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Consider the sentence: "The need for lawful intervention is being felt more after the terror attacks in November last year." Shouldn't it be even more instead of just more ? | Even is an intensifier modifying more , and thus not necessary if there is no need to intensify it. As written, a need existed previously, and since the attacks that need has increased. Perhaps the author seeks to understate— or perhaps they do not perceive the existing need as having been particularly dire. Consider t... | Word usage in emphatic sense | english |
From Emma by Jane Austen, Chapter 31, the last paragraph : "There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart," said she afterwards to herself. "There is nothing to be compared to it. Warmth and tenderness of heart, with an affectionate, open manner, will beat all the clearness of head in the world, for attraction, I am s... | "Happy [is] the man who listens to wisdom." means "The man who listens to wisdom is happy." This is a common proverbial form and is usually used to give advice: Wealthy is the man [...] Healthy is the man [...] Happy is the man [...] This may be easier to understand if you use "will be" instead of "is": Happy will be t... | What does "happy the man who changes Emma for Harriet" mean? | english |
I'm looking for a word for the larger amount from which a salesman's commission might be calculated. Something like sale price presupposes that his commission is calculated from that particular figure. I have used principal before because it's a very similar concept to interest being calculated from the principal of a ... | Consider base a number that is multiplied by a rate or of which a percentage or fraction is calculated Or possibly base amount . | Term for the amount from which commission is calculated | english |
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21588388-georgias-governor-faces-ethics-questions-not-first-time-raw-deal ...., he has two options: accept the charges or rebut them. Is the sentence fragmented, as gerunds or "to" are needed when you have verbs inside an appositive. Should the sentence rewrite as the followi... | I agree with you that the first version sounds somewhat over-staccato. It meaning is, however, quite clear. The composition of parentheticals (here 'accept the charges or rebut them') is not usually scrutinised quite as thoroughly as the syntax of the matrix sentence. Recasting slightly: ...., he has two options, which... | sentence fragment with colon | english |
when should I use the following sentence. I am little bit confused: "May I help you?" "What can I do for you?" What is the difference between above two sentence and when I can use them? Please explain. | The first implies that you are offering help to someone and want to know if he would allow you to do so. The second implies that the person is looking for something/help and you want to know if you can do something for him. It could be used in situations where you go to your boss's office for something and he may simpl... | when should I use the following sentence. I am little bit confused | english |
Where is the difference between these two forms? His message was meant sarcastic. His message was meant sarcastically. | Well, one is an adjective and the other is an adverb. So, the first is not grammatical because you cannot use the adjective form of the word that way. The second is grammatical and uses the correct form of the word, adverb. You can fix the first by removing meant from it. His message was sarcastic. Or His message was m... | sarcastic vs sarcastically | english |
I have a lot of experience as a content writer and did a lot of fiction writing in my past; Things like the Onion's rules on semi-colons make me giggle endlessly. I'm out of SEO and working as a programmer now, but I got roped into editing a lot of the stuff that comes from our SEO firm. So this sentence came across my... | No, it's an attempt at making Google pick up "Internet Company" as a title, rather than as two words of a phrase, in order to promote your company for the search term "internet company". It's not grammatically justified, as you are not called "Internet Company" and "Internet Company" is not a commonly used term to name... | Does Capitalization Make Sense in This Context | english |
Today, my manager introduced me to an employee who's visiting us from a different geographical location. The person is visiting our office for 2 weeks. I don't know anything about him and I don't have any working relationship with him either. Being an non-native English speaker, I couldn't think of more than 2 sentence... | Given that the person is from a rather distant place, the best first thing to chit chat about would be where this person is from in the UK -- if you know anything about the UK that might help the person relate to you (ever visited there? have long wanted to visit some attraction there?), and vice versa, then bring it u... | Introducing yourself to someone you have never met | english |
How do you describe a police officer on duty, who wears casual clothes because he/she doesn't want to disclose his/her identity? | If the policeman is wearing everyday clothes as part of an assignment, if he or she is on duty at the moment and normally wears a uniform but not for this particular job, then I would say undercover . Undercover implies that the policeman is actively trying to hide the fact that they are police. Plainclothes is usually... | What word describes a policeman who is not wearing a uniform? | english |
If this should meet the eye of the gentleman who favoured me with these disclosures, I trust he will excuse my confessing that the sight of the rising sun, and the contemplation of the magnificent Order of the vast Universe, made me impatient of them. In a word, I was so impatient of them, that I was mightily glad to g... | The American Heritage Dictionary offers the definition for which : Being the one or ones previously mentioned or implied Thus, you might read the phrase as In a heathen state of mind (such as I have just described), I came within view of the house... The dictionary offers a clearer example: It started to rain, at which... | What did Dickens mean by the phrase, 'In which heathen state of mind...' in The Haunted House? | english |
If my teacher's first name is Robert and his last name is Dowry, and I have to send him an email, then which of the following will be correct? Dear Sir Dowry, Dear Sir Robert, Dear Sir Robert Dowry, | If he is knighted, it would be Dear Sir Robert, Otherwise you would use any of Dear Sir, Dear Mr. Dowry, or if you know him well or are American, Dear Robert, | First name or last name with "Sir" | english |
The prefix arch-, archi- “chief, principal; extreme, ultra; early, primitive,” derives from Latinized Greek arkh-, arkhi-, the combining form of arkhos “chief.” Usually, arch- is pronounced like “arch” (ɑrtʃ), and archi- sounds like “ark” (ɑrkɪ), although archangel (ɑrkeɪndʒəl) is a notable exception. Is there an etymo... | An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language (1888) by Walter W. Skeat answers all your questions at once. ARCH- , chief; almost solely used as a prefix. (L.--Gk.) Shak. has 'my worthy arch and patron,' Lear, ii. I.61; but the word is harshly used, and better kept as a mere prefix. In arch-bishop , we have a word... | Etymology and pronunciation of arch-, archi- | english |
