title: Why can no-one say "no-one needs know"?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Why use “need not” instead of “do not need to”? In English, why could I say, "No-one need know" and not "No-one needs know". I would say, after all, "No-one needs to know".


title: Right meaning of the phrase

text: > [man] makes himself the instrument of somebody or something outside of > himself; **he need not solve** the problem of living by productive activity. Bold part means “a man doesn't need to solve any problems”, not “a man have no problems to solve”? Is it common phrase?


title: What does ‘Rock a hat” mean?

text: There is the following sentence in Tina Fey’s “Bossypants": > ”Don Fay dresses well. He has an artist’s eye for mixing colors and prints. > He wears tweedy jackets over sweater vests in the winter and seersucker > suits in the summer. His great college ring shows off his well-groomed > hands. **He can still rock a hat**. - P43.” I don’t understand what “He can still rock a hat” means.” Neither of CED or OED carries “rock a hat” as an idiom. Nor GoogleNgram does. What does it mean? Is this phrase Tina Fey’s coinage?


title: "Languorous" versus "languid"

text: "Languorous" and "languid" have similar meanings. Are there any subtle differences in usage, due to connotation perhaps, that make one more suitable than the other under certain circumstances?


title: Gut-wrenching or -retching?

text: > It was the most gut-retching thing I have ever heard. _Wrenching_ sounds like it would make sense, but so does _retching_.


title: Is there honour among thieves or not?

text: I'm not sure which one of these apparently flatly contradictory proverbs I heard first but I have definitely heard both several times. One of them is: > There is honour among thieves. Another is: > No honour among thieves. Do they simply mean the opposite of each other, therefore, at least in my mind cancelling each other out, or is there a subtlety here that I am not picking up on? Are they related, perhaps sharing an origin and then somehow becoming inverted?


title: Does the type of play on words in "Some people are immune to good advice" have a name?

text: On Breaking Bad, Saul Goodman remarks, "Some people are immune to good advice." Similarly, a friend of mine described a weekend as "a celebration of procrastination". Does word play that juxtaposes the verb and the object, as the examples above do, have a name?


title: What do we 'turn round and say'?

text: Often you will hear people say something like 'He turned round and called me a liar', or 'what if she turns round and refuses to pay'. This 'turn round' (I am informed it is much less used in America) is only apposite to certain contexts. And what exactly does it mean? **Edit after reading some of the responses** Clearly abruptness and/or suddenness are strongly implied by the expression. But I cannot agree, as some have suggested, that it necessarily involves a reversal of a previous expression. That is not the way it is always used in Britain. For example one colleague to another might say 'If we give Charles added responsibility, he may well turn round and use it as an argument for a pay rise'. That sort of use is quite common. I think the turning around is not about a reversal of a previous position, but is used to indicate that the remark came suddenly and out of nowhere. In other words the fact of turning around indicates that it is not part of an existing dialogue which had been going on.


title: is "if any" the same as "if existing"?

text: Given this sentence: > Its original manufacturer’s warranty, if any, still applies, with warranty > details included in the item details. Can I change “if any” in the above sentence to “if existing”? > Its original manufacturer’s warranty, if existing, still applies, with > warranty details included in the item details


title: Differences among point, grade and mark

text: I do not know how they are different when they are used as a grading system ? Can I say a pointing system or a marking system?


title: Synonym for man-made, but not by man

text: I'm looking for a synonym for man-made (i.e., not naturally occurring) that doesn't imply it was made by humans. "Fabricated" or "constructed" are the closest I've come, but I'm not very happy with either of them. Does anyone have some other suggestions? Edit: Thanks for all the great suggestions! To clarify a bit further: what I mean by "natural" would be something like a rock, cliff or mountain, a tree or forest, a stream or natural lake. The word I'm looking for would refer to anything made by some creature, be it a human, animal, ghost or alien.


title: Usage of "second/third/fourth ... last"

text: In German there is a pattern for counting items from the end of a list. The last item is "das letzte", the one before is "das vorletzte", the one before that is "das vorvorletzte" and for each other item there's just another "vor" added. While searching for an English translation for the German word "vorvorvorletzte" I came across several translations and discussions but none of them showed any usage pattern. Furthermore I didn't find any indication of which variant ("to", "from", no preposition) is used most nor to what area of the world those translations apply. So I am still wondering: When there are items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, how can/will item 2 be called?   * third from last?   * fourth from last?   * anteantepenultimate?   * fourth-last?   * fourth to last?   * the last but three item?   * the last but four item? Is this a question of dialect/local use?


title: What does the word robo means?

text: I was looking at another StackExchange site and saw this phrase: > Although it was ultimately accepted, the reviewers who accepted it look more > like **robo-reviewers** than those who rejected it. When I tried to search on a search-engine for the meaning it almost always referenced to a Spanish term that apparently means to steal / or to be stolen from. (depending on the pronunciation). But I cannot see this meaning to be related at all with this phrase that I posted. Source of the post: http://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/254122/is-this- edit-correct-or-does-it-change-too-much-of-the-question?cb=1


title: Improper use of "Whenever"

text: I increasingly encounter people who misuse "whenever" when they really mean "when": > Whenever I first came to St. Louis, I lived with my Aunt Judy... Bugs me to death. Obviously they are talking about a one-time event, not "every time I visited St. Louis", which would be a valid use of "whenever". Is this a common misuse? Is this a regional thing (St. Louis, MO, USA)? This isn't a valid alternate use, is it?


title: Is the glass half filled with water or half empty?

text: ![Glass with water](http://i.stack.imgur.com/lqyi1.jpg) If someone asks me this, is there some **_proper_** answer according to English grammar? If there is, what is it? If not, shouldn't there be one? And which one? P.S. I am not asking this for fun. This thing is driving me crazy. It has left my mind half empty, or half filled? Whatever..


title: "inquisitive" vs. "inquiring" in AmE and BrE

text: Do these terms share the same level of laudatoriness/pejorativeness in both BrE and AmE? Or, does one typically have a more positive/negative connotation to it than the other from your side of the pond? For example, think of " **inquisitive mind** " vs. " **inquiring mind**." Also, would you define Lt. Columbo as an " **ever-inquisitive** " or " **ever- inquiring** " police officer to say he is quite a snoopy fellow? > **inquisitive**: adj. : 1) having or showing an interest in learning things; > curious.   >  2) Unduly curious about the affairs of others; prying. > > **inquiring/(chiefly BrE) enquiring**: adj. : 1) showing an interest in > learning things.   >  2) (Of a look or expression) suggesting that information is sought. **Edit** : What I wish you could tell is whether some sort of difference exists in the usage of "inquisitive" and "inquiring" as used in AmE and BrE. For instance, I was taught when I was in school (where BrE is the norm out here in France) that "inquisitive" has a pejorative connotation to it, a bit similar to "snoopy/prying." However, quite a few years ago, I was corrected by a couple of Americans in their mid thirties/early forties after using "inquiring" to mean "having/showing an interest in learning things." They told me the appropriate word for that should be "inquisitive," not "inquiring," which, to their perspectives, had a pejorative meaning to it, as in "inquiring eyes staring at you." Hence my question: is there a US/UK difference to the usage of those terms? Hope I'm not being too inquisitive (or should I say "inquiring") looking into this.


title: I need to comment on Bill Gates's blog. In my comments I would frequently want to refer to him (I don't want to address him) with respect

text: What should I add before or after his name to show respect? In India we do that adding sir after the name but I don't think it's done in standard English.


title: What is the English phrases for "to bet/vote on a winning candidate"?

text: For example, betting Manchester United rather than a newly-promoted club. This is not limited to sport and not limited to only two participants. I've heard it's "to ride on a winning horse", is that correct? But when I googled it, there's no such thing of it. Could you help me?


title: Why are days of the week proper nouns?

text: Is there any particular reason why days of the week are proper nouns?


title: "Aaron is a genius boy"

text: I wonder whether can we call someone a _genius boy_? I've been using this term to describe my cousin until someone told me that the correct usage should be _boy genius_. The question is: Can we say _Aaron is a genius boy_? Is it _wrong_? What do you think?


title: Caveat - accepted pronunciation(s)?

text: I've always read it at cave-eat, even spelled it that way sometimes. But I just recently found out that that's not the case. It's supposedly pronounced as "KAH-vee-yat"--which I've never heard anyone say. My question, is there more than one accepted pronunciations to this word? or have just simply been saying it wrong?


title: Can "conceived" be used as "assumed"?

text: For example: > Jack thinks he's responsible for killing his mother and thus for his uncle’s > _conceived_ hatred towards him. Here, I mean to say that Jack _assumes_ his uncle hates him (of course, Jack is sure, but it may not be the truth). And I think it'd be incorrect to say "...and thus for his uncle's _assumed_ hatred towards him." Is _conceived_ also incorrect? I tried looking for other sentences that use _conceive_ similarly, but those sentences seem to be using _conceive_ to say hatred was _formed_. Really, my goal is to say "...and thus for his uncle's hatred towards him, though Jack only assumes his uncle hates him--his uncle truly does not." Or something along those lines. I'm trying to make this sentence more concise by using _conceived_ this way, but am not sure if this is the right approach. Suggestions?


title: Difference in usage between "expat" and "emigrant"?

text: Is there a difference in usage between _expat_ and _emigrant_? I believe I encounter the former mostly in positive contexts, describing highly-skilled professionals ("expat guide to [country]"), and the latter in neutral-to- negative contexts, but I'm not sure if it is a coincidence.


title: "Music preference" or "music preferences"?

text: What is the difference between _preference_ and _preferences_? Does it matter if one uses singular or plural in the following sentences: >   * The effect of music on test-taking ability greatly depends on the > particular individual and their music **preference**. >   * The effect of music on test-taking ability greatly depends on the > particular individual and their music **preferences**. >


title: Long lived slang

text: Every year new slang words enter the popular lexicon but which ones actually 'stick'? Every since I can remember, 'cool' has been an acceptable word whereas 'groovy' passed out of usage in the 70s. Is there some informal criteria that seems to govern which words remain in popular usage and which pass as a fashion item.


