Tagged Questions
1
vote
1answer
58 views
comes to think of it?
Which of the expressions, "come to think of it" or "comes to think of it", grammatically correct? Or are they grammatical at all?
If it is a short form of,
When one comes to think of it, I would ...
3
votes
2answers
209 views
“Sