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2,300 | 50,301 | 76823_0 | We were to give a tagline for a charitable society for underprivileged children. Someone suggested _the human touch_ and within seconds someone modified it to _the humane touch_. What is the difference between _human_ and _humane_ or between _human touch_ and _humane touch_? |
2,301 | 66,218 | 76823_0 | I have seen this phrase in many articles. It sounds a little bit odd to me. Also, what could be an alternative to this? Can I use "please be aware" or "For your information" instead of this phrase? |
2,302 | 145,944 | 76823_0 | I'm searching for a good synonym for _communicative_ , but with an emphasis on being in constant communication over time, not merely the "amount" of communication (so _talkative_ and such don't work). A short phrase will work as well. Example context: > Unlike our inferior competitors, we are great because we are > **communicative** (e.g. _we constantly stay in touch with you_ ). |
2,303 | 157,945 | 76823_0 | Friends of mine were travelling in the UK by bus once, when suddenly the bus stopped and all passengers had to get out. The driver told them that there were "snow windows" and so they couldn't proceed to Glasgow. When they said "but there's no SNOW" - all they got back was "but there are snow windows". However, no one could translate or paraphrase to them what "snow windows" are. Back home they tried to look it up in several different dictionaries, but no success. I wasn't able to find anything about it using Google either. So what kind of weather condition are "snow windows"? |
2,304 | 68,844 | 76823_0 | Why is the most common date format in the US like `mm/dd/yyyy`, whereas in Europe (including the UK) it's more common to have `dd/mm/yyyy`? Looking around, I found that the US form is actually the more traditional Anglo-Saxon way, but the British adapted to using the European form in the early 20th Century. But I couldn't find a definitive discussion of the history of the different formats. Is it just conventional, or is there an official 'British date standard' (like with metric and imperial, for example). |
2,305 | 157,941 | 76823_0 | Why is the usage of "whose" correct in this sentence: In the foothills of that large mountain range are the sources of a river whose course was not fully mapped until this century. I was under the impression that you have to use "which" or "that" when referring to things. When is it okay to use who/whose to modify things? I thought the sentence would have to be something like "...are the sources of a river, the course of which was not fully mapped..." |
2,306 | 23,035 | 76823_0 | The word _quite_ is often confusing to non-native speakers. Can you give me a list of words that typically collocate with _quite_ when the meaning is 'extreme'? |
2,307 | 23,031 | 76823_0 | Is there an abstraction for the following three words? * Order confirmation * Quotation * Invoice I want to create a base class for the above but I can't find a word that describes all three. |
2,308 | 68,848 | 76823_0 | I tried to say this: > Due to it will have less features than the actual standard system, the > performance will be better. Basically, I used a sentence after _due to_ , and one of my English friends said it does not make sense and is not grammatically correct. What is wrong with using _due to_ at the beginning of a sentence? |
2,309 | 134,572 | 76823_0 | I have read answers to questions like When is it correct to use "yourself" and "myself" (versus "you" and "me")? but I couldn't find a general rule for using "you" or "yourself", "him" or "himself" that could explain things I see in some examples. For example, I think that one normally say (according to examples I see in LDOCE dictionary): * You bring something with you. * You have something in you. * You have something on you. * You pressed her to you. But on the other hand one would say: * You draw attention to yourself. * He killed himself. * You can try it out for yourself. As a general rule, it seems that the reflexive pronoun is used when the object is the same as the subject of the verb. But for prepositional phrases, it seems more complicated. Do some prepositions (like "with", "in", "on") always come with the accusative form of the pronoun, and some other (like "for") don't? What about "to", that seems to be followed by both in different circumstances? |
2,310 | 22,346 | 76823_0 | Is there any difference in phrases usage? Which one is better for title of a story? The story is about tourists. |
2,311 | 22,347 | 76823_0 | I was recently given a nondisclosure agreement to sign. On the form it stated that the company may seek "injective relief" as needed in order to enforce the agreement. Now, I'm quite familiar with the concept of "injunctive relief." Googling around I did find quite a few places where "injective relief" is used, but I couldn't find anything that looked like a proper legal definition for it. (Also it's waaaaay less common than "injunctive relief".) So I ask those who may have better google-fu or more in-depth legalese knowledge, is this just a misspelling on the company's part, or can they shoot me up with truth serum if the need arises? |
2,312 | 22,344 | 76823_0 | Who is the original coiner of the word 'linkrot'? Does anyone know? |
