title: What is the difference between “I earn $500 each month” and “I earn $500 per month”?

text: What is the difference between these two sentences? > I earn $500 _each_ month   >  I earn $500 _per_ month


title: Citing publications with stylized titles

text: In a situation where the title of a work is stylized, e.g. "Choose the Red Pill _and_ the Blue Pill", should this title be fully italicized as _Choose the Red Pill and the Blue Pill_ when cited? It would obviously leave out the emphasis from the title. Are there conventions on how to tackle these situations?


title: Are there any differences between "I put the clothes on" and "I put on the clothes"?

text: I want to know the difference between "I put the clothes on" and "I put on the clothes". Is there any difference in meaning?


title: Is it acceptable to drop the comma in "Thanks, John"?

text: I grew up learning that the comma must be placed there, but it seems like an unnecessary interruption in a phrase that isn't ever spoken that way.


title: Really nice, Mat

text: I see a lot of people saying things such as > Nice work, Nick Or > Thanks, Mat Is the comma really needed? I'm not 100% sure because my spelling and grammar is not great, but I think it reads very strange.


title: Commas between interjectional elements

text: If one wanted to say something like > `no commas`: Hello Pete, how are you? or > `commas`: Thanks, Julia, this will be helpful! would he need commas separating the different elements in the interjection or just the comma separating the interjection from the rest of the sentence/clause?


title: Looking for a single word for 'blind worship'

text: Is there a single word for 'blind worship' as in worshiping an actor blindly notwithstanding the bad performance?


title: 'Given by' vs 'Given with'

text: Is this sentence correct? > The equation of a line is given **with** [SOME EQUATION] ... I want to use it instead of: > The equation of a line is given **by** [SOME EQUATION] ... Can I use 'with' instead of 'by'?


title: Homonyms of word 'Tudor'

text: So as the title says - can you please suggest me homonyms of word 'Tudor'? I cannot find anything so far. Tried using rhymezone - http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Word=tudor&typeofrhyme=perfect&org1=syl&org2=l&org3=y In that site - there are similar words, but homonyms should sound the same. I am doing an exercise and the author says 2 is fair, four is good, five or more is excellent. But I cannot find even a single one. **Update:** I have read in Wikipedia what is homonym, not the whole article, but to get an idea. I don't want just rhyme, as I understand that is not necessarily a homonym. I think I can accept words that only some people may agree on possibly only in certain contexts. I do not understand what is a "mock" homonym. **Update 2** Noticed that there can be homonym which is the same word but having different meanings - From wiki: > polysemous homonyms, or polysemes, which have a shared origin, such as mouth > (of a river) and mouth (of an animal) So as google.translate shows - there is noun and The adjective of word Tudor, so we already have one homonym.


title: Meaning of 'full reality to change'

text: > Therefore, classic ontology denies any **full reality to change** , > **which** is conceived as only accidental and not essential In the above sentence, which is the object(or complement) of the 'deny'? what is the 'to change' to modify? what is the 'which' substitutes?


title: Is there a specific term for "conditions treated as though there are OR operators between them"?

text: I'm writing a program that generates playlists from a large pool of mp3 files. The program can keep track of total playing time, number of tracks and total size of the files, and can be given upper limits on each of the three. What I want to make clear in the documentation is that even though any combination of the three limits may be specified, the program will quit after any one of them is reached. Effectively, it treats them as though they were specified with the boolean "OR" operator. Is there a programming term to describe this? My uneducated guess would be to use "the conditions are treated disjunctively" i.e. the logical operation of disjunction is performed on them, but I don't know if this is accepted (or, for that matter, existing) terminology.


title: Technique relating environment and emotions/personality

text: I was wondering what is the technical term for the technique relating a physical environment to the mental state. For example, I am writing about how the dim lighting and cluttered workspace of Deckard in _Blade Runner_ reflects his detached/apathetic nature etc. What is the term used to describe this? (sort of similar to pathetic fallacy...)


title: I need a synonym for "transfer" which makes clear that the recipient has initiated the transfer

text: I have following situation: There is a software system for managing to-do lists for a team. If a team member sees that a coworker has too much on his list, she can decide to transfer the feature to her own list in order to help him. But if I just say "The software allows users to transfer todos between lists", it sounds like they are able to push their own tasks to other's lists. I need a word for "transfer", which makes clear that the new task owner has initiated the transfer, so it sounds nice. A long explanation won't do, as it is bad for marketing, it should be a single verb. Something like "take over", but "take over" doesn't feel right to me - or is it OK?


title: Founders vs Co-founders

text: What is the correct term to use, or what is the difference between the two? For instance, if you describe yourself as a founder in a resume it sounds like you founded something alone. In plural form (founders), it suddenly seems more like co-founders - that you didn't do it alone. But I don't know if co-founder alone maybe sounds as if you didn't have a leading role in the founding part. Hope anyone can clear up my confusion here! Thanks CC (From Denmark - if the grammar isn't perfect I apologize in advance ;)


title: What is a word that means "a person or thing which is small yet capable of defeating big giants"?

text: What can I call a person or a thing that is very small yet capable of defeating big giants? I need different words that can be connected closely to this meaning. It can be related to success,war, or anything else.


title: Is a comma required in "Until now X, that it is about time we do Y"?

text: I am wondering if I should leave the comma in the following sentence: > Until now he has been behaving so badly, that it is about time we do > something about it.


title: What does the expression "for crying out loud" mean?

text: What does the expression "for crying out loud" mean and where does it come from?


title: What does "wipe your chin and walk away" mean?

text: In the movie _The Social Network_ Sean Parker says in his first meeting with Mark: > Sean Parker: "And they want you to say 'thank you' while you, excuse me, > wipe your chin and walk away." I never was quite able to figure this one out , so what exactly does **_wipe your chin and walk away_** refers to? If you wish, you can see to the YouTube clip of the conversation  here.


title: Correct pronunciation of "career"

text: Is it car-rear? Or, is it carry-er? The word is very commonly used among Japanese with the same meaning, and we say it like carry-er, which I suppose is wrong.


title: Correct pronunciation of "Can"

text: How to correctly pronounce word "can" in British English and in American English? Here's somehow related answer but it is more about differences between "can" and "can't", and I'm interested how to pronounce "can" in American English and in British English.


title: What preposition should follow "jealousy"?

text: My favorite on-line dictionary tells me that it is > jealousy (of so.|sth.) - die Eifersucht (auf jmdn.|etw.) I check just-the-word and there is only given > jealousy between > > jealousy about > > jealousy at But _of_ only precedent to jealousy. Looking at the examples for _jealousy about_ and _jealousy at_ it seems to me that _about_ and _at_ is the preposition which is taken when referring to the reason why someone is jealous. > ... that it was jealousy about her ideas. > > ... jealousy at the younger man's superior talents As I introduced, the dictionary says it is possible to say _jealousy of sth_. In my understanding _something_ can just be the reason but not _the thing I'm jealous of_.   * (Q1) Is it _jealousy of sth_ or _jealousy at sth_ or _jealousy about sth_ when referring to the reason why someone is jealous?   Note: I mean is it possible to say _jealousy of the talents_ or must it be _at_ as in the given example. I don't find any serious sources which show the use of _jealousy of sb_. I know that it is correct since there are many examples for _to be jealous of_. > They're all jealous of me.   * (Q2) Is it common to say _jealousy of sb_ when referring to the person of whom I'm jealous? Supplementary question: How do I combine in one sentences telling the person of whom I'm jealous and the reason why I'm jealous?   I could use genitive as in _Peter's car_ but maybe my jealousy does not refer to the car or Peter himself but to his money or his parent's money (imaging they spent him the car). How could I handle such a thing? * * * I'm sorry for combining a couple of questions into one question but they are too related for being separated.


title: Correct abbreviation of "engineer"

text: What is the correct abbreviation of _engineer_? In my organization, some of my colleagues use _Eng._ and some use _Engr._


title: 'Think in' expression - correct or not?

text: It might sound like a newbie question, but... Today on my English lessons I argued with the teacher whether you can say 'think in' or not. For me it's obvious that you can (there's even a book 'Thinking in Java'), but now I have to find it in a reliable source (I don't even know what is a reliable source, since she said that oxford's internet dictionary is not one). Thanks in advance.


title: Differences between "sledge", "sleigh" and "sled"

text: Is there a difference between a sledge, a sleigh and a sled? Dictionary definitions suggest they are synonymous, but it certainly sounds wrong to refer to Santa Claus on a **_sledge_**.


title: Positive euphemism for "harped on"

text: How can I replace _harped on_ with a more positive expression? > The production manager harped on the new quality assurance regulations for > nearly an hour.


title: Should there be a preposition between "at a loss" and the following question word?

text: Examples: I am at a loss who to blame. OR I am at a loss of who to blame. OR I am at a loss on who to blame.


title: Is an article an adjective?

text: I have always believed that articles (a/an, the) are a special type of adjective.. In watching a TV show recently (Smarter than 5th Grader) - A question was - "How many adjectives are in the following sentence: "Sierra ran down the hill."? - They claimed the answer is 'zero'! I would have said 'one'. Who is correct?


title: In golfing terms should Ambrose be upper- or lowercase?

text: Is the _Ambrose_ type of play named after someone and therefore uppercase?


title: "Wallpaper" vs "background"

text: In terms of electronic screens (computers, cell phones, PDAs, tablets) what would be more accurate to say: _wallpaper_ or _background_?


title: What is the difference between "count" and "matter" in this quote?

text: I came across a quote today, it is, > As a person it's what's on the inside that _counts_. It's what's on the > outside that _matters_. Please explain the quote for me. Are _count_ and _matter_ opposites?


title: Another word for "large in numbers"

text: What is a single word denoting the fact that something is very large in numbers, something like _proliferated_ but not quite? > While certainly not as [ **proliferated** ] as B2C apps, business to > business...


title: What is the mean of Converted Leads

text: When i found job on job website, i found the term `Converted Leads` job(Related to marketing). Please explain to me what it mean and what are the tasks will be done by this job? Any information would be appreciated!


