texts:
I am studying present perfect, and I found the following phrase:

  Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.

What's the difference between this phrase and the next:

  Susan don't master Japanese, but she can communicate.

If Susan can communicate right now, and present perfect gives us a sense that something happened in the past and still happening in the present, so why not Susan don't master Japanese….

I'm very confused about these things. I appreciate any help..


texts: Is there a word for someone who likes wood?

texts:
I'm looking for a word to describe a person who has a passion for wooden stuff, and prefers everything made of wood, trying to fill their surrounding  with wooden objects (the chairs, stairs etc).

something like:

Wood-lover
Wood-passionate

Do we have such a word?


texts: What kinds of phonetic or phonological linguistic gaffes are there? (mondegreens, eggcorns, spoonerisms)

texts:
I was wondering what other sorts of  phonetics-based linguistic gaffes there are. I don't mean the typical grammatical or syntactic error.

Rather, I mean things like "eggcorns":

  eggcorn
  /ˈɛɡkɔːn/
  noun.
  plural noun: eggcorns

  a word or phrase that results from a mishearing or misinterpretation of another, an element of the original being substituted for one which sounds very similar, e.g. tow the line instead of toe the line.

or "mondegreens":

  mondegreen
  /ˈmɒndəɡriːn/
  noun.

  a misunderstood or misinterpreted word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of the lyrics of a song.

or "spoonerisms":

  spoonerism
  /ˈspuːnərɪz(ə)m/
  noun.

  a verbal error in which a speaker accidentally transposes the initial sounds or letters of two or more words, often to humorous effect, as in the sentence you have hissed the mystery lectures.

... and  so on. Does anyone know of any others to add to this list?


texts: Are "do you think" embedded questions exceptions?

texts:
In most embedded questions, the "Wh" portion of the question stays grouped together with the rest of the converted question

Example:

  "What time is it?" makes "Do you know what time it is?"

However, the rules seem different when "do you think" is used

Example:

  "What time is it" makes "What time do you think it is?"

Is this splitting of the embedded question with "do you think" a unique exception?


texts: What is the name of the basis writing stroke?

texts:
I can't recall the name of the standard writing stroke in the English script. Apologies in advance if this is off topic.

This stroke is the single vertical stroke fundamental to many letters. A single stroke is the basis for the letter i, a lengthened one above is the basis for l, lengthened below is the basis for j. Likewise, connecting two at the top is basis for n, two at the bottom basis for u, and the bases for m and w follow by connecting three.

Does anyone know the actual term for this basis stroke?


texts:
What word would mean "a grand, symbolic action" more specifically, taken in an attempt to prove a point?
For example, I am trying to figure out the word that would fill in the following sentence using the above definition:

  "Charlie gave every last dime he had to charity, just to prove that he didn't care about material possessions. That's one hell of a [word-for-grand-symbolic-action]!"


texts:
In "Verbs and Tenses" by George Davidson, the author discusses how to form questions in English.  One of the rules presented was if the declarative statement doesn't contain an auxiliary to front, "do" is used.  For example: He likes Susan / Does he like Susan?

I noticed that in all of the declarative sentence examples one could switch in "do" or "did" to indicate the tense of the sentence.  For example, "He cooked dinner," could be expressed "He did cook dinner." "He likes Susan." could also be expressed "He does like Susan."

I can't remember all of the examples but I remember seeing this construction a lot in "older" English.  I put older in quotes because I don't know the exact time and I understand this is important when talking about the historical development of English.  I think Shakespeare uses this construction.  Perhaps "He doth protest too much."

I also noticed that the "s" in "does" gets shifted to the verb and that the "d" in "did" gets shifted.  "He does go to London." becomes "He goes to London."  The "do" is dropped and the "es" gets shifted to "go"  In "He did ask a question." The "di" is dropped and the "d" is shifted to "ask."  In modern English, we use "ed", but I think "askd" was acceptable at one time.  (perhaps I am mistaken on this.)

My question: Was "do" a present and past tense marker in earlier forms of English?


texts:
Using a different tense in a dependent clause? Is this allowed and when?

She ignored everything, even the thumping doors as people slam
them.

Even the thumping doors as people slam them is a dependent clause, but slam is in the present, so I am wondering if this is allowed. I am thinking it is, but I am not sure why. Is there any rule that allows us to mix present with past?


texts: Can one indirect object be used to describe more than one topic?

texts:
I wanted to ask about this paragraph:

  The Lapita people discovered and settled the Samoan Islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed a unique Samoan language and Samoan cultural identity.

As seen in the above paragraph, the word "a" is used before "unique": does that mean the word "unique" just describes the Samoan language alone, or does it describe the Samoan language and Samoan cultural identity, as both being unique?


texts: Should " we studied it both on- and off-site" have both hyphens?

texts: Should the phrase "we studied it both on- and off-site" have both hyphens?  Or would "we studied it both onsite and offsite" be better?


texts: What is a word for a steel, pyramid like structure with an exhaust on top that contains a wood burning fire raised above ground level?

texts:
Tonight I encountered a peculiar structure that contained a woodburning fire. The angled edges converge to a square exhaust in the shape of a prism. The picture below shows this structure.

I asked many bystanders and even those tending the fire, but nobody seemed to know what to call this steel structure. So, what would I call it?

One man was sure it was an urn, but I would think those would be open topped and circular. Would he be right?


texts: Would you possibly elaborate your explanations?

texts:
Mary doesn’t play the piano well and nor does Alex.

Mary doesn’t play the piano well. Nor does Alex.

Are they the same? and which one do you use?

.........................................

Now, considering the mentions above, would you please tell me whether these are right or not?

Corpus delicti – other Latin legal term using corpus, here meaning the fact of a crime having been committed, not the body of the person being detained nor (as sometimes  inaccurately used) to the body of the victim.

Corpus delicti – other Latin legal term using corpus, here meaning the fact of a crime having been committed, not the body of the person being detained and nor (as sometimes  inaccurately used) to the body of the victim.

Corpus delicti – other Latin legal term using corpus, here meaning the fact of a crime having been committed, not the body of the person being detained .nor (as sometimes  inaccurately used) to the body of the victim.

...........

In addition, could you possibly explain the following and verb's tense?

having been committed


texts: Use of the singular nominative case pronoun

texts: Has the pronoun "me" been discarded from general usage?  More and more, I hear people say something like, "He served pizza to my sister and I"  or "Between you and I, that dinner was not very good."  It seems the nominative  is out of favor.


texts: Which is correct? log in, log on, log into, log onto

texts:
I've seen different questions related to the same verb, but those questions implicate an imperative form (For example when you tell somebody to log in/on) which I think may vary the condition in which the verb is used.

  He uses another program to log in to the system.
  He uses another program to log into the system.
  He uses another program to log on to the system.
  He uses another program to log onto the system.

I think number 2 is correct but I'll wait for your suggestions.


texts: Generic one-word term for "fixed date and time"?

texts:
I'm looking for a generic word that describes a fixed date and time, as an entry in a datebook, translating from the german word "Termin".

An online translation tool suggests "appointment, deadline, date, due date" and various synonyms. What i'm looking for is a generic term that encompasses all of these.

"I have an appointment at 5 pm" suggests i'm meeting with someone at that time, so it doesn't fit the "deadline" idea.
"I have a date at 5 pm" is even worse as it strongly suggests a "romantic" meeting.
"Deadline" and "Due date" seem to exclude the "time to meet with someone" meaning.

Another word i considered is "event", but that seems to focus too much on "what is happening" instead of "when is it happening".

So, is there a generic term that means "fixed date and time", that can mean all of "appointment", "date", "deadline", "fixed time to make a phone call", "time to water my plants", "day and time when i was born", and that doesn't (strongly) suggest one specific of those meanings ?


texts:
Does the following sentence have a comma or not? Why?

In the picture(,) you can see that the flowers were blooming.

Is there a difference to these sentences?

In the car(,) you can see that human vision works at high speeds.
At midnight(,) you can hear that a city is never quiet.


texts:
can you please define a word for a someone who comes from the small city to the big one just to make own life better? This person must be local citizen, but it keeps rude thinking, does not want to get a normal job and looking for an alternate ways to move on, like a marriage or little criminal actions, but with no violence.
Russians call it "Limiter". How Americans do? Can't find out that.


texts: Is there a difference between "eatable" and "edible"?

texts:
I thought only edible was correct, even Google suggested edible when I did a search to see which one was more popular on the internet:

Edible: 17.2 million
Eatable: 2.2 million

The first results are from dictionaries, the meaning being "that can be eaten".

What's the difference between them?


texts: Simple Past and Present Perfect together

texts:
An original line from Stratfor's Decade Forecast: 2015-2025, published in February:

  The world has been restructuring itself since 2008, when Russia invaded Georgia and the subprime financial crisis struck. Three patterns have emerged. First, the European Union entered a crisis that it could not solve and that has increased in intensity. We predict that the European Union will never return to its previous unity, and if it survives it will operate in a more limited and fragmented way in the next decade.

Why is simple past used first, and then present perfect but not simple past again? It seems to break grammar conventions for consistency of tense.


texts: I just stumbled upon a blog that states that epinephrine is the American name for adrenaline. Is it true? If so, how prevalent is this Americanism within America? And do they prefer epinephrine in phrases like adrenaline rush, adrenaline junkie, etc.? What about situations where adrenaline is used not as a scientific term but a metaphor for action?


texts: "More clear" vs "Clearer": when to use "more" instead of "-er"?

texts:
Which one of these adjectives is correct? I can see that both of them are being used, I'm just not sure which one is grammatically correct.
Are there any general rules to follow as to the use of one against the use of the other?


texts: Confusion on the sentences "It could be a done, but it is a reach"

texts:
I feel confused when reading the CNN news, please note the last sentence of below words.

"If Hillary Clinton wins nothing but the blue states on this map, she has won the election. Donald Trump has to win all the red states, all of the light red or pink states here, plus, the yellow battleground states, and he has to tip one of the light blue states in his direction if he`s going to have a chance of winning in the Electoral College. It could be a done, but it is a reach."