2,313 | 131,187 | 76823_0 | > According to Professor Kong, Bo Xilai’s (the governor of Chongqing, whose > wife are convicted of killing the British businessman H. Wood) “Chongqing > model”, which was known for its tough measures dealing with “underground > mafia” on the political front, “singing red (Communist) songs” on the > cultural front, and the promotion of “common prosperity” on the economic > front, paved the way for China’s future development. (self-made) All the three merits of the Chongqing model are to be the stones to pave the way. I do not want to put which clause behind “pave the way..”., because I have to emphasize the which part of the sentence, making the readers pay much attention to the reason of Professor Kong for thinking that way. But I doubt that my sentence will be separated too far away. Is there some better way to reorganize the paragraph? |
2,314 | 131,181 | 76823_0 | Can I say "Please give your children big cheers at the playing field? Or should I say "Please give your children a big cheer?" Do these mean different things? |
2,315 | 77,266 | 76823_0 | How do you pronounce "Lowe" in "Lowe's", the home improvement store in U.S.? How is it pronounced when it is in a person's name? Is it pronounced in the same way? |
2,316 | 77,265 | 76823_0 | What's that embossed or raised part of an arc or arch called? I am looking for the upper part of the shape, which is kind of raised and forms a mini circle.  |
2,317 | 43,467 | 76823_0 | I do a lot of technical writing where I feel that it is appropriate to clarify some technicality. I often produce nested clauses and sub-clauses but I am unsure about the proper use of the semicolon. I have been told that its proper use is to separate clauses and sub-clauses; for example, a sentence and a list of a, b, and c. To give an example, what is correct use of the following: > "CORFILE contains the product of the analysis, run using the entire event > set, run 161457." or > "CORFILE contains the product of the analysis; run using the entire event > set, run 161457."? To strip away the jargon: > The sentence starts with a clause, followed by a sub-clause, clarification > for the sub-clause. I know I can circumvent the issue by just splitting the sentence. However, for this case, and many others, the extra grammatical logistics needed to do so distracts from the information I am trying to convey. Are there any general rules for such uses of the semicolon that would make it clear which is correct? Are there any relevant rules in regards to colon and semicolon? |
2,318 | 96,356 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” I read on the news today the world heard Neil Armstrong said "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.". But later, Neil Armstrong insisted that he actually said 'a man' but that the 'a' was not heard because of static. So this begs the question "What is the difference between the 2 versions?" Is the version that Neil Armstrong wanted the world to hear a grammatically correct one and the other one is not? |
2,319 | 28,618 | 76823_0 | Does anyone know why the word "baby" is referred to by the pronoun "it" rather than a human pronoun. Is there an historical/etymological reason? |
2,320 | 28,611 | 76823_0 | What is the difference between _calm, cool and collective_ and _calm, cool and collected_? What is the meaning of _collective_ or _collected_ when used in this way? I checked the dictionary but still do not get it. > collective [kəˈlɛktɪv] > adj > 1\. formed or assembled by collection > 2\. forming a whole or aggregate > 3\. of, done by, or characteristic of individuals acting in cooperation > n > 1\. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) > a. a cooperative enterprise or unit, such as a collective farm > b. the members of such a cooperative > 2\. (Linguistics / Grammar) short for collective noun |
2,321 | 28,615 | 76823_0 | I've always had difficulties in figuring out where commas should be placed. For example, in a phrase containing a conditional statement, how should I write... * If they don't arrive by noon, she'll be worried. * If they don't arrive by noon she'll be worried. |
2,322 | 92,396 | 76823_0 | While I was doing some facebook things, I shared a picture and this sentence came to my mind. I was wondering if it is correct to use this sentence when you want to share your feelings about something (in this case that picture): > What a big like deserves this picture, doesn't it? What I meant to say was: > I think this picture deserves a big like, don't you? If it's correct, could you please tell me about the detailed structure of the sentence? I just made it up and my mind naturally says it should be correct. |
2,323 | 92,394 | 76823_0 | Is there a specific term for when you combine two unrelated terms in a headline in order to grab attention? For example: > Bolivian Kick Boxer Meets US Marine Or: > Kickboxer Meets a Marine (1) The high level concept here is pretty simple: two people fight; see who wins. My question is about when you dig a little deeper. It's pretty obvious that two unrelated terms are being compared in this headline. Kickboxing is a form of martial arts (hybrid of several actually), whereas the Marines is a branch of the United States Armed Forces. **Is there a term for this tactic?** * * * _More explanation follows._ Some fans of martial arts love to debate which form would win in a real fight, say Wing Chun versus Jiu-Jitsu for example. However, the aforementioned headline is _not_ : 1. pitting one form of fighting against another (2) 2. pitting a member of one branch of the U.S. military against a member of a different branch of the U.S. military 3. pitting a member of the U.S. military against a member of the military in a different nation In other words, **it's an apples to oranges comparison.