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2,800 | 3,477 | 76823_0 | This came up in describing an input to a function: > A handle to the daemon who's name is desired. (Daemon is a type of process on a system.) Somehow, "who's" just doesn't seem right because it's not a who, but a what. Could one say "... the daemon what's name is desired"? |
2,801 | 7,257 | 76823_0 | Newspaper/news article headlines usually have different syntax rules, for example 1. No copula. _North Korea trip 'successful'_ 2. Past events written in present. _Qantas cancels flight out of frozen Heathrow_ 3. Predictions written with infinitive. _Britain's 'crossbow cannibal' to die in jail_ 4. Very often not in complete sentence. 5. No indefinite/definite articles. _Ivory Coast Faction Squeezes UN Force_ 6. Using a comma instead of "and". _Romania, Bulgaria face delay in joining Schengen._ Why these rules and are there any other rules? |
2,802 | 54,724 | 76823_0 | Here's one sentence from "The grammar book. An ESL/EFL teachers course by Celce-Murcia and Larcen Freeman. > In some preliminary research Bergsnev(1976) has shown that abstract nouns > derived from verbs and adjectives often have **both a mass and a count > form** for expressing a generality in English,e.g:… The bold part of phrase is what sort of puzzles me. Coordination is a vast subject consisting of numerous different points and nuances that pretty often may result in ambiguity and vagueness. Both a mass and a count form - at first sight seems to be okay. As may be noticed, this is just ellipsis of the word "form". But, shouldn't it be "a mass and a count forms - then? That has never given rise to difficulties for me, but now having started analyzing the sentence and trying to look up "coordination" in "A comprehensive grammar of the English language I'm being rather doubtful. So the question is - what is the rule of coordination that's being used in this example and why not use the plural form of the noun? |
2,803 | 54,721 | 76823_0 | So, in an article on a web-page, I want to provide information about the date when the article was published. I am not sure if there should be an "on" after the word "published". > Article title... > > Published... > > Article text... So, below the article title, should I write: > Published on January 1st 2012 or > Published January 1st 2012 ? |
2,804 | 127,685 | 76823_0 | Is there a word, similar to _cronyism_ and _nepotism_ , that means “favoring people of a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity, regardless of their expertise”. I was thinking _racism_ , but I’ve always understood that as the belief that one race is superior to another. But cronyism isn’t the belief that your friends are superior to others. They just get preferential treatment. So racism doesn’t seem right. For example: a Russian person gets appointed as a hiring manager, and over the next year 60% of the staff have been replaced by Russians. |
2,805 | 78,520 | 76823_0 | Which is the correct way to tell someone that I have errands to run? Are all of these fine to say in person and in an email? > I got some errands to run or is it > I have errands to run or > I need to run errands |
2,806 | 54,729 | 76823_0 | I've heard the phrase, "We gotta ball game". It could also be "We have a ball game". But I don't understand the meaning of "having a ball game". If anyone has heard this expression before, please help. I'm so very confused after guessing about this for a long time. The person who said it couldn't even tell me what he meant by this. |
2,807 | 78,524 | 76823_0 | I saw a road sign today saying: "Follow the alt route _signings_." It struck me odd. I would expect: "Follow the alt route _signs_." _Signings_ is obviously a legitimate word, but it's usually used when there's an _act_ of signing involved, like with book signings or hearing-impaired signing. I suppose one might consider a road sign to be an "act of signing/signaling" but it seems like a stretch. Is this a common use of the word I've just missed out on? Construction jargon? Or just a construction worker's peculiar choice? |
2,808 | 78,527 | 76823_0 | If I wish to refer to, say, an Owl in the more generic form as a member of the biological order Strigiformes, what is the correct modification of the apparently plural word into a singular form? For instance: > Upon entering the forest, Jonothan was immediately assaulted by an angry > [singular strigiformes]. Or: > The Manduca Sexta is a [singular lepidoptera] which feeds on a [singular > solanaceae] during the larval phase, normally a Tobacco plant. |
2,809 | 108,183 | 76823_0 | I'm currently writing my PhD thesis in computer science and often need to refer to algorithms, which are depicted in figures as shown below.  So far, I used phrases such as _Algorithm X shows / depicts / presents Euclid's algorithm_. However, I do not want to use these three phrases over and over again and I'm running out of ideas. My question, therefore, is: What is an elegant way to refer to a figure displaying an algorithm? |
2,810 | 3,049 | 76823_0 | "Y has 1250 fans" means there are 1250 `X` for which `X` is fan of `Y`. If there are 12 `Y` for which the "X is a fan of Y" relationship holds for a given `X`, what's a word or phrase to say "X has 12 ___ _" ? Similarly, if "X is a fan of Y", then what's the equivalent way of saying this with Y as the subject and X as the object ("Y ___ _ X") ? |
2,811 | 195,263 | 76823_0 | What's an intuitive derivation behind ODO's definition that helps to internalise its meaning: > **to leverage** = Use borrowed capital for (an investment), expecting the > profits made to be greater than the interest payable: Etymonline relates only to a physical/mechanical 'lever', not this meaning in finance. |
