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I am comparing two S and F datasets against another one B at global scale. Is it right to say: S was closer to B in most of the world than F. or S was closer to B over most of the world than F. | I'd try to keep the world part separate. Either before the comparison, or after it, and possibly using the phrase "on a worldly scale". Otherwise I would go with "in": <code> In most of the world, S was closer to B than F. </code> | "in most of the world" or "over most of the world"? | english |
I remember that the most famous/noteworthy works of literary merit are termed the canon,but is there a particular word or phrase that means the most famous/noteworthy works of a particular author? Could I use "canon" here too? | An author's or artist's important work that shows her potential and reflects later development is often referred to as a seminal work containing or contributing the seeds of later development : creative, original a seminal book SUPPLEMENT An artist's most significant work is often referred to as a chef d'oeuvre a maste... | Word or phrase referring to an author's most famous/noteworthy works | english |
I'm looking for a noun that would equate to primariness, but which isn't so clumsy. Something like 'primarity', though it doesn't exist. "Thing has the quality of …" | I think the word you're looking for is primacy the fact of being pre-eminent or most important Oxford Dictionaries The state of being first or foremost TFD the state of being first (as in importance, order, or rank) MW | Noun form of primary | english |
In response to the death of Elmore Leonard the New York Times has posted a list of writing tips he composed back in 2001. Among them is the following: To use an adverb this way (or almost any way) is a mortal sin. This is not the first time I have read of professional writers discouraging the use of adverbs. While tech... | A Grammar Girl post, How to Eliminate Adverbs , notes: Adverbs find themselves much maligned because they're often redundant or awkwardly placed. In the next sentence, it notes that writer Stephen King likens adverbs "to dandelions. When one unwanted weed sprouts up, more follow." Rather than substitute, the Grammar Gi... | Why do many professional writers hate adverbs, and what should be used in their place? | english |
Is there any difference between the two? Which one is more common? Which of the two words is more appropriate if the "piece of furniture" is big, comfortable and expensive? | They are effectively interchangeable in the US. A Google ngram of the terms shows that in the US, couch was slightly more common until the middle of the 19th century, and the usage has been almost equal since then, with a very slight favoring of couch . The ngram for British usage shows a similar pattern with equal usa... | What is the difference between "Sofa" and "Couch"? | english |
In the sentence "We sell you clothes for value." , what does "for value" mean? Is the above sentence even grammatically valid? | I assume that the sentence means: "We sell you clothes at cost", i.e. that they sell without taking a profit. In my experience, the formulation is not commonly used in the US. | What does "sell x for value" mean? | english |
I'm writing a thesis on web information extraction. I use the term information a lot in my thesis, but I'm not sure I should treat it as a plural term or singular term. The following are some cases where I have doubt. How are faculty member information presented in web pages? Information extracted from multiple sources... | I see information as an uncountable noun, like water or sand. If you add information to information, you get more information, not two informations. So in the sentences you have used, it reads better if you treat information as singular:- <code> How *is* faculty member information presented in web pages? Information ex... | Should we treat "information" as a plural term in the following context? | english |
I need your help in merging these two sentences in one and short. <code> For the evaluation, three statistical criteria were used: correlation coefficient (R), root mean squared difference (RMSD), and bias. Global R, RMSD, and bias maps were averaged taking into account contrasted biomes and vegetation (via the Leaf Ar... | You can use a semicolon to join the sentences together. A replacement of the full stop (period) with a semicolon should be sufficient. If you wish to edit the sentence down too, I suggest: Three statistical criteria were used for the evaluation, the correlation coefficient (R), the root-mean-squared difference (RMSD) a... | How to merge two sentences? | english |
Can I apply the adjective displaced to an object, when I mean it is being used out of its typical environment? For instance: "the displaced ball floats around". (Assuming we're talking about a ball used in a football match played on the moon. Typical usage would be on earth, with gravity.) | The way you are trying to used displaced seems to come closest to this definition to move from the usual or correct location In your case, the past participle is being used as an adjective; displaced is also considered an adjective on its own by many. However, diplaced is not usually used to mean in a setting other tha... | Adjective "displaced" applied to an object | english |
I am looking for a professional term, used to describe a situation in which a person imagines that they are someone else. E.g., someone playing a first-person game will imagine that they are within the game, and "super-impose" their personality onto that character. Or, a child might imagine they are a superhero from th... | This can be described as role-projection . I.e. "imagining oneself in the role of another". This usage isn't common, but it exists in the psychology literature. E.g.: Hirschman (1983) and others (d'Astous & Deshenes 2005) posit that certain traits can influence participation in fantasy-related consumption behaviour... | What term means "to imagine one is someone else"? | english |
The prefix sub appears in many words, such as subway and substantial . For subway , I take it as the way that is completely different from the way that I get used to. Moreover it is not the main way. Other words with sub , like subcategories and subscript, they all seem that sub makes the concept inferior. But substant... | Sub in subway means beneath. A subway is originally and still in most places underground, which is a synonym for the subway in British English Sub in substantial is not really a prefix substantial mid-14c., "ample, sizeable," from Old French substantiel (13c.), from Latin substantialis "having substance or reality, mat... | The prefix *sub* | english |
What do you call these cars used by disabled people, they are everywhere and I've seen them again today and was wondering what they are called; these cars they are very small for a person to sit on used by the disabled for traveling on the sidewalk instead of walking? | In the UK they're called mobility scooters. | What do you call these cars ridden by disabled people? | english |
I am told that these three sentences imply the same meaning and I can put them together: any idea pleas! <code> Still, domy and duny products have not been evaluated to date with respect to the most recent products(smhs) at a global scale. That motivates us to do global inter- comparison between domy and duny products ... | While domy and duny products were evaluated against smhs products in 1989-2000, a global evaluation (or study) needs to be carried out against the more recent smhs products . | How to paraphrase this sentence? | english |