** One person in the fight is a practitioner in a certain form of martial arts, the other person is a soldier in the U.S. Marines (which means that person very tough, but for other reasons). The goal of any headline author is to grab attention. _I believe that the author of this particular headline intended to **gain extra attention points** by stirring emotion in some readers, particularly readers in the U.S. that would feel a sense of patriotism._ Now it's not just about cheering for your favorite martial art form, instead it's about cheering for your country. **I'm trying to figure out what this headline writing tactic is called.** I hope this question wasn't too long winded. There's many other examples of this tactic, but I think this one conveys my point well. Perhaps this is more of a marketing or psychological question, so feel free to let me know if I should ask on another site. _(1) There happens to be a viral video going around with this headline today_ _(2) I do realize that the "Marine Corps Martial Arts Program" is a form of fighting also, but I'm pretty sure that's not what the author of the headline meant._ |
2,324 | 73,014 | 76823_0 | What do we call someone who hurriedly pounds on food and eats like as though never seen before. I would like to know an alternate word for that person, either an adjective or noun. |
2,325 | 92,393 | 76823_0 | What is the origin of the phrase "more X than you can shake a stick at"? Every website I've seen on this basically says the same thing (e.g., http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sha2.htm): * Recorded history since 1818 - _Lancaster Journal_ of Pennsylvania dated 5 August 1818: “We have in Lancaster as many Taverns as you can **shake a stick at** ”. * Other early examples: * Davy Crockett’s _Tour to the North and Down East_ of 1835: “This was a temperance house, and there was nothing to treat a friend that was worth **shaking a stick at** ”. * _A Book of Vagaries_ by James K Paulding of 1868: “The roistering barbecue fellow swore he was equal to any man you could **shake a stick at** ”. * Only guesses as to the etymology for the phrase: * Maybe it's Native American? * Maybe it's military? * Maybe it's from a form of a boys' game "playing" military? * Maybe it's from counting herd animals? Does this community have any ideas (and support for those ideas)? Also, is this solely American? Solely North American? |
2,326 | 73,018 | 76823_0 | What does this sentence mean? > What was over there? > Freaky pink primates! Why 'pink' ? What is the exact meaning? It was in Over the Hedge. |
2,327 | 73,019 | 76823_0 | "Ish" is a recently derived word (free root) conveying a sense of "so-so" or approximation. It is most commonly used as an adjective but occasionally as an adverb. I would not be at all surprised to see it appear in standard dictionaries within the next decade. Is there a term for the morphological process that derived the term "ish" from the derivational suffix "-ish"? Or is this an example of slang/colloquial usage? |
2,328 | 35,629 | 76823_0 | As the title says, why is there a "one" before "hundred", before "thousand", and so on, but not before "ten"? This seems shared between _some_ languages, including Chinese (10 = 十 = ten, 100 = 一百 = one hundred), but not others, like French (10 = dix = ten, 100 = cent = hundred). |
2,329 | 130,582 | 76823_0 | I am trying to express a sentence in the language of graph theory. Is that right to say "In the language of graph theory"? I googled and did not find similar sentence. If not, how can I express my meaning? |
2,330 | 130,581 | 76823_0 | I am proofreading a paper written by a collegue, which is full of "The following result was the culmination of a series of papers in the context of XXX", "It is a classical result that XXX", "This is a non-trivial result due to XXX". I think it is too many "results", what is the alternative words or sentences pattern to write them better? Thanks! |
2,331 | 2,116 | 76823_0 | I generally know how to use a hyphen, but when should I use an en-dash instead of an em-dash, or when should I use a hyphen instead of an em-dash? |
2,332 | 9,067 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen? This is about hyphens (-), en-dashes (–) and em-dashes (—). When to use which one? To be honest, I always use em-dashes unless I join words with a hyphen, but I never use an en-dash. |
2,333 | 9,627 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen? Is there any difference between: `-` and `--` or in some cases, a long dash I have seen these two used lots of places but I really don't know the difference. |
2,334 | 33,975 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen? When do I put a - in a sentence? Is it a more powerful comma? With a bigger pause? |
2,335 | 114,177 | 76823_0 | What word means "the thing(s) you added to something"? It's something like 'addium' or something Latin-like! But I can't really remember. I remember seeing it used in some context as follows. 1. You write a comment. 2. Then you want to add something to it, you'd write: > Old comment. > > [the word goes here] > > New comment. > And it's not _edit_ or _P.S._ |
2,336 | 35,623 | 76823_0 | I was playing a spelling game and got this word. I tried looking it up on etymonline.com but I didn't get any search results? I assume it is from combining two English words, but I was wondering if anyone could produce a more specific answer? |
2,337 | 130,588 | 76823_0 | Past perfect simple and continuous can normally be used interchangeably with verbs like work, wait, sleep, etc., but I think there have to exist some differences in meaning. I would like you please to help me find out the differences the following sentences may arise: > John found it difficult to wake up early this morning because he **had > worked** hard the night before. > > John found it difficult to wake up early this morning because he **had been > working** hard the night before. |