I have no idea the what it meant of 'It could be a done', as we know 'done' is the Past Participle of verb 'do', but here, obviously it is used as a noun. Combined the context, I am wondering if this sentence means 'it can be achieved, but it is very difficult.' Do I understand in correct way?
 And does it allow to use 'done' in this way?

I Appreciate if any guys can help to clarify.

Doris


texts: "turning to fish as a cheap and healthy alternative"

texts:
Here's the IELTS recording:

  But eating patterns have changed in countries like the UK, where fish was once considered as food for the poor rather than the rich. People have been turning to fish as a cheap and healthy alternative to meat, driving up demand and depleting stocks. Food scares like BSE and foot-and-mouth disease have also driven people away from eating meat, which again is invariably replaced by fish.

IELTS TEST BUILDER 1 - TEST 4 Audio

The question is: "In the UK…

A - "fish used to be seen as a luxury"
B - "fish is not cheaper than meat"
C - "fish used to be seen as a cheap meal"
D - "food scares have driven people away from eating fish".

B (right answer) - "fish is not cheaper than meat"

I chose C "fish used to be seen as a cheap meal"

I don't understand why C is a wrong answer and B is right. "People have been turning to fish as a cheap ... alternative to meat" - to my mind as a cheap alternative it's (fish) cheaper than meat.


texts:
Is the line

  That is so cheap!

an exclamative? I've researched exclamatives and found that these usually begin with "what" or "how".

However, I know it's definitely not a declarative sentence mood as these state facts. Or is it?


texts:
I read it in an article -
Increased tension between government and riots will cause spilling of innocent blood .
I want to know if verb + ing form can be used like this , I know it's used as noun in many cases but the above sentence sounds so uncanny


texts: How do I tell whether "even if" or "unless" is right?

texts:
Some say unless should fill the gap and others say even if should go there. How do I tell which one is correct?

I couldn't have got to the airport on time yesterday .......... I had found a taxi.
a. even if
b. whether or not
c. as long as
d. unless
e. providing that


texts: Could you tell what does this construction mean in the following extract "At the time of writing, however, it is available only in Russian, so an outline of some of the details from the film will have to do". Sounds strange.


texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  “Can/may/will you help me with this?”

Here is the sentence:

If you like you {can|may} translate this text to English.

What word should I use here and why.


texts:
I have heard about the usage of "be" in specific situations like 2 days, 5 dollars,...
For example:

  Two days ____ enough for us

Should I use "is" or "are"? I see both of them are appropriate.


texts: A positive word for someone who is viewed like a sister, but isn’t one

texts:
I’m trying to say that someone is a character’s ‘fake sister’ – that is, she was taken in by the character who now considers her to be as close as a sister – but it in a positive light.

Fake sister is obviously very negative; pseudo-sister is better, but still comes across as too negative for what I’m after. Step-sister won’t work because the two are not actually step-sisters.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


texts: The difference between a clause and a phrase?

texts:
This question What is the difference between a phrase and a clause? has an answer, with no embedded examples. The link it provides is not longer active, giving a 404 page not found error. Please don't close this as a duplicate until it, at least, has some answers.

The answer to the duplicate explains the differences between clauses and phrases, but fails to answer my question, as this is the explanation given:

  The short answer: clauses contain a subject and its verb, while phrases do not. Note that phrases may contain nouns and verbals, but won't have the noun as the verb's actor.

I do not understand what is meant by verbals and the noun as the verb's actor may as well be written in Swedish (of which I know not one word!).

So I am posting this question again, as my question has not been answered. Clauses and phrases were the only thing I failed when studying English at school and forever it has been difficult for me to grasp (I don't think it was explained well, as I had a similar problem with positive and negative numbers the same year, and went on the excel at high level maths).

I am looking to understand the very basics of what a clause is, what a phrase is, and by understanding these definitions it, hopefully, will be clear what the differences are.

Can anyone, please, explain this and provide embedded answers?


texts: Is there a word for a name based on something someone does?

texts:
Is there a word for a name or nickname based on something someone does, or a characteristic they have?

For example "Thumper"  (from Bambi) or "Crazy-Ed".

I am thinking of something that identifies this type of name.


texts: Recently, on the internet, I have heard people say that one should conjugate cartain adjectives that are closely related to french. For example, blond for males and blonde for females in the singular form. More recently I have heard someone say that cartain nouns should be declined for male and female, -I can't think of an example currently, but the declention would be where one would add an extra e and then make the second to last e have an acute.- Is this technically correct, or is it just using french grammar in english?


texts: Why does the tense of a story sometimes suddenly change from past to present, and back again?

texts:
For example in A Room With A View, by E. M. Forster, the tenses suddenly change from past to present or vice versa:

  Chapter XV: The Disaster Within

  The Sunday after Miss Bartlett's arrival was a glorious day, like most of the days of that year. In the Weald, autumn approached, breaking up the green monotony of summer, touching the parks with the grey bloom of mist, the beech-trees with russet, the oak-trees with gold. Up on the heights, battalions of black pines witnessed the change, themselves unchangeable. Either country was spanned by a cloudless sky, and in either arose the tinkle of church bells.

  The garden of Windy Corners was deserted except for a red book, which lay sunning itself upon the gravel path. From the house came incoherent sounds, as of females preparing for worship. "The men say they won't go"—"Well, I don't blame them"—Minnie says, "need she go?"—"Tell her, no nonsense"—"Anne! Mary! Hook me behind!"—"Dearest Lucia, may I trespass upon you for a pin?" For Miss Bartlett had announced that she at all events was one for church.

  The sun rose higher on its journey, guided, not by Phaethon, but by Apollo, competent, unswerving, divine. Its rays fell on the ladies whenever they advanced towards the bedroom windows; on Mr. Beebe down at Summer Street as he smiled over a letter from Miss Catharine Alan; on George Emerson cleaning his father's boots; and lastly, to complete the catalogue of memorable things, on the red book mentioned previously. The ladies move, Mr. Beebe moves, George moves, and movement may engender shadow. But this book lies motionless, to be caressed all the morning by the sun and to raise its covers slightly, as though acknowledging the caress.

  Presently Lucy steps out of the drawing-room window. Her new cerise dress has been a failure, and makes her look tawdry and wan. At her throat is a garnet brooch, on her finger a ring set with rubies—an engagement ring. Her eyes are bent to the Weald. She frowns a little—not in anger, but as a brave child frowns when he is trying not to cry. In all that expanse no human eye is looking at her, and she may frown unrebuked and measure the spaces that yet survive between Apollo and the western hills.

What is the purpose for the changes? It made me confused about when the event takes place.


texts: The date was advanced / The date has been advanced

texts:
What would be the difference between
"The date of the meeting has been advanced by one week"
versus
"The date of the meeting was advanced by one week"

The latter I've found in a dictionary. The former is what I would have said.

Thank you.


texts:
Is there a word or idiom describing a situation where a rebuttal to an argument is evidence to it (especially when it is ironic/meta)?
A very simple example:

John: “You can talk!”
Mary: “No I can't!”

John put forth an argument, and Mary rebutted it; in doing so, she inadvertently gave evidence to the contrary.


texts: How to use "offset" when talking to a vendor?

texts:
I am having a problem with the word offset. This is what I'm going to type to my vendor:

  If we do not receive your Statement of Account by 30 Mar '12, all payments will be "offsetted".

Is it OK to use offsetted in this sentence?


texts: As a shortening of "bourgeois", is "bougie" or "bourgie" correct?

texts:
Bougie or bourgie is used as a shortened, informal version of bourgeois used in African American Vernacular English. For example:

  The car he drives is indicative of his [bougie | bourgie] lifestyle.

A look at Google ngrams

reveals that bougie is used much more often
than bourgie.

But Merriam-Webster has a definition only for bourgie,
listing bougie as a less common variant — which directly contradicts
the Google Ngrams results.

The only other useful info I can find the site verysmartbrothas.com, which doesn't seem like a great source.

But which spelling is more correct?


texts: Usage of "I'm sorry" and "thank you very much" outside of obvious settings

texts:
Why do people say "I'm sorry" at the beginning of a sentence? For example: "I'm sorry, but I don't care for her one bit." On the same note, I would like to understand the meaning of "thank you very much" at the end of a sentence, thus: "I said I'll take it to go, thank you very much!"

Any light shed will be greatly appreciated.


texts: Preposition to use with the phrase "come to an understanding"

texts:
So, I'm to translate a sentence to English. It's something like:

  We've succeeded in coming to an understanding ______ all questions discussed.

I suppose that I should use either about or in to fill the blank in the sentence above. Here is a paraphrased sentence so that you're able to understand the meaning better:

  We've discussed several questions and we've come to the same opinion on every one of them.

(Aside: I wonder if I used the correct preposition in the sentence above.)


texts: Can a pronoun and its referent have different plurality?

texts:
My question is as the title says: Is it allowed for a pronoun and its referent to have different plurality? A specific example I am considering is a sentence like this:

  I love this cookie so much that I bought dozens of them and distributed them to my friends.

I am curious whether this kind of sentence is grammatically correct or not.


texts:
I have read this sentence. And I happen to wonder if the order of "twice the" is right or not.

"It was a space in London, in Kensington and it went on sale for 400,000 pound, which is over twice the price of the average UK house."

Why do they use "twice" in front of "the price"?
Thanks in advance.


texts: What is the word for "turning a noun into an adjective"?

texts: Is there a specific name or term for words that are the adjective form of nouns? Like "salty" from "salt", "Freudian" from "Freud", "glossy" from "gloss", etc.? What about adjective forms of verbs "loathsome" from "loathe"? Or verb forms of nouns like "to telephone"?


texts:
I have a sentence where I think I could use either of these two constructions. They seem very similar in meaning, so I'm not sure which I should prefer. There might be some subtle point of grammar hidden in here, or maybe not, I'm not sure.

The two versions are:

  This is sometimes also used to mean such and such.
  This is also sometimes used to mean such and such.

A Google search did not find anything that looks useful.


texts: Given two points, A and B, there are two vectors: A-->B and A<--B which are parallel but pointing in opposite directions. I remember learning as a kid a word which simply defines the line upon which the vectors lie and another which defines the direction the vectors move along the line, something like "A-->B and A<--B have the same XXX, but opposite YYY." Can anyone fill in these blanks?


texts: How to remember the difference between: "Can you try to open" and "Can you try opening"?

texts:
I am well aware that a similar question has been asked in the past, namely “Try to save” or “try saving”. However, I am not totally satisfied by the posted answers. My problem is that, every time I think I have understood when to use try + infinitive and try + verb + ing (gerund), I forget and mix them up.

I would like a mnemonic, or an infallible reminder which is which, whenever I need to write, speak or teach this construction to private students.

In my grammar books the "rule" stated is:

  Try + infinitive = make an effort to do something

  Try + gerund = experiment to see if something works

If I ask someone: "Can you try opening this jar?" or "Can you try to open this jar?" Am I not in effect saying the same thing? It appears to me the difference in meaning is negligible.

If I change the verb try in the past:

  "I tried to open the jar."

and

  "I tried opening the jar."

Don't they both mean I was unsuccessful in my attempts to open the jar?

In any case, the next time I meet up with this construction, I would like to not have to double check in my grammar books. So any tips?


texts:
“often” vs. “oftentimes”

Is “oftentimes” a pleonasm? My current understanding is that “often” denotes frequent occurrence. If “often” communicates frequent occurrence, then what need is there to append “times,” a temporal aspect already communicated by the word “often?”


texts: Is there a verb for "is an alternative to"?

texts:
Two things that are similar, or alike, can be said to "resemble" each other:

  A is similar to B, A is like B <==> A resembles B.

In that thinking, what can I say if things are not only similar, but can be used interchangeably:

  A is an alternative to B, A can be used instead of B <==> ???

I was thinking about "can replace", but I wonder if there is a single word that conveyes both meanings ("replacement", but also "optionality", if that is a word).


texts:
What's the meaning of pull up?

  Tried pulling up on my cell(video), wouldn't work. Will watch when I get home.


texts: What is the adjective for a marriage with multiple children?

texts: I want to get across the meaning of a marriage that has produced multiple children with an adjective. Would I say a multi-child marriage, a multi-children marriage, or something else? I'm not quite sure what would make the most sense.


texts: Professional term for "Apples to apples" comparison

texts: Is there a term which would sound more fitting in an academic or professional setting for describing a comparison between two things highlighting the similarity of the measurement/comparison process?


texts: How does one capitalize words like "un-American"?

texts: Google's dictionary lists it as "un-American" or "unAmerican" (which looks clumsy to me). Since American is a "demonym," I would usually capitalize it, so I feel compelled to capitalize "un-American" somehow. How should I capitalize "un-American" and words like it?


texts: Proper conjugation of "to be" in this example

texts:
Is the conjugation correct here?

I know "A family were there." can be grammatical when "A family" is being treated as a plural noun.

But the following example is different. The subject is plural but it's treated as singular.
I've never encountered this pattern before.

  It is no accident that Seamus Heaney’s selected poems is titled “Opened Ground,” since writing poems for this most remarkable farm boy was a kind of digging: “Between my finger and my thumb / The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.”

So what's going on here?


texts: Several species of fish have names that are both singular and plural form. These include cod, flounder, salmon, and trout, they are used to describe one fish or ten. Does this stem from fish being both singular and plural? Was the irregular plural form passed along to the species of fish?


texts: What's the difference between "dove" and "pigeon," if any?

texts: They direct to the same Wikipedia page which suggests doves are more often slightly smaller but indicates a lack of consistent difference.  I had thought there was a stronger distinction...but does anybody here have sources/views on any difference (or equivalence) that may exist between the terms?


texts: "[somebody]'s theme" vs "[somebody] theme" — Saxon genitive dillema

texts:
When is it required to use 's in phrases like below (examples taken from Wikipedia)?

James Bond theme
007 theme
Boba Fett motif
Droids motif
Yoda's theme
...

Are there any rules for eliding Saxon genitive?

How does the situation change if we have something instead of somebody?


texts: English equivalent to "a small fruit in an elephant's mouth"

texts:
In the Indian language of Malayalam, there's a saying "Aana vayil ambazhanga", which literally translates to:

  A small fruit in an elephant's mouth.

It means:

  Having too small an amount for a very large need.

What's an equivalent idiom in English?

"Bring a knife to a gunfight", can mean entering a conflict without preparation. "Too little, too late" can mean something is not in time to be effective. These don't fit here, because I want it to only mean "too small an amount for a very large need" and nothing more.


texts: Can I use ''and'' in a conditional clause?

texts:
Can I use ''and'' in a conditional clause ?
for instance :
if you had exersised, and had followed a healthy diet, you would be fit


texts: "For both X and Y" or "both for X and Y" or ...?

texts:
Which of these forms is correct?

  X will be used both for Y and Z
  X will be used for both Y and Z
  X will be used both for Y and for Z
  Other...


texts: She acted as though she was subtle. She never was subtle. Or: She was never subtle

texts:
She acted as though she was subtle. Then:
1 She never was subtle
2 She was never subtle
The first one sounds right to me although the second one seems to be the grammatically correct one? Or are both grammatically correct?


texts:
I was just watching a documentary a few days ago of the most famious boxing match's ever the "Thrilla in Manilla"(between joe frazer and Mohammed Ali), quite an interesting and motivating vedio to watch.

Well in the 13th round (the fight from the 3-13th round was dominated by Joe frazer.) Joe frazer really had Ali against the ropes and was hammering him with right and left hooks, uppercuts and what not , now in the documentary , one of the commentators famiously said

  "He(Frazier) was't just 'beating Ali' , he was 'BEATING Ali UP' !!" .

I did't quite understand what that statement meant , whats the difference between "beating Ali" and "beating Ali up" ? Can anybody explain ?

Thank you.


texts:
I have heard the word fuckstick in a lot of Hollywood movies, most notably in 'The Shawshank Redemption'.

What is this word even meant to convey? An insult? Is it even abusive? Or is just a combination of two random words?


texts:
This was briefly touched on here:
"What/When is the best time to call back?"
but only in comments for an answer rather than the question itself.

Should I use callback, call-back, or call back for

  Request a call-back

?

Is there a standard to use?


texts: What is the role of "virtually" in this sentence?

texts:
It is virtually impossible to escape this place!

I don't really understand what is virtually doing there. First, I can hardly tell what it means to be virtual, and second, I still don't see any extra value added to the sentence compared to

  It is impossible to escape this place!

As far as I can tell, virtually seems to simply give emphasis to the current situation. But I'm lost.

According to http://www.thefreedictionary.com/virtual,

  1 . Existing or resulting in essence or effect though not in actual fact, form, or name: the virtual extinction of the buffalo.

I don't get that meaning, and I certainly don't even understand the difference between the virtual extinction of the buffalo and the extinction of the buffalo. Now then, I may have grabbed the wrong definition. Here's the other one:

  2 . Existing in the mind, especially as a product of the imagination. Used in literary criticism of a text.

This definition seems to suggest me that virtually is used to create some kind of psychological (of the mind) context. So when they say

  It is virtually impossible to escape this place!

It is meant to say something like "even though it is physically possible to escape, people are too scared to even try to do it - therefore, it is rather impossible to escape".

Not sure. Any ideas about the usage of virtually?

Note: The context in the sentence I provided is basically this: It is from an article about a community where people are so poor that

  It is virtually impossible to escape this place!


texts: What's a less harsh substitute for crusty/cranky?

texts:
I'm writing a tribute to a friend and colleague who passed away unexpectedly last week.

I want to use a synonym for "cranky" or "crusty" that doesn't have a lot of negativity about it -- he could be cranky at times, but we all loved him anyway.

I've looked at synonyms; Merriam Webster gives me words like this:  choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, fiery, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, peevish, perverse, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stuffy, testy, waspish, all of which are so negative.

My mind is a blank -- can you help me with a word or phrase that's a little gentler?


texts: Which is correct: "I bought it online/offline"

texts:
On several occasions, someone has asked me where I purchased my shirt and I replied with "I bought it offline."

It didn't sound right to me.

My brain thought that I bought it 'off' of something (as in "I bought it off craigslist").
But the noun 'online' confused me (I couldn't remember the name of the website).
"I bought it off online" just doesn't work, and"I bought it offline" sounds like you didn't purchase it on the internet.

However, "I bought it online" doesn't quite satisfy me either, I am not sure why :P.

Is one more correct than the other? Is there an all around better sentence?


texts: Order of several adverbs of the same type

texts:
Today I started an English course with a new teacher. After being asked to arrange words into a proper sentence, she pointed me out on being wrong on something: I said "tomorrow at six", and she said that i should always say "at six tomorrow". I questioned why, and her answer was that the order of adverbs of a single type should be the specificity. The same rule would apply to "In my living room on the couch", where it would be incorrect and the correct form would be "On the couch in my living room". Another example where I would be wrong would be something along the lines of "Next week on Friday at six", the correct form would be "At six on Friday next week", no other forms would be correct.

I had never heard of this rule before despite using both ways quite often. Our English teaching material also showed this and explicitly said it's a rule, however i could not find a single mention of this outside of our specific material, and after asking around from some British friends, they said that the rule was nonsense. I would like a clear answer on this and if possible, something to cite as well.

I had a previous English teacher who i proved wrong on some conditional stuff that she was teaching wrong before as well, the quality control around here is not the greatest, though if I am wrong then please point me out on it, I want to learn. Is this an actual rule, just preference, or completely nonsense? Any help would be appreciated.

Edit: I appreciate the linking of https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Order-of-Adverbs.htm, which cites the same information as present in our material. However this seems less like a set in stone rule and more like a rule of thumb for when in doubt. Am I correct on this? Again i can't find anything about this in stuff like https://www.uop.edu.jo/download/research/members/oxford_guide_to_english_grammar.pdf. Thanks!

Edit2: In the examples given in the aforementioned link using other arrangements sounds unnatural as well, which would be understandable. However there are a lot of cases where both seem just fine, at least to me.


texts:
Should I use singular or plural form of male here? I think it should be males. Am I correct?

  Social and cultural traditions often make it difficult for aid workers, the majority of whom are [male/males], to meet the women in the community.


texts: Can 'Rock-God' be applied to musicians other than rock musicians?

texts:
I saw the following sentence in today's New York Times. I understand 'Rock-God' means  an artist almost deified by fans because of his or her performance and reputation. Can 'Rock-God' be applied to musicians other than rock singer?

  Billie Joe Armstrong, the Green Day frontman, brings a jolt of rock-god electricity to the Broadway musical "American Idiot."


texts:
If one calls a group of songs a "Playlist" and a group of albums as a "Collection" what would be a good term for a group of musical artists? Would "assemble" be correct?

EDIT: I am looking for what one would call a group of artists placed together, like putting Led Zeppelin, The Doors and Pink Floyd in a grouping titled "Classic Rock Legends".


texts:
I recently came across this spelling of "defense/ce" in a Canadian newspaper:

  Canada is a close U.S. military ally and the top U.S. export market, more than the U.K., Japan and Germany combined. It sells the U.S. more steel and aluminum than anyone else, in part because of deeply integrated auto and defense sectors [emphasis added]."

(http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/trump-appeasement-fails-so-trudeau-takes-the-gloves-off)

According to all dictionaries I have looked at, defense is solely an American spelling, and the spelling defence is officially used in Canada.

My question is this: Are there any Canadians, or people familiar with Canadian English, that can comment on whether the defense spelling is also common in Canada, or whether this example is simply a one-off? I have so far been unable to find any sources that confirm any occasional use of the -se spelling of defense in Canadian English. I have a hunch that The Canadian Oxford Dictionary might have something to say on this, but I do not have access to it.


texts:
I've discovered an expression : to go cold turkey, meaning something like feeling bad because you have taken drugs and you need to take more. I wonder if another verb rather than “go” can be used instead and if there are any other expressions meaning the same.

I also wonder where this expression comes from.


texts:
The context is that clients can use means of communication convenient to them.
One employee at my work proposed the phrasing below.

  Contact us as you find convenient.

Does that sentence make sense to you? I wanted to put it in other way, taking into account the context:

  Contact us in any way convenient to you.

I think the first phrasing means that the clients can contact us at any time convenient to them. The first phrasing is absolutely incorrect in this context. Am I right?

I want to know whether the first sentence has exactly the same meaning as the second one? I mean the way of communication , not the time convenient to someone.


texts: Using the word "hypothetical' conditionally

texts:
Allow me to explain my question. So 'hypothetical', according to Merriam-Webster, is defined as follows:

  : involving or based on a suggested idea or theory : involving or based on a hypothesis
  : not real : imagined as an example
  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothetical

Normally, it is seen in contexts such as:

  He asked a hypothetical question.

  "She described a hypothetical case to prove her point." (example sentence from Merriam-webster)

Could the word hypothetical be used in this context as well:

  “They probably wouldn’t. But, NASA never discovered aliens; this situation is unprecedented,” Mr. Fern continues.

  We look at Mr. Fern quizzically. There are aliens right outside, trapped inside leak-proof containment cells.

  “That’s why you’re asking us,” Mac says. “Your team will say no, won’t they, in respect with NASA’s hypothetical wishes.”

In this case, the team does not know what NASA's wishes are; they are guessing what the wishes would be, and acting on those guesses. Could those wishes be described as hypothetical or is that improper usage of the word? An explanation would be greatly appreciated.


texts:
I read in a newspaper the following heading for an article:

  Reach eye care to rural areas: Governor

Is it correct usage of the word reach?


texts: Capitalizing the beginning of the expression we use in the middle of a sentence/using quotation mark for expression

texts:
Should we capitalize the beginning of the expression we use in the middle of a sentence? Shall we use quotation mark for expression?
Which one is correct regarding punctuation?

  To conclude, as the saying goes “all’s well that ends well,” after analyzing what elaborated above, I firmly believe that the advantages of watching TV are of more significance.

  To conclude, as the saying goes: “All’s well that ends well,” after analyzing what elaborated above, I firmly believe that the advantages of watching TV are of more significance.

  or without quotation mark?


texts: Is there a name for a word where all the letters are in alphabetical order

texts:
After this question, is there a word for a word where all of its letters are in alphabetical order?

Examples of such words:

AEGILOPS
BILLOWY
ALMOST

(If the word in question is also one of those words, that would be incredible!)


texts:
(1) How to punctuate lists in general? (2) also, what case to use?

In the case study, signal comparison could be used for:
 • signals from redundant channels of emergency stop button,
 • output signals of redundant processing units,
 • feedback signals from frequency converter and contactor,
 • also result comparison of diagnostic techniques and measures, that have dependencies.

VS.

In the case study, signal comparison could be used for:
 • signals from redundant channels of emergency stop button;
 • output signals of redundant processing units;
 • feedback signals from frequency converter and contactor;
 • also result comparison of diagnostic techniques and measures, that have dependencies.

VS.

In the case study, signal comparison could be used for:
 • signals from redundant channels of emergency stop button
 • output signals of redundant processing units
 • feedback signals from frequency converter and contactor
 • also result comparison of diagnostic techniques and measures, that have dependencies

VS.

In the case study, signal comparison could be used for:
 • Signals from redundant channels of emergency stop button
 • Output signals of redundant processing units
 • Feedback signals from frequency converter and contactor
 • Also result comparison of diagnostic techniques and measures, that have dependencies

(3) is ":" necessary?

(4) is it (everything) the same for all cases?


texts: What's the exact term used to describe the "why" in some people's spoken English (somewhat rural or archaic by now, I suppose) as in "When I saw how much it cost, why, I knew I couldn't afford it".....or "When our family car broke down, why, we'd just walk, until we could fix it", etc....anybody recognize these? If so, why the "why"?


texts: How to use "while" in the middle of the sentence?

texts:
I am confused.  Is using while correct in the following sentence:

  Most students are able to expertly manage their time while they work
  along with their other responsibilities.

Is it correct to use while or I should change the whole sentence?


texts:
For the past four billion years or so the only way for life on Earth to produce a sequence of dna—a gene—was by copying a sequence it already had to hand. Sometimes the gene would be damaged or scrambled, the copying imperfect or undertaken repeatedly.

source link

to me, it sounds like "IF the copying (is) imperfect or undertaken repeatedly, sometimes the gene would be damaged or scrambled."
It is conditional, why there is no "if" in the sentence. Is it a grammar rule?


texts: Let us take, ginger, we actually pronounce it as /ˈdʒɪndʒə/ (jinjer). But take, giggling, we pronounce it as /ˈɡɪɡ(ə)lɪŋ/. There are numerous examples of this, and this confuses me a lot. So, how do I  know which pronunciation in these kinds of words is actually correct?


texts: What's the difference between "flock" and "congregation". The first one seems more descriptive, expressive, and literary while the other is quite neutral. Is it so?


texts: Does the word "indeed" have a condescending or patronizing connotation?

texts:
I often hear people use the word "indeed" in a response to someone sharing an idea and suggesting the fact that they already knew or thought about the idea. Almost as a substitute to "Obviously", but in a more passive way. Therefore suggesting that they are already miles ahead and causing that condescending tone.

Its translation in french on the other hand has a more polite connotation. It suggests an agreement and often the idea that the receiver didn't think about it beforehand.

I'm not a native english speaker and I would like to avoid conflicts and clarify if this word has a condescending meaning in its popular use.


texts: Can we use a comma before "and" if it precedes a dependent clause?

texts:
Here is an example from Longman dictionary,

  We are new to the London area, and would like to eat in restaurants or visit pubs with others.

My question is that since the second clause "would like to eat in restaurants or visit pubs with others" is a dependent clause, why add a comma before "and"? From my understanding, we do not use comma before a coordinating conjunction if it precedes a dependent clause.

I feel it's correct to write like this:

"We are new to the London area and would like to eat in restaurants or visit pubs with others."

OR

"We are new to the London area, and we would like to eat in restaurants or visit pubs with others."


texts:
In the grant for the Philips Academy there is language which I find difficult to ascertain the real meaning.

From the bottom of page 463 here

  ...to lay the foundation of a free public School or Academy for the purpose of
  instructing Youth, not only in English and Latin Grammar, Writing,
  Arithmetic, and those Sciences, wherein they are commonly taught; but
  more especially to learn them the Great End and Real Business of
  Living

My question is, what does the GREAT END mean in this document. Is this a common 18th century phrase?

I feel the emphasized portion is ambiguous and informal, however the author clearly felt otherwise.


texts:
On top = atop, so is there a similar shorter synonym for at the bottom? Why not abottom?

In general, what are some formal terms describing this issue? How can I find resources on such synonyms?

Afterword: Despite my acceptance of an answer, please feel free to contribute and add answers!
I shall still upvote.


texts: Are there any online dictionaries that allow you to link to a single specific definition of a word?

texts:
For example, on my blog I want to link to the definition of 'nut' as'a perforated block usually of metal that has an internal screw thread and is used on a bolt or screw' which is the third definition on the page http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nut.

Merriam-Webster only allows linking to the page for 'nut' but not highlight or link directly to a specific definition. In this case the definition I want to indicate is the third. Are there online dictionaries that allows you to link to a specific definition of a word instead of all the various definitions?


texts: What is a saying about motivation for work?

texts:
I'm trying to recall a saying I recently read. It was about motivation and went something like this: "Don't complain about how complex something is, but wish you were smarter."

Does someone know what the saying is?


texts:
I'm writing a piece about how each move in a particular debate functions rhetorically, and I'd like to introduce my recap at the end of the piece as follows:

  Because the debate is complex, it behooves us to recap the function of
  each move.

Is there a better word than "move"?
Thank you!


texts: Is referring to 'Frankenstein's monster' as 'Frankenstein' a neologism?

texts:
I just read this question and one of the answers started with

"Ordinarily, Frankenstein is a noun referring to a fictional monster"

As every nitpicker knows, Frankenstein is the doctor who created the (nameless!) monster. How does one call such a word that is used 'wrongly' by so many people that it almost changed it's meaning and most people think about the monster when hearing the name? [citation needed]


texts:
Apple has an amazing marketing/advertisement team. Their ads and presentations are always amazing. In 1997, they had an iconic "Think Different" campaign for their new slogan. Within commercials they would say "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

It is one of my favorite quotes, but it sounds strange/improper (as does the slogan "Think different"). Is that sentence proper grammar?


texts: Is there a word referring to a given animal species' fear or lack thereof of humans?

texts:
Some animal species are very unafraid of humans, willing to be approached or even picked up. Dodos, famously, and I've noticed with insects as well that some want nothing to do with you whereas other species will happily sit on your hand for minutes at a time. Other species, like say most songbirds, will run if you come within ten feet of them.

Is there a word in English, maybe a technical ethological term, to refer to an animal species' fear or lack thereof of humans? I would have guessed "anthropophobic", but I can't find any references using that term in specifically this way.


texts: Usually when someone says something weird or random, someone says ¨Illuminati confirmed!¨ (Or they do at my school:). I know that the Illuminati was a group that disbanded over 100 years ago, but why do people use the term now?


texts:
In case of the need to describe the color of a crown which is shown as part of an image, which is correct: a golden crown, or a gold crown?

Is it important if it is made of gold or not, but the color is gold?


texts: Does "show how" mean repeat, or just show?

texts:
In the dictionary, how has meanings of the manner or way in which and to what extent, degree.

  By the end of the lesson, only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match; Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile.

Did Professor McGonagall repeat what Hermione did (demonstrate how she did it), or did she just pick up the match that Hermione had changed, to show how much it had been changed?

AND

Can you show me how I may tell which of these meanings is in play?


texts:
I'm writing a text according to APA standards. The rule regarding serial commas states "Use a comma between elements (including before and and or) in a series of three or more items."

Does this also apply to gerunds, where their object follows after the list?

  a) "the sharing, exchanging, distributing, and creating of knowledge"
  b) "the sharing, exchanging, distributing and creating of knowledge"

I would instinctively go for option a), but a canonical answer/authoritative source would be great.


texts: Etymology of *snap, crackle, pop* for higher derivatives of position?

texts:
The fourth, fifth, and sixth derivatives of position are known as snap (or, perhaps more commonly, jounce), crackle, and pop. The latter two of these are probably infrequently used even in a serious mathematics or physics environment, and clearly get their names as humorous allusions to the characters on the Rice Krispies cereal box. Wiktionary, Wikipedia, and etymonline all confirm the existence of the terms, but do not include references to the first usages. I would like to know, if possible, what the earliest source is that used these terms (crackle and pop).

The references on the Wikipedia page for pop, are to academic papers published after the year 2000 and reference the terminology as being nonstandard or facetious. They do not, however, refer to earlier uses in other publications.


texts:
The meaning I would like to express is that one day something which was previously considered serious, or the very fact that it was considered serious, will seem funny.

Is it right to say "one day you will laugh at/with it", or is there any other suitable expression?


texts: "I currently work at" vs "I'm working at"

texts:
I currently work at a grocery store.

I'm working at a grocery store.

What would be the correct tense to use when we're saying that we have a job but it's a temporary one.


texts: Following up 'however' (complete sentence) with another 'however' (or similar)

texts:
Take for example this passage:

  I am very skilled at building websites. However, I am unable to demonstrate these websites as they are used internally by my previous company, and I no longer possess valid credentials. However, I can present to you snapshots of the websites.

Instead of the doubled up 'however' what would also be an appropriate alternative word? Nevertheless seems good, but I also use that as a beginning later in the paragraph. Any other appropriate alternatives?


texts: English Equivalent of phrase "Whose face did you see in the morning?"

texts:
In hindi, we use the above phrase (in hindi, obviously) as a response to someone having a bad day, bad luck.

e.g. -

  Person 1: I'm having a bad day. I have been followed by a velociraptor
  the entire day.

  Person 2: Whoa, dude! Whose face did you see the first thing in the
  morning?

I tried searching for the above phrase (and its variations) but did not get any result except some weird memes.


texts: What are the female and gender-neutral equivalents of ‘henpecked husband’

texts:
Inspired by this question, what are are the feminine and gender-neutral equivalents of a ‘henpecked husband’?

Would it be correct to say ‘cockpecked wife’ (even though that sounds dreadful) and ‘birdpecked’ or ‘bepecked spouse’?


texts: Verb to use when the light of the sun 'falls" on your skin?

texts:
I wrote the following:

  The sun hit Erin's skin as she wandered through the alley. It felt
  comfortable, like a warm blanket enveloping her entire body.

"Hit" is the only verb I could think of. But I wonder if there's a "gentler"
 verb to replace it?


texts: What is the male equivalent of the 1960's slang "bird", meaning a woman

texts:
Back many years ago, perhaps 1950's, 60's or 70's, the word "bird" was used to describe a woman, and more typically a girlfriend, as in the phrase "She's a top bird"

Was there a male equivalent to this word?


texts:
I looked "beat" up in Merriam-Webster dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beat
Entry 2 Sense 7 b: one of the reaches (see REACH entry 2 sense 1) in the zigzag course so traversed : TACK
What does the "so traversed" mean here? Is traversed an adjective? But the dictionary shows "traversed" is the past tense of traverse, not an adjective.


texts: A word describing liking a part of something but disliking its entirety

texts:
In a (not so?) recent episode of the most excellent QI, Mr Fry talked about a word which meant liking a part of something although not liking (detesting?) the whole entity; e.g. liking the martial music of Hitlers Germany but detesting the Nazi regime in its entirety.

Anyone know what the word is I am am looking for?

I have been searching the internet for some considerable time trying to get the answer but without success.

Grateful if someone can help.


texts: Is it "men's" or "mens'"? And what's the rule?

texts:
Why is it that men's eyes always drift toward females?

I mean, "men" is the plural form of "man". So it's "mens'"... but it looks very strange, and maybe this only applies if the word doesn't change in plural form?
For example, if it had been "one man" and "several mans", it would've been "several mans' eyes", but now that it's "men", "several men's eyes" is how you type it?
Is that the rule? Have I understood this correctly?


texts: Use of " and ' in multi-paragraph quotes

texts: I was taught that I should use " at the start of a quote and if it carries on in subsequent paragraphs, I should put ' at the end of the first paragraph, then start the second paragraph with ' and close again with ' and so on, until the final paragraph which I close with ' ".  I cannot see any reference to this style.


texts: It is a painting by / of a famous painter

texts:
Could you please help me with this? A bit of context:

  Look at this painting. In the painting you can see a little girl. So, it is a painting of a girl. A famous painter painted it. So it is a painting ___ a famous painter.

I thought we should use "of" to show that the painting depicts the person, while "by" shows who painted it, but in the test it was "of" in both cases. Is "by" acceptable /correct or not in the latter case?.


texts:
According to the Longman dictionay I use, you ought to say "in the fields", but I'm pretty sure I've come across "on the fields" before. Is it possible to use it? And if so, does it imply a change in meaning?

I'm adding some sentences for example as requested:
- Someone works in/on the fields.
- Someone is in/on the fields.


texts:
I'm filling my linkedIn profile and in the summary I'm about to add the following text:

  I’ve always been fascinated by the opportunities brought by the digital age. Now when it’s easier than ever to connect with people instantly and anywhere, gain knowledge and skills previously only accessible by limited groups of people and existence of the machines that save and improve lives for billions, (...)

wouldn't it be informal or strange in any way for a native speaker to see the idiom "dead sure" following it, like:

  and I'm dead sure that I want to get involved.


texts:
I'm developing a webshop that provides free shipping when the cart total is above a certain amount, let's say $100. In case a customer has a cart with $30 subtotal, she/he has to add items in value of $70 for free shipping.

So I want to display the following information as succinct as possible: Add more items to your cart in value of $70 for free shipping.

Being a non-native speaker I'm uncertain about this part: "items in value of ...".

Is that correct? (Any other improvements are welcome)


texts: above vs over to talk about amount of money

texts:
They spent £160,000 or above on toys, CDs, and perfume.
They spent £160,000 or over on toys, CDs, and perfume.
Which one of these sentences is correct?


texts:
'Sympathizer' and 'supporter' are very close in meaning, but are they exactly synonyms? I thought of using 'sympathizer' in a text I'm writing since I thought it is more inclusive than supporters, including those whose support is milder, more abstract and less decisive, at the level of emotional sympathy and nothing that goes beyond it.

However, I googled it and had the impression that 'sympathizer' is mainly used derogatively (e.g. Nazi sympathizer) - so, my question is: can you also talk about 'sympathizers' of a movement without insinuating that it is a bad thing to support it? Have I got the difference between these two words right? Are there other differences in meaning I should be aware of?


texts: What do you call someone who makes decisions?

texts:
I am looking for a word that means someone makes choices. The choice doesn't have to be good or bad just that they are decisive. I am looking for the word to be in the form of a noun. As an example - "That woman makes many decisions; she is a (insert here)".

The only thing I can think of is chooser or decider but I'm not even sure those are words.
Thanks for any help in advance.


texts:
I'm having a dilemma of identifying the subject in the following sentence.

  The number of teens using their cell phones while driving has doubled.

The correct subject here is 'number' but why not 'teens'? Is it because of the preposition in front of 'teens' which is 'of teens'?