2,812 | 91,166 | 76823_0 | Is there any significant difference in the meanings of sentence 1 and sentence 2 below? > 1. Mr. Jones is of a view that the project is unnecessary. > 2. Mr. Jones is of the view that the project is unnecessary. > Sentence 2 seems more natural, but sentence 1 does not seem absolutely wrong; “is of a view that” gets many hits on Google. However, looking for a similar construction, I would say “I am of the opinion that X is Y”, but not “I am of an opinion that X is Y.” |
2,813 | 62,632 | 76823_0 | Which of the following is correct? Is it > I have no intention of handing in my resignation. or > I have no intention to hand in my resignation. Searching Google for "intention of" versus "intention to" shows a preference for the former, but the latter seems more natural to me (and is also heavily used). |
2,814 | 62,633 | 76823_0 | What are the rules for choosing whether to use "of" or "for" before a word ending in "-ing?" Example: > We propose a method **of** simplifying algebraic expressions. > We propose a method **for** simplifying algebraic expressions. I have seen it written both ways, and would like to know which way is proper. Or is this a case where "it depends?" |
2,815 | 62,631 | 76823_0 | What does the phrase "a window to the world mean"? Is this the correct format of the phrase. How can I use it in a sentence? (e.g. The plants in this garden provide a window to the world of flora diversity) |
2,816 | 91,168 | 76823_0 | For this sentence, > By allowing the customization of user interface, the user interface _are > more close to the need of user_ , since every user has different style of > preferences. Is it correct to use "more close to the need of user"? |
2,817 | 3,047 | 76823_0 | I'm always wondering when I want to write a sentence with _provide_. What is the correct way to say/write: * to provide someone with something * to provide someone something * to provide something to someone Or another? Is there any difference in usage between American and UK English? |
2,818 | 115,763 | 76823_0 | For example, if I map 4 to 4, 4000 to 4000, is there a good word or expression which describes this kind of mapping? Perhaps _identity mapping_ or something else? |
2,819 | 144,933 | 76823_0 | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary gives the definition of sink as follows: > a large open container [...] that you use for washing dishes in My question is whether the preposition 'in' is necessary. What about the following? Are the prepositions necessary? > I bought a pair of chopsticks for eating rice with. > I bought a pair of chopsticks to eat rice with. > I bought a house to live in. |
2,820 | 115,766 | 76823_0 | I've done a bit of searching for this phrase and found the following: > "step into" > > Idioms & Phrases > > Involve oneself or intervene, as in He knew he'd be able to step into a job > in his father's firm , or Jane asked Mary to step into the matter and settle > it . Also see step in. However, the place I first heard the phrase is on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, where Deakins, the supervisor of the Major Case Squad, uses it with a direct object of a suspect or a witness, which barely fits the definition. The definition implies usage towards a situation or position. Exchanges on the show usually go something like this: > Detective: "We don't have any real leverage on him to find out what he > knows!" > > Supervisor: "Step into him." Or: > Detective: "As long as his lawyer is protecting him, we'll never get him to > talk." > > Supervisor: "Step into him. Hard." > > Detective: Re-enters the interrogation room and squeezes the information > from the suspect over the lawyers increasing complaints. That seems to imply there is another, even more idiomatic usage for the phrase with a meaning closer to "investigate" or "harass". How common is this idiom? Is the screen writer mis-using a legitimate idiom? Or is there another meaning or police/detective slang that's not so documented around the web? |
2,821 | 144,936 | 76823_0 | I'm wondering if there is a term that describes any given physical device that is a "spiritual" combination of two other devices. Meaning, it mimics the form and function of both parent devices. Examples: * Spork (combination of a spoon and a fork) * Halberd (combination of a staff and an axe) * Calculator Watch (combination of a calculator and a watch) To explain via analogy, " _Portmanteau_ is to words as **___ __ ___ _** is to devices" |
2,822 | 144,938 | 76823_0 | I am essentially searching for a well-wishing exclamation that does not imply divine intervention. |
2,823 | 27,415 | 76823_0 | I haven't been able to find a clear and simple definition of "phenotext" and "genotext", both terms — I believe — were created by Julia Kristeva. All explanations are only pompous texts I have not had time to go through. Has anyone a definition for me? |
2,824 | 137,101 | 76823_0 | What's grammatically correct? > Sometimes she used metaphors, others symbols and riddles. or > Sometimes she used metaphors, in others symbols and riddles. What I'm trying here is to omit the word **_times_**. |
2,825 | 137,106 | 76823_0 | Does "Could I have hope of getting admission of your school with that score?" sound weird? |
2,826 | 137,107 | 76823_0 | What is a word to describe the behaviour where you do something because everyone is also doing this, to the point where you do it without any clear reason. |
2,827 | 67,048 | 76823_0 | I was having a conversation with a friend, telling him that over time, I've started to dislike a certain genre of music: > I've grown a strong disliking for Dubstep. As though my liking for Dubstep has gradually decreased over a set period of time. Now, I'm starting to question whether the use of _for_ is correct. Have I grown a strong disliking _for_ Dubstep, or have I grown a strong disliking _of_ Dubstep? They both seem proper to me, but I'd like to be sure. Is there a difference between the two? |