2,338 | 35,624 | 76823_0 | Like many non-native speakers, formulations like "a friend of his" strike me as counter-intuitive, but I'm trying to adapt. Now I have a strange situation: I want to apply it to abstract entities. The sentence would be: > "What can we do with assignments and hierarchies of theirs?" (I use assignments because I'm trying to avoid repetition. In the real text it's "blabla transmogrifying assignments"). I think this sounds awkward, and I can't recall ever having read anything like that. Is it possible that this type of construction is only valid for people? Or maybe it's a slightly different meaning of "of", and there's no possessive aspect to my usage of "of"? I'm aware of Why do you say "friend of mine" instead of "friend of me" ? and Is "a friend of his" a used phrase? but all the examples had a person as the possessing subject. |
2,339 | 35,627 | 76823_0 | I'm learning how to use 'as same as'. 1. It's as hot as it was yesterday. 2. It's as hot as yesterday. 3. I go to the same school as you do. 4. I go to the same school as you. I think only 4. is wrong. The clause can be omitted only if it's 'someone/something is' but not 'someone/something does'. Is this correct? |
2,340 | 124,505 | 76823_0 | I checked some other questions, and found that "a photo is an image taken by a camera". But what is an image? What is the difference between _image_ and _picture_? |
2,341 | 65,010 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > What is the difference between "photo" and "image"? > Difference between “picture” and “photo” For my magister dissertation I need to rely on an accurate definition of what an _image_ , a _picture_ , a _photograph_ and an _illustration_ refer to. Therefore, I would like you to help me figure out the differences. |
2,342 | 23,697 | 76823_0 | I seem to have a habit of using a lot of sentences that involve the word "but": "I haven't tried it yet, but I think it should work"; "I could easily resort to chicken, but I want to see how far I can get with alligator" etc.. It's probably deeply rooted in my style of thought, but (there I go again) I'm starting to get bored of seeing myself use this structure so often. Is there anything I can do to break free? I know one way is to use "though" or "although", as in "Although I could easily resort to chicken, I want to see...". Anything else I could do to diversify my sentences a little? |
2,343 | 27,791 | 76823_0 | In my mother's language there are two words for "you" - for singular form and for plural one. I want to translate a joke which happen to rely on this particular characteristic of my language. What words should I use to say e.g. "How can I serve **you**?" Is "Ye/Thou" still recognizable or is it too archaic? Edit: An example: Let's suppose I am a fan of FC Barcelona, the soccer club. Me and my friends are in England to see the Champions League finals. There is a pub with "Manchester United fans only" sign on it and we hear some loud yells coming from inside. I ask my friends if they are willing to go in with me and they say "Yes, sure, we are just behind you. Go!" So I grab my FC Barcelona scarf, go inside and see many MU fans in the middle of the party. Suddenly place goes silent and all the gazes point at me. That is the point when bartender should say "How can I serve **YOU**?" in a way that makes me realize my friends are not with me. So, what says bartender? |
2,344 | 93,623 | 76823_0 | Talking about noticing something, do both mean the same? For example: > * I just figured out that the ball is blue. > * I just realized that the ball is blue. > |
2,345 | 189,617 | 76823_0 | Is _squeaky_ in "squeaky clean" an onomatopoeia? Is there a right word to describe this word, other than simply an "adjective"? It's something that uses the description of a sound as an adjective. This word is simply a form of "imagery". However, I'm still not sure how I would go about describing this word. "An adjective eliciting imagery"? Is that actually describing _onomatopaeia_? |
2,346 | 189,616 | 76823_0 | "Without GEF support, Iran will not be able to execute the priority actions identified in its stocktaking analysis, capacity enhancement and consolidation of institutions will be slow or may not occur" thanks in advance |
2,347 | 189,612 | 76823_0 | Definition by Google: > **tip·toe** walk quietly and carefully with one's heels raised and one's > weight on the balls of the feet. But can I use it in a situation where the pension isn't walking?: > The girl twisted around and, tiptoeing like a ballerina, kissed the boy. |
2,348 | 189,610 | 76823_0 | I think the word _devastated_ is mainly used when something bad happens to oneself (maybe I'm wrong?) Say, can I use it in the following way? > I felt **devastated** after watching the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. If not, what's a better option? |
2,349 | 181,460 | 76823_0 | I always understood 'address an issue' to mean fix or solve an issue. However, a colleague of mine questioned this today and after doing a web search it seems that the more correct or common meaning of this phrase is 'to bring under discussion'. What is the accepted meaning/usage of this phrase? |
2,350 | 56,629 | 76823_0 | How can we unambiguously distinguish between **I would** and **I had** , if the native English speaker used the contraction **I'd**? For instance, **_I'd read the newspaper._** We can mean the above sentence as either **I had read the newspaper**. _or_ **I would read the newspaper.** Any help will be appreciated!!! |
2,351 | 189,228 | 76823_0 | I don't know the difference between _how we make a car_ and _how do we make a car_. I searched on the internet; there are examples for both but I do not understand in which cases they would each be used. |
