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I often get confused how to use in , on , at , from and for . Examples: I have a phone in/on/at my bag. Meet me at/in/on this hotel. They sound kind of right but I'm not sure which is correct. Is there a simple way to remember how to use those? | to and for are usually used for an indirect object, such as: I gave a book to Tom for his birthday . in is short for inside , denoting a location in the interior of something; for example: I have a phone in my bag . on is a location resting on top of, or above, something else: The lamp was on the table . at describes b... | Are there simple rules for use of “in”, “on”, “at”, “from” and “for”? | english |
She has the same book as I have. Isn't it supposed to be She has the same book as I do ? But I often hear the former. Why? | I'll try my best to answer the "why" part of the question. I prefer giving visual examples rather than writing paragraphs of grammar, hopefully, this ought to explain : " I can't spot a reason why the second is ungrammatical, but it grates on my ear ." In British English it is common to inverse the position of the auxi... | "Same as I do" or "same as I have" | english |
Is there a term for words that summon someone like "Man," "Dude," "Kid" in sentences such as "Hey, Dude," "Listen up, kid," etc? I am sure there is, but I can't really remember what it is. | I think you might be thinking of vocative. of a word or word group : marking the one addressed (as mother in “mother, come here”) | What are words like "Hey Man", "Hey you", "Hey Dude" called | english |
I'm trying to decode the mysterious word Ananyzapata . Unfortunately I don't have the original source, just its appearance on a slide from a presentation. From the context (words on good luck charms/amulets in Medieval England) it may be a word like Abracadabra , or the name of a god, or angel, or even demon? It might ... | According to Etymonline, ananizapta is a magical word from the mid-15th century, which is around the end of the medieval period. On Google Books I came across this passage: For the falling sickness the charm was the following: Ananizapta, ferit mortem dum læder querit, Est mala mors capta dum dictus, Ananizapta; Ananiz... | Word detectives needed: "Ananyzapata" | english |
What does which we have mean here? In the end, will you be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life wondering if your time is up? The short answer is yes. The long answer is definitely yes. The truth is, there’s a bull’s-eye on your back, and committing to this new life is your best shot at staying alive. A... | Edwin has a point, I seem to have overlooked the significance of "you can (generic "one can") cover it up" so the sentence gets a slightly different meaning (implicit done added) One can cover it up with a Buzz Lightyear spacesuit and jetpack and we certainly have done just that. viz Children's Disney Bullet Proof Back... | Meaning of "which we have" | english |
Is there a single word to qualify/describe someone that causes his own misfortune, or even a single noun that refers to such a person? | Consider self-defeating causing the same problems that you were intending to solve | Word that describes someone that causes his own misfortune | english |
Sometimes ch is pronounced as /k/, as in chorus/chameleon. Sometimes as /tʃ/, as in chamber/chalk. Why is it so? | While chamber comes from the French chambre and has an English approximation of the French, chameleon comes from Greek and the first sound is an English approximation of the Greek letter χ. Another curiosity that the French chambre comes from the Latin camera , and the English for the photographic equipment (originally... | Why is the pronunciation of 'ch' different in chamber and chameleon? | english |
When reading some relatively unrelated article, I came across this phrase: This childish game of "Nuh-uh/Yuh-huh!" went on while the user sat there dumbfounded and helpless, watching the icon for their .XYZ files flicker back and forth between the two programs, both of whom egotistically believed they were doing the us... | This refers not to a game, but to a variant of that sophisticated technique of argumentation where one party says “Is so!” and the other replies “Is not!”, repeating mindlessly ad infinitum. In the quoted variant, “Yuh, huh!" corresponds to “Is so!” and "Nuh uh!” corresponds to “Is not!”. | What exactly is "Nuh-uh/Yuh-huh!"? | english |
We are going to establish a company in order to commercialize a stuttering treatment/therapy program. The treatment/therapy is really effective and backed by a lot of scientific research. In our recent discussions, some disagreement has come up whether to market it as the "XYZ stuttering treatment" or the "XYZ stutteri... | Therapy is preferable in this context as it appears to be a treatment programme . Treatment would be preferred if you were giving a specific drug. Therapy is defined in the dictionary as the treatment of disease or disorders, as by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process: speech therapy. Treatment is defined... | "Treatment" vs. "therapy" | english |
Why is "me" pronounced like "me" but "ne" is not pronounced with the same e sound? According to a professor, "ne" is pronounced like "nuh". Why is it like this? And more generally, does there exist a rule set on how to pronounce things so I don't have to ask a question like this again, or is it all word dependent and o... | I would pronounce "ne" (all by itself) as close to "neh". It's also "neh" in "necessary", "negligent", "Nellie", "nepotism", "nest", "nettle", "never", "nexus", -- but "new" is closer to "neew". As the others have pointed out, English spelling is more like a suggestion about pronunciation. I think this is because we've... | Why is "me" pronounced like "me" but "ne" is not pronounced with the same e sound? | english |
Is there anything wrong in this sentence? "I would go to work tomorrow if the buses were plying." I know it is not wrong to use 'would' in hypothetical sentences in the past and present tense: "I would finish the project by today if I were you." "I would have made the necessary changes had I been the leader." But what ... | The use of would in the first sentence is grammatical, but it isn’t a future tense, and in speech it would normally occur as I’d . (The use of plying is a little strange. The normal colloquial word would be running .) | Usage of 'would' in the future tense? | english |
I'm looking for a word that describes an origin and destination, regardless of the route taken. The words I've come up with so far, route, trip, travel, etc. all imply a specific set of directions. To clarify: I'm interested in a noun that describes a set of two points, one of which is an origin, and the other a destin... | Consider termini , which is a plural form of terminus , which is an end point (either end) of a route. Also terminals , like stations where service begins or ends, and endpoints , either of the two points at the end of a line segment, and waypoints , mapped reference points on a route. | Word for an Origin and Destination without regard for route | english |
Do 'inq' and 'ink' sound similar? I want to register a domain name which is related to data (writing stuff). Is it okay to use 'inq' rather than 'ink'? | Yes, the pronunciation of the word ink and the fanciful term inq would be identical. There are several words and business trademarks which use a final Q to produce a K sound: umiaq , tranq (slang), and Compaq , to name a few. | Do 'inq' and 'ink' sound similar? | english |