2,828 | 67,049 | 76823_0 | If I were to write a book about myself, _Me_ would be a more natural-sounding title than _I_. Also, we say the _us-vs.-them mentality_ instead of the _we- vs.-they mentality_. |
2,829 | 67,046 | 76823_0 | I thought _been_ was the past participle of _to be_ , but it seems to behave like the past participle of _to go_ in this case: > I go to the store every Wednesday. > > I have been/gone to the store many times. > > *I am to the store every Wednesday. Also > I go through the tunnel. > > I've been/gone through the tunnel. > > *I am through the tunnel. What's happening? |
2,830 | 67,043 | 76823_0 | > > The extension of the principle of the reflex to include behavior involving > more and more of the organism was made only in the face of vigorous > opposition. My understanding is this: the vigorous opposition is the reason why the principle of the reflex extend to include behavior involving more and more of the organism. But I'm not so sure about it, the word **only** in here seems to say vigorous opposition is the **only** reason, that doesn't make much sense. The source is Skinner's "Science and human behavior" and following is the whole paragraph: > > The extension of the principle of the reflex to include behavior involving > more and more of the organism was made only in the face of vigorous > opposition. The reflex nature of the spinal animal was challenged by > proponents of a "spinal will." The evidence they offered in support of a > residual inner cause consisted of behavior which apparently could not be > explained wholly in terms of stimuli. When higher parts of the nervous > system were added, and when the principle was eventually extended to the > intact organism, the same pattern of resistance was followed. But arguments > for spontaneity, and for the explanatory entities which spontaneity seems to > demand, are of such form that they must retreat before the accumulating > facts. Spontaneity is negative evidence; it points to the weakness of a > current scientific explanation, but does not in itself prove an alternative > version. By its very nature, spontaneity must yield ground as a scientific > analysis is able to advance. As more and more of the behavior of the > organism has come to be explained in terms of stimuli, the territory held by > inner explanations has been reduced. The "will" has retreated up the spinal > cord, through the lower and then the higher parts of the brain, and finally, > with the conditioned reflex, has escaped through the front of the head. At > each stage, some part of the control of the organism has passed from a > hypothetical inner entity to the external environment Is my understanding correct? |
2,831 | 132,552 | 76823_0 | By "path" I mean a _route that has been walked by_. The best I could come out with is _starting point_ and _ending point_. Is there a shorter way to refer to them? (Maybe end points?) |
2,832 | 142,534 | 76823_0 | > 1. The boy went to school happily. > 2. The boy happily went to school. > 3. The boy went happily to school. > If the adverb “happily” is allowed to be put in the three places above, what are the different impressions you think it will give to readers? |
2,833 | 142,524 | 76823_0 | I'm a game programmer and currently working on a generic system that works for most type of games. I have a generic piece of code, that I use on anything that could increase/decrease called `EffectCauser` \- It has a bunch of parameters for it to work: 1. The target component (health, mana, speed, stamina, etc) 2. The effect methodology (`OneHit`, `Overtime`, `Permanent`, etc) 3. The effect type (`Positive`/`Negative`) 4. The effect amount. First let me explain how this works in a couple of simple examples so that you understand better: Let's say I wanted to create a first aid kit. I create an `EffectCauser` which will cause its effect on the `Health` component of the target object, I specify the methodology of the effect of type `OneHit` and the type of the effect to be `Positive` and an amount I choose, lets say 100 for a full heal. Another example, if I wanted to create a Mana spell that decreases mana overtime: I would create an effect causer that targets the `Mana` component of a target, select a methodology of `Overtime` (temporarily in other words) (filling the appropriate time values), an effect type of `Negative` this time, and an amount, like 50. (Imagine a spell in an RPG game where an enemy cast it at you, so you get -50 mana over a 10 sec time period) And so on and so forth. I could do this for a `Speed` component, `Agility`, `Stamina`, etc. The main thing for this to work is that all these things (Health, Mana, Speed, Stamina, etc) have to implement a common interface. I'm not being able to find the name of that interface. One common thing between all these things, is that they increase and decrease. I thought of `IChangable` but that's very generic, maybe `IIncreasableDecreasable` but that's very long, and screaming "there's a better word than me" Note that the convention of naming interfaces, is "IXXXable" (IMovable, ICombinable, ITransformable, etc) So, what can I use here? what is the word that satisfies my needs? Thanks a lot. **EDIT:** To make it easy, it need not be an interface. I could create an abstract class. Interfaces define behavior, while a class is for something that exists. I just have to change my way of thinking. Ex: an abstract `Character`, with `Player` and `Enemy` as children. `Player` and `Enemy` _are a_ `Character`. (`Character` is an abstract term for `Enemy` and `Player`) So... what _are_ `Health`, `Mana`, `Speed`, etc? For one thing, they're `Components` but what else? (I can't use `Component` here due to ambiguity as well). What about `PlayerAttribute`? well, for one thing I can attach `Health` to an enemy, not just the player. So... `CharacterAttribute` is good? nop, still ambiguous. (Attribute means a total separate thing in .NET)... I'm out of words :( If you ever played an RPG game, what would a common name be to all your player stuff? (health, mana, agility, stamina, speed, dexterity, etc) |