The verb 'has' depend on the subject 'number'. My question is why not 'teens' is the subject here?


texts: Is there a difference between these two words? To me, it seems that undistinguishable is more where you can't tell what it is, and indistinguishable seems to be where they're the same. It seems a lot of places list them as synonyms though.


texts:
I have a few concerns about sleeping words. Could You please help me?

Is there such a word like: "cover bed"?
Or the one appropriate word is: duvet?
What is the difference between duvet and quilt?
How children say pillow at the age of 2, 3?
Is there any childish word for pillow?
How to say to a child who goes to sleep, to take the duvet and cover ..?

How should this be said? :)

Thank You


texts: To what do the two relative pronouns "which" refer?

texts:
In the sentence:

The sense that life as a whole is absurd arises when we perceive, perhaps dimly, an inflated pretension or aspiration which is inseparable from the continuation of human life and which makes its absurdity inescapable, short of escape from life itself.

To what do the two relative pronouns "which" refer here? That is, what is inseparable from life and what makes its absurdity inescapable? The "pretension or apiration" or the "perceiving"? How can one tell here? Would one utilize a comma while the other wouldn't? Is there a difference between AmE and BrE?
Thanks


texts: Adjective to describe the quality of liking to teach and/or having a talent for teaching?

texts: I'm looking for a concise way to express the quality of enjoying or preferring to impart knowledge to other individuals. In a way, the counterpart to a person who is teachable or takes instruction well. I considered instructive, but it is not often used to describe people, and doesn't feel warm enough for my intentions. Thanks in advance!


texts: What is the difference between "unfeasible" and "infeasible"?

texts: Both "unfeasible" and "infeasible" are words according to spell-check, and they appear have similar dictionary definitions. But what is the difference between the two words? Is one more acceptable to use than the other?


texts:
I am describing a mathematical model, where the probability density function of a variable is made up of two contributions, two distributions. Mathematically we would say that f(x) = g1(x) + g2(x).

Now: in the text I am writing something like this:

  "the distribution f(x) is the sum of two underlying distributions, g1(x) and g2(x). [...] in order to estimate the parameters of the underlying distributions we use a parametric approach...."

I am trying to use "underlying" in the sense of "lying under".

What do you think? Is underlying the right word or should I address those distributions in a different way (how)?


texts: Indefinite article with uncountable nouns

texts:
I'm writing something and I'm not sure which one is correct:

to have a control over
to have control over

I googled and found many examples written by native speakers who in fact used the article with control, as shown below:

  the object... was to have a control over that person (Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Court of King's Bench, Volume 5) (1834)

  the people ought to have a control over their own affairs (The London and Westminster Review, Volume 25; Volume 27) (1836)

  the Constitution... is to have a control over such institutions (Social Theories of Jacksonian Democracy: Representative Writings of the Period 1825-1850) (2003)


texts: A word to describe someone that provides "tough love?"

texts: I am looking for a word that describes someone that exhibits nurturing qualities (as in wants those around him/her to improve and get better) but has high expectations for those same people. Essentially a parental figure, but in a more business-sense. My current working word is coach, but I think I could do better. Thanks for any insight.


texts: Verb + But + verb vs verb + but + noun sentence structures

texts:
Can someone please tell me the meaning of the word "but" in the following sentences:

"The figure is but the faintest, most spectral of them all"

Is it functioning as "only" or "almost"
I know from the idiom "all but + verb/adv" that but may function to mean almost
and I know in some cases but can function to mean "only":

"this central head does but consummate the sentiment of the whole company..."

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.


texts: Does extraterrestrial refer to origin or location?

texts:
I'm listening to "Lunar Discovery" by Salvador Mercer and they detect a signal coming from the moon.  The signal is described as originating from an unknown origin, most likely extraterrestrial.

My first thought was "Of course it's extraterrestrial, it's not coming from the Earth."  But looking at the definition it says "not of or from the Earth".

So what exactly is the limit of what would be considered extraterrestrial?

Would a lunar lander be considered a terrestrial source for the transmission because it came from Earth?
Would the transmission from a lander be considered terrestrial because the object sending it came from Earth even though the signal did not originate on Earth?
If we colonized another star, would signals or a ship coming from it be considered extraterrestrial?  What if hundreds of years had passed and the ship or equipment was manufactured on that planet by the colonists' descendants?
If a group of alien refugees landed on Earth and we let them live here, would them and their great grandchildren still be considered 'extraterrestrial' because they did not originally come from Earth?


texts:
To start off let us construct a situation were I am walking along and I pass another person. Depending on the time of day and to be polite I say one of the following:

"Good Morning!"
"Good Evening!"
"Good Night!"
"Good Day!"

Now 1 and 2 are common welcoming and polite gestures and I have no problem with their use. However the problem lies with 3: Why is it so dismissive compared with 1 and 2?

If I said "Good Night!" to somebody when walking at around 11 p.m why does it sound like I am putting them to bed?

Finally as a related matter, why is 4 not used too often? In other languages 4 seems to be more common then an equivalent "Hello!" and sometimes 4 and "Hello!" posses the same.meaning.


texts: What is a word for "subconscious agreement"?

texts: Sam usually didn't let people in his room. But because Rachel was so neat and organized, Sam [allowed her without ever talking about it] her to work up in his small room when he was out of the house.


texts: "am/remain/stay" as linking verbs or not

texts:
(1) I am here. [linking verb or not?]

  (2) I remain here. [linking verb or not?]

  (3) I stay here. [linking verb or not?]

  (1') I am angry. [linking verb]

  (2') I remain angry. [linking verb]

  (3') I stay angry. [linking verb]

In the latter three, "am", "remain" and "stay" are all linking verbs.

How about those verbs in the former three?

Are they linking verbs as in the latter three or are they not?

EDIT

(In response to Adam's answer)

In Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, "remain" is shown to have four distinct meanings, the last of which is as follows

  4 [intransitive] + adv./prep. to stay in the same place; to not leave

  They remained in Mexico until June.

  The plane remained on the ground.

  She left, but I remained behind.

All three "remained" in the example sentences here are replaceable with "was/were", but the dictionary doesn't categorize this kind of "remain" as a linking verb, given that the first meaning of the four is listed as a linking verb.

EDIT

If "am" in "I am here" is a linking verb, then why is it not possible to say "I become here" or "I seem here". I mean, if "am" is a linking verb, shouldn't it be replaceable with another linking verb?


texts:
I'm translating a comic book, and I got stumped on a certain idiom, not sure what I could use in its place in the English translation.

The Polish "Trafiła kosa na kamień" (lit: the scythe hit a rock) is an expression of shadenfreude, when someone (possibly disliked) who'd successfully, even effortlessly conquer all problems so far, meets an obstacle or opponent they are unable to overcome.

Is there an English idiom or a common expression that matches such usage?


texts:
Suppose a motorbike driver jumped above 2 cars in a show, and a crowd of girls gave him an applause. He then tried jumping over 100 cars, and lost his life halfway by falling into the row of cars.

What do you say to this state of feeling, this false self confidence that he wasn't aware of its falsehood?


texts:
Example:

  I held the bee and [...] against my arm, to see whether it would
  sting me.

I can't think of any suitable word. And the Thesaurus only has synonyms that mean pressing harder.


texts: What is the name of this ice-breaker party game?

texts: Is there a word or phrase for the following ice breaker game?  A group of people form a circle, and the first person says their name. The next person on the left goes and says the first person's name and then their name. Third person repeats the process, and so on, until it comes full circle, and the last person has to recall everybody's name.


texts: Someone who "eats like a ..." is someone who eats a lot or has a huge appetite

texts:
There was this Chinese TV quiz show and one question was a multiple choice question about English sayings/idioms. It went something like this:

In the English idiom, someone who "eats like a [fill in the blank]" is someone who eats a lot or has a huge appetite:

(a) King
(b) Mouse
(c) Horse
(d) Dog

I didn't think any of the four possible choices constituted an English idiom. Is one of the above four choices even an answer to the question? And if so, which is it?

Added information: The answer given in the game show was indeed "Horse". I was surprised because I have never in my life heard anyone use the expression "eat like a horse", although I have heard "eat like a king" (albeit only on a few occasions). Also I've seen dogs and horses eating, and it seems that horses eat in a calm, reasonably slow pace, whereas dogs always eat like they've been starving for days. Hence, "eat like a horse" made no sense to me at all.


texts:
How can I replace harped on with a more positive expression?

The production manager harped on the new quality assurance regulations for nearly an hour.


texts: Single word to describe "make something worse"

texts:
In a technical report: One setting causes a problem to arise. Another setting causes this negative effect to get worse.

For example:"
When setting the switch to "magic" the runtime increased.
Hitting the machine with a hammer [foo'ed] the problem.
"

I have the feeling that "exasperate" or "expedite" could maybe be used to describe this but that they don't quite hit the mark.


texts: What's the meaning of "for it was" in this sentence: For it was brilliant weather

texts:
In The Fairy Tale of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton, the city and state of Heiligwaldenstein, which was one of those toy kingdoms of which certain parts of the German Empire still consist, saying

  The German soldiers by the innumerable sentry-boxes looked strangely like German toys, and the clean-cut battlements of the castle, gilded by the sunshine, looked the more like the gilt gingerbread. For it was brilliant weather. The sky was as Prussian a blue as Potsdam itself could require, but it was yet more like that lavish and glowing use of the colour which a child extracts from a shilling paint-box.

What's the meaning of for it was here?


texts: Single word for generic human "body parts"

texts:
Is there a single word that can be used to indicate generic human (or animal) body parts?  Just using the word "parts" without context sounds mechanical and inorganic. Ideally, the word would delineate between mechanical and organic "parts" without additional context; additionally, the word should be all inclusive (i.e. organs doesn't work because it only indicates internal body parts).

Some example sentences to illustrate how the word might be used:
 - In the near future, we may be able to print organic body parts
 - Body parts were blown everywhere by the explosion.
 - The cyborgs were in various states of disrepair, with organic body parts lying everywhere.


texts: What is the rule for using a period on a game card?

texts:
For example:

This appears on a card in a game:
"Equipment worn by players on one hand to field baseballs."
The answer appears immediately below it..."Mitt"

Another example:
"Black disk made of hard rubber that is used in ice hockey."