Is this the correct form ? I would love to do this as soon as you will do that. Or is it I would love to do this as soon as you have done that Or is there a better way to form this sentence ? | I think this matter is being unduly complicated by the use of 'this' and 'that'. For they have usage rules which are separate to your main point about the tense of the second 'do'. So let's just remove 'this' and 'that' for a moment and insert some specific things. As I see it your dilemma is over whether to say: 'I wo... | I would if you will | english |
The attached picture is of a delightful little creature which throughout the UK is known as a Ladybird (not sure what you call them in America) EXCEPT in Norfolk, where it is known as a 'Bishy Barney Bee'. The name is believed to be derived from Bishop Bonner who lived during the 16th century, and was known notoriously... | From an article in the Telegraph A "bishy-barney-bee", the most striking example, is the local word for a ladybird (it is said that it was inspired by a Bishop Barnabas of Norwich, who wore a similarly coloured cloak). I suspected the journalist committed a mistake and meant to say a Bishop of St Barnabus because I cou... | What is the origin of Bishy Barney Bee? | english |
Would an apostrophe for possession be appropriate? For instance would the following be proper use: "which directly contributed to less suffering and lives’ saved" Thanks | I don't think any apostrophe is necessary. 'Saved' is acting as an adjective, qualifying the plural word 'lives'. Latin would parse 'lives' as the dative case of the noun, not the genetive (possessive). | What is the proper way for indicating lives being saved? | english |
How would you define augmentation in terms of Computer Science? I've heard it used as ‘stackexchange-url ("strengthening")’: “In jQuery, you design a page, and then you make it dynamic. This is because jQuery was designed for augmentation...)” or as ‘stackexchange-url ("extension")’:... | Augmentation means the same thing in computer science as it does in general English, which I would summarise as: extending something to make it better. Oxford Dictionaries Online gives this definition for the verb augment : Pronunciation: /ɔːgˈmɛnt/ make (something) greater by adding to it; increase There are some part... | Augmentation in Computer Science | english |
A compound sentence is characterized by one or more than one main-clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjuction , as opposed to a complex sentence , which has a main clause together with a dependent or a subordinate clause separated by a subordinating conjunction. A subordinate/dependent clause is defined as a clause wh... | Sentence structure is totally independent of its meaning, or the thing it wants to convey. Your confusion greatly roots on the fact that you are so concerned on the actual meaning of the sentence rather than the structure itself. But let me demonstrate why "because" falls into subordinating conjunction category: In you... | A question on co-ordinating conjunctions in a compound sentence | english |
Is there a shorter way to say that phrase. As in a sentence like: Regardless of whether it would happen or not, all she wanted now was to go back to her apartment. | You can say “Regardless of the outcome, all she wanted now was...” and have about the same meaning as your longer phrasing. “Regardless of what the outcome might be, all she wanted now was...” is a little more wordy but natural enough. Note, the wording suggested in a comment, “Regardless, all she wanted now ...”, can ... | Shorter way to say: "regardless of whether it would..." | english |
The dictionary offers the following: technologist — a person who specializes in technology technician — specialist in industrial techniques: somebody who is skilled in industrial techniques or the practical application of a science But if I look at Wikipedia's entry they give the following list: Applied Sci... | It sounds a lot like title inflation to me, to avoid the perception of a technician as a someone who simply applies technological solutions in a more or less routine, rote manner. As for "technologist" itself, Dictionary.com says it dates back to the mid-19th century. I would say that it sounds like a broad term that c... | What is the difference between a "technologist" and a "technician"? | english |
Can sought and searched be used interchangeably? As in "we searched for an article" versus "we sought an article". (Or if I got those two examples wrong, but there are correct examples where sought and searched have the same meaning, please correct me.) | This is very squishy, actually. In some cases you could interchange them and no problem with it. But in others you couldn't. In your example, they are equivalent. "Seek"/"Sought" can be quite passive or much less active than "Search/Searched". "Seek" can be quite theoretical, which "search" is not. "I seek for the grea... | "Sought" vs. "searched" | english |
I’m trying to say in one or two words that all of a group of animals and people have taken a leap beyond their usual comfort zone for a reason. This is the context: Some fish fly; some birds swim. Some people leave behind old restraints or habits. All are reaching for something, or escaping something. How can I describ... | Consider venture forth or venture out intr; often foll by out, forth, etc to embark on a possibly hazardous journey, undertaking, etc ⇒ to venture forth upon the high seas Also possibly transcend be or go beyond the range or limits of (a field of activity or conceptual sphere) as in they transcended the usual limits of... | What word would I use to say that a thing has left its usual environment to experience something? | english |
I have lived in the United States for more than five years now, and I am over 20 years old. Although I do not have that many problems with my verbal or written skills, it is not hard for people to notice my accents when I speak. I think I have failed to get rid of my accents because I have not completely surrounded mys... | It is very difficult to remove an accent, whether foreign or regional, after puberty, without the aid of intense speech therapy/training. But without intense training, the trick is to, well, exaggerate what you think is the local accent you're trying to copy. Even though it may sound funny to your own ears, it'll turn ... | What's the best way to get rid of international accents? | english |
I saw words fecund, jocund, rubicund end with -cund . Is -cund a suffix and what does it mean? | -cund (-cundus) is indeed a Latin suffix in words like jocund , fecund , rubicund , secundus , iracund and gesithcund , meaning of that kind or inclining to . | Is -cund a sufix? | english |
I've red some definitions of the word "blouse" and not all of them agree. From Wikipedia A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children. 1 It is typically gathered at the waist (by a waistband or belt) so that it hangs loosely ("blouses" 2 ) over the w... | In the US, blouse is regularly used to refer to women's shirts. It is never used to refer to men's civilian clothing. It is sometimes used for men's military uniform shirts, but not T-shirts. | What is the contemporary usage of the word "blouse", namely in North America? | english |
I've got a coworker that frequently uses the word, "abnomaly", not "abnormal" and not "anomaly", but "abnomaly". While the types of these words differ (i.e. adjective versus noun), the meanings are clearly related. Is there a term to describe this type of linguistic compound? | As mentioned before, a portmanteau or portmanteau word is a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings. Note, however, that portmanteau examples like smog, motel, brunch have over time become accepted as words. That is not the case (yet) for abnomaly , so it's reasonable to use some other term t... | What type of word is "abnomaly"? | english |