title: What does "further embodiment" mean?

text: I am reading a legal paper and I see this "further embodiment" a lot. I wonder what it means? Thank you


title: Does exaggeration imply intent to misrepresent?

text: I've looked up a few definitions (Oxford, M-W, dictionary.com), but none make it explicit. E.g., (one I made up) > "When professional tennis players were asked to rate the fitness of > professional and amateur tennis players, most correctly guessed that > professionals were fitter than amateurs. The did, however, tend to > exaggerate this difference." Does the use of the word "exaggerate" in the second sentence imply any of the following:   1. That pro tennis players have intentionally misrepresented the difference?   2. That pro tennis players were aware that they made an overstatement?   3. That pro tennis players were somehow motivated to make an overstatement? I'm considering this in terms of clarity. For example, I think using "overestimation" instead, implying that they've made a guess as opposed to a statement, would more obviously avoid a lot of the above.


title: Why present perfect in “When the night has come”?

text: In the song “Stand by Me”, we see a sentence like “when the night has come.” I was taught that in a _when_ clause, we use the past tense, yet the present perfect has been used in the sentence cited above. Why is that?


title: How to pronounce the "v" sound?

text: I live in Thailand and we pronounce "w" and "v" the same. When I spoke to American people they told me that the "v" sound was different from "w". They told me to move my lower lip to the upper teeth, then say "v", but I don't get it. I want to know how to pronounce "v" in English. If you can suggest me how to practice it, that would be great!


title: Past participle form of "break-even"

text: _Break even_ is commonly used in economics to refer to the point where cost and revenue are equal. However, instead of using the long way of saying that > Firm X had reached the point of break even is it possible to say > Firm X had broken even? I realise that _broke even_ is in common usage today, but somehow _broken even_ just doesn't sound right. Is it correct or is there a better way of saying it?


title: is there anything wrong with "from my perspective"

text: Is the expression "from my perspective" good English? I was always under the impression that "perspective" refers to what someone else can see (i.e. a third person), and that if you wanted to refer to what you yourself can see you should say "in my view". What do you think?


title: "Close the light" — regionalism or mere oddity?

text: If I want the room in darkness, and wish to announce my intent, I would say > I'm going to turn off the light. But occasionally here in America I hear people say > I'm going to close the light. It's happened too often to chalk up to mistake or happenstance. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if this is a regional usage and, if so, what region?


title: A rude equivalent to a "TV box" term

text: I am looking for an American English term for a "TV box" as a source of zombification and brain killing. Maybe "boob tube" is the right one? The shorter, the better.


title: Is "camp" short for "campaign"?

text: Someone on Stack Overflow says "open source camp" is one of his interests. At first sight, I was confused by the use of "camp" here. Now I feel that it might refer to the word "campaign", which seems to make the best sense to me among others. Am I correct? If so, is the use of "camp" as a short term for "campaign" well accepted? I can't find any entry for "camp" from online dictionaries that is related to "campaign".


title: An idiom/phrase for someone whose opinions must be accepted by other people

text: (As a follow-up to the question,) Suppose there is a group of people, and suppose in this group opinions and ideas of a specific member of the group is always accepted by other members and they obey what he/she says. Is there an idiom/phrase for it? > [...] We had had a special respect for my father in my family and his > opinions and ideas were always accepted by other family members and as they > put it, [the requested idiom or phrase]. In my native language, we say: > He always says the last word. (The child is the one I mentioned in my previous question)


title: What is the acronym for a minor in a subject at a university?

text: I'm filling out a resume and need to list my education. For my bachelor's degree, it's just "B.S. Whatever", no problem. I also have a minor. What is the acronym that I should use for this?


title: What tense to use when writing about an ongoing action in a text which will be published / read in the future?

text: What is the correct form, if any? If no form is correct, please advise. > I'll start by underlining that this article is typed on a Logitech G15 > keyboard. vs > I'll start by underlining that this article is being typed on a Logitech G15 > keyboard. vs > I'll start by underlining that this article was typed on a Logitech G15 > keyboard. The article will be published a few days after I write the text, and, of course, read anytime between then and the next year.


title: Sought solace Vs sought for solace

text: I see the above two phrases used interchangeably. Google n-gram viewer prefers "sought solace". Are they both correct?


title: "I don't think so" vs. "I think not"

text: I've recently been told that "I don't think so" is, in the U.S.A., a southernism, whereas "I think not" is considered more acceptable everywhere else. Is this true? Example: > Q: _Is your wrist broken?_   >  A: _I don't think so._ / _I think not._


title: Word for "after one's career"

text: _Posthumous_ is the word used to denote that something occurred after someone's death. Is there a word that could be used for after one's career? The best I got is _postcurricular_ , but I think that is more specific towards after one's schooling. Here is an example of what I am shooting for: > He received the award posthumously. > > He received the email post ___ _? As a side note, I could use _post employment_ , but that is not what I'm looking for.


title: Does the term "avoid" leave room for exceptions?

text: For instance, this sentence: > Avoid the "Reply All" option. Which of the following paragraphs better describes the above sentence? > **Paragraph 1** : Don't use the "Reply All" option. > > **Paragraph 2** : As a general rule, don't use the "Reply All" option. > However, there exist certain scenarios where it's acceptable to use this > option. Is the second paragraph a proper interpretation of the sentence?


title: Could I say "I'm looking at the project"?

text: Someone is examining an Internet project at Codeplex.com.   Can he say "I'm looking at the project 'Project name'", or it is a mistake? What is the best way to say it?


title: Relatively to each other — less awkward word?

text: I'm rating the performance of things in different dimensions on a scale, e.g. `[--, -, 0, +, ++]`. This ranking only describes the relative performance in one dimension, without referring to other things in the outside world or one of the other dimensions. If I say, > ... the performance of the things in the dimensions is rated relatively. , I'm not sure that this concept gets conveyed to the reader correctly. Is there a more fitting word to describe the confinedness of the ratings?


title: Definite article before schools, colleges, and universities

text: Is _the_ always used before the name of a school, college, or university?


In some scientific papers, we see that some professors write "University of Bla" on their papers, while others write "Bla University".   What is the difference between "University of Bla" and "Bla University"? Are there any differences at all?


Do I need "the" before the name of my university in the header? Header: > Politechnika Wroclawska - name of university in my language > > (the Wroclaw University of Technology) - translated name of university in > the brackets This header is contained in the official document.


title: Definite article "the" before name of university?

text: If I write article "the" before name of university, it would be a mistake? > The Poznan University of Life Sciences Thank you for your help in advance.


title: Do I need "the" before the name of my university?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Definite article before proper nouns I was updating my LinkedIn tagline and thinking about whether I should put the article before the name of the university. > Student at **the** University of […].   >  Student at University of […]. I am leaning towards the former but I am not sure.


title: University names?

text: I have some questions concerning names of university.   1. What is the difference between "The Poznan University of Life Sciences" and "Poznan University of Life Sciences"?    2. Are there any grammatical rules for a university's name?   3. Where and when should we put "the" before the name? Thank you for your help in advance.


When is there a "the" at the beginning of a university's name? For Example,   * Cornell University or the Cornell University,    * Brown University or the Brown University,    * Johns Hopkins University or the Johns Hopkins University, (I saw the latter is used often, and not sure about the former)   * Carnegie Mellon University or the Carnegie Mellon University,    * University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign or the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign,   * Stanford University or the Stanford University. Thanks!


title: 'XYZ University' vs. 'The University of XYZ'?

text: I was wondering about the use of the word 'university' with city names and/or special proper nouns. So, for example, what's the difference between 'Aleppo University' and 'The University of Aleppo'?


title: Is there any difference between "switch" and "swap"?

text: Is there any difference between _switch_ and _swap_?


title: How to pronounce New Orleans

text: I presume this must be an exception to "pronounce it like the locals", since what I hear is something like 'Norlin'. Or is this just the movies? Is it a mistake to attempt to pronounce it like a local?


title: How to pronounce Louis Armstrong

text: I think the standard Irish/British pronunciation is as in Louis the king. But musicians seem to say "Lewis". I've heard people say Joe Louis as in the king as well. Is this wrong?


title: Ms. or Mrs. if you don't know the marriage status

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  When is it appropriate to use the title "Miss" as opposed to "Ms."? To my understanding:               Ms. => Not married.     Mrs. => Married.      However, if one doesn't know the marriage status of the other party, what is the correct term to use? Ms/Mrs may be a possibility, but I am wondering if there is a one word version such as "Mr" regardless of their marriage status.


title: “Might” vs. “Maybe”

text: Is it a correct form to say while talking?   1. "I might go" => i.e., _maybe_ I will go   2. "he might be available" => i.e., _maybe_ he will be available.


title: What do you call a person who is never content with anything that is given to him?

text: I am looking for an adjective for a person who, no matter what you give him/her (materially or otherwise), is never content and always expects more.


title: 'Click/tap' or 'click or tap'

text: I'm writing documentation for an online system, with sentences like this: > Click/tap the ‘cog’ icon of a content filter to edit it. This does not go down well with Microsoft Word. The grammar checker advises me: 'Consider revising'. However, when I change it to: > Click **or** tap the ‘cog’ icon of a content filter to edit it. ...all is well. Which makes me wonder: is it bad to use a slash here? Is there perhaps a formal rule about this?


title: Which verb is used to tell: check and pass it

text: I'm looking for a _verb_ that when I'm saying: **_XXX it_** , then I would mean: **_Check it and if it was valid, pass it_** What should be the **_XXX_**? Or any verb that have a similar meaning as the mentioned sentence. EDIT: I removed the **_to me_** from the sentence.


title: Which of the following two sentences is more correct?

text: Please help me with next: Which kind of sentence is more correct: > a. We decided to present you Jim, Department Manager of Sam, as a contact > person for ... > > b. We decided to present you Jim, Department Manager which employs Sam, as a > contact person for ...


