title: "The Sultan of Swat" is to nickname as "Babe" is to what?

text: Trying to name things in a computer data model. People have a variety of name roles, such as legal name, maiden name, etc. "The Sultan of Swat" is a nickname or pseudonym of George Ruth. It seems to stand alone. You don't often see him called "The Sultan of Swat" Ruth. "Babe" is also his nickname, but is often used together with other parts of his name, as in "Babe Ruth". It's more like the "Bobby" in Robert "Bobby" Kennedy. I've seen "diminutive" as well as "appellation" used. Are the two kinds of nicknames actually different? And if so, what terms to use? Update. A few more examples for clarification: Is Malcolm X a sobriquet, pseudonym, or just his preferred name? If an Asian student at a western college takes a more western name is that a sobriquet or preferred name?


title: the usage of "insalubrious"

text: Does it make sense to say an insalubrious relationship between two countries? If not, what would be a better replacement? hey this is my first post on this website.. I'm a non-native english speaker.. THANKS a lot!


title: adjective-born or noun-born?

text: Which is correct? _Claudette Colbert was a French-born American actress_ or _Claudette Colbert was a France-born American actress_? and _The Texas-born LBJ was a political reformer_ or _The Texan-born LBJ was a political reformer_


title: Is there something grammatically strange about the expression 'To blame'?

text: Is there something unusual about the phrase: 'He is to blame'? It seems to be a shorter form of the passive 'He is to be blamed'. Does this make it some kind of adjective with a to-infinitive form? Are there any other phrases that follow this pattern?


title: In the U.S., why is octothorp used to signal an apartment at a particular address?

text: In the book "Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers" it says: > The octothorp ("8 fields" ) has been used in cartography as a symbol for > "village "... . But, the octothorp, as a number sign, is used in the U.S. to signal an apartment or unit within the block at a particular address. For example: > _Mr. M Murphey   >  72 President St #4   > NORTHFOLK_ Is it possible that this use of the octothorp has its roots in its use in older cartography to mark the site of a village?


title: Is it "query on ...." or "query about ...."

text: Which is grammatically correct? >   1. Query **on** Physics Final >   2. Query **about** Physics Final > Say if this was a subject field in an email you're about to send to a teacher. Which would be better English, or are they both acceptable? The meaning of the word "query" here is question or enquiry, not doubt.


title: Using verbs with multiple meanings

text: Is it grammatically incorrect to use a verb with multiple meanings so that the meanings are used at once? I'm thinking of a line from the classic Flanders Swann song Madeira M’Dear: > … he hastened to put out the cat, the wine, his cigar and the lamps. Is there a name for this kind of structure?


title: What is the difference between "clearance" and "sale"?

text: I want to understand the difference between _clearance_ and _sale_. So are these words synonyms or not? E.g. >   * Receive 60–90% off CookiesKids Clearance from Cookie's Kids. >   * Receive 50–85% off After Holiday Sale Items from Woodwind & Brasswind. >


title: Meaning of "Let us hit with him, and not miss with him"

text: I'm reading one of Sir Philip Sidney's prose essays, "An Apology for Poetry" and I bumped into the following phrase which I never heard of. Can anyone please help me with it? > Yet will some bring in an example of Eunuchus in Terence, that containeth > matter of two days, yet far short of twenty years. True it is, and so was it > to be played in two days, and so fitted to the time it set forth. And though > Plautus have in one place done amiss, **_let us hit it with him_** , and not > miss with him.


title: Hype-driven Definition

text: What does "hype-driven" means in this paragraph? > There have been a few examples of Internet criticism making an impact on > American film culture. It’s aided the rise of South Korean cinema and > mumblecore. In the case of Korean cinema, Filmbrain’s blog, among others, > hosted interesting debates on the films of Park Chan-wook, Kim Ki-duk, and > Hong Sang-soo. Bloggers like Tom Vick seemed to respond to the snobbery > implicit in Tony Rayns’s attack on Kim in Film Comment. In the case of > mumblecore, **_the blogosphere’s attitude was more hype-driven_** ; when the > IFC Center launched its mumblecore series last year, every blog affiliated > with indieWIRE united to promote it. The only criticisms heard about the > films related to their all-white casts, not esthetics. I’m not sure what > Korean film and mumblecore have in common, although the parallels between > the latter and the blogosphere are obvious, but I think bloggers like making > discoveries they can claim as their own. I Couldn't find the definition anywhere! Any help would be appreciated.


title: Is there a name for the words used after dialogue?

text: For example, "he said" "she replied" "they inquired."


title: Is the phrase "awaiting customer" bad English?

text: In customer support software, issue tracking systems and the like, I frequently see a state titled `awaiting customer` to signify no action is required until the person (customer) who raised the issue has responded. Is this use of the word `await` incorrect, should it be `waiting for customer`? My reason for asking is because I found a description of the difference between wait and await where it says the object of sentence is not a person and normally inanimate: > The verb 'await' must have an object - for example, 'I am awaiting your > answer'. And the object of 'await' is normally inanimate, not a person, and > often abstract. Customers are people, so why use `await`? Unfortunately the example given has confused me further: > I am awaiting your answer In this case `your` must mean a person, not an inanimate object. I'm guessing the use of `awaiting customer` is just a convenient short phrase to put in the software, but is it correct?


title: Can answering questions on Stack Exchange sites be called volunteer work?

text: Can the term "volunteer work" be applied to answering questions on Stack Exchange or Stack Overflow trilogy sites?


title: Origin and evolution of "hapless"

text: I would like to know what the origin of _hapless_ is. For example, > He is a _hapless_ person means > He is an _unfortunate_ person. Has it got anything to do with the fact that hapless people live their lives with no good things _hap-pening_ to them? Was there _hapful_ or a similar word back in the times?


title: Plagiarism: How to cite the citation of your source?

text: I am being prosecuted by my school for plagiarism. However, I had no idea I was plagiarizing. They claim I incorrectly cited my source. But I beg to differ. Generally, how does one cite a source's quote that is cited elsewhere in said source? The example for which I am subject to prosecution: Talking about the negative effects of pornography, I found the article “7 Negative Effects of Porn”. In this article, I found the following quote: > As men fall deeper into the mental habit of fixating on [pornographic > images], the exposure to them creates neural pathways. Like a path is > created in the woods with each successive hiker, so do the neural paths set > the course for the next time an erotic image is viewed. Over time these > neural paths become wider as they are repeatedly traveled with each exposure > to pornography. They become the automatic pathway through which interactions > with women are routed In the article above, the author cites this specific quote as (Wired For Intimacy, 85). So, as that does not belong to the author of the article, that is how I cited that quote in my project. If anyone has insight into this exceedingly peculiar and special case, please share. I am really looking for some clarity.


title: What term describes the classification of "non-fiction/fiction"?

text: Suppose there is a form like this, describing a book:               Title: Farming in the Alps     Author: C. Chaplin     Year: 1995     _______: non-fiction      Which term belongs in the blank?


title: A real important dream, like XXX, is worth every possible effort to guard

text: I wrote that sentence in my composition but I really feel that it doesn't sound natural. What will you write to express the meaning?


title: "Over-protected" or "over-secured"

text: A person I know is always well-protected by his mother. His mother goes with him whenever he goes, he is already 26 years. Which word sounds more correct for me to use as in the following sentence? (His mother's heart is just great; I always need him to realize that.) > He was over-protected/over-secured by his mother.


title: What is the meaning of the idiom "Like the Nation"?

text: In the book _The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn_ there are several curious references to "the nation". For example, in chapter 22: > And at last, sure enough, [...] the horse broke loose, and away he went > **like the very nation** , round and round the ring... Next, in chapter, 23: > "But dis one do SMELL so **like de nation** , Huck." There are also different uses of _"the nation"_ in the book, for example in chapter 2: > but how in **the nation** are these fellows going to be ransomed if we don't > know how to do it to them? The last use is more common in the book, and does make more sense - _"the nation"_ seems to refer to a large area, similar to the modern _"how in the world"_ or _"how on earth"_. I can't really figure out the first two though - in both cases _"the nation"_ seems to refer to something negative... What is the meaning of this idiom? Note about the quotes - in all cases I have added the emphasis, and all the rest of the mistakes are [sic]. It is not an easy book to read.


title: Are synonyms always bidirectional?

text: By bidirectional I mean, if word A is synonymous with word B, does it follow that word B is always synonymous with word A? Are there any common exceptions to this rule? Extending this - if word A is synonymous with word B, and word B is synonymous with word C, word C may or may not be synonymous with word A?


title: Asymmetric spacing of dashes in interpolated phrases

text: I have come across a dash-spacing style that I haven't seen anywhere else, and I'm wondering where it may come from. The person who writes in this style asserts that he has learnt it in school in the UK. Briefly on dash styles: Style manuals vary in how they recommend using dashes to separate interpolated phrases, the two most common appearing to be the spaced en-dash and the unspaced em-dash (see Wikipedia article Dash, and the questions Is it wrong to space en dashes and em dashes? and When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen? on this site). But the style I have come across is different and seems to have the following rules that are a mix of other rules I have seen:   1. When a phrase is interpolated so that the main sentence continues, it is set off by the sequence "space, en-dash" in the beginning, and "en-dash, space" at the end.  _Example:_ This sentence -being an example- makes no sense.   2. When a phrase is interpolated at the end of the main sentence, it is set off by the sequence "space, en-dash, space".  _Example:_ This sentence makes no sense - it is an example. Has anyone come across this style before? Where could it originate from? Is the rule set above complete and correct for this style, and is there any rationale for the style?


title: What is the defiant "HMPH!" sound called?

text: What's the name of the sound a child makes after an angry, declarative and usually defiant statement. **Parent:** > John, you can't take a cookie out of the cookie jar. **Child:** > Yes, I can! **_HMPH_**!


title: What are some interesting phrases which suggest that you are extremely busy?

text: If I want to say > **I’m extremely busy** , I have no time, since I have my exams next month. What are some interesting replacements for the bold text, both colloquial and written? e.g. I am busy as a bee


title: How is "stripping such words as remained of orthodox meanings" meant to be understood grammatically?

text: I was wondering if someone could help me out with a certain phrase I want to grasp the meaning of. I have two different meanings in my mind, and I was hoping that someone could point out the right one. > ...stripping such words **as remained of orthodox meanings**... The context of the phrase is the process of the diminution of the English language by the ruling party, as depicted in the appendix to the novel _1984_ , designed to expurgate words of all their undesired meanings, so as to preclude the articulation of subversive thoughts by people. The full sentence is as follows: > This was done partly by the invention of new words, but chiefly by > eliminating undesirable words and by stripping such words **as remained of > orthodox meanings** , and so far as possible of all secondary meanings > whatever. I'm wavering between reading "as remained of orthodox meanings" as   1. "so that they retain only orthodox meanings" (orthodox in party terms) and   2. "that had retained their original, conventional meanings (and are now ought to be revised)". Which one is it?


title: Mark: outstanding (as in: not yet known)

text: I’m updating my tabular CV for an application and I’d like to include my master thesis even though it’s not yet finished (soon!) and marked. So I’d like to write that the mark is still outstanding but I fear that if I simply write > Master thesis: ‹topic›   >  Supervisor: ‹supervisor›   >  Mark: outstanding this could be misconstrued to mean that the result is in, and that it’s outstanding (as in: spectacular). What can I say here instead? It should be as salient as possible, single word preferred. I specifically want to avoid writing half a sentence.


title: How can you encourage native speakers to correct mistakes non-native speakers make?

text: My English is pretty advanced, yet I still make mistakes (not many, but some). I am constantly talking to native speakers and always tell them to correct my mistakes. My problem is that in most cases they just won't do that! The keep telling me that my English is so advanced that they always understand what I am up to and I keep telling them that I still feel embarrassed when I find out afterwards that I made a mistake. Obviously this is some combination of misconceived politeness and laziness. **My question**   How can you encourage persons to correct the mistakes you make?


title: "in for a penny, in for a pound"

text: What does this mean? I'm English and I've never come across the meaning!


**How I use en dashes and em dashes** **En dashes** :   * Sybrand Engelbrecht (1814–2177): Unspaced en dash.   * January–December: Unspaced en dash.    * Sybrand loved three things – soccer, jazz, and living forever (he unfortunately couldn't.): Spaced en dash instead of an em dash. **Em dashes** :   I don't use em dashes; I use spaced en dashes. Is it wrong to space en dashes and em dashes?


title: Meaning of 'take it to the hoes'

text: I came across the following sentence: > You can just take it to the hoes on Broadway if you need to get your freak > on. And not only can I not understand the phrase 'take it to the hoes' but I also couldn't find any references to it on the Internet. Is it some kind of neologism? What do you think it means?


title: Grammar of "Love is the pearl of great worth"

text: According to the book I read, "Love is the pearl of great worth" is grammatically wrong. Why is it? (It says "the" is [sic].)


title: "No restriction" vs. "no restrictions"

text: > The data center must be flexible. There should be no > restriction/restrictions on user's choice of protocols. What should it be?


title: Using "how" preceded by "of"

text: This is the sentence that is confusing me: > Thanks to this screenshot we have a better view [of how] this model is > built. In my language it is correct to use something like **"of how"** to introduce an explanation. But I'm not sure about using that in English.


title: Monthly or One month

text: I am offering membership of my web page and now I have these: > One Month   >  Semi-Annual   >  Annual   >  Lifetime I am not sure about _One Month_ , maybe I should write _Monthly_? Do these membership names fit together?


title: What verb form is contained in 'books are written by authors'?

text: If I say 'fiction is written by those with a creative flair'; and 'Oliver Twist is written by Dickens', what part of speech is the word 'written' in each of these? I recognise that it may not be the same for each of them.


title: How many articles should go in "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"?

text: On the very first Christmas card it was written as "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year..." http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/christmas-card-sayings- and-phrases.html In Wiktionary that same general phrase is "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Merry_Christmas_and_a_Happy_New_Year A few quick searches in Google show that many people use it without any articles at all: > Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Does anyone have a source explaining if one of those phrases is more correct than others and if there's any difference implied by the number of articles used? **Edit** just to make it more clear: I'm asking for the case when you design a Christmas card, for example, and you have to write the phrase on the card — not personally to anybody, but rather as an impersonally commercial message to the general audience.


title: What does the term 'consequential seniority' mean?

text: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/devesh-kapur-the-honourable- men/483076/ > The Supreme Court struck down the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants > Seniority Rules – which provided for consequential seniority in promotions – > holding that, although the Constitution has been permitted to enable > consequential seniority, the state had failed to satisfy conditions relating > to the determination of backwardness and the appropriateness of > reservations. It is unclear what shape the proposed amendment will take, but > it seems that the state does not even want to discharge the burden that the > case for special treatment must be made out. I searched in google about consequential seniority, but i could not understand.


title: A word for my tech stuff

text: I am looking for a one word definition of all the tech stuff we use in our everyday life. PC, iPad, cell phone, MP3 etc. When I am on a trip I always want to have my....with me!!


title: What's the difference in meaning between "I never would have thought..." and "I never have thought..."?

text: With the sentence,'I never would have thought that he would behave like that', does the meaning change if I omit 'would'?


title: The ironic correlation of the words "Ineffable" and "Circumlocution"

text: Both the word "Ineffable" and "Circumlocution" are contradictory by definition. For context; first The very existence of the words shows defies its definition; so should one say "indescribable" as that expresses the nature, and connotes the meaning of the word _Ineffable_ Likewise, I can't quote this hear any longer as the definition has changed in both Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com have recently changed their definition from to So two questions; 1. As far as writing, does the use of these words have any effect on a writers prestige, and 2. Is there a word for _Words that defy their very definition_ Also; I'm very interested to see if anyone has any other words to add to this **Please don't dislike or _arrow down_ this post just because you have no interest, if you believe the subject to be inane, hyperbole, or not worthy of Merritt please leave a comment.**


title: What word means "someone who ignores emotion in the face of pain"?

text: What word means "someone who ignores their own emotion in the face of their pain"? (Does it start with C?)


title: Can a person be described as being "ill read"?

text: I recently read a comment disparaging an individual as being "ill read" as opposed to well-read. Is this an accepted usage?


title: Which meaning of "to conceive" came first?

text: "To conceive" has two primary meanings   * to give birth   * to originate (an idea) Either one could be a metaphor for the other. MW just gave the etymology of the Latin parts without giving a history (and I don't have the OED available). Which meaning came first?


title: Going to the theater vs. seeing a play

text: As far as I know British people "go to the theatre" meaning "go to see a stage play" but for Americans theater is a place where you can watch either a movie or a play. So would an American say "Would you like to see a play?" instead of "go to the theater?" Another question When someone says "Chicago is famous for theaters" how do I know if he's talking about live stage theater or a movie theater?


title: Difference between "creed" and "credo"

text: What is the difference between _creed_ and _credo_? They seem to have the same definition in online dictionaries. Do they have different connotations?


title: coffee flights in a six-seat bar

text: What do _coffee flights_ and _six-seat bar_ mean in the following post? > The Orange County Register is now reporting that 39-year-old Duggan plans to > open a slow bar adjacent to Portola, offering **coffee flights** and food > pairings. “There are three other concepts like this that I know of in the > country,” Duggan told the paper. > > Here’s a description from Register reporter Nancy Luna: > >> _Taking the craft coffee craze up a notch, Duggan plans to launch a “slow bar” called Theorem later this month. The **six-seat slow service coffee bar** , adjacent to Portola, will sell creative cocktails where coffee is the main component._ > > [ **emphasis added** ] http://dailycoffeenews.com/2012/08/13/oc-coffee-company-portola-to-open-six- seat-slow-bar/


title: Does the word “too” in a series of items decide the placement of the conjunction?

text: Original: > A boy, a girl and a dog too went for a walk. Would the original or the following be better, or does it change the meaning? > A boy and a girl, and a dog too went for a walk. Is there any improvement with regards to commas that you can suggest?


title: Does the sentence "His confident visage hid insecurity" make sense?

text: I was wondering if this sentence makes sense, and if it does, is the meaning of _visage_ in this sentence metaphoric? > His confident visage hid insecurity.


title: Readable vs legible

text: Could you explain what is a difference between readable vs legible? Which should I use when I want to say "This diagram is easily readable/legible" while meaning - "It is very easy to read and understand meaning of this diagram"?


title: A word for passing through a tollgate, turnpike, etc

text: I'm looking for a noun that describes a car passing through a tollgate; it's this event I'm trying to name. A person going through a turnpike might be similar, I guess. Possible use of word would be for example:   * 500 cars passed through this tollgate today.      * There were 500 " **x** "s today from this tollgate.     * There were 500 car " **x** "s today from this tollgate. _Passage_ was the first word I thought of, but google doesn't seem to agree (I'm still not sure though). **Clarification:** It doesn't have to be a tollgate (which guards the boundaries of a highway). Let's say, for example, a person is standing next to a road and counting the number of cars that pass. At the end of the day, he says "500 cars passed today; there were 500 **x** 's".


title: adjective for something bad that one did not deserve

text: I need an adjective to qualify something bad that one gets but one did not deserve. It's used as following "One single action of hers had freed her from the chains of [adjective] ignominy" I can think of misplaced, ill begotten, unearned, but none quite fit the bill here


title: Another word for "consume" that's clearly about incorporeal things?

text: I'm looking for a single verb with similar meaning to _gaining_ , _consuming_ or _gathering_ , but only in a context of _information_ , _knowledge_ or _ideas_. So the word itself should make clear that I'm talking about immaterial goods. It shouldn't frequently be used for material goods. Which word in the English language fits that best?