title: Is "Me neither" incorrect?

text: I've heard that "me neither" is incorrect. Instead one should say "neither do I." People definitely say "me neither" conversationally, but is it technically incorrect?


title: Does "numeric" abbreviation eg i18n have a name?

text: In the computer programming context, several long words are commonly abbreviated using the formula `first letter, number of letters between, last letter`. Eg `internationalization` \--> `i18n` Is there a name for this technique of abbreviation? Is there a name for the abbreviation so created?


title: J.A. Gagarin's flight vs J.A. Gagarin flight

text: 1) Is it Ok to leave the initials or would you drop them? Writing his name in full seems odd since it isn't Gagarin who is the point of discussion.   2) Is it Gagarin's or Gagarin? Is there any difference between the use of the possessive case in titles and not, with well-known names and not?


title: Is there any difference between nevertheless and never the less?

text: I saw this on eBay's website: > You can sell multiple items that, even though they are against eBay policy, > don’t get you caught. **Never the less** , they are against the rules and > can result in you losing your eBay account. Is **never the less** the formal version of **nevertheless**?


title: What is the difference between "wriggle room" and "wiggle room"?

text: The phrase "wriggle room" gives 2 million results on Google. "Wiggle room" gives 140 thousand suggesting that both phrases are valid English. Google N-grams seems to back this theory up too. ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/BssO2.png) And whatsmore, it seems to suggest that both phrases first appeared at around the same time. The dictionary definition of wriggle seems to be subtly different to wiggle\- _Wriggling_ implies an intention to move somewhere, whereas wiggling does not. So, what- if any- is the difference between the two phrases? And is there any evidence that one came before the other?


title: "How best to handle" vs. "how to best handle"

text: Are there rules on the placement of 'best'? >   * They are deciding how to _best_ handle the matter. >   * They are deciding how _best_ to handle the matter. > Is one of them wrong?


title: Grammatical role of "kind of"

text: I would like to know what the grammatical construct "kind of + v" is? > I _kind of_ like cold weather or > I _kind of_ eat everything".


title: proneness to + [verb] instead of proneness to + [noun]

text: This is my first question in here so I ask you to be tolerant with any faux pas I may commit. Having said so, my question is about the word proneness, of which I've only found examples in which it is followed by a noun. Can it be followed by a verb? If so, gerund or infinitive (e.g. _my proneness to observe/observing_ )? Thanks in advance.


title: Placement of 'Little'

text: According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 'little' as an adverb could mean: > not much; only slightly Is there a preference among these sentences? >   * He _little_ helped his friends. >   * He helped _little_ his friends. >   * He helped his friends _little_. >


title: Proper usage of "since" and "from" with regard to duration of time

text: > When you returned, I had been at home since 10 minutes. > > When you returned, I had been at home from 5 minutes. In such sentences, is it correct to use _since_ or _from_? When _since_ is used?


title: Is "since I'm" now an acceptable alternative to "since I was"?

text: In a recent episode of the television show Entourage, Ari Gold (a 40 year old man) says: > I've known her since I'm 19. In an episode of Sex and the City, a character, who is 15, tells Carrie: > I've been giving blowjobs since I'm 12. The speakers are replacing the past tense of the verb _to be_ (was) with the present tense (am). Is this simply a mistake of the writers (seemingly specific to HBO), or is this usage a trend that is developing? I've heard it in other television shows and in person, as well.


title: "Since" or "from"?

text: > I am staying in USA **since** 20 years. > > I am staying in USA **from** 20 years. Which one is correct?


title: Correct use of "x times lower"

text: In scientific writing numbers are often compared and if something is twice the size of something else, let's say > A is 13 to 17 times the size of B this can be written as > A is 13-17 times higher/larger than B I often see cases where people turn this around and say > B is 13-17 times lower/smaller than A and where turning A and B around makes little logical sense, i.e. the order of B and A is logically correct. The problem is then, how would one best rewrite this since " _x_ times" will, at least mathematically when _x_ > 1, always be _larger_ and not _smaller_? EDIT: I changed my example to highlight the problems with numbers other than those easily turned into fractions such as half, quarter etc.


title: What is the name of the supports which are used with screws to hold a box together?

text: It's common in electronics to use only screws to hold a box together, instead of having screw nuts at the other end of the box. There are raised supports into which the screws are screwed into. They look like screw anchors, but that means something different. In other languages (e.g. German) the word "dome" is used, but in English it means the small cover on top of the screw used to hide it. ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/7OGUb.jpg) What are these things (painted green on the image) called? In the whole list of screw-related topics on Wikipedia, nothing similar turns up.


title: The word for "too far into the future to predict", often about the state of technology

text: What is the word for when you can't predict the future because of the rapidly changing landscape. For example, the state of technology in the future. Due to the boost in devices in the last few years, the state of devices in 20 years is " **_** ". I thought it began with the letter S or P...


title: Usage of Do vs. Did

text: My girlfriend and I are arguing on what is the correct way of writing the following sentence. To provide a little context - The children have never met their Grandmother yet. Is it correct to say: > They had never known their grandmother and it was high time they did. or > They had never known their grandmother and it was high time they do. I'm confused because for me the first one _sounds_ correct but she argues that the latter is correct since we're talking in the present tense.


title: Paraphrase of "A big part of the secret...."

text: ![A picture of the quoted text](http://i.stack.imgur.com/4V7ZT.jpg) > A big part of the secret is an extensive and expensive network of sporting > academic underpinned by science and medicine. Source I don't understand the part of "sporting academic underpinned by science and medicine." Please help me to paraphrase this sentence.


title: What is the word to describe a person who does not have a personal opinion?

text: What is the word to describe a person who does not have a personal opinion or stand on a subject? If somebody says X is right, then you could agree. But if some other person says X is wrong, and you also agree, you are not really expressing your own opinion. You are simply agreeing with everyone else. How do you describe that kind of personality with one word in a formal way? Specifically, someone who cannot make decisions on their own and depends on others' opinions.


title: Was conversing or conversed

text: Should it be: 1: As I was conversing with him about his love for jazz, I measured the temperature and found it to be 100 degrees. 2: As I conversed with him about his love for jazz, I measured the temperature and found it to be 100 degrees. Is there any better ways to break this up?


title: What's the word to describe this behaviour?

text: I'm looking for a word to describe one's behaviour that is _unnecessarily complicated_. For instance, let's say John, he goes to use the public toilet. Unlike most ordinary people who just uses the toilet, flush, and then leave, he's behaviour is unnecessarily complicated. Every time he goes to the toilet, he would first, remove his outerwear, this includes his jacket, pants, and even his socks and shoes. He would then, wipe the seat with toilet paper and then layer the seat with the toilet paper, and puts all his attire back on afterwards. What's the word to describe this kind of behaviour?


title: Differences between "audio" and "sound"?

text: What is the difference between "audio" and "sound"? Is it possible that a beeping noise could be considered one but not the other?


title: What does 'condescending' exactly mean?

text: I'm really confused about the meaning of the word 'condescending'. Online dictionaries define it as bossy/disdainful, which fits with... One woman felt that I was a little condescending toward whites, that I sounded like I was superior. But I find other usages where being _condescending_ is obviously considered a good thing, perhaps more like being _humble_ , or _equal_ , rather than _superior_... He took a condescending and friendly interest in the common people. (and here are over 1200 more instances of _"condescending and friendly"_ in Google Books) What's going on? Does this word really have two almost opposite meanings?


title: Is a range of dates singular or plural?

text: Given a sentence such as, "May 17-19 (is/are) available for our meeting," is it best to treat the "May 17-19" as a singular range or a plural number of dates?


title: When to add "the" before a noun followed with a clause

text: E.g. "Although they work in most cases, they cannot handle cases when a comment or script is broken by the cutting" Should I put "the" between "handle" and "cases"?


title: Are there other variations of "slow and steady wins the race"?

text: We know the hare and tortoise story but are there other variants of "slow and steady wins the race"?


title: "sophisticated" is not appropriate in a research paper because it is an opinion?

text: Someone suggested me do not use "sophisticated" in research papers, as it shows an opinion, which is not objective. Is that correct? If so, what are good alternatives?


title: Which is correct, "in the past one hundred years" or "in the past hundred years"?

text: We say "in a few years" but "in the past/last few years". Then how can we express " the period of 100 years leading up to now"? Which is correct, "the last/past one hundred years" or "the last/past hundred years"? Or both?


title: One quote which boggle my mind

text: Browsing through one page I have stumbled upon a quote whose meaning I can't fully understand. This is the citation: > If homosexuality is a disease, let's all call in queer to work: 'Hey can't > work today, still queer'. I can't come up with the meaning for ' _call in queer to work_ '. It would be helpful if someone could elucidate me its meaning.


title: What is the origin of "daemon" with regards to computing?

text: _Daemon_ has an interesting usage in computing. From my local dictionary: > a background process that handles requests for services such as print > spooling and file transfers, and is dormant when not required Does anyone know where this came from? I assume its relation to the word _demon_ is notable. My dictionary also lists _daemon_ as an archaic form of _demon_. Why did computing use _daemon_ instead of _demon_?


title: Word for a Rare Feeling

text: I hope it's not too rare, but at least 1 other person has confirmed having experienced a similar feeling. Small, ordinary things can trigger it, in ordinary situations. Then I sometimes get the strange, transitory feeling like I'm on the verge of a huge discovery into the mystery of existence, the universe and stuff. But then probably the consciousness recedes because it's like your brain hits a wall, and it comes back down to more mundane, familiar things. My question is: If ever anyone has documented such a phenomenon, is there a particular term in English that I can use to refer to precisely this feeling?


title: Does it sound weird to say " I hope I can be of any use (help) to you" in a cover letter?

text: Which one is better? Are they acceptable or do they sound weird in English?


title: Using ellipsis to indicate a pause in conversation

text: Wikipedia has a sentence in its article on ellipsis: > In reported speech, the ellipsis is sometimes used to represent an > intentional silence, perhaps indicating irritation, dismay, shock or > disgust. This usage is more common amongst younger, Internet-savvy > generations.[citation needed] I can find plenty of random internet articles making a similar statement, but is there an actual authoritative grammar source that says this is grammatically correct? Is it just something the "Internet-savvy generations" have invented? Here is an example from a story: > She swallowed hard. "I'm afraid, Mark. Maybe if you might... talk to him?" Here the ellipsis is indicating a verbal hesitation in the quote rather than the typical use of indicating an omission.


title: When is it correct to not use the irregular form for a plural? e.g. mouses vs. mice

text: I seem to recall that an English teacher somewhere along the course of my education had indicated that when referencing distinct types of a word, e.g. a computer mouse and the mammal, it would be proper to refer to them as "two mouses" rather than mice. Is that actually the case? If so, where are the lines commonly drawn - consider for example observing a Canada Goose and a Greylag Goose as a more gray area or perhaps the tooth from a mouth versus a tooth from a saw blade as something quite distinct.


title: What does ‘non-parter’ mean?

text: > In the sleuth hound of 6, Wilbraham Place, Sloane Square, however, he > speedily discovered that he had come up against one of the Untouchables, a > man to whom even Oofy Prosser, that outstanding non-parter, would have felt > compelled to raise his hat. What does this word _non-parter_ mean in this bit of _Uncle Fred in the Springtime_ by P.G. Wodehouse?


title: How is 'via' pronounced and where did these variations come from?

text: Over the years, I've heard people say _'v-ē-ə'_ , _'v-ī-ə'_ , and sometimes the 'uh' is an 'ah' sound. ( _edit_ \- It has come to my attention that 'via' was once a 'wee-ah' from Latin, but I don't feel like this helps my question. If anything, that just makes me wonder why there is that variation in the beginning 'ē' and 'ī'.) Now, I'm guessing the difference between 'uh' and 'ah' may just be regional, but that doesn't explain the **first part** of such a teeny word. This has been driving me nuts for awhile. **I've tried online dictionaries** , asking English teachers, and they all are the reason (as well as TV and movies) for why **I'm still clueless**. (As for the English teachers over my years of schooling, all of them agree to disagree with how it is said. I have one teacher saying 'no' to 'vee-uh' and one saying yes to that way and vice versa.) As for the dictionaries, they can mention the two variations but they don't explain **_why_**. _(edit)_ I guess the reason why I had been confused is because I didn't understand why there was a disagreement about how 'via' is pronounced. Can anyone shine some light on this as well? (I do appreciate the answers I received before I edited my question, but now they are insufficient.)   * Is it appropriate to pronounce it both ways or is only one way correct?   * Also, where did these variations come from? (Via is Latin, yes. However, in Latin, it only had one way of pronouncing it. In English, there are two variants that are questionably debatable, and that is what this question is asking about.)


title: Generic foreign words with specific English meanings

text: There are many words in English that are borrowed from other languages, but acquire a much more specific meaning along the way. For example, _salsa_ in Spanish simply means "sauce", and could be equally well applied to Hollandaise sauce or soy sauce. But in (US) English, _salsa_ always refers to a particular style of spicy sauce, usually based on tomatoes, onions and chili peppers, that is common in (pseudo-)Mexican cuisine. Likewise, _raisin_ is French for "grape", but in English always means a _dried_ grape. (Actually, most of the examples that come to my mind involve food.)   * Does this phenomenon have a name? Where could I read more about it?   * Are there examples of this happening to English words borrowed by other languages?


title: Why do we write $800 but say "800 dollars"

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  In which case are items written in a different order than they are read > aloud? Why don't we write "800 $"? This would be more straightforward -- just as we speak it.


title: Origin of "do not argue with idiots"

text: What is the origin of the phrase “do not argue with idiots”? Please cite some credible references. From googling around, I found these three variations. One came from the Bible but I couldn’t find any credible source for the other two. >   1. Don’t argue with idiots because they will drag you down to their level > and then beat you with experience. — _Greg King_ >   2. Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the > difference. — _Mark Twain_ >   3. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto > him. — _Proverbs 26:4 (King James version)_ > As you can see, only the last one is easily verifiable.


title: Where does gender attach in "brotherly/sisterly"?

text: If Leia loves her brother Luke, does she feel _sisterly_ love (because she is his sister) or _brotherly_ love (because he is her brother)?


title: Is "revert the damage" possible? If yes, is it too official?

text: Can "revert damage inflicted" be used in a letter to a friend? Would it sound too official? If yes, what phrase would you use instead of the high-lightened one below? > Not only did he type all kinds of nonsense and clicked on "Sent" button a > few times on that page, he even tried browsing some others forums where I am > a member and "provided some input" there too. I did punish him when I came > back, but punishing him **_didn't revert all the damage inflicted_**.


title: What does the word 'knocked' mean in the old song "Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road'?

text: What does the word 'knocked' mean in the old song _Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road'_? I really want to know because "knocked" in the song, doesn't make sense to me.


title: Is "injur" a word?

text: Am I going crazy? I think "injur" must be a transitive verb meaning "to cause injury to," as in "the flying debris might injur the bystanders." Yet when I google around and check online dictionaries, I get results saying in effect, "did you mean 'injury', or 'incur', etc.?" Also, the spell checker on WordPerfect X5 doesn't recognize the word "injur." Am I losing it?


title: Is "put" imperative in this sentence?

text: In a writing exercise I sent to my English teacher, she wrote some comments evaluating my writing. Some comments were about what I did, and others were about what I should do. In the sentences about what I should do she used the Imperative form. But, one of the sentences was this one: > Put a touch of personal feeling in your conclusion. The problem is that the word "Put" can be Preterit, Past Participle or Present Participle. So, how can I know if "Put" was used as a Preterit or to build an Imperative clause?


title: What is the etymology of "happy as a sandboy"?

text: "Happy as a sandboy" is obviously a simile for happy / content. Where does it come from and what is the eponymous "sandboy"?


title: Verb to use when light enters quickly into an enclosed space?

text: I wrote the following: > A creaking metallic sound awakened Erin. Raising her eyes, she looked to the > front. It came from the door. Someone was opening the elevator. She waited > expectantly while the struggle continued on the other side, her heart > pounding with each bang. There was a screeching sound. Then, finally, the > door clanked open. **The bright light that (...) in blinded Erin.** I could only think of _come_ and _stream_. But I think they don't give the feeling of light coming in "abruptly." I though of _rush_. But I think it's not very common to use it to describe movement of light? What verb to use to describe light coming in rapidly?


title: Do you know the meaning of the American idiom "pot calling the kettle black"?

text: I just want to conduct a research about this American idiom and how native American people use it. Can you guys answer my questions in the following orders? If you have better questions, I will be very grateful that you list it in your response. 1.Do you know the meaning of this idiom? Or just to come up with the similar idioms and explanations of the idiom. 2.Will you find it difficult to read or pronounce? Why? 3.How will you use it? More in formal occasions or informal occasions? Can you tell me any specific examples? 4.What do you do? Middle or high school students? College students? People who have worked in scientific areas, engineering fields or arts,writing,business areas? 5.I don't know how to ask this question because it is brought up by my sudden thought after my teacher told me that probably young people were not aware of the meaning and usage of this idiom. Any comments that passes through your mind~ Thank you very much!


title: What’s so funny about "You are winner"?

text: I came across one slang thing: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=You%27re%20Winner! While understand that it is grammatically incorrect and you must say "You are the winner", I don't get what’s so funny about it. It does not even change the sense of the sentence much. I mean nobody laughs at you if you say "I am student" or something like that. What's the deal? I was surprised when AVGN (a popular Youtube show) made fun about it in this video around 7:40. He acts like it is soooooooo funny, but I just don't get it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6DtVHqyYts


title: Should it be 10 US$ or US$ 10?

text: Which is correct to use in a sentence, 10 US$ or US$ 10. Perhaps USD should be used instead or even something else?


title: Why is it, "It seems different", but "It comes across differently"?

text: Both phrases describe the manner, appearance, air, etc, of a subject. Why does the former use an adjective to modify the subject, while the latter uses an adverb to modify the verb phrase?


title: What is the time you spend on a thesis called?

text: I finished my thesis today and the title page must contain the starting-date and the finishing date of my work on the thesis. What is this time frame called? It should not only include the time I spent with the actual _writing_ but also the time I spent preparing the thesis, so all time I spent _working_. All templates I received from university are in German, it's "Bearbeitungszeit" there. I came up with the following possibilities   * Work time: April 1, 2011 till May 21, 2011   * Work duration: April 1, 2011 till May 21, 2011   * Writing time: April 1, 2011 till May 21, 2011   * Writing duration: April 1, 2011 till May 21, 2011 By the way: Is the date format correct for American English?


title: Is it right to 'Hmmm'?

text: While in a online conversation(by typing), how do you let know the other person that you are there listening to him/her? I suppose it would be annoying to type 'okay' or 'yes' all the time and right now, I use 'Hmmm' or 'mmm' as if I am nodding my head to what he says. I am not sure this is the right way or is there something better?


title: Meaning of "to charm the skin off a snake"

text: This is a phrase originated from _Dead Run_ by Erica Spindler. Hereunder is the context in the book that I googled. > Rick’s Island Hideaway was the quintessential Key West bar: Jimmy Buffet on > the sound system; killer frozen margaritas; a friendly clientele whose > attire never veered far from shorts and Hawaiian-print shirts; walls hung > with maritime paraphernalia, including a stuffed sailfish and a signed photo > of Key West’s most famous onetime resident, Ernest Hemingway. It was the > same photo that could be found in about ninety percent of the Duval Street > drinking establishments. > > And last but certainly not least,a bartender who could **_charm the skin off > a snake._** What does "charm the skin off a snake" mean exactly? And how to use the phrase nowadays?


title: Can “no problem” ever replace “OK,” "yes, of course," etc., when the respondent has been called to task?

text: Unlike the use of "no problem" as an alternative to "you're welcome" or "my pleasure," neither of which bothers me much in common speech, its use as a reply to an instruction or directive to put right what the respondent has done wrong, particularly if at great expense or at substantial loss of available time, tests my patience and my temper. To my Boomer-generation ear, it says the respondent somehow feels that s/he is doing me a favor by setting things right rather than accepting responsibility for them, and somehow cannot see that a problem truly is involved. Is this a generational shift that I should get used to, or is the use of "no problem" in this context an erroneous use of this expression? (For now, at least.)


title: Etymology of "flounder"

text: The Online Etymology Dictionary reads: > flounder (v.) 1590s, perhaps an alteration of founder (q.v.), influenced by > Dutch flodderen "to flop about," or native verbs in fl- expressing clumsy > motion. Thus, the origin of _flounder_ is not certain. However, after reading that dictionary entry, I wonder if _flounder_ can be simply an embellishment of _founder_ , where the sound unit _fl_ might be used in order to carry a subliminal meaning of heavy movement, according to J. R. Firth's theory. Can this origin be realistically considered?


title: Term for poetry that mimics what it describes

text: I'm blanking on the term for when a verse mimics that which it describes - for example, a poem talking about a confusing encounter would become confusing itself - each time I search for it I keep coming up with _onomatopoeia_ and it's starting to frustrate me.


title: Synonym or short phrase for 'entablature'

text: I am not sure if this word has multiple meanings, but I am using it in an architectural context. Classical orders have distinctive columns with distinctive capitals. However, when I say each style also has a distinctive _entablature_ , I am guessing many readers won't know what what the word entablature means (I didn't). So next to the word 'entablature', I would like to put in parentheses a synonym or _very short_ phrase that defines the word 'entablature'. Essentially, my question boils down to: **What is a synonym or very-short phrase for the word 'entablature'?**


title: Anachronistic equivalent for regional disparity

text: Is there an equivalent term to anachronistic when referring to regional disparities between concepts rather than chronological ones?


title: Is that sentence is correct

text: I wonder that following sentence is correct way to use?               It is updated as the user inputs new information.       Does **As** adverb is used in right way in that sentence? Or Do I have to use this sentence like:               It is updated when the user inputs new information.      So which one is more formal? Thanks


title: What does "clutching at straws" mean?

text: In the following context: > I'm clutching at straws here. I'm trying to imagine how a woman could fail > to be offended by being called a "hole". What's meant by "clutching at straws"?


title: Word meaning for phenomenon where one issue is incorrectly believed to be tied to another

text: I work in IT and we run into a common issue where whenever we announce that we have done something like adding a new feature to a program, updating servers or what have you... users start coming forward with lists of problems they have that they think are related to the changes. For example we announced this morning that last night we turned on a feature to automate a process of sending out several different email notices to customers. This afternoon I got called into an emergency meeting about the new email "thing" being "all messed up". It turns out one user on the billing team received a standard email send reject notice from a customers email server because their mailbox was full and not accepting emails. Obviously in no way related to what we did but they had a panic attack and thought it was. So long winded description but what i'm looking for is if there is some word or phrase for this phenomenon.


title: Origin of the term "driver" in computer science

text: According to Wikipedia: > … a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher- > level computer programs to interact with a hardware device. What is the origin of the term _driver_ as used in the above reference? I’ve googled around a bit but haven’t been able to find an answer.


title: "Manifest" vs. "manifested"

text: Which of the following is correct? > This idea is **manifest** in two influential theories. > > This idea is **manifested** in two influential theories. What I want to say is that there is a common idea underlying both theories.


title: flight connection, airlink, or connecting flight?

text: If you want to know if there are flights from airport A to airport B, what do you ask? -Are there flight connections between airport A and B? -Are there airlinks between airport A and B? -Are there connecting flights between airport A and B? What is the best word?


title: What does “switch off” mean?

text: I read a blog post which includes the following sentence: > I hear many PhD students say they feel stressed because they can’t switch > off. What does the term _switch off_ mean in the sentence above? I guess it means a person switching between different status, but still I need your confirmation.


title: Is “impurposely” a word?

text: I want to express the meaning of doing something without an definite purpose: is there a word **_impurposely_**? If not, which word should I use?


title: "I am working" or "I have worked almost two months at this project"?

text: Which one is correct? > "I am working almost two months at this project" or > "I have worked almost two months at this project" I want to give this meaning: _I'm still working on it._


title: An expression for someone who makes difficulties for himself

text: Is there a word or expression for someone who is often a cause of difficulties that he later has to overcome? For example, a man who always has to work extra hours to finish his job at time just because when he _has_ time he slacks instead working. Or maybe a good chess player that makes silly mistakes because he always underestimates his opponent (and later has to try hard to compensate for these mistakes). So basically I want a word or expression for someone who makes avoidable and totally unnecessary difficulties for himself.


title: Progessive or simple aspect?

text: Is he still smoking? vs Does he still smoke? Which aspect would be correct, progessive or simple? In my opinion, the first question sounds somehow better, however, I think the second question is grammatically more correct, as smoking is a habit simple aspect should be used...


title: Meaning of "jump his way"

text: What does _jump his way_ in the following phrase mean? **Who watched "Fearless Felix" jump his way into the record books?**


title: The exact sense and origin of "to stick it to someone"

text: From a blogpost at BBC, Did internet kill the radio star? > David Lowery, lead singer for the bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, > tells the BBC that illegal sharing of music files **is sticking it to the > "hippy freak musician"** , while internet service providers and other big > corporations still get their profits. I found some definitions: "to treat severely or wrongfully / to give someone a problem; to confront someone / to punish someone who did something wrong earlier." But that does not clarify the use of the word "stick". So I'm still curious what is the exact etymology here. In what sense is 'stick' used: "to glue, to attach" or "to press something against something else"? Or "to beat with a stick"? Does 'stick it' derive from, pardon my French, something like "shove it up your ..."? If yes, why does it use the preposition 'to'? And isn't it verging on very rude in this case? Seems to be already mild enough to appear on the BBC website..


title: Which meaning is more common for expressions like “over the bridge”?

text: While asking for the location of my airport’s window in the United States, I was told that it was over the bridge. My first impression was that it must be _above_ the bridge, but since there was nothing above the bridge, I started walking towards the bridge and saw that it was _on the other side of_ the bridge. After coming back I went through the dictionary and found the “other side of ” meaning of the word above, which I did not know earlier. That is weird because _over_ is used all the time. Which of those two meaning is the more common usage of _over_ , above something or on the other side of it?


title: "Chinese" or "China"?

text: I read an American magazine that usually contains three or four articles each week about the business climate in China.   1. This week, however, the magazine did not have any Chinese news.   2. This week, however, the magazine did not have any China news.  Which sentence, semantically speaking, is better?


title: What would be the best answer for ( happy birth day wish you all the best )?

text: What would be the best answer for ( **happy birth day to you , wish you all the best** )?


title: Is "12:30", (the time of day), an abstract noun?

text: Nothing else to add, I just want to make sure.


title: Exempli Gratia help

text: Is there a plural for _e.g._ , the abbreviation of _exempli gratia_? Or is it regular to use it before multiple examples? I know that some abbreviations double up in their letters in the plural, but I haven't found anything enlightening yet.


title: Is there a word for selecting yourself as the target audience for an invention or product?

text: Let me explain this with an example. An inventor faces a problem, he decides to develop a solution for it. Initially, he is the main target audience for his invention. I was wondering if there was an single word to describe this, a word that would mean "to solve your own problem" as a verb or "as a solution to his own problem". I was thinking at a compound word with the prefix auto perhaps? http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/auto- EDIT: Example usage: "The developer of the app said it started out as an (...) application (to solve his own problem). Now his company succeeds to target a more broad target audience." Is there one word that can replace the text in brackets?


title: what does "off-the-shelf" mean?

text: I am applying for a job and in my proposal my mentor commented the following. Please explain me what it means. ME: Finally I found something promising. Please have a look Mentor: That's a good find Atul :) These are good open source tools and **we can use off-the-shelf.** What does 'we can use off the shelf' mean here?


title: "Common to" OR "Common in"

text: Which preposition is used with common when I mean to say that these features are common in/to all the applications? Is there another way to write this type of a sentence?


title: What do "take ground" and "vested in" mean in this context?

text: Here is an extract from the headnote of a case [1] I am trying to understand: > The defendants, who were wharfingers, agreed with the plaintiff for a > consideration to allow his vessel to discharge and load her cargo at their > wharf, which abutted upon the River Thames. It was necessary in order that > the vessel might be unloaded that she should be moored alongside a jetty of > the defendants which ran into the river, and that **_she should take ground > with her cargo at the ebb of the tide_**. Additionally, if anyone could help illuminate this next part for me, I'd be most grateful: > _**The bed of the river at the point where she took ground was vested in the > Conservators_** , and the defendants had no control over it, but it was > admitted that they had taken no steps to ascertain whether it was suitable > for the vessel to ground upon. [1] “The Moorcock”, **The Law Reports. Probate Division in the Courts of Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Division, Great Britain** , Volume 13, page 157 (July 1888)


title: Archetype in which a person sees he had the objective with him all along

text: Is there a name for the plot archetype in which the hero goes on a quest, only to realize in the end that he had the objective with him to start with? Is this a recognized archetype?


title: Abbreviation for "or the rest" (or "or others")?

text: The Latin et cetera, abbreviated etc., is often used at the end of an incomplete, inclusive list of items when it is clear that there are more items than can be enumerated conveniently and there is no ambiguity about what the omitted items are. For example: "Joseph's amazing technicolor dreamcoat was red, yellow, green, brown, scarlet, etc." Is there an equivalent abbreviation that would serve a similar purpose when the list is exclusive? "My mother hit your mother in the nose. What color blood came out? Was it red, yellow, green, brown, scarlet, ...?" I have always just rewritten the sentence or written out the full "or something else," but the lack of complementary abbreviation to etc. has always bothered me.


title: "Kernel" vs. "core"

text: What's the difference between _kernel_ and _core_? The more I look for a difference between both, the more confused I get. I know both nouns because of IT, but I'm looking for the actual roots in actual English, not technical lingo. It seems to be used for the central fruit parts, but are they interchangeable? Does it depend on which fruit we are talking about?