I'm after a word to use as a heading for a list of questions which need consideration. This list of questions is adhoc and will not be repeated - they are specific to a single document which, once it's served it's purpose, will never be reused. "Considerations" means something different, I keep coming back to phrases a... | Agenda means a list of things that need to be acted upon. | Word which describes a thing which is to be considered | english |
“He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to share… not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He left Quirrell to die; he shows just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies.” (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) I’ve been told three ways seeing as : (1) After ‘as’, ‘ he shows to ’ ... | All three of your suggestions are equally valid. The full version would be as followed with he shows ... to included twice (repeated words are shown in italics : he shows just as little mercy to his followers as he shows to his enemies. But you can omit just he shows , with to being repeated: he shows just as little me... | After this "as", are there any words omitted? | english |
I know there are plenty of words that use the -st ending: wouldst, whilst, unbeknownst, etc. but I'm not really sure what it means to add an -st suffix to a word. What does it mean to add the suffix? How can I tell what words can take the -st suffix? Are there any modern words that can take the suffix and not have peop... | Long long ago in a galaxy far far away...uh, well, not really. English used to have a more complex grammar than it does presently. It is a Germanic tongue and so retains a touch of German in old, not so much used, forms. The -st you refer to are from the old second person singular. Wouldst: Wouldst = Wouldest thou - wo... | What does the -st word ending mean and is it used in any modern vocabulary? | english |
Can "chalkboard" and "blackboard" be used interchangeably? If I have a green chalkboard, can I still call it a blackboard, or would that be incorrect? Also, I have heard that "blackboard" is used more than "chalkboard" in certain areas, and am not sure about how true this is. | A blackboard is:- a sheet of smooth, hard material, especially dark slate, used in schools, lecture rooms, etc., for writing or drawing on with chalk. whereas a chalkboard is:- A smooth hard panel, usually green or black, for writing on with chalk; a blackboard. A greenboard is:- a green chalkboard or blackboard. Note ... | Chalkboard and Blackboard Difference? | english |
I have been reading "The Lord of the Rings" and came across this phrase in the "The Return of the King". “ Where will wants not, a way opens , so we say,” he whispered. “and so I have found myself.” Merry looked up and saw that it was the young Rider whom he had noticed in the morning. “You wish to go whither the Lord ... | You can paraphrase the proverb as: Where there does not lack will, a way opens. or: Where there is no lack of will, a way opens. Both want and not call for a little explanation. want The verb want can mean “lack or be short of something desirable or essential”. ¹ This is an archaic sense of want , and Tolkien was a lan... | Meaning of "Where will wants not, a way opens" | english |
Suppose take this sentence: The door is opened I am not very sure that it is in passive voice. But I think so. I am struggling converting it into active voice.(If it is already in active voice, how to convert it into passive voice) Please help me. | To be in the active voice, the sentence needs a definite subject. That is, you need to say who opens the door. If you don't know who does it, you could use: Somebody opens the door. Sentences like "the door is opened" can be parsed in two ways: as passive voice present tense, or with "opened" being an adjective and "is... | How to change a passive sentence having transitive verb to active voice? | english |
what is the difference between this two sentences " would you like to be a farmer ?" and "Do you like to be a farmer?" I know would is about specific time but there is no time in the sentence | ‘Would you like to be a farmer?’ asks a hypothetical question. The person being questioned is not a farmer, but the speaker wants to know if it is an occupation that appeals to the person addressed. 'Do you like to be a farmer?’ is ungrammatical. In such a question what is required is not the infinitive ‘to be’, but th... | the use of would in the sentence | english |
I’m often startled with, and at the same time enjoy finding unordinary expressions and quotes in Maureen Dowd’s column in New York Times. But I batted my eyes when I saw the actress, Susan Sarandon’s line, “You can’t just vote your vagina,” Dowd quoted in her August 20 NYT article under the title, “Bill’s turns at bat.... | During elections, it's hard to find an ideal candidate. For example, you might like someone's stance on tax reform, but shudder at their views on climate change. Put together a string of hot-button issues – in today's U.S. political climate, that would also include matters such as same-sex marriage, abortion rights, af... | What does Susan Sarandon’s remark, “you can’t just vote your vagina” in distancing from Christine Quinn mean? | english |
Can you please tell me which one of these sentences is correct, and why? Thanks! Lastly, my experience as a teaching assistant helped me throughout the course as I shared what I did to make my students succeed in the courses that I helped teach . versus Lastly, my experience as a teaching assistant helped me throughout... | Only the first is grammatical. The reason might be easier to understand if you substitute another verb for ‘helped’. If the sentence had been ‘. . . what I did to make my students succeed in the courses that I wanted to teach ’, then it’s clear that the finite verb ‘wanted’ is followed by the infinitive ‘to teach’. The... | Double Past Tense? | english |
When I looked up the word hail in Longman Online Dictionary and Oxford Advanced Dictionary Online , I saw it has been marked as transitive verb . I also noticed by someone's note that a verb followed by a preposition is not be categorized as transitive verb. For example in: I came to his home => come is still intransit... | The function of ‘as’ in your example might be better understood in the active construction ‘They hailed the conference as a great success.’ ‘They’ is the subject, ‘hailed’ is the verb and ‘the conference’ is the object. ‘As a great success’ is an object predicative; that is, in the words of the ‘Longman Student Grammar... | Transitive verb with 'as' | english |
Is there a word for someone who really has their act together? Someone who has their time well-managed, is focused, works out, has ambitions, eats right. Not necessarily success , but there's a kind of trait that leads to it, that I can't quite put my finger on. There's strong overlap with people who are competitive or... | There is a concept in psychology called self-actualization . It was described by Abraham Maslow as "the desire for self-fulfillment, namely the tendency for him [the individual] to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become ev... | Is there a word for someone who really has their act together | english |
I find it strange that one has to use the pronoun it in sentences like I find it very difficult to do this. I would like to know the grammatical reason (if there is one) for this, if it has name, and how bad it is if you omit it. | Find in this meaning is transitive. It needs an object, plain and simple. You cannot just find difficult. You can only find something/someone difficult. In the particular case of find it is actually quite logical that it would need an object. But generally speaking, there is no why. Some verbs are transitive and others... | Why is there an 'it' in "I find it very difficult to do this"? | english |