I am interested in sports journalism. As I was watching ESPN one day, Stephen A Smith stated, "What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?" during a sports segment. What is the meaning of that phrase? Is this a common phrase used in sports journalism?


title: English term that groups notes and coins of a currency

text: I'm programming a web application and I need to name the "class of things" that are notes and coins. So far the best I could find was "currency piece". Is that the correct way of naming the notes and coins of a currency? Are there any alternatives?


title: deceit vs deception

text: There seems to be a boundary between these concepts, but I can't quite work out where it is. _Camouflage_ and _mimicry_ are **deceptions** ; telling untruths is **deceitful**. In common usage we would say, 'The bowler deceived the batsman in flight,' but do we classify a spin bowler as attempting **deception** , or **deceit**? Alternatively, if a fielder falsely claims a catch this is **deceit** , not **deception**. There seems to be ideas of volition and purpose related to the difference, but there is more and I can't see it. Camouflage and mimicry in animals is certainly deceptive, but is almost always without individual volition. Predators and prey have different takes on it, but it is based on hardwired behaviours and evolved form and colour. The purpose is survival. Human camouflage is a matter of volition. In war, camouflage or mimicry have the same purpose as in other animals – enable killing, avoid being killed. I suspect this falls within **deception**. The extreme deceit end of the spectrum is deliberate, misleading behaviour designed to gain an (undeserved?) advantage over another. Any ideas about that boundary?


title: "On Tap" in the Sense of "Coming Up"

text: Starting with the Fifth Edition (1936), seven generations of the _Merriam- Webster's Collegiate Dictionary_ have included (under the entry for _tap_ ) three definitions of "on tap," currently worded as follows: > **on tap** **1 :** ready to be drawn from a large container(as a cask or > keg) ["ale on tap"] **2 :** broached or furnished with a tap **3 :** on hand > : available. ["services instantly on tap" —Hugh Dwan] (The first two of these three definitions go as far back as the 1864 edition of Webster's _American Dictionary of the English Language_.) But the Tenth Collegiate (1994) introduced a fourth definition for "on tap": > **4 :** coming up ["other matches on tap" —H. W. Wind] The "H. W. Wind" cited by Webster's appears to be Herbert Warren Wind (1916-2005), an American sportswriter who wrote most often about golf. I have frequently heard "on tap" used in this relatively new fourth way in recent years, mostly in connection with impending sporting events. In fact, the San Francisco Giants radio network has a sponsored segment called "What's On Tap" ("brought to you by TAP Plastics") devoted to identifying and briefly discussing the next game or series of games on the Giants' schedule. I can sort of see how "on tap" in the sense of "in reserve" or "at the ready" might be extended to something like "ready to happen but still in the future"; however, the meaning "next on the schedule" seems another (and rather long) jump from there. My questions are (1) did the fourth meaning of "on tap" emerge from one of the other three, and if so, how? (2) how far back in time does the usage of "on tap" to mean "coming up" go? (3) is this a U.S.-only usage, or do other forms of English use it, too? I note that Eric Partridge lists two seemingly unrelated slang phrases from British English: "on the tap" ("begging for money") and "on tap" ("all modern conveniences, including h. and c.").


title: Can "shop" (related to selling or stores) be used as a transitive verb?

text: How is shop used as a transitive verb? The only transitive meanings I can find are _reporting someone to police_ or _Photoshopping an image_. I found one discussion about transitive 'shop', centered on what's being offered up for sale (a baseball player's contract), and related to American English sports writing: > ...plans to shop Teixeira, who is eligible for free agency after 2008. Most other instances I see are from retailers and seem to occur only in the form of a command/inducement: > Shop Peapod today! (mailer, online copy)   >  Shop our huge selection of products at great prices (online copy)   >  shop appliances (section link) Do speakers actually say things like, "I shopped Store Foo" or "She shopped the selection at Store Bar" or "We shopped appliances"? Or is this peculiar to advertisements? I've had no luck figuring out how to search for usage examples so far.


title: "Science journal” vs. “science magazine”

text: What is the difference between the terms _journal_ and _magazine_? Is it correct to call a magazine a journal? For example, I found the _Journal of Radio Electronics_ and the _Radio- Electronics Magazine_ , and I was confused. If both terms are correct, why does English need both?


title: Published at vs published on?

text: I need to name a column in a table and I'm wondering what the best option is. Should it be "Published at" or "Published on"? I only need to store a full date and time. From some search I did, it seems that published at is used when referencing a date in the future while published on is used to reference a full date in the past, however it doesn't seem to be universal. Any advices?


title: How to explain simple math with correct preposition embedded on explanation?

text: I have a construction to say a ratio. I think _of_ or _and_ would be the correct prepositions. So, If I give you my practice case >   1. The ratio _of_ minimum rectangle’s floor area _to_ enclosed circle area > is tested with a defined threshold and a candidate, given a low ratio, is > taken as natural object assuming that natural object has a more irregular > boundary. > >   2. The ratio _between_ floor area of enclosed minimum rectangle _and_ > enclosed circle area is tested with a defined threshold and a candidate, > given a low ratio, is taken as natural object assuming that natural object > has a more irregular boundary. > > As I cannot figure out the best preposition with the grammatically correct construction, I would like to ask what would be given a grammatically correct sentence?


title: How long is "in a second"?

text: When someone says "give me a second", or "one second please", how long do they actually mean? Do they mean "will give you a response as soon as I can", or "in a short time, around 5 minutes"


title: Need help understanding phrases of the form "x if y"

text: I regularly find myself confused by phrases of the form "x if y". For example, in the 2010-10-22 issue of his newsletter, Paul Thurrott writes: > Well, if you're Wall Street Journal technology maven and Apple lover Walter > Mossberg, you simply write an unfair review that ignores the product's best > features and harps on **obvious if little-needed** functional miscues such > as the lack of copy and paste. Here's another example, from a TV guide article: > Best known in the U.S. for **formulaic, if handsome, genre films** like > Mimic (1997) and Blade II (2002), del Toro The usage of 'if' in these examples confuses me. What is the intended meaning of these sentences? Can I just substitute "if" with "though"?


title: What is a synonym for "girlfriend"?

text: I'm in my mid 40s and dating this lady of a similar vintage. I am trying to find a good word to describe our relationship, but "girlfriend" and "boyfriend" seems inappropriate for us. It reminds me of those forty year old guys who say "I'm gittin' down wi ma hommies." It communicates, but it seems out of place. Perhaps it is the "girl" and "boy" part that bothers me. Any suggestions for something more appropriate?


title: What's the difference between a fable and a parable?

text: Does either imply a lesson, or a fantastical setting?


title: who does Charles dickens refer to in The Haunted House when he says the following:

text: > And Prince Arthur, nephew of King John of England, had described himself as > tolerably comfortable in the seventh circle, where he was learning to paint > on velvet, under the direction of **Mrs. Trimmer** and Mary Queen of Scots.


title: What is the word to describe a single object to represent the many?

text: If I am writing a poem, I might use the word _peaches_ to symbolize all fruit. Is there a specific word for this type of symbolism?


title: Can the phrase "extended all the way up" be used to describe very tall objects?

text: According to my search, I think the phrase "extended all the way up" is usually to refer to things that are _spread until a certain location._ Can this phrase be used to refer to a very tall object? For example: > The coniferous trees extended all the way up to the sky. Or is there a better phrase to use in situations like this?


title: using only in plural

text: This is the question: > A: Does she have many books?   >  B: ................. She only has two books. > > a. Yes, she does.   >  b. No, she does not. My answer is B, am I wrong? My friend absolutely stands to say that my answer is wrong. He said that, two books are plural, even, there is a word "only". So, even only two books, it is included in plural, and the answer is A. I'm really so confused. (sourse: Use of the singular or plural "is" or "are" in ambiguous situations)


title: Difference between "function" and "operation"

text: Which one of the following is correct? > Instructions given by the Vice Principal on behalf of the Principal for > smooth function of the school must be followed by all staff members. or > Instructions given by the Vice Principal on behalf of the Principal for > smooth operation of the school must be followed by all staff members.


title: Where can I find a list of common padding words?

text: Like a lot of people, I actually have the habit of actually adding a lot of actual padding words when I actually write. A common one I use is _actually_. These are actually rarely worth keeping, actually, and, when I actually remember, I actually make some actual effort to actually find and actually delete them all. Is there a list of common padding words and terms that I can download? This is partly out of curiosity, but partly for checking tools.


title: What does “hoarse-throat tactics“mean?

text: I came across the phrase, “hoarse-throat tactics” in the Washington Post article (May 28) titled “GOP freshmen get a tough lesson in politics.” The phrase appears in the following sentence: > “On Capitol Hill, the Democrats they bashed have turned the U.S. Senate into > a black hole for GOP ideas. So the freshmen are left with political theater, > voting for bills the Senate will ignore. And back home, the same _hoarse- > throat tactics_ that helped them bring down incumbents last year — attacks > on a health-care plan, town-hall heckling — have now been used against > them.” I cannot make a guess about what “ _hoarse-throat tactics_ ” means. Does it mean “Repeat Calls tactics,” implying “repeat calls till the throat dries out? Can somebody tell me exact meaning of this phrase?


title: Word for next step in homologous series

text: When several things that are successive go in a series, they are called a homologous series i.e. In Chemistry, there is the homologous series of hydrocarbons e.g. alkanes. I am trying to state that butane is next in the homologous series for alkanes, so it comes up something like this: > "Butane is the next **___ _** in the series." What is the word that would fit in the blank?


title: "Napoleon complex" or "Napoleonic complex"?

text: Which is correct: "he has a Napoleon complex" or "he has a Napoleonic complex"?


title: Is "time" needed in this sentence?

text: > I must remember to bath within ten minutes time. Is the word "time" needed in this sentence, or is it superficial? Is it even wrong to remove it?


title: Most common (and correct) expression for going (driving) past something?

text: * We just walked/drove past a speed limit sign.    * We just passed a speed limit sign.    * We just went by a speed limit sign.    * We just passed by a speed limit sign.


title: 'What may it be'/ 'what may be it' which one is correct?

text: I think,saying 'what may it be' is correct in the sense of something that i did not see before,it is new to me and on my hand.and i am saying this sentence "what may it be"/"what may be it".which one is correct? i dont know the structure.please tell me the structure.N.B it is necessary for my exam.


title: Particular verbal inflection classes in "The Proclamation of Henry III"

text: I'm reading a document about "The Proclamation of Henry III", in which the text is presented and a short commentary and glossary follow. I'm interested in the survival of some of the distinct verbal inflections classes of Old English. In particular, I'm referring to the verbs "swerien", "makien" and "werien": I noticed that these particular verbs ends in _-ien_ , while the usual suffix of the infinitive/subjunctive verbal forms in the text is _-en_. In the glossary, I came across some dictionary-like entries, such as this: **swerien** , 4, swear, 3 p. pi. subj. after _hoaten_ ; ags. _swerian_ inf., _swerion_ subj. ; ge. _sweren_ ; p. 85. Str. 560. Can you help me to find out what is special about these verbs?


title: An interview "run by"

text: What is the correct word to replace the italic words in the following sentence? John Smith is the interviewer. "I just heard part of an interview **_run by_** John Smith"


title: Is there any word for 'do not' or 'do not have'?

text: I was trying to test my algorithm to create sentences that express the **_lack_** of something. I found saying for instance: > I lack 5 apples weird as compared to > I do not have 5 apples While thinking about this, I noticed that the closest word to **_do not_** which is used so frequently is **_don't_** which is not really a word, neither is it accepted officially. Yet, I couldn't think of any alternative I am aware of. Could it be that there are some unpopular words for any of these? If not, do you think this is worth having a word for?


title: Are there /ɔ/ and /ʌ/ sounds in informal American English?

text: I read a book about American English. It reports that, in standard informal conversations, American English doesn't use the /ɔ/ sound; it uses the /ɑ/ sound and /ʌ/ and /ə/ are not different. Are they really?   That book would not use the /ɔ/ and /ʌ/ sounds, but when I look in my American English Dictionary for some words, such as _more_ , _door_ , and _love_ , they are reported to be pronounced /mɔr/, /dɔr/, and /lʌv/.   How should I pronounce these words, if there are no /ɔ/and /ʌ/ sounds? Should they be /mɑr/, /dɑr/, and /ləv/?   Can /ɑ/ sound replace /ɔ/, and /ə/ replace /ʌ/ in every word?   What about formal American English? Does it have /ɔ /and /ʌ/ sounds or not?


title: "Stornry" Meaning

text: I was reading the Tao of Pooh, when I stumbled on this quote from the original Winnie the Pooh: > "Can they fly?" asked Roo. > > "Yes," said Tigger, "they're very good flyers, Tiggers are, **Stornry** > flyers." What is the meaning of the word "Stornry?" I can guess from the context that it means very good, or excellent, but is it simply a word Tigger is making up on the spot here? I know Winnie the Pooh is known to use verbiage that is usually not considered within the age range of its target audience, is this another example of that?


title: Two types of sound for letter L?

text: Consider two words, for example, `lot` and `all`. The phonetic symbol of `l` in the two words are the same, which makes me wonder why the sound of `l` in the first is considered to be the same as in the second one (or not?). To me, the `l` in `lot` requires "active" motion of the tongue, while the `l` in `all` only requires a slight motion of the mouth, and a slightly prolonged sound, and does not require the tongue to move. Sometimes I even think that the pronunciation of `all` is nothing but "o-ow". My question is: 1. Should the two `l`s be considered to have the same sound? 2. If so, why? To be concrete, do you (or is it wrong if not) move your tongue while pronouncing "all"? In fact, the pronunciation of the letter L in the alphabet should be "el", but many people (non-native speaker) pronounce it as "e-low", seemingly to "solidify" the unsubstantial sound of `l`. I am no better than them since I pronounce it as "e-ow".


title: So [X] it's [opposite of X]

text: I'm looking for a word or phrase that describes the specific type of word-play or idiom in these examples:: >   * The movie _Rocky Horror Picture Show_ is so bad that it's good. >   * Chinese Crested Hairless dogs are so ugly they're cute. >   * Eating these high-fat triple-chocolate brownies is so right that it's > wrong. > (BTW: The above are not my actual opinions, just examples of the usage I am asking about!) I had thought about **_chiasmus_** , but it doesn't fit exactly. Any other ideas?


title: What's the difference in meaning between "variation" and "alteration"?

text: I am studying biology. While studying I have come across this paragraph: > Mutation is a phenomenon which results in 'alteration' of DNA sequences and > consequently results in changes in the genotype and the phenotype of an > organism.In addition to recombination, mutation is another phenomenon that > leads to 'variation' in DNA. Can anyone explain the difference between using _alteration_ and _variation_ in this paragraph?


title: Do "to pony up" and "to pungle" come from the same Latin root?

text: For **to pony up** , etymonline.com says > 1824, in pony up "to pay," said to be from slang use of L. legem pone to > mean "money" (first recorded 16c.), because this was the title of the Psalm > for March 25, a Quarter Day and the first payday of the year (the Psalm's > first line is Legem pone michi domine viam iustificacionum "Teach me, O > Lord, the ways of thy statutes"). (which in itself is one awesome etymology if true) For the more rare, although in use everywhere from Huckleberry Finn to modern San Francisco Chronicle, **to pungle (up)** , Merriam-Webster says, > "Pungle" is from the Spanish word "pongale," meaning "put it down," which > itself is from "poner," meaning "to put" or "to place," or more specifically > "to contribute money." The earliest uses of "pungle" are from the 1850s But does that Spanish _poner_ as in "to contribute money" come from the same slang Latin _pone_?


title: What does Obama mean when he says "crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln"?

text: I was looking at Obama's 2004 democratic convention speech. He said "crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deepest gratitude..." I think "land of Lincoln" is referring to Illinois, Lincoln's home state. So, what is "crossroads of a nation", is that Chicago heights? But that's "crossroads of THE nation" according Wiki. Where did he learn his writing style? Is it from Martin Luther King, Jr and JF Kennedy?


title: Comma usage when but is used between two adjective or adverbs

text: What is the rule regarding comma usage when but is used between two contrasting adjectives or adverbs? It is a vey interesting, but stupid question, and one that I have had a hard time finding a definitive answer to. Or should that have been "very interesting but stupid question" or "very interesting, but stupid, question". Since a comma is sometimes used to introduce contrast, my instinct would be the way I phrased it the first time, but I can't seem to find a definitive rule on the subject. My own opinion on the subject seems to change with either my mood or slight nuances in the particular sentence, e.g., if the adjectives/adverbs are before or after the noun/[verb/adjective] or if the but seems particularly parenthetical. A few more examples taken from the web, illustrating inconsistent comma usage for similar constructs: 1A) In case of a fire alarm, please exit the building quickly but calmly.   1B) It was time to quickly, but calmly get out of the water. 2A) Water is an overlooked but essential nutrient.   2B) Carnitine is a hard-to-classify, but essential, nutrient. 3A) This is one challenging, but invigorating climb.   3B) This is a painful, but invigorating, process. 4A) Maidan remains occupied, but eerily quiet.   4B) “Star Trek Into Darkness” is a fun but eerily familiar Star Trek adventure.


title: Which email message would it be preferable to send to my coworker, who has a cold?

text: Which of these messages would be most suitable? >   1. I'm feeling so sorry for you. I hope you will take good care of > yourself. > >   2. I am sorry to hear you are sick. Please get better soon. > >


title: Is the verb resumes in "College resumes Monday" transitive?

text: I'm working through verb types at the moment, and I was wondering if one considers the days of the week as nouns or adverbs in the context of the sentence "College resumes Monday". It wouldn't really make too much sense to say that Monday is a direct object, which leads me to believe that the verb "resumes" is intransitive. But wouldn't the correct form in this situation be: "College resumes _on_ Monday"?


title: Which word fits better in a cause and effect sentence?

text: If there is a sentence- > English is not too difficult to master, ____ it gets easier and easier with > practice which of these words would be the best fit for the blank and why?   1. So   2. When   3. As   4. Consequently At the outset, it would appear that "as" seems a good fit here, but when you do think about it, even the other words look like a plausible option. In effect, it closely resembles a "cause and effect" scenario, hence the confusion. Other than "consequently", I think all the other words do fit here, at least in a way. I did come across a similar question here, but this didn't help in getting me a certain answer for my question. Please help, thank you.


title: expression "neck tingle"

text: I've seen the expression "neck tingle" used in the context of enjoying a good song. Is this a similar expression to "goose bumps"? If not, what would be the difference in use?


title: What do rodents do?

text: I wonder if there is a English verb to express the way rodents (rats, mice, etc.) bite on something they are trying to eat or bite. In Portuguese we have the verb _roer_ which comes from _roedor_ which means rodent and this also applies to other animals that are biting through some hard material for either eating it or not (pencil tips ring to mind). I'm curious to know if English has a similar word.


title: Is there a single word for speech with a double meaning?

text: How could one put, in a single word, language that has multiple meanings at once?


title: Had you had asked

text: Let's say in this scenario: Someone asked me for help to do certain thing. I gave a negative response. That person then asked for the reason. I responded with: "Had you had asked me nicely ...." What I meant to say was "If you had/have asked me nicely ..." Question: Does the former have the same meaning as the later? Edit: Just to make sure there are not any differences: My response was a statement, not a question to that person.


title: Translating Gerunds from Spanish to English (verb+ing)

text: In Spanish, the gerund form ( _-ando, -endo_ ) is frequently used adverbially to modify and describe the verb:   * El alma es dichosa **dando y sirviendo**.    * El niño anda **bailando**.    * El artista vive **provocando** emociones.   * ¿Porqué hablas **gritando**? Can you use the same form in English, with an _-ing_ verb where Spanish had an _-ando/-endo_ one? I ask because these all seem awkward when translated word-for-word directly into English:   * The soul is happy **giving and serving**.   * The little boy walks **dancing**.   * Artists live **provoking** emotions.   * Why do you speak **shouting**? Is there any verb (perhaps only _be_?) with which it may work? And anyway, what is the correct way to translate this form from Spanish to English?


title: Is it "damping" or "dampening" when referring to sound?

text: When one refers to the act of modifying a physical object so as to make it better at absorbing sound vibrations, is that "damping" or "dampening" the object? I've seen both, and looking them up in the dictionary they appear to be more or less interchangeable.


title: What's the appropriate word for describing "potential client"?

text: I want to say "this client will eventually bring a great profit for our company", but I don't know what word I should use in this scenario. I'm currently using "potential client", but it sounded a little odd to me. Any ideas?