title: Verb: "to make an incorrect statement"

text: What's the verb that means: to make an anecdotal statement (based on casual observations) as if it were a fact? I don't think it's _"to lie"_ because this person believes it's the truth. He is unknowingly stating a fallacy.


title: Is this adjective or adverbial?

text: > When are you getting the train back to Adelaide? Is the phrase _back to Adelaide_ an adjective phrase that modifies _the train_ or adverbial to _are getting_?


title: What is the meaning of "way better"

text: I sometimes hear people use "I hope you feel way better","This is way more than I was expecting" and etc. Could you explain this type of usage and what is the difference between "feeling better" and "feeling way better"?


title: If enough people start using a word contextually wrong when does the word's meaning change?

text: Example Say some percent of the English speaking population started using the word "sky" to replace the meaning of "cloud", at what percent would you be wrong in using the word "sky" to refer to the sky.


title: Can schwa be made in the word, calm?

text: Can the schwa[ə] sound be made even in the word **calm** , while which is being said in the sentences?


title: What do students call their teacher in class?

text: Well, years ago I was an English teacher in an English Teaching Institute. In the country I live, students call their teachers by saying "Mr. Teacher" or "Teacher" (literally translated) in schools. In places other than schools and universities, students also can call their teacher by saying "Mr. X", and in universities they call their professor by saying "Dr." and "Master". It was always question for me that in an English class what should I be called by my students because I didn't know what American students call their teacher in class. To sum up my question, what do students call their teacher in class in a typical school in the U.S.? Is it different for the students of primary school and secondary school? I would be glad to hear the same question about England and Australia.


title: What does the "bother" mean in the sentence?

text: > A: Oh bother the Sex Discrimination Act. Surely they can't force me to take > on a married woman. Thanks.


title: How to determine if an attribute applies to a group or a specific individual

text: I am in the middle of an argument, and therefore trying to figure out the breakdown of the definition: > _a member of a military group devoted to engineering work_ which appears in Merriam-Webster's entry for "engineer" (Definition 1). The dictionary entry also includes this example sentence: > _Army engineers were called in to construct the canal_. I assume the definition means 'a member of a group in the military where the group is devoted to engineering work' while the person with whom I am arguing assumes the sentence means 'an individual who is devoted to engineering work who is also in a military group'. I am looking for both what the definition means, as well as why it means what it does. This would ideally take the form of citing some official guide (MLA, Chicago, etc...), but if the explanation is cogent enough it will still be extremely useful.


title: Is the phrase grammatically correct?

text: Said phrase is "He thought himself a simple man." I'm wondering if the sentence is grammatically correct, and if not, a better sentence.


title: Antonym for force (verb)

text: What is the antonym for the verb force? (i.e. antonym of 'urge or force (a person) to an action')


title: Should “How long were you at work?” have a simple or a compound tense?

text: I would like to know, if the following sentence can ever be correct in any context? > How long were you at work? Or it must be: > How long had you been at work? For example: > How long were you at work yesterday. I guess I cannot use present perfect here (the past is specified). Is my guess correct?


title: Sincerity and generosity in sentences

text: > (1)   If you want anything to eat, there are plenty of eggs. > > (2)   If you are at all hungry, there are plenty of eggs. > > (3)   If you're the least bit hungry, there are plenty of eggs. Of the three types of sentences which one sounds most sincere and generous?


title: Can I say "I am positively sure"

text: I am working on my book report assignment and I have such sentence, I am positively sure that this book is a great book. My friend is editing it and comments, "positively" is not right to use here and he suggests I should either say, "I am pretty sure that ...", or "I am positive that ...". The reason is there is no such thing as "I am negatively sure". I am wondering if he is right. Could you let me know how you think?


title: List of all English intensifiers

text: Is there a list of English intensifiers available on the web? Also, for bonus points have the intensity (slight, moderate, high) with each word. I hope this is not an unreasonable request.


title: Correct spelling of "program"

text: I mostly have exposure to American English online. I am currently writing out a resume and need some help. In Australia, in general, we write _programme_ to mean a schedule or community programme. However with computer studies I'm inclined to write _program_ to mean a computer program rather than the proverbial programme. What is the correct spelling?


title: Clarify the difference between "program" and "programme"

text: What is the difference between The Noun: Program and Programme ?? What should i use?


title: Is Addenbrooke's site/Site a proper noun?

text: Is Addenbrooke's site/ Addenbrooke's Site a proper noun or not? I think the answer depends on the context. The title of the article is _Addenbrooke's Hospital_ , supposedly a proper noun. For instance, would _Addenbrooke's Site_ be a synonym for _Addenbrooke's Hospital_ and would a synonym also be a proper noun?


title: Tired in an enjoyable way

text: I'm looking for a single word meaning "tired or fatigued in a good or enjoyable manner", as one would feel after a good day's work, or after some proper exercise. For example: > After a strenuous gym session my body felt enjoyably tired. I've considered _tired, fatigued,_ and _worn out_ but they all seem to have negative connotations.


title: What is the military term for calling attention to yourself, in a negative way?

text: There is a military term or idiom, which I cannot recall exactly, that essentially means calling negative attention to yourself. For example, you are doing something you know you shouldn't be doing. By asking the question, "Hey, is it OK to do this?" you get yourself in trouble; when if you kept your mouth shut, no one would have noticed what you were doing. It had something to do with having a silhouette; it made me think of walking on the crest of a hill, where you could be easily spotted by a sniper, as opposed to walking with the hill behind you, so you didn't stand out. It's not "keep your head down".


title: Backfill - meaning

text: Source: http://rt.com/news/155168-us-eu-sanctions-russia/ > But Europe has much to lose from imposing economic sanctions on Russia, and > Obama said he sees how US-only sanctions won’t work. > > “If we, for example, say that we are not going to allow certain arms sales > to Russia, but every European defense contractor **backfills** what we do, > then it’s not very effective,” he said. What does the verb **backfill** mean in this context?


title: “I'm a student at UCLA” or “I'm a student in UCLA”?

text: Sounds simple, but I've always been confused. I am also not sure about using the definite article, like “I'm a student in/at the UCLA.” Is that normative American English? Thanks for your help.


title: Word for feeling of being used by someone

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Word with meaning of "taking advantage of somebody" Is there a word for the feeling of being used by someone? For example, > Person X used Person Y for monetary gains. > > Person X after being in love with Person Y, felt used when he/she left him.


title: Bodkins and bodkin - Same word different context?

text: Does bodkins in "odd's bodkins" mean the same as bare bodkin, which appears in Hamlet? (Other than being plural in the first example)


title: In my example, how do I use an adjective and a verb to describe a plural noun?

text: In one of my graphs, I have label called "Aggravated Assault Arrests". Is it correct to say I do not need a hyphen between the words - "aggravated" and "assault"? If I refer to this in my writing, is it correct for me to say "aggravated assault arrests" without any hyphen?


title: Best way to call an artist that is not famous

text: What is the best way to call an artist that is not famous?   * Emergent artist   * New artist   * Any other


title: Is there a connotational difference between "Reality" and "Actuality"?

text: The motto for the TruTV channel has always bugged me: _Not reality, actuality._ At least from online dictionaries I have looked up these words on, they seem equivalent. The definitions even reference one another. > ac·tu·al·i·ty > >   1. The state or fact of being actual; reality. >   2. Actual conditions or facts. > > > re·al·i·ty > >   1. The quality or state of being actual or true. >   2. One, such as a person, an entity, or an event, that is actual: >   3. The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence. >   4. That which exists objectively and in fact. > Is this motto just silly, or is there really some connotation to these words that I am not aware of that makes them distinct?


title: Communication technique which transforms our point of view by looking at the same situation from different perspectives

text: How is it called a communication technique which transforms our point of view by looking at the same situation from different perspectives, as it is described in sentences below? > “Your mother constantly interferes into your life.” > > “Your mother would like to thus protect you.”


title: Difference between "attended to by" and "attended by"

text: In following, what are the differences between these two sentences?   * I was **_attended to_** by a specialist doctor.   * I was **_attended_** by a specialist doctor.


title: Difference between “purpose”, “aim”, “target”, “goal”, “objective”, and “ambition”

text: What is the difference between “purpose”, “aim”, “target”, “goal”, “objective”, and “ambition”? I found these questions:   * Difference between “aim” and “purpose”   * Difference between “purpose” and “goal”   * What's the difference in meaning and usage between “target” and “goal”? But I still do not understand: which word should I choose in what circumstances? I would like to see a generalized rule to select one of the six options.


title: "Function defined on/over the set A"

text: For the mathematically inclined fellows: If _f_ is a function whose domain is the set _A_ , do you say that _f_ is defined on _A_ or over _A_? Do both prepositions apply here or is the use of one of them decidedly wrong?


title: What's the meaning of "refer" and "introduce"?

text: What's the implication of the following sentences? >   * Could you refer me to the job? >   * Could you introduce me to the job? >


title: A term for someone who distributes flyers

text: I am looking for a single word to describe someone who distributes flyers. **Distributor** doesn't seem right, **part-timer** may not be true, **labourer** is too generic. Is there a job title for such a role?


title: In what dialects does "often" rhyme with "soften"?

text: I believe in most English dialects _soften_ is pronounced without a **t** sound. In some dialects, _often_ is similar, but in others a _t_ sound is quite evident in _often_. I'm interested not only in which areas of the world fall into each camp, but also whether there has been a recent transition going on in the pronunciation of the _t_. In the American dialect I grew up with, the _t_ was silent, but in the last 10 or 15 years it seems to the _t_ sound has become frequent. It may even have become predominant, but perhaps my brain has only been registering the pronounced-t instances since they are dissonant to my ear. My impression comes mainly from American broadcast media.


title: "Many of my friends" vs "many friends"

text: I was writing a complaint to an Indian website and got confused between: > I recommended your website to many of my friends versus > I recommended your website to my many friends I am not a native English speaker, so please feel free to add points, alternate phrase to convey the same message or comment on my email writing.


title: From the viewpoint of us/we, the people?

text: From the viewpoint of us, the people / From the viewpoint of we, the people Hi guys, I'm not sure which one is correct. I'm trying to say that I am also part of the people, and I'm not sure if I should use 'us' or 'we'?


title: The placement of "only" in a sentence with perfect continuous tense and "been"

text: I was just wondering if there is a significant difference between placing "only" before and after the word "been". Examples: I've only been fixing cars since I was young. vs I've been only fixing cars since I was young. What I wish to convey is that something has consumed someone so much that they haven't done anything else noteworthy in their life. Because "only" qualifies the object after it, I believe the latter is correct, but determining whether or not "been" affects its placement has proven difficult. Thank you.


I have just bought a book: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/AbQwC.gif) What's the meaning of 'In easy-to-read type'? Does it mean it's not the original version, but a simplified one?


title: What is the origin of "fine" meaning a legal penalty?

text: What is the origin of the word _fine_ meaning a legal penalty involving the payment of a sum of money?


title: What's the difference between "a picture of the king" and "a picture of the king's"?

text: > A picture of the king. > > A picture of the king's. What exactly is the difference between the two?


title: You can spend all your love making time?

text: "You can spend all your time making money; You can spend all your love making time." from the song _Take it to the limit_ by The Eagles, the phrase "love making time" makes me wonder. Does it mean someone refuses to make love (supposed that takes a long time on dating) in order to spend more time to make more money? I mean, "love-making" is a phrase to decorate the word "time", just like "you can spend all your precious time". or Spend love to make time, just like "Spend time to make money"? This becomes obvious when I read the answers to this question. So my question: How can one spend love to make time? Love is what you gain after spending a lot of time with other (if lucky), how can you spend love if you don't gain it first by spending time?


title: What is the structure of the sentence 'const to the rescue'?

text: The following is the context: > Despite my fastidious coding habits, I have made a silly mistake and typed > += when I meant to type +. As a result, when concatUnsafe is called, it will > modify the arguments out and s1, which may come as surprise to the userwho > would expect a concatenation function to modify one of the source strings? > > _const to the rescue._


title: "I let him do it" and "I allow him to do it", why exactly does one require 'to'?

text: > I let him do it. and > I allow him to do it. Why does the latter require _to_? What are the "rules" of using _to_ with an infinitive? When is it necessary?


title: Single word for "thin slice"

text: I thought of _slither_ , but I ruled it out as it has negative connotations that I wish to avoid in the context. I would use the word in a phrase like "a thin slice of bread" or "thinly sliced carrots."


title: Infinitive Clause For "Curious"

text: I need some help about the infinitive clause that comes after "curious".   Let's say that I am "curious" about a locked room. Then, could I write this: > I am curious to open the door. I checked a few dictionaries, and they say that the infinitive clause after "curious" should be along the lines of "to know", "to find out", or "to see", not "to open".   Does that mean my example is wrong?


title: "Good bye", "Bye", "Bye bye"

text: I'm a non-native English speaker and sometimes it's hard for me to pick up the right word in some situations. Could you, please, explain when it's better to use **"goodbye"** for ending a conversation, when **"bye"** fits well, and is it appropriate to use **"bye bye"** at all? When is it better to use other options, for example **"see you soon"** , **"see you later"** and the like?


title: Why is the "a" in "cocoa" silent?

text: Not being a native speaker of English, one of those words that tripped me up is “cocoa”. Besides having its vowels inverted from “cacao”; it also is pronounced exactly the same as “coco”, whereas “cacao” isn't pronounced “caca” and “boa” isn't pronounced “bo”. So why is the “a” in “cocoa” silent? Phonetic spelling from a dictionary: > **cocoa** |ˈkōkō|   >  _noun_   >  1 a chocolate powder ... > > **coco** |ˈkōkō|   >  _noun_ ( pl. -cos)   >  1 [usu. as adj. ] coconut : coco matting ... > > **cacao** |kəˈkou; kəˈkāō|   >  _noun_ ( pl. -os)   >  1 beanlike seeds from which cocoa ... > > **boa** |ˈbōə|   >  _noun_   >  1 a constrictor snake ...


title: Why do I so often want to replace "happen" in sentences?

text: Consider the following variant sentences: > Colloquia and seminars both happen in an academic setting. and > Colloquia and seminars both occur in an academic setting. Using _happen_ to describe ongoing events often sounds very wrong to my ear -- I usually prefer _occur_ or some such variant, but I have no idea why that preference should be justified. Is using _occur_ (or something like that) actually better here, or am I being overly pedantic? I'd love an explanation.


title: "strongly" or "strong"?

text: Is _strongly_ correct in the following, or should it be _strong_? > ... and had a strongly Protestant and unionist identity. What is the explanation in grammar terms? Context.


title: Spelling "Yeah" and "Yea"

text: When I read the words _"yea"_ or _"yeah"_ , each spelling can mean two different things.   * An exclamation of joy, as in,  > _Yea[h]_ for ice cream!`   * Assent, like "yep" or "yes", as in,  > _Yea[h]_ , Mom, of course I fed the dogs. The two meanings not only have different pronunciation, but they're also not differentiable using context clues. For example, folks will commonly say _"Yeah"_ as a one-word answer in a chat or a one-word comment in a forum. Is there a better way to spell these so as to differentiate them without context? Or, perhaps, do these two different spellings have two different meanings, and I just didn't notice?


title: Where does alphabetical order come from?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is there a reason behind the ordering of letters in the English alphabet? Alphabetical order seems something obvious, we do not usually ask ourselves if it is the best possible one, why it is this way, and most of all what is its origin. As the title says, what is the historical origin of the alphabetical order?


title: 'I knew you are John's brother' vs 'I knew you were John's brother'

text: Suppose you are John's brother, and I talked with you several days ago. I knew that when I talked with you. Now I'm meeting with you again and want to tell you I knew then that you are John's brother. Which of (1) or (2) should I say? >   1. I knew you are John's brother >   2. I knew you were John's brother >


title: What's a word meaning somebody who does things that are publicly noticeable?

text: I'm trying to come up with a synonym for "outspoken" with a connotation of "makes a scene about something in public", but I can't find it.


I mean person who administrates something is called administrator. Person who manages something is called manager. How to call a person who works with statistics?


title: Is there a way to transform "found" to stand for "things which have been found"?

text: I can think of use _discoveries_ as the _things which have been found_. Is there a way to do that by transforming the word _found_? Like we can say "things which belong to you" as "your belongings".


title: have/teach classes

text: If I can't be at work and have classes with my group, and I wan't to ask my colleague to substitute for me. Can I ask: Can you **have classes** with my group? Can you **teach** my classes? Thank you!


title: “Have you no shame?”

text: Are these questions grammatically correct?   1. Have you no shame?   2. Have you no money?    3. Has he a friend?  or it is not allowed to use _have_ and _has_ (in this situation) to make a question?


title: should i say the attached has 6 files or the attached have 6 files?

text: I have two question for the following sentence: "the attached document has 6 files ,if none of them suited what you are looking for let me know. " Q1: should i say the attached has 6 files or the attached have 6 files ? Q2: is it right to say "if none of them suited what you are looking for"?


title: Can I say “the Iowa caucus result may ‘tip Newt Gingrich off’ GOP presidential ticket”?

text: Further to my question about the meaning of “Work on your issue” in Time magazine’s article, “Playing favorites,” there was another phrase I’m unfamiliar with in the subsequent sentence; “One 2007 Norwegian study showed that firstborn have a 3-point IQ advantage over later siblings, partly a result of being the exclusive focus of their parents’ attention in the earliest part of life. These benefits accrue like compounding interest. A small IQ advantage may yield a similar edge in SAT scores, which may _tip firstborn off the Harvard waiting list_ and into the entering class. I looked for the definition and usage of the phrase, “ _tip somebody off someplace_ (Harvard waiting list / position, situation, whatever) in English dictionaries at hand, but was unable to find any relevant answer. They show “tip A off (off A)” as an idiom meaning “secretly inform a person / police about (against) something,” which I don’t think applicable to the above sentence. From the context of the above sentence, I guess “tip somebody off someplace” means to place somebody successfully (or luckily) to someplace or status, but I’m not sure. What does “A similar edge in SAT scores may tip firstborn off the Harvard (entitlement),” exactly mean? Can I apply the phrase to other instance, e.g. “The Iowa caucus result may tip Newt Gingrich off GOP presidential ticket”?


title: Other words that end with 'come'

text: Drake has lyrics that go _as long as the outcome is income_ It was a nice play on words and I'd like to write a new headline for a law firm that speaks to them being the guys to go to in understanding how the national budget affects businesses. The problem is that they can't claim to make their clients money so I was wondering what other words start with something else but still end with -come. i.e. Out-come, In-come. I know I'm asking for something tricky here but would appreciate any help regardless.


title: 'Oldest' for age vs. length of time

text: This discussion arose around the statement _"PersonX was my oldest high-school friend"_ The intention was to refer to length of time known (roughly the opposite of 'most recent') as opposed to meaning that the friend was older in years (age). After reading this thread on eldest vs oldest it seems that oldest would, indeed, by the right word to describe most-aged friend. Was the original statement incorrect? If so what is the proper term?


title: Beating them "with my gloves on"

text: This is a comment made on a discussion on a roadrage incident, > Anyone attacks me in traffic while I'm on my bike, I'm beating the f-ck out > of them with my gloves on. What does he mean by "with my gloves on"? I looked it up and I found that there's an idiom _the gloves are off_ , which is, > used to say that somebody is ready for a fight or an argument or, _with the gloves off_ meaning > With or ready to dispense rough treatment. But _with the gloves on_ does he mean he will beat the attacker not as roughly, or unexpectedly? What does he mean? Edit: This is the actual full comment: > Wonder if you could have pulled a gun on that guy and watch him sh-t > himself. Anyone attacks me in traffic while I'm on my bike, I'm beating the > f-ck out of them with my gloves on. And the comment was made based on this video of the incident.


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

text: Many character roles have stereotypically defined behavior, e.g. macho soldiers or helpless princesses. Sometimes authors intentionally defy those stereotypes for humor, and to call attention to readers' usual assumptions. What is the name of this literary device, where an author flouts a stereotype for humor? I can't think of an appropriate word (or even short phrase) for the life of me. Any thoughts appreciated. * * * For example, the following comic depicts Shaolin monks, but instead of following their stereotype of being silent and serious, there is corny humor and a spit-take. http://www.shilongpang.com/?number=225 Other examples: http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Abe-Lincoln- Riding-Grizzly-Bear-Holding-Gun.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa1rjCZxtxo&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tYLb3teB14 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H2W1lK7P-I


title: What's the meaning of 'haler'?

text: This doesn't seem to be general reference, because in the context I've seen it used tonight (the London riots), it certainly isn't referring to a coin, or 'a person who hails'. I've heard it used several times now by mainstream media reporters; they saw someone with a "loud haler". Here's an example from Twitter: > 5 live producer reports seeing rioter with loud haler - calling for friends, > seems very organised Does anyone have any idea what they mean here by 'haler'? Even Urban Dictionary doesn't seem to have a satisfactory definition. My best guess is it's some London street slang for 'megaphone', but can anyone confirm?


title: What word defines a category suited for both header and footer?

text: So there I was, trying to ask a question (now on SO) on Webmaster.SE partly involving a ' _header_ ' and a ' _footer_ '. One part of my code defines shared aspects of both the header and the footer. Anyway to cut a long story short, I became somewhat stuck as to what I wanted to name the class they share. All I could come up with was Xer, HeaderFooter and sandwich. Similar word groups like ' _suffix_ ' and ' _prefix_ ' give me the same issue, coming up with Xfix which is just awful nomenclature! > What categorically describes both headers and footers? > > Further edit: I want to emphasize that I am _not_ concerned about the web > design/coding aspect of this at all. I could easily just name it > _div.CantThinkOfName_ if that were the issue. I'm referring to header/footer > as it applies to any document or setting in the English language. > > **Final Results** : Best coinage is **_Running Marginals_**. I've chosen > Running Sections as the correct answer as this phrase is already in use > while awarding bounty to Marginals (which eventually became running > marginals) as this is a more relate-able terminology.


title: Opposite of "prediction"

text: What is the opposite of the word _prediction_? I thought of _retrospect_ but that refers to events that already happened.


title: Word for "stepping stone" or "lemma"

text: I seem to remember reading a definition for a word that conveyed the idea of "an instance of doing something that prepares one for something else". Something like a _lemma_ but not restricted to mathematics. Did that describe a word you know? I'm 95% sure there's actually a simple noun that specifically denotes something that you use to get ready for the more challenging version of the same thing. My question isn't limited to what I'm writing right now, I'm just curious - but here is a little more context: I'm introducing the reader to game theory. I take her through two games. One prepares her for the other. It isn't practice, it's just getting familiar with it. I'd liken it to the climb to Everest base camp. In fact, you could use that, "The climb to Everest base camp is a __ ___ for the climb to the summit."


title: We think we have a top-seller on/in our hands?

text: I know this on our hands/in our hands discrepancy has been discussed here in a broad way, but since it's idiomatic, I think it would be helpful to consider a few specific examples, like the one here. Would you use "on our hands" or "in our hands" here, and why? It refers to something you invented and produced, and you're guessing it will do well on the market. So you're not having anything literally in your hands. You don't know if it's a top-seller yet, you just think it will become one. That's why "on our hands" seems right to me. Am I wrong?


What is the definition of "You're so far behind, you think you're first"? Should a dictionary entry of this expression be "One is so far behind, one thinks he is first"?


title: What does “Come-to Jesus (moment / stage / meeting)” mean? Is it a popular word?

text: There was the following sentence in Maureen Dowd’s article titled, “The spies who didn’t love her” in New York Times (March 11). > Barack Obama-- vowing to clean up the excesses and Constitutional corrosion > of W. and Cheney, will now have to clean up the excesses and Constitutional > corrosion in his own administration. And he’d better get out from between > two ferns and get in between the warring Congressional Democrats and > administration officials - - because it looks as if the C.I.A. is continuing > to run amok to cover up what happened in the years W. and Vice encouraged it > to run amok. Langley needs **a come-to-Jesus moment** — pronto. > > http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/12/opinion/dowd-the-spies-who-didnt-love- > her.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0 As I was unfamiliar with the meaning of the word, “come-to-Jesus moment, I checked CED, OED, and Merriam Webster.” None of them carries this word. However, online dictionary site, weblio provides the definition of “come-to- Jesus” as:   1. to experience or display a conversion or recommitment to Christianity or to undergo a related ritual, especially public confession of one's sins or weaknesses.   2. to become committed or display commitment to a cause. And Dictjuggler defines it as ‘unwilling / reluctant (to do),' e.g. a come-to- Jesus meeting. I understand Langley is the CIA headquarters. But what does “Langley needs a come-to-Jesus moment” exactly mean? Does it mean simply a ‘trial,’ or ‘investigation’? Is “come-to-Jesus” (moment / meeting / stage) a popular phrase? Can I say “I feel like come-to-Jesus meeting to present the annual sales plan to management for their review?”


title: Word for tower used for keeping watch by security

text: What word can I use for a tower where security personnel stand to keep watch on an area?


title: "Pick up something" or "pick something up"?

text: I have difficulties with word order: >   * I have picked up the pencil from the floor. [says my dictionary]   >  ?I have picked the pencil up from the floor. [could be?] >   * ?I will pick up it. [sounds weird]   >  I will pick it up. [sounds right to me] >


title: Is describing something as 'detailed and concise' an oxymoron?

text: For example: > The instructions must be detailed and concise.


title: Is there an adjective for people who prefer seeing diagrams rather than reading words?

text: I have a friend who prefer seeing diagrams rather than reading words. Is there an adjective to represent his character?


title: How should apostrophes be used with parenthetical plurals?

text: The following two sentences make sense; the first is where there's one system with one or more associated databases, the second is where there's multiple systems with one or more databases:               Backup the system's database(s).          Backup the systems' database(s).      What convention should be used when there may be multiple systems? e.g.               Backup the system((')s(')) database(s).


title: a year later VS a year on

text: When one wishes to say that something will happen in the future, one would say, for example, either _ten years later_ or _ten years on_. What I would like to know is if there are any semantic or stylistic differences between _a year later_ and _a year on_. Or can they be used interchangeably? I would also like to know which of the following sounds more natural in English: 1a. Some years later, I did... 1b. Some years on, I did... 2a. It was not until a year or so later that I... 2b. It was not until a year or so on that I...


title: word for something like blessing

text: Consider these occasions where I don't know what word should I use : > Keep on giving part of your income to charities. It will give your money ... > and causes your wealth to increase. and > Letting disabled people to work for your company will give your wealth ... > and brings more fortune to you. I'm not a preacher but I want to know what is a proper word for these situations. Is there any very suitable word to fit into theses sentences ?


title: Assembler, Installer, Fitter

text: Say, you buy some new office furniture. You get the furniture parts delivered including the service to put the different parts - for example the desk top and the desk legs - together to complete furniture ready for usage. Is the person who carries out this service called `"Assembler"`, `"Installer"` or `"Fitter"` and is his service called `"Assembly"`, `"Installation"` or `"Fitting"`? Are the words interchangeable? Do they have different connotations? Are there other contexts where they are not interchangeable?


title: What preposition should be used with the 'wrap' verb?

text: * I want to wrap it WITH the paper   * I want to wrap it IN the paper   * I want to wrap it BY the paper


title: What does 'later this month' mean?

text: 1. If today were April 30 (actually it is), what does 'later this month' mean?   2. If today were April 15, what does 'later this month' mean?   3. If today were April 1, what does 'later this month' mean? ADD: If today is Monday, when I say 'this Friday', I would mean the coming Friday. So, I thought 'this' might have some meaning relevant to some future. For question 1, I thought the answer could be later half of May, couldn't it?


title: Is the usage of a hyphen in "ad hoc" acceptable?

text: I know that "ad hoc" is a Latin phrase and I've typically seen it used without a hyphen. However, many technical articles use a hyphen. For example: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/ad_hoc_mode.html "Ad-hoc mode is useful for establishing a network where wireless infrastructure does not exist or where services are not required." Is "ad hoc" always the correct usage? If it can be "ad-hoc", is the usage of the hyphen specific to certain circumstances?


title: Are “Pull away the punch bowl from somebody’s hand” and “Leave punch bawl out there” an established English idiom?

text: I found the phrase, “pull away the punch bowl out of X” and “leave the punch bawl in X” in the following sentence of Time’ magazine’s article (May 17) titled “Is the Fed to blame for JPMorgan’s $2 bill blow-up”: “It is said that the job of a central bank is to * _pull away the punch bowl before it gets out of hand._ While the Fed pays close attention to inflation, it has _left the punch bowl out_ in the chase for risk assets and is contemplating spiking it even further.” When I consulted the usage of “punch-bowl” with Oxford Advanced Learners’ English Dictionary, it simply states its definition as ‘a bowl in which punch is served.’ There was no mention about its idioms. The definition was almost same with other English dictionaries at hand. I assume “punch bowl” here signifies the merit, benefit, advantage, offer, and anything people are attracted to. Am I right? Are “Pull away the punch bowl from somebody’s hand” and “Leave punch bawl out there” idioms? If not, are phrases using “Punch bowl” as a metaphor in such way frequently observed in writings and daily conversation?


title: A word or succinct phrase for "capable of producing financial income"

text: I have a bullet point list describing some requirements for a game I will be producing. It is written as follows: The game will be:   * Requirement 1   * Requirement 2 ... One of the requirements is "capable of producing financial income", but this is a bit of a mouthful. At the moment I have the word "monetizable", but that is a bit of a miserable little word. Are there any better suggestions?