I wonder why tag questions have a tag that is not the other possibility of the sentence that precedes the tag. For instance: 1) "This tag question is an example, or is it?" Shouldn't it be: 2) "This tag question is an example, or isn't it? The negative sentence: 3) "This tag question is not an example, or is it?" (2) a... | I think there's something slightly unusual about tag questions prefaced by or ... 1: "It won't be soon, or will it?” 2: "I'll be back later. Or will I?" she asked, looking at him. In #1 the tag presents the opposite possibility (perhaps it will be soon), which makes sense since after or we naturally expect something di... | Tag questions with or - shouldn't they be the opposite in the tag | english |
I had to deal with typographically printed sheets with some generic text and fields to fill in information by hand (dates, signatures etc.) or through printing (if you are lucky to hit the fields). Each sheet has a watermark, its own serial number, and is unique. Literally translated from Russian they are called "forms... | I am unaware of a special English term corresponding to that description. We would call such a thing simply a "form" or a "fill-in form". If it had some special bureaucratic significance it could be an "official form" or a "standard form". | Forms of strict reporting — what do Americans call them? | english |
I wrote the following line in my thesis acknowledgment, while talking about my supervisor who carefully edited my thesis. If this thesis reads uncluttered and effective, it would be for his elaborate, meticulous feedback. I am not sure if this sentence is grammatically right (reads - would). Also does it make a claim t... | How about this? If the reader finds this thesis uncluttered, if this writing has been at all effective, it is because of the elaborate and meticulous feedback of my supervisor. Here you give the reader the opportunity to come to their own conclusion while clearly pointing to the help you were given. This version may co... | Can anyone edit this sentence for me? | english |
Is it true to say we are new to social media (in order to say that we are not familiar with social media) thanks | I've been aware of Sudoku puzzles for many years now, but up until last week, literally, I had never actually picked up a Sudoku puzzle book to see what the big deal was all about. I have not yet attempted to work a Sudoku, though now I know how to do so. So, although I have been familiar with the existence of Sudoku f... | to be unfamiliar with something how to express it while writing an academic essay | english |
When I am referring to a number of job applicants, I might say, "I've got a hundred qualified applicants in this folder"; when what I mean is, "I've got RESUMES from a hundred qualified applicants in this folder". Although most English speakers would understand what I meant, it is not proper English. Is there a name fo... | " A hundred qualified applicants in this folder " is perfectly grammatical, and a reasonable turn of phrase; it is an example of metonymy:- a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is called not by its own name but rather by the name of something associated with that thing or concept | "Hundreds of applicants" vs "hundreds of resumes" | english |
I would like to know what is the meaning of the term store-testing as seen in the commercial ad below. Is there a verb "to store-test"? What does it mean? It seems merriam-webster does not have this word "store-test" | It quite simply means testing the flavour of the coffee in the store before buying it, so as to avoid coming home with a coffee that looks good, but really tastes bad. It’s not (as far as I know) a set phrase, but a more generic equivalent of trying on clothes in the store before buying them. | What is the meaning of "store-testing"? | english |
Looking for some powerful, formal words with a slight negative connotation for a resume/performance assessment. The general context pertains to computer software development. These aren't my problem areas, they are areas that were problems in someone else's work that I have identified (thus saving the day). Here's the ... | Regularly conducted memory audits to identify opportunities for improvement. Regularly conducted memory audits to identify issues that needed to be addressed. | What's another way to say "problem area"? | english |
How do you describe the state of a now-flat sheet of paper that has previously been crumpled? Should I just use crumpled as in, "The paper is crumpled" (even though it's not in a crumpled ball shape: it's flat with lines on it that have formed from it's being crumpled previously)? | I think you are looking for wrinkled : wrin·kle , noun 1. a small furrow or crease in the skin, especially of the face, as from aging or frowning. 2. a temporary slight ridge or furrow on a surface, due to contraction, folding, crushing, or the like. The second meaning above describes uncrumpled paper perfectly: I flat... | How to describe a previously crumpled but now 'flat' sheet of paper that has been crumpled before? | english |
What are the practical differences between these nouns? Fort Fortress Fortification Stronghold Citadel Castle Palace Context In Norway we have a lot of old stone buildings, typically built for war in the 1600s. Most of the their names are translated to English using fortress , but, sometimes, one of the other nouns are... | This is one of the cases where English has a bunch of words that mean very nearly the same thing because of its many overlaid mass borrowings from its neighbors, and in this case also because of the rich and ancient tradition of warfare in Europe. If you pick the wrong word, native speakers will still understand, but t... | Differences between "fortification nouns" | english |
In the years since transgression I have sought no absolution, only bare forgiveness. In good faith I have removed myself from all temptation, sacrificed to prove my commitment however I can imagine. I cannot understand the last part " sacrificed to prove my commitment however I can imagine ", so could you explain this ... | Replace "however" with "in any way" (whichever way), that should make more sense now, right? | I don't understand the word "however" in this context | english |
My wife bought a puppet from a roadside salesman. She noticed a policeman taking away the money from the salesman forcefully. Is there an appropriate word for the policeman's behaviour? Bribe is not the word because the salesman was not trying to bribe here. Words like rob, steal, loot come to my mind. But I want to kn... | The appropriate word to use in this context (abuse of authority) is extortion . Strictly applied confiscate refers specifically to appropriation for the public treasury ( fisc ). | Word for a police man getting money from someone forcefully | english |
I found this phrase "Please leave the tomatoes at home" in an email. On searching online I found it used in several places which are related to inviting people for an event. What exactly does this phrase mean? I am guessing it's meaning to be like "come without any things which can be a distraction for the event happen... | Jim's comment is accurate. it means "come with good mood" - bringing tomatoes with you to an event means you expect the event to "suck" and intend to punish the event organizer/performer by throwing tomatoes on them. | "Please leave the tomatoes at home" - meaning | english |