title: "Deuce and a half" for body weight

text: This expression is from the movie _There's Something About Mary_ : > She put a lot of weight, about **a deuce and a half**. Is this used to refer to overweight people? The only reference I could find is from some American Army truck.


title: Origin of slang "doing a bid" for prison time?

text: Going to prison is called "doing a bid". What's the history behind that? Is it based on "doing bird" (based on being locked up like a bird)?


title: What is a good word for "unable to be usefully applied"?

text: What is a good word for when something is theoretically correct but not useful in a real world context? E.g, it's often said that "drinking water burns calories" but it actually turns out that after drinking cold water, your body warming that water up burns something like a dozen calories...not exactly "much." So that advice is said to be?


title: Does an online tool exist that can find words of a certain length given an input of certain characters?

text: Can anyone think of a tool with which I can pass it many optional parameters such as the length of the word I'm looking for, and a few letters in that word and have it spit out a list of words?


title: "Dance macabre" or "macabre dance"

text: > The role is the kind of high-wire dare certain types of actors and directors > cannot resist. T. Scott Cunningham, who has created a number of lovable > losers onstage in the last decade, lets the audience share the passionate > satisfaction he finds in making this shattered man a very funny tour guide > through human bewilderment. And the director, Jessica Bauman, translates the > strange, jazzy rhythms of Mr. Rutherford's prose into movements of one man > and one chair around a stage in what appears to be a **dance macabre** for > people of undefeatable good cheer. [ Source ] In the above excerpt from The New York Times there is an example of **dance macabre** usage. As far as I know, the correct phrase is _danse macabre_ , but I'm not sure whether this is simply a typo or a grammatical error, and whether _macabre dance_ is the correct form. The phrase **dance macabre** occurs rather frequently in comparison with **macabre dance** as this Ngram shows: ![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Vwd0r.png) In the light of the above remarks, which is correct: _dance macabre_ or _macabre dance_?


title: Do vowels have a natural pitch?

text: I cannot help but perceive the [i:] in _be_ as "lighter" (higher in pitch) than the [æ] in _cat_.   _Boot_ sounds even lower (when not altering the pitch intentionally). Is that self-persuasion or could a more closed mouth (or tongue) position lead to a higher pitch?


title: What does "Would he had blotted a thousand!" mean?

text: I come across this passage in Bill Bryson's book, "Shakespeare": "His mind and hand went together,' they [John Hemings and Henry Condell] wrote in the introduction to the First Folio, 'and what he thought he uttered with that easiness that we have scarce received from him a blot in his papers.' To which Ben Jonson famously replied in exasperation: ' **Would he had blotted a thousand!** ' I do not quite get the meaning of this exasperation.


title: Is the participle clause in “the marlin left a blood trail attracting sharks” correct?

text: I'm writing a summary of the novel "The old man and the sea". And I'm trying to use participle clauses (a subject that I'm currently learning). I've learnt that you can use a participle clause to describe an action that is the result of another action, so I wrote: > _Then, having succeeded in his catch and taking his way back. He faced > another problem: the marlin left a blood trail **attracting sharks**._ Is the second sentence correct? Meaning: _"The marlin left a blood trail **which attracted sharks** "_ Also, Doesn't the word _"then"_ in the first sentence sound redundant? > _"Then, having succeeded..."_ In the original sentence would be _"Then, after he have succeeded"_


title: Is there a single word for "Evoking Ambivalence"?

text: Is there a single adjective to describe something that causes one to feel ambivalence? For example, in the context of the exchange below, is there a single-word response Bob could give that would express the same idea? > _Alice_ : How was Eve's new play? > > _Bob_ : I'm ambivalent towards it. I thought it might be correct to simply describe the play itself as "ambivalent," but after consulting several online dictionaries this seems not to be the case. * * * Curate's Egg, introduced by FumbleFingers in the comments, is more or less the idea I'm trying to express - simultaneously bad and good. I would still prefer a single adjective if possible.


title: What does 'beyond' mean in the following?

text: I know, _beyond_ just means outside a limit or further away. E.g. when I say something is beyond compare, it means it cannot be compared to anything. But in the following, I'm not sure if I understand what does each of these phrases really mean   * Beyond good   * Beyond bad   * Beyond evil If something is beyond good, is it bad?   If something is beyond bad, is it evil?   If something is beyond evil, is it good or bad?


title: Are all myths superstitions, or are all superstitions myths?

text: Are all myths superstitions, or is it the other way around, i.e. all superstition being myths? Or can these words basically be used interchangeably? The dictionary definitions of these words seem somewhat vague.


title: bear trap memory

text: What does " **bear trap memory** " mean? Or **bear-trap memory**? Any why " **bear trap** "? I googled and saw a few examples. But none is very explanatory. An example of usage: > ... I was caught by his _bear trap memory_ of grammar again. ...


title: What is the origin of the word espresso?

text: The word 'espresso' has a particular spelling that people frequently get wrong. What is the root language of the word? (I'm sure it's Italian - but do the components of the word come from Latin or Greek?) (The 'Es' makes me think of Spanish) What is its origin? I can see 'press' in the word - as in to 'press coffee'. Are there other parts in the word that I haven't observed?


title: Word or Phrase for the small protuberance found opposite the handle on a tea strainer?

text: As seen in the following images : Here: Link The bumpy thing aiding the strainer in hanging on to a teacup here: Link Does this part of the anatomy of a tea strainer (and other similar items which need to hang from the lips of larger items) actually have a name by which it can be referred?


"Though heraldry was not exclusively military, it was important for identifying combatants, for rallying troops, and for maintaining battlefield morale." In the above sentence What do "rallying troops" and "battlefield morale" mean?


title: Capitalization and hyphenation for prefixed adjectives derived from proper names in mathematics

text: In mathematics, it often occurs that the last names of famous mathematicians are used as adjectives with mathematical meaning. Most of these adjectives are written with a capital letter. Then, prefixes may be added to these adjectives to denote derived mathematical properties. How do capitalization and hyphenation appear in these adjectives. For example, we could derive from "Boolean" the adjective > *semiboolean/*semi-Boolean/*Semiboolean Other examples (not necessarily in use yet) could be > *coriemannian/*co-Riemannian/Coriemannian I am aware of "pre-Hilbert" as an adjective that is actually established, but as a general rule this spelling looks peculiar to me.


title: "Biweekly", "bimonthly", "biannual", and "bicentennial"

text: What do lengths of time with the "bi" prefix mean"? I have understood _bicentennial_ as once every two hundred years, but _biannual_ as meaning twice a year. Do _biweekly_ and _bimonthly_ mean _twice a week_ or _month_ , or _once every two weeks_ or _months_? If this prefix is not used consistently, is there any rationale as to why it isn't?


title: Tool or service to generate valid word types based on grammars

text: The sentence below has several tokens (`T1` \- `T5`): > To gain T1, you must T2 it from T3 T4 T5. I'm trying to figure out what the values for each token could be, but can't even figure out what _types_ of words each token is (noun, pronoun, adverb, etc.). Is there a service or website that would generate the word types for me (for instance, if `T1` was the word " _access_ ", this tool would hopefully show `T1` as having **verb** as a valid word type, etc. If not, can anyone spot what (from a valid syntax/grammar standpoint) the valid word types for each token are?


title: Two crows being an attempted murder

text: What is the point of this joke? > — "What do you call two crows on a branch?"   >  — "Attempted murder." I've googled it to check if it was a word play but the closest one I've hit was " _marauder_ ". Someone care to explain?


title: How to correctly say that I will get graduated?

text: I'm going to "get graduated" at second quarter of 2014, and I need to write an e-mail saying this, but I don't know the "correct" way to write that "I will get graduated" this sounds pretty weird to me, then how can I write/say this? PS.: May it could be usefull, at Brazil we say "Eu vou me formar".


title: "By the bus" or "on the bus"

text: Is it more correct to form a sentence such as > John went to academic conference by the bus using _by_ as the preposition indicating what he took to the conference, or is using _on_ the correct way? Better yet, could both of them stand for the same meaning?


title: What is a group of cars on the road called?

text: For rental agencies and companies, the cars owned would be a _fleet_. Several cars escorting a VIP would be a _motorcade_. However, what if I want to say: > I dislike being the lone driver in an empty stretch of highway, so I may end > up speeding to get from the [ _group of cars_ ] behind me to the [ _group of > cars_ ] in front. Is there a good collective noun that would apply to this situation? Or would it be a matter of choosing a general term, like _group_ , _cluster_ , _block_ etc.


title: Etymology of a strange sense of "kick", as in, "I'm on a Sailor Moon kick right now"

text: [I'm not _really_ on a Sailor Moon kick. ^_^] Still, the use of the word _kick_ to denote the feeling of a "current or temporary pleasure" is pretty strange, isn't it? How did it evolve from its original root, which I presume is the sense of striking something with the foot, to that meaning? My question is: Can anyone draw **a plausible pathway** from the most original meaning to this colloquial meaning of _kick_? **EDIT** : Er, my example sentence didn't say, _I get a kick out of Sailor Moon._ It said, _I'm on a Sailor Moon kick_. I think these senses are very distinguishable, and thus the answers I've received thus far strike me as wrong.


title: To start in or at a company?

text: I am not sure about what is right: > I can start my career at an international company. or > I can start my career in an international company. For me at sounds appropriate?


title: Why is "sherbet" pronounced "sherbert" so much?

text: This has often stumped me. Not being a world-traveler, I don't know how widespread this pronunciation is, but if anyone knows: where did the _r_ come from?


title: Acknowledges - transitive verb question

text: Is the following grammatically correct? > Signing below acknowledges you agree with the terms. Or does it need to be: > Signing below acknowledges that you agree with the terms. I can't think of another transitive verb where this would be okay, but it doesn't have a definite "feeling" of wrongness, for whatever that's worth.


title: Is "Honouree" correct in British English?

text: I seem to only find _Honoree_ in the web, but Word spell corrector indicates me that I should write _HonoUree_. Which form is correct?


title: How do I write consecutive numbers?