title: Why do I have to say "want you to do" instead of "want you do"

text: example: "I want you to eat fish" instead of "I want you eat fish" or "I want that you eat fish". Can you explain to me what is te grammatical reason for this?


title: "Buy at an acceptable price" vs. "buy for an acceptable price"

text: Is it correct to say "buy for" or "buy at" if we are _not_ talking about location?


title: meaning of 'call to aid your fancy'

text: “Well then, Jane, **call to aid your fancy** :—suppose you were no longer a girl well reared and disciplined, but a wild boy indulged from childhood upwards; imagine yourself in a remote foreign land. . .” (Jane Eyre) What’s the meaning of ‘call’ in the highlighted part? Does it mean ‘come to aid your fancy’?


title: What is the meaning of "she can be obtuse"?

text: A friend of mine once described a mutual acquaintance in this way: > She can be obtuse. The dictionary definition of "obtuse" seems to suggest a "lack of intellect or intelligence". However, this really seems to be unlikely to be what she meant, since it seems a very harsh way to speak about anyone. And also it does not describe the acquaintance whatsover, since she is a very smart woman. The context of the sentence would seem to imply that it had something to do with stubbornness. Is that a possible interpretation?


title: Understand the meaning of "tall order"

text: I was wondering why a "tall order" means a formidable task or requirement? Is it a metaphor? If so, how shall I understand it?


title: "Time of (the) day"

text: I am confused about the article usage in the phrase "time of (the) day". From my research, I understand that "time of day" ( _day_ with the zero article) is more common and probably more idiomatic. It's also a part of an idiom not give somebody the time of day. But I'm interested in its more literal usage and sense. Is there any difference in usage or meaning between "time of day" and "time of **the** day". I went to the COCA for examples but I still haven't been able to come up with any reasoning when to prefer one over the other: With _the_ : > What's your biggest vice? - Dark chocolate. I'll have it at any *time of > _the_ day*; it's never too early or too late. Without **the** : > These morning menu favorites taste good any _time of day_


title: Mix of Sun and Clouds

text: In weather forecasts in the US, the phrase "a mix of sun and clouds" seems to be common whenever the forecast does not clearly predict rain or shine. In my recollection, forecasts used to have phrases like "partly sunny", "mostly sunny", and related variations "mostly cloudy", "partly cloudy". My main question is, when did this transition occur? Google trends and n-grams don't tell. I should probably stop there, but a second question nags me, which is, why? Granted, weather prediction is not an exact science, but the "mix" forecast seems like a cop-out. P.s., if this question seems more suited to a more scientific channel I'm fine with that, but please consider I am firstly wondering about when the phraseology changed. P.p.s., I am mostly thinking of media forecasts (particularly radio and TV). NOAA, from whom I suppose many of these outlets derive their forecasts, maintains the "partly sunny" etc. phrases.


title: You "show" someone a picture. You "---" someone a song?

text: In Maltese, we have a verb meaning "to show" corresponding to "to see/to look", and we have a different verb corresponding to "to hear/to listen": > inti **tara** stampa (you look at a picture.) ---- jiena **nurik** stampa (I > show you a picture) > > inti **tisma'** diska (you listen to a song.) ----- jiena **nsemmgħek** > diska (I 'show' you a song) In English, do you "show someone a song" (sounds weird to me) or is there a verb that corresponds more directly to the Maltese _insemmgħek_?


title: Is “who all is” grammatically correct?

text: I often tend to say something like > Who all is coming to the movies? And my friends correct me that I should be saying > Who all **are** coming to the movies? So which one is correct?


title: How does one write "day in and day out"

text: I work like a dog day in and day out. day-in and day-out? day in, and day out? , day in and day out? Please advise.


title: Referring to some attribute of an inanimate object — use "who's"?

text: This came up in describing an input to a function: > A handle to the daemon who's name is desired. (Daemon is a type of process on a system.) Somehow, "who's" just doesn't seem right because it's not a who, but a what. Could one say "... the daemon what's name is desired"?


title: Why do newspaper headlines use strange syntax rules?

text: Newspaper/news article headlines usually have different syntax rules, for example   1. No copula. _North Korea trip 'successful'_   2. Past events written in present. _Qantas cancels flight out of frozen Heathrow_   3. Predictions written with infinitive. _Britain's 'crossbow cannibal' to die in jail_   4. Very often not in complete sentence.   5. No indefinite/definite articles. _Ivory Coast Faction Squeezes UN Force_   6. Using a comma instead of "and". _Romania, Bulgaria face delay in joining Schengen._ Why these rules and are there any other rules?


title: Coordination in "both...and"

text: Here's one sentence from "The grammar book. An ESL/EFL teachers course by Celce-Murcia and Larcen Freeman. > In some preliminary research Bergsnev(1976) has shown that abstract nouns > derived from verbs and adjectives often have **both a mass and a count > form** for expressing a generality in English,e.g:… The bold part of phrase is what sort of puzzles me. Coordination is a vast subject consisting of numerous different points and nuances that pretty often may result in ambiguity and vagueness. Both a mass and a count form - at first sight seems to be okay. As may be noticed, this is just ellipsis of the word "form". But, shouldn't it be "a mass and a count forms - then? That has never given rise to difficulties for me, but now having started analyzing the sentence and trying to look up "coordination" in "A comprehensive grammar of the English language I'm being rather doubtful. So the question is - what is the rule of coordination that's being used in this example and why not use the plural form of the noun?


title: "Published on ..." or "Published ..."?

text: So, in an article on a web-page, I want to provide information about the date when the article was published. I am not sure if there should be an "on" after the word "published". > Article title... > > Published... > > Article text... So, below the article title, should I write: > Published on January 1st 2012 or > Published January 1st 2012 ?


title: What is the word for cronyism based on favoring an ethnic or religious background (not friendship)

text: Is there a word, similar to _cronyism_ and _nepotism_ , that means “favoring people of a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity, regardless of their expertise”. I was thinking _racism_ , but I’ve always understood that as the belief that one race is superior to another. But cronyism isn’t the belief that your friends are superior to others. They just get preferential treatment. So racism doesn’t seem right. For example: a Russian person gets appointed as a hiring manager, and over the next year 60% of the staff have been replaced by Russians.


title: Correct way of saying "errands to run"

text: Which is the correct way to tell someone that I have errands to run? Are all of these fine to say in person and in an email? > I got some errands to run or is it > I have errands to run or > I need to run errands


title: What is the meaning of the expression "we have a ball game"?

text: I've heard the phrase, "We gotta ball game". It could also be "We have a ball game". But I don't understand the meaning of "having a ball game". If anyone has heard this expression before, please help. I'm so very confused after guessing about this for a long time. The person who said it couldn't even tell me what he meant by this.


title: Follow the signings?

text: I saw a road sign today saying: "Follow the alt route _signings_." It struck me odd. I would expect: "Follow the alt route _signs_." _Signings_ is obviously a legitimate word, but it's usually used when there's an _act_ of signing involved, like with book signings or hearing-impaired signing. I suppose one might consider a road sign to be an "act of signing/signaling" but it seems like a stretch. Is this a common use of the word I've just missed out on? Construction jargon? Or just a construction worker's peculiar choice?


title: How do you refer to a member of a biological taxon in the singular?

text: If I wish to refer to, say, an Owl in the more generic form as a member of the biological order Strigiformes, what is the correct modification of the apparently plural word into a singular form? For instance: > Upon entering the forest, Jonothan was immediately assaulted by an angry > [singular strigiformes]. Or: > The Manduca Sexta is a [singular lepidoptera] which feeds on a [singular > solanaceae] during the larval phase, normally a Tobacco plant.


I'm currently writing my PhD thesis in computer science and often need to refer to algorithms, which are depicted in figures as shown below. ![Example algorithm](http://i.stack.imgur.com/tmAay.png) So far, I used phrases such as _Algorithm X shows / depicts / presents Euclid's algorithm_. However, I do not want to use these three phrases over and over again and I'm running out of ideas. My question, therefore, is: What is an elegant way to refer to a figure displaying an algorithm?


title: Inverse of "being a fan of"?

text: "Y has 1250 fans" means there are 1250 `X` for which `X` is fan of `Y`. If there are 12 `Y` for which the "X is a fan of Y" relationship holds for a given `X`, what's a word or phrase to say "X has 12 ___ _" ? Similarly, if "X is a fan of Y", then what's the equivalent way of saying this with Y as the subject and X as the object ("Y ___ _ X") ?


title: How did the verb 'leverage' evolve to mean 'use borrowed capital'?

text: What's an intuitive derivation behind ODO's definition that helps to internalise its meaning: > **to leverage** = Use borrowed capital for (an investment), expecting the > profits made to be greater than the interest payable: Etymonline relates only to a physical/mechanical 'lever', not this meaning in finance.


title: "Is of the view that" vs. "is of a view that"

text: Is there any significant difference in the meanings of sentence 1 and sentence 2 below? >   1. Mr. Jones is of a view that the project is unnecessary. >   2. Mr. Jones is of the view that the project is unnecessary. > Sentence 2 seems more natural, but sentence 1 does not seem absolutely wrong; “is of a view that” gets many hits on Google. However, looking for a similar construction, I would say “I am of the opinion that X is Y”, but not “I am of an opinion that X is Y.”


title: What preposition should be used with "intention"?

text: Which of the following is correct? Is it > I have no intention of handing in my resignation. or > I have no intention to hand in my resignation. Searching Google for "intention of" versus "intention to" shows a preference for the former, but the latter seems more natural to me (and is also heavily used).


title: "Of" and "For" Before "-ing"

text: What are the rules for choosing whether to use "of" or "for" before a word ending in "-ing?" Example: > We propose a method **of** simplifying algebraic expressions.   >  We propose a method **for** simplifying algebraic expressions. I have seen it written both ways, and would like to know which way is proper. Or is this a case where "it depends?"


