'm thinking of, but it's something in the same vein.


texts:
“He was saved using advanced medical technology.”
I think “using” would be a gerund if you said “He was saved by using advanced medical technology,” where the gerund is the object of the preposition “by.” Does anything change grammatically when the “by” is omitted?


texts: using question word regarding subjects in the verb "mean"

texts:
Is it correct to say the following:
"What means gol (a Farsi word) in English? Flower means gol in English."
Can you bring an example of asking question about the subject of the verb "mean"?
Thanks


texts:
Commonly, "animals" means "all animals, except humans". So is there a single word for "animals, including humans"?

Particularly, if you had a list of two choices, animal or human, what would you write as the heading?

Context: I'm building an input form for game designers to fill out about things you can encounter in a fantasy world. And one property of an encounter is whether it's an encounter with humans, animals, and possibly more categories to be determined later (e.g. spirits, monsters, undead?).


texts: Is there any general rule of thumb that can be followed for where and when to add commas and full stops?

texts: I always mess up with my writing by adding commas and full stops (periods) in the wrong places. Is there any rule of thumb or some other way that I can follow to avoid this problem?


texts: What does the construction "indefinite article + adjective" mean?

texts:
I came accross sentences like these:

"blablabla" says a breathless Mrs Johnson.
"Dinosaur Jr. set to release new album mid-2016, says a nervous Lou Barlow"

Are breathless and nervous an attribute of Mrs Johnson and Lou Barlow in the sentences below, or there is a grammatical construction "a/an + adjective" and two examples of this construction are to see in these sentences? Can I understand these sentences, as if they were:

Mrs Johnson says breathlessly "blablabla"
Lou Barlow says nervously "Dinosaur Jr. set to release new album mid-2016"

Or can I say: "He says a proud, >>I did it!<<"?
If this construction exists, where can I find a reference of it?


texts:
On https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tientsin_incident I read An additional problem for the British was normally the concession police handed over Chinese suspects to the Tientsin police to be tried by Chinese courts

Can concession really be used like that? What does the sentence mean?


texts:
Recently in
GermanLanguage.SE,
somebody who tried to explain
how to pronounce the German vowel "ü" claimed that
some speakers of English may use a slightly rounded vowel in
Greek loan words like "physical".
The dictionaries that I have consulted don't give any alternative pronunciation besides /ɪ/.
Are there really native speakers for whom the first vowels
in "physical" and "fizzy" are different?


texts: Short word (thesaurus) for "remaining time before death"

texts:
Is there any short word(s) for "remaining time before death"?

something like "remaining lifespan" or something shorter than "lifetime left"

or something like "lifespan minus age" or "deadline minus current time"


texts: Does a percentage quantity take singular or plural verb agreement?

texts: Does a percentage require a singular or plural verb, for example, do we say ten percent "go" or "goes"?


texts: Is it offensive to call someone as "mister"?

texts:
I watched American TV shows all the time. Sometimes this kind of scene appeared.
A: Hi, can I meet Mr. Smith?
B: It's Judge Smith
or
A: Mr. Smith, do you believe........
B: It's Doctor Smith
It also happened with people with military ranks. I found that people are offended with being called "Mister". Is it always the case in the real world?


texts: "I was too surprised to say anything (or) something"

texts: Which phrase is correct and why? I think "something" is correct because we have a positive sentence not a negative nor a question. As i have seen from the internet (google search) the case with the "anything" is correct. Can anyone explain to me please why is that correct?


texts: I've heard certain titles pluralised in apparently odd ways, such as a Secretary General being Secretaries General when plural, rather than "Secretary Generals" as I'd have guessed, and I'm wondering if there's a rule on this. For example if you were addressing two female Presidents, would is be "Madames President" (multiple females who preside over something) or "Madame Presidents" (multiple Presidents who are female)?


texts:
From The invisible man:

  His feet, save for socks of irregular open-work, were bare, his big toes were broad, and pricked like the ears of a watchful dog.

This is the complete chapter.

The sentence means this guy was barefooted, but I'm not sure what open means, there.


texts: Single word for "give custody": to custode?

texts:
I'm wondering how best to describe "to give custody" in single-word format. Obviously to "custode" is not a word, but I'm looking for something similar.

What is a single-word for "give custody"?

Background: This is in relation to finding a phrase to use in my software development project. A user clicks a button, and another user becomes a "delegate" or gets given "custody" of a certain activity, I'm looking for a word to put on or name the button. I will most likely use "Delegate", however, I still want to know if there's a single-word for "to give custody".


texts:
I am currently designing a project management tool and I want to know if there is a more generic term for projects.

For example, event companies undertake events, software companies undertake projects etc.


texts:
Can one used the word manual work to define a process of a nonphysical work, where there is no need of skills, it is monotonic and there is a lack of automatization?

For example: Someone creates photographs and then each photo has to be renamed (one by one) without a script doing it. How do you call this part of the job?

I seek a word to address every process of the job that has this feature. For example in this sentence: Photographers are able to avoid "manual work" with modern automatised software.


texts: Does English have a word that only means "to create a social bond"?

texts:
Is there a word in English that exclusively means something like "to create a social bond", and which can't also mean a physical linkage?

I'm looking for something that can be used in a sentence like "the two friends were [word]ed together by their shared experience", but not in a sentence like *"the planks of wood were [worded] together" or *"just let me [word] my shoelaces".

For context, I'm trying to figure out if there's a good (non-ambiguous!) equivalent for the Japanese word "tsunagaru". Common English translations of that involve "link", "connect", "bond", etc., but all of those English words seem to be broader than the Japanese word in question.


texts:
Thinking about this word: prerequisite.

Requisite (require) is associated with 'need'.  i.e. algebra is a prerequisite for calculus, so you NEED to take algebra before you take calculus.

Is there a word to describe a class that's fortuitous to take before calculus, but not necessary?  Like something you'd want to take before calculus but not required to take?

Best,
chiply


texts:
Could you please give your opinion on whether or not "senility" is a pejorative term?

My sentence is:

  Although there wasn't any real upper age limit, elders who seemed to be affected by senility were omitted from the survey.


texts: Word to describe ability to find anything

texts:
I've just come across this web site and was hoping you fine folks could help me out.

I've got a knack for being able to find almost anything on the internet. I'm very tech savvy and know the ways to really get the most out of search engines using symbols and codes to filter results.

Besides that, I seem to be able to identify rather quickly web sites that contain information that's relevant to my research, and those that do not. I can find those little corners of the internet that have the scraps of information I'm looking for. Often, when someone else cannot find information, I'm able to.

I believe there's a word for this type of skill. Several months ago, I thought I had come across the word, but now I seem to have lost it. The irony that I can't find the word to describe my ability to locate lost things on the internet is not lost on me. :)

Does anybody know of a word to describe an ability to excel at research and locating information?

So, rather than saying "That guy is good at finding information." You might say "That guy has great [word] skills." Or "That guy excels at [word]."

Research is a good word, but I don't feel it quite clearly defines what I'm trying to say.

Thank you for your help!


texts:
I know that question was already asked on this site, but I'm not sure in the answer I read about. So, the question is could passive voice exist without the verb 'be'? Here are examples:

Mission is accomplished.

The usual "mission accomplished" message.

In the first case, we have a passive voice. In second, I believe, too. But which of them is right? I guess both are.
P.S. I read about this that this is called 'middle voice'. And something about verbs we can use in a passive voice without 'be', regardless I would like to get an answer.


texts: Like "rearranging chairs on the Titanic", but for more positive situations

texts: I'm looking for a phrase or word that has a meaning similar to rearranging chairs on the Titanic, but means that it's a lot of effort for a small improvement on something that's already working well. Maybe it helps, but it probably doesn't matter. Any good ready-made ones?


texts:
Is the following sentence grammatically correct?

  I began to notice that things were
  suspicious.

If I google "that things were suspicious" it only comes up with 5 things.


texts: Does sysadmin enthusiast mean in english?

texts:
I'm not a native English speaker. I wonder does the phrase "SysAdmin Enthusiast" mean? any role + Enthusiast. like Developer Enthusiast, Manager Enthusiast etc.
I just had a discussion with one of my friends which he is not a native speaker too and he insists on using this phrase. SysAdmin is just a role. mean System Administration. a role in an organization.

Edit1:
Sysadmin is a role that means System Admin and he/she do system administration.


texts: Alternate phrase for "I would be happy to"

texts:
I had an interview at a company 5 weeks ago.  I received feedback that they "liked" me but need to interview a couple of additional candidate.  I am going to send them an email to let them know I am still interested and that I can be available to meet with them again.  However, I would really appreciate some thoughts on another/better way to express the second part of this sentence since I have already used that phrase previously in the email.

"As you progress in your hiring process, I would be happy to meet again to further discuss my fit with your firm and to get better acquainted."

Specifically, what are some different ways to say
"I would be happy to meet again?"


texts: Again regarding the pronunciation of "multi-": adequateness to certain strata of society

texts:
The question how to (correctly?) pronounce the suffix multi- in English has been discussed here several times, most helpful, I find, in "Multi-" prefix pronunciation

My question relates to that, but has a different focus:

Basically there is British pronunciation (roughly "mul-tee"), and American pronuncation (roughly "mul-tie"), the British version of corse closer to the original Latin word, the US-American version as a person from there would read it aloud naturally if not knowing about its history and not being acoustically accustomed to the other form.

Question now: as the general use in the US seems to be "mul-tie", are there anyway places in society where saying "mul-tee" would be more appropriate, e.g. because you display some level of consciousness about language, awareness about the roots of words, honouring e.g. academic culture of speaking or whatever? For example, by saying "mul-tie" would you indicate that formal education is not that much your cup of tee, whereas by saying "mul-tee" you would indicate (perhaps to certain people) that you distinguish yourself from those who say the latter?


texts: What is the equivalent word for "flight" when riding a boat instead?

texts:
Example: My "flight" is at 2:00 PM.

I am a Filipino, and English is our second language here in the Philippines. We have 7,000+ islands here and travel by boat is very common, yet we don't have an equivalent word for "flight", even in our language. We jokingly just say, "What time is your float?"

I think "voyage" as suggested below is the most fitting. Thank you!


texts:
Opinions sought. I vaguely remember that the expression "This is right" (meaning "I agree with what you just said") appeared in the 1970s. And I remember it because, if I remember correctly, it replaced in no time the till-then familiar phrase "That's right". Forty years later, it's normal to see sentences like... this:

"...inflation reached 200 percent. This led to a major upheaval..."

...whereas, it seems better/more logical to use "...200 percent. That led to..." - because "this" suggests something that's coming (e.g. that example above), while "that" has more a sense of what just passed ("I'll catch this bus, I missed that bus").

But then, dictionary.com says "this" means "used to indicate a * just mentioned", while "that" is "used to indicate a * mentioned before". So "this" should be the first choice. But it sounds wrong to my ear.


texts:
I've never seen it in any dictionary, and searching on Google gives fairly few, almost irrelevant results, but it seems like it could potentially be a word, albeit perhaps a technical one at that. It would be defined as "to modify incorrectly or accidentally."

This could refer to, for example, a file which was modified in an unintentional way, though it really doesn't have to be limited to technological contexts.


texts: I need the English word whose meaning is "someone who appears that one can compete with, but is actually beyond competition"

texts: I had heard the word long back, but now I don't remember it. It would be great if someone can tell me the word.


texts: What is the word for only knowing history from the day you were born?

texts: There is a term that describes people who think that all history began the day they were born. In other words, they think that we have always had income tax, always had social security, women and black people have always had the right to vote, etc. Their only frame of reference for political or historic events is what they grew up with, and are unable to grasp that things have not always been this way. Any ideas?


texts: "Fewer errors means better products" or "Fewer errors mean better products"?

texts: Does mean(s) modify a singular state of having fewer errors, or the plural errors themselves?


texts: People of different age & People of different ages

texts:
I've looked up these two phrases on the Internet, and I've found out that most websites and sources usually contain the phrase "people of different ages" or "people of different age groups".
I rarely encountered the collocation "people of different age" as it stands with the "age" in the singular without additional words after "age" in this collocation.
Am I mistaken, thinking that "people of different age" is not typical of native speakers?
Example "Ageism: Alive and Kicking":

Promoting collaboration between people of different age groups is a primary way to conquer ageist attitudes.

They found that younger participants were more likely than older people to endorse the stereotypes. People of different ages are equally as likely to endorse descriptive stereotypes. .


texts:
I was wondering if the use of "it" is ambiguous in the following sentence:

"The XYZ is an excellent book, and it was later made into a movie."

The use of it refers to the book/XYZ vice versa. Is that allowed (pronoun referring to a noun that refers to another Noun) or which of the following would be the best option to use:

The XYZ is an excellent book, which was later made into a movie.
The XYZ is an excellent book that was later made into a movie.

And if "it" usage is correct grammatically, which one of the three (it, which, that) is the best option?

:)


texts: "Through the course" vs. "over the course"

texts:
I have heard the following used often

  Over the course of the semester, ...

but a friend recently told me

  Through the course of the semester, ...

Are both of these usages of the idiom acceptable? I feel like the second one is strange while the first one is acceptable.


texts: Adverb for a person who is not the subject

texts:
If I went home and was happy to do so, I can say that "I went home happily".

If I sent somebody else home and he was happy to do so, can I say that "I sent Johnny home happily"?

This doesn't sound right because it sounds like I was happy to send Johnny.

Is there a way to use an adverb to describe the action of a person that is not the subject of the main verb?


texts: Does "needless to say" convey to the reader that he is ignorant?


texts:
The following paragraph is an excerpt from "Echopraxia" by Peter Watts:

  Twenty minutes later, a retinue of flukes and cestodes only
  half-cataloged, something exploded in the distance.

  That’s what it
  sounded like, anyway: the soft muffled whoompf of far-off ordinance.
  Brüks rose from his work, panned the desert between spindly gnarled
  trunks.

According to dictionaries ordinance is an order or legalisation. Is it a mistake and the author meaned ordnance as weapons, ammunition or is there some meaning of ordinance that is something in the distance?


texts:
I am now working on a technical concept of measuring of some data and I often see terms measuring and metering.

My understanding is that with a meter I measure.
But what is metering? And how does it differ to measuring?

When I am trying to google the difference, I am finding many articles using simply measuring and metering together.


texts:
Which of the following is correct?

(1) The dog is half wolf.
(2) The dog is a half wolf.

If (1) is correct, is "wolf" an uncountable noun or an adjective?


texts: who am I? (official politically correct)

texts: what is the name for a person who does things for a wealthy person such as pay bills take care of investments and insure things are in order for that person on a day to day basis


texts: Signing a letter for a position you previously held

texts:
I need to write a letter of recommendation for past (adult) students of mine. I no longer hold the position as the institution went bankrupt. I want to include my previous title on the letter, how can I properly indicate I no longer hold the position?

I was thinking of these:

Mr. Foo Bar
Director, A. Department (former)
A Organization

or

Mr. Foo Bar
Director, A. Department (2014-2017)
A Organization

The letter does explain the organization is no longer in operation.


texts:
Is there any one-word term that can capture the meaning of "three groups".

  For example, there are three groups of people in the world....


texts:
This should be a fairly easy question:

When the beginning of a sentence includes a parenthetical phrase, is it necessary to use more than one comma?

Take this sentence for example:

  "But yeah, the astronauts made it safely into their spacecraft."

Is that fine, or would there need to be another comma before "yeah"?

I'm sure there are more intricate examples related to mine, so extra knowledge would be much appreciated. Thanks.


texts: Use of the prefix "non-" on compound words

texts:
What is the correct way to apply the prefix "non-" to negate a (maybe dashed) compound adjective?

Suppose that we want to negate a generic compound adjective "adjective1 adjective2".
In this case:

"non-adjective1 adjective2" looks a bit ambiguous since the scope of the prefix "non-" is at least unclear (in fact seems to affect only adjective1).
"non-adjective1-adjective2" also looks unclear to me since the dashes seem to act at the same level, which is not true (yes, you can claim a precedence order from right to left, but I am not sure that this is canonical).
So, the less ambiguous option should be something like "non-(adjective1 adjective2)" or "non-(adjective1-adjective2)", which may seem a
bit too verbose.

Which of the previous options is more correct/convenient? Is there any general consensus (or better alternative) on how to negate compound adjectives?

Edit.- My question is not on whether or not to use double hyphens, the question is on how to make clear the scope of the negation of the prefix "non-". Normally my doubts arise in a mathematical context. An example could be "finitely generated" which, by the way, is an absolutely standard adjective in mathematics.

Edit2.- I just realized about a missing possibility which may be the best option:

"non adjective1-adjective2"

In this case the scope of "non" is clearly the next word (which is what I want to negate) and is neat enough. Is this form (using the particle "non" as a separate word without hyphen) admissible?

Just to summarize for the given example "finitely generated" the options are:

non-finitely generated
non-finitely-generated
non-(finitely generated) or non-(finitely-generated)
non finitely-generated

I prefer the last one but I am not sure whether it is formally admissible.


texts:
Are there any differences between these two forms? Example:

  "It has been done so as +
  to make it easier for academics and other judges to
  refer to a particular passage in a judicial decision."
  "It has been done so + to make it easier..."

Source: P176, Letters to a Law Student by Nicholas McBride


texts:
What does "watch your six" mean?

Does it mean "watch your back", like in a dangerous area?


texts:
I'm curious about whether to use comma before "and". Some people told me that using comma to connect two different sentences and two different subjects.

Please provide some examples to explain the usage of this. Thanks a lot!


texts:
Should I use is or are in this sentence?

  Actual hours [is/are] greater than the estimates.


texts: Is "looked at me funny" correct grammar?

texts:
The following phrases:

Looked at me funny
Looking at me funny

Don't sound grammatically correct, but I hear them as turns of phrase relatively frequently. It should be something like:

Looked at me funnily
Looking at me funnily

Right?
But then the original sentiment of the phrase seems lost, as it's so seldom used. Is it valid for the adjective "funny" to implicitly modify the noun "the look" that is being received, or is this just another case of standardised bad grammar?


texts: On a poster, would 'We the commuter' or 'We the commuters' be more correct?


texts:
Hopefully this one is nice and simple. Which is correct:

  I would never say that I am superior to a cleaner.

or

  I would never say that I were superior to a cleaner.

I'm rather confused -- any answers (and an explanation of the answer) would be appreciated.


texts: What is the English equivalent for "для особо одарённых"?

texts:
There is a steady expression in Russian: "для особо одарённых". It can be used in such context:

  Повторяю для особо одарённых...

Straight translation is "I repeat for the gifted". But in general it highlights (on the contrary) the lack of talent or even the stupidity of the one for whom they repeat. So it is a kind of irony.
Is there a correct English equivalent for this (to use both spoken and written)? Or maybe for example the phrase "I repeat for outstandingly gifted students..." can convey the irony?


texts: "X as well as Y" ; will this be followed by singular verb or plural verb?

texts:
"X as well as Y" singular or plural
When two nouns are connected using "as well as", does that become singular or plural?
For eg. Sam as well as his brother Dean has / have to come.
Which one is correct?


texts: Is the use of "this" here incorrect grammatically?

texts:
My adviser is reviewing my thesis, and he is asking me to minimize using the word "this," and mentioned that my usage is incorrect grammatically. I'm extremely confused how my usage is wrong.
Here is one of the sentences he pointed out:
"A discontinuous galerkin solver was developed as part of this thesis."
How is this wrong grammatically?


texts:
Two questions regarding articles in this sentence:
(The) Fine dust is considered the worst pollutant threatening (the) health.
Is it grammatical to not put any articles in front of "health" and "Fine dust"?
Both of the words are not indicating any specific existing things. They are rather abstract
concepts. So I thought it would be right not to use any articles in front of both words.
but I wasn't sure if this was grammatical, especially with the word health..
I would appreciate any help. Thanks! :)


texts: Why is the letter 'X' given importance in mathematics?

texts: In mathematics the letter 'X' is always given importance over other letters. Why is it so?


texts: While hatch means "to emerge from an egg", is there an equivalent word for "to emerge from a crysalis or cocoon"

texts: Other than "to emerge", "to come out" or "to climb out", is there a specific verb that means "to emerge out of a chrysalis" or "to emerge out of a cocoon", like there is "to hatch" for "to emerge out of an egg"?


texts: What does "I will not touch any firearm during a cattle fire." mean?

texts:
I will not touch any firearm during a cattle fire.

It's said in a gun shooting range in Texas, at the counter inside, before they are given weapons. They are made to say it out loud and sign a paper. "Cattle fire" could be something else; I just think it sounds like "cattle fire". If it's actually something else, I still wonder what the meaning of this is.

The video clip (less than 27 seconds long): https://streamable.com/e/ud24gn


texts: Can em dashes be used to isolate clauses starting with an “or”?

texts:
Here’s a simplified version of the sentence I'm working on.

  Despite what he believed — or thought he believed — he still had to
  contend with the truth.

Or should I use commas?


texts: What is the correct usage of "throwing shade"?

texts:
The renowned scholarly institution UrbanDictionary defines the term as follows:

  throw shade: to talk trash about a friend or aquaintance, to publicly denounce or disrespect. When throwing shade it's immediately obvious to on-lookers that the thrower, and not the throwee, is the bitcy [sic], uncool one

And also:

  throwing shade: Throwing Shade, is to throw "attitude."

And finally:

  shade: acting in a casual or disrespectful manner towards someone/dissing a friend

However, in researching more of where the term came from (apparently the black and Latino gay subculture in the 1980s), I came across this post that suggests that the usage by people outside this subculture is all wrong:

    Corey explains other voguing terminology, such as “reading” and “throwing shade.” To read is to insult imaginatively – in opposition to the blunt gay-bashing taunts of the straight world. Reading is gay-to-gay sparring. Thus, when two black queens call each other “black queen,” says Corey, “that’s not a read, that’s just a fact.”

    Throwing shade is reading at a refined level; it’s the curve to the pitch. If someone says they won’t call you ugly because you already know, well, you just got thrown a shade. When enmity reaches fever point and pride is involved, it’s time for voguing. This is direct competition, when contenders take their fight to the ball floor: the equivalent of jousting, dueling or stepping outside the bar.

  You’ll notice that throwing shade is defined in opposition to the directness and cruelty of gay-bashing. It’s more artfully executed, more dependent on constructing a veiled (or not-so-veiled) insult rather than relying on obvious crudities and innuendo. Throwing shade requires wielding your words like a rapier rather than a cudgel.

In other words, that it's not merely trash-talking or throwing attitude, but something far more specific.  Unfortunately, they didn't really provide examples of the term "throwing shade" being used in a manner that was deemed correct, or provide a succinctly stated alternative definition.

With this in mind, what is the actual correct usage of the term "throwing shade"?


texts:
Here is an example making sort of curious things for me

"who are customers with questions advised to speak with"

In the above sentence, what does "with" function at the end of it?