Given the Wikipedia's list of profanities, you will see that it's somehow detached from the rest of curse words. The most commonly recognized profanities usually describe a body part, person or an (usually inappropriate) act. However, 'hell' is the only one that actually bears the negative connotation as a result of it... | Today in English most taboo or "curse" words have to do with sex or scatology in some way. However, this was not always the case. It turns out that up until about the time of WWI blasphemy, the inappropriate use of religous terms, was much more taboo than today. Most "curse" words in common use at that time would have ... | Why is 'hell' considered a curse word? | english |
I'm trying to find a word to describe <code> an individual whom is paid while the business they work in is temporarily closed. </code> Example: While a library is renovated, the staff are paid for the hours they would have worked. I've thought about "paid leave" and "paid time off" but it doesn't seem correct as leave ... | Possibly paid temporary shutdown or paid temporary closedown These phrases focuses on the business suspension, rather than the employee. Despite your misgivings, I think a phrase including furlough would not seem jarring to most. One of the definitions is (US) a temporary laying-off of employees, usually because there ... | What's it called when you're paid while the business is temporarily closed | english |
The meaning of hope given in Simple Wiktionary as When someone hopes that something will happen, it means that they want it to happen and they think it is may happen . This it is may happen is correct or not? I think "it may happen" is sufficient. | "It is may happen" is not correct. "It may happen" is correct. The "is" suggests "now", as in "Bob is hungry", but even given that, "is may" makes no sense. Even "It may happen" is pretty neutral: is says "it may, or it may not". I would suggest going with a more reliable dictionary - wiki entries are edited (changed) ... | "it is may happen" is correct or not? | english |
I think there was a phrase that meant precisely that. The only thing that I remember is that it ended with ... enough (I'm not very sure, though). Example: I glanced around to make sure I was still in the same room. And [...] enough, everything still looked the same: the same wooden tables, the same... Of course I coul... | You could also use ' of course ': "And of course , everything still looked the same..." OED: "Of course - used to introduce an idea or action as being obvious or to be expected. " Although, it seems you were thinking of what @Jim said - 'sure enough'. | Expression meaning "as it certainly turned out" | english |
Did you contacted them? Did you contact them? Which of above sentences is correct? If both are correct, what's the difference between them? In which scenarios can I use them? | The auxiliary verb do , in all its parts ( did , does , don't , didn't , doesn't ) is always followed by the infinitive ("eat", "be", "contact") never by the past ("ate", "was", "contacted") or the past participle ("eaten", "been", "contacted"). | "Did you contacted them" or "did you contact them" | english |
I started my odyssey on the splendid world of mathematics when... Is this a right way to use the word "odyssey"? Is "odyssey on sth." correct? Can I use "splendid" to describe the world of mathematics here? | You are perfectly entitled to describe the world of mathematics as 'splendid' if you want. It is not the word I might choose but then I'm not a mathematician. I think it would be better to say that you conducted your odyssey 'into'..... An odyssey is a 'journey', a very special journey, but journeys are taken 'into' (o... | Usage of "odyssey" and "splendid" | english |
I'm looking for a word that can describe a person continuously talking angrily as if fighting with someone, for example over a phone, but in a low and whispering manner. | As already noted you could use growl :- v.intr. 1. To emit a low guttural sound or utterance. 2. To speak in an angry or surly manner. or possibly snarl :- v.intr. 1. To growl viciously while baring the teeth. 2. To speak angrily or threateningly. or perhaps hiss :- A sharp sibilant sound similar to a sustained s. An e... | To talk angrily and provoked in a low voice | english |
I don't want to be vulgar here. But what does "crow" mean in their conversation: Connie: Then why are you so bitter? Mellors: I'm not! If my cock gives its last crow, I don't mind! When they talk about the extermination of mankind? | It's a pun on cock , which can mean the male organ as well as a male chicken. Mellors is using crow to mean ejaculation (just as a cockerel's crowing might be called an ejaculation — see ODO sense 2 ). | Lady Chatterlay's Lover: "last crow" | english |
And "Hen" (their mother) isn't much looking forward to it either. Why? I can answer that question myself, it's because they're all turkeys . Tom is an adult male turkey (also often referred to as a 'gobbler') Hen is an adult female turkey Jake is a young male turkey Jenny is a young female turkey Very often when we dec... | Here are some additional human given names that are in current general use for certain animals. I don't think that these have been explicitly identified by other answerers/commenters. Widespread General Use billy goat [from William] jackdaw , jackrabbit , jack mackerel , jack salmon , jacksmelt (common name, both sexes... | Tom, Jake and Jenny aren't looking forward to Thanksgiving. Why? | english |
I came across the following sentence in Chapter 15 of Lady Chatterlay's Lover, when the keeper talks about the English middle class: ... full of conceit of themselves, frightened even if their boot-laces aren't correct, rotten as high game , and always in the right. What is "high game"? | 'Game' refers to the birds or animals shot or hunted for sport, in England partridges, pheasants, grouse etc, as well as venison. It is the practice to 'hang' such birds after they have been bled so that the meat matures. If this is overdone, and they are left too long the meat becomes 'high' and eventually decomposed.... | Lady Chatterley's Lover: "as rotten as high game" | english |
What are the differences between pucker and tuck, as verbs? I found that they can both mean "pull or gather up", "contract". Is it correct? | While some senses of tuck overlap with the sense of pucker (“To pinch or wrinkle; to squeeze inwardly, to dimple or fold”), most do not. The first sense that wiktionary lists for tuck is “To pull or gather up (an item of fabric)”. Typically a tuck, in the fabric sense, is a fairly neat sewn fold, while a pucker is more... | differences between pucker and tuck | english |
Can you suggest some words which can describe a person who is starting to get careless and who slacks, or the very action of becoming careless? A person who was efficiently and elaborately doing their job but with time started to be careless and their performance started to deteriorate. | Consider: complacent : marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies : marked by complacency The strong economy has made people complacent. We have grown too complacent over the years. We can't afford to be complacent about illiteracy. The person in your questi... | Word for "getting careless and slacking" | english |
I was amused to find the headline of article, “ Just Dropped In to Take Your Pulse ” in New Car Reviews section of New York Times October 25 issue, which is followed by the lead-copy: The Scirocco R performance hatchback is a European car that VW is showing off in America. Will it come here? The company isn’t ready to ... | In short, yes. It is primarily used in journalism, and may be used in many different contexts. It is most often used when "taking the pulse" of public opinion, but one can also "take the pulse of the economy" or "take the pulse of the government." It basically implies that the reporter or news agency has done some rese... | Is “Take one’s pulse” used as an idiom to mean“research” market, trends, problems / opportunities other than “diagnose" patient’s conditions? | english |
When should I use from? Example: His company suffered a setback. Vs His company suffered from a setback. She suffered from a heart attack. Vs She suffered a heart attack I realise that sometimes either is ok but are there any rules? | If you use suffer with a direct object, you are generally referring to a single negative experience. For example: She suffered a heart attack on her 80th birthday. The company suffered a setback when its CEO resigned. Suffer from , on the other hand, is generally used when referring to the continuing consequences of a ... | Suffered from vs suffered | english |
NOAD defines mete as: dispense or allot justice, a punishment, or harsh treatment When talking about this sense of the word, we normally hear the verb mete used in verbal phrase mete out . However, I don't think we'd usually say, “ dispense out justice ”, or “ allot out a harsh treatment ”. This got me wondering about ... | In the sense ‘administer (punishment)’, I am quite certain that I have never used or even seen ‘mete’ on its own without ‘out’. It is to me an unbreakuppable (unupbreakable? Erm … inseparable!) phrasal verb construction, and leaving out the phrasal adverb is quite simply not possible in my idiolect. As a copy editor an... | Use of the word 'mete' without using the word 'out' | english |
In the dictionary , bring means "to take something or someone with you to the place where you are now, or to the place you are talking about" and bring back "to take something or someone with you when you come back from somewhere". Is the place the difference? "Bring" is limited to the place you are now or talking abou... | Apart from the fact that we would normally say '"for" the kids', rather than using 'to', both sentences are grammatically correct. Using 'back' merely implies that you are returning to the place from which you started, and that the person speaking is at that place. If the person speaking is with you, it then becomes a ... | What is the difference between "bring" and "bring back" in this case? | english |
I am doing a formal scientific paper writing and unsure of the following sentence: The representatives are visualized as the skeleton of the corridors (not necessarily the centerlines though). As can be inferred, the adverbial clause of concession in the brackets is not important enough to make me bring it out. It just... | As somebody who uses too many brackets in my own writing to add mildly interesting but not essential points, I would move though to the start of the bracketed phrase and then replace the brackets with a comma, perhaps inserting a verb: The representatives are visualized as the skeleton of the corridors, though they are... | Adverbial clause of concession in brackets? | english |
On my résumé, I have the following: -----Bachelor of ABC, Institute of XYZ, Country----- "first class honors" and GPA I can't construct this line in a way that sounds completely correct. Which of the following is the right way? Graduated with First Class Honors and a GPA of X. Graduated First Class Honors with a GPA of... | Your first suggestion, Graduated with First Class Honors and a GPA of X, not only seems legit (as another user said); it is absolutely correct. | How does one mention “first class honors” and GPA correctly on a résumé? | english |
There must be a similar phrase in English, meaning to lure the target from protection (like turtle's shell) or hiding, in order to capture or kill it. My English dictionary gives "draw a snake out of its hole", but Googling suggests it is also used literally, not metaphorically. For example, someone accidentally let lo... | Pied Piper comes to mind. OED defines this as: allusively a person who entices people to follow them to some disappointment or misfortune. Also in extended use. Adams became the pied piper for scores of IRA men .... If you are looking for a verb I suggest inveigle . | a phrase for "to lure and chop a turtle's head" | english |
Is there a rule regarding the pronunciation (or lack of) of the apostrophe? I have seen this on tv: "Enchantress' wrath" pronounced as "Echantresses wrath" "Gus' schedule" pronounced as "Guses schedule" According to that the following examples should be pronounced the same: Jones's car as "Joneses car" Jones' car as "J... | Firstly, with regard to spelling: "Today it is no longer considered incorrect to use either form (Jones's or Jones') ". Secondly, ncsu ties together pronunciation and spelling to a limited degree: Spelling conventions are in some sense an attempt to replicate pronunciation. When style manuals make pronouncements on spe... | Pronunciation of the apostrophe | english |
Generally, when an adjective is derived from a proper noun, the adjective also has a capital initial, hence Googleable , Mancunian , British , and Shavian . (In contrast, verbs are not given capitals, hence to google and to hoover .) For some reason, though, biblical is an exception. The word Bible itself can be used a... | It appears that the central assumption in your question is questionable. Snailboat, FumbleFingers, and Sven Yargs have given examples to the contrary. Wikipedia asserts : An adjective can lose its capitalization when it takes on new meanings, such as chauvinistic. In addition, over time, an adjective can lose its capit... | Why is "biblical" the only proper adjective to not use upper case? | english |
I'm familiar with the IPA characters, but google shows other symbols in its search results. What I want to find is an equivalence table or something to get the IPA characters of any particular word than I'm interested in. Or a tool that brings words as quicky as typing "define book" in my browser's address bar, which i... | I did some investigation and I have determined that the dictionary entries returned by the Google <code> define: </code> operator are from the New Oxford American Dictionary , including the pronunciation symbols. The OxfordDictionaries.com site has a complete key to these pronunciations . To determine this, I started t... | What phoneme symbols does Google show in its search results? | english |
I know that insects have antenn ae and machines have antenn as . Which plural form should I use for something that’s both insectoid and a machine? Does one officially take precedence? | It is not really a matter of insect vs. machine. ‘Antennas’ are rods that are meant to transmit radio or television signals. ‘Antennae’ are the appendages that are attached to the heads of some animals and insects. If your (imaginary, I’m assuming?) robotic insects have appendages sticking out of their heads, those wou... | Do robotic insects have “antennas” or “antennae”? | english |
Consider the following text: "It is a bicycle. How do we know it is a bicycle, though?". Would this be a reasonable use of though in formal writing (in an essay)? What are the ways of avoiding this construction if one would want alternatives (except for skipping the though )? Would however , for example, work? The ques... | "However" functions as a more formal version of adverbial "though", this mainly due to an informal appeal to the reader that "though" suggests when it comes at the end of a sentence. On a different note, it doesn't always imply a direct contradiction. It could simply imply a qualification or contrast to what has alread... | Usage of "though" in formal writing | english |
How to describe a sudden increasing in size, volume. For example when fires grow suddenly and rapidly. What does that fire do? | it flared up it blazed up it suddenly raged (with irresistible fury) it started to lick hungrily at (something) it suddenly filled the sky with a golden guttering light | Growing abruptly and aggressively - words | english |
I saw a sentence when reading some technical articles: When we call this function, it expects the second parameter to be of type Collection. The actual argument is of type Collection. So my question is why use "of" in this sentence? Does it change some meaning for this sentence? Can I delete the "of" and directly say, ... | Strictly speaking, you may not omit the of . It is not true that the argument is the type: it is an instance of the type, or an example of the type, or a member of the type. It is this sense of membership which is expressed by of . In speech or non-formal writing you can get away with omitting of in very simple constru... | why use "be of something", is there some meaning for this "of"? | english |
I was writing a letter and got confused with this line. I am thankful for the opportunities that have been provided me during my tenure. or should it be I am thankful for the opportunities that have been provided to me during my tenure. | "Provided to me" is grammatically correct, but "provided me" is a common, older, narrative style. You'll find other examples where "to" is missing but implicit, such as "Elizabeth, it has been so long since you have written me that I was quite sure you had forgotten me!" If you are writing the letter then I would inclu... | "provided me" or "provided to me" | english |
In Norfolk a landing stage for unloading boats is called a 'staithe'. The Norfolk Broads and rivers are dotted with staithes. Notices proclaim things like 'Public Staithe', or Private Staithe'. But I do not ever recall seeing the word 'staithe' outside of Norfolk. Does anyone else know of staithes? It comes from the Ol... | The Stockton Coal Staithes were once noteworthy as being the destination of the Stockton and Darlington Railway , but I haven't heard the word used for anything else (apart from, as Andrew Leach mentioned, the village of Staithes ). I didn't know until your question that this wasn't a North-East dialect word. The Oxfor... | Is the word 'staithe' used outside of Norfolk? | english |
Duck, Duck, Goose is a common children's game but a typical Minnesotan calls the game a slightly different name: Duck, Duck, Gray Duck . I have never talked to anyone outside of Minnesota that knows of this game as Duck, Duck, Gray Duck. Wikipedia merely notes that it is a Minnesotan variant: "Duck Duck Gray Duck" is a... | Garrison Keillor doesn't know, and online sources are all rather contradictory (the game is variously said to have originated in Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and the U.S.) and dubious. So the best answer may well be that origin of the Minnesota name is lost to history, and any answers will be speculative. I noticed, howev... | Where did "duck, duck, gray duck" come from? | english |
1: He is nice except that he is a little shy . 2: Except that he is a little shy , he is nice . Are these sentences both correct? If so, are these two sentences identical? | I'd say they're questionable at a more complex level than pure syntax. Obviously, '[sentence A] except that [sentence B]', with punctuation adjusted as required, cannot be claimed to be non-syntactical – there is an example from AHD below. This usage of except that as a conjunction means but for the fact that [= 'only'... | Equivalence of "A except that B." and "Except that B, A." | english |
The logic of some terms of endearment is fairly clear. Sweetie, honey, cupcake all refer to food treats. However, the use of the term pumpkin as a tenderness seems somewhat counterintuitive. While reasonably tasty and the basis for making some treats (pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie), on its own it is a rather prosaic veget... | Terms of endearment reflect what the user finds desirable, and not everybody shares the (American?) view that sweets are the most pleasant food. The French mon petit chou means literally 'my little cabbage', Russians (sometimes) call each other 'my little wild raspberry', and several pages could be written (by someone ... | How did “pumpkin” come to be a term of endearment? | english |
When someone says: "buy me cake", what's his meaning? Does it mean anything except its normal meaning? Thanks Edit: I've seen this in a language file of a computer program: "Buy Me Cake :)" http://singularlabs.com/software/ccenhancer/ | The author of the free software CCleaner Enhancer wrote this in the changelog : CCEnhancer has been updated for performance enhancements. Previously; the tool would make a connection to the definition file, ensuring that the server is responding. This caused the annoying “hang” before the download commenced, as it woul... | Meaning & usage of "buy me cake" | english |
It seems to me that because there is an absence of something, it should be impossible to observe it. Therefore, if I wanted to say This is supported by the experimentally observed absence of... what word would I use instead of observed ? I need to keep the implication that no experiments have observed this particular p... | Observed is perfectly fine here. You are not observing the phenomenon, you are observing that it's absent. The Free Dictionary gives this: ob·serve 1. To be or become aware of, especially through careful and directed attention; notice. You became aware, noticed, that the phenomenon was absent. I can readily observe tha... | Can one observe an absence of something? | english |
Which is correct and why? <code> Let's go hiking at the park. </code> or <code> Let's go hike at the park </code> . On the second example ( hike ), should that actually be <code> let's go to hike at the park </code> ? Also works for things like: skate/skating, bike/biking... (I'm not sure if this is a duplicate because... | This involves the catenation of verbs (once you've sorted out the preposition if necessary). We go / are going / went hiking is a standard, accepted construction; come / go + -ing form. Quite a few other verbs catenate with the -ing form also. And placing this after "Let's" poses no problems: Let's go shopping / dancin... | Let's go hike/hiking at the park | english |
I don't know how to define the usage of man I'm talking about * , so I'll do it with examples: Hey, man, what's up? C'mon, man, don't make me do this. Is there a female or gender-neutral alternative for this word or is this sort of talk restricted to men only? Is "man" in the examples a normal noun or is it a different... | In many contexts, you can use there instead of man : Hey there, what's up? C'mon there, don't make me do this. If you're familiar with the addressee and use a friendly or jocular tone, you can often use you in place of man : Hey you, what's up? However, it may sound brusque in other contexts, and I wouldn't recommend i... | Is there a female or gender-neutral equivalent to the colloquial "man"? | english |
I'm looking for words that can describe the repetitive sounds that machine produces (For example an engine). Those droning, looped and long-lasting sounds. Patterned sounds of various parts of an engine or an engine as a whole machine. | You aren't going to find a single answer for this, because there are MANY different kinds of machines that produce many different sounds. A basic home computer has the whir and buzz of a fan, with the buzzing of various computer parts inside, occasionally a gentle hum, and in distressing cases, a loud but droning beep.... | Words that describe the repetitive sound of machine | english |