title: Reaching a conclusion before formulating an argument

text: What is a good word for saying that a person has reached a conclusion before properly formulating an argument? For example, a logical train of thought would be 'My current computer is slow, this is decreasing my productivity, so therefore I would solve this by buying a new computer', whereas a person using this type of reasoning would say 'I want a new computer, let's think up reasons why this would be good. I know, I think I'm not working as well as I possibly could be.'


title: Any better word for "upsell"

text: My company provides more value to my clients by offering them services that could enhance their business/process. The process involves:   1. I point a void (improvement scope) to the client.   2. I look out for personnel in my company, if we could cater it.   3. I pitch to the client, if we could fill that void. And we term this whole process as UPSELL. **Note:** This personnel would mean more cost to the client. Its not necessarily free. For reasons, it doesn't sound like adding value. It sounds like benefiting my company alone, not the client. Is there any better word for the same, which means adding value to the client as well?


title: Is there a word for fake kindness or hospitality?

text: Is there a word for faking kindness/hospitality to sound more tactful and decent than you really are (which could be categorized as some sort of hypocrisy)? For example, saying: Pay us a visit sometime! when you don't really mean it (you are just trying to **sound** hospitable). I know this is not a nice thing to do but sometimes people tend to do it, so I thought it would be useful to know if there is a term for describing such an action or to find the closest possible word or phrase in case there isn't one.


title: If X was not part Y, I'd like it - meaning

text: I'm trying to fill out a survey that asks me about features that should or should not be included in a smartphone app. The actual questions are confidential, but it's in the style of a sentence like this: > "You can control the temperature of the room you're in" followed by these options (of which you can choose one) ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/SOJ2q.png) Assuming I'd choose "I would like it" for the second row. Does that mean find it positive that the feature is not part of the app, or rather that if it's not a part, I'd like it to become one? Similar with the "expect" answer. Would I expect the feature not to be part of the app, or would I expect it to be and miss it if it's not a feature? I was sent the link by a "noreply@foo.bar" mail, so I don't know whom to ask. I'm passionate about the topic, though, and would like to answer this as precise as possible.


title: Is "kicking ass and taking names" an offshoot of an older idiom?

text: Is this idiom an offshoot of an older idiom? I have heard something that sounds similar to this, but the words were slightly different.


title: "Tolerably + *adjective*"

text: Does e.g. "tolerably disgusting" mean the degree of disgust involved is tolerable or intolerable? Or "tolerably vile" - does it mean the vileness involved is tolerable or intolerable?


title: Is “erect around” an idiom, or simply a verb＋adverb?

text: I came across the phrase “ _erect around_ ” in the following sentence of the article titled “Campaign 2012: China or America” appearing in New Yorker magazine (April 6), which deals with the elections of the top leaders of two superpower countries in the world taking place this year: “In the United States, modern political parties strain to project spontaneity and authenticity onto that which is, in fact, highly ritualized: an onward procession of bumps and setbacks and gaffes that rarely veers outside the lines. In China, it is the other way around: the Party strains to project solemn ritual onto that which turns out to be brutally untamed. This year, the artifice of calm _erected around_ the hidden cut-and-thrust fell away at the hands of Chongqing Communist Party boss, Bo Xilai.” I don’t think I’ve ever met the expression, *“ _erect calm_." Though I'm familiar with "stay (keep) calm," I'm unfamiliar with the expression like " _erect calm_ ," or "erect serene / tranquilness / noise / clamor" _around something_. To me "calm" doesn't seem to be the thing to be "erected," though it can be secured or built. Is " _erect calm" around something_ a popular expression? What does the line, “ _the artifice of calm erected around the hidden cut-and-thrust_ fell away at the hands of Chongqing Communist Party boss” exactly mean?.


title: Which is correct or more common when talking about medicine: "buy drugs" or "buy medicine"?

text: I mean it in the sense of buying medicine, for example for common cold or other diseases. When talking about buying medicine, which of these sentences is more correct or more commonly used:   * "go to the drug store to buy drugs"   * "go to the drug store to buy medicine"


title: Why the shortening of "fitted" to "fit"?

text: Which is more correct, "it fit really well" or "it fitted really well"? The short form is something I encountered when moving to the US, I never heard it in the UK.


title: semi transparent, what in between?

text: How do you write the word semi transparent (meaning partially transparent)?   1. semitransparent   2. semi-transparent   3. semi transparent I found each of them on the Internet and none of them in my English dictionary.


title: What part of speech is "that" in this phrase?

text: I know that "that" can function as many different parts of speech, so what part of speech is it in the phrase "the stuff that dreams are made of"?


title: Which native English speakers are linguistically the most "germanic"?

text: English is a Germanic language. Another significant Germanic language is of course German. Which native English speakers are the closest to German basing on the following criteria?   * accent-wise (South Africa?)   * German words and phrases (US? e.g. "to schlep" for "to carry")   * grammar-wise (US again? e.g. slang "If I would" for "If I was")


title: Is "fish's" correct to use when referring to something that the fish owns?

text: Sorry if this is a remedial question for the level of English that I see here, but I'm writing an essay and need to know if this is correct. I'm trying to refer to a body that is owned by a fish. Is "fish's" correct? It sounds odd to me.


title: Letter shared by many words

text: I'm looking for a word describing the sharing of an object (for example a letter) by other objects (for example words) such as:   * The **B** in _Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid_ as shared on the 3-dimensional ambigram on the book's cover.   * The **A** in this game of Scrabble.   * The **I** shared by _WIKI_ and _IGOR_ in this crossword puzzle.


title: Meaning of "press upon"

text: In Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural Address, > I now reiterate these sentiments, and in doing so I only **press upon** the > public attention the most conclusive evidence of which the case is > susceptible that the property, peace, and security of no section are to be > in any wise endangered by the now incoming Administration. Is _press upon_ used as a phrasal verb here? Or is it a verb (press) + preposition (upon)? What's the meaning of _press upon_?


title: What's the meaning of "delivering up" here?

text: Context (Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural Address), > There is much controversy about the **delivering up** of fugitives from > service or labor. The clause I now read is as plainly written in the > Constitution as any other of its provisions: I couldn't find _deliver up_ in the dictionaries. So I just want to make sure with a native speaker -- Do you think that the construction here is actually _deliver + up_ , and _up_ is just used here for emphasis? See _6\. b —used as an intensifier_ in Merriam-Webster.


title: Use of "measles" as an interjection

text: I have a friend from Illinois USA who uses _measles_ as an exclamation of frustration or disappointment. For example, > Measles! My flight was just canceled. I find this odd. Is it commonly used this way?


title: When to capitalize careers/degrees

text: I'm writing bios for a company newsletter. If I were to write Mr. Smith is a graduated engineer in electrical engineering or Mr. Smith holds a PhD in Electrochemistry - how do you know when it is appropriate to capitalize these things?


title: What's a word for a person who loves old or ancient things?

text: I am looking for a word to contrast with _neophile_. Just as a neophile loves novelty for the sake of it, I want to describe a person who loves old or ancient things (may include the abstract, e.g. tradition or bygone mannerisms). A _neophobe_ is ruled out, since that is merely a rejection of newness. _Antiquarian_ comes to mind, but that seems to be specifically for human history (its objects and trivia). The word I'm after could refer to someone who loves fossils or ancient rocks (of which there are many. . .). So, what word describes a person who loves an object or concept on account of its age? Perhaps _archaeophile_ or _paleophile_?


title: Does the Oakland Athletics logo misuse the apostrophe?

text: For years I have thought the Oakland Athletics baseball team has misused the apostrophe. I've always thought the "A" is an abbreviation for "Athletic" and the "s" makes "Athletic" plural. Is my thinking correct? If not, why is "A's" an acceptable shortening of "Athletics"? ![Oakland Athletics Logo](http://i.stack.imgur.com/XrVch.gif) The same is true with multiple versions of the Baltimore Orioles logo. ![Baltimore Orioles logo](http://i.stack.imgur.com/IyQBS.jpg) I would like citations for reasoning. Thanks.


title: Hypernym for "addition" and "subtraction"

text: For explaining operator precedence in an algorithm, I'd like a hypernym for addition and subtraction.


title: "Indexes" or "indices"

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What is the plural of the word "index"? I have a vague thought that _indices_ would be used when _index_ refers to a position in a sequential collection of some sort, but _indexes_ is used when _index_ itself refers to a collection of values. > One index in the sequence. Several **indices** in the sequence. > > One book index. Many book **indexes**. Is this correct?


title: An interjection/expression for expressing nostalgia

text: What is an interjection/expression to use to express nostalgia? I was listening to a song which reminded me of my adolescent days, feeling nostalgic for those times. Are there kinds of nostalgia? What interjection/expression can be used for expressing nostalgia in different contexts?


title: Which is right, "bananas and apples" or "apples and bananas" or both?

text: My English teacher just asked us to write a random sentence in English. Off the top of my head I wrote "I like to eat apples and bananas". She highlighted "apples" and said: "man, this is blatantly wrong". "Uh, what's wrong, M'am?" "It should be _bananas and apples_. English people always enumerate things in reverse alphabetical order. Always. Just like when they enumerate parts of the body, they always converge to the heart. Always. We do that automatically, without even thinking about it. Not doing it is wrong". Granted, I'm not a native speaker, but I've never heard anything like this before. Bullshit or what?


title: When did "creep" get associated with computer controlled units in games?

text: I first saw this term in use for neutral units in Warcraft 3 (released 2002), and then that got carried through derivatives such as Dota (2003). Was Warcraft 3 the first time _creep_ was used as a reference for this class of units or was it in use prior? Example usage from Defense of the Ancients 2 (2010) wiki: > Creeps are a type of unit within Dota 2 that heroes can interact with, but > do not have direct control over by default (see Chen, Enchantress and Helm > of the Dominator). There are two types of creeps: lane creeps and neutral > creeps. Both types of creeps can be killed by players for gold and > experience. Example usage form League of Legends (2009) wiki: > Minions, also known as creeps, are expendable allied units that are > generated automatically to charge into battle with the purpose of attacking > enemy units in the lanes they are assigned.