title: Meaning of "a window to the world"

text: What does the phrase "a window to the world mean"? Is this the correct format of the phrase. How can I use it in a sentence? (e.g. The plants in this garden provide a window to the world of flora diversity)


title: "more close to"

text: For this sentence, > By allowing the customization of user interface, the user interface _are > more close to the need of user_ , since every user has different style of > preferences. Is it correct to use "more close to the need of user"?


title: What are direct and indirect objects to "provide"?

text: I'm always wondering when I want to write a sentence with _provide_. What is the correct way to say/write:   * to provide someone with something   * to provide someone something   * to provide something to someone Or another? Is there any difference in usage between American and UK English?


title: is there a word or expression which describes a mapping between the same thing?

text: For example, if I map 4 to 4, 4000 to 4000, is there a good word or expression which describes this kind of mapping? Perhaps _identity mapping_ or something else?


title: 'for Verb-ing' followed by a preposition

text: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary gives the definition of sink as follows: > a large open container [...] that you use for washing dishes in My question is whether the preposition 'in' is necessary. What about the following? Are the prepositions necessary? > I bought a pair of chopsticks for eating rice with.   >  I bought a pair of chopsticks to eat rice with.   >  I bought a house to live in.


title: Meaning & Origin of phrase "Step into [him/her]"

text: I've done a bit of searching for this phrase and found the following: > "step into" > > Idioms & Phrases > > Involve oneself or intervene, as in He knew he'd be able to step into a job > in his father's firm , or Jane asked Mary to step into the matter and settle > it . Also see step in. However, the place I first heard the phrase is on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, where Deakins, the supervisor of the Major Case Squad, uses it with a direct object of a suspect or a witness, which barely fits the definition. The definition implies usage towards a situation or position. Exchanges on the show usually go something like this: > Detective: "We don't have any real leverage on him to find out what he > knows!" > > Supervisor: "Step into him." Or: > Detective: "As long as his lawyer is protecting him, we'll never get him to > talk." > > Supervisor: "Step into him. Hard." > > Detective: Re-enters the interrogation room and squeezes the information > from the suspect over the lawyers increasing complaints. That seems to imply there is another, even more idiomatic usage for the phrase with a meaning closer to "investigate" or "harass". How common is this idiom? Is the screen writer mis-using a legitimate idiom? Or is there another meaning or police/detective slang that's not so documented around the web?


title: Word that describes devices which are combinations or two other devices?

text: I'm wondering if there is a term that describes any given physical device that is a "spiritual" combination of two other devices. Meaning, it mimics the form and function of both parent devices. Examples:   * Spork (combination of a spoon and a fork)    * Halberd (combination of a staff and an axe)   * Calculator Watch (combination of a calculator and a watch) To explain via analogy, " _Portmanteau_ is to words as **___ __ ___ _** is to devices"


title: An alternative valediction to "godspeed" wishing someone success in a venture

text: I am essentially searching for a well-wishing exclamation that does not imply divine intervention.


title: Meaning of Phenotext and Genotext

text: I haven't been able to find a clear and simple definition of "phenotext" and "genotext", both terms — I believe — were created by Julia Kristeva. All explanations are only pompous texts I have not had time to go through. Has anyone a definition for me?


title: "Sometimes...others" or "sometimes...in others"?

text: What's grammatically correct? > Sometimes she used metaphors, others symbols and riddles. or > Sometimes she used metaphors, in others symbols and riddles. What I'm trying here is to omit the word **_times_**.


Does "Could I have hope of getting admission of your school with that score?" sound weird?


title: Single word for "going along with the crowd"

text: What is a word to describe the behaviour where you do something because everyone is also doing this, to the point where you do it without any clear reason.


title: "A disliking of" vs. "a disliking for"

text: I was having a conversation with a friend, telling him that over time, I've started to dislike a certain genre of music: > I've grown a strong disliking for Dubstep. As though my liking for Dubstep has gradually decreased over a set period of time. Now, I'm starting to question whether the use of _for_ is correct. Have I grown a strong disliking _for_ Dubstep, or have I grown a strong disliking _of_ Dubstep? They both seem proper to me, but I'd like to be sure. Is there a difference between the two?


title: Why is the accusative case used for a "topic"?

text: If I were to write a book about myself, _Me_ would be a more natural-sounding title than _I_. Also, we say the _us-vs.-them mentality_ instead of the _we- vs.-they mentality_.


title: What's going on in "I have been to the store many times"?

text: I thought _been_ was the past participle of _to be_ , but it seems to behave like the past participle of _to go_ in this case: > I go to the store every Wednesday. > > I have been/gone to the store many times. > > *I am to the store every Wednesday. Also > I go through the tunnel. > > I've been/gone through the tunnel. > > *I am through the tunnel. What's happening?


title: The word "only" in this sentence makes me feel uncertain

text: > > The extension of the principle of the reflex to include behavior involving > more and more of the organism was made only in the face of vigorous > opposition. My understanding is this: the vigorous opposition is the reason why the principle of the reflex extend to include behavior involving more and more of the organism. But I'm not so sure about it, the word **only** in here seems to say vigorous opposition is the **only** reason, that doesn't make much sense. The source is Skinner's "Science and human behavior" and following is the whole paragraph: > > The extension of the principle of the reflex to include behavior involving > more and more of the organism was made only in the face of vigorous > opposition. The reflex nature of the spinal animal was challenged by > proponents of a "spinal will." The evidence they offered in support of a > residual inner cause consisted of behavior which apparently could not be > explained wholly in terms of stimuli. When higher parts of the nervous > system were added, and when the principle was eventually extended to the > intact organism, the same pattern of resistance was followed. But arguments > for spontaneity, and for the explanatory entities which spontaneity seems to > demand, are of such form that they must retreat before the accumulating > facts. Spontaneity is negative evidence; it points to the weakness of a > current scientific explanation, but does not in itself prove an alternative > version. By its very nature, spontaneity must yield ground as a scientific > analysis is able to advance. As more and more of the behavior of the > organism has come to be explained in terms of stimuli, the territory held by > inner explanations has been reduced. The "will" has retreated up the spinal > cord, through the lower and then the higher parts of the brain, and finally, > with the conditioned reflex, has escaped through the front of the head. At > each stage, some part of the control of the organism has passed from a > hypothetical inner entity to the external environment Is my understanding correct?


title: How to call the two points at each end of a path?

text: By "path" I mean a _route that has been walked by_. The best I could come out with is _starting point_ and _ending point_. Is there a shorter way to refer to them? (Maybe end points?)


title: "Went to school happily" vs. "happily went to school" vs. "went happily to school"

text: >   1. The boy went to school happily. >   2. The boy happily went to school. >   3. The boy went happily to school. > If the adverb “happily” is allowed to be put in the three places above, what are the different impressions you think it will give to readers?


title: What's the word in English for something that increases/decreases?

text: I'm a game programmer and currently working on a generic system that works for most type of games. I have a generic piece of code, that I use on anything that could increase/decrease called `EffectCauser` \- It has a bunch of parameters for it to work:   1. The target component (health, mana, speed, stamina, etc)   2. The effect methodology (`OneHit`, `Overtime`, `Permanent`, etc)   3. The effect type (`Positive`/`Negative`)    4. The effect amount. First let me explain how this works in a couple of simple examples so that you understand better: Let's say I wanted to create a first aid kit. I create an `EffectCauser` which will cause its effect on the `Health` component of the target object, I specify the methodology of the effect of type `OneHit` and the type of the effect to be `Positive` and an amount I choose, lets say 100 for a full heal. Another example, if I wanted to create a Mana spell that decreases mana overtime: I would create an effect causer that targets the `Mana` component of a target, select a methodology of `Overtime` (temporarily in other words) (filling the appropriate time values), an effect type of `Negative` this time, and an amount, like 50. (Imagine a spell in an RPG game where an enemy cast it at you, so you get -50 mana over a 10 sec time period) And so on and so forth. I could do this for a `Speed` component, `Agility`, `Stamina`, etc. The main thing for this to work is that all these things (Health, Mana, Speed, Stamina, etc) have to implement a common interface. I'm not being able to find the name of that interface. One common thing between all these things, is that they increase and decrease. I thought of `IChangable` but that's very generic, maybe `IIncreasableDecreasable` but that's very long, and screaming "there's a better word than me" Note that the convention of naming interfaces, is "IXXXable" (IMovable, ICombinable, ITransformable, etc) So, what can I use here? what is the word that satisfies my needs? Thanks a lot. **EDIT:** To make it easy, it need not be an interface. I could create an abstract class. Interfaces define behavior, while a class is for something that exists. I just have to change my way of thinking. Ex: an abstract `Character`, with `Player` and `Enemy` as children. `Player` and `Enemy` _are a_ `Character`. (`Character` is an abstract term for `Enemy` and `Player`) So... what _are_ `Health`, `Mana`, `Speed`, etc? For one thing, they're `Components` but what else? (I can't use `Component` here due to ambiguity as well). What about `PlayerAttribute`? well, for one thing I can attach `Health` to an enemy, not just the player. So... `CharacterAttribute` is good? nop, still ambiguous. (Attribute means a total separate thing in .NET)... I'm out of words :( If you ever played an RPG game, what would a common name be to all your player stuff? (health, mana, agility, stamina, speed, dexterity, etc)


title: What do I call a company that sells an item they don't make but under their name?

text: I was surfing for headphones on Amazon, when to my surprise, I found some fairly high-rated headphones. But initially, I thought the the first Company, A, made these headphones, I was surprised to find that while search elsewhere, another Company, B, made the exact same headphones, just under a different brand. So I searched elsewhere, and found that the real company that made the product was Company C, that actually designed and produced the product, but that Company A and B had simple just put their name on the headphones. What in this case would I call Company A & B? What would be the name for Company A & B? They didn't make the product, but they sell it under their name, despite the fact that Company C sells it. Would I call it like a "shell" company? Not sure what's the word to use here.