What is the origin of the idiom get bent out of shape ? This is the definition of the idiom from Wiktionary : (idiomatic) To take offense; to become angry, agitated or upset. They stopped inviting him to the gatherings, and he really got bent out of shape about it. | The OED lists the phrase bent out of shape with two meanings, both usually used passively. The meaning "to annoy, upset; to disconcert" was later: 1955 Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune 5 Nov. 4/1 There were plenty of fans bent out of shape trying to dodge the rain drops and brisk breeze blowing across the stadium as they... | What's the origin of the idiom "get bent out of shape"? | english |
What would you call the following: Speak now or forever hold your piece. | The word is eggcorn a word or phrase that results from a mishearing or misinterpretation of another, an element of the original being substituted for one which sounds very similar. We even have an eggcorn tag. | Is there a term/word for using an incorrect homophone | english |
I was reading an online book and there was the expression "useless like tits on a log". I googled to find more about this expression and I found a similar one: "useless like tits on a bull". Which one of them is more recognizable in everyday English? Why haven't I been able to find references about the first one? Edit:... | There is also a "tit bull," (East Texas), referring to a calf that was never weaned or steered and is still living off mama as an adult. | "Useless like tits on a log" vs. "tits on a bull" vs. "tits on a turtle" and so forth | english |
What would be the plural form of the word "Demiurge", (the Creator~). One Demiurge. Many Demiurges? | The dictionaries I've checked don't give a plural form, which means that they think the plural is formed regularly, i.e., demiurges . However, all three possible plurals, the English plural demiurges , the Latin plural demiurgi , and the Greek plural demiurgoi , seem to have been used in English. If for some reason you... | What is the plural form of the word "Demiurge" | english |
Is it correct to say Tsunami coupling in the code 'helps determine' human casualty i.e., is use of multiple verbs consecutively correct? Also, is it 'help determine' or 'helps determine'? | The two verbs reference different things: helps relates to 'Tsunami coupling' here, while determine relates to an abstract "one"; moreover, there's a to elided in the sentence as well. Read it as: Tsunami coupling in the code helps ( one ) ( to ) determine human casuality. The verbs there are not actually adjacent. Eve... | Two verbs used consecutively | english |
I found several way to write the same thing, but it may be that only one is really correct, can you help me to find the correct sentence. I want to specify the type of a parameter for a function (a C programming API). What is the correct version ? 1,2,3 or 4 ? And for <code> bit </code> should I use <code> s </code> as... | All are correct, if only because the way that the adjectives work in this context is quite unusual. The general adjective order in English is; Quantity or number, Quality or opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Proper adjective (nationality, place of origin, material), Purpose or qualifier. Now, "64-bit" could be consider... | unsigned 64bit integer vs. 64-bit unsigned integer? | english |
If I say "It was happening in the foreground." or "It was happening in the background." "Foreground" and "background" are examples of locations in some kind of metaphorical space, regardless of what they are foreground or background of. Is there a good word for these sort of "locations" in the abstract, without regard ... | I think of foreground and background as planes . | What is a word that describes the class that "background" and "foreground" are members of? | english |
I'm writing an essay about Don DiLillo's novel White Noise , and would like to explore Murray Jay Siskand's fascination with death. The particular word I'm looking for means "death-centric", to fit in the topic sentence "Furthermore, the consumerist society that envelops Siskind results in his <code> <word goes here... | The combining form thanat- (or thanato- ), meaning death , with the combining form -centric , gives you thanatocentric -- literally, centered on death . | What word means centered about death? | english |
Is there a word which describes intentionally misusing or abusing diacritics, in contexts where they are neither needed nor appropriate, for purely stylistic reasons. For example: I submittéd my résumé to thé récruitér Or perhaps the best example, the metal umlaut : <code> Spın̈al Tap </code> Or in the most extreme cas... | I'd call it I'd call it diaerrhea . Or, if you want a less scatological alternative, diaerrata . If orthography is "the art of writing words with the proper letters according to standard usage," including the correct diacritical marks, then its commonly accepted antonym, cacography , would cover the kind of typographic... | Term for misused diacritics | english |
As far as I know, this expression means to appear suddenly and in a scary way. But what is its origin? I heard that it comes from Meat Loaf's song but I'd like to confirm it with reliable sources, if possible. | The OED has this phrase meaning to "(to go) very quickly" from 1921: 1921 J. Dos Passos Three Soldiers (1922) ii. ii. 67 We went like a bat out of hell along a good state road. However, I found some antedatings. First, from August 17, 1895 in the Evening Star (Washington DC, Page 15, Image 15), in an article titled "CO... | What is the origin of "like a bat out of hell"? | english |
Context: I was so happy I felt tears starting in my eyes, and then she up and hugged me. I think she could tell. | Tell is frequently used with the meaning of realize or understand , so the sentence you quote can be read as "As I was close to tears, and she realized it, she came near me and hugged me" | Meaning of the phrase "I could tell" | english |
In English there are some words which just refer to men, like Sir, or just refer to women, like Madam. Does flight attendant refer to women, men or both? | It refers to both. Steward and stewardess are gendered and were historically more commonly used, especially in the period when the job was much more strongly associated with one sex or the other (at first a strictly male-only job, then later a strongly female-dominated job, before returning some way toward being more b... | Does 'flight attendant' refer to men, woman or both? | english |
In his song Where to Now, St. Peter , Sir Elton John sings: I took myself a blue canoe, And I floated like a leaf Dazzling, dancing half enchanted In my Merlin sleep. Crazy was the feeling Restless were my eyes Insane they took the paddles My arms they paralysed. (Lyric written by Bernie Taupin. Available on the album ... | I think your friend's interpretation of 'blue canoe' (ACW Confederate soldiers' slang for bullet) may be correct, although I've not been able to find any confirmation of that. However, I don't think that 'I took myself..." means 'I shot myself', rather it's the sense of 'I took a bullet' (i.e. was shot). For the rhythm... | The meaning of "blue canoe" in the lyrics of "Where to Now, St. Peter" sung by Elton John | english |
It is my first question on any stackoverflow site, so sorry if I have not researched the current available questions and answers enough (I tried), but I have thoroughly searched both the internet and the english stackoverflow site as well as I could (I was not sure as to what tag I should have searched to get the corre... | One's It's the one exception to the pronouns in not having a separate apostrophe-free genitive though historically there were others ( it's and who's are now incorrect where one would use its or whose , but once upon a time this wasn't the case). It can help one remember this, to consider that ones exists as the plural... | One's or ones possesive noun or not? | english |