Simply, next to verb 'speak', dose this just work that say something with someone as a verb phrase?

or

assisting 'who' to make sure to represent a meaning who customers should ask their questions to?

and, if it is correct in the second case, is it able to be replaced by other sentences like "with whom are customers with questions advised to speak" or "who are customers with questions advised to speak to" ?


texts:
The recurrent cholangitis happened in the past. But when I am discussing the event now, which of the following should I use?

  It is the incomplete stone removal that caused the recurrent cholangitis.
  It was the incomplete stone removal that caused the recurrent cholangitis.


texts: What is a word for someone who tries to be clever?

texts:
What's a word for someone who tries to be clever?

For example you spell something wrong, just a small typo such as one letter in the word wrong, and they call you out about it knowing full well what you meant?

It wouldn't be sarcastic would it?


texts: What are the proper terms for the way you say vs write something?

texts:
We all know if something is three-dimensional you would write 3D. If someone says it aloud, you would hear "three dee". What are  the right terms for one vs the other?

EDIT

To further clarify, I am using a service which automatically creates transcripts based on an audio file. It breaks down the whole thing into duplicate copies. Something shown as "PP12" in one grouping, is shown as "PP", "one", "two" in another. In other cases it will have "3D" in one and "three", "D" in the other. It made me wonder if there is some official terminology between how you show a written word vs how you would say it aloud.

I basically wanted to know if there were more official words than "read as" vs "spoken as".


texts: Change she said to me "what are you doing here ?" into indirect speech

texts:
Is "Sally asked what you were doing." correct?

It couldn't possibly be "Sally asked what I was doing." right?

Thanks.


texts: What is it called when words are grouped together by their first letter?

texts:
This method is often used in teaching, marketing, management, self-help books, for example:

The 4 T's of success, the 3 D's of determination, etc.

What is this process/method called?


texts: Is "it makes it easy to do ..." good English?

texts: There are two "it"s in this sentence, but they refer to different things.  Is this considered good English?  If not, what's a better way to express the same meaning?


texts: His/her vs their after using "each one" (for individual-focused meaning)

texts:
I have this sentence that intoduce a list of items:

  Encountering a succession of person to observe how each one's way of
  thinking affects: ● his/her way to look at the world ● his ... ● his
  ...

I'm tempted to use "their" (as it is recommended in several post), but I do need to keep a clear individual focus, and thus to keep the "each one's". "Their way to look" should not be interpreted in a collective sense ("several people's ways to look" would ruin the meaning)

I want to say that  "the way of thinking of a single person influences the way to look at the world of that particular person". (meaning 1)

I don't want to say: "the way of thinking of a single person encoutered influences* the way to look at the world* of all the person encountered". (meaning 2)

Using their seems to imply meaning 1 as well as the 2, while using his/her will clearly imply meaning 1 without risking any confusion with meaning 2.

Knowing that context, should I use "each one" with a list of items started with "their" or should I write "his/her way to look a the world" (and then keep only the his for the other items)?


texts: What is the difference between rotate and revolve?

texts:
What is the difference between rotation and revolution?

I don't find any difference between the two words from the meanings I read about them. Both words have the same meaning: moving in a circle around an axis.

But just because the dictionary definitions are the same doesn't mean they are exact synonyms. Is there a more precise description to show a difference? Or are they really exact synonyms?

  revolve verb
  [no object]
  move in a circle on a central axis:
     overhead, the fan revolved slowly

  rotate verb
  1 move or cause to move in a circle round an axis or centre:
  [no object]:
     the wheel continued to rotate

  [Both ODO]


texts: "To have it in someone" and "To have it in for someone"

texts:
I didn't know I had it in me to fly off the handle like that.
  I might as well give in my notice; the boss had it in for me ever since I told him he was highly strung.

Please explain for me these phrases with some exemplifying sentences.
I find these confusing as these turned up in the book "Advanced Everyday English" .


texts: "What led to you doing this thing" grammar?

texts:
I'm current curious about this sentence's grammar:

  What led to you doing this thing?

It sounds like "you doing this thing" is noun. What is this grammar?


texts: Correctness of "Both are equally terrifying"

texts:
A quote attributed to Arthur C. Clarke says "Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying."
Is it grammatically correct? I think it should say "The two are equally terrifying" or "Both are terrifying, equally so".


texts: The slogan, "i'm lovin' it" is grammatically wrong

texts:
My grammar book pointed out that when you use some verbs in the continuous tenses, it need to be something active, such as running, or eating.
Verbs that do not imply an action, but instead refer to a state of affairs - for example, know, own, love, or feel -can not be used in the continuous tenses. If so, is there any verb list which I can not use in the continuous tenses? It makes me confuse and easily make mistake if I am not careful. So as native English speaking people.


texts: What is the proper name for the document with all the right answer of an exam?

texts:
When a teacher builds an exam he usually has in a safe place a document with all the right answers for that exam.

What is the right name for this document?


texts: Is there a single, non crude word for "had sex"?

texts:
There are many words for "had sex", such as the F-word, "banged", "screwed" etc.

None of these are formal words, and I'm wondering if there is a single word for "had sex" that is more appropriate than the aforementioned?


texts: Conjunction Puzzle: Is this clause dependent or independent?

texts:
Third grade teacher here. I plan to teach students to distinguish between simple, compound and complex sentences — but only if I can demonstrate a clear and meaningful difference between the latter two!

Complex or Compound? Each sentence in the following pairs is similar to its partner.

All dogs are mammals, so huskies are mammals.
All dogs are mammals, therefore huskies are mammals.
I come bearing soup, for Kate is sick.
I come bearing soup, because Kate is sick.

Are the sentences above complex or compound?

First, we need to decide whether each italicized clause is independent or dependent. To me, they all look dependent. If that is the case, there's not much need to teach about compound sentences. Is there a meaningful difference between the sentences in each pair that I am missing? (Are the FANBOYS as special as they'd like to think?)


texts:
I want to find out why there is no comma between two clauses in this sentence and what is the grammar rule for it.

  But the curious thing was that while he was doing so (,) a
  totally different memory had clarified itself in his mind, to the
  point where he almost felt equal to writing it down.


texts: Pronunciation and meaning: "wind" and "wound"

texts:
I find it curious that there exist two words spelt wind ("a breeze" vs. "to turn") and two words spelt wound ("an injury" vs. the past participle of wind), and that the words in each pair are unrelated in etymology and are pronounced differently. Did these different pronunciations come about to differentiate between the meanings?

The OED says of wound:

  The original ŭ was normally lengthened before nd , but in the standard pronunciation has been prevented from developing into ou (as in bound , hound , ground , etc.) by the influence of the w (in contrast to wound , past tense of wind v.1). The pronunciation /waʊnd/ is however given by some dictionaries of the 18th century (Kenrick, 1733; Jones, 1798), is widely current in dialects, is implied in various forms of wounds int. and zounds int., and was common in the adverb woundy adj.1

How would the w prevent the /u/ from developing into /aʊ/, and why did it only affect one of the two wounds?


texts: What's the act of darkening windows to disallow visibility?

texts:
What's the word to describe the act of darkening windows to disallow visibility from outside yet visibility from inside to outside is possible?

I was thinking of tinting, to tint a window, but visibility is still possible from a tinted window. In this case, the windows are darkened and visibility is completely impossible; all that you see from outside is a reflection of yourself, like in a mirror. You see these kinds of windows in places like hotels and offices. What's the word to describe the making of these windows and what are these windows called?


texts: Any website to look up words with similar pronunciation or spelling?

texts:
Is there any website(s) to look up words with similar pronunciation or spelling?

For example: stack, steak, stake, stick.

(It can help me as a non-native English speaker to learn confusing words.)


texts: Can "good" and "well" be used interchangeably?

texts:
I told someone I was doing good in my new community, and they thought I was talking about my well being. When I told them that I meant I was doing good in the community like in a helping out "do-gooder" sort of way, they told me that "good" and "well" can be used interchangeably in my context and always refer to one's well being.