2,834 | 188,444 | 76823_0 | I was surfing for headphones on Amazon, when to my surprise, I found some fairly high-rated headphones. But initially, I thought the the first Company, A, made these headphones, I was surprised to find that while search elsewhere, another Company, B, made the exact same headphones, just under a different brand. So I searched elsewhere, and found that the real company that made the product was Company C, that actually designed and produced the product, but that Company A and B had simple just put their name on the headphones. What in this case would I call Company A & B? What would be the name for Company A & B? They didn't make the product, but they sell it under their name, despite the fact that Company C sells it. Would I call it like a "shell" company? Not sure what's the word to use here. |
2,835 | 188,447 | 76823_0 | How do we use _myself_ as the only subject of a sentence? For example I once heard some people saying _Myself am to be blamed._ Is this grammatically correct? How is it different from _I am to be blamed_? |
2,836 | 66,395 | 76823_0 | When I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, the locals could understand me just fine, but I was flummoxed by their accent, which did not remotely sound like English to me. Necessity forced me to request that the Scottish locals I encountered write out their responses to my questions. Embarrassing! How is this one-way communication misunderstanding possible, given Scotland's proximity to England and Ireland, whose accents are far easier to understand? |
2,837 | 188,440 | 76823_0 | **Context : Her friend gets married.** [Link] And now she is saying: "Now I will have to share her with someone else." **What will she share with the other person?** * Memories of her friend. * Time * something else |
2,838 | 188,443 | 76823_0 | Which is better for this situation? * Connect **to** your target audience. * Connect **with** your target audience. |
2,839 | 91,292 | 76823_0 | I'm going to go to US for a long business trip, during which I'm going to meet a lot of people. Some of them are senior managers; others are day-to-day colleagues. I want to know how to greet people in different ways: formal things to say to a manager, and casual things to say to co-workers. I don't know if it's appropriate to say these to your leaders: > wassup / How's it goin' |
2,840 | 106,550 | 76823_0 | What is the plural of the word "it's"? Perhaps "it'ss" or "it'ses"? Usage: "The paragraph contained three it'ss" Meaning: "The paragraph contained three occurrences of the word, it's" |
2,841 | 106,555 | 76823_0 | I just googled the difference between _as long as_ and _so long as_. The difference has alredy been discussed here. There are, it seems, two contexts for these expressions: 1. lengths and physical comparisons (time, distance, etc.) “This bridge is as long as that bridge.” 2. some logical implication or synonym for _provided that_ or something like this. “You can do that so long as you keep in mind that. . . .” Somewhere else I found that you can use **both** expressions for context #2, but should avoid _so long as_ in cases of context #1. Now, mmyers commented that _so long as_ might be colloquial — or as he put it, “casual”. It seems that it’s possible to never use _so long as_ , since according to what I have been told, you can use either expression in cases of context #1. Given that I am writing academic papers, my questions are: 1. Is _so long as_ truly non-academic or non–high-style? 2. Should _so long as_ therefore be avoided altogether? |
2,842 | 91,297 | 76823_0 | I saw this headline on the BBC today: > China anoints Xi as new leader There is one entry in the definition at Google's dictionary which exactly corresponds to the case in use: > Nominate or choose (someone) as successor to or leading candidate for a > position \- he was anointed as the organizational candidate of the party \- > his officially anointed heir Although this entry doesn't have any mention to religiousness or ceremoniousness, I wonder: Is there a connotation religious or ceremonial connotation to the use of _anoint_ in this case? |
2,843 | 106,556 | 76823_0 | which adjective can I use to describe my neighbor, who is always trying to keep eye on my personal matters like what am I bringing from market or what am I cooking etc? Regards, |
2,844 | 106,559 | 76823_0 | Suppose I am doing several things assigned by different people these days. One of the people feels that my progress on doing his assignment is slow, maybe because I am not interested in doing it. The reality is that I am interested in doing all the things, but his assignment is a little beyond my capability, and * I need to learn new stuff in order to understand it. * I feel a continuous period of time to focus on his assignment is what I need now, but I also have to do the other things assigned by other people, which breaks my time into pieces. How shall I explain to him to assure him I am interested in his assignment and trying to give my best to it? |
2,845 | 189,789 | 76823_0 | Can anyone give me synonym for " _Administration_ "? I am using a software that has " _Administration_ " as a keyword, so it doesn't allow any use of this word. However, My task is to create a folder for each department of some enterprise (and it has an Administration Department). My question Here is: How can I find a synonym for " _Administration_ " without losing the real meaning of the term? > P.S.: I found synonyms like "administrative" and "directors" which don't fit > in my context. |
