Linked Questions
40 questions linked to/from What are your favorite English language tools?
124
votes
14
answers
279k
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When should I use "a" versus "an" in front of a word beginning with the letter h?
A basic grammar rule is to use an instead of a before a vowel sound. Given that historic is not pronounced with a silent h, I use “a historic”. Is this correct? What about heroic? Should be “It was a ...
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76
votes
8
answers
239k
views
Is it correct to use "their" instead of "his or her"?
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
Anyone who loves the English language should have a copy of this book in their bookcase.
or should it be:
Anyone who loves the English language should have a ...
- 14k
70
votes
11
answers
24k
views
"Less" vs. "fewer"
I've just received a memo which says (effectively)
As more people leave, there will be less people available.
I want that word to be fewer. Are there guidelines for which word ought to be used ...
- 6,853
36
votes
4
answers
68k
views
Is "prepone" being used outside India?
Prepone is a great word - it's the opposite of postpone. When you prepone a meeting, you change its scheduled time so that it occurs sooner than originally planned. Has this usage spread beyond India? ...
- 1,236
32
votes
4
answers
16k
views
"None" as plural indefinite pronoun
In my grammar book (English Grammar, HarperCollins Publishers), I read that none is occasionally treated as plural, but it is usually regarded as singular. Can you give me an example of sentence where ...
- 59.2k
25
votes
5
answers
11k
views
Is it really incorrect to start a sentence with "and"?
I know it's wrong, but I do it all the time or else my sentences would go on forever.
- 1,145
19
votes
7
answers
188k
views
When is it correct to use "yourself" and "myself" (versus "you" and "me")?
I'm confused by why people use the following:
It's up to yourself.
Rather than:
It's up to you.
Another example of this would be:
Please feel free to contact ourselves if you have any ...
- 652
18
votes
10
answers
159k
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What is the word(s) for someone who is very particular about the small details of something? [closed]
I am looking for a word or multiple words to describe someone who is very (perhaps even 'overly') concerned about the fine details of something. It could be describing someone who is a perfectionist, ...
- 349
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Idiom thesaurus? [closed]
Can you recommend some searchable resource that maps given expression onto idioms meaning that thing?
There are quite a few dictionaries that contain a list of idioms containing a given word which is ...
- 11.4k
9
votes
1
answer
5k
views
A good and exhaustive book for English grammar [closed]
Before marking this post duplicate or voting to get it closed (the reason for which I simply don't get just because it is a grammar forum after all! If I am seeking recommendation for a book that ...
- 101
8
votes
2
answers
15k
views
Origin of "tootsie" or "tootsy" (foot)
I was just sitting thinking I had cold tootsies meaning my toes or feet!
This got me wondering, where on earth does the word tootsie/tootsy come from?
I did Google this and got definitions (...
- 199
7
votes
3
answers
27k
views
Correct usage of ‘on’, ‘at’ and ‘in’
As a foreign English speaker who never really studied too much English grammar other than the basics at high school, I often struggle to decide what is the correct preposition to use in certain ...
7
votes
4
answers
9k
views
What is the story behind the word "hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia"?
Was someone just trying to be funny by being ironic?
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7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
English tools for non-English-speaking people
Could you recommend your reference English tools useful to improve your English every day?
I constantly use:
Wordreference for translations
Google with double quotes to test if my sentences are ...
- 399
6
votes
5
answers
436
views
What are comparative strong points of online dictionaries and other useful reference sites?
NOTE:
This question was composed in an attempt to follow Guidelines for Great Subjective Questions. I hope I do not fail them too hard, but if you see how the question can be improved please edit it ...
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