text: Today I wrote the sentence: > The supplied definition defines 24 16-bit words per subframe, and ... I know the recipient will understand the terminology. I'm concerned about writing the phrase "24 16-bit words". It almost reads as "2416-bit words". The only alternative I can think of is wordy and flows poorly: > The supplied definition defines 24 words per subframe, each 16 bits wide, > and ... I'm of the mind that "sixteen-bit" is not immediately recognisable, and expressing a quantity, especially of 10 or more, is generally best done in numerals. Is this the best way to write it or is there a better alternative?


title: Is there a word for "to be built"?

text: I was wondering if there was a singular word that says "this will be constructed ( but it isn't constructed right now )". Is there such a word? \-- not too sure about whether it is transitive or not, but it would be used to describe something like "[to be built of bricks wall]" or "[to be built of Lego] house".


title: Isn't this rude? Or am I wrong?

text: I recently saw this statement when I unsubscribed an email from DiGi. > We're sorry to see you leave ~~(but you know where to find us again for the > latest information, hot updates and news!)~~ Isn't the first part of the statement (if taken separately) rude or at least on a sarcastic tone? But then again I may be wrong.


title: Dickens (a tale of two city, chapter 1): what do "they were awake" and "was to be atheistical and traitorous" refer to?

text: > But that Woodman and that Farmer, though they work unceasingly, work > silently, and no one heard them as they went about with muffled tread: the > rather, forasmuch as to entertain any suspicion that they were awake, was to > be atheistical and traitorous. In the last sentence of the passage above, "...that they were awake", who were awake and awakened from what? In "...,was to be atheistical and traitorous", who was atheistical and traitorous? Thank you!


title: Where did the "ue" in "tongue" come from?

text: How I remember being told over and over how to spell _tongue_! I didn't understand it then; I don't understand it now. What evolution might put a silent "ue" at the end of a word?


title: What does the phrase 'Quote-O-Matic' mean?

text: A sample application in the book 'Test Drive ASP.NET MVC' used this as its title.


title: Meaning of "I'll make due"

text: When someone says "I'll make due" what does it mean?


title: In which dialects does "is wanting" work as an appropriate substitution for "wants"?

text: I've recently seen a movie character regularly use this construction (for example, "the dog is wanting to be taken out for a walk"), and I am trying to figure out which dialect or cultural background the construction is meant to signal.


title: Is this an example of a dangling modifier too?

text: "From an original focus on the oil industry, Platts gradually expanded its purview to include metals, shipping, and all energy-related markets - oil, coal, natural gas, electricity, nuclear power, petrochemicals, renewables, and emissions." So I was looking at the Platts website while applying for a job, and came across this line. Should it be reworded to "From originally focusing on the oil industry..." or "From an original focus on the oil industry, Platts' purview gradually expanded..." Or is it not a dangling modifier at all?


title: Is this situation ironic or coincidental?

text: I'm under the impression irony is when the opposite of what you expect happens. Someone dies giving a safety presentation, for example. Coincidental, on the other hand, is when merely something unlikely manages to happen. Here's the situation: A few weeks ago I wore a pair of jeans somewhere. Today my friend asks what pair of jeans I'm wearing, and it happens to be those. He says how ironic that is. I say it's a coincidental, not ironic. Who's right?


title: Term for common definition of irony

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  What word means what many people think 'ironic' means? While irony actually means 'the opposite of what is expected', it is often misused in a context to make it mean 'an unexpected and amusing coincidence or similarity'. Is there any word that does actually mean this?


title: Synonym for "share the love" in terms of sharing information?

text: I'm trying to find a catch phrase that will entice customers to make referrals. We want them to "share the love" they have for our services with others, but I want it to sound professional.


title: Is this sentence structure backwards?

text: I edit reports at work and often feel that sentences end up structured backwards, for lack of a better term. For example, this sentence: > We designed a water diversion that also acts as a fish barrier to protect > and prevent fish from entering an irrigation storage pond. I think it sounds clearer to switch it around to > To protect and prevent fish from entering an irrigation storage pond, we > designed a water diversion that also acts as a fish barrier. Is that correct, and is there a grammatical explanation/term for that fix, or is it simply a question of style?


title: "Currently the environment is so contaminated" vs. "the environment is currently so contaminated"

text: >   * Currently the environment is so contaminated that urgent measures should > be taken. >   * The environment is currently so contaminated that urgent measures should > be taken. > Are both sentences grammatical? Do they convey different meanings depending on where _currently_ is used?


title: How does one pronounce "hath" and "doth"?

text: Old English verb forms such as "hath" and "doth" are, I believe, normally pronounced with the /θ/ sound as in the word "think." But somebody once told me that that is actually a mistake. The words, said he, were originally pronounced as present-day "has" and "does" with a /z/ sound. Pronouncing "hath" as /haθ/ rather than /haz/ is a modern mistake, said my source. Is this true?


title: What is the origin of the phrase "Life is too short to ..."?

text: As the title says, what is the origin of the phrase "Life is too short to ..." used with things conventionally expected, but which you do not want to do? Example: Life is too short to find a pair of matching socks.


title: Is "responsible" a gradable or a non-gradable adjective?

text: Is _responsible_ a gradable adjective that can be modified with _too_? E.g., "He is too responsible".


title: Single word for one-sided friendship

text: I am looking for a single word to describe a one-sided friendship.


title: General Rules for Creating Abbreviations

text: Can you create an abbreviation for any word that has no commonly accepted abbreviation simply by dropping some or all the vowels (i.e., restore: rstr or restr; replace: rplc or replc)?


title: raised ... 25 basis points or raised ... by 25 basis points?

text: I would like to know if it is correct to add the word "by" in the following sentence: Today, bank x raised its loan rate by 25 basis points.


title: Why does left come before right?

text: For example in the idioms "left and right", "left, right and centre", and in many contexts where both left and right are mentioned, it seems that the left usually comes before the right. Why is this so? I guess the begged, or zero-th, question: is there a preference when ordering left and right? Some people use "right and left" as well. I'm not sure how useful an Ngram search would be, due to both left and right having multiple meanings, e.g. "she turned to her **right and left** the house" or "he stood up, **left and right** then ...".


title: Higher status alternatives to the word 'intern'?

text: Are there higher status (or at least 'better-sounding', more CV-ready) alternatives to the word 'intern'? At least in the UK, being an intern is perceived as low status, with connotations of being the person who makes the coffee. It also looks less impressive on a CV. (The context which I'm searching in is that the charities I work for are offering internships of two to ten months. We provide accommodation and food/travel expenses, but this is closer to volunteering than employment. Many of our 'interns' have just graduated from elite universities, and they do relatively high-level and interesting work such as research. So it would be nice to call them something other than 'interns'.)


title: Can you call someone who chooses to quit his/her study in college as alumnus?

text: Oxford dictionary on alumnus: > a male former pupil or student of a particular school, college, or > university Oxford dictionary on dropout: > a person who has abandoned a course of study or who has rejected > conventional society to pursue an alternative lifestyle If someone chooses to quit his/her study in college, I can say that he/she is a former student of that college. Therefore, I can call her alumnus according to the definition above. It also matches the definition of a dropout. Which one should I use: an alumnus or a dropout?


title: Is it appropriate to use it?

text: Is it appropriate to say this sentence please? My mother wanted me to grow up to be a princess Thank you all!


title: i feel over-above-on the moon metaphor

text: * I feel over the moon.   * I feel above the moon.   * I feel on the moon. What's the difference between the three sentences above and what I should prefer to express an ecstatic sense?


title: Is “so” always accompanied by “that”?

text: In the following question, why can’t answer three be the right answer to fill in the blank? The correct answer is supposed to be choice one. > The new skyscraper was `____________` the buildings around it look like > dollhouses. > >   1. so tall that it made >   2. so tall and it therefore making >   3. so tall, making >   4. tall so much because it made >   5. this tall, it made >


I am trying to figure out what the correct preposition would be (and why): > Camera calibrated to/into/? optimal settings Thanks


I bought a globe that can turn and has a small lamp inside. Whenever that lamp is on you can see the state borders on the globe, when that inner light is off, you can only see the continents without country names and borders. There are three buttons on the globe's stand: Button 1: If you push on this button, the globe will start turning; Button 2: If you push on this one, the globe will stop turning; Button 3: Pressing this button will turn on/off the lamp (=light) inside the globe; Here is the question: Which captions in English would you choose for each one of those three buttons?


title: Which does English “l” and “r” sound come under, an allophone or different phonemes?

text: I was very much embarrassed when I was pointed out by ELU Senpai that I made a great mistake by misspelling ‘Mod election’ as ‘Mod erection’ during ELU chat. We Japanese often make a silly mistake of mixing ‘l’ and ‘r’ characters and sound in writing and speaking, as we don’t have ‘r’ sound. We pronounce Lace and Race with the same sound “lehsu -レース.” I understand Chinese have distinction of l and r sound. Particularly Beijin locals are well-known for frequent use of r sound, which is known for the word, "R化－R-lization" in speaking. I’ve read that English l and r sound come under allophone (or phoneme.) Kenyusha’s Readers English Japanese Dictionary provides definitions of both ‘allophone” and “phoneme,” but both in scanty two lines. It reads as if both ‘allophone” and “phoneme” are akin, which I’m doubtful of vaguely. What is the difference of ‘allophone” from “phoneme,” and to which of them do English ‘l’ and ‘r’ sounds come under? **Addendum:** Also We do not have θ and ð sound AndrewC has referred to in his comment. We cannot tell the difference between θ and ð, and pronounce both with s sound, e.g. “think” and “sink,” “thick” and “sick” in the same way. Until post WW II, most Japanese couldn’t pronounce v sound, though there was the letter ‘ヴ’ to express a 'foreign' v sound (only) in writing. We pronounce “Best” and “Vest” in the same B sound. But because of the influx of American culture and spread of English language, most Japanese come to distinguish b and v in speaking. We also pronounce “cofee” as “koh-hee.”


title: Is "Math Calculation" redundant when describing how to solve a problem?

text: I was corrected by another individual when describing the solution to a problem as a "math calculation". Is math implied when using calculation in a sentence therefore making my statement redundant?


title: Cyrillic names in transliteration

text: I wonder, if there is any adequate and up-to-date guide on transliteration of Cyrillic names. All I have read seem rather inconsistent and confusing.


