For questions related to conversation or speech
5
votes
4answers
716 views
Garbage/stuff words
I've watched two interviews. One with Grace Park, one with Eliza Dushku.
What one can't miss is that Eliza uses an awful lot of garbage words (or how is it called) — um, so, like, you know, ...
58
votes
11answers
3k views
Which is correct: “could care less” or “couldn't care less”?
What's the deal with the phrase "could care less"?
Whilst growing up, I've always known people (parents etc) to use the phrase "couldn't care less", but I've also come across people who use the ...
24
votes
7answers
1k views
What makes “like” and “so” popular?
So, I was like, why does everyone say like and so in every sentence? Where did this trend come from, like, what started it, and is it actually grammatically correct to like, insert like into our ...
9
votes
7answers
2k views
How do you decide which phrase to use when asking people to repeat what they said?
There are many different ways to ask people to repeat what they have just said. For example:
Huh?
What?
Sorry?
Pardon?
What's that?
Say that again, please
I beg your pardon?
I've ordered them ...
12
votes
6answers
4k views
When is it appropriate to use “Yeah” and “Yep” as variants of the word “Yes”?
As a learner of English I know that yes is a standard variant and other two are informal, spoken words. I know nothing more about it, and try always use the yes variant, just not to sound ...
6
votes
2answers
404 views
Is Wayne's World's (NOT) a modern invention?
Older users of this site may recall the 'Bill & Ted' 'Wayne's World' series of movies of the early 1990s. They were mindless but fairly amusing and their eponymous characters spoke in a unique ...
4
votes
2answers
390 views
What word describes our habit to use extremes in language, and what are its implications?
I have heard that in America, and likely elsewhere as well, we are beginning to be more gratuitous with our use of extreme words when not entirely accurate, such as the words "awesome", "always", ...
7
votes
3answers
148 views
“Well” as an introduction to an argument
Say a child says:
I want some ice cream!
The parent's response is:
Well, you can't have ice cream right now, we need to have dinner first.
Why is the word "well" used as a conversational ...
5
votes
3answers
921 views
Why do like loads of girls my age like saying “like” so much, like? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is Valley Girl speak like entering the language?
Please can you explain the origins of where the annoying over-use of the word "like" came from?
Does this have anything ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Are “Conditional apology” and “poisoned apology”, rude?
I've heard
I'm sorry your frog is dead.
I'm sorry if your frog's death causes you pain.
I'm sorry my taunting you about your frog's death caused you pain. You should seek therapy.
Do the ...
7
votes
2answers
19k views
Is “nice to meet you” an appropriate online salutation?
When one makes a new acquaintance with somebody in person, you may say "it was nice to meet you", e.g. when you leave. What if you make a new acquaintance over the internet, what do you say when you ...
15
votes
5answers
3k views
How should I address a professor in the US?
I am always puzzled about how students address a professor in America. Perhaps "Professor + Last name" is the most formal way to do. Here are my questions:
What if the last name of a professor is ...
5
votes
2answers
5k views
How do I ask for advice politely?
I came across the following phrase:
I was wondering if you might be able to give me some advice.
Is it a natural construction for a conversational context?
Can I use the following instead in ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
Is it redundant to append “bye” to “speak to you later”?
Are the closing greetings "see you later", "talk to you later", and the like sufficient to end a conversation (especially a phone conversation) or must they be succeeded by "bye" or another word of ...
6
votes
7answers
3k views
How often do people say “gotta”, “wanna” or “gonna” in English speaking countries?
I learned these three words from Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.
got|ta /g'ɒtə/
Gotta is used in written English to represent the words 'got to' when they are ...
4
votes
3answers
17k views
Does the phrase “fine with me” have a negative connotation?
I have always thought that you could answer "it's ok with me" or "it's fine with me" when you agree with something that somebody proposed, like a meeting time.
But apparently the phrase can have a ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
When is it OK to use OK?
I often use "OK" in business and personal emails and phone conversations. But I often feel uncertain if it is appropriate to use it in every type of context.
Please tell how universally I can use ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
“Also” and “as well” for conversational context
"Also" and "as well" seem to be quite similar in meaning, but I'd like to know shades in its meaning and usage, especially for everyday conversational language. What one will sound more natural and ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views
Proper answer to “excuse me”
What is a proper reply for excuse me? Like for thank you, you can say no problem or welcome.
I don't know what a proper reply for excuse me would be.
3
votes
3answers
584 views
What is the polite way to acknowledge a pregnant lady after a long hiatus? [closed]
I knew her well, but I see her again when she's 7-months pregnant. Do I say, "Congrats on the upcoming baby?"
3
votes
11answers
3k views
What's a good comeback to “obviously”?
If someone tries to sound smart in repartee by saying,
Well obviously blah blah blah
but what they said is actually wrong, then what's a good comeback to that, or what's a good way to phrase ...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
Response to “What's up?” in various conversations [duplicate]
Exact Duplicate:
What is an appropriate response to “what's up” greeting?
What should be the response to "what's up"?
I don't get satisfied and often confused with my answer ...
0
votes
0answers
304 views
How to Teach my self english to be fluent in short time [closed]
Please suggest me some steps and rules i should follow to learn English without going to schools or courses.
I can learn from any online tools if you suggest some, and from books, but I want some one ...
