1
vote
1answer
29 views
“I have done every bad thing in the good book” - what does it actually mean?
This question might be very specific to a situation in "Revolution" but I cannot understand this sentence.
From my understanding, he was saying that he has done everything that the book (he ...
1
vote
3answers
24 views
Party organized by the students of a department
At German universities, there student councils, called "Fachshaft", which is an extracurricular representative structure for students.
Each year (or semester), the student councils organize parties ...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
“Feeling well” adverb ambiguity
Am I just crazy, or is there some ambiguity in the phrase "feeling well"?
Example:
Billy has a genetic defect that causes him to lose sensation in his fingertips every few days, or so. "How are you ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Pluralizing shortened words
I'm stumped at this forum reply which states that the contracted plural of "regulation" is "reg's".
"Cigarettes" is shortened to "cigs", as far as i know, but perhaps that's because "a cig" is a ...
1
vote
5answers
40 views
What's the meaning of “I casually drink alcohol” and “I socially drink alcohol”
If I said,
I casually drink alcohol
or
I socially drink alcohol
What would you think about how often I drink?
2
votes
1answer
24 views
I've been seeing good movies or I've been watching good movies?
what would you rather say? Which one is correct?
Thanks,Herman.
5
votes
1answer
33 views
Etymology of “typeface Weight”
My boss stated that he noticed the word "weight" is used to refer to the boldness of a character, and stated that he felt this was a new occurrence.
My gut feeling is that this is an old term, ...
2
votes
2answers
22 views
Singular or plural usage for ellipsis in direct object
Suppose I have the following sentences:
There should be an X and a Y chromosome.
There should be an X and a Y chromosomes.
Is the second grammatically correct? If the last word had to be plural for ...
1
vote
0answers
14 views
What are some examples of adjectives expressing varying levels of intensity using the same root or unit word [closed]
What adjectives express varying levels of intensity using the same root or unit?
3
votes
1answer
27 views
How to Construct an Unambiguous Joint Possessive that Follows a Verb?
How to Construct an Unambiguous Joint Possessive that Follows a Verb?
I've read that when writing about multiple possessors who jointly posses a thing, the common practice is to add a Saxon-genitive ...
0
votes
0answers
10 views
Translation for “calificador” (from Spanish to English) [migrated]
In Spanish, calificador means someone (or something) that examines some score or performance and gives you a grade, like a teacher gives you an A, B, C, etc. or in a contest a judge gives you a 10, 9, ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Colon for 'because' omission?
Colon or semicolon when because is omitted from a sentence e.g.,
I am sorry I disturbed you (;) (:) (because) it looked like you were having a lot of fun there.
Because explains and clarifies a ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
which book on english grammar is easy to comprehend and loved all over the world? [closed]
which book on english grammar is easy to comprehend and loved by masses ?
I know one book by Thomson and Martinet.
1
vote
1answer
19 views
What is the correct way to format an author's name in an APA citation when only a username is known?
I am trying to cite the image at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shoe-parts-en.svg. However, how would I cite the autors/contributors, since I don't know their actual name. Do I just cite their ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
What does “English as second language” mean? [closed]
There is a question with two options: "English as mother language" and "English as second language". I learned English as third language. What does "English as second language" mean? Second as 2nd or ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
What is the scope of using shelved, postponed, adjourned, put off?
postponed
shelved
adjourned
put off
Exactly as in this question, I have a problem with choosing the scope of using those synonyms of postponed. What is the scope of using each of them?
0
votes
0answers
32 views
Word Pairs Like Prideful / Proud? [closed]
In the case of "prideful" and "proud" we have two adjectives, both based on the same noun, with similar meanings but different connotations. Can you think of other pairs of adjectives like this?
If ...
6
votes
3answers
521 views
In the context of family, what is the opposite of “immediate”?
In the context of family, the term "immediate" refers to member of the family connected by birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership, or cohabitation.
Is t here a term that refers to the rest of ...
1
vote
2answers
46 views
Speeded vs. Sped
I think "speeded" may have been the appropriate past-tense form for "to speed" in the past, but I wonder if it is still considered the correct form. In spoken English, one usually hears "sped" to ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
The words India and England sound the same but why are the starting letters different? [closed]
For example why can't we use Endia or Ingland. Any specific reason?
1
vote
2answers
50 views
What does “any or any” mean in a legal text?
I have been going through several legal documents lately and have realised that a lot of them use the fragment "any or any" within some sentences.
Failing to place a guard or fence or warning ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
Does “Paraphernalia” have a negative connotation?
By definition, the word paraphernalia does not portray either negative or positive emotions. Does it, in everyday usage?
In my particular case, I am making a website about programming. I have a ...
5
votes
1answer
47 views
When the subject of a sentence is the same as the object of the previous sentence
What is it called when the subject of a sentence is the same as the object of the previous sentence?
For example:
I'm going to Freddy's house. Freddy lives down the block. The block is paved ...
3
votes
2answers
347 views
Is ‘anything in a skirt” a popular idiom? Does it have special overtones?
I came across the words, ‘anything in a skirt” in the following sentence of Jeffery Archer’s “The Fourth Estate”:- Page 202.
“(Captain Armstrong is entitled to a car and driver) if the brigadier
...