title: would this be considered a 'methodology' or a 'method'?

text: Say I developed something called "Methodology for Establishing Remaining Life of Components". Basically, at work, we have components (or equipment). I wanted to develop a way to identify how much longer the components / equipment can last before they ware out and cannot be used. It takes into account "the degree of damage currently in the component, the rate of future damage accumulation based on realistic operating scenarios, and the degree of damage required to cause failure." Taking these three into account, the remaining life of a component can be assessed. This is what I call "Methodology for Establishing Remaining Life of Components". My question is, would this be considered a 'methodology for establishing remaining life of components' or just a 'method for establishing remaining life of components'? Or do you need more information to figure out if it is a method or methodology? I cannot provide all the information for business purposes, but if additional information is required to figure out if it is a method or methodology, I will provide it.


title: Is "put in place" a correct English expression?

text: I'm French and work with a German colleague. I often hear the expression "put in place" which to me corresponds to the French expression "mettre en place". This expression means more or less "set up things to get something to work". For example: > I put in place all the shelves so you can store your books. Is this grammatical and idiomatic?


title: Is there a name for this type of insult: "I am friends with many manly men. And Gary."?

text: Is there a term or word appropriate to describe the trick of using a general term and then explicitly adding a specific term to strongly imply that the specific is not part of the general? The trick I see never uses a negation or a word like "except." It simply "adds" something at the end as a slight or insult to the thing being added: > My classes are filled with really smart people. And John. > > Before you are the best and most clever and most attractive and Susan.


title: Is there a specific word in English for the owner of a pond/pool?

text: In china, there are many pools/ponds for finishing, I am wondering is there any specific word for the owner of a pond/pool?


title: Is it ok to use “within” with “upon”?

text: For example, is this sentence correct? > The requested goods must be delivered within 5 business days upon receipt of > a request (or simply upon request).


title: Does "break your head" really mean literally breaking one's head?

text: I was reading _Tom Brown's School Days_ , and I came across the part where they were describing a sport called backswording, in which the competitors will have their left hand tied to their leg/back, and they will be armed with a stick with their right arm. The aim of the game, is to break the head of your opponent, who is also tied up and armed in like manner. I am not sure how much damage is being done, when someone "breaks" his opponent's head. Does he really crack his skull and break his head? or does he just "break" the skin of his head? In both cases, blood must flow, that I know, and the loser of the game is when any amount of blood, no matter how little, flows down his forehead, or anywhere above his eyebrows, and is seen. So, going back to my question, what exactly does "break one's head" mean?


title: Is there a word for "wild animals that aren't afraid of people"?

text: I'm looking for a word or phrase to describe wild animals that are not afraid of people. I don't believe that _tame_ fits, as it seems to be the opposite of _wild_. _Domesticated_ doesn't fit either. For a more specific example of the case in question: > The groundhogs and squirrels on campus are crazy! Sometimes they even let > people pet them. These animals would be called what?


title: "so death swings open on its hinge"

text: There is a passage in the poem "Over" by Carol Ann Duffy that I don't understand well. > It is a key, unlocking all the dark,   >  so death swings open on its hinge What is the meaning of the second line?


title: "Time's up" or "time up" for games

text: I have seen games using both forms _time's up_ and _time up_ to say that the time is up. Which is correct?


title: Word order in salutations

text: Can we use a reverse order in salutations? For example, > Tom, hello/hi instead of > Hello/hi, Tom


title: "Blue colour" or "Colour blue"

text: Recently I started learning english on busuu.com. In on of the elementary exercices "Colours", that I performed, the following phrase was stated as the correct answer: "I like the colour blue" while my answer "I like the blue colour" was treated as incorrect. I would appreciate an explanation about a difference that might exist beetween these two phrases. Thanks.


title: "Because you have more money than sense"

text: I saw an advertising poster on a Samsung shop that was saying "iPhone 5, because you have more money than sense". But I don't get it, is that even a correct sentence?


title: Conjunction when one element contains another

text: I write a paper that defines a certain algorithm on geometric shapes. I have a sentence similar to the following: > If the input to the algorithm is connected, convex or rectangular, then its > output will also be connected, convex or rectangular, respectively. What I mean is that:   * If the input is a connected shape, then the output will be a connected shape.   * If the input is a convex shape, then the output will be a convex shape.   * If the input is a rectangular shape, then the output will be a rectangular shape. Note that all rectangular shapes are also convex, and all convex shapes are also connected, so the elements in the conjunction contain one another. Therefore, the word "or" seems strange in this context. Can you suggest a better way to express this meaning?


title: What is the difference between "so to do" and "to do so"

text: I believe that both are correct. I.e. > I have got the Christmas Eve off this year but my partner has failed so to > do. is equivalent to > I have got the Christmas Eve off this year but my partner has failed to do > so. However, are they equivalent?


title: Is "they sold the stocks out from under me" a common idiom?

text: > They sold the stocks out from under me. Is this "sold the stocks out from under me" common? It seems to mean they defrauded me.


title: What is the meaning of "as much as anything"?

text: **This book is mine as much as anything!** What does this mean? Does this mean, "This is REALLY MINE!!" I would want native speakers' opinion.


title: Word for ground-level hotel?

text: When my family went to Maui, we rented a room at a local ___ _. I have no idea what to call it. It was like a hotel room, but it wasn't in a hotel building, it was only one story.


title: "A feeling of content" or "A feeling of contentment"?

text: I'm a native English user. I am used to using "content" as a noun, adjective and verb but when I use it as a noun, I usually use content rather than contentment. I checked the dictionaries and both are correct. But which is more common and what's the difference if both are correct? Any nuance difference? I rarely use "contentment" as I feel the word sounds a bit cheesy and I don't use a "bigger" sounding word when a simpler word is available. I used "content" as a noun in that form (and not as contents in a box) and somebody corrected me saying it's "contentment". I'm very sure I have seen "content" used in that form in many newspapers and books over my 33 years. Who's right?


title: Is it widely accepted to use ‘gridiron’ as a verb and gerund?

text: Time magazine (September 30) carries the article titled “Christie to Watch Football” followed by the lead copy: “Garden Stater in no rush to decide, will mull _while gridironing_ this weekend. AP finally weighs in: Christie "reconsidering" his decision not to run. ” From the headline, it is easily to understood that ‘gridironing’ refers to watching football game. But as I checked both of Cambridge Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionary and others on line, there was no mention of ‘gridiron’ as a verb. Merriam Webster defines ‘gridiron’ as the noun meaning;   1. a gated iron utensil for broiling flesh and fish over coals.   2. An openwork frame on which vessels are placed for examination, cleaning, and repairs.   3. A football field. Cambridge Dictionary defines it simply; noun. a field painted with lines for American football. I know people use nouns as verbs very often today. Even we Japanese say ‘I baseballed yesterday.’ ‘Let’s movie today,’ ‘I forgot to breakfast this morning,' by omitting do, take, play to shorten the sentence. But is it right to use ‘gridiron’ in the verb or gerund form which no dictionary (as far as I checked) provides as used in the Time article? Can we substitute most nouns (not saying every noun) for verb / gerund, like 'I'm philosophying today,''The doctor coughed while surgerying.'?


title: Can "what kind" be plural?

text: Is it correct to say, "What kind of patents are being issued in these sophisticated times?" It seems like it should be _What kind of patents is being issued..._ , but that sounds wrong. _What kind of patent is being issued..._ is correct and sounds right, but loses a little bit of the original meaning. Is there something magic about _what kind_ that allows it to be plural, or do people just misuse it a lot?


title: Meaning of Lyrics in "Diamonds on the Inside"

text: In Ben Harper's song, "Diamonds on the Inside", there is a verse that goes > She made herself a bed of nails,   >  And shes plannin' on puttin' it to use. I don't quite understand its meaning, especially in relation to the stanza/verse that precedes it: > When you have everything,   >  You have everything to lose. I understand that there is an idiom/expression, be a bed of nails, that describes a situation that is difficult or unpleasant. There is also another idiom/expression, make your own bed, that describes causing one's own misery. Even Alice Cooper has written a song about a Bed of Nails, although this appears to be used in a slightly different context. Could anybody please clarify the meaning of _bed of nails_ in the above context, and why someone would _plan on putting it to use_?


title: Plural of composite noun?

text: I'm trying to say that each message can take some time to arrive (a delay), and that each such delay can have any value. So, which one of the following is the most appropriate? > There is no bound on message delay. or > There is no bound on message delays. or > There is no bound on messages delays. Also, there is a number of processes, running at different speeds, and the speed difference is unbound. So a similar question would be what's the best combination of words for the following sentence? > There is no bound on relative process/processes speed/speeds?


title: How common is the word "nostalgia"?

text: I have spent most of my life not knowing the meaning of the word _nostalgia_. I have looked it up. But as I was talking to someone about the experiences he had, he used the word as if it were a common everyday word. Would someone please tell me how you use the word _nostalgia_ , and try to be detailed about the situation in which it is used?


title: What does the idiom "heel to head" mean?

text: In Robert Charles Wilson's novel "Vortex" he writes:               In the morning I toured him through Vox Core, heel to head.      I know the saying "head over heels", but this one is new to me. What does it mean? (Disclaimer: non-native speaker here)


title: "Succeed in" or "succeed at"

text: Are "He succeeded _in_ business" and "He succeeded _at_ business" both idiomatic? What is a good resource for learning idiomatic verb-preposition pairs?


title: We can predict everything, except the future

text: The quotation in the title seems to appear everywhere on the Internet, but it is never attributed to anyone. Is there somebody who knows its origin?


title: difference between act and deed

text: I've been searching the internet, but have not quite found a satisfactory explanation between an act and a deed. Both seem to have kind of a meaning of something done, though through my google and etymology searching the only apparent difference i can find is that "act" slightly hints at something more in the process of being done. (although not necessarily) Surely there should be more of a difference between the two words. If they mean the same thing surely there would be no need anymore for two words and i also know act and deed can not always be interchanged in sentences, but what is the difference exactly then? I'm left utterly confused, hope someone can help me and explain the difference...