There are persons who keep jiggling their legs sitting on the chair during conversation or being interviewed. This motion is annoying and seen as the indication of the speaker’s tension, weakness to pressure, timidity, and lack of self-confidence. We call it derogatorily ’貧乏ゆすり/ binboyusuri - poor man’s (leg) shake’ in... | Fidgeting covers a wide range of nervous, almost unconscious, movements of the fingers, hands, arms and legs. It would also be used to describe what I'd call bouncing leg motion that sometimes occur while sitting down. It's not usually a sign of a medical disorder, in fact, if you make the person aware of their nervous... | What is the English counterpart to 'Binboyusuri' - keep jiggling one’s legs during conversation sitting on the chair? | english |
For example, words like "left", "right", "close to", "above", "across from" etc. I've found on a lot of websites they're called "directional words" but I was wondering if there was a more technical term. I'm thinking of it as a subset of prepositions, words that only indicate some kind of relative position. EDIT: I thi... | Perhaps orientation the position of something in relation to its surroundings: The church has an east-west orientation (has one main side facing east and the opposite side facing west). | Is there a term for words that indicate "direction"? | english |
I just received a message containing "I're": Glad April and I're so different. I've never seen this used before (I suppose as it's so unnecessary, saving just one character when writing) yet I can't find anything which claims that this isn't correct English. Can "I are" be validly shortened to "I're"? | I wouldn't use "I're." The usual term is I am, which shortens to "I'm." But here, the context is "April and I" are... The "are" doesn't refer to "I" but rather the whole phrase "April and I." That's why it can't be contracted. | Can "I are" be shortened to "I're"? | english |
In any democratic country, I guess, sometimes politicians want to see whether an idea is acceptable in the prevailing public opinion, but at the same time they don't want to reveal their position on an issue until they are sure of the outcome. Something like this happens in case of controversial issues where politician... | A trial balloon is “an idea, suggestion, or prospective action, product, etc. offered to an audience or group in order to test whether it generates acceptance or interest”. A trial balloon can be generated sort of secretly or deniably via a planned leak . A related term is stalking horse , “A candidate put forward inst... | Is there a term for when a politician sends an anonymous idea to see whether the public is receptive? | english |
So I came across a sentence while reading the book On The Map : His[Eratosthenes’] world map was drawn in about 194 BC. No contemporary version exists, but the cartographer’s descriptions were interpreted for a Victorian audience, and this remains the generally accepted and widely used reproduction. It really makes me ... | It means that the interpretation was done with a certain populace (i.e. Victorian) in mind. They use vernacular and idioms particular to that time/era. So in this case, the person that did the interpretations did so for the Victorian period, and while other translations/interpretations may exist, the named one is still... | What is a "Victorian audience"? | english |
If I inherit something, what has my father done to the something? I've found the word 'bequeathed' but I'm not sure that this is the colloquial word. I need the word to describe a programming class from which another class inherits. Rather frustratingly, in no OOP papers can I find this word being used in English! | Inherit in this case is not like passing down property upon death, it's more like passing down genes upon conception. In other words, inheritance in OO programming is not like inheriting your mother's antique sofa, it's more like inheriting your mother's blue eyes. I would use the term passed on (or perhaps passes alon... | When I inherit, my father does what? | english |
The origin of blow = suck, be bad/unpleasant recently came up in comments to stackexchange-url ("this ELL question"). I'd always assumed it was a standard slang "meaning reversal" from suck . But a few minutes on Google failed to confirm this for me, and in that ELL link, Feral Oink credibly suggests it's from blow chu... | The OED’s definition 15f of suck is ‘To be contemptible or disgusting’. The earliest citation is from 1971. The OED relates it to the noun suck , Canadian slang for ‘A worthless or contemptible person’. This in turn may or may not (the OED doesn’t say) have something to do with ‘sucks’ used, particularly by children, a... | Does "This blows!" (it's bad) derive from "This sucks!"? | english |
From Eric Temple Bell’s Men of Mathematics : All this [definition of “function” and substituting numbers for variables] is familiar to anyone whose grammar-school education ended not more than thirty or forty years ago, but some may have forgotten what they did in arithmetic as children, just as others could not declin... | The reference "could not decline the Latin mensa to save their souls" is a reference to doing something which should be extremely easy. Mensa is a perfectly regular first-declension feminine noun, and declines in a set way: <code> Case Major Use Latin Example English Equivalent ----------- ----------------- -----------... | What does “mensa” mean? | english |
When is it correct to use the form "I did want to ..." versus "I wanted to..." (substitute other verb for "want"). I often find myself changing from the former to the latter when I edit early drafts, but sometimes the former seems to better emphasize my "wanting". EDIT: Part of my curiosity was that this has the feel o... | I wanted to do this is the ordinary past tense. I did want to do this adds emphasis to the verb. | "I did want to" versus "I wanted to" | english |
The only events worth noting in his material career are his installation at Toulouse at the age of 30 (14 May 1631), as commissioner of requests; from Eric Temple Bell's Men of Mathematics The sentence is about Fermat (A mathematician). Does material career mean "Non-Spiritual" , "Non-Mathematics" or "earthly" ? | To quote one of the many definitions for material from Chambers, Relating to subject matter We need the right context here. Fermat was a student of law and had a degree in civil law. But today the world does not remember him for his contributions to law. The material in the sentence pertains to the subject of law. The ... | Meaning of "Material career" | english |
Can "convicted" be used to qualify somebody who has a conviction (in the sense of strong opinion)? In that context it would be a close synonym of convinced or opinionated for example. It possibly makes etymological sense but I don't know if it is (or has ever been) an accepted usage of that word in English. | Convicted has been used in the sense of convinced . †3. To prove, establish by proof, as against assertions to the contrary. (= convince v. 5) ( Orig. of things blamable.) Obs. c1475 (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 3 If he be conuicted not to luf, ne to do þe office of Crist. 1558 Q. Kennedy Compendius Tractiue i... | Can one be "convicted" if one has a strong opinion? | english |
What is the word used to describe a particular type of sound made with language? Is it a "tone"? For example, the "ai" in Thailand produces a sound. And, what is the word for this language system of producing different sounds from different combinations of characters? Why does it seem like same set of characters can pr... | You're possibly confusing a few different concepts: A phoneme is an 'underlying sound building block'. A digraph is a two-letter combination that represents a particular phoneme or has a particular value/use. (You can then have trigraphs etc, but in reality, in common parlance, you can just refer to "letter combination... | What is the word used to describe a particular type of sound made with language? | english |