But doesn't only the word "well" mean state of health to avoid misunderstandings like this? Doesn't "I've been doing good in the new community" mean I have been doing good things in the community to help out? And doesn't "I've been doing well in the new community" mean that I am healthy, not being harassed by the community members and whatnot?


texts: Are there any expressions that describe going from a bad to a worse situation?

texts:
Are there idioms or expressions in English that describe going from one bad situation to one that's even worse?

I heard "between a rock and hard place" but this describes a dilemma not really a transition. I am looking for an expression that describes someone trying to get out of a bad situation but after much effort, the situation only got worse.


texts: Happy Merry Christmas vs Merry Christmas

texts: I was wondering whether it is incorrect to say, "Happy merry Christmas.". Please give some reasons.


texts: What's the opposite of "concatenate" in programming?

texts:
To concatenate means to string together different things. Concatenating "snow" and "ball" produces "snowball." But what would the opposite action be? What is the name of the action used to derive two words from one?

(My dictionaries don't list any antonyms, and Googling revealed how to do the opposite but not what it's called.)

Edit: I had programming parlance in mind, so I've reflected that in the question title.


texts: "To" vs. "for" in "gold for your business"

texts:
As a marketing slogan could the following sentence be considered grammatical?

  Because happy customers are gold for your business.

Would it be better to say to instead of for? Or a rephrasing like:

  Because happy customers are their weight worth in gold to your business.


texts: Why is the term "touched" no longer commonly used?

texts:
I’ve heard the term touched used to refer to someone who is “not quite right”. I’m curious as to where this term came from, what it really means, and why it doesn’t tend to be used often anymore.

Is it seen as offensive now, or does it just seem dated because it might be seen as religious or something (as in “touched by an angel” or “touched by God”)?

I’ve also heard someone say that “on the spectrum is the new touched”, indicating that both terms are intended to be “delicate” ways of saying the same thing (with the further implication that “touched” was often used to refer to a person with autism, before many people knew what autism was). Is there any truth to this?

What got me thinking on this is the new Kiefer Sutherland show Touch which is about a kid who is diagnosed as autistic, although clearly there is something else (supernatural, presumably) going on. I was curious if the name was partially in reference to the term.


texts: When are operational definitions appropriate and when can one conclude that a poor word choice was made?

texts:
In the book Making is Creating the author, David Gauntlett, seems to use the word "creativity" to refer to the act of creating anything. The example is given that it is creative to make one's own gloves instead of buy them. This sounded strange to me as I would not normally think a person fashioning a pair of gloves for themselves would be creative.
I consulted some dictionaries and google has the following definition for creativity:

the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the
production of an artistic work.

This seems to not include fashioning one's own gloves as it doesn't include imagination or an original idea. Does this mean that all arguments in the book are wrong as it contains an invalid premise? Or is there no problem as this is just an operational definition?
When is it that operational definitions become necessary? In words such as "creativity" there is a well agreed upon meaning already. Is it that dictionaries only contain the most basic understanding of words and word usages are often stretched?
Quote from page 19

Whilst they struggle with ‘real’ issues such as government regulation
of broadcasting, or something to do with political parties, I am
enthusing about everyday people making nice objects or clever little
videos, which may be pleasant but is an irrelevance in terms of
political or social concerns. If it’s any kind of issue at all, it’s a
‘cultural’ one: and who cares really if people watch silly
entertainment on television, or if they make their own silly
entertainment; if they grow their own fl owers, make their own toys or
gloves, or buy them from a supermarket; or if people write their own
songs, or buy someone else’s.

He doesn't explicitly say making gloves is creative however the focus of the section is on the definition of creativity and it seems that he includes gloves as an example.


texts:
An English dictionary gives the following example sentence:

  Schumacher crashed out in practice for the Australian grand prix.

I'd like to know how to parse "crashed out in practice for the Australian grand prix." Does "crashed out" form a unit? Or is "out in practice" a unit?

Some dictionaries define "crash out" as "to lose a game with the result that you have to stop playing in a competition. " Is that definition compatible with how it is used in the OP?

Here's some background info: Schumacher won the race in 2000.

I'd appreciate your comments.


texts:
what is the meaning of this sentence:

"This is shaky political ground and what appears to be dogged cultural relativism can infuriate scientists. Unfortunately, their own track record isn’t too persuasive."

in this context:

A Navaho sand painting ritual for a sick child is a mystery – we literally cannot read the signs nor subscribe to the belief, let alone the science, that she can be made better this way. Are we then to dismiss this cultural practice? This is shaky political ground and what appears to be dogged cultural relativism can infuriate scientists. Unfortunately, their own track record isn’t too persuasive.

Does it mean :

"shaky political ground and dogged cultural relativism can infuriate scientists. Unfortunately, scientists do not represent a persuasive past in their activity."


texts: Should "Creationism" or "creationism" be used in a scientific writing?

texts:
I'm editing a scientific article, and the word "creationism" is used a few times—lowercase and uppercase spellings are both utilized. I have no clue whether to use the lowercase or uppercase spellings consistently.
Here are the instances where the word is used:

The ongoing debate of evolution versus creationism is not a new issue.
Evolution’s beliefs follow a scientific line of thought and do not classify as religious beliefs, unlike a notion such as Creationism.
This debate created many sparks, with some scientists condemning Nye for agreeing to such a debate. They state that it gives Creationism an air of credibility that it does not deserve.
Nevertheless, wherever the debate might turn next, the general consensus is evolution is based on science and Creationism is based on faith—both equally indispensable components of today’s society.

Any input would be highly appreciated.


texts:
Which is the correct form of an attribute related to multiple entities?
For example, which is the correct form of position?

The position of the circle and of the square is wrong.
The positions of the circle and of the square are wrong.

I could interpret it in the following ways:

each shape has only one position, so use the singular
each shape has only one position, but since we have multiple shapes use the plural
multiple shapes of a collective entity (circle + square), use the plural

edit: assuming the shapes don't share the same position.


texts: Is the sentence structure “As A did something, B was doing something” correct?

texts:
For example,

  As Jerry and Ming argued about the many possible tile colors for the floor of the new ice-cream parlor, Maria was thinking about whether to paint the walls or wallpaper them.

Is the structure of this sentence correct?


texts:
The class of words called 'words of comparison' includes words such as 'higher' and 'highest'. The words 'higher' and 'highest' express comparative height. The term for the class of words that includes 'higher' is 'the comparative'. The term for the class of words that includes 'highest' is 'the superlative'.

Is there a linguistic term that denotes the class of properties that words of comparison compare?

I'd appreciate whatever answers people can offer, but I'd prefer answers that include a completion one of these two similes.

The word 'higher' and the word 'highest' are to the word 'height' as the phrase 'the comparative' and the phrase 'the superlative' are to '_____'.
The word 'higher' and the word 'highest' are to the property called 'height' as the phrase 'the comparative' and the phrase 'the superlative' are to _____.

Thank you,

-Hal


texts: SWR: word for a regulation that relaxes something

texts:
The sentence is:

  This implies there might be a certain degree of __________ for
  outbound flows.

I want to say "relaxation" but that sounds to evocative of sitting on the sofa watching tv kind of relaxation. Is there a better choice that has a similar meaning as relaxation but is implying a regulatory context?


texts:
He also thoughtfully provided ink and a cross-nibbed pen, with which I wrote my post cards,
  and which I hope you received in due time.

From Domestic Life in Rumania by Dorothea Kirke, 1916.


texts: Putting the sentence in the simpler form

texts:
Can somebody help me to understand what this sentence is trying to reveal?

  "So these photos are far more than proxies for a single moment, or even a specific trip. They're also ways for us to freeze time for one week in October and reflect on our times and how we change from year to year, and not just physically, but in every way."