Therefore, this study evaluated DOM products, as a contribution to the validation of the DOM products, by comparing them with products derived, by implementing the Land Model algorithm, from the observations of FGOMY. | Without an understanding of the relation between the algorithm implementation and the observations,any suggestion would not be of much value. Having said that, here is an attempt to make your sentence more compact and crisp. "As a validation exercise, a comparative study of DOM products and products derived from the La... | How to shorten this sentence? | english |
Japanese use a plenty of onomatopoeia in expressing the degree and level of joyfulness / funniness when laughing and sorrow when crying, and they always come in refrains of onomatopoeia. For examples: We laugh,’ Wat, ha, ha,” or “Kyatkya, kya” when laugh loud. We laugh “Geta geta” or "Kero kero" when we laugh rusticall... | I enjoyed your question. The answer is yes, we use onomatopoeia to indicate degrees of laughter and crying. The list that users have supplied so far (with a couple of additions from me): Degrees of regular laughter yuk yuk - head-tossing or belly-holding (after a really funny joke, for example) ho ho - jovial and deep ... | Are there any practices to use onomatopoeia in English for describing the degree of joyfulness / funniness by laughter and sorrow by crying? | english |
The word was seen used in the context of a person recommending a book. A critic responded, claiming the author had no real expertise, and that the content of the book should be taken with "a grain of salt". The implication is that by writing the book, the author is an expert on the subject matter. The critic's stance w... | I've found the word from the original conversation. The word is dilettante : A person who claims an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge. | Word that describes a person who may be incorrectly assumed an expert? | english |
For instance, I would normally write the following sentence: Many were the dangers arrayed against me, but I had no fear. Is it grammatically incorrect to write instead: Many were the dangers arrayed against me, and I had no fear. I noticed this whilst speaking with a co-worker, and found he extremely rarely used the c... | The conjunction but means the same thing as the conjunction and , in most cases. They both contrast with the disjunction or . There are plenty of idioms that use but , like but for that , nothing but the best , But why? , and the like, but in normal use the logic is the same. The difference between and and but is that ... | Is there an instance where 'and' could not replace 'but'? | english |
The definition from Google is Refuse to admit the truth or existence of (something) Refuse to give (something requested or desired) to (someone) Now my interest is on the first meaning. If I say, "Judas denied knowing Jesus" and look at the first meaning, doesn't it imply that the truth is Judas knows Jesus but refuses... | Logically, deny means <code> SAY NOT </code> ; i.e, if x denies P , then x says that P is false. - <code> DENY </code> ( x, P ) means <code> SAY </code> ( x , ( <code> NOT </code> P )) Deny is transitive and requires an object, at least a pronoun it . The object must be a noun phrase, and the noun phrase may be any kin... | What is the real logical meaning of deny? | english |
Is there a prefix or adjective that means "one and a half", as "tri-" or "triple" is for "three"? The exact usage I have is to describe "18" in terms of a dozen. Where I live they've started making 18-egg cartons, and the local grocer was wondering what name to give them in his computerised cash register, hoping for a ... | Sesqui- . However, it certainly isn't informal, and is also pretty obscure. About the only use of it is sesquicentennial and sesquipedalian which is at a few removes (it literally means 18inches long but it's originally figurative meaning of using long words is the only English meaning). It certainly wouldn't go with d... | Prefix or adjective meaning "one and a half" | english |
What is an alternative, succinct phrase for something that is not prone to errors, i.e. the antonym of error-prone? "Error-free" is too extreme in that it suggests infallibility. | I think you want: Reliable 2: giving the same result on successive trials from m-w.com Reliability : The probability that a product will perform its specified function under prescribed conditions without failure for a specified period of time. from APICS.org dictionary (on-line, 13th ed.) | What is an alternative, succinct phrase for something that is not prone to errors? | english |
In a square, which is the correct term: 'upper-left corner' or 'top-left corner'? To be more specific: in the context "the x-coordinate of the upper-left/top-left corner", which should I use? | I would interpret "top-left corner" and "upper-left corner" as both meaning exactly the same thing, and would use other words to differentiate between nuances. For example: in the top/upper-left corner would imply an area within the square . near the top/upper-left corner would imply an area near the corner, which may ... | 'upper-left corner' or 'top-left corner'? | english |
So in this Garfield strip I found a sentence that's giving me a hard time fully understanding it. Although the meaning seems to be quite clear from the context, I'm not getting the phrases / expressions used. In a response to a question whether he'd like to know where eggs come from, Garfield replies " I would as soon ... | I see nothing whatsoever wrong or difficult about the original sentence: I would as soon that remain a mystery. and I agree completely with OP's rewording as: I would prefer that remain a mystery. I would as soon that remain a mystery. as soon as (suggested in one comment) is wrong, and is a time-related phrase: as soo... | The meaning of "I would as soon that remain a mystery" | english |
I live in the province of Ontario in Canada. The ministry of community and social services here have a type of welfare called Ontario Works , and this provides financial and employment assistance to individuals in need. And I'm wondering, what does Works of Ontario Works mean? I've looked up the term in the dictionarie... | It's the third person singular present of the verb "to work." There's nothing deeper than that; this is a baroque rat's idea of a fun, modern name for the programme. | What does "Works" of Ontario Works mean? | english |
Is there a noun for the act of striving ? Many English verbs use the same word for the infinitive (e.g. to fall ) and for the act of performing that action (e.g. a fall ), but I haven't found whether strive can be used as the act of striving . Is there a synonym that could work? | Consider endeavor [mass noun] earnest, prolonged, and industrious effort: enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavour | Noun for "act of striving" | english |
I am currently writing a thesis. So far, when I put a caption under a figure which was based on a preceding table, I worded the figure's caption to something along: Figure 1.2: Graphical Illustration of Table 1.3 to Display Thing A and Something B . <code> Figure 1.2: </code> is the automatically generated label which ... | My opinion (which I am sure that many people will disagree with) is that many captions on figures and tables are much too short, and that this one is no exception. Say "Graphical Illustration of Table 1.3: ⟨one or two sentences worth of discussion of Thing A and Something B⟩". If you do this, drop the capitalizations i... | How to Reference a Figure Based on a Corresponding Table? | english |