Is the conjugation correct here? I know "A family were there." can be grammatical when "A family" is being treated as a plural noun. But the following example is different. The subject is plural but it's treated as singular. I've never encountered this pattern before. It is no accident that Seamus Heaney’s selected poe... | No,this is not ungrammatical as while using collective nouns we always use "is" in the sentence. Below mentioned examples may make this clear to you : 1) A hive of bees is approaching towards east. 2) A panel of experts is sitting to judge the performance 3) A team of laborers was found working there. So, while using c... | Proper conjugation of "to be" in this example | english |
Is there a single word or small phrase for "a list of tasks that a town or village has set out to accomplish, specifically for the improvement of the community" The best I have so far is "agenda" but it's not quite what I'm going for. If it makes any difference / influences your word choices, this word/phrase is to be ... | You might consider milestones An important event, as in a person's career, the history of a nation, or the advancement of knowledge in a field; a turning point To convey the town aspect, you may want to try municipal milestones | Single Word Request: List of town tasks | english |
I wrote the following: The sun hit Erin's skin as she wandered through the alley. It felt comfortable, like a warm blanket enveloping her entire body. "Hit" is the only verb I could think of. But I wonder if there's a "gentler" verb to replace it? | There's really a lot of possible verbs you could use. I've seen: touched caressed brushed "lingered on" warmed gleamed on to name the first that come to mind. Edit: I reread the title of your question, why not "fell"? The sun gently fell on Erin's skin as she wandered through the alley. It felt comfortable, like a warm... | Verb to use when the light of the sun 'falls" on your skin? | english |
What is the difference between the following two sentences? I have had a headache since this morning. I am having a headache since this morning. | I've had a headache since <code> past.time.point </code> is normal, idiomatic, and grammatical. * I'm having a headache since <code> past.time.point </code> , however, is ungrammatical, because the present progressive construction ( 'm having ) refers to the present moment, while the prepositional phrase ( since <code>... | Difference between "have had" and "having" | english |
Someone sent me something and then checked back with me writing: I would like to ask you that have you received my gift? I myself thought this sentence was really uncommon (I have not heard it before). I discussed it with my friend and suggested that the correct way should be I would like to ask if/whether you have rec... | The use of "that" in a question isn't right, and "have you" should be reversed. You'd use "that" if it was a statement, not a question: "it is true that...", for example: I would like to tell you that you should have received my gift I would like to show you that you must have received my gift I would like to inform yo... | "I would like to ask you that have you" | english |
Is there a word for form elements that have “relevant” values? If there is, what is it? By “relevant” values, I mean values that we want to process or which are needed for processing. These values are not necessarily user inputs because they can be hidden fields or static fields. Elements like the submit button, form h... | I've very recently seen the term "data elements" used to describe all the fields contained in an app we're working on, in the context of asking for a list of all of them (Which, considering the size of this app? Is going to be a huge undertaking). Terminology is tricky, because different jargon will mean different thin... | Is there a computing term for form elements that have “relevant” values? | english |
What is the difference between totally agree and completely agree ? In other words, what is the difference in meaning between totally and completely in such combinations in conversations? | They mean the same thing, along with "fully agree" or "entirely agree". Either means agreement to the maximum possible and without any element of disagreement. "Totally" has picked up a connotation of sounding a bit ditzy but that seems to be on the decline. Otherwise, use whichever sounds better in context. | "Totally agree" and "completely agree" | english |
What single words and idioms would best describe someone who loves to sit in judgement of others, almost making it a hobby to become a nitpicker. They are aware but un-acknowledging of their own deficiencies and of their non-eligibility as critics. They are overly critical of others, yet vehemently intolerant of any cr... | Such people could be called armchair critics . An armchair critic is someone who offers advice but never shows that they could actually do any better. | words and idioms for someone who loves to sit in judgement of others | english |
Is there another word for more and more ? For example, in this sentence: More and more people use computers Is their a word to replace the More and more at the beginning? | How about: The number of new computer users is a flooding tide . or The number of new computer users waxes daily. While both might be thought a tad archaic, a potential advantage is that it forces readers to think about the sentence a fraction longer while absorbing it; thus providing an increased emphasis to the sente... | Is there any other word that means “more and more’? | english |
I suppose I am confused in general about the use of "into" versus "in to." For this case, though, consider the sentence, "I moved into my apartment today" as opposed to "I moved in to my apartment today." I like the sound of "moved into," but is "moved in" like an idiom that needs to be left in that form to work? Any a... | At http://www.thefreedictionary.com/move+in , the Collins entry for 'move in' is: move in [AHD says this is a phrasal verb] [so, a set expression] vb (mainly adverb) (also preposition) Also (when preposition) move into : to occupy or take possession of (a new residence, place of business, etc.) or help (someone) to do ... | Is it "moved into" or "moved in to"? | english |
I'm trying to find a single adjective that would fit the best to the following person's trait: One who thinks knows everything/best, and often doesn't listen to orders and instead completes some task his/her own way. This person, while intelligent, is right about 50% of the time, when doing things its own way. So far I... | I think you want headstrong : not easily restrained : impatient of control, advice, or suggestions I like this because it emphasizes head , i.e. thinking. | Word for a smart and stubborn person? | english |
If the verb ditch means "to make a forced landing of (an airplane) on water”, as Merriam-Webster reads , what verb can be used to mean “to make a forced landing of (a helicopter ) on water”? Or, if ditch , contrary to what Merriam-Webster reads and according to Andrew Leach’s definition below, is simply to make a force... | The same word would be used for any aircraft, not just an airplane but also a helicopter. The verb ditch can mean three different things: “dig a ditch into”, “throw into a ditch” (literal)/“abandon” (figurative), and “fly into the sea” (literal). There is probably no realistic context in which you would use sense 1 wit... | Can a helicopter “ditch”? | english |
We all know that in the footballing world, when someone scores 3 goals, they call it a Hat-trick and when two, a Brace . I was wondering how these words are related to numbers 3 and 2? Is there any semantic relation? Is there any other word to describe for example 4 goals or 5 goals? Plus, I would love to have some inf... | Hat trick According to etymonline, ‘hat trick’ comes from: 1879, originally from cricket, "taking three wickets on three consecutive deliveries;" extended to other sports (especially ice hockey) c.1909. Allegedly because it entitled the bowler to receive a hat from his club commemorating the feat (or entitled him to pa... | Meaning and etymology of "Hat-trick" and "Brace" | english |
In this sentence, My research for Point of Origin was some of the most intensive and dangerous I've done to date, and the story I tell here remains the most painful. (Seen at the introduction part of novel, stackexchange-url (""Point of Origin""), by an American writer) Can we say "to day" instead of "to date" in the a... | No, we can’t. To date means ‘until now’. Today doesn't. | "to day" or "to date"? | english |
While reading through stackexchange-url ("this question") another occurred to me. If a headline reads British PM says no to inflatable cars. Is British a noun or an adjective? Granted, there are other noun forms of British but how about French in French PM says yes! The example from the original question quoted Yemen P... | This is just headliner confusion. British is virtually always an adjective, not a noun. The noun is Britain . But headlines of late have been using the shorter noun forms, as in Spain court in lieu of Spanish court . I wouldn’t recommend it outside of headlines, if even there. Be that as it may, we aren’t going to star... | Is "British" a noun or an adjective in "British PM"? | english |
When there is no WI-Fi or internet connection, people usually say I don't have internet. However, I heard someone saying I don't have the internet. which sounds funny to me. I would assume both are correct, but is the former more natural than the latter? | I don’t have the Internet – means that you do not possess the entire Internet. This is of course true, because nobody does. But it does not mean that you do not currently have access to the Internet. Instead, you should say: I don’t have internet / I don’t have any internet ‘Internet’ here is being used not so much as ... | "I don't have internet" vs. "I don't have the internet"? | english |
I had an English exam today. One of the questions was fill in the gaps. It was like: Doctors diagnosed him with/ for hyperactivity. So should the gap be with or for ? I checked Google and there are a lot of examples of each. | Diagnosed with is by far the most frequent and it is what I, as a speaker of British English, would use. The Corpus of Contemporary American English has 3,215 records for diagnosed with and 20 for diagnosed for . I haven’t looked at the contexts in which diagnosed for is used, but they clearly must be quite exceptional... | Which preposition to use with "diagnose" | english |
Is there any difference between area , zone , and site ? If there is some difference between them? When do I have to use (nor not use) each of these constructions? | It depends on context. But in general, an area is a region or part of a town, world, etc. where you live. A site is an area of ground on which you build a building, a small town, etc. It could also refer to a place where an event is taking place. That is the site where ogres were slaughtered by the King of Far Far Away... | What is the difference between “area”, “zone”, and “site”? | english |
Which version is grammatically correct (given that I hopefully provided at least one correct alternative)? [...] the company yielded a result to the amount of −€6.680 billion in 2008. or [...] the company yielded a result to the amount of €−6.680 billion in 2008. Since I'm not a native speaker, I'd apprecia... | In general, you would not write out the minus sign in descriptive text. The company suffered losses in excess of $7 billion. The company suffered a 2.4 million dollar deficit. The words "losses" and "deficit" make the minus sign redundant and unnecessary. The only example I can think of where you might need to be expli... | How to write negative currency in text? | english |
But the faithful were not troubled by consistency,'the bugbear of little minds'- and the ratbane of inconsistent bigots. What does ratbane mean? There is a clue on Wikipedia , but I don't understand it. I should mention the sentence is from Eric Temple Bell's Men of Mathematics . | Rat poison. It says that consistency would be fatal to bigots. | Meaning of "ratbane" | english |
I'm writing a paper that frequently references regions on a string, and these regions often intersect. I need to succinctly describe regions that almost completely intersect. For example, given the string ACGT, suppose I have two regions described by [start,end] coordinates as follows: R1=[0,2]="ACG" R2=[1,3]="CGT" Suc... | Your situation reminds me of the Latinate word penultimate meaning “next to last,” from paene “almost” + ultimus “last.” You could combine the pen– prefix with another suitable Latinate word: penequivalent. | Find or invent a term for "Completely intersecting minus one" | english |
I thought it was incorrect to say I myself as in: I myself don’t like this idea. However, last night I was watching the second Harry Potter movie, and one of the characters said: In case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions. I think there might be a difference between the two,... | Myself is a reflexive pronoun. It’s called that because one of its uses is to reflect the action of a verb back onto the subject, as in ‘I’ve hurt myself’. Yourselves is used in the same way in the sentence you quote from ‘Harry Potter’. Reflexive pronouns are also used for emphasis, and that is how myself is being use... | Is it correct to say “I myself”? | english |
Nosey Flynn was sitting up in his usual corner of Davy Byrne's and, when he heard the story, he stood Farrington a half-one, saying it was as (1) smart a thing as (2) ever (3) he heard. (James Joyce, Dubliners) The meanings of the (1), (2), and (3) seem like: (1) as : “to the same degree or amount” (Webster’s Learner’s... | Your analyses of (1) and (2) are both correct. They do indeed refer to the ‘as X as Y (is)’ construction. Your analysis on (3), however, is not quite right. ‘Ever’ when used as an intensifier is confined (as far as I can think of) to three specific circumstances: With comparatives: When used before a comparative adject... | how to understand "as ~ as ever" | english |
I have tried to find this but failed, so I want to ask here. What is the meaning of snake in the grass ? | Someone who pretends to be your friend while secretly doing things to harm you. This can also be likened to a "double agent" | Meaning of "snake in the grass" | english |
While the two names nail and screw have similar shapes and functions, why do the verbs differ so much? Someone has screwed something sounds like they have ruined something to me, while someone has nailed something sounds like they have successfully accomplished the thing. So why have these similar words acquired this m... | Nails ‘Nailing’ something is basically the equivalent of hitting the nail on the head. Hitting the nail on the head is, as anyone who’s ever tried hanging a picture on a wall knows, something that requires great precision and the proper application of force (and in my own case, often also the proper application of a fe... | "Screwed" vs. "nailed": why is the slang so different? | english |
What does this bold part mean? It doesn't make any sense. What did he want to say here? http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/08/syrian-electronic-army-hackers-new-york-times-tactics.html Regardless, it’s clear that the individuals who make up the S.E.A. are not simply technically savvy in a rote way. The... | Here is a breakdown: Most profoundly, the S.E.A.’s campaign reflects the vigilantism of young aggressors steeped in the Web: it’s conducted not simply on widely viewed media sites or on social media itself but for them; The sentence could be rewritten as The most important point is that the campaign shows the vigilanti... | What does this intricate sentence mean? | english |
I'm translating some Buddhist texts to English and I'm wondering if there are any subtle differences in usage between the words deity , divinity , and god (in the lower case sense)? What is the word for their "earthly" counterpart (by which I mean "natural being" or "ordinary people")? Thank you! | I don't think we make much distinction in common speech between "a deity" "a divinity" and "a god," although "a divinity" is rather rare and leaves me, at least, with the feeling you're speaking of something vague. "There is a divinity that shapes our ends . . ." is probably the best-known use of it. Deity seems a bit ... | deity / divinity / god | english |
My daughter said "These photographs are concerning". Her intention was to convey that they were disconcerting, or alarming in some way. My impulse was to correct her, but then I doubted myself and thought that perhaps this is a legitimate use of the word. The two online dictionaries I looked in don't have secondary def... | One of the OED’s definitions of the adjective concerning is That gives cause for anxiety or distress. That would seem to cover your daughter’s use. Whether using the word in this way is an effective means of expressing her meaning is another matter. | Can "concerning" ever be used to mean "worthy of concern"? | english |
I saw a new compound word of something that related with “number” and “article” that describes the style of articles that start with number such as "7 Things happy people choose to do every single day," “10 paragraphs about lists you need in your life,” and “20 things you need to know about Einstein,” in an article of ... | I believe the word you're looking for is Listicle : In journalism and blogging, a listicle is a short-form of writing that uses a list as its thematic structure, but is fleshed out with sufficient copy to be published as an article. A typical listicle will prominently feature a cardinal number in its title, such as " 1... | What is a new coinage to describe the style of articles that starts with number such as “7 Things happy people choose to do every single day."? | english |
I was watching How I Met Your Mother when I heard a conversation between some actors and it just bounced over me. But from the background I could hear people laughing and I was sitting static without getting a single point: It started like this: Robin: Look at that guy, I had a crush on him long back Ted: [sarcasticall... | The numbers are ratings on an imaginary scale of sexual attractiveness, with 10 being drop-dead gorgeous and 1 being thoroughly repulsive. | meaning of two , four and eight in this conversation | english |
I am trying to think of a word used to describe someone who is intentionally oversimplifying an argument by making a statement that is technically true, but ignores a lot of issues. Its an adjective similar to describing the person as being intentionally obtuse or too clever for their own good. | Are you looking for "disingenuous?" | Word meaning something is technically accurate but overly simplistic | english |
I have to ask that what will be the idiom of attacking behind the back? | stab in the back play judas sell down the river lay an ambush can be used both literally and figuratively | What is idiom of attacking behind the back? | english |
What is the meaning of us’es in this passage below? The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only... | For me: 'Uses' is used here to suggest a plural of the word us. Many groups feel discriminated against by either another group or the rest of society. This is generally given a title of 'us and them'. 'Us' being those in the group and 'them' being those against the group. Gays, Blacks, Seniors, Handicapped people in ea... | What does “the us’es” mean? | english |
I have seen different preposition after "Good luck". Example: Good luck on/with/for your new job Could you explain the possible differences of usage or meaning. Thank you. | The most common preposition paired with "good luck" is "to." The meaning is clear enough, but here are a few examples: " Good luck to people selling rubbish plates, but for us it's nothing but bad news." "It's just the way depression works. Meds will fix it. Good luck to you. " Next most common, according to some quick... | Preposition after "Good luck". | english |
I've been debating this for a while now with a comrade of mine. Wikipedia (and others) give "close helmet" as a type of medieval helmet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_helmet http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/close+helmet My compatriot argues that, as-is, this doesn't make sense, that it should be either "clos... | Actually, according to this Wikipedia article it is close as in "close the door." The close helmet , also called the close helm was a military helmet worn by knights and other men-at-arms in the Late Medieval and Renaissance eras. It was also used by some heavily armoured, pistol-armed, cuirassiers into the mid 17th ce... | Is "close helmet" correct? Why/why not? | english |
A group of people who regularly attend gym classes or work-out. What are they called? Is there a single-word for this particular group? Apart from my calling them fanatics , mad (BrEng)/ crazy (AmEng), body-obsessed , vain or dull . Seriously, what are they? Devotees ? Learners ? Practitioners ? I'd also appreciate any... | A term that I have heard, that seems to be widely accepted, and that I would use myself, is simply "gym goer". I don't think you'll find anything better than that, if you want a generic and neutral term. Google has 704,000 hits for it. (I'm not a native English speaker, but I have been to the gym twice this week and pl... | What do we call people who go to the gym? | english |
In a steam engine museum I came across the word "hazzas" and, although I can guess its meaning from the context, I could not find a definition for it. A description portrayed a train whose first arrival would be greeted by "loud hazzas of the multitude only overpowered by the louder blowing of the locomotive steam whis... | My understanding is that a "hazza" (an exclamation of joy not unlike "hooray" or "hurrah") would come from people gathered on the platform observing the train's arrival, their sound being overwhelmed by the train's whistles. Merriam Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary spell it "huzzah" but I'd suggest in this con... | Meaning of "hazzas" | english |
What are the rules for comma placement when it comes to partial quotes? My intuition is that a comma should be placed outside of the quotations marks if the comma is related to the overall structure of the sentence. However, the various sources I have looked to (APA, MLA, and others) have stressed that commas (and peri... | As it was explained to me many years ago (in Clinton, Tennessee, USA) by a linotype operator who was old enough to have set type by hand, "[Punctuation] goes inside the quotes because editors are too dumb to know where it goes and, if we have to have to talk about it every time, we'd never get the paper out." | Commas and Partial Quotations | english |