2,352 | 145,059 | 76823_0 | An authentication is the action word for "to authenticate". "To disauthenticate" and "to unauthenticate" do not seem to exist (I might be wrong). So what is the most appropriate opposite action of an authentication ? **Edit:** As more precision has been requested, I'm more searching a name for the act of reversing/canceling an authentication. Think of it as comparable to the Login/Logout, Sign In/Sign Out, etc. but I want one with "Authenticate / **?** " |
2,353 | 25,691 | 76823_0 | > We're proud of our tortilla chips and we hope **you'll agree**. It may seem trivial but I've seen similar remarks on other products and it just doesn't feel like a valid sentence because I can't determine what they hope I'll agree with them about. I don't think I'm just missing out on the context as this sentence is preceded by nothing and is only followed by one more: > Remember, your satisfaction is always guaranteed with [our] brand products. Am I supposed to share their pride? Am I supposed to be agreeing that they are proud of their product? If so, is there really a difference between their statement and an example of me saying, "I like pizza and I hope you will agree." Does anyone know if there is any sort of common characterization of this type of flaw? |
2,354 | 145,053 | 76823_0 | This question was very interesting: What do we call people who go to the gym? Now I am wondering if there is a word for someone like me who works out _at home_. What I refer to is weight training, work with bars, HIIT (high intensive interval training) and some yoga or stretching exercises. |
2,355 | 140,661 | 76823_0 | "Must not" vs. "don't have to" is a famous false friends for many languages. That said, what about a phrase like, say, "nobody must know": Does that mean that a) nobody is allowed to know, or b) that obviously nobody knows, or both? Is that sentence OK, poor style, or to be reworded to make unambiguous? How would I use "must not know", as in "is not allowed to know" together with "nobody"? |
2,356 | 23,968 | 76823_0 | If an expert pilot or covert operative or other specialized profession can be referred to as an "ace", is there a word that describes someone who is less experienced or lacks some of the expertise? Is it sequential? What pattern does it follow? |
2,357 | 140,667 | 76823_0 | I'm a software developer and I'm trying to write a consistent "grammar" for an audit log feature. An Audit log is basically a list of actions that happened. As it's a part of the database I need consistent naming for the parts of the sentences. Now I'm not natively english, so I could use some help. Each example sentence below i suffixed a number to some words. Each of these words should be of the same "type" (e.g.: subject, object, ... other). * Anna[1] created[2] the_comment[4] on the_article[3] * Mark[1] voted[2] on the video[3] * Jessy[1] signed_in[2] * John[1] added[2] Jessy[4] to the list[3] * Anna[3] was blocked[2] by Dick[1] * Louis[1] replied[2] to the_conversation[3] with his_message[4] I'm pretty sure 1: is the subject, and 2: is the verb. However I don't know how I should name 3 and 4, and I have a suspicion some sentence constructions should change. Could you help me out? |
2,358 | 51,167 | 76823_0 | Is there a word meaning "footage shot in advance" in English? I mean, there's a live TV show and before the host starts interviewing his guest, some material from her earlier life and work, or probably some interviews with her family members are shown first. I'm translating some materials into English and the dictionaries I'm using are rather clueless. |
2,359 | 23,963 | 76823_0 | What is the connection between "nut" and the character? How was the phrase "are you nuts?" used at first? |
2,360 | 74,791 | 76823_0 | In my quest to grasp the dichotomy between "on" and "in" I have found another example that left me in doubt. > 1. Initializes the widgets added on the tabs. > 2. Validates the information on the widgets. > At the first example I think the widget is being added **in** / **into** the tab. As far as the second example once again I think the information is validated **in** the widget not on the widget because the information is inside the widget. Could you help me here clarifying this ? **Note** : If you are not familiar with the concept of tab and widget you can check it here. |
2,361 | 74,797 | 76823_0 | What does the expression "we are looking to you" mean in the following sentence? > Now that you have taken the test and have an understanding, **we are looking > to you** to teach this to your subordinates. |
2,362 | 74,794 | 76823_0 | Example sentence: > Skype _has has_ since confirmed that a solution is in the works. Shouldn't it be: > Skype _has had_ since confirmed that a solution is in the works. |
2,363 | 27,278 | 76823_0 | I hope this question isn't off-topic. I heard a madrigal with the following verse which bothers me somewhat, grammatically. _Cruel, wilt thou persever? Peace to leave ever? Peace shalt thou have and gladness, But when in sadness, When thou the morn seest ev'n, To fall from heav'n._ Thomas Morley (1597) http://www1.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Cruel,_wilt_thou_persever_ _Cruel_ seems to be used as a noun instead of an adjective. Is this non- standard or common use of the time? Even if so, and allowing for poetic license, how is this to be understood: personifying cruelty and addressing it or some other way? Also, but are there separate terms for the following kinds of liberty taken in poetry? 1. terms for using non-standard grammar from an unexpected part of speech (as in _cruel wilt thou persever?_ ) or a double negative, (as in _I can't get no satisfaction_ \- Rolling Stones) in a line in order to get the lines to scan? 2. a term for using a contractions to get the lines to scan, as in _ev'n_ and _heav'n_ 3. I was able to find a term for using a word to rhyme that doesn't quite rhyme, as in _come_ , _one_ and _home_ or _ev'n_ and _heav'n_ : ( _assonance_ ), but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. |