Can I leave the periods as they stand?

Is this a similar case as to use or not to use a period at the end of every bulleted line?


texts: "Has/Have/Had" as a main verb and auxiliary verb

texts:
I need help regarding the use of has/have/had both as a main verb and as an auxiliary verb.

In the sentence below, the word has acts as the main verb. I would normally follow it with the phrase "so do I."

  Kenny has a car, and so do I.

On the other hand, the word has in the following sentence acts as an auxiliary verb. I would normally follow it with the phrase "so have I."

  Kenny has bought a car, and so have I.

a) Are sentences 1 & 2 above correct? I'm under the impression that so do I is used when has/have/had is the main verb of a sentence, and so have/had I if it's an auxiliary verb in a sentence.

b) Does the verb has/have always need a supporting "auxiliary verb" (either implied or mentioned)? (e.g., Kenny has a car = Kenny does have a car.)


texts: English word that describes the doer of uncompleted work?

texts: I am looking for a word that describes someone who does all the work that is unfinished by others once they do their work.


texts: Expression where someone is promoting a value they do not actually have in order to have better public relations

texts:
I tagged the question as "single-word request", but I am pretty sure it is an expression of two words. One of those words is the word "value" accompanied with another word that I am looking for.

It would be used under this context:

"The company wants us to take a picture of all the employees for Earth day, they are just value __________ to get better public relations"


texts: friend of the familyname's or familynames

texts:
Is it

  "John is a friend of the Smith's."

or

  "John is a friend of the Smiths."
  ?

Thank you for your answer :)


texts: Is the acronym "O.K." generally pronounced as an iamb or a trochee? Or is it context-dependent?


texts:
I have a comparative question...
As I understand it, comparatives compare two things. I bought a new popcorn maker because my old one is not heating up. So my questions are as follows:
Can I say

my old popcorn maker is not heating up

or can I say

my older popcorn maker is not heating up (null comparative).

Both are correct right? One sentence is comparing the two but they both mean the same? which one is used more. I know it depends on the context..just want another opinion.


texts: Referring to something: choosing between "this + {noun}" versus "such + {noun}"

texts:
Recently, I've had a discussion with someone regarding how to know how to choose among the words "this" and "such" in written text, but could not find any usage style guidelines on this topic. Basically, are these always compatible (i.e., one can be used in place of the other), or is it preferable to use one in place of the other in some situations?
For instance, is it best to use "this" in literary words, and "such" in scientific works such science articles and law manuscripts? Personally, when I hear the word "this", I see it as contrasting with the word "that", and I always envision someone pointing at something.
On the other hand, the word "such" seems more abstract, and thus more appropriate when referring to intangible things. I would also consider the word "this" more appropriate when referring to something tangible, such as an article, or to the main topic of conversation, whereas I would tend to use "such" more often in longer sentences where it can be used to refer to subtopics, perhaps in conjunction with the word "this" serving the same purpose, so that the two can be contrasted.
I wonder whether there are also cases where it would be better to choose one word rather than the other, and what the criteria would be for such choice in such cases.


texts: Should this sentence use the word "one" or "you"?

texts:
Is the sentence

  One only has to look at the size of Claire’s house to know that you can make a lot of money as a doctor.

correct?

I'm not sure whether mixing the words "one" and "you" in the same sentence is grammatically correct.


texts:
Should it be

  Our company is renown for

or

  Our company is renowned for


texts: Word for to look at someone telling them to shut up

texts:
I am looking for a word in which you look at someone with your eyes such that you're telling them to remain quiet.

For example, you are in a serious situation and your friend tries to make a joke and you look at him with wide eyes, telling him to just shut up.

Is there a word for that?

Also can you guide me to a site where words for different expressions are given?


texts: Which preposition do I have to use in this case?

texts:
Which one of the following is correct?

tutor of a tutorial group
tutor for a tutorial group
tutor in a tutorial group

And is it tutorial group about a topic?


texts:
Is it possible to say "like that" in the following sentence?

If I was poor, there would be no way I could afford things like that.

Personally, I would say like these or like those.

Would you help me, please?

Thank you in advance!


texts: Why will mothers smile when infants quarter'd with the hands of war?

texts:
From Julius Caesar (by Shakespeare)

  Anthony : Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
         And dreadful objects so familiar,
         That mothers shall but smile when they behold
         Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
         All pity choked with custom of fell deeds,
         And Caesar's spirit ranging for revenge (3.1.7)

Why would mothers smile when they behold their dead infants?


texts: where to place *further* , *considering further*

texts:
As the closing sentence of a cover letter for an application I would like to write the sentence

  I would appreciate your further considering my application and remain...

but is this correct, or should I rather place the word further differently?
The options are

I would appreciate your considering my application further and remain...
I would appreciate your considering further my application and remain...

Thank you in advance.


texts: It's easy to track down the etymology of the verb to calve . What is the origin of glacial calving?

texts: Is this term recent and is it supposed to parallel birthing a calf?


texts:
While  checking with Google Books  the usage of the expressions positive/negative stance on (something)  I realized that they literally took off from the early 60s while their usage was quite rare before. And the term stance used also in other  contexts appears to have had the same usage trend.
@JohnLawler suggests that stance is another term for stand, and actually Google Books reveals a correspondence between the negative/positive expressions.  In other words from about the early 60s ”positive/negative stand on” usage has started to decrease while “negative/positive stance” usage increased. It appears that, for some reason, stance was preferred  to stand.
Can anybody suggest why “stance” has such an increase of popularity from those years? Was it used by some reputable journalist or politician who made its fortune?


texts: What is the third 'quote' (inverted comma) called?

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  What are these symbols called?  ~  `  ^

Most of use are familiar with " and ' but what is the third ` (same key as ~ on a standard US keyboard) character called, and how or when is it to be used?

I'm thinking that this might simply be a computer only character but I'd like to be sure.


texts: 'lest': How did 'less that' evolve to mean 'for fear that'?

texts:
lest, conj.    = [OED]      Etymology:  Old English phrase þý lǽs þe , lit. ‘whereby less’
  = Latin quōminus
   (þý instrumental of the demonstrative and relative pronoun + lǽs less adj. + þe relative particle). In Middle English the first word of the phrase was dropped,
  and les þe became les te in accordance with the general rule that þ after s changed into t.

  1.a. [...] = Latin nē, English that..not, for fear that.

  [Etymonline] [Similar to Wiktionary's entry]
  c. 1200, contracted from Middle English phrase les te "less that,"
  from Old English phrase þy læs þe "whereby less that,"
  from þy, instrumental case of demonstrative article þæt "that" + læs (see less) + þe "the."
  The þy was dropped and the remaining two words contracted into leste.

How should the etymology be interpreted, to understand how  "less that"
 evolved and drifted semantically to mean:
OED's definition 1a above (that..not, for fear that)?
What semantic drifts connect "less that"  with that..not, for fear that?


texts:
When I hear someone make a statement sans quantifier, I assume a universal quantifier.

For example when I hear someone say "I love dogs", I take that to mean "I love all dogs" and not "I love some dogs".

Is that valid? Does lack of a quantifier imply a universal quantifier?

If someone answers yes or no, I'd appreciate a cite.


texts:
I've been reading up on absolute phrases recently, and I was wondering if the following construction is grammatically correct:

  "Jared went to bed with a lot on his mind, each thought brimming with sadness and regret."

I would normally think that there should be a with after the comma, but the overabundance of the word in other parts of the sentence seem to make a third with redundant.


texts: Word for a decision you find right but others find wrong

texts:
I'm looking for a word, or possibly a phrase, but preferably a single word, that describes the following:

  An action/decision that is regarded as right by one but regarded as
  wrong by another.

Example:

  Even when you are certain that you are in the right, you should
  refrain from _________'s, because you are in effect passing judgement onto
  yourself.


texts: What's the difference between all and each?

texts:
What is the difference between these sentences:

All experiments are carried out four times
Each experiment is carried out four times

and which one should I use if I want to say I carry out the 1st experiment four times, the 2nd experiment four times, and so on..


texts: What is it called when a character is portrayed opposite the stereotype for comedic effect?

texts:
Many character roles have stereotypically defined behavior, e.g. macho soldiers or helpless princesses.  Sometimes authors intentionally defy those stereotypes for humor, and to call attention to readers' usual assumptions.

What is the name of this literary device, where an author flouts a stereotype for humor?

I can't think of an appropriate word (or even short phrase) for the life of me.  Any thoughts appreciated.

For example, a comic depicts Shaolin monks, but instead of following their stereotype of being silent and serious, there is corny humor and a spit-take.

Other examples:

http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Abe-Lincoln-Riding-Grizzly-Bear-Holding-Gun.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa1rjCZxtxo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tYLb3teB14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H2W1lK7P-I


texts: In Love's Labour's Lost, what does "spite of cormorant devouring time" mean?

texts:
In the opening statement of Love's Labour's Lost (Act 1 Scene 1), Ferdinand speaks of why he wants to make the oath to study and forgo base pleasures. He says

Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives,
Live register'd upon our brazen tombs
And then grace us in the disgrace of death;
When, spite of cormorant devouring Time,
The endeavor of this present breath may buy
That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge
And make us heirs of all eternity.

My question is specifically about the phrase

spite of cormorant devouring Time

Ferdinand seems to be saying that his reason for wanting to take the oath is to be remembered for greatness beyond his death. Thus the reference to time makes sense. But why a "cormorant devouring time"? What is relevant about a cormorant? Perhaps that it is black in color, or that it is a predator? Why does it have spite?

What is the meaning embedded in this phrase?


texts:
A.E. Housman wrote these words:

    The troubles of our proud and angry dust
    Are from eternity, and shall not fail.
    Bear them we can, and if we can we must.
    Shoulder the sky, my lad, and drink your ale.