I have seen a few tips regarding the placement of periods before or after the closing parenthesis, but none of them solves my issue. A general rule of thumb-if the words inside the parentheses form a complete sentence, then period before closing it, otherwise period after closing it. However I am writing a sentence in ... | Only place the period inside parentheses if it forms a complete sentence that stands on its own. (For example, this is a complete, independent sentence.) Otherwise, place the period outside the parentheses (treat this like a subordinate clause, with no initial capital or period of its own). | Period in or outside the Parenthesis? | english |
I read an article, here is the original words: Lennon even created his own comic strip, which he called "The Daily Howl". This contained drawings, frequently of crippled people, and satirical writings, often with a play on words. For example, in one page, Lennon wrote a weather report saying that "Tomorrow will be Mugg... | "Tomorrow will be muggy" is a typical weather forecast. muggy adjective ( muggier, muggiest ) (of the weather) unpleasantly warm and humid: it was a hot, very muggy evening [ODO] Muggy also sounds a little like Monday , which is followed by Tuesday, Wednesday etc. It's possible that someone with a speech impediment mig... | Tomorrow will be Muggy, followed by Tuggy, Wuggy and Thuggy | english |
It seems that the word "sex" in the context of sexual intercourse is a fairly recent development. How would sexual intercourse have been referred to before the 1920's? Coitus? Is there a more casual word, or was the word 'coitus' casual at the time? | Fuck , from the 16th century. Roger , from 1711. Screw , from 1725. Shag , from 1788. What a great question. | How was sexual intercourse referred to before 'sex'? | english |
I read this sentence in Charlotte's Web: That pig is as solid as they come. Can somebody explain what "they come" means, who does they refer to? | This meaning of "come" is "to be available, produced, offered, etc" as seen in meaning 8 of this definition For example <code> Cars are available in a range of sizes. Cars come in a range of sizes. That car is as big as they come. Pigs are available in a range of solidities. Pigs come in a range of solidities. That pig... | In "that pig is as solid as they come" what does "they come" mean? | english |
Concerning the order of letters in the alphabet, how does one refer to "earlier" letters? For example, "Names starting with "earlier" letters come first in lists." Would that be "earlier," "higher," "greater," or what? Adding a tad bit more context, I am actually looking for the most proper way to write the sentence I ... | If I understand your question correctly, you are referring to lexicographic(al) ordering. In more general terms, A is lexicographically smaller than B if A precedes B in some alphabet X. I don't think many people without math/computer science backgrounds would understand these terms though. | How to refer to "earlier" letters in the alphabet? | english |
I'm looking for a word that I can use to describe the following: A point system where I give points to my kids to incentivise them to do some tasks they don't really want to do. I don't want to simply call them 'points' or 'credits'. I'm currently between karma or kudos. Is one more appropriate than the other? Are ther... | A Gold Star was a common reward when I was a child (long ago), and I imagine it still is. If I remember, we were awarded silver stars and maybe other colors for lesser accomplishments and gold stars signified multiple lesser accomplishments. (5 silver stars converted into 1 gold star). If the children are all boys, som... | Karma, Kudos, ...? | english |
Making a comparison with Who/Whom I now have a doubt about the use of what with prepositions in questions. I'll explain by example: These two sentences are correct, one is more formal than the other: Who/Whom Formal: With whom are you doing that? Informal: Who are you doing that with ? But if I substitute Who/Whom with... | Yes, they are both grammatical, but With what are you doing that? is much more formal, and probably quite rare. | "With what [...]?" or "What [...] with?" | english |
I always thought the word incharge/encharge existed but I noticed my spell check kept marking it as wrong. Examples: "Who is encharge around here!?" The secretary is encharge of taking notes. I find this confusing because "in charge" is two words which as a phrase does not literally mean what it describes. Is it consid... | In the sense you cite, it’s two words: you are in charge of something because you have the charge (task/responsibility) of doing it. ‘Encharge’ does exist, but it means something else. Apparently, according to the OED, it can be a noun meaning ‘injunction’ (though I’ve never heard of this—it is marked as obsolete, too)... | Is incharge/encharge a word? | english |
In the image below, between the connector and the cable is a bit of stiff plastic that covers and protects the joint. The entire covering, from where the metal ends (visually) to where uniform cable begins (visually). Is there a (preferably non-technical) term for this? | There are a few different functions or features coincident with the concept you wish to terminologically identify stud insulation termination sleeving aka boot strain relief permanently set, aka premolded (and therefore not a boot) Each of these functions can be had independent of the other. For example, you can have a... | What do you call the plastic/rubber protector on electrical connectors like headphone jacks? | english |
In the following example: Eri stared at date on the screen, but all she saw were white pixels. Only when she recovered from her shock that she became aware of its meaning. Do it have to add " it was " before "...only when..."? Or it's not necessary? When to use only when and when to use it was only when ? | You have to say either It was only when she recovered from her shock that she became aware of its meaning. or Only when she recovered from her shock did she become aware of its meaning. | "Only when..." vs "it was only when..." | english |
It seems like most of our names for colors come from our German roots ( blue/blau, green/grün, red/rot , etc.). But yellow is gelb in German, amarillo in Spanish, jaune in French, and giallo in Italian. I suppose the Italian seems closest, but perhaps they all have something in common? | The word for the colour yellow comes from a germanic root as well. Old English geolu, geolwe, from Proto-Germanic *gelwaz (cf. Old Saxon, Old High German gelo, Middle Dutch ghele, Dutch geel, Middle High German gel, German gelb, Old Norse gulr, Swedish gul "yellow"), from PIE *ghel- "yellow, green" (see Chloe). Palatal... | What is the etymology of “yellow”, and why is it so different in other European languages? | english |
Example: At first, I though it was a star, but then I realized it was an UFO. Can I use "later" to replace "then" and keep the meaning more or less the same? At first, I though it was a star, but later on I realized it was an UFO. | Then is immediate, later on means a point in the future. using your example, At first, I though it was a star, but then I realized it was an UFO. implies that the thought of what the object is changed while you were looking at the object, but At first, I though it was a star, but later on I realized it was an UFO. impl... | Can you use "later on" to replace "next" and "then"? | english |
I read this phrase on a guide for texts about mathematical logic, it says that this proof is “rabbit-out-of-a-hat”. What does this mean? Is it a slang expression? The exact sentence is: A little unfortunately, the proof of that is rather too rabbit-out-of-a-hat for my liking. | Referring to proof steps as “rabbit-out-of-a-hat” or as like pulling a rabbit out of a hat is not slang, but rather a popular metaphor in mathematical writing (1,2,stackexchange-url ("3"),4,5,6). Generally, it refers to use of unmotivated, non-intuitive, “out of left field”, “out of the blue”, or “off the wall” techniq... | What does the expression “rabbit-out-of-a-hat” mean? | english |
From the given paragraph: I frequently forget to lock the main door. But, I know I double-checked if the door was locked today. (more texts...) I realized I became very anxious about my _ __ _ about the locks on the main door. Do we have one word to fill in the blank of the above? | Verification would work here, but personally I'd rewrite the second sentence. I became very anxious about my verification of the locks on the main door. This is technically correct but seems awkward somehow. Consider: I became very anxious about whether the main door was locked. Or: I became very anxious about whether ... | One-word alternative for "double-check"? | english |
"Aswaddumization" is a derived word from Sinhalese language(Sri Lankan native language ) and gone to English (as I heard), the meaning of "Aswaddumization" is cultivation of land. However I cannot see this is used practically ,please let me know if this is used in English language as accepted word. I did search in gool... | As far as I can tell, the word is only used in Sri Lanka and is not common to other varieties of English. There is no entry in the Oxford English Dictionary . However, English is a constantly evolving language and words are frequently assimilated from other languages when needed. If you wish to use it, then I would rec... | Are we using "Aswaddumization" word? | english |
Conjunctions are usually defined as words that join words, clauses or sentences together. Prepositions are defined as expressing relations between parts of a sentence. However, by expressing relations prepositions also join parts. On the other hand, most conjunctions do in fact also express a relation. The only one tha... | The way young children are introduced to prepositions (including multi-word examples) is by being shown pictures illustrating static spatial (locative) relationships ('the box is beside / under / in front of / next to / on top of / on the left of / near (to) ... the table). This is a semantic treatment. Directional rel... | Difference between conjunctions and prepositions | english |
Can one speak of the sequence (order) between two things, or should it be the sequence of A and B? | It should be the sequence of . Sequence refers to a group of items and the order in which they are found. See, for example, the following Ngram : | Which preposition follows the word "sequence" said of the relation between things? | english |
To Australians like me "thong" means a kind of sandal such as recently repopularized by the Havaianas brand but we know it means a kind of G-string in other English-speaking parts of the world. To most English-speaking people in the 21st century it seems "flip flop" (or "flip-flop") is the term for the sandal-like foot... | I grew up in New York (born in Nov 1968) and when I was a child they were called "thongs". In the very late 70s my family moved to Seattle and there they were also called "Thongs". I only became aware of the term "flip-flops" in the late 80s and found it humorous that a g-string would be called a "thong". (I can still ... | When did the term "flip flop" displace the term "thong" in North America for a type of sandal? | english |
Which of the following should I use: I'm writing to you regarding the advertised position of a researcher in the ... department I'm writing to you regarding the advertised position for a researcher in the ... department I'm also interested in which of the following is more appropriate in letter writing to Europeans: ..... | Saying "of a researcher" sounds to me that the position is being offered by a researcher (e.g. for a secretary to the researcher). When you say "for a researcher" then it's clear that it is a research position. I think the whole thing would sound stronger if you just said "Regarding the advertised research position in ... | ... regarding the advertised position of a researcher in the ... department | english |
Big disclaimer: when I was proofreading my question it sounds like I am doing a crossword puzzle. So I added some extra information to avoid confusion. I am making an Excel sheet that assists in Risk Assessment (this particular approach of Risk Assessment is based on the RA by Bosch Rexroth as described in the book 10 ... | W is commonly used for probability in physics. It comes, as speculated earlier, from the German language because of the high number of German physicists. For example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boltzmann%27s_entropy_formula "The value of W was originally intended to be proportional to the Wahrscheinlichkeit (the Germ... | Meaning of W in SFPW, or a synonym that starts with a W | english |
As a French native speaker who has to write a professional report in English, a question regarding the use of the comma crossed my mind. Here is an example of the type of sentence that might trouble me : The nature of the traffic demands, which are represented by a finite number of stations on the Earth's surface, is t... | The main reason to leave off/on commas in this kind of sentence is to make clear whether the "which" clause is a specifier or not. When I say The horse, which won the last race, still seems winded. I am simply supplying additional information about the horse. On the other hand, The horse which won the last race still s... | The use of comma in written English | english |
At least two or more Is the “or more” bit above ever not redundant? Seems absolutely redundant to me, but it gets about 170 million Google hits, and many from government sites and university sites. | I suppose it’s conceivable that there should be a situation in which I might want to indicate a requirement of “at least two or more” of something (for example, “Elements of this kind must be defined as requiring at least two or more attributes”), but I’m really stretching credibility here. I’m inclined to suggest that... | At least two or more: Not always redundant? | english |
I recently read "The Cask of Amontillado" for pleasure, and I found this passage: He had a weak point –this Fortunato –although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the most part their enthusiasm ... | Good catch - it shows careful reading. But consider that the story was published in 1846 (and probably written the year before). Today we might use either the semicolon or the em-dash (but not both). Typically, the part after a semicolon is a complete sentence - one that is closely related to the first part (also usual... | Semicolon followed by an em-dash | english |
I understand that often the opposite of the 'for-' prefix is 'back-', ie. "forwards" and "backwards," "foreground" and "background." But what is the opposite of 'foreshadowing,' 'forgiven' or 'forthright?' 'Backshadowing?' 'Backgiven?' 'Backright?' Does 'for-' have different anit-prefixes for different situations? | The "fore" in "foreshadowing" is a different prefix, etymologically speaking, from the "for" in "forgiven," and both are different from the "forth" in "forthright." Because they are etymologically distinct, each will have its own "opposite" prefix. "Fore," as in "foresight" and "foreplay," means "prior," so some of its... | Opposite of 'for-' prefix | english |