New York Times (August 16) carries an article reporting Sonny’s case of establishing “the boredom Room” to accommodate ‘regular' employees whom they want to get rid of under the title, “Layoffs taboo, Japan workers are sent to the Boredom Room .” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/17/business/global/layoffs-illegal-japan-w... | The New York City Department of Education has a similar institution, reassignment centers , where teachers accused of misconduct are sent while their cases are resolved. Teachers refer to them as the Rubber Room :- Allegedly intended to serve as temporary holding facilities for teachers accused of various kinds of misc... | Is the “the Boredom Room” the best translation of Japanese employment jargon, “Oidashibeya” - the special section or unit to pen unwanted employees? | english |
I am redesigning my website to have fewer categories, but I am running into problems with the "Games" category. I have a few things that are interactive, and fun, but not necessarily games. For example, a fireworks simulator. I am trying to find a word that means "fun interactive stuff," or "games and other amusement."... | Fun on its own works fine for me—I would also categorise music and videos under it, but I would not expect to find music or videos on a website where a menu item is labelled ‘fun’. I would expect to find more or less interactive, amusing things, like games, jokes, cartoon strips, etc. To add to the interactive dimensio... | What is a word or a phrase that means "interactive and amusing stuff?" | english |
In the following conversation: <code> Person A: I don't like Bob Person B: No, he's annoying. Mind you I don't like Barry, either. </code> It is my understanding that the use of the word "either" is appropriate. As, according to Oxford English dictionary, either can be defined as: <code> 2 [adverb, with negative] used ... | Matching your reference is another from here adverb 5. also; too; as well; to the same degree (used after negative clauses coordinated by and, or, or nor, or after negative subordinate clauses): He's not fond of parties, and I'm not either. If you don't come, she won't come either. In this sense, your usage is quite ac... | Correct use of either in a conversation | english |
Often I ask a question (by e-mail), and precede the question with I was wondering if... For example I was wondering if you can give me your office hrs? Why not just simply ask the real question? e.g. "Can you give me your office hours; what are your office hours? My purpose for saying I was wondering before the actual ... | I was wondering ... is an example of what could be termed deferential backshift . Using a past tense makes the request remoter. As Yule, in Explaining English Grammar , states: Remote potential in social terms creates an impression of less imposition and hence greater politeness. Note that in such circumstances it woul... | I was wondering if there are synonyms for "I was wondering" | english |
It's not obvious for me why and when bike developed as short form from bicycle . Could you explain that, please? And is it odd to say mountain bicycle or motor-bicycle ? | This link would seem to be the definitive analysis of this contraction, from bicycle to bike (preview only without subscription): There is, however, a possible explanation from generative phonology which is quite straightforward. Generative phonology postulates underlying segments that differ from their phonetic realiz... | When and why has "bike" developed from "bicycle"? | english |
I know what "short end of the stick" means, but I was wondering about its origin. How can sticks have a short end? If the stick itself is short, aren't both ends short to begin with? And yet the idiom implies that only one end is "short." | After reviewing a good dozen and half possible explanations on the web, the most likely seems to be a reference to carrying loads mounted on rods (sticks), simultaneous with being a variation on the older expressions "wrong end of the staff/stick". When carrying a load, leverage works against the bearer holding the "sh... | "Short End of the Stick" Origin | english |
We often ask this question: “Would you like to do something?”. However, is it grammatically correct to say, “Would something like to do something?” For example: Would IBM like to acquire Apple? | Yes, your example of IBM acquiring Apple is correct. You is just a placeholder and can be replaced by a person's name, organization, place, etc. Here's an example that may help you wrap your head around it. Would he/she/they/it/I/someone/ like to acquire Apple. That said, when you refer to an organization, you are actu... | "Would something like to do something"? | english |
Is there a dedicated expression for a pre-arranged phone call you receive to give you an opportunity to politely get out of a situation (e.g. a dinner date)? | More generally, I'd call it an escape- plan/valve/hatch . | A phone call you ask your friend to make to you in middle of a date | english |
I am not a native English speaker. Whet I get up late in the morning, I get to inform my office that I am late for that particular day. And I am always confused if I should use "I just got up" or "I just woke up". Which one is it? | To wake up is to:- stop sleeping; "She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock" whereas to get up is to:- a. To arise from bed or rise to one's feet. so, for instance, I woke up at about half-past seven this morning, but I didn't get up until quarter to nine, because I am feeling in a bone-idle mood this morning. If yo... | "Get up" vs. "wake up" | english |
I'm sitting on a bench in a park and I see this car sitting in the middle of a side street. Well, it's not actually in the middle of the street, but like right at the spot where you're about to make a right/left turn out onto the main road. It's been sitting there for about half an hour now. It's not an intersection wh... | In British English, the word you're looking for is junction . junction noun 1 a point where two or more things are joined: the junction of the two rivers a place where two or more roads or railway lines meet: the junction of Queen’s Road and Lancaster Avenue [ODO] The car ha... | What is a less wordy way of describing how this car is situated? | english |
The New York Times (August 17) reported that the N.F.L. has decided to cracked down on several players who wear fierce and funky face masks to make them look tougher or cooler under the headline, “Uniform police give face masks a closer look.” The N.F.L. considers the use of such accessorized helmets without a legitima... | Dictionaries sometimes give a specific definition for rest easy (to relax and stop feeling worried) because both it and the virtually identical breathe easy aren't exactly being used literally. You probably weren't really having difficult breathing before something relaxed you and allowed you to "breathe easy". But the... | How does “rest easily” differ from “rest easy”? | english |
Is it proper to say "Texan accent" or "Texas accent" - or does it make any difference? | I've never heard anyone say Texan accent , while Texas accent is pretty common. Ngrams agrees with me. On the other hand, you won't hear anyone say England accent or America accent over English accent or American accent . I am not sure about the reason behind this inconsistency but I suspect that perhaps with non-count... | Is it a "Texas Accent" or a "Texan Accent"? | english |