2,846 | 156,112 | 76823_0 | Depending on where you are regionally located in the US, can these terms be used just about interchangeably in the sense "a hired hand (a cowhand) who tends cattle and performs many of his duties on horseback"? In addition, can any of these terms be used interchangeably to refer to cowboys in western movies? Or to historical cowboys and gunslingers back in the old days when people had to rely on horses to carry them? By the way, how come mature cowboys in horse operas are not referred to as cowmen but still as cowboys? |
2,847 | 174,982 | 76823_0 | I have an online form where a user would usually submit a specific location in a field, e.g. Moscow, Berlin, New York, Paris. But sometimes there is no specific city location, for instance for a seminar that takes place "online" or a web screening. I want to enable the users to enter the "worldwide" case. What are typical phrases in English for that to catch? Planet, www, online, internet, worldwide, anywhere. Can you imagine up more suitable candidates? Are you aware of any existing English geo-databases with entries for the worldwide location case? |
2,848 | 29,044 | 76823_0 | When someone _practices_ something, they do it often/as a habit. When someone says something is _practical_ , they usually mean it is pragmatic/sensible/applicable, yet not necessarily practiced. And my teachers have used _practicum_ to refer to a test, which is an examination, not an instance of practice. What is the common root of these words, what does it mean, and why do these words seem to mean different things? |
2,849 | 29,042 | 76823_0 | As best as I can tell, a good example is _sociopath_ : > sociopath -- from _socio-_ on model of _psychopath_ > > socio- -- combining form of [Latin] _socius_ > > pathos -- from [Greek] pathos Hence, _sociopath_ is a word coined from roots found in two different languages. Is there a good term that describes this? |
2,850 | 123,735 | 76823_0 | "Look and feel" is a term commonly used in UI, software and web design, yet we have job titles such as Web Designer, Visual Designer, Front-end Developer, UX Designer but no Look and Feel Designer. Visual Designer is probably the closest, but I've always thought this title doesn't capture the full range of what this designer does; i.e., they work on feel **and** visuals. Look and Feel Designer sounds a bit awkward and wordy, but it is a good term that accurately describes the domain, so I was wondering if there were a more elegant way of stating it? |
2,851 | 30,913 | 76823_0 | I know that Australians pronounce Aussie like _Oz-ee_. However, how should Americans pronounce it? I have, in the past, politely corrected Americans when I hear the typical "aw- see" (\ä-sē\). It seems to be pretty widely unknown that Australians say _Oz- ee_. Then, I came across a website that _specifically_ listed _Oz-ee_ in the **wrong pronunciation** column (not even in the "alternate" column). I emailed the author saying that I did not understand why this pronunciation was explicitly in the "wrong" column, and not at the very least in the alternate column. This set the author off into a rant about how tiny dialects should not be indulged with setting the correct pronunciation for the rest of the English- speaking world. However, amid all the ranting, the only objection I really received was that the _ss_ shouldn't become a _z_. So what's the answer? Should English-speakers, no matter their dialect, use the pronunciation that the subject of the word itself uses? Or was this author correct, that the generally-accepted North American usage of _aw-see_ is categorically "correct" for general usage, and _Oz-ee_ should be relegated to "tiny, insignificant, meaningless dialects"*? **In other words, which is the correct pronunciation for North American speakers?** I guess this question has three possible answers: 1. The Australian pronunciation is correct. 2. Both are OK. 3. Americans should regard the Australian pronunciation as _wrong_ for the North American accent/dialect. * * * * His words, not mine :) I repeat it here to give a sense of the tone of the rant, not because I (even remotely) concur. |
2,852 | 115,181 | 76823_0 | Excerpt from _Cambridge Dictionary of American English_ : > If you want to use an adjective or adverb to say that a quality is of a > **higher** degree, you can usually add **-er** ( _one-syllable adjectives_ ) > to the end of it or qualify it with **more** ( _adjectives of two ore more > syllables_ ). e.g. your hair is longer now than it was last year. > To say that a quality is of a **lower** degree, you can usually add **-er** > ( _one-syllable adjectives_ ) to the end of a **negative** adjective or > adverb, or qualify it with **less** ( _adjectives of two ore more syllables_ > ). e.g. your hair is shorter now than it was last year. My question is: How can we say that a **negative & one-syllable** adjective is of a **higher** degree? I mean, if "shorter" somehow means " **more short** ", how can I say that something is " **less short** "? And if "longer" somehow means " **more long** ", how can I say that something is " **less long** " than another thing? A friend of mine suggested that the only way of saying the opposite of "negative adj + er" is to say "positive adj + er". (i.e. shorter -> longer). My take is that whether "adj + er" means "more adj" or "less adj", entirely depends on whether the used adj. is positive or negative respectively. Is my understanding correct? Is it possible to say the opposite of "shorter" to convey the meaning of "less short" without using a different adjective? ## Rephrased question: For non-one-syllable adjectives: > If A is **more beautiful** than B, then B is **less beautiful** than A. Why is there no such ability in English to bidirectionally compare one- syllable adjectives as well? > If A is **rounder** than B, then B is ( **???** ) than A. |