title: "Myself" as a single subject

text: How do we use _myself_ as the only subject of a sentence? For example I once heard some people saying _Myself am to be blamed._ Is this grammatically correct? How is it different from _I am to be blamed_?


title: Why is a Scot's accent so difficult for Americans to understand?

text: When I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, the locals could understand me just fine, but I was flummoxed by their accent, which did not remotely sound like English to me. Necessity forced me to request that the Scottish locals I encountered write out their responses to my questions. Embarrassing! How is this one-way communication misunderstanding possible, given Scotland's proximity to England and Ireland, whose accents are far easier to understand?


title: What will she share with another person?

text: **Context : Her friend gets married.** [Link] And now she is saying: "Now I will have to share her with someone else." **What will she share with the other person?**   * Memories of her friend.   * Time    * something else


title: “Connect to” vs. “Connect with”: Which is better?

text: Which is better for this situation?   * Connect **to** your target audience.   * Connect **with** your target audience.


title: Greeting in different ways

text: I'm going to go to US for a long business trip, during which I'm going to meet a lot of people. Some of them are senior managers; others are day-to-day colleagues. I want to know how to greet people in different ways: formal things to say to a manager, and casual things to say to co-workers. I don't know if it's appropriate to say these to your leaders: > wassup / How's it goin'


title: What is the plural of the word "it's"?

text: What is the plural of the word "it's"? Perhaps "it'ss" or "it'ses"? Usage: "The paragraph contained three it'ss"   Meaning: "The paragraph contained three occurrences of the word, it's"


title: “so long as” vs. “as long as”

text: I just googled the difference between _as long as_ and _so long as_. The difference has alredy been discussed here. There are, it seems, two contexts for these expressions:   1. lengths and physical comparisons (time, distance, etc.)   “This bridge is as long as that bridge.”   2. some logical implication or synonym for _provided that_ or something like this.    “You can do that so long as you keep in mind that. . . .” Somewhere else I found that you can use **both** expressions for context #2, but should avoid _so long as_ in cases of context #1. Now, mmyers commented that _so long as_ might be colloquial — or as he put it, “casual”. It seems that it’s possible to never use _so long as_ , since according to what I have been told, you can use either expression in cases of context #1. Given that I am writing academic papers, my questions are:   1. Is _so long as_ truly non-academic or non–high-style?   2. Should _so long as_ therefore be avoided altogether?


title: Connotations of "anoint someone" as successor

text: I saw this headline on the BBC today: > China anoints Xi as new leader There is one entry in the definition at Google's dictionary which exactly corresponds to the case in use: > Nominate or choose (someone) as successor to or leading candidate for a > position \- he was anointed as the organizational candidate of the party \- > his officially anointed heir Although this entry doesn't have any mention to religiousness or ceremoniousness, I wonder: Is there a connotation religious or ceremonial connotation to the use of _anoint_ in this case?


title: Word for person prying on my personal stuffs

text: which adjective can I use to describe my neighbor, who is always trying to keep eye on my personal matters like what am I bringing from market or what am I cooking etc? Regards,


title: Ways to say "trying hard to arrange enough time to do something"?

text: Suppose I am doing several things assigned by different people these days. One of the people feels that my progress on doing his assignment is slow, maybe because I am not interested in doing it. The reality is that I am interested in doing all the things, but his assignment is a little beyond my capability, and   * I need to learn new stuff in order to understand it.    * I feel a continuous period of time to focus on his assignment is what I need now, but I also have to do the other things assigned by other people, which breaks my time into pieces. How shall I explain to him to assure him I am interested in his assignment and trying to give my best to it?


title: Synonym for word "Administration"

text: Can anyone give me synonym for " _Administration_ "? I am using a software that has " _Administration_ " as a keyword, so it doesn't allow any use of this word. However, My task is to create a folder for each department of some enterprise (and it has an Administration Department). My question Here is: How can I find a synonym for " _Administration_ " without losing the real meaning of the term? > P.S.: I found synonyms like "administrative" and "directors" which don't fit > in my context.


title: Cowboys, cowpokes, cowpunchers, wranglers, vaqueros, and buckaroos

text: Depending on where you are regionally located in the US, can these terms be used just about interchangeably in the sense "a hired hand (a cowhand) who tends cattle and performs many of his duties on horseback"? In addition, can any of these terms be used interchangeably to refer to cowboys in western movies? Or to historical cowboys and gunslingers back in the old days when people had to rely on horses to carry them? By the way, how come mature cowboys in horse operas are not referred to as cowmen but still as cowboys?


title: How to phrase a worldwide location in English?

text: I have an online form where a user would usually submit a specific location in a field, e.g. Moscow, Berlin, New York, Paris. But sometimes there is no specific city location, for instance for a seminar that takes place "online" or a web screening. I want to enable the users to enter the "worldwide" case. What are typical phrases in English for that to catch? Planet, www, online, internet, worldwide, anywhere. Can you imagine up more suitable candidates? Are you aware of any existing English geo-databases with entries for the worldwide location case?


title: Common root of "practice," "practical," and "practicum"

text: When someone _practices_ something, they do it often/as a habit. When someone says something is _practical_ , they usually mean it is pragmatic/sensible/applicable, yet not necessarily practiced. And my teachers have used _practicum_ to refer to a test, which is an examination, not an instance of practice. What is the common root of these words, what does it mean, and why do these words seem to mean different things?


title: What do I call a word with roots from multiple languages?

text: As best as I can tell, a good example is _sociopath_ : > sociopath -- from _socio-_ on model of _psychopath_ > > socio- -- combining form of [Latin] _socius_ > > pathos -- from [Greek] pathos Hence, _sociopath_ is a word coined from roots found in two different languages. Is there a good term that describes this?


title: Is there a word for "look and feel"?

text: "Look and feel" is a term commonly used in UI, software and web design, yet we have job titles such as Web Designer, Visual Designer, Front-end Developer, UX Designer but no Look and Feel Designer. Visual Designer is probably the closest, but I've always thought this title doesn't capture the full range of what this designer does; i.e., they work on feel **and** visuals. Look and Feel Designer sounds a bit awkward and wordy, but it is a good term that accurately describes the domain, so I was wondering if there were a more elegant way of stating it?


title: What is the pronunciation of "Aussie"?

text: I know that Australians pronounce Aussie like _Oz-ee_. However, how should Americans pronounce it? I have, in the past, politely corrected Americans when I hear the typical "aw- see" (\ä-sē\). It seems to be pretty widely unknown that Australians say _Oz- ee_. Then, I came across a website that _specifically_ listed _Oz-ee_ in the **wrong pronunciation** column (not even in the "alternate" column). I emailed the author saying that I did not understand why this pronunciation was explicitly in the "wrong" column, and not at the very least in the alternate column. This set the author off into a rant about how tiny dialects should not be indulged with setting the correct pronunciation for the rest of the English- speaking world. However, amid all the ranting, the only objection I really received was that the _ss_ shouldn't become a _z_. So what's the answer? Should English-speakers, no matter their dialect, use the pronunciation that the subject of the word itself uses? Or was this author correct, that the generally-accepted North American usage of _aw-see_ is categorically "correct" for general usage, and _Oz-ee_ should be relegated to "tiny, insignificant, meaningless dialects"*? **In other words, which is the correct pronunciation for North American speakers?** I guess this question has three possible answers:   1. The Australian pronunciation is correct.   2. Both are OK.   3. Americans should regard the Australian pronunciation as _wrong_ for the North American accent/dialect. * * * * His words, not mine :) I repeat it here to give a sense of the tone of the rant, not because I (even remotely) concur.


title: "more" is to "less" as "er" is to what?

text: Excerpt from _Cambridge Dictionary of American English_ : > If you want to use an adjective or adverb to say that a quality is of a > **higher** degree, you can usually add **-er** ( _one-syllable adjectives_ ) > to the end of it or qualify it with **more** ( _adjectives of two ore more > syllables_ ).               e.g. your hair is longer now than it was last year.      > To say that a quality is of a **lower** degree, you can usually add **-er** > ( _one-syllable adjectives_ ) to the end of a **negative** adjective or > adverb, or qualify it with **less** ( _adjectives of two ore more syllables_ > ).               e.g. your hair is shorter now than it was last year.      My question is: How can we say that a **negative & one-syllable** adjective is of a **higher** degree? I mean, if "shorter" somehow means " **more short** ", how can I say that something is " **less short** "? And if "longer" somehow means " **more long** ", how can I say that something is " **less long** " than another thing? A friend of mine suggested that the only way of saying the opposite of "negative adj + er" is to say "positive adj + er". (i.e. shorter -> longer). My take is that whether "adj + er" means "more adj" or "less adj", entirely depends on whether the used adj. is positive or negative respectively. Is my understanding correct? Is it possible to say the opposite of "shorter" to convey the meaning of "less short" without using a different adjective? ## Rephrased question: For non-one-syllable adjectives: > If A is **more beautiful** than B, then B is **less beautiful** than A. Why is there no such ability in English to bidirectionally compare one- syllable adjectives as well? > If A is **rounder** than B, then B is ( **???** ) than A.


title: What do we call a picture of a picture?

text: Is there a word for a picture of a picture? Had a search on onelook but couldn't find anything... edit: sorry maybe I wasn't _that_ clear the first time -- I mean like a photograph of a photograph...


title: "Quench thirst" vs. "still thirst" when "thirst" is used figuratively

text: Do I say " _quenched_ my thirst" or " _stilled_ my thirst" when I speak of something that I desire and not actual thirst? E.g. a thirst for a new car or something.


title: "close behind" as in "time closes behind everyone and everything"

text: What does "close behind" mean in this sentence: _"So life comes to an end and time **closes behind** everyone and everything."_ "life comes to an end" and "time closes behind everyone and everything" are in a parallel and should mean the same? But I still cannot figure our the metaphor. Thanks! More context: _So life comes to an end and time closes behind everyone and everything. My ex-husband understood that and tried to escape by running away from it. I reminded him of time, being younger than he was, so he ran away from me too._


title: "Rectangle with 3 straight lines" vs "rectangle using 3 straight lines"

text: How do the three sentences below differ in meaning, and which can be answered with 'yes'? >   1. Can you draw a rectangle with 3 straight lines? >   2. Can you draw a rectangle by using 3 straight lines? >   3. Can you draw a rectangle using 3 straight lines? >


title: Is there a suitable conjunction which fits the meaning of “as a continuation of”?