I do wonder what the meaning is of the phrase "Shoulder the sky". In my mind, he is telling the boy to accept his responsibilities, but I have no real reason why I think so. Googling this phrase produced no real information.

So my question is, in the context of the poem fragment above, what does "Shoulder the sky" mean?


texts: What's the word for a person who possesses extensive vocabulary?

texts:
Verbose or wordy do not serve the purpose as intended, as both are used negatively.

Articulate or well-spoken, in my opinion, do not do justice also, as somebody could have smaller lexicon pool, yet still be fluent in their expression.

Thence, I cannot consider my query as a duplicate of the other.

Please help, & thank you!


texts: "Have this been" or "Had this been" provided

texts:
Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?

  Had this been a solution that can be provided in Java 5 and above, the overloaded replace(charSequence, charSequence) may be used.

  Have this been a solution that can be provided in Java 5 and above, the overloaded replace(charSequence, charSequence) may be used.


texts: Is it he and [name], or am I still wrong?

texts:
I'm writing something for a friend. The sentence I'm trying to write is this: "What Sam didn't understand was that he and Nick were more alike than he thought."

Is this right? Or is there a better way to put it instead of "he and Nick"? Thank you!


texts: Word for common knowledge in a scientific setting?

texts:
I remember there being a single word to represent currently accepted facts in a scientific discipline. Common knowledge, but in a scientific setting. It is a jargon-y sounding word.

You'd use it when mentioning an accepted theory or concept that may be unfamiliar to a reader, but is common enough that you don't need to prove or cite it yourself.

The case I'm trying to use it in is like this:

  ...important to note that this study is not on the existence of the bias as it is _______, but rather the failure of subjects to account for it...

I'd like to emphasize that I'm looking for a single word. I may be misremembering it, but I am pretty certain there is one word that fits this description.


texts: What informal English expression would you use to let a couple know that they are being too intimate in public?

texts:
I am looking for an expression used in the US or the UK for that situation, for example, where you are in a park where there are people of all ages, and a couple starts to be intense with the kissing and the touching.

In my country we say informally and graciously "let's throw them water!" with the hope they stop or go to a more private place :)

I've researched before through google, and I was not able to find the answer, I think the question is not too open. it is a specific situation and the answer was unique. It is very helpful for foreigners.


texts: What is the difference between "illicit" and "illegal"? Are they just synonymous? Used in different contexts?


texts: When some sport is "losing attendance numbers", what does "numbers" refer to?  I can't find a good definition in dictionaries that would fit this usage.


texts: Can somebody tell me what do you call in English the exercise/machine in the gym, which is in a way similar to back squat, but you do lying on your back and pushing the platform upward doing relatively the same movement as in a back squat?


texts: proverb means Consider me as you want you will find me as you consider

texts:
alot of companies expect effective performance. Nevertheless, it considers its employees as they are beginners (salary, ....).

He want to say:

  if you consider me as a Junior , you find me a Junior , That it means
  : Don't expect from me to perfect tasks of Senior .

  And, if you consider me as an expert , you will find me an expert :

Is there a proverb means that ?

UPDATE:

the employer concentrate on experience .Indeed , he thought that "An expert is one who has worked for many years" . However ,It is not always so . you can find someone who has worked for a few years, but he is gifted .

It is not an issue of Salary , But It is a psychological issue that can negatively affect the performance of this gifted worker .

He expects an appreciation befitting his skills


texts: do you use " The" with mathematical methods?

texts:
For intra-cluster relationships, we applied mathematical optimisation to choose the best tree produced by neighbour joining
  method.

Or

  For intra-cluster relationships, we applied mathematical optimisation to choose the best tree produced by the neighbour
  joining method.

What is the rule for using "the" before mathematical methods in general?


texts: The owner or owner, the shareholders or shareholders

texts:
I just made a sentence like the following :

  One of the basic principles of Capitalism : Some people (the workers)
  must produce more than what they get so some other people (the owner
  and the shareholders) can get more than what they produce.

Are the bolded words correct? Since I refer to completely random people


texts: What's a word for someone who is constantly asking for same thing?

texts: Hi I'm looking for a word for someone who is constantly asking for something and keeps wanting updates about it. The closest words I can think of is pushy and, to a lesser extent, annoying. But clearly these words don't directly mean what I intend.


texts: Is "may or may not X" logically incorrect?

texts:
Thoughts on redundancy aside, using or in this phrase seems wrong to me.  Should it not be and?  My reasoning is this:  There are only two possibilities on the actions concerning X -- either X will be done, or it will not be done.  This is binary logic.  Using and would indicate that I may do X, and I may not do X -- all the possibilities are covered -- whereas using or lends the implication that there are some other possibilities for your actions concerning X (when there are none).

I know mathematical logic doesn't map perfectly to natural language, but and seems much more correct to me.  So why is the expression used with or?


texts: What is the term for when one word or phrase appears directly above the same word or phrase in a paragraph?

texts: I have read and written countless sentences within in a paragraph where a word or phrase is repeated in use and its second use appears directly beneath the first use in the visual paragraph whether or on a page or screen. I am sure there is a literary term for this.


texts: Is there a term for "midnight" that is like "noon"

texts:
"noon" is the term for the middle of the day, round about 12.00 to 13.00, and "midnight" is from 24.00 to 1.00, at night. "midnight" is just basically a prefix added to "night", whereas "noon" is a completely different word.

Why is it "midnight", and not some term like "noon"? Is there actually a term for "midnight", that is the equivalent of "noon"?


texts: What do you call someone who puts a hit out on someone?

texts: Is there a specific word for someone who hires a hitman or assassin?


texts: Usage of "tum" in English speaking countries, other than the UK

texts:
I'm sure I've heard tummy used in American English and the English spoken in commonwealth countries as a sort of euphemism for stomach. I'm not sure so much how common it is to hear it reduced to tum, as in "I ate the pie and now it's in my tum!"

Would that be universally understood in English? How about if I made a construction like tumcandy - would that work in all countries?


texts:
From Venus in Furs of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (full text):

  And yet a restless, always unsatisfied craving for the nudity of
  paganism," she interrupted, "but that love, which is the highest joy,
  which is divine simplicity itself, is not for you moderns, you
  children of reflection. It works only evil in you. As soon as you wish
  to be natural, you become common. To you nature seems something
  hostile; you have made devils out of the smiling gods of Greece, and
  out of me a demon. You can only exorcise and curse me, or slay
  yourselves in bacchantic madness before my altar. ...

What does "children of reflection" mean? I'm aware that reflection has meanings like: "careful thought or consideration", "consideration of some subject matter" among others. From the context, it looks like its meaning is close to "modern" or perhaps "children of reason", but I cannot be sure.

P.S.: The original German phrase is "euch Kinder der Reflexion" (can be freely downloaded from Feedbooks)


texts: I read a headline: "10 years in, something happens". Is that grammatically correct or incorrect to give that headline? Any difference with "In 10 years, something happens"?


texts: What is a word for something that you desperately want and/or craved for, but NEVER GOT?

texts:
Take this situation;

  Everyone was given ice cream at the birthday party, except for Todd. After Todd got home, he felt very disheartened that he never got the
  chance to taste the ice-cream there. He really desired it and now it
  left a hole in his heart.

Think of it as feeling you get after a "missed opportunity" or "missed chance". You can never have it again in your life. Now the mark this situation would give a person, is there a word for it?

I'm guessing "yearning", "longing" and "hankering" would win here (perhaps I'm actually looking for them?) Or is there a more specific word regarding that situation or feeling?


texts:
Can anyone tell the difference between relative and subjective ?

Does subjective mean "only my opinion matters", while relative means "it could change"?

I can't really understand the difference.


texts: Periods in quotes and how to end the sentence the quote lies in

texts:
Possible Duplicate:
  How should I punctuate around quotes?

If I am quoting someone in my writing, and I end their quote with a period, and the end of the quote is also the end of my sentence. How do I properly end the sentence? An example of this is in my last question:

  For example, "The file is not updat(e)able.".

Here is another example:

  The boss said, "If you don't get your work in by tomorrow, you're
  fired.".

Is that how you properly end the sentence, or should I leave one of the periods out? If the latter, could you explain why?


texts: What's it called that period when you get hit and you start blinking and can't get hurt? (Video Games)

texts: When you get hit in a video game, like Mario for example, or any other platform game, you usually start blinking and during that blinking period, you don't get hurt, what is that "period" called? It must have a term...


texts: Since when has "the press" meant the news media?

texts: For a long time, the phrase "the press" has been used to describe the news media. How long has it had that meaning? I have the impression that in the 18th century "the press" meant the printing press, a technology for making multiple copies on paper.


texts: Combination of the present perfect and the simple past?

texts: Is there a chance to combine these two tenses this way, I have checked with several sites, and I found out that it's seemingly some jobless old latino, definitely not Willis.


texts: Does the criminal justice system need more or less of a governmental relationship to be effective?


texts: What does "the mole" means in this context?

texts:
I read a manga (japanese comics) called "Boys on the Run". In some chapters several characters refers to someone as "the mole", but I don't actually know who is that person.
Here is the context: A company made a line of figurine toys for adults, and people refer to "the mole" as the one that designed these toys.

Here are some examples of sentences where the word is used:
  "But it's really well made. This was definitely made by the mole"; In this case, they are saying that "the mole" made these toys.
  "Maybe the mole can make this?", In this example, someone is telling other that some toys should be made by "The mole". I do not think it means something like "traitor" because the first sentence I put as example is said by a person that does not belong to the company, so it does not make sense if he is implying they have a traitor.

Sorry if this is might be obvious, but I am not a English-native speaker. And I am actually translating this work to spanish, so I want to know the meaning of it. Thank you in advance.


texts: Essential or nonessential sentence element?

texts:
He looked at the skies fully saturated with blue paint.

or

  He looked at the skies, fully saturated with blue paint.

Is "fully saturated with blue paint" here an essential or nonessential element of the sentence and should it be separated by a comma?

Edit: removed the before blue paint as recommended by chasly from UK.