2,364 | 56,876 | 76823_0 | All the textbooks I have ever come across during the course of my studying English emphasize that future tense should not be used in conditional clauses. For example, > If it rains in the evening, we will not go for a walk. ( ~~if it will rain > in the evening...~~ ) > > We decided to go for a walk if it didn't rain in the evening. ( ~~...if it > wouldn't rain in the evening)~~ However, in the following sentence I'm really inclined to use the future tense. > Don't implement this feature if it will significantly increase the > complexity of the user interface. According to all the rules I know of, the future tense is illegal here. However, my gut feeling tells me that the sentence is correct. If I am wrong, the question ends here. Otherwise please read on. I find the last example different from my first two because: * In the first examples we must wait and see if the condition is true, and then make a decision accordingly, whereas in the last example, we must actually analyze/predict/forecast the future in order to make the decision in the present. * (might be irrelevant) In my first language - Armenian - where we have a special mood for conditions, the translation of the third sentence actually uses indicative, whereas the first two use that special mood (the conditional mood, as it were). Since the second would-be principle is easier for me to experiment with, I noticed that every time a condition uses the indicative mood in my language, I'm inclined to use the future tense in English. As another example: > I will give you the money if it will make you happier. Am I imagining things or are my examples of the future tense in the conditional clause valid? If they are valid, what rule would you suggest to distinguish the cases when it's OK? (I do realize that translating a sentence to another language and analyzing the translation doesn't really count as a rule). |
2,365 | 105,457 | 76823_0 | Should I say: > When **I am** 18, I'll take my driving test or > When **I'll be** 18, I'll take my driving test Which one is the correct sentence? |
2,366 | 65,974 | 76823_0 | I saw an image on Missed Connections few days ago, and the image text is: > Friday, January 29, 2010 \- m4w - 23 (L train) > > How did you get those bruises? I wouldn't let anything happen to you. You > were reading some book, and taking notes. I read a book once. And I saw people comment below that the last sentence "I read a book once" is really sad... but I don't quite understand the hidden meaning of that sentence. Thanks for your help. |
2,367 | 38,942 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > English from Icelandic? Are there any English words that are of a common or semi-common use that originate from Icelandic? |
2,368 | 27,273 | 76823_0 | * Are "depression" and "happiness" antonyms? * Are they mutually exclusive? * Does the absence of one imply the presence of the other? (I am trying to ascertain the semantic validity of using depression-metrics as a gauge of happiness) |
2,369 | 165,612 | 76823_0 | Which of the following construction is the proper or more conventional use of the verb form of the word "trail"? Team A trails (following behind - in scores) team B. Team B trailing (keeping behind - in scores) team A. |
2,370 | 65,971 | 76823_0 | Does anyone know what would be an appropriate antonym for _gem-like_? That is, a word for something that is not valuable, not beautiful, brilliant, or clear, and may be soft, where a gem is hard. _Edit:_ We can say _gem-like_ to mean someone with attractive qualities. I was looking for an opposite along that line. |
2,371 | 61,292 | 76823_0 | We're working on a web/mobile application, and in our home screen we greet the user with the message _Hi John, What are you up to today ?_ , we're offering him the option to find deals around him, places, movies and traffic status. I want to randomize the _What are you up today_ question with an additional set, maybe _Looking for a night out?_ , so the services we offer would be relevant as answers, e.g. he can go the movies, or a restaurant, and check the traffic on the way. Any other ideas for more sentences? |
2,372 | 74,243 | 76823_0 | To help a soon-to-be sister site out here, I was thinking English.SE perhaps could lend a helping hand as this is the best place for "word choice and usage". I'm not looking for "naming", but rather want to see what shorter words exist for expressing " _music end-users/enthusiasts_ ", these could be " _journalists, reviewers, music fans and listeners_ ". I've tried, but can't come up with something... ~~Audiophiles~~. From Urban Dictionary I have _selvyn_ which is another word for a Music enthusiast of the Modern age; but yeah, it's UD and I don't think _selvyn_ is really English to begin with... So... do you know of a single word to express " _music end-users/enthusiasts_ "? |
2,373 | 187,031 | 76823_0 | I know that if a word ends with an **s** then it should be made plural or possessive by use of an apostrophe with no extra s (e.g. "Thomas Harris' book was a riveting read." as opposed to "Gary Barlow's voice is so distracting.") What about if the word ends with a **z**. For example, would it be **Gomez'** album or **Gomez's** album? |
2,374 | 20,768 | 76823_0 | When do we use "at" and "in" with "arrive" talking about place, not time? |
2,375 | 185,610 | 76823_0 | Here is a sentence I saw using the word except: > valid claims were granted patent to land free and clear, except for a small > registration fee. What does it mean? How does the word except here related the registration fee to the previous part of the sentence. |
2,376 | 185,617 | 76823_0 | I am looking for the specific word used for the combining of past experience with new. It is one word and I don't think it was Latin based but I just don't remember... |
2,377 | 185,616 | 76823_0 | What is a good adjective that describes an audience as coming from a wide spectrum of different backgrounds? |
2,378 | 75,288 | 76823_0 | Is there any difference between _there was an increase of 2%_ and “there was an increase by 2%”? |
2,379 | 61,265 | 76823_0 | If A takes precedence over B, is it correct to say _B defers to A_? I searched the web for `precedence antonym` but found nothing useful. |
2,380 | 39,840 | 76823_0 | What is a single word for a person who is always dizzy or high? I am sure it is not the same as a person who drinks a lot. Here Always means without an end. |
2,381 | 39,849 | 76823_0 | It's the title of the song from Adele. I wonder what "Rolling in the deep" means. |
2,382 | 70,540 | 76823_0 | Can they be used interchangeably? For example: To work in ABC you first must gain wealth/breadth of knowledge about ABC's products |
2,383 | 57,579 | 76823_0 | We are a team of 2 developing a web application. It allows scientists to upload files with measurement data. My question is about how we should name one kind of metadata. An uploaded file might be the output of some measurement instrument or some scientific model. Both types are connected to some higher level element: * _instruments_ are loaded onto _platforms_ which might be ships or airplanes transporting them during the measurement * _models_ are distinguished by their _model type_ Now we'll have lists and database tables with both of them. The lower level element we call _data source_ because it's just the very entity producing the data. Can you think of any reasonable name for something which might be a _platform_ or a _model type_? |
2,384 | 70,546 | 76823_0 | I was interested in the following sentence which appeared in an article titled “Rethinking the Afghanistan War’s What-Ifs" by David E. Sanger in The New York Times (July 31, 2010). > The British spent a century arguing over whether a lighter hand or > devastating military _might could have put down_ the American Revolution. I'm already confused about differences between _might_ usage and _could_ usage, but the chaos explodes in my mind when I see they together. According to this Kosmonaut's answer, I should reword "might could have put down" with "might be able to have put down", but I'm not sure on this correction because this fragment does not make sense to my ear. Indeed, I would drop "might" and I would reword the sentence as follow: > The British spent a century arguing over whether a lighter hand or > devastating military _could have put down_ the American Revolution. Can someone clarify if the fragment "might could have put down" could be reworded dropping "might" without changes in meaning? Or, is it right what Kosmonaut said? |
2,385 | 106,865 | 76823_0 | Quotation from _A history of the cries of London ancient_ (p23).  > ... famous theatre afterwards to be so widely known. The sunshiny time of > our literature and life, making a red-letter period in happy old England's > history. We were interrupted by a kindly-faced, round-shouldered man of the > bargee type, who asked us 'if it was Shakespeare, him as writ plays, we was > a torkin' on ; if so be it were, he could show us the werry 'ouse he used, > least ways, all as is left on it.' After a twisting tramp through Cardinal > Cap Ally, we were brought out opposite the public-house known by the name of > the ' Smith Arms,' which had just then only escaped entire demolition from > fire by a very near chance--(the damage done has since necessitated the > rebuilding ; so the sketch stands as a bit of rescued old London.) Especially，I don't know what is meant by "him as writ plays" and "the wery 'ouse": > who asked us 'if it was Shakespeare, him as writ plays, we was a torkin' on > ; if so be it were, he could show us the wery 'ouse he used, least ways, all > as is left on it.' |
2,386 | 164,090 | 76823_0 | I'm a Korean and I learned in school that 'to' is equal to 'in order to' and 'so as to,' if they are used in expressing intent. Are the sentences "I study in order to achieve my goal" and "I study so as to achieve my goal" same, in terms of nuance? If there's even the slightest difference when viewed by a native speaker, please elaborate! :) |
2,387 | 75,281 | 76823_0 | What's the meaning of _opps_ and _come out of retirement_? > Whats the longest you've gone without having sex? > > 3 years. > > wo > > And get this, I've only slept with 2 women in my entire life. Was a save it > till you're married guy... 1st girl I was engaged to. > > Had plenty of opps before and after her. I really like my current girl so I > decided to come out of retirement. |
2,388 | 3,499 | 76823_0 | How would embedded quotations be used when quoting from passages/sources within an essay? What would be the difference between normal quotations and embedded quotations? |
2,389 | 31,420 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > What's the Difference in Usage Between Using Single and Two Quotation > Marks/Inverted Commas? I know that they are used inside double quotes for a quotation within a quotation, but when else should they be used? I've seen them used in all sorts of syntactical situations, but where do I find a comprehensive guide to its proper usage? |
