Topics having to do with multiple meanings of a word or phrase.
2
votes
1answer
45 views
Does 'which' refer to the noun immediately preceding it?
Is the 'which' in
Proposition 25 suggests a better definition of m-reducibility than given in Definition 23, which is also the one typically given in texts
ambiguous? It is a line from an ...
-1
votes
2answers
139 views
Why does “issue” have a negative connotation in the US? [closed]
Why does "issue" have a negative connotation in the US?
I have used issue as a synonym of tema in Spanish.
1
vote
2answers
81 views
Are the expressions: “You needn't” and “You don't need to” different in meaning? [duplicate]
While doing some research on a comment I had read on ELL I read the following excerpt from a website called e.grammar
You needn't listen to him. (You don't have to listen to him.) x You
don't ...
6
votes
1answer
116 views
'Remit' an antonym of itself?
Perhaps I don't fully understand the word, but it always confuses me.
When talking about money:
The money was remitted.
Which means that the money was transmitted/transferred successfully.
But ...
-2
votes
0answers
41 views
What is the difference between “validating” and “evaluating”? [closed]
What is the difference between "validating" and "evaluating" a certain method or technique?
13
votes
6answers
13k views
What is the difference between “nothing but”, “anything but”, and “everything but”?
What is the difference between these phrases? When is it valid to use which? Should they be avoided as being ambiguous?
-1
votes
1answer
75 views
When he was 7, he killed his first enemy
I want to say that a person (Egill Skallagrímsson, just for the record) committed his first killing of an enemy at the age of seven.
However, it seems to me that this phrase:
When he was 7, he ...
5
votes
2answers
75 views
Why are the notes or protocol of a meeting referred to as its 'minutes'?
A minute is 60 seconds. Something 'minute' is small, minor, perhaps short.
Now, what about the minutes of a meeting or a session? As in, its written protocol? Are they called that because:
The ...
2
votes
1answer
63 views
What does a “visiting writer” mean?
From wiki page about Michael Crichton":
In 1988, Crichton was a visiting writer at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology
What does exactly the term visiting writer mean?
Does it mean he ...
2
votes
1answer
55 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
70 views
Counting stops without ambiguity
A typical conversation on a bus:
Alice: Have we reached our stop yet, Bob?
Bob: No, Alice. Two more stops to go.
Alice: Do you mean "two more stops, then ours" or "one more stop, then ...
4
votes
4answers
3k views
“A good memory” vs. “good memories”
If I say, "I don't have a good memory of my childhood", would it imply that I cant recollect it or that I have bad memories (bad stories, unhappy) childhood?
I think that "good memories" implies the ...
-2
votes
2answers
57 views
“Only for A, B, and C”: Includes cases where not all are present? [closed]
After submitting the report, changes can be made only for the font
size, margins, and line spacing.
Does this sentence imply that changes can be made only if all three types of changes are ...
-1
votes
2answers
70 views
Ambiguous “inline” enumerations
I am currently writing a thesis in computer science and have stumbled upon an interesting ambiguity that I would like to better understand.
Consider the following sentence:
The importance of this ...
0
votes
3answers
66 views
'Oldest' for age vs. length of time
This discussion arose around the statement
"PersonX was my oldest high-school friend"
The intention was to refer to length of time known (roughly the opposite of 'most recent') as opposed to meaning ...
8
votes
2answers
217 views
Drink 7 to 10 days after opening?
Is this label telling the consumer that it is best to consume the drink 7 to 10 days after opening it?
I know what they are getting at, but I feel like it should say "Best if consumed within 7 to ...
25
votes
4answers
7k views
How to answer a negative question without ambiguity?
I faced a problem to answer a negative question, for example When someone ask you:
Don't you have any money?
It's a yes/no question but how should one answer the question without ambiguity?
...
1
vote
6answers
1k views
What does “don't shoot yourself in the foot” mean? [closed]
What does "Don’t shoot yourself in the foot" mean?
Unfortunately, most salary decisions are based on perceived performance, not on actual performance. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot.
0
votes
2answers
83 views
Who does “who” apply to in this example?
His governors, some of them incompetent and tactless, quarrelled bitterly with the people, who were constantly demanding greater political control.
In this sentence, who are demanding greater ...
1
vote
2answers
105 views
Antedecent of “its” in “the dog attacked the cat and its friends” [duplicate]
The dog attacked the cat and its friends.
Does the sentence imply that the dog attacked the cat and the cat's friends or that it attacked the cat and the dog's friends?
How would one properly ...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
“My late friends” — they're not dead!
Context: We're discussing about how we used to get penalized in school for being late to classes, many years ago.
I wanted to say:
In my old school, it was hilarious to see my late friends get
...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
Is there a technical term for when verbs in a sentence appear as if they have been swapped around? [closed]
Is there a technical term for when verbs in a sentence appear as if they have been swapped around as in the example here?
'her fingers creased in gold [and] her body ringed in folds'
In this ...
5
votes
4answers
351 views
What's the proper interpretation of: “I was kissed by a girl twice”?
The other day I experienced two distinct but similar events. I wanted to convey this to a friend and this is what came to mind:
"I was kissed by a girl twice."
My question is, does this sentence say, ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Objectivity vs. Objectivism vs. Objectiveness [closed]
What are some clear-cut distinctions between objectivity, objectivism, and objectiveness?
2
votes
1answer
83 views
“sallow complexion”
In Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, in several places he describes people having a "sallow complexion".
According to Collins dictionary:
Sallow
(esp of human skin) of an unhealthy pale or ...