What I understand is the following:

  The photos are not just the photos of a single trip or some specific trip. These photos are actually a medium (or stuff) which allows us a free week of October where we can really go back in to our past with the pictures to observe how we change from year to year, not only physically but also in attitude.

I would appreciate if you can explain me line by line so that I can follow. Thanks is advance.


texts:
I have to compare results for two models A and B across two case studies , C and D . In both the studies A performed better than B. But it performed much better in case study D.
I have summarized it as :

On comparing the results for both the cases, it was observed that the difference in the overall model performance, between A and B, was more for case study D, as it was more complex.

Is it gramatticaly correct?
Should I write the following
The difference in overall performances, between A and B, was more for case study D


texts:
Here in Asia refers controlling unit of air-conditioner which manupulates target-temprature or power of wind eccentra to "remote-control". However, in united states and europe, it looks the term "thermo-stat" bit more widely used for the same functionality.

Is there any difference or functionality between "remote control" and "thermostats" especially under the context of Air-conditioner market?

Simplifying the question, what do you call this?


texts: Is it possible and correct to say submerge into?

texts:
I would like to know if it is correct to say:

  we submerge into current affairs such politics, humans rights, economic indicators and...

I am not completely sure if this is possible, and I wish to convey the idea of being immersed in discussion in a productive way.


texts:
As in the title,

Labcoat, lab-coat or lab coat?

Which is the correct version? And is there a convention I can use for other similar combinations of words.


texts: Can “adulting” be considered a verb, or is it only ever a noun?

texts:
I know the word has exploded in popularity in recent times, but I'm not sure how to use it right.

This TIME article considers the word a verb, so does this M-W blog. However, the ODO entry only mentions it as a mass noun or a modifier, conspicuously leaving out any mention of verbs:

  informal

  [mass noun] The practice of behaving in a way characteristic of a responsible adult, especially the accomplishment of mundane but necessary tasks:

  ‘it feels really good to take a step back from adulting and have someone else cook dinner for me’

  [as modifier] ‘I finished all my adulting requirements for the week’

I recognize that one dictionary entry doesn't prove/disprove anything. Still, if I think about it, I have to agree with ODO; because to me, sentences like:

  I hate adulting.

sound idiomatic, but when I try to frame sentences that use it blatantly as a verb, like:

  I adulted yesterday and I hated it.
  I need to adult tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it.

I'm not sure if they're idiomatic. My questions are:

Can adulting be considered a verb, or is it just a noun?
Do these sentences sound right, usage-wise?
Are they grammatically correct?

Thoughts?


texts:
Which of the options sounds correct?

  She has been accepted/admitted at York University.


texts:
Rocco Commisso is the Italian-American owner of the New York Cosmos and Fiorentina FC.

Italian journalists made fun of his funny Italian accent, and he responded saying this:

  I know that lots of Italians speak better than me, but when (journalists) confront me they should talk English and I'll show them the job of Bronx

What does he mean when he says job of Bronx? The Italian media is acting as if Commisso just threatened someone.

This is the video


texts: How to shout to a stranger 80ft away to let her know that her cards have fallen onto the ground?

texts:
During my recent trip visiting U.S. I noticed a girl's credit card falling onto the ground. She was walking and did not notice this. The girl (maybe ~20 years old) was ~80ft away from me. I tried shouting "Hey! You lost your cards." but she did not notice me.

How can I make myself noticed? Is there some 'magic' word people often use in such scenario?
How should I address her？ I considered shouting "hey girl" or "bro" but I was too shy to do that. Or I should simply keep shouting "hey" until she turn around?

Now I feel guilty that I failed to let her know this before she got into her car.


texts:
I've recently noticed a wider variety in how phone numbers are presented, both in print and online, specifically with regard to spacing & punctuation.

Examples:

+1 (555) 123 4567
+1 (555) 123-4567
+1 555 123 4567
+1 555 123-4567
1.555.123.4567
555.123.4567
555-123-4567
(possibly others)

Is there a single, standardized or generally recommended format for publishing phone numbers? If so what is it?

Or is it really anything goes these days?


texts: Is 'Safari' really an English word, and what are its origins?

texts:
We are all used to this word safari. I think most people will agree that its usage is ubiquitous when referring to going for holiday (esp. overland travel in Africa).

So is this word a true English word? What are the origins?


texts: What does the -st word ending mean and is it used in any modern vocabulary?

texts: I know there are plenty of words that use the -st ending: wouldst, whilst, unbeknownst, etc. but I'm not really sure what it means to add an -st suffix to a word. What does it mean to add the suffix? How can I tell what words can take the -st suffix? Are there any modern words that can take the suffix and not have people look at me in a strange way?


texts: Word that refers to the "quantity/amount" of floor?

texts:
For example you would say:

  Miles and miles of road

  Tons and tons of food

How about when referring to the floor inside a house (given that the house is relatively big)?

Example:

  [...] and [...] of plywood floor

(Maybe squares?)


texts:
Could someone please explain what rule governs the comma and dash usage. Why is the dash placed after the should. Couldn't the dash be placed after the 'have'?

He might – and according to plans, should – have reinforced the Second Division.


texts: possessive apostrophe(s) in definition of abbreviation

texts:
Consider the following two sentences, dealing with a singular "ISP":

  (1) The virus penetrated the Internet Service Provider's (ISP)'s firewall.

or

  (2) The virus penetrated the Internet Service Provider (ISP)'s firewall.

The subtle difference is that (1) has a possessive apostrophe both on the term and its abbreviation, whereas (2) only has it on the abbreviation.  Which of the above two is more commonly preferred?


texts:
Is it imperative , interrogative or what ?
A question I got online asks, " What is the simple subject of the following sentences ?
is the sentence imperative or interrogative ?

question 17 : Will you check the tires.
using a( full stop) not a question mark.
First, is it correct or wrong to start with ( will) and ending the sentence with a full stop ?
OR perhaps it is mistyping, but it is not the only question

It is already a request ( polite command ) but how it doesn't end in a question mark ?


texts: "Measured cadence" meaning in the musical context (monks' chanting)

texts:
I would like to ask for help with proper understanding of the following paragraph (included to give some context):

As I thus mused there fell upon my ears the sounds  of sonorous
chanting that swelled symphonically from somewhere far below. Its
measured cadence rose and  fell solemnly as if it were borne from a
distance incredible to human ears.

I find it very hard to infer the correct meaning here, mainly because "cadence" has various meanings and being a non-native speaker, this is particularly difficult for me.
My best guess is that the chanting was somehow organized and the tune (intonation?) was going up and down (high and low), maintaining somehow a solemn nature?


texts: Word to mean the most probable option but still unlikely

texts:
I'm trying to describe a way to a goal that is more likely to succeed than any other ways, but definitely still uncertain. One word is optimal, but a few is fine too if the former doesn't exist.

Something like "This is the _______ path to victory".

I immediately thought of using "most likely" but calling something "most likely" makes it sounds almost certain, which is absolutely not what I want.
"Best" sounds more suitable, but doesn't imply incertitude either.


texts: Is the term "medior" to express "medium level expertise" wrong?

texts:
If I recall correctly from my high school latin studies words ending with -ior meant to express a property is more of something compared to others, like superior. So junior meant to be younger.

That's why I'm baffled with medior.

Since English is English and not Latin by tradition it might be a "legit" word. Since I'm not a native English speaker I don't know. So...

Is using medior to describe mid-level expertise is right or wrong?


texts: Can "your reputation precedes you" be used as a negative statement?

texts:
I have always considered "your reputation precedes you" as a gesture of complement and respect. However it occurred to me if it is possible to use it for a notorious person with a bad reputation?

Imagine I use my time machine and arrange a meeting with [e.g.] Stalin. If I say your reputation precedes you, can I safely* assume it will be interpreted as an insult?**

* safely, from a linguistic viewpoint and not my physical safe!