Time magazine (October 25) carries the article titled “The Populist Egghead” with a caption: “ Sen. Cruz isn't being mocked for low wattage the way Palin and Reagan had been . He's being singled out for a lack of common sense born of his rarefied résumé.” The sentence follows: The populist claims to possess the horse s... | People who are intelligent are said to be bright , and people who aren't are said to be dim . This is sometimes expressed by likening people to light bulbs: if you say someone "isn't the brightest bulb in the box", you're saying that they aren't very smart. Low wattage is presumably a reference to this metaphor. A low ... | What does“low wattage” mean in “A politician not being mocked for low wattage”? | english |
I'm trying to decide whether I should use "hold the hope" or "keep the hope" in a composition I'm preparing. It seems to me they are equivalent. Personally I like "hold the hope" better because sounds less common. Also, it seems to me "hold the hope" would be more suitable where that what I'm hoping for is less likely ... | Using "the" before a noun refers to a specific object or concept, rather than a general abstract concept; for example, "the weather" is specific (" the weather today will be rainy"), while "weather" is not, ("Mild weather is to be expected at this time of year"). When you use " the xxx", in a sentence, then, you are re... | "Hold the hope" vs. "keep the hope" | english |
What is the state of not progressing called? Going in circles. When the person is not progressing despite the active trying. | I think "stagnation" fits nicely. stagnate - verb - cease developing; become inactive or dull stagnant - adjective - showing no activity; dull and sluggish Typically stagnation is used to refer to a lack of movement or development, rather than futile movement "in circles." Your question brings to mind an idiom my mothe... | The state of not progressing | english |
I just checked the Chinese Language & Usage site and found that there had been only one or two questions being asked per day. I need a word or an expression to describe a website like this. In particular, I'd like to fill in the blank in the following sentence. The _ of the CLU site makes me want to join the sales ... | "Low traffic" Not too judgemental but gets the message across. See Web Traffic | How should I express the idea of a website having very few visitors? | english |
As a non-native speaker I am having some trouble distinguishing between the two words "merge" and "merger". To me, it sounds like "merger" describes a major event, often occurring between legal entities such as companies, countries, pieces of industry,... In computer science, I have more often seen merge used as a noun... | In everyday use, merge is not used as a noun. You can see this in the following Google ngrams Oxford dictionaries , Merriam Webster and dictionary.com have yet to record it as a noun, if they ever will. As far as I'm aware merge is only used as a noun in the context of source control. However, as Barrie points out, the... | Difference in usage between the nouns "merge" and "merger" | english |
As hours flew by, we kept building more and more sophisticated fireworks than I'd planned. At best this is a garden path sentence . Without the "...than I'd planned" it gets completely ambiguous and with wrong primary meaning different than intended. Most people will read that as increasingly sophisticated . My intenti... | When speaking this, if I wanted the (rather rare) meaning of more in number and more sophisticated , I would pause after the first more , so if writing it I would insert a comma after the first more . | Avoiding ambiguity of "more" + complex comparative | english |
A lop-sided board drooped over the garden wall, announcing that it was 'to let on very reasonable terms, well furnished. | There is a sign on the garden wall. The sign reads, "Furnished property for rent, reasonable terms." Lopsided - with one side lower or smaller than the other Board - a thin, flat, rectangular piece of wood or other stiff material used for various purposes. Let - allow someone to have the use of (a room or property) in ... | what is meant exactly by 'board' in the following sentence from the haunted house by dickens? can someone please help me picture the situation? | english |
Real eyes realize real lies. Is this sentence illustrating the usage of alliteration? If not, which poetic device has been employed here? | Alliteration, yes, but it also puns on the three homophones. Actually, the third, 'real lies', isn't a quite a hompophone, because the stress pattern is different. | Usage of poetic device | english |
Why is the word "sorry" used for this dual purpose? It seems to me they really have nothing to do with each other at all. Is it purely coincidence, like the dual meaning of "bore"? I find this unlikely. Is this present in (and derivative from) other languages as well? To clarify, why is sorry used for these very differ... | "Sorry" was originally a more general word for sadness or misery. You don't hear it used this way very much anymore, but its use in apology and sympathy both stem from that original sense. As an apology, it's essentially short for "I'm sad that I did this thing." As an expression of sympathy, it's short for "I'm sad fo... | Why is "sorry" used for both apology and sympathy? | english |
I want to use a with or . Which of these two sentences is the correct one? Do you want a full time or half time? Do you want a full time or a half time? | Both sentences are wrong because full-time is an adjective. It is like saying "Do you want a pretty or an ugly?" By adding a noun you correct them: Do you want a full-time or a half-time course load? Do you want a full-time or half-time course load? The article "a" does not have to be repeated. | How can I use "a" with "or" | english |
My friend and I have recently engaged in a little argument. It came about when he used the word "suaveness" and I argued that it wasn't a word. While I will concede he was right in this example, he made the claim that he could put "ness" on the end of any adjective. I do not believe this to be true. Words like "fastest... | A quick search for -ness words on onelook.com (a portal to numerous online dictionaries) generates a list of 100 examples just between abrasiveness and bitterness . I would guess there are several thousand. However, these are not all the adjectives in English (well, I hope not). Some adjectives have their own noun form... | Can "ness" be added to any adjective? | english |
Could someone please explain the bold term to me in layman's terms: The gentleman's spiritual intercourse seemed to me as poor a piece of journey-work as ever this world saw. | Journeymen were workmen who had completed their apprenticeship, but not yet become masters of their craft (e.g., carpentry). The implication here is not only that the work is not masterful, but that even by the lesser expectations of a journeyman's work, it was bad. I occasionally here journeyman used in a similar way ... | What does "as poor a piece of journey-work" mean? | english |
In the following paragraph, the main discourse started in present tense(ask), but then switched to past tense ( might ). Why is such a switch allowed? Microeconomists and macroeconomists ask different types of questions. A microeconomist might be interested in answering such question as: How does a market work? What le... | The sentence you've highlighted is not using a past tense. It is using the conditional mood . It expresses that there exist some microeconomists who would ask questions such as "How does a market work?". Maybe some microeconomists won't ask that question, specifically, but some will. Wikipedia says this: The modal verb... | understanding switch in verb tenses | english |
I am not a native English speaker, i don't understand deeply English language. So i just want to ask you this. Many years ago, maybe before 2000, i seldom heard English people say “Uh huh”, “Uh huh” when expressing that they are understanding in a conversation. Instead, most people use "ok","ok" to express that they un... | The OED has it from a 1924 Dialect Notes : Uh-húh, yes. But as a part of speech, it will have been used much before that and will be hard to find in print, although I did find an 1858 in the White Cloud Kansas Chief : "Her name is Peggy ?" "Uh, huh." It's often used to acknowledge to a speaker that you're still listeni... | When was “Uh huh” invented? is “Uh huh” a formal English? | english |
How to describe a person who have a fossilized mind? whatever he hears he will not (get it into one's head) | Close-minded not willing to try new things or consider other opinions Also spelled as closed-minded Also consider ossified having become set and inflexible Alternatives are stubborn bull-headed pig-headed narrow-minded hard-headed | a person with a fossilized mind | english |
What is the origin of the idiom "comparing apples and oranges," as in, You can't compare those things! That's like comparing apples and oranges. EDIT: I can find a book from 1889 making the comparison. | The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms (1997) offers this derivation of "apples and oranges": This metaphor for dissimilarity began as apples and oysters , which appeared in John Ray's proverb collection of 1670. It is nearly always accompanied by a warning that on cannot compare such different categories. In Ray's... | Origin of "Comparing apples and oranges" | english |
I'm trying to define some variable definitions for a report I am drawing up, but I need a second opinion & some help rewriting it to become a bit more formal.. Background, it's call center where an agent calls to get a customers account balance and arrange with an agent (using system dial) , then transfer to agent ... | Your question is unclear, Consider using the stackexchange-url ("English Language Learners site") next time,I have attempted to correct some of the errors but at some points I could not tell what you were trying to say Here goes Call Volume = Number of dialed calls Apps Volume = Number of unique applications per day Tr... | Does this make sense .. to you ? word choice help .. please | english |
Is the meaning of 'week' changing? These days a number of texts are using 'week' as an alternative to 'weekdays'. e.g. I have a number of meetings lined up in the week, but will be spending my weekend playing golf. I see a number of things wrong with the sentence. Am i the only one? | I see nothing wrong with the sentence. I hadn't thought about it before, but week has different meanings just as day has. During the week usually = on weekdays ; during the day = during daytime , or even during the working day . | Week, weekdays and weekend | english |
My apologies if my question is not appropriate for this forum. In mathematical writing, one often needs to let certain letters denote certain mathematical objects. For example: "Let X be a number. Let Y be a set." I am confident the following examples are correct ways to combine the above two sentences into one. "Let X... | Both are fine, as Barrie said. What may be making you question your own judgment here is the novelty of the locution or the fact that you are talking about X’s and Y’s. Under these circumstances, if you’re wondering about grammaticality, it is often useful to preserve the grammatical form while switching to more famili... | Let be: one verb or two? | english |
When I say: a PC that has no role or user. The meaning seems to be: the PC has no role, and the PC has no user. But my intention is: the PC has no role, or the PC has no user. How can I express that conveniently? | The question is a bit awkward, and I'm not sure if I understand correctly, but my best stab at it would be to work in the word "either" somewhere to draw extra attention to the fact that it as an "or" relationship rather than an "and" relationship | How to express: a PC that has no role OR no user | english |
If... (A) is a subset of (A) (A,B) is a subset of (A,B,C) (B,A) is not a subset of (A,B,C) because order matters. (B,C) is not a subset of (A,B,C) because I only want to compare the front of each set. Now subset is the second cousin of the word I'm actually looking for. Which word would best fit here? Maybe: is a prefi... | This looks like a branch of Math called Formal Language Theory . The terminology of Formal Language Theory generally comes from everyday English, and terms like prefixes , is a prefix of , begins (with) and starts (with) are commonly used. | What word am I looking for (similar to "subset") | english |
Which is grammatically correct? Yet I, and my peers, have lots things... or Yet, I, and my peers, have lots of things... | Neither is grammatically incorrect. (Well, the first one should have of where the second one does, but I'm assuming that's not what you're asking about.) A lot of punctuation is optional. Depending on whether you use a lot or a little of it, you can be said to have a heavy or light punctuation style. But even people wh... | Yet, I or Yet I,? | english |
At least to a self professed geek its cool to write words like fungii and radii , so naturally in some informal communications I take every opportunity to apply the suffix where it's probably not supposed to be used. Thus I ask, what is (are) the rule(s) for the double 'i'? | The ‘i’ is a Latin plural. ‘Fungus’ is the singular and ‘fungi’ ( not 'fungii’) is the plural. The letter ‘i’ occurs twice at the end of ‘radii’ only because there’s an ‘i’ in the singular ‘radius’. | The double 'i' is cool, but what's the rule? | english |
Can "shavelings" be used to refer to Asian monks? Or it only refers to Occidental shaven-headed church men? Can a shaven-headed civilian be called a "shaveling"? | You certainly can , but you might consider the fact that even fairly obscure words like "cenobite" and "skete" are both more specific and more common than "shaveling" | Can "shavelings" be used to refer to Asian monks? Or it only refers to Occitental shaven-headed church man? | english |
What is the difference between these phrases? now and then and now and again Google says that they mean the same . So saying "Every now and then I go for trekking" is same as "Every now and again I go for trekking", right? If not then what would be proper use case for each of these? | The proper use case for each is the same, so use whichever you prefer, however you should correct the latter half of the sentence, removing the word 'for': Now and then I go trekking. | "now and then" vs "now and again" | english |
I'm sure there are many words describing this but for some reason I can't think of an. Like to use in an example like this: You feel as though you'd been put softly in the cradle of Mother Nature. Any suggestions? | Nestled as in "You feel as though you'd been nestled in the cradle of Mother Nature." | Word meaning "to put softy?" | english |
If I write "rocket at moment X", "rocket in assembly", "in flight", how do I say when it's about to be launched? "At launch"? Sounds like "I eat rockets at lunch". | Once the vehicle has been positioned and fueled, it is referred to as " ready for launch. " The moments immediately after launch are typically referred to as "lift-off." Lift-off - the vertical take-off of a spacecraft, rocket, or helicopter. | How to say "rocket at launch"? | english |
It often happens that a political or other figure makes a remark on to which the media fasten. That remark then goes on to become part of the language. Examples were Poindexter's 'plausible deniability', and Armstrong's 'economical with the truth', discussed elsewhere. I hear the latter expression used frequently as a ... | Coining a new phrasal expression which catches on in popularity can be referred to as a snowclone . The oft imitated and mocked statement by President Bill Clinton, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" is another example of a snowclone . Wikipedia has this to say: Snowclone is a neologism for a type of cli... | When a person in public life inadvertently coins an expression, what is it called? | english |
How does one convey in a single phrase, the act of failing several times and succeeding finally? I wrote something like "Several trials and errors later, I had found the solution" Is this valid usage? Is there a better way to say this? | after many detours, ... after some false leads, ... after much travail, ... | How does one convey in a single phrase, the act of failing several times and succeeding finally? | english |
What does "tell us what you really think" mean? It seems to be used when someone is telling us what they really think... | The phrase is often used ironically as a reaction to a strongly-expressed opinion. A non-ironic use, to draw out a stronger opinion: "So, what do you think of the website's new layout?" "Oh, it's okay..." "Come on, even I know there are a few mistakes in there; tell us what you really think." An ironic use, as a reacti... | What does the phrase "tell us what you really think" mean? | english |
It's normally easy to name a lycanthrope species: just place "were" in front of the name of the base creature, i.e. "werewolf", "werebear", or "weredragon". Sometimes, though, the base creature's name is an open compound word, i.e. the komodo dragon. The "komodo" part of the name is crucial to the identity of the creat... | The "were" always prefixes a noun and does not prefix an adjective. Also, I don't think taking a group of words and gluing them together would be proper nomenclature. So I would definitely go with Komodo weredragon Mongolian death wereworm and my personal favourite: Three-toed weresloth | Correct names for lycanthrope species with abnormally named base creatures | english |
There is the following sentence in the scene Director of FBI, H.A.L Tyson instructs his men in Jeffery Archer’s fiction, “Shall we tell the President”: “So they (assassins group) think you’re dead, Andrews, and they have now played their last card. So we must hold ours back , you’re going to remain dead – for a little ... | The phrase in the book is: So they think you're dead, Andrews, and they have now played their last card. So we must hold ours back . You're going to remain dead—for a little while longer. They're using an analogy to a card game such as poker. They have put their last card down, or made their intentions clear. But they'... | What does “Hold one’s back” mean? | english |
Obviously a Case Study "has" (or should have!) a subject. But "has" seems a rather insipid verb. I'm looking for something more precise. So far I've come up with: "concerns", "features" and "treats", but I don't find any of these particularly evocative. Anyone got something that will hit the nail more squarely on the h... | Judging by the list of collocates on COCA , a case study can: describe discuss examine explore focus on investigate Which of those is most appropriate in your context I leave up to you. | Need verb signifying relationship between a "case study" and its subject | english |
There was the following sentence in Time magazine (September 16) titled “The world according to Vladimir Putin.” The nation that put the first man into space has given the world no distinctly Russian export under Putin except for mid-shelf vodka and Kalashnikov assault rifles. As I’ve been unfamiliar with the word “mid... | It is safe to agree, I think, that these tiers you mentioned (top-shelf, mid-shelf) refer to the positioning of the product on the shelves in shops. Expensive alcohol is bought not that often, so it is not necessary to put it within arm's reach, as compared to the alcohol that is not that expensive, is often bought and... | Is the word "mid-shelf" applicable to any merchandize being sold at retail shops more than liquor? | english |
So I'm reading a book set in the American South in the beginning of the 1900 and I stumble upon the use of the verb is with you ("you is", "is you?") in conversations: eg. "is you Samson Fuller?". I've heard this in rap songs before, but this usage made me wonder how it came about. Could someone give any insight into t... | The third person of the verb for all singular persons is dialectal use in some afroamerican communities, mainly. This has been used thoroughly in literature. For instance, Jim always speaks this way in The adventures of Huckleberry Finn : Pretty soon Jim says: "Say, who is you? Whar is you? Dog my cats ef I didn' hear ... | Usage of "you is" | english |
I am looking for a better word than "presenting". I cannot remember this word exactly. The word I am trying to remember is frequently used when talking about apparitions or supernatural beings. Like Amongst the densest of rain clouds a fire breathing dragon _______ itself. The same word could be used here also. This is... | Insecurity has a million ways of manifesting itself. Not sure about dragons. | What is a good word for filling in the following blank: "Insecurity has a million ways of ______ itself" | english |
I'm referring to the algae attached at the bottom of a river. The one with long "leaves/stands." How are those "extensions" called? And which verb to use to describe their movement with the flow of the rive (I need everyday terminology not scientific one.) Examine: I saw some algae at the bottom of the river. Their [..... | I would think the leaves of algae would best be called fronds :- The leaf of a fern. A large compound leaf of a palm. A leaflike thallus, as of a seaweed or lichen. As for their movement, perhaps wave would be best:- : to float, play, or shake in an air current : move loosely to and fro : flutter although in this case ... | How refer to the "strands" of algae and their movement in a current? | english |
In response to another stackexchange-url ("question I asked"), I was told spelling is not a part of language because it is a part of writing. This statement confuses me. Writing is a form of communication and is therefore, a part of written languages. Writing is directly related to spoken forms of the same language and... | No, spelling is not part of Language. Language is spoken ; that's the way it evolved over about 100,000 years, and that's the way it is learned by every human. Spelling, by contrast, is a word that does not have a meaning in all languages, because it has to do with writing in English orthography. Writing of any kind is... | Is spelling part of Language? | english |
What is the meaning of object in the last paragraph ? Please divulge the steps and thought processes behind your deduction. I'm vacillating between these two , the first of which I'm well acquainted with: a person or thing to which a specified action or feeling is directed: a goal or purpose Princeton, October 16, 1783... | It's the second, the "goal or purpose". In Madison's response being delayed, he may no longer adequately serve the goal or purpose for which the original correspondence was made. It will clearly still address the person, since the two people involved are Madison himself (clearly still alive) and Hamilton (clearly still... | Meaning of "Object" in James Madison's 1783 Letter | english |
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