2,853 | 166,082 | 76823_0 | Is there a word for a picture of a picture? Had a search on onelook but couldn't find anything... edit: sorry maybe I wasn't _that_ clear the first time -- I mean like a photograph of a photograph... |
2,854 | 105,928 | 76823_0 | Do I say " _quenched_ my thirst" or " _stilled_ my thirst" when I speak of something that I desire and not actual thirst? E.g. a thirst for a new car or something. |
2,855 | 177,402 | 76823_0 | What does "close behind" mean in this sentence: _"So life comes to an end and time **closes behind** everyone and everything."_ "life comes to an end" and "time closes behind everyone and everything" are in a parallel and should mean the same? But I still cannot figure our the metaphor. Thanks! More context: _So life comes to an end and time closes behind everyone and everything. My ex-husband understood that and tried to escape by running away from it. I reminded him of time, being younger than he was, so he ran away from me too._ |
2,856 | 105,925 | 76823_0 | How do the three sentences below differ in meaning, and which can be answered with 'yes'? > 1. Can you draw a rectangle with 3 straight lines? > 2. Can you draw a rectangle by using 3 straight lines? > 3. Can you draw a rectangle using 3 straight lines? > |
2,857 | 105,924 | 76823_0 | I want to use it in my thesis. Like _secondarily_ , but I don't want to use that one or similar words, as these specify an order. |
2,858 | 189,784 | 76823_0 | Is " _we are finished_ " grammatically correct? I thought it would be more correct to say " _We have finished_ ". |
2,859 | 154,010 | 76823_0 | I seem to have come across this sentence structure before but I can't quite remember where. Which number would be the best follow up to the phrase "To the ancient Romans"? To the ancient Romans 1. theatre was art was sport 2. theatre was art, was sport. 3. theatre was art and art was sport. I know that 3. is correct. 2. is basically the same as 1. but with an added comma. However, the message I'd like to convey is that art = theatre = sport (i.e. sport was art because it was theatre and theatre was art) rather than that sport is intrinsically art. Sport is only art because it is theatre. Sorry if the question is longwinded and confusing. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and answer this everyone. |
2,860 | 31,065 | 76823_0 | Whats the difference between: > She were gone to party. > She had gone to party. Are they both ok? |
2,861 | 31,064 | 76823_0 | Is an unhappy smile the same as a frown? I tried to google images of an unhappy smile and that's mostly what I found. I don't think an unhappy smile is the same thing as a frown, but I could be wrong. What is an unhappy smile? A description or picture would be helpful. |
2,862 | 4,316 | 76823_0 | I’ve never seen the construction before, except in Spanish for dialogue and Toni Morrison using the variation “;—” in _Beloved_ for denoting a strong pause (well, that’s what we decided in my English class). How does Henry Adams use “:—”? Is this grammatically correct? How can I incorporate this into my own sentences? > Among senses, smell was the strongest:—the smell of hot pine-woods and > sweet-fern in the scorching summer noon; of new-mown hay; of ploughed earth > > — Henry Adams, in _The Education of Henry Adams_ |
2,863 | 92,248 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > Henry Adam’s use of punctuation, “:—” I've seen a couple of times, ":-" occurring where I could expect just a colon to occur, perhaps preceding a list. When is it correct to use ":-"? What is it called? Am I simply wrong and think I remember seeing this, when in actual fact I didn't? |
2,864 | 91,836 | 76823_0 | Someone else asked Are camp followers prostitutes? and the answer seems to be that while not every one who follows a military camp is a prostitute, if you _aren't_ referring to a prostitute, you should probably pick another label for the person. A similar effect can be seen with sexually themed words like "mistress", "madam", "ejaculate", and "escort". I assume this linguistic process has been studied and I'm curious what its name is. |
2,865 | 3,959 | 76823_0 | I want to say that we cannot represent 23 in Roman as both IIIXX and XIIIX. The correct representation for 23 in Roman is XXIII. If I write like this > XXIII, neither IIIXX nor XIIIX, represents 23 in roman. is it correct grammar? |
2,866 | 72,577 | 76823_0 | What is the actual meaning and purpose of saying "I'm in a call" Ex: if a person pinged me when am talking with someone over phone at the same time then what would be the simple and correct way to say that "am talking with someone over phone.." |
2,867 | 72,579 | 76823_0 | original sentence -> The purpose is to disclose some information new sentence -> the purpose: to disclose some information last version(I'm asking about) -> The purpose, to disclose information |
2,868 | 55,096 | 76823_0 | I recently asked a question on meta.stackoverflow.com ( ~~please see it for the context; I didn't copy it to this question in order to avoid unnecessary duplication~~ context quoted below*), so the damage (repetition) has been done, however I'd still please like to request your learned assistance and opinions on whether or not I could have used another word(s) that would suit the context? **Move** / **moved** was the best I could come up with after way too much internal deliberation. **Edit** *Repetion in the partial quotes _emphasised_ : > However, the first time a question I answered got _migrated_ (to Pro > Webmasters), I registered .. > > .. their question has been _migrated_ to and I .. > > .. due to their questions being _migrated_. As it stands now, a lot of the > answers to _migrated_ questions .. > > .. new answers on a _migrated_ question until they've registered an account > on the site their question was _migrated_ to either, and the message they're > greeted with upon _migration_ itself is very perfunctory .. > > .. a link to where it was _migrated_ to, I'd like to make a feature-request > that there's a little more prodding and cajoling for the OP to register an > account on the site their question was _migrated_ to .. |
