Generate the answer for a given question. The question requires common knowledge of English. Make sure that the answer is in detail, long, consistent with the context, and requires general knowledge of English. To be less repetitive, please vary your language for each question. Give a proper explanation to answer, and if necessary, provide the definition of various terms. And conclude your answer if it's long. If you have used other resources (e.g., Merriam Webster's.) to answer the question, include citations in your answer. You don't need to paraphrase the context of your resources, but make sure that your answer is consistent and complete.
--------
Question: This is a question for English wordsmiths. Is there a word that 'feels' like the word 'ethereal' that means something ethereal that quickly disappears. Or is 'ethereal' the correct word choice for this? Ethereal was the first word that popped into my head for this. From the various definitions that I've looked at for ethereal, it says delicate, beautiful, heavenly, etc. but not necessarily quickly vanishing, except for the secondary definitions related to ether that suggests it evaporates. I'm just wondering if there is a better word than this. I'm using the term 'ethereal skill' to describe a certain type of pilot skill (instrument flying) that requires tremendous practice to achieve proficiency, and once proficiency is achieved it is a beautiful thing, but if you don't practice it regularly, that skill vanishes after a few weeks. USAGE: Instrument proficiency is an ethereal skill that once obtained must be maintained through constant and regular practice.

Answer: You are probably looking for the word ephemeral. ephemeral: Lasting for a very short time.


Question: Possible Duplicate: Types of things vs. types of thing When using the phrase 'types of' or 'kinds of,' it often seems appropriate to follow with a singular noun (e.g., types of rock), but at other times a plural noun sounds better (e.g., types of sentences). Is there some kind of rule about this?.

Answer: I think your essential concern is about countable vs. uncountable nouns. Countable nouns can be singular or plural; uncountable nouns are singular. Some words can be both, in different meanings. Take a look at this example discussing countable and uncountable nouns: The coffees I prefer are Arabica and Brazilian. (Here coffees refers to different types of coffee) You could write, 'The types of coffee I prefer are Arabica and Brazilian.' So with your example: The rocks I like are basalt and granite. [Rocks are countable] The types of rock I like are basalt and granite. [Rock is uncountable] When rock is taking on the uncountable meaning, it's not one rock - it's the idea of rock, the general concept. The only senses in which this is familiar to me are the 'solid mineral' one and rock as in 'rock music,' where you might say, 'The types of rock I like are grunge and punk.' Contrast the other part of your example: The sentences I like are about geology. [Sentences are countable] The types of sentences I like are about geology. [Sentences are still countable] Sentences don't have an uncountable meaning: *The types of sentence I like are about geology. [Ungrammatical for most speakers, I think]


Question: How do I say all sensitive information has been obscured, what is the correct word? For context this is data that contains encrypted passwords. While these are difficult to get meaningful info from, there is still enough information to get a password from this given enough time and effort. What I refer to is the password field replaced with '******' No information left.

Answer:
The correct word is redacted. From dictionary.com: Redact - to hide or remove (confidential parts of a text) before publication or distribution, or to examine (a text) for this purpose: My example (edited): 'Here is the document. We have censored classified information, replacing it with black boxes. The redacted information is only available to certain individuals.'