** insult, from a linguistic viewpoint and not Mr. Stalin's ego.


texts:
Which is the correct option between these two lines?
1) But none of your obnoxiousness or charm
2) But neither of your obnoxiousness nor charm

I'm writing a poem for somebody and am currently confused between the two choices. English is obviously not my native language so any help would be greatly appreciated.


texts:
I use a CMS (content management system) where a post or comment is visible to all the users (if there aren't other restrictions) when it is flagged as published.   What verb should I use to mean that I changed the status of a post from published to unpublished?

The dictionary reports that unpublished is only an adjective; therefore, I could not write I unpublished the post. I usually write I marked the post as unpublished, but it doesn't sound right to my ears (and it seems using more words than needed).


texts:
'When he told me it was finished it felt like all hope from my life had gone – it was overwhelming,' she says.
Please help me understand this usage of PP.
If we look at the timeline of this sentence it will look like this:
He told her it was finished then she lost her hope and after she felt it.

Do i understand this correctly? What would happen if she used simple past?


texts:
When speaking about e.g. computer "objects" (files, documents or other things manipulable through a graphical user interface) what would you say is the difference between the object's properties and its settings - if the properties (as well as the settings) can be edited/changed?

EDIT: I should clarify that I refer to the presentation in a user interface (from a user perspective) - not in relation to programmers/programming languages.


texts: When did the term 'leverage' gain its verb/debt-related meaning?

texts:
I was discussing the much-abused business term leverage with a colleague and thought it would be interesting to know when the term as a verb entered popular use as opposed to the physics-related noun.

I can look at ngrams and do basic searches, but since the forms exist as homonyms I don't know of any tools that can distinguish between the two.

When did the word leverage become a commonplace way to describe borrowing to make money, and how much newer is it than the physics term?


texts:
Help, I can't find the answer anywhere! Tom has three brothers and one sister. When listing them, how do you punctuate? My instinct is to do it this way:

Tom has three brothers, John, Edward, and Bill; and one sister, Mary.

(By the way, please don't correct the comma after Edward, I am a proponent of the Oxford comma!)


texts:
I've read a dialog about two men playing pool and I found a line that really confused me.

A: Hey, did you see that shot? I just sank three balls!
B: Yeah, but the first one was a solid, and I'm solids, so it's my shot now.

I don't personally play pool so I was thinking that the word solid is something to do with "pool terms". Or I thought wrong. I looked up solid and I read about playing an eight-ball. I got more confused. So is the word "solid" a "pool term" or is it just an expression? Please enlighten me. Thank you!


texts: Can we use 'what' as a reference to a previous statement?

texts:
For example, in a sentence like:

The weather is getting warm, what indicates of the Spring approaching.

I feel that the usage of 'what' here is incorrect, and the appropriate way to say it would be:

The weather is getting warm, it is an indication of the Spring approaching.

Could you explain why using 'what' here is grammaticly incorrect and are there other words to replace 'what' in order to create a reference from one part of the sentence to the other?


texts:
Which of the following sounds more natural:

  I came across with something rather interesting

or

  I came across something rather interesting

and are these both correct?


texts:
For example, "If we are to achieve our objectives..." or "What is to be done?"

What tense is this? In my understanding, we're talking about the future, but it's a weird sort of "tense" I haven't studied before.


texts:
What's the meaning of lapdog in this context?

  Cablegate revealed that some countries cooperated with the U.S. more
  than others, for example. Sweden played lapdog. Austria annoyed the
  U.S. etc.

I looked up lapdog in the Longman dictionary but couldn't find it. Is it a newly coined word?


texts: Difference between "inspirer" and "inspiration"

texts:
I'm writing an essay about someone who, through his journalism, inspired others to play baseball during a time when African Americans weren't accepted in the sport.

Although he inspired others, he wasn't a role model within the sport. He wasn't Jackie Robinson, but he wrote about Jackie Robinson in a prominent newspaper, which led to people reading about Robinson and being inspired.

So, would this man be an inspiration or an inspirer? Inspiration makes me think of a role model (which he wasn't); when John says "Van Gogh was my inspiration," you would think that van Gogh's  work had a direct effect on John's own pursuits. You wouldn't think that van Gogh was the means by which another artist's work became more prominent and thereby affected John's work.

At least in my mind, inspirer sounds like he simply motivated others without being a role model, but it kind of sounds wrong to me--as if someone just tacked on an -er to inspire to form an agent noun (in fact, that's what I did, since inspiration didn't sit well with me connotatively even though it came to mind first). Yet, it exists over at Dictionary.com, so I imagine that it is a word of its own that has its own meaning independent of inspiration's.

Does this subtle distinction even exist? If it does, would it make a difference to a reader familiar with this subject who knows that he was not a role model?


texts: A short term for something like "satisfaction + frustration"

texts:
Imagine that you are waiting for something you really want to happen, like maybe buying a new gadget. Since you really want it, when you finally happen to get it you feel satisfied and happy. However, it may happen that the gadget is not that awesome, it's just... good. So along with the feeling of satisfaction you feel a little frustrated, something like "Wow, I finally got it, it's awesome! But hey, I was expecting it to be a little more awesome...".

Or, as another example, you are waiting for some event to happen, maybe your favorite band's concert. And when it's over you feel happy because it had finally happened, but at the same time you feel sad that it's gone.

Is there a word or a short phrase to express this mixed feeling?


texts:
I have asked one grammarian about this and she ended up being unsure of her answer.
Question: is there a possibility that a noun clause is used in a plural manner? For instance:
- Her eyes and nose are WHAT SCARE ME.
- WHAT SCARE ME are her eyes and nose.

Should the word "scare" be "scares" in the examples?
Should "are" be "is" then?


texts: "It is me whom she loves" or "It is I whom she loves" which one is grammatically correct?

texts:
It is me whom she loves
  or
  It is I whom she loves

Because I know that "It is I" is grammatically correct.


texts:
I have seen similar questions like this here on ELU. However, I am still confused with my particular question.

  (a) She gets up latest in her family.
  (b) She gets up the latest in her family.

Can one omit the definite article "the" in the second sentence?

There is a similar English Language & Usage question with an answer that says, “An article is only necessary in the superlative (or comparative) if the adjective is attributive (i.e. is in the same phrase as the noun it is describing)” .

Is the adjective in my above sentences attributive?


texts: What should I say when my friend will have a new baby soon?

texts: As titled. There are a ton of examples to congratulate newborns, however, is there anything similar before the birth of a new baby?


texts:
Especially in speeches I often hear a sentence like

  I stand here before you...

However during my English classes in school (I'm German) we were told that before should only be used if you're referring to the passage of time (before we arrived at the party we left our home). When referring to a location in front of should be the choice of words (Peter is standing in front of me, so I'm standing behind him).

So, what's the answer to my confusion?


texts: Reduction of diphthongs to short vowels (/waɪz/ -> /'wɪz.əd/)

texts:
I've noticed this phenomenon / process in many words where a diphthong (or a long vowel as well?) reduces to a short vowel when it's inflected.

Consider the following examples:

Pronounce /prəˈnaʊns/ → pronunciation /prəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/

Wise /waɪz/ → wizard /ˈwɪz.əd/

Know /nəʊ/ → knowledge /ˈnɒl.ɪdʒ/

Finite /ˈfaɪ.naɪt/ → infinite /ˈɪn.fɪ.nət/

Nature /ˈneɪ.tʃə(r)/ → natural /ˈnætʃ.ər.əl/

In all the above examples, a diphthongs changes to a short vowel when it's inflected.

I searched a lot (shortening/ reduction of vowels to diphthongs etc.) but I did not find any useful information.