2,869 | 3,957 | 76823_0 | In the sentence, "she is a special needs child" (referring to someone with a disability), what parts of speech are the words "special needs"? Are both adjectives on their own, or do they only form an adjective together (and what is that called)? |
2,870 | 55,092 | 76823_0 | I would like to hear from the forum regarding the use of 'sir' in American literature, such as 'The Manhattan Transfer' by Dos Passos published in 1923. In the Italian translation it is given in the extremely formal 'voi' form, and I would argue that there are numerous examples of 'sir' in that period of American literature where it could be read as being an informal 'tu', simply replacing a name or title where that information is unknown. |
2,871 | 34,749 | 76823_0 | "I don't understand why people `<insert words here>` products that have a reputation of hardware failures." What is the correct way to form this sentence? |
2,872 | 34,748 | 76823_0 | In many computer games (usually role playing games), there is an item called a _bastard sword_. Why is this name used, and does it bear any relation to the usual meaning of the term _bastard_? |
2,873 | 68,549 | 76823_0 | I was trying to say the following and got bewildered with the different choices. > I have "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my list. I will write you about it when > **I am finished reading it.** > > I have "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my list. I will write you about it when > **I have finished reading it.** > > I have "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my list. I will write you about it when > **I am done reading it.** > > I have "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my list. I will write you about it when > **I finish reading it.** I am not sure which one to pick. I am confused with the exact meanings of these various choices. Could someone also shed some light on what meanings the different tenses convey in a context like this. |
2,874 | 144,209 | 76823_0 | What do we call the **food** that we made/prepared by following a **recipe**? It doesn't have to be a `single word` actually. I just want a shorter term for that. |
2,875 | 34,744 | 76823_0 | Some concepts are just too difficult to be fully understood. Take for example the multivariate causes of the recent recession: who among us can honestly say that he or she grasps the situation completely? With respect to topics like this, although it is not possible to thoroughly grasp the concept, attempts can be made to elucidate--at least partially--the more mysterious parts. Accordingly, is there a phrase that means, "To make less mysterious, but not explain completely because the concept is too difficult"? |
2,876 | 189,795 | 76823_0 | I have a question. If I am quoting a quote which has square brackets in it already, but I want to add square brackets because there are spelling mistakes so I want to add "[sic]". Do I just add it to the quote or do I change the square brackets in the quote? |
2,877 | 35,297 | 76823_0 | I occasionally use the colloquialism "all to cock" to mean "disastrously wrong". I've always thought it a benign phrase, but recently I've wondered whether the use of the word "cock" in this situation is vulgar. Is it? And if it isn't rude, would the 'average' person still consider it so? |
2,878 | 107,208 | 76823_0 | Why are "answer me" and "answer the question" acceptable but not "answer me the question"? Is it similar to "explain me (something)"? |
2,879 | 100,257 | 76823_0 | When _great-uncle_ is used as a common noun, the hyphen and lack of caps make sense. However, when I sign a book to my nephew, is it _Great-Uncle Don, Great-uncle Don_ , or perhaps _Great Uncle Don_? |
2,880 | 107,203 | 76823_0 | I am a non-native speaker of English (Polish) and I teach English as a Foreign Language in Poland. A few months ago I came across this phrase / sentence printed on the student's notebook and got baffled because I didn't know how to translate it into Polish. Can anyone please provide me with enough defintion-rich explanations or other contexts and situations in which this sentence may be used. Generally I have a problem with the word " _freak_ " as I rarely use it. I simply avoid as much as I can the momorization and the internalization of it. I've done some research on the Internet, however it doesn't help me to arrive at a good Polish translation. Can you at least explain in which culture-bound situations it is used? **UPDATE:** Well, I found that this phrase is often used along with the Monster High doll franchise, web series, book series and a movie. I know that there is a cartoon series that was also aired in Polish TV channels, so I will look in there too. It may be a unique phrase, not used elsewhere but if you happen to know what it means and what it refers to, I will be grateful |
2,881 | 100,253 | 76823_0 | In Holland we use _commode_ to indicate a dressing table or lowboy specifically for changing diapers and dressing a baby:  The commode is usually ditched after the babies have grown out the diapers. I can't imagine this piece of furniture being absent in the English speaking world but when I look on ebay, Etsy and others for commodes, lowboys, or chest of drawers I don't find anything related to changing baby diapers. What would be good translation for the Dutch word _commode_? |