Empty doesn't seem to have a gradable antonym. If something is not empty and not full , then it is not empty , but is there a single word expression for this? Edit: To make it more evident, I'm looking for something like what warm is on the scale of cold and hot . | Sparse and its antonym dense may serve in some contexts, such as mathematics and computer science. For example, a sparse set is a set that has few members out of a large potential population of members. An empty set has no members, and a dense set has many members. However, I can't recall hearing the term full set in t... | Does empty have a gradable antonym in English? | english |
I was watching the film A Game of Shadows starring Robert Downey Junior and Jude law when this line came up, " ...neither you nor I is in control..." (I can’t remember the exact words that ended the phrase; if anyone can supply them, it would be much appreciated.) It immediately struck me as being odd. When I mentioned... | When subjects are connected with neither/nor , the one closest to the verb controls the agreement. Thus, neither you nor I am . Why? Because lots of English grammar books say so. Sounds awkward? It does. Lots of other English grammar books agree and so does actual usage. As you can see, there's an actual controversy he... | Controversy over verb choice in "neither you nor I {is/am/are} in control" | english |
I saw this sentence in the New Yorker story "Paranoia" by Shirley Jackson : Much as Mr Beresford disliked the subway, he might still have to take the subway to get home in any sort of time. What does it mean? | Quoting again: <code> Much as Mr Beresford disliked the subway, he might still have to take the subway to get home in <i>any sort of time</i>. </code> The phrase any sort of time means to imply in any sort of acceptable or reasonable time. One could say that there is an implied adjective such as "reasonable... | What does "In any sort of time" mean here? | english |
In French, the verb altérer means change into something worse or degrade . As a non-native English speaker I wonder whether the English verb alter has necessarily this negative meaning or in the contrary, if it is neutral as change or transform . | It is generally neutral. "Please alter your attitude." would mean to improve your attitude, by context. "I must remember to alter the path by which I drive to work every day." | Does "alter" means "change into something worse"? | english |
I came across this usage in a sentence from an exercise, which is: What's the sense of having a public open space where you can't eat, drink or even simply hang out for a while? Does the usage here sound natural? And how is it different from "What's the point of (something)"? | Both point and sense can be used in your example, but they mean slightly different things. Point here refers to purpose or usefulness and sense refers to good judgment . | Can I say "What's the sense of (something)"? | english |
If I want to describe two things happening at the same time, I can use the words <code> parallel </code> or <code> concurrently </code> . In some cases, <code> simultaneously </code> would also work. More suggestions are available in the stackexchange-url ("opposite question"), already answered. In technical writing, m... | I don't think the word you want exists in common usage. I suspect that's because the image you're trying to conjure is (as you describe) not merely "synchronously" but "synchronously when asynchronously is assumed". In other words, you're trying to capture the idea that, though the reader expects that this procedure ca... | A word which means the opposite of "something that works in parallel" | english |
One often hears native English speakers use constructs such as "where is my trousers" or (from this forum stackexchange-url ("in another post")) "where is my parents and mothers?" Is that a case of spoken grammar differing from written grammar, a case of specific variants of English from different regional areas, or ju... | Singular where is is often contracted to where's : Where is my coat? Where's my coat? The plural where are can also be contracted (because people tend to contract words when speaking) to where're . Where are my trousers? Where're my trousers? However, this is more awkward to say (and certainly looks strange written dow... | 'Where is' usage in spoken English | english |
The phrase refer to the walls of a fantasy city, which are very strong and protect it from enemies and from the sea. I can't say if the phrase means that the walls are hundreds feet deep in the sea, or hundreds feet thick. | This is a cause of what is known as a dangling modifier: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangling_modifier "plunge many hundreds to the city behind", 'behind' is dangling because we are unsure of whether it is the walls that are behind the city or the city that is behind the walls. However, you also describe having confus... | The walls stand only forty feet above the wave tops, yet plunge many hundreds to the city behind | english |
I have seen stackexchange-url (""between" vs "among"") and am aware of the possible duplicate nature of my question. My point here, however, is specifically to find out what it should be in conjunction with 'collaboration'. As you may see on the last page of the Grammar Girl source in the highest vo... | The correct answer: "The successful collaboration between the contractors, the LA municipal office, and the funding provider resulted in reduced cost and higher efficiency." Using between or among in conjunction with collaboration doesn't change the usage. Your sentence draws a direct relationship between the specific ... | "collaboration among" or "collaboration between" | english |
Normally I see things written this way : Developed by Joe Doe But I have also seen instances where it says: Developed by Company Inc. Now, I know it doesn't make sense to say: Developed at Joe Doe But I have sometimes seen it say: Developed at Company Inc. What's the difference between saying something was developed by... | When you say developed by someone, it means that the product or thing was developed by that someone - the developer of the product. When you say developed by ABC, inc. it means that the product or thing was developed by ABC's staff- the employees collectively working on the product. When you say, developed at ABC, inc.... | "Developed by" vs "Developed at" | english |
I saw the word, “closed press” in Time magazine’s (August 15) article titled “Chris Christie lays out argument for 2016.” “Christie spoke at length about his record in New Jersey, emphasizing accomplishments like teacher benefit reform and bringing down the Garden State’s budget deficit. Christie’s remarks were closed ... | NOAD, in its entry for the adjective closed , lists this definition (among others): closed ( adj. ) limited to certain people; not open or available to all : the UN Security Council met in closed session . I often see closed used in this sense, where closed gets used in conjunction with another word, usually a noun. Th... | Is “closed press (remark / ceremony / meeting)” a popular English word? | english |
What is the plural of freight ? Freights just doesn't sound right to me. Perhaps, freight is already the plural. If that is the case, what is its singular? Edit After doing some research, most online dictionaries have freights as part of their listing for freight , but none seem to have an example, leading me to the co... | Freight :- Goods carried by a vessel or vehicle, especially by a commercial carrier; cargo. A burden; a load. a. Commercial transportation of goods. b. The charge for transporting goods. Also called freightage. A railway train carrying goods only. is normally a non-count noun :- a noun, as water, electricity, or happin... | What is the plural of "Freight"? | english |