title: What does "prevently" mean in this paragraph?

text: What does _prevently_ mean in this paragraph? The original article can be found here: > [...] Only the activity of insects and frogs that danced around the lilly > pads disturbed the water. Hardly a minute had passed when a movement caught > the corner of my left eye. Imagination told me that a grandaddy beaver was > tromping in clear range of my Winchester Super-X CXP3 power-point game load. > Reality told me something else. What I had supposed was a large beaver > turned out to be the head of a much larger animal. **It was the presence of > this laviathon that had prevently me from seeing any beavers upon arrival.** > In a flash, the five-foot reptilian sprang from the brush and exploded into > the water with great speed and noise.[...]


title: What is the difference between "Hept-" and "Sept-" prefixes?

text: As I understand it, both the prefixes "Hept-" and "Sept-" are used to indicate _seven_ of something. We have examples of English words that use both: e.g. > Heptathalon, Heptagon, Heptane vs > Septuagenarian, September I don't believe this is the case for other numbers- "Quad" is four, "Pent" is five, "Hex" is six, etc... I believe "Sept" comes from the word "septem", which is Latin for "seven". So where has "Hept" come from? And why do no other numbers have an equivalent?


title: Is there a proper way to refer to the "source" and "destination" of a phrase used in communication?

text: The terms _topic_ or _subject_ can be used to describe what a sentence refers to. What are the proper terms for the "source" (the person who is speaking or writing) and "destination" (the person who is listening or reading) when referring to a particular phrase used in communication? For example, if Ann were to tell Bob: "The sky is blue" What general term would I use to describe Ann or Bob in relation to that sentence? If they were speaking out loud, I might call Ann _the speaker_ , and Bob _the listener_. If Ann had written to Bob, I might call Ann _the writer_ and Bob _the reader_. In both cases, I might also call Bob _the audience_. Ann could be described as _using_ the sentence to communicate with Bob. The trouble with all of these options is their actual use: "The source of the sentence" - implies text, not a person   "The sentence speaker" - excludes writing, sounds wrong   "The sentence writer" - excludes speaking   "The person who used the sentence" - too verbose "The sentence destination" - a tagline for your local jail?   "The sentence listener" - an upcoming Hollywood movie?   "The sentence reader" - excludes listening   "The audience of the sentence" - could imply more than one person, too verbose


title: 'Whack someone" vs " Whop someone" vs "Wallop someone"

text: I noticed that, in the dictionary, the words Whack, Whop and Wallop can have a meaning resembling _hit some one hard_. ODO says: > **Whack (Verb)** = strike forcefully with a sharp blow.   >  **Whop (Verb)** = hit hard.   >  **Wallop (verb)** = strike or hit (someone or something) very hard. and I'm writing about a boxer or karate fighter who hit his opponent hard in a match. I'm considering saying that the fighter _whacked or whopped or walloped_ his opponent. I would like to know: (1) Is there a difference between those three? Would you imagine that whacked an opponent is a slightly different meaning than whopped or walloped an opponent? (I typed all these three words into a Google image search, and I got similar images for whopped and walloped. I got different images for whacked. However I cannot grasp a clear difference). (2) All of those three words have other meanings in dictionary. For example, whop has other meanings like _the regular pulsing sound of a helicopter rotor_ If all these three words are essentially the same meaning, is there any reason I should avoid using one word or the other?


title: Usage of 'only' with a verb

text: _They only stamp academic documents_ versus _they stamp academic document only_ : which one is correct and what are the implications of the non-correct form? (Context: university office that does other businesses but also stamps academic documents.)


title: What is etymology of the term "right up the Wazoo"?

text: I'm sure everyone here has heard the expression "right up the Wazoo", meaning "in large or excessive quantities, to disgusting excess". I was wondering if anyone knew exactly where "the Wazoo" actually is?


title: What is the origin and scope of usage of the phrase "So long...." used to bid goodbye?

text: We often colloquially use the phrase **_so long_** to say goodbye. For eg. _So long, we'll see you next week_ **or** _He said so long and left_. What is the **origin** of this phase? Rather, how did it come into being? I would also like to know the circumstances under which its usage would be deemed appropriate. **EDIT:** Is this phrase some sort of corruption of any phrase in some other language( _looking at the answers_ ) or it has some meaning to it in English Language as well?


title: What is the average number of meanings for a word in English?

text: Many words have multiple meanings. Sometimes they are related (like "theory" as opposed to "practice", versus "theory" as in "scientific theory"), but sometimes they’re completely different (like "dye" as in "colourize" versus "die" as in "stop living", or even the singular of "dice"). Dictionaries usually list several meanings for each lemma. I’m wondering if anybody knows what the average is for an English word? (For that matter, is it known for other languages?)


title: Is “Something in the sand” a popular English phrase?

text: I’m interested in the line, “Raising tax rates on the wealthy is Obama’s line in the sand” in the following lead-copy of Washington Post’s (December 4) article titled “President Obama’s tough time taking a hard line on the fiscal cliff.” > “The president has done something that could make negotiations far more > difficult. He has made it clear that raising tax rates on the wealthy is > **_his line in the sand_**.” I see the idiom, “Bury your head in the sand” in Cambridge online dictionary, and “Head in the sand” in Merriam-Webster online dictionary, but I cannot find “in the sand” as an idiom in both dictionaries. Oxford online dictionary registers only “the sands (of time) are running out” as a sand-related phrase. On the other hand, Google Ngram shows consistent incidences of “in the sand” since cir 1840. I guess “his line in the sand” means “his statement (promise) unachievable like “a castle in the air.” Is “something (letter, record, plan, promise, structure) in the sand” a popular expression? If so, why isn’t it registered in major dictionaries as a simile of fragility, ephemerality, or easy-erasable like the title of Japanese popular song, "A love-letter writen on the sand"?


title: Phrase "I am off to ..."

text: "I am off to Prague". What does it mean? Could you paraphrase it?


title: Can something "hold a property"

text: In academic writing, it is common to refer to or prove properties about the main object of an article. If I prove a property for (some object), I know I can use the phrase: > Property X **holds** for the object Y. But, can an object hold a property? > Furthermore, object Y **holds** some additional properties. It always sounded "natural" to me (I'm not a native speaker), but now that I'm trying to verify my sentence construction using Google, I just can't seem to find anything useful.


title: Origin of street names ending in "-hurst"

text: There is a large number of streets in the UK whose names end in _-hurst_ , for example _Ravenhurst, Gathurst, Oakhurst, Amhurst, Bonehurst, Eaglehurst_ , etc. Is there a common meaning for this _-hurst_ ending? How old are these names?


title: Confused as to whether I should use commas or not

text: I am getting some gifts engraved for my wedding party and I can't decide whether to use commas or not. Should it be: > Thank you Neil   >  for being our Usher or: > Thank you, Neil,   >  for being our Usher I think the second option is correct but doesn't look quite right, probably due to being separated over two lines. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as once the engraving is done that's it.


title: "bound" or "bonded"

text: If I use a computer command like:               bind keystroke macro      I refer to that keystroke as being bound to that macro. Is it also correct to say that they are bonded? If I bind a bunch of twigs together, they are bound, but I don't think they are bonded. Can "bound" and "bonded" be used interchangeably? Under what circumstances?


title: meaning of a word in a particular context

text: what does _resolve_ mean in the following sentence? In spite of her **resolve** , her lips responded to his silent quest.


title: What does "he is sorted" mean?

text: In her book _Wedding Night_ , Sophie Kinsella writes: > He's got a cushy number. Nice salary, cottage on the estate... **he's > sorted**. I looked up the meaning of "sort" in [insert dictionary here] and didn't find anything that looked relevant. The closest I found was the idiomatic usage "sorted out", but there's no "out" in this quote. What does "he's sorted" mean?


title: Term for the category which contains Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, etc?

text: Is there a specific word or term for the group of mythical holiday characters such as Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, Cupid, etc?


title: Is it wrong to start sentences with "in which case"?

text: I read a few things someone wrote and for the first time I saw a sentence starting with "in which case". This person does that very frequently, and it seemed really wrong to me. Some time after that I saw another person doing the same (you can see it here, page 9, 5th paragraph). As this person is a very well-known and respected economist, who is also known for his good writing skills, I started to think that maybe it "sounded" weird just because I hadn't seen it before. In my view "in which case" should be preceded by a comma, but I might be mistaken. My question is then: is it really wrong to start sentences with "in which case" or am I completely off? **EDIT** : Here is the paragraph which contains the referred message: > Evil is a strong word. You may find the moral category too severe for > something as mild as breaking a promise. **In which case** , you may want to > change the title to "Distrust is the Root of all Money". But that wouldn’t > have quite the same ring.


title: What's the difference between 'shatter' and 'splinter'?

text: What's the difference between _shatter_ and _splinter_? Are they interchangeable? Their definitions from Cambridge dictionary are as follows: **Shatter(V):** > to (cause something to) break suddenly into very small pieces. **Splinter(V):** > to break into small, sharp pieces. Can I say "The car window was shattered (or splintered) last night."?


title: Is "hayway" an English word?

text: I thought I had heard and seen this word being used. For example, > If you do this, things will go hayway. Meaning that things will go out of order in a mess/berserk, something like that. Now I cannot find any such word in existence.


title: I was able to re-introduce the process that had not been done anymore. Past perfect?

text: I am not sure whether or not there should be past simple or past perfect: > I was able to re-introduce the procedure that had not been being followed > anymore. > > I was able to re-introduce the procedure that was not being followed > anymore. I think that because the process has not been followed (and was not before the re-introduction), this should be implied by the past perfect.


Are all the following expressions correct? What are the differences?   * I will arrange for the manuscript to be sent on to you.   * I will arrange that the manuscript will be send to you in time.   * I will make sure of the manuscript to be sent to you in time


title: Can a man made object be named arbitrarily without reason

text: I had a debate with a friend on how things made artificially are named. My friend proposed that all man made things are named with a reason/proper meaning. I disagreed saying not all things made by man need to have a name which can have a history or meaning to it. I gave an example of the word "quark" as a proof. Are there words for man made things which one can prove has no reason to it and was "made-up" arbitrarily.