2,390 | 3,470 | 76823_0 | I'm quite unsure regarding the usage of single quotation marks (') and double quotation marks (") in English. I had thought that double quotation marks were usually used to quote sentences from passages/given sources, nouns/things ("Westminster Bridge", "alliteration", or "voice" regarding its usage in poetry), as well as some less common/important uses including being snarky and using them to indicate a sarcastic remark. Someone had told me today that you were supposed to refer to things with two inverted commas (") instead of one. Which one is correct? Could someone explain the usages between the two different types of quotation marks? |
2,391 | 25,212 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > What's the Difference in Usage Between Using Single and Two Quotation > Marks/Inverted Commas? There are two quote signs, : > **'** > and > > **"** Is there a difference between these two and are there are occasions when one is used and not the other? |
2,392 | 24,701 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > How are embedded quotations used? > What's the Difference in Usage Between Using Single and Two Quotation > Marks/Inverted Commas? Let's say I want to write a question here at ELU about how to deal with punctuation in the case of embedded quotes. How would I deal with this three layered beast of a quote? "Something like "Is this meaning okay: 'The police suck because they are bad because they only want my money'?", perhaps?" I guess using a double for the first layer, single for the second and a double again for the third and so on would make most sense. |
2,393 | 92,163 | 76823_0 | > **Duplicate of:** > What’s the difference between using single and double quotation > marks/inverted commas? > How are embedded quotations used? > **And:** > When should end punctuation go inside quotes? > Is it correct to use “punctuation outside of the quotations”, or “inside?” Let me know if this belongs on Writers.se. Furthermore, I have a strong feeling this has already been covered, but I wouldn’t know where, since I don’t know what to name this situation. Moving on, I will express a dialogue like this: > A: “What did he say to you?’ > > B1: “He leaned close to me, and said in a gravely and drunken voice, “It’s > not easy.” ” Or would it be, > B2: “He leaned close to me, and said in a gravely and drunken voice, ‘It’s > not easy.’ ” Or, > B3: “He leaned close to me, and said in a gravely and drunken voice, “It’s > not easy”.” I’ve tried to be helpful (and probably failed), but let me know. |
2,394 | 175,137 | 76823_0 | I have always seen the expression 'carved in stone' used in the negative in sentences like: 'It is not carved in stone that..., Could this expression be used in the positive or, alternatively what other expression could I use to say that something is 'unchangeable' ? |
2,395 | 173,931 | 76823_0 | A common example would be a professor who is too mild in his marking of a poor assignments. Another example could be someone who doesn't add or say much with his words, but still receives a lot of credit (*gets a lot of votes) from voters during an election. Another example might be a rather poor musical performance which, however, is being (too) highly praised by the audience. A mum, who praises her 10 year old son too easily on tasks (such as, getting dressed, drinking his cup with two hands, ignoring his teat) that a 4 year old would normally be praised on. |
2,396 | 173,937 | 76823_0 | After a work is peer reviewed, it moves into a state in which the author of the work must review critiques and answer questions from the peer who reviewed the work. What would be an appropriate word to describe the state the work is in? E.g., in a state trail: > Completed → Reviewing → _____ → Fixing → Accepted |
2,397 | 105,309 | 76823_0 | I am a programmer working on a chart component that allows to drill down on selection of a node. Drilling down will show the details of that node (like its children etc.). But I am struggling to find out a word to describe the opposite of drilling down. "Drill up" sounds wrong. Does anyone have a nifty little word that conveys the opposite of "drilling down"? Something to convey the action of moving from something more specific to something more general. |
2,398 | 172,160 | 76823_0 | Look at the four letters ( **A** , **B** , **C** , **D** ) that indicate where the following sentence can be added to following passage. This explains how, for example, alpine cushion plants have been found growing at an altitude of 6,180 meters. Where does the sentence fit? Above the tree line there is zone that is generally called alpine tundra. **A** Immediately adjacent to the timberline, the tundra consists of a fairly complete cover of low-lying shrubs, herbs, and grasses, while higher up the number and diversity of species decrease until there is much bare ground with occasional mosses and lichens and some prostrate cushion plants. **B** Some plants can even survive in favorable microhabitats above the snow line. The highest plants in the world occur at around 6,100 meters on Makalu in the Himalayas. **C** At this great height, rocks, warmed by the sun, melt small snowdrifts. **D** The answer is D, but I see that the choice C is also make sense. Could you please help me with this problem? Thank you so much! |
2,399 | 72,843 | 76823_0 | I have a registration form I want to name. Should I name it: > - "Create Account" > > - "Create an Account" (or "Create the Account") Also, which words should be capitalized if this is a header. |
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