I have recently heard in a Tv show that some guy said: He is stable-ish for now! What does this term mean exactly? couldn't find anything, what's the occasion to use? can we use the -ish suffix for any adjective? | -ish 1) A suffix that makes any word or phrase more vague. 2) It can be used with any word and it's applied at the end to make the word into meaning "kind of". For eg. me = "how are you feeling today?" you = "i am feeling okay-ish" More 3) A suffix used to guesstimate a number or time. When referring to time "-ish" mea... | What does "Stable-ish" mean exactly? | english |
The free dictionary gives this definition for rip on : give someone a hard time; to hassle someone and this one for pick on : to harass or bother someone or something, usually unfairly It sounds pretty much the same to me, but maybe there's a slight difference I don't catch? | Picking on someone implies merely bullying -- unfairly making fun of or harrassing someone because of something they can't help, such as their physical appearance or mannerisms. An example would be a short person being harrassed because of their physical size, or a person with a mole on their face being harrassed or ma... | Difference between "rip on someone" and "pick on someone"? | english |
I have a problem choosing the right combination of words for naming a variable in my program. I have to choose among the following values: job history work history Which is correct? This variable describes the companies in which a person has worked and his work history. | Perhaps you should consider employment history ? | Job or work history. How correct? | english |
Is there any specific English word to refer to the bad smell coming from socks, especially ones that have been unwashed for some time? | My answer will probably be down-voted, but here goes anyway. The problem of sweaty feet is called plantar hyperhydrosis . The phenomenon is, strictly speaking, the problem of having overly sweaty feet. Sweat, or perspiration, does not have an immediate olfactory property (at least not that I'm aware of), but it does em... | Is there a word for the bad smell coming from socks? | english |
Which statement is correct? The complexity of these systems makes them difficult to simulate on computers. The complexity of these systems makes it difficult to simulate them on computers. | I would use 2, although 1 is not completely off if you change it to The complexity of these systems makes them difficult to be simulated on computers. | "Makes them difficult to simulate" vs "makes it difficult to simulate them" | english |
If a quote is preceded by "consider" or "think about", what punctuation is needed? I have some sentences like this: Consider "What will you do next year?" Think about "What are your plans for the holiday?" The sentences ask the readers to think about an answer to these questions themselves. What is the proper way to pu... | Quotes, in this context, are used to identify speech. If we are discussing what someone said, quotes are used when the enclose words are an exact rendering of what was said, but are not use when only the sense of what someone said is conveyed. Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty or give me death!" Patrick Henry said t... | When asking readers to consider a question, what punctuation is needed? | english |
I’ve always understood the phrase Who stars opposite [x] in [film]? to mean: Who is the deuteragonist in [film]? specifically where the deuteragonist is on the same side as the protagonist. Can it also mean this: Who is the antagonist in [film]? | Yes, it can mean both starring as an opposing villian or as another star but on the side of the protagonist. It’s an expression that basically means the “who” is a major star in the film, with a key role connected to the “opposite” star. Doing a quick lookup of the term deuteragonist , such a role can be filled by the ... | Clarification on “Who stars opposite X in some film?” | english |
Cut corners is defined as to do something in the easiest, cheapest or quickest way, often by ignoring rules or leaving something out especially at the expense of high standards. What is the origin of this idiom? | 1869: OED The OED has: to cut a corner or corners : to pass round a corner or corners as closely as possible; fig., to pursue an economical or easy but hazardous course of action; to act in an unorthodox manner to save time; also, to act illegally. Their first quotation is 1869 (see stackexchange-url ("ghoppe's answer"... | What's the origin of the idiom "cut corners"? | english |
Would you differentiate which are relatives and which are interrogatives? (And I want to know the sub-category (sub-name) of each below, if they are.) (1) “You can keep it,” said Harry, laughing at how pleased Ron was. (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) (2) Disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, he had tried to g... | A very good question. Basically, the more chunks you cut away from a clause, the less likely you are to be able to tell it from a different kind of clause that's been sliced up just as much. There are two kinds of embedded Wh -clauses. Haj Ross calls them Conjunctive and Disjunctive Wh -clauses . The difference is esse... | fused relatives versus interrogatives | english |
There is a word (I think in ends in -ize ) that means “to make seem like an an evil thing or force.” For instance: The author __ the axe to foreshadow its usage in the coming tragedy. What is the word? NOTE: I don't think it's "antagonize" since that usually means "to make hostile". | There's always demonize (American) To turn into a demon. (American) To describe or represent as evil or diabolic. Another good choice might be vilify . While it doesn't exactly mention it in the definition, I commonly hear it used to describe exactly what you're looking for. to lower in estimation or importance to utte... | Word that means "to make look like a bad thing/force" | english |
How does one combine possession and appositive comma usage in one sentence? | Why would you use the possessive for friend ? In the first case, the subject is Tom which is modified by friend . You would therefore write My friend Tom's object. This sentence: My friend's, Tom's object. makes no sense, especially with that extra comma, but if you were to try and parse it, the meaning would be: My fr... | "My friend's, Tom's, object" vs. "My friend, Tom's, object" | english |
When writing a sequence of actions that happen after each other I get regularly confused about the correct use of the present participle. For example in: A: I prefer learning by gaining an overview first and then deepen the understanding of the details. B: I prefer learning by gaining an overview first and then deepeni... | In general(*), if the complement of a verb/preposition is an -ing form, then when coordinating that verb, native speakers will coordinate it with another -ing form. So (A) and (B) have different interpretations: (A) I [prefer...] and then [deepen...] (B) I prefer [ [learning...] and then [deepending...] ] In other word... | What is the correct use of present participle and "by" in a sequence of actions? | english |
As described stackexchange-url ("here"), in technical domains agnostic can be used to describe a state of affairs where one thing doesn't care about the specifics of another thing it's related to. For instance, in software engineering, one might speaking of a "platform-agnostic" solution. This suggests that the solutio... | A term synonymous with platform-agnostic is platform-neutral . Perhaps the word you're thinking of is neutral . | Another word for agnostic when used to suggest independence through a lack of concern | english |
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