text: I want to use it in my thesis. Like _secondarily_ , but I don't want to use that one or similar words, as these specify an order.


title: "We are finished" vs. "We have finished"

text: Is " _we are finished_ " grammatically correct? I thought it would be more correct to say " _We have finished_ ".


title: "Art was theatre was sport"

text: I seem to have come across this sentence structure before but I can't quite remember where. Which number would be the best follow up to the phrase "To the ancient Romans"? To the ancient Romans   1. theatre was art was sport   2. theatre was art, was sport.   3. theatre was art and art was sport. I know that 3. is correct. 2. is basically the same as 1. but with an added comma. However, the message I'd like to convey is that art = theatre = sport (i.e. sport was art because it was theatre and theatre was art) rather than that sport is intrinsically art. Sport is only art because it is theatre. Sorry if the question is longwinded and confusing. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and answer this everyone.


title: "Were gone" vs. "had gone"

text: Whats the difference between: > She were gone to party.   >  She had gone to party. Are they both ok?


title: An "unhappy smile"

text: Is an unhappy smile the same as a frown? I tried to google images of an unhappy smile and that's mostly what I found. I don't think an unhappy smile is the same thing as a frown, but I could be wrong. What is an unhappy smile? A description or picture would be helpful.


title: Henry Adams’s use of punctuation, “:—”

text: I’ve never seen the construction before, except in Spanish for dialogue and Toni Morrison using the variation “;—” in _Beloved_ for denoting a strong pause (well, that’s what we decided in my English class). How does Henry Adams use “:—”? Is this grammatically correct? How can I incorporate this into my own sentences? > Among senses, smell was the strongest:—the smell of hot pine-woods and > sweet-fern in the scorching summer noon; of new-mown hay; of ploughed earth   >   > — Henry Adams, in _The Education of Henry Adams_


title: What is ":-" used for?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Henry Adam’s use of punctuation, “:—” I've seen a couple of times, ":-" occurring where I could expect just a colon to occur, perhaps preceding a list. When is it correct to use ":-"? What is it called? Am I simply wrong and think I remember seeing this, when in actual fact I didn't?


title: What is it called when an improper meaning becomes the only meaning of a word?

text: Someone else asked Are camp followers prostitutes? and the answer seems to be that while not every one who follows a military camp is a prostitute, if you _aren't_ referring to a prostitute, you should probably pick another label for the person. A similar effect can be seen with sexually themed words like "mistress", "madam", "ejaculate", and "escort". I assume this linguistic process has been studied and I'm curious what its name is.


title: XXIII, neither IIIXX nor XIIIX, represents 23. Is it correct grammar?

text: I want to say that we cannot represent 23 in Roman as both IIIXX and XIIIX. The correct representation for 23 in Roman is XXIII. If I write like this > XXIII, neither IIIXX nor XIIIX, represents 23 in roman. is it correct grammar?


What is the actual meaning and purpose of saying "I'm in a call" Ex: if a person pinged me when am talking with someone over phone at the same time then what would be the simple and correct way to say that "am talking with someone over phone.."


title: Can I omit a colon and use a comma instead in this sentence to dramatize?

text: original sentence -> The purpose is to disclose some information new sentence -> the purpose: to disclose some information last version(I'm asking about) -> The purpose, to disclose information


title: Suitable synonyms for "migrate", "migrated" based upon the supplied context

text: I recently asked a question on meta.stackoverflow.com ( ~~please see it for the context; I didn't copy it to this question in order to avoid unnecessary duplication~~ context quoted below*), so the damage (repetition) has been done, however I'd still please like to request your learned assistance and opinions on whether or not I could have used another word(s) that would suit the context? **Move** / **moved** was the best I could come up with after way too much internal deliberation.    **Edit** *Repetion in the partial quotes _emphasised_ : > However, the first time a question I answered got _migrated_ (to Pro > Webmasters), I registered .. > > .. their question has been _migrated_ to and I .. > > .. due to their questions being _migrated_. As it stands now, a lot of the > answers to _migrated_ questions .. > > .. new answers on a _migrated_ question until they've registered an account > on the site their question was _migrated_ to either, and the message they're > greeted with upon _migration_ itself is very perfunctory .. > > .. a link to where it was _migrated_ to, I'd like to make a feature-request > that there's a little more prodding and cajoling for the OP to register an > account on the site their question was _migrated_ to ..


title: Are both the "special" and the "needs" in "special needs" adjectives?

text: In the sentence, "she is a special needs child" (referring to someone with a disability), what parts of speech are the words "special needs"? Are both adjectives on their own, or do they only form an adjective together (and what is that called)?


title: Informal use of the title 'sir'

text: I would like to hear from the forum regarding the use of 'sir' in American literature, such as 'The Manhattan Transfer' by Dos Passos published in 1923. In the Italian translation it is given in the extremely formal 'voi' form, and I would argue that there are numerous examples of 'sir' in that period of American literature where it could be read as being an informal 'tu', simply replacing a name or title where that information is unknown.


title: Is it 'buy-in to', 'buy into', or 'buy in to' in the following sentence

text: "I don't understand why people `<insert words here>` products that have a reputation of hardware failures." What is the correct way to form this sentence?


title: Origin of the term 'bastard sword'

text: In many computer games (usually role playing games), there is an item called a _bastard sword_. Why is this name used, and does it bear any relation to the usual meaning of the term _bastard_?


title: "I am done" or "I have finished" or "I am finished" or "I finish"

text: I was trying to say the following and got bewildered with the different choices. > I have "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my list. I will write you about it when > **I am finished reading it.** > > I have "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my list. I will write you about it when > **I have finished reading it.** > > I have "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my list. I will write you about it when > **I am done reading it.** > > I have "To Kill a Mockingbird" on my list. I will write you about it when > **I finish reading it.** I am not sure which one to pick. I am confused with the exact meanings of these various choices. Could someone also shed some light on what meanings the different tenses convey in a context like this.


title: Food Prepared by Following a Recipe

text: What do we call the **food** that we made/prepared by following a **recipe**? It doesn't have to be a `single word` actually. I just want a shorter term for that.


title: To clarify a murky concept without explaining completely

text: Some concepts are just too difficult to be fully understood. Take for example the multivariate causes of the recent recession: who among us can honestly say that he or she grasps the situation completely? With respect to topics like this, although it is not possible to thoroughly grasp the concept, attempts can be made to elucidate--at least partially--the more mysterious parts. Accordingly, is there a phrase that means, "To make less mysterious, but not explain completely because the concept is too difficult"?


title: Quotations and Square Brackets

text: I have a question. If I am quoting a quote which has square brackets in it already, but I want to add square brackets because there are spelling mistakes so I want to add "[sic]". Do I just add it to the quote or do I change the square brackets in the quote?


title: Is the phrase "all to c**k" considered profane?

text: I occasionally use the colloquialism "all to cock" to mean "disastrously wrong". I've always thought it a benign phrase, but recently I've wondered whether the use of the word "cock" in this situation is vulgar. Is it? And if it isn't rude, would the 'average' person still consider it so?


title: Why "answer me" but not "answer me the question"?

text: Why are "answer me" and "answer the question" acceptable but not "answer me the question"? Is it similar to "explain me (something)"?


title: Hyphenation and capitalization of "Great-Uncle" when signing books to my nephew's son

text: When _great-uncle_ is used as a common noun, the hyphen and lack of caps make sense. However, when I sign a book to my nephew, is it _Great-Uncle Don, Great-uncle Don_ , or perhaps _Great Uncle Don_?


title: What's the meaning of "I put the chic in freak"?

text: I am a non-native speaker of English (Polish) and I teach English as a Foreign Language in Poland. A few months ago I came across this phrase / sentence printed on the student's notebook and got baffled because I didn't know how to translate it into Polish. Can anyone please provide me with enough defintion-rich explanations or other contexts and situations in which this sentence may be used. Generally I have a problem with the word " _freak_ " as I rarely use it. I simply avoid as much as I can the momorization and the internalization of it. I've done some research on the Internet, however it doesn't help me to arrive at a good Polish translation. Can you at least explain in which culture-bound situations it is used? **UPDATE:** Well, I found that this phrase is often used along with the Monster High doll franchise, web series, book series and a movie. I know that there is a cartoon series that was also aired in Polish TV channels, so I will look in there too. It may be a unique phrase, not used elsewhere but if you happen to know what it means and what it refers to, I will be grateful


title: Equivalent for Dutch commode?

text: In Holland we use _commode_ to indicate a dressing table or lowboy specifically for changing diapers and dressing a baby: ![commode](http://i.stack.imgur.com/9khq9.jpg) The commode is usually ditched after the babies have grown out the diapers. I can't imagine this piece of furniture being absent in the English speaking world but when I look on ebay, Etsy and others for commodes, lowboys, or chest of drawers I don't find anything related to changing baby diapers. What would be good translation for the Dutch word _commode_?


title: What's the past tense of "dive"? Of "spell"?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  UK English: Is "dived" a valid word?   >  Spelt and Spelled   >  “Dreamed” vs. “dreamt”, “leaped” vs. “leapt”, “lighted” vs. “lit”   >  Evolution of irregular verbs over the last century   >  Origin of different past tenses for verbs with the same endings? What's the difference between 'dived' and 'dove' as the past tense of 'to dive'? 'Spelled' and 'spelt' ( _to spell_ )? There are others which are similar. Is one form British usage?


title: standardisation of style; attributive nouns and Saxon genitives

text: In a recent thread, it was recommended that Academies' Trust be written as I just have done: > Academies' Trust. Normal possessive apostrophe rules apply. If I accept this traditional style, I might well end up writing something like: > Academies' Trusts include the Academies Enterprise Trust, the Leigh > Academies Trust, the Aspirations Academies Trust, and The Kemnal Academies > Trust. Should consistency of style override traditional apostrophe rules in this case?


title: Is it "alright" or "allright"?

text: In practice I find both spellings being used. From a logical point of view, "allright" (as in: "all's right — everything is fine") seems correct. However, I recall hearing that "alright" is the preferable variant. Is there consensus over which to use? Do they possibly even mean something different?


title: What is the difference between "alright" and "all right"?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it "alright" or "allright"? What is the difference between _alright_ and _all right_?


title: All Right vs Alright when starting to speak

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Is it "alright" or "allright"? When giving a speech or presentation it's common to hear the speaker (including myself when I present) start out by saying "All right". "All right, let's get started.". My questions are   * In this scenario, which is correct, "All right" or "Alright"? I suppose when listening to a speaker you wouldn't notice the difference.   * Follow up: Do they have different meanings based on context or is Alright a conjunction?   * Why do we use this phrase to actually get started? Is it to break the silence or is it a nice way to get the attention of the audience?   * Is it appropriate to use when writing? This would be more in the context of blogs, educational articles, tutorials, etc.


title: God Bless(es??) America

text: I think grammatically the phrase "God bless America" is wrong; it should be "God blesses America", don't you think so?


title: How do I describe higher language verb types?

text: For example, present tense is "God blesses you" but there is another form which is "God bless you" in which "bless" is a different verb tense. What is that higher verb tense that we use in more formal or higher forms English.


title: What is the correct way to write "God bless America"?

text: I've seen people write "God bless America", and it drives me nuts. Shouldn't it be "God, bless America"?


title: What's the difference between "hoover" and "hover"?

text: I sometimes use "hoover" and sometimes "hover". What's the difference?


title: More advanced way to describe a country has many resources

text: My question is: Instead of "this country has many resources", what can I say? This country is abundant in many resources?


title: When does a comma change the meaning of a sentence?

text: Match the two sentences with their meaning: > 1) I had a discussion with a friend and a programmer. > > 2) I had a discussion with a friend, and a programmer. Meanings: > a) I talked to a friend who _is_ a programmer. > > b) I talked to _two_ people, a friend, and a programmer. Intuitively, I know that 1 => b, and 2 => a. Is there a rule? Does this grammatical construct have a formal name or definition?


title: Why is the letter "w" the only letter in (basic) English alphabet that is not read as one syllable?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Why is a w a "Double u", but an m is not a "Double n"? Is there any reason/history as to why "w" is the only letter in English alphabet that is not pronounced as one syllable?


title: "Stand up comedy", "standup comedy", or "stand-up comedy"?

text: I've seen all three versions for describing a person on stage performing comedy: "stand up", "standup", and "stand-up". My guess is that the term started as two words, but as the performance form itself became more established in the culture, the set of the two words together became perceived as a single unit. Reflecting that, in writing, some people even started merging the words or joining them with a hyphen. Based on that assumption, I'm extrapolating that it's a term in the midst of evolving, and so maybe there might not be an absolute answer on this. Still, I'd like to be consistent myself and settle on one. Is there any particular reason I should choose one over the others?


title: verb + infinitive vs -ing form: change in meaning?

text: What is the difference? > To try doing something   >  Try to do something I found that _try + infinitive_ means: make an effort to achieve something while _try + -ing_ means: do something as an experiment to solve a problem. > Why don't you _try holding_ your breath for a minute or two?   >  Why don't you _try to hold_ your breath for a minute or two? The answer key indicates that the meanings of these two sentences are different. How are they different?


title: try + ing vs. try to + infinitive

text: Which sentence is correct: > Why don't you **try to give up** candy if you want to lose some weight? > > Why don't you **try giving up** candy if you want to lose some weight?


title: What is the difference between the infinitive and present participle?

text: I already know the difference between "stop doing something" and "stop to do something". I really don't know what is the difference between "like doing something" and "like to do something". And is it "gerund" or "present participle"? * * * This is not a duplicate question. That answer doesn't fit (in my opinion) to this question. Actually, I want to know the difference between saying, for example: _"I like to drink soda"_ and _"I like drinking soda"_ , and which is the correct if there is a correct construction.


title: Difference between using 'to go' versus 'going' in this sentence

text: What is the difference between **_I haven't tried to go there_** and **_I haven't tried going there_**?


title: Reasons to choose / for choosing

text: > There are many reasons to choose X or > There are many reasons for choosing X Are these sentences equivalent/interchangeable?


title: “To hear” or “hearing”

text: > Nothing is so happy as to hear from your family. > > Nothing is so happy as hearing from your family. Which is more natural for native speakers?


title: "These findings are critical [to inform/for informing] future research"

text: In this sentence, would you use "to inform" or "for informing"? > These findings are critical ______ future research Likewise, would you use "to understand" or "for understanding" in the following? > These results provide a powerful framework _____ existing patterns. This is a question that comes up a lot in science writing: when do you use the "to" vs. the "for" version of a verb? Is there a word for these two different uses? And is there a rule for deciding which one is correct? They often get used interchangeably, but I can't find any hard rules for deciding between the two. People often use the "to" version because it sounds less passive, but I find it more ambiguous and a bit clunky, but I can't find any actual sources to say which is correct.


title: "To see" vs "seeing"

text: Which of the following is grammatical? >   * To see my stuff at your grocery is a great source of pride! >   * Seeing my stuff at your grocery is a great source of pride! > The verb "to see" is the subject, so I suppose that using "to see" is the right way... but it sounds so strange to me.


title: "Developed to [infinitive]" vs. "developed for [gerund]"

text: I am confused about when to use "to verb" and when to use "for verb+ing" constructs. For example what would be the proper construct for the following sentences extracted from scientific journals: > A chemically reactive Raman probe with femtomolar sensitivity was developed > for monitoring/to monitor ROS generated in living cells. Another example: > As the metabolism products,ROS are very important in cell signaling and > homeostasis to regulate/for regulating a whole wide range of biological > functions. Which construct should be used and when?


title: How to remember the difference between: "Can you try to open this jar?" and "Can you try opening this jar?"

text: I am well aware that a similar question has been asked in the past, namely “Try to save” or “try saving”. However, I am not totally satisfied by the posted answers. My problem is that, every time I think I have understood when to use try + infinitive and try + verb + ing (gerund), I forget and mix them up. I would like **a mnemonic** , or an **infallible reminder** which is which when I need to write, speak or teach this construction to private students. In my grammar books the "rule" stated is: > Try + infinitive = make an effort to do something > > Try + gerund = experiment to see if something works So if I ask: " _Can you try opening this jar?_." and " _Can you try to open this jar?_." Am I in effect saying the same thing? It appears to me the difference in meaning is slight. If I change the verb _try_ into the past: > "I tried to open the jar." and > "I tried opening the jar." Don't they both mean I failed to open the jar? In any case the next time I meet this construction I would like to not have to double check in my grammar books. So any tips?


title: infinitive and gerund

text: Are the following sentences equivalent in meaning? >   * To play the flute takes a lot of effort. >   * Playing the flute takes a lot of effort. > I know that we say "It takes a lot of effort to play the flute", thus "To play the flute takes a lot of effort" seems to be a better option. But what about the gerund?


title: How does one know when to use a gerund or an infinitive?

text: As a native speaker of English, the gerund version of this sentence sounds better: infinitive: > When used together in chains, extension methods are an unprecedented tool > **to produce** extremely concise code. gerund: > When used together in chains, extension methods are an unprecedented tool > **for producing** extremely concise code. But how can I explain to someone learning English how to decide in situations like these whether to use the infinitive or the gerund?


title: "How easy is it to *verb*..." vs. "How easy is *verb*..."

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How does one know when to use a gerund or a infinitive? What is the difference in connotation between > How easy is it to "some _verb_ here" and > How easy is "some _verb_ here" What is the significance of using "it" in the first example?


title: "To know X is all I need" vs. "knowing X is all I need"

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  How does one know when to use a gerund or a infinitive? Which of the following is the correct form? >   * To know you're interested in my book is all I need to go on with my > work! >   * Knowing you're interested in my book is all I need to go on with my > work! >


title: Single word for "less mass per unit volume" (the complement of "dense")

text: I've been looking for the antonym of _dense_. I'm looking for an exact opposite: a single word the means, precisely, "having _less mass per unit volume_ than another object". That is, I'm seeking a scientific word which could be put into this sentence, and have it make sense: > Wood is more `_____` than metal To mean precisely the opposite of: > Metal is _denser_ than wood And precisely the same as: > Wood is _less dense_ than metal Only using a single word (as an atomic comparative), as opposed to the two words " _less dense_ ". As analogies, we have the pairs " _heavy_ "/" _light_ " and " _thin_ "/" _thick_ ", and thus needn't to resort to circumlocutions like " _more massive_ " or " _less wide_ ". For similar reasons, I find " _light_ " (the opposite of " _heavy_ ") and " _spread out_ " (the opposite of " _congested_ ", i.e. "smaller _population_ per unit volume") unsatisfying. I would like a single, atomic word that enjoys some currency in scientific prose, which means precisely " _less mass per unit volume_ ".


title: Name of a word where you can continually remove one letter from the beginning or end

text: _This is possibly off-topic here - please redirect me if necessary_ I am looking for the name of a type of word where you can continually remove one letter from the start or end of the word, until there is just one letter left, and every intermediate word is a valid word in the English language. For example, `brandy` is such a word, because after each letter is removed below, we get another word:               brandy     brand     bran      ran       an       a      What is the name for words with this property? _I'm new on ELU.SE; I can probably do with some help with tagging this question correctly._


title: Word for someone that always has to be right

text: Is there a word for someone that always has to be right? The person gets angry if they are not.


title: Résumé formality: "Struck a deal that resulted in savings of XXX"?