1
vote
5answers
130 views
“stop to do something” vs. “continue to do something”
A transcript of a recent speech by Barack Obama contains the following sentence:
Boston police, firefighters, and first responders as well as the National Guard responded heroically, and continue ...
3
votes
2answers
134 views
Is “to fight with” ambiguous?
I've read about a Dutch volunteer, who died in Syria "fighting with the rebels". Obviously from the context you could understand, that he was fighting for the rebels, against the government troops. ...
6
votes
3answers
456 views
Why does “I am in your debt” mean the opposite of what it suggests?
I don't understand why if someone says:
"I am in your debt"
It seems to mean the opposite of the literal meaning.
For example, the person saying this says that (s)he is in the "debt" of the ...
1
vote
2answers
126 views
“My job is not to worry about those people” — what does “not” refer to?
In the famous leaked video, Mitt Romney says
My job is not to worry about those people
An equivalent sentence probably is
It is not my job to worry about those people
Some media in my home ...
2
votes
2answers
132 views
What is the term for this ambiguous sentence?
I apologize that I don't know how to search for this question--it may be a duplicate, or maybe I just should have learned it in English class!
I'm a teacher, and in another StackExchange, I wrote the ...
4
votes
4answers
295 views
Quintessential vs essential?
While quintessential means 'representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class' [OED], it defines essential as 'absolutely necessary; extremely important'. I have noticed frequent ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
When a sentence contains both “not” and “or”, which one has priority?
I am changing a piece of text which current reads:
Payment not deducted
to also include the situation where payments are withheld. The suggested revision of text given to me is
Payment not ...
-3
votes
1answer
69 views
Whats the meaning of “Outta” In a song of Metallica called “ain't my bit-ch” [closed]
((Dear Native English Speakers Please Help Me.))
Metallica is my favorite band and I love them but I have some serious problems in translating and understanding the meaning of the lyric entitled ...
1
vote
3answers
101 views
Is “have not worked here for a long time” ambiguous?
I have not worked here for a long time/for many years.
Is it ambiguous? Which of the two below is the correct meaning?
I have been working here, but only for a short period of time.
I once ...
0
votes
2answers
101 views
Valid? “The river is flowing.”
What is the meaning of the "the river is flowing?" Is this valid usage?
Websters, #2: River: A large quantity of a flowing substance
The river is already a flow by definition. Can the river be ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
Interpretation of the adjective “outstanding”
In my holidays I met a woman who is originally from Australia. She told me she lived in many places due to her husband's work and also traveled much around the world. Although she's already seen many ...
-1
votes
1answer
45 views
An ambiguous sentence from the music Dreamtale
The whole sentence is
As the last ship sailed towards the distant horizon, I sat there watching on a rock. My mind slowly drifting away, forming into my...dreamtale.
I can't figure out whether ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Usage of “East Indian” to distinguish from “Native American”
I know someone who uses the term "East Indian" to refer to people from India, or whose ancestors are from India, lest they be misunderstood to mean Native American.
This struck me as unusual and ...
0
votes
1answer
125 views
Do phrases such as “by tomorrow” or “by Thursday” include the day mentioned? [duplicate]
I wasn't sure how to research this without being able to explain what I mean.
When someone says something like "I will have it done by tomorrow", does that phrase mean that they will have it done ...
0
votes
1answer
498 views
Is “in [some period]” different from “within [some period]”?
Q1: "I'll finish this job within 5 days" definitely means the job is expected to cost 5 days or less. However, does "I'll finish this job in 5 days" mean exactly the same?
Q2: Can we say, "I'll ...
4
votes
4answers
9k views
Does the term “within 7 days” mean include the 7th day? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is “in [some period]” different from “within [some period]”?
The title states it all: When an author says "within 7 days", does the author mean ...
12
votes
4answers
11k views
How should “midnight on…” be interpreted?
From what I understand, the word "midnight" is usually interpreted incorrectly.
Midnight is written as "12am" which would imply that it's in the morning. Therefore, it should be at the start of the ...
2
votes
5answers
2k views
Does “until [date]” mean “before that date”?
What does until mean in the following?
You need to deliver this product within 2 days (until August 18, 2011)
to meet your deadline and get paid.
Does this mean that I have to deliver the ...
-2
votes
1answer
140 views
“to spread over” vs. “to spread across” [closed]
I doubt whether I should use "over" or "across" for a liquid spreading "along" a surface.
-1
votes
3answers
109 views
Meaning: “Any more” in context [closed]
I am not sure about the meaning of the "any more" in the following phrase and how can I spot it:
Would the things I've said and done matter any more?
1) Would it matter any longer?
2) Would it ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
Justice as a title … where does it come from?
In the US supreme court judges, among others, are called "justice [name]". Where is this use rooted?
Obviously the term comes from Latin "justitia" originally, but that means justice as in the the ...
1
vote
1answer
219 views
Present perfect or past simple? [duplicate]
I know the basic rules about using PP and PS (like specified time in the past etc.) but in some cases, it is not clear to me:
I have finished painting. - present perfect, I just announce that.
I ...
4
votes
3answers
302 views
“Principle” or “Principal”?
I was solving a grammar exercise from the book, Word Power Made Easy, when I came across this question
A feeling of one's worth is one of the principle/principal goals of
psychological therapy.
...
3
votes
2answers
503 views
Should I follow English conventions, or write what sounds better?
How a sentence sounds when read aloud or in your head can often "sound" different for each individual doing so; however, I was reading details regarding the usage of "data" and "datum" and was ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
For the title alone
Someone has voted for one of my questions with this comment:
+1 for the title alone.
Which of these two possible meanings is the most correct:
The title itself is so nice that I would have ...