Is it correct to use the contraction in Your file'll be downloaded... ? I don't know. It just doesn't sound right to me. English is not my first language, so maybe someone here could shed some light on this issue. | The construct is an awkward one, due to the absent (contracted out) vowel, but entirely legal. Native English speakers know to insert a schwa in place of the absent vowel when speaking. As noted elsewhere, though grammatical this particular contraction should perhaps be avoided. | Contraction in "Your file'll be downloaded..." | english |
I have sets of parameters like <code> (1, 2, 3, 5) </code> or <code> (3.14, 2.73, 1.44, 1.73) </code> . They are named, but I do not think it makes any difference. Which form is the correct one to call one general case or example of such things? Parameter set. Parameters set. Parameters' set. I would opt for choice 2. ... | The correct form would be parameter set . Consider the forms in which set can be applied to objects: when you have a set of pencils , the alternative is pencil set , never pencils set . You'd never see 2. used, except in some strange circumstances, e.g. scissors set , where the word used to refer to one object in the s... | Which is the correct form: "Parameter set", "parameters set", or "parameters' set"? | english |
In John Dewey's How We Think , there is an example of someone reflecting on the purpose of a particular part of a boat: Projecting nearly horizontally from the upper deck of the ferryboat on which I daily cross the river, is a long white pole, bearing a gilded ball at its tip. It suggested a flagpole when I first saw i... | A 'steering pole'. [From Wikipedia.] UPDATE: Also known as a 'steering spar'. [Source.] (Thanks to stackexchange-url ("Peter Shor") in the comments below.) FURTHER UPDATE: I have discovered, much later, that Dewey himself refers to the pole as an 'index-pole'. | Name for this particular part of a boat? | english |
I know that Sussex and Middlesex are in England. It looks to me as if there is a pattern in names. What does the suffix -sex mean? Where does it come from? | The -sex suffix is from Anglo-Saxon / Old English, with the actual meaning being "Saxon". Sussex is essentially "South Saxon". Middlesex is "Middle Saxon". Essex is "East Saxon". Wessex is "West Saxon". Most of the wiki pages for these places will have the toponymy definition. | Meaning of suffix '-sex' in 'Sussex, Middlesex' | english |
Can I use the word concrete as a synonym to real in a phrase like this? Russian beer is a concrete shit. Maybe this phrase sounds like drivel for a native speaker? | The expression in your question makes no sense, but concrete can have a meaning similar to "real" in certain contexts. See the following definition : concrete adj 1. [not relevant] 2. relating to items which can be felt, touched, seen, etc • concrete objects . Compare abstract adj 3 [= said of an art form, especially p... | Using "concrete" as synonym to "real" | english |
I know I can say I'm having downtime. How would you say it about a computer (system). It has/ it's on downtime every night from 2 till 5? | Yes. " The system will undergo scheduled downtime every day from 2AM to 5AM. " is just fine. This is, of course, the opposite of uptime . If it is unplanned downtime, usually outage or network outage is used instead. | Downtime (Computers and people) | english |
I was writing an email to my colleague and as part of it I wrote Would it be possible for you to help me with this? I felt a bit awkward after sending the mail. Should it be would or will ? I know that would is a past form of will but it is also used to indicate politeness. In this case, it was extremely important for ... | Since "would" is subjunctive (http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/subjunctive[2]), it does sound more polite, while "will" comes off as a bit more directly. If I understand your situation correctly, "would it be possible for you to help me with this?" connotes, "would you be willing to help me with this, provided ... | "Would it be" vs "Will it be" | english |
Is there a word for "I thought I did this thing, but it turns out I only thought about doing it and then forgot to do it?" It's like the feeling you get when someone messages you, and then you forget to message them back because you had composed a message in your mind, thought you sent it, and then forgot to do so. Is ... | The only word that comes to my mind is absentmindedness . As in: "My friend did not receive my text because of my absentmindedness ." The action of being absentminded leads to this problem. | "I thought I did this, but it turns out I only thought about doing it and then forgot to do it?" | english |
I've been reading The Deer Slayer , and I can't help but notice that some words at the beginning of sentences display their first letter within square brackets. Here are some examples: [W]hen five or six had discharged their bullets into the trees, he could not refrain from expressing his contempt at their want of hand... | OP is certainly reading an abridged edition of The Deerslayer . A few moments searching on Amazon and Google Books turned up numerous abridged editions. One, at least, was abridged to make it suitable for younger readers. The editors of the OP’s edition were conscientious about showing what they changed; they bracketed... | Words at beginning of sentences with first letter displayed within brackets? | english |
When considering a recipe which contains potatoes, which would be correct for the UK: 350g of potato 350g of potatoes | Potato: potato [pəˈteitəu] noun — plural poˈtatoes a type of plant with round underground stems (called tubers) which are used as a vegetable Plural is Potatoes. Ex: I like potatoes. Possessive is Potato's. Ex: Peel the potato's skin. Hope this help you. Thanks. | Potato or Potatoes | english |
I can attach a picture file to an email. The picture file is <code> "attachable" </code> , is there a single word adjective that describes quality of the email that it can be attached to? | If the picture can be attached to the email, the picture is attachable and the email is attachment-capable . | Is there a single adjective to describe an attachment target? | english |
Why is great pronounced /greit/ while in other words the ea is pronounced differently? Take treat , for example: /tri:t/. Why are two words with the same number of vowels and consonants and the same syllable structure are pronounced differently? Is there any way for people to guess a word's pronunciation at first place... | Perhaps this will help sort out why English vowel structure appears to have inconsistent pronunciations (and its origins): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Vowel_Shift | Pronunciation of "great" vs. "treat" | english |
This sentence below is using V-ing in two different ways. It says "population enjoying" and "standing at". The number of Internet users expanded nearly fivefold, with the proportion of the world's population enjoying Internet access now standing at nearly thirty per cent. I'm so confused about the way this sentence is ... | You need to read up on participles. Present continuous action: She is painting the door. Present participle describing the skill of painting. She is very good at painting. Present participle describing the result of the act of painting. This is a very good piece of painting. It is an excellent piece of art. Her paintin... | Ask about Verb form in this sentence | english |
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