Tagged Questions
0
votes
1answer
160 views
Difference between “antisymmetric” and “nonsymmetric” [closed]
What is the difference between antisymmetric and nonsymmetric?
I only know the meaning of asymmetric.
14
votes
4answers
784 views
How productive is the prefix “un-”?
Is it possible to use un- with new words such as sit, sleep, sad? I'm currently seeing many words (in programming) which use "un-" in the meaning of undoing something.
For example, is it possible to ...
14
votes
3answers
1k views
“Instable” or “unstable”?
From my experience, it seems that although unstable is more commonly used, instable is often preferred in engineering and scientific contexts, e.g. "aircraft instability", "instable algorithm".
Are ...
0
votes
3answers
322 views
Two cultures — “bicultural”, one culture —?
I am looking for a word that means that somebody only has one culture. For example, somebody immigrating from Country 1 to Country 2 would be bicultural. What is someone who has only one culture. I ...
1
vote
3answers
563 views
Difference between “unlikeable” and “dislikeable”?
Is there a difference between unlikeable and dislikeable? It feels like there is, but I'm uncertain how to explain it.
4
votes
4answers
495 views
What's the distinction between “nonessential” and “inessential”?
I'm revising a text that uses the word "nonessential", but my ear is telling me "inessential." Usually when there are two very similar words like this, there is some subtle (or not so subtle) ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Why doesn't the prefix “in” in “invaluable” mean “un-” as in other adjectives? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where did prefix exceptions originate?
efficient
accessible
consistent
articulate
considerate
conceivable
convenient
inefficient
inaccessible
inconsistent
...
0
votes
3answers
1k views
“Unconscious” versus “nonconscious” in everyday dialogue
These words have subtle distinctions in related research fields, but even there are often considered interchangeable or just an matter of tradition/trendiness in a particular field.
Since I am a bit ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Is “uncomplete” a word? [closed]
Or would I just use incomplete? Would there be any instance that one would uncomplete?
-5
votes
2answers
320 views
Why is “insatiable” pronounced as if it was “unsatiable”? [closed]
Why is insatiable pronounced as if it was unsatiable?
11
votes
1answer
3k views
Why “unequal” but “inequality”?
The opposite of "equal" is "unequal", yet there is no word "unequality". Why do we use "inequality" instead?
1
vote
4answers
1k views
Is “incomplex” a legitimate word?
I want to create a poster titled "An Incomplex Introduction to Complexity-based Cryptography." As you see, it contrasts the words incomplex and complexity. (Words like simple or easy do not provide ...
13
votes
10answers
10k views
What is a good replacement for “ununderstandable”?
I want to tell a colleague of mine I'm doing something that will prevent her from getting "ununderstandable" errors. I have:
...so that you will not get unnecessary, [ununderstandable] errors.
...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
“Undistinguishable” vs. “indistinguishable”
Is there a difference between these two words? To me, it seems that undistinguishable is more where you can't tell what it is, and indistinguishable seems to be where they're the same. It seems a lot ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
Are there any patterns to observe in choosing the correct negation prefix to use?
Are there any patterns to observe in choosing the correct prefix to use? There are other prefixes as well, but these are usually the ones I mix up.
As in unbelievable, disproportionate, asymmetric, ...
15
votes
3answers
1k views
Why are not “infamous” and “inflammable” the opposite of “famous” and “flammable”?
Why are not infamous and inflammable the opposite of famous and flammable, like incomplete, inactivity, inappropriate and so on?
