Tagged Questions
1
vote
2answers
68 views
“number of books” or “book count”?
The number of books is nine.
The book count is nine.
Which is more natural?
What's the SUBTLE difference between them?
3
votes
2answers
337 views
“integer multiple” vs. “integral multiple”
Nine is an integer multiple of three.
Nine is an integral multiple of three.
Which is more common?
If both are accepted, what's the subtle difference between them?
0
votes
2answers
215 views
Polite Compliments
Is a "polite compliment" necessarily a redundant statement when used in a group of people as opposed to a one-to-one situation?
4
votes
0answers
79 views
What does “intestine enemy” mean? [closed]
I’m particularly curious about the usage in Calvin’s commentary of Hebrews:
...at the same time we are carrying on war with sin, our intestine enemy.
However, here are some other examples.
14
votes
9answers
2k views
Is there a word to describe someone who often inaccurately uses words?
Or a word to describe the act of inaccurately using complicated or unusual words (often in an attempt to sound more intelligent)?
I considered 'bombastic' but it doesn't have that quality of ...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
Why is the “round figure” of a person associated with being “comforting”? [closed]
Example:
Miss Beam was all that I had expected middle-aged, authoritative, kindly, and understanding. Her hair was beginning to turn grey, and her round figure was likely to be comforting for a ...
2
votes
1answer
158 views
Which adjective to use for a hour that has already started?
I am having a hard time with wording of a simple agreement (just as an exercise, not a real thing, of course).
I am trying to express that for each hour the person spends on some task, he will get ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How to describe someone who doesn't listen well [closed]
How would you describe someone who doesn't listen well? I don't mean someone who has hearing problems. I mean someone who doesn't finish listening and starts interrupting the conversation.
2
votes
5answers
204 views
Adjective for the likes of someone who consistently has a hard time finishing what s/he has started?
What adjective would you suggest for the like of someone who consistently has a hard time finishing what s/he has started?
I thought of the word "distracted", but I don't feel it's sufficient to ...
3
votes
3answers
435 views
What adjective would you use to describe someone who uses the right vocab consistently?
I thought of precise, but not entirely sure even after checking a dictionary. Would you think it is the best choice?
3
votes
2answers
267 views
Original use of kosher in the English lanuage
Recently I saw a post on the meta.rpg.se site that asked When is editing your answer not kosher?, and it got me thinking. Why is the word Kosher used, instead of, for example, Halal, Permissible, or ...
-4
votes
1answer
215 views
Adj + Noun + Verb to be + Same Adj
Is this a natural grammar or some kind of joke/internet meme?
Cute girl is cute.
Poor child is poor.
Troll topic is troll.
2
votes
2answers
227 views
Can I say “medium-term”, as with the adjectives “short-term” and “long-term”? Do they need prepositions?
I would like to use an adjective to express something in between the two adjectives short-term and long-term. Does medium-term make sense here? What is the adjective I can use?
What preposition, if ...
5
votes
2answers
720 views
Why does ‘you’re on’ mean ‘I agree’?
One dictionary says ‘you’re on’ is used tell someone that you accept a bet or an invitation to compete against them. Then why does it use ‘you’ instead of ‘I’? What’s the ‘on’? In terms of the ...
1
vote
1answer
248 views
Is ‘eclectic bunch’ trendy instead of simply saying ‘a group of different types of constituents'?
I found the words ‘eclectic bunch’ in the following sentence of a New York Times (July 29, 2011) article reporting increase in foraging in city parks, which is titled ‘Enjoy Park Greenery, City Says, ...
1
vote
2answers
210 views
What does 'a beautifully-proportioned room' mean?
“Oh I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts’ secrets, Igor,” said Dumbledore amicably. “Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found ...