Questions:

What is this phenomenon called?
Why does this happen?
Does it affect all inflected words?


texts:
“The novelist must begin by playing the sedulous ape, assimilating the craft of his predecessors; but he does not master his own form until he has somehow exposed and surpassed them.”Source

Does "expose" mean that the secrets of the predecessors are now revealed?  Or does it have another meaning?


texts:
Are there any differences between the two sentences?

I spend a day in reading books
I spend a day reading books.

I think “spend -ing” is the shorten form “spend in -ing.
But is there really a difference in nuances?
Do they really mean exactly the same thing?


texts: Can 'post' and 'after' used interchangeably?

texts: I notice few colleagues use 'post' almost everywhere. Today one of them said 'lets meet up post noon' and I thought shouldn't it be 'afternoon'? I could be okay with 'post lunch' but somehow 'post noon' felt very awkward.


texts:
I'm translating a technical data sheet in Excel which employees use to record parameters from a particular working machine.

Next to the parameters there's a column where at the end of the day they have to put their signature.

The name of the column can be roughly translated as "seen". I was thinking maybe "approved" could be a decent translation but I was wondering if there's a better term.


texts:
In episode s08e16 (The Intimacy Acceleration) of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon made these statements:

  Look, you may not be as academically inclined as are we. Yes, that’s how you say it.

  Penny: Well, maybe. But I’m still glad we did it. I do feel closer to you.

  Sheldon: And I, you. And yes, that’s how you say that.

Both sounded rather weird to me (which I'm sure was the intention). The question
is, is this really how you say it, and if so, why?

The first sentence seems to make use of subject-verb inversion. In a comparative clause after "than" or "as," inversion "can occur under certain conditions." Is it even grammatical in this case (in the second half of an "equative" phrase of the structure "as x as y")? If so, are there any sources that actually recommend it over the non-inverted form, backing up Sheldon's claim that this is "how you say it"? (On another grammar forum, there is some discussion that says that the use of inversion after "more than," which seems a comparable context, is in fact "deprecated by some grammarians," "censured by Fowler," and "has always been rare.")


texts: What is the difference between "guide" and "guideline"

texts:
For example,

the following is a guide for ...

the following is a guideline for ...

My understanding is that a guide is like "help" for something. While, a guideline is like a "rule" for something.


texts: "The Prefix of Output File Names" or "The Prefix of Output Files Name" or both are wrong?

texts:
I point this out for making it clear what I try to achieve.

I'm writing a little documentation for my command line utility.
It generates two files:

{Prefix}-{4096}bits.public
{Prefix}-{4096}bits.private

that contain Prefix value within their names.

How could I formulate the essence of feature (-o, --output) that modifies the Prefix within file name simultaneously for both files?

-o, --output is "The Prefix of Output File Names"

-o, --output is "The Prefix of Output Files Name"

-o, --output is "The Prefix of Output Files' Names" (I guess this is the correct one)

-o, --output is "The Name Prefix of Output Files"

Are there any other options? What is the appropriate one?


texts: Something that is not a problem until it becomes a problem

texts:
I am wondering if there is a word or phrase encompassing the concept for something that is not a problem, until it becomes a problem.

Example:

Hiring a spouse to work for your company is not a problem, until someone doesn't like them (making it a problem).
Politicians taking money from individuals is not a problem, until they take money from the "wrong" people (making it a problem).
Copying someone's work is not a problem in and of itself, until the person is affected.

The most relevant concepts that I can think of :

Conflicts of interest
Plagiarism


texts:
Which form is correct in this:

  Files stored on computers become increasingly important as businesses
  and governments store evermore files of evermore importance on
  automated systems.evermore


texts: Best way to say something affects another but only moderately?

texts:
There is a saying that "Correlation does not imply causation."  I am trying to find the best way, preferrably in a word or short phrase, to explain when one thing really does have a causal effect on another, but the effect may not be strong.

This might be more clear with examples.  People tend to get better with experience, so years of experience really might cause someone to be more skilled.  But there are so many other factors (intensity of that experience, amount of study and practice, etc.) that the effect of experience might easily get swamped out and someone with fewer years of experience might be more skilled.

Similarly, exercise can help cause weight loss.  But diet and genetics often play a bigger role than amount of exercise in determining how much someone will weigh.

One phrase that I think comes close to my meaning is "loosely coupled", but I don't think that quite captures it and for people with a software development background it will carry a very specific meaning.  So what is the best way to express this?


texts: How is the phrase “if not for…” used at the end of a sentence?

texts:
His works were brilliant in their understandability -- if not their wordiness.

How would you structure a sentence if you wanted to say, that the understandability was brilliant but if you don't think that is, then the wordiness is.

Would a comma be used after 'if not'?


texts: .. "bone-dry-bed of reality" lexical meaning

texts:
What does "bone-dry bed of reality" mean? Is that a set expression or there are even more than one embedded?
In Urbandictionary.com I found that "bone-dry" is "mundane" but the rest remains unclear.

The context surrounding it: "

And let's not forget that the CIA isn't the only organization with questionable people on its payroll. Since the beginning of the war, NATO has been bribing drug smugglers to let fuel pass through the Khyber Pass from Pakistan into Afghanistan. NATO payments, thousands of dollars for each truck, have to dwarf anything the CIA is giving to Ahmed Wali Karzai.

You can take it to the bank that the CIA knows all of this, just as it knew in the early '60s that Diem's brother was a corrupt thug. You can also be certain that the CIA would prefer to have untainted sources. But the bone-dry bed of reality in Afghanistan is that there are few if any to be had. In that country, you survive by renting clans, tribes and narcotics dealers, which comes with their unsavory business whether you like it or not.

"

The source: TIME Why the CIA Can't Be Picky About Afghan Partners
by Robert Baer


texts: A word to describe vertical and horizontal movement?

texts:
Imagine the 'Bishop' chess piece. The four directions that it can move can be called 'diagonal'.

Similarly the 'Castle' moves in the horizontal and vertical directions. Is there a single word that describes this movement?


texts: If I didn’t remember wrongly/If I don’t remember wrongly

texts:
If someone asked me when did I graduate?

If I didn’t remember wrongly, it should be on ...
If I don’t remember wrongly, it should be on ...

Which one is correct? I feel that no. 1 is wrong


texts: Is there a word for a woman's female mistress?

texts:
A married man's long-term female partner (outside his marriage) is his mistress.

Is there a word for a married woman's long-term female partner (outside the former female's marriage)?


texts: is there a word to describe an instance of a person pretending to be lesser than what he/she actually is?

texts:
Is there a word for someone who is a gifted artist pretending to be self-conscious about her work, to the point that she overindulges in self-pity and criticism, in an attempt to receive gratifying or reassuring comments?

  Despite the rave reviews, Barabara acted ____, and refused to accept the compliments.


texts: Is there an idiom, saying, or an epigram that expresses the meaning of getting the credit for trying even without the success of outcome?


texts: Neither Alex nor Ali can achieve his/her dream Vs Neither Alex nor Ali can achieve them dream

texts:
Which is the correct one of these two examples? I tried to say no one of them can achieve his or her own dream.

Neither Alex nor Ali can achieve his/her dream
Neither Alex nor Ali can achieve them dream


texts:
In spite of English the German language does not have Present/Past Progressive, although both languages have the same root. When and why did the progressive tenses develop and became part of the English language?

Note: this is not a duplicate of this question because that one does not explain WHY (in spite of German) it has happened as requested here.


texts:
Is it proper English to say, The why? An example:

  I need to find out the why.

To me, the, doesn't belong in this sentence.

Note: TV personality Dr. Oz often says "the why".


texts:
During review of an article I found an erroneous sentence:

  The known predators of the plant are sheep, donkeys ...

I am an engineer, with not so much knowledge in ecology. Based on my earlier studies I suggested to change predators to consumers. I checked it with a search on the net. Surprisingly I found too few hits in my search.

Consumers of a plant is acceptable? Can you recommend alternatives?