2,882 | 25,040 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > UK English: Is "dived" a valid word? > Spelt and Spelled > “Dreamed” vs. “dreamt”, “leaped” vs. “leapt”, “lighted” vs. “lit” > Evolution of irregular verbs over the last century > Origin of different past tenses for verbs with the same endings? What's the difference between 'dived' and 'dove' as the past tense of 'to dive'? 'Spelled' and 'spelt' ( _to spell_ )? There are others which are similar. Is one form British usage? |
2,883 | 130,958 | 76823_0 | In a recent thread, it was recommended that Academies' Trust be written as I just have done: > Academies' Trust. Normal possessive apostrophe rules apply. If I accept this traditional style, I might well end up writing something like: > Academies' Trusts include the Academies Enterprise Trust, the Leigh > Academies Trust, the Aspirations Academies Trust, and The Kemnal Academies > Trust. Should consistency of style override traditional apostrophe rules in this case? |
2,884 | 12,996 | 76823_0 | In practice I find both spellings being used. From a logical point of view, "allright" (as in: "all's right — everything is fine") seems correct. However, I recall hearing that "alright" is the preferable variant. Is there consensus over which to use? Do they possibly even mean something different? |
2,885 | 14,747 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > Is it "alright" or "allright"? What is the difference between _alright_ and _all right_? |
2,886 | 41,018 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > Is it "alright" or "allright"? When giving a speech or presentation it's common to hear the speaker (including myself when I present) start out by saying "All right". "All right, let's get started.". My questions are * In this scenario, which is correct, "All right" or "Alright"? I suppose when listening to a speaker you wouldn't notice the difference. * Follow up: Do they have different meanings based on context or is Alright a conjunction? * Why do we use this phrase to actually get started? Is it to break the silence or is it a nice way to get the attention of the audience? * Is it appropriate to use when writing? This would be more in the context of blogs, educational articles, tutorials, etc. |
2,887 | 115,974 | 76823_0 | I think grammatically the phrase "God bless America" is wrong; it should be "God blesses America", don't you think so? |
2,888 | 163,679 | 76823_0 | For example, present tense is "God blesses you" but there is another form which is "God bless you" in which "bless" is a different verb tense. What is that higher verb tense that we use in more formal or higher forms English. |
2,889 | 264 | 76823_0 | I've seen people write "God bless America", and it drives me nuts. Shouldn't it be "God, bless America"? |
2,890 | 187,372 | 76823_0 | I sometimes use "hoover" and sometimes "hover". What's the difference? |
2,891 | 130,956 | 76823_0 | My question is: Instead of "this country has many resources", what can I say? This country is abundant in many resources? |
2,892 | 50,111 | 76823_0 | Match the two sentences with their meaning: > 1) I had a discussion with a friend and a programmer. > > 2) I had a discussion with a friend, and a programmer. Meanings: > a) I talked to a friend who _is_ a programmer. > > b) I talked to _two_ people, a friend, and a programmer. Intuitively, I know that 1 => b, and 2 => a. Is there a rule? Does this grammatical construct have a formal name or definition? |
2,893 | 68,001 | 76823_0 | > **Possible Duplicate:** > Why is a w a "Double u", but an m is not a "Double n"? Is there any reason/history as to why "w" is the only letter in English alphabet that is not pronounced as one syllable? |
2,894 | 66,029 | 76823_0 | I've seen all three versions for describing a person on stage performing comedy: "stand up", "standup", and "stand-up". My guess is that the term started as two words, but as the performance form itself became more established in the culture, the set of the two words together became perceived as a single unit. Reflecting that, in writing, some people even started merging the words or joining them with a hyphen. Based on that assumption, I'm extrapolating that it's a term in the midst of evolving, and so maybe there might not be an absolute answer on this. Still, I'd like to be consistent myself and settle on one. Is there any particular reason I should choose one over the others? |
2,895 | 149,429 | 76823_0 | What is the difference? > To try doing something > Try to do something I found that _try + infinitive_ means: make an effort to achieve something while _try + -ing_ means: do something as an experiment to solve a problem. > Why don't you _try holding_ your breath for a minute or two? > Why don't you _try to hold_ your breath for a minute or two? The answer key indicates that the meanings of these two sentences are different. How are they different? |
2,896 | 146,130 | 76823_0 | Which sentence is correct: > Why don't you **try to give up** candy if you want to lose some weight? > > Why don't you **try giving up** candy if you want to lose some weight? |
2,897 | 159,227 | 76823_0 | I already know the difference between "stop doing something" and "stop to do something". I really don't know what is the difference between "like doing something" and "like to do something". And is it "gerund" or "present participle"? * * * This is not a duplicate question. That answer doesn't fit (in my opinion) to this question. Actually, I want to know the difference between saying, for example: _"I like to drink soda"_ and _"I like drinking soda"_ , and which is the correct if there is a correct construction. |
2,898 | 111,825 | 76823_0 | What is the difference between **_I haven't tried to go there_** and **_I haven't tried going there_**? |
2,899 | 141,067 | 76823_0 | > There are many reasons to choose X or > There are many reasons for choosing X Are these sentences equivalent/interchangeable? |
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