text: I am not sure if the paragraph below is a bit too casual for a résumé: >   * Responsible for negotiating the purchase of XXX. Struck a business deal > that resulted in savings of 12,000 EUR/month > Is there a more formal way of saying "Struck a business deal?" in a CV? I am concerned it may sound too colloquial.


title: Word for sharing an old experience with someone new

text: _Jamais vu_ is when an experience that is old to you suddenly seems new. But I'm looking for something even more specific. Is there a word for that feeling you get when an old experience is refreshed by sharing it with someone new? For example, watching a favorite movie with someone who's never seen it, and enjoying it vicariously through their reactions.


title: Can a colon be preceded by a conjunction or: Is the title of Dr. Strangelove okay?

text: The full name of the movie often called "Dr. Strangelove" is **Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb**. I find it odd that there is a colon after a conjunction like "or." Is that correct usage in a ordinary sentence (i.e., not a title)? If so, are there other examples? I understand that this is a movie title and titles aren't subject to the same rules as ordinary sentences. I'm just wondering if this usage is fine in a sentence.


title: Word for encoder-decoder

text: _Modem_ is a common word for modulator/demodulator. Is there a word that in a similar fashion (or in general) would describe the encoder and decoder functionality presented in one piece?


title: "Nobody will help you but me" vs. "Nobody will help you but I"

text: As has been shown in another question, in comparisons with _than_ both the accusative and the nominative are possible and grammatical: >   * He loves you more than _I_. >   * He loves you more than _me_. > However, when we use _but_ only the accusative seems possible: > Nobody will help you but _me_. [Not _I_ ] What I think is that the nominative case could be justified as well. > Nobody will help you but _I_ [will]. Why I am wrong? Any other examples and references will be appreciated.


title: present perfect

text: https://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/season/synopsis/aida Aida has hidden in the vault to share Radamès’s fate. This is a sentence from the last paragraph. This usage of present perfect is strange. "It's started to rain." "The president has announced." "He's done his homework already." These all reply what just happened. However, in the question sentence, it implies something already done. Like, when something happened, something else had already been dealt with. What do you think? Is it possible?


title: Capitalization of the word "the" in "the Lord" / "The Lord"

text: Should I capitalize the word "the" when speaking of God as "the/The Lord"? > I praise the Lord. or... > I praise The Lord.


title: Should there be a gerund or a noun in front of the preposition?

text: > (a) The rise of price of goods burdens the people. > > (b) The rising of price of goods burdens the people. > > (c) The ban of plastic bags is a good way to reduce environmental problems. > > (d) The banning of plastic bags is a good way to reduce environmental > problems. Which form should I use for the words 'rise' and 'ban' before the preposition? Gerund or noun?


title: What is the difference between a proverb, an adage and an aphorism?

text: Dictionary definitions of all three are very similar, typically something like: > a pithy observation which contains a general truth But the wikipedia entries for each are quite different. Are these words largely interchangeable synonyms? In the wikipedia entry for adage, for example, a _proverb_ is defined as an adage produced from folk wisdom, whereas an _aphorism_ has "not necessarily gained credit through long use, but is distinguished by particular depth or good style".


title: What is the "adjunct of space" in this sentence?

text: Can the adjunct of time be introduced in a sentence by the word to. like in the case _The case, which opens in the High Court on Thursday, has led **to the discovery of 300 boxes of documents filling 110ft of shelving._** Can the function of the last sentence element be adjunct of space (time because it has led WHERE? -> space reference,) even though it is not an actual physical space?


title: what is the difference between employ and employment

text: I can not understand the difference when _employ_ is a noun. So somebody help me to show the difference between _employ_ and _employment_.


title: How can I use “fête” as a verb in active voice?

text: Oxford Dictionaries cites a verb as an entry for _fête_ and gives a passive example. How can I use _fête_ in the active voice? For example, can one _fête_ an occasion with pomp and circumstance?


title: A word to describe setting-up (or preparing) the basic attributes of something

text: Let's say we are making something, say, a picture, and we want to set up (prepare) the basic things such as the size, the material, the shape and the color of the canvas. Or if we are making a wooden figurine, we want to prepare a piece of wood of an appropriate size and color. Is there a single word to describe the process of setting up those? I thought about "styling", but it occurs to me that "styling" has a slightly different meaning, more like "developing the design concept" or something. If it is impossible to say it in one word, what would be the shortest phrase to describe that?


title: Expression for "getting 'aha' moment after long time of failing explanations"

text: I'd like to recall that there's an expression along the lines of " _coin dropping down_ " used to described the moment when an explainee finally reaches the verge of grasping a concept after the explainer tediously has gone through the pains of presenting a multitude of examples, approaches and pedagogical tricks. Googling it gave me no hits and searching on SO for " _coin_ " resulted in way too many. None of that was of relevance, though. Can I use the following phrase in correct English to describe that I'm trying to explain a bit more because I see that the subject is about to get the " _aha moment_ "?               I was about to give up but I felt that the coin was about to drop down.


title: Limp and Hobble

text: I have a problem with the word "limp" and "hobble". I do not know which word is appropriately used when it comes to context because I do not know how the words differ from each other. Can we use them interchangeably? Do they have the same meaning? How do we differentiate the word "limp" from "hobble"?


title: The Act of Committing

text: What is the word for the act of committing? For example, `The _ murder is a crime.`. Sometimes we programmers say "commit" as in committing code to a version-control database, but that sounds for normal usage somewhat geeky (or wrong).


title: About 'wh' questions with prepositions

text: Here is an example making sort of curious things for me "who are customers with questions advised to speak with" In the above sentence, what does "with" function at the end of it? Simply, next to verb 'speak', dose this just work that say something with someone as a verb phrase? or assisting 'who' to make sure to represent a meaning who customers should ask their questions to? and, if it is correct in the second case, is it able to be replaced by other sentences like "with whom are customers with questions advised to speak" or "who are customers with questions advised to speak to" ?


title: Should the clauses in these two senses be joined?

text: In reading the contents of a card, I have come across the following doubt regarding joining the two clauses with a semi colon or keeping them as two separate sentences. The phrase is the following: > Thank you for all of your help these past days; without which, my study > would not have been as successful. The doubt is with the semicolon. As you can see, the first clause stands alone as a grammatically sound sentence: "Thank you for all of your help these past days". However, my doubt is about the second part: "without which, my study would not have been as successful" can not necessarily stand alone in the same sense. My question is: Does the fact that the second part of this phrase begins with the preposition _without_ permit the use of the semicolon? Or, is it more grammatically sound to split the sentence into two separate sentences in which the _without which_ refers to the _time_ in the first? Any insight?


title: Can anything be "bated" but one's breath?

text: We are all no doubt familiar with the phrase "with bated breath," but is it ever used in other contexts?


title: Order of "not" with infinitive

text: This is one thing that keeps bugging me, and maybe there's a direct answer. Grammatically, which one is more correct of these two? Does it make a difference? > I tried not to do that. > > I tried to not do that.


title: "Plan not to retire" or "Plan to not retire"?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Order of "not" with infinitive Someone edited my post on another StackExchange.com site to change the former to the latter. Which is better? I wrote the phrase the first way so that the infinitive wasn't split, but would appreciate other interpretations.


title: "Try not to" vs "try to not"

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Order of "not" with infinitive When negating verbs that are commonly followed by the infinitive, is there a difference in meaning between placing the "not" before and after the "to"? e.g. > I try not to care or > I try to not care


title: "I've decided not to leave A.I. Town" versus "I've decided to not leave A.I. Town"

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Order of "not" with infinitive Last month I decided to change my residence and shift to another town. After some days, due to some reasons, I cancelled my program and decided to stay at my current place. At that time I sent a message to my friends, "I've **decided not to** leave A.I. Town". After sending the message, a question flashed in my mind that have I used "to" at the correct place. Shouldn't it be "I've **decided to not** leave A.I. Town"? I am actually confused that should I separate the preposition "to" and the verb "decided" in the prepositional phrase "decided to" by using "not" in between them?


title: "Enables you to quickly and easily identify" vs. "enables you to identify quickly and easily"

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are split infinitives grammatically incorrect, or are they valid > constructs? I'm currently having a bit of a dispute and would appreciate your help please. Which one is more grammatically correct? >   * enables you to quickly and easily identify >   * enables you to identify quickly and easily > And why do you think the one that you've chosen?


title: Grammaticality of Star Trek's slogan

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are split infinitives grammatically incorrect, or are they valid > constructs? Star Trek's slogan: > To boldly go where no man has gone before. "To boldy go" sounds right, but I was told by my friend that this is actually grammatically wrong because it is a split infinitive. I don't agree, because it seems to sound right. Is this a split infinitive, or something else?


title: Are split infinitives grammatically incorrect, or are they valid constructs?

text: > Mark's generosity in this crisis seems to more than make up for his earlier > stinginess. Should those sentences always be avoided, or are there cases where they are valid?


title: 'To swiftly go' or 'to go swiftly'?

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Are split infinitives grammatically incorrect, or are they valid > constructs? One of my friends once told me 'to go' is considered a whole word and no word should be put in between. Are either grammatically incorrect and is one preferred?


title: "Pretend to not" vs. "Pretend not to"

text: > **Possible Duplicate:**   >  Order of "not" with infinitive The following are both accepted as grammatically correct, right? > You pretend to not notice. > > You pretend not to notice. However, if I think about it, it seems like the first one is correct but not the second. Why would that be? It's almost as if the second one is saying "You don't pretend to notice," which means something different from the first.


title: 'decide not to' or 'decide to not' ?

text: I came up with this question when I received an email from a committee with a sentence 'We have decided not to publish it', which seems really strange to me because the grammar I learned in English classes is 'decide not to do something' and 'decide to not do' was told incorrect. I searched for answers to this problem online, but did not find a clear as well as persuasive answer. In terms of grammar, is 'decide not to do' correct ? If it is incorrect, is there a reason why people say 'decide not to do' even in official letters ?