2
votes
2answers
38 views
What are the differences between amalgam, hodgepodge/hedgepodge?
What are the differences between amalgam, hodgepodge/hedgepodge? I see people using them in their sentences, which seems to mean mixture of many things, are they subtly different?
3
votes
4answers
80 views
Word for the longest time in spent in a group
A friend and I were discussing what would be an appropriate word to describe the person that has been in a group for the longest. I suggested the word elder, but that seems to apply the age of the ...
1
vote
0answers
39 views
Where should the apostrophe be for the singular and plural possessive forms of user? [closed]
My understanding of apostrophe usage for possessive forms of the word "user" is this:
Referring to a single user - user's.
Referring to multiple users - users'.
Is this correct? If not, what is? ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
“All that is needing” vs. “all that is needed”
I've read the following quote from Game of Thrones:
Opening your eyes is all that is needing. The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true.
English is not my mother ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
Present or past tense in writing a paper [duplicate]
I have a list to explain about it in my paper. Do I need to use present or past tense for this case? If I have to use present or past tense, why is that? Are there any rules on tense when writing ...
1
vote
2answers
46 views
There is/are for multiple subjects [duplicate]
Which one is correct?
There is an apple and an orange..
or
There are an apple and an orange?"
0
votes
0answers
20 views
Try something by video? [closed]
There is a video of a dance and I want to say: I am going to try it in practice (preposition) the video? Would "by" work here?
1
vote
1answer
37 views
“Negative ideas without any reason”
I'd like to know the single word which can be used instead of "Negative ideas without any reason" ?
Thanks,
mj
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Negative question; what's the affirmative answer here? [duplicate]
My wife and I communicate in English. She's Japanese, I'm Norwegian and we're both language enthusiasts; this makes for a lot of interesting language discussions.
This is something that surfaced ...
4
votes
5answers
91 views
“To flow or cause to spread every part of the body”?
What is a single word which means "To flow or cause to spread every part of the body"?
2
votes
3answers
40 views
One word for limited or piecemeal benefit
I'm writing a paper on data strategy for large corporates. In this paper I define 4 levels of maturity on the path to a Google-like nirvana state where corporate, client, user, and other data is ...
2
votes
1answer
43 views
usage of “Made for”
eg. I would've made for a bad lawyer.
conveying the meaning that if I had been a lawyed, I would have been a bad one.
is it correct usage?
1
vote
3answers
34 views
An expression for very tightly secured/mounted/fastened
I am trying to find a way describe a product feature, this would be that once the product is mounted, it cannot be easily un-mounted by shock, movement.
The expression in German Hält Bombenfest which ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
What are the short answers in sad situations? [closed]
I'm not a native English speaker, but I have many English friends. So in conversations I always short of quick but formal answers or exclamations in a sad situation. Like;
Yesterday a strong tornado ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
What is the meaning of the line “Upon a homely object Love can wink” in this context
What's the meaning of the last line of this extract from Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona?
Valentine. This is the gentleman I told your ladyship
Had come along with me, but that his ...
2
votes
0answers
22 views
“A question in a question” [duplicate]
I've got two questions for you.
Number one: I've always been confused about what I call "a question in a question" (maybe there is a technical term for that but I don't know it). What I mean is... ...
3
votes
2answers
40 views
Suit Yourself origins?
The young daughter of a friend of mine said, "I think 'suit yourself' comes from a lazy tailor," which cracked us up. It also got me wondering.
I did the obligatory google search and came up with ...
1
vote
3answers
20 views
Finish, complete, submit, or finished at the end of a short drag and drop word bank quiz that isn't graded?
What term's better for the finish or submit button at the end of a short, optional, test quiz?
The quiz is a drag and drop with a word bank, and the button I'm talking about will check their answers, ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Attributive or Possessive noun
In the following is it better to use a possessive noun with an apostrophe or an attributive noun without an apostrophe?
The following list details the assumptions that have been made in
...
2
votes
0answers
43 views
Macho for women [closed]
Is there a negative term to define women who are "overly" feminine, in the same way that "macho" is often applied negatively to certain male behavior?
3
votes
1answer
96 views
Does the word “simpleness” actually exist? [closed]
I always thought the word "simpleness" didn't exist and this was even confirmed by some American friends of mine. However, I tried to look it up on some online dictionaries and I was surprised to find ...
2
votes
4answers
107 views
Would it be correct to say that negative five is less than positive two? [closed]
I often have trouble speaking good English when negative numbers are involved. Would it be correct to say that negative five is less than positive two? If not, what expression is most appropriate?
...
7
votes
2answers
104 views
Imperative followed by “rather than”?
Have in mind what you want to take a picture of beforehand - shoot a
single shot rather than taking many random pictures.
I came across this sentence and I'm confused about the verb following ...
0
votes
2answers
44 views
“Concision” vs. “conciseness”
Is there any difference in the meaning between concision and conciseness? Is one preferred over the other?
My friend claims that concision is more correct.
0
votes
3answers
54 views
Does “an accordingly big army” sound awkward?
Is it just me or does this sound weird?
To protect such a big empire with wide borders, an accordingly big army is required
When I wrote it initially it seemed a bit off, but I read it again ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Singular/plural possessive form of fish? [closed]
The singular form of fish is fish. The plural form of fish is also fish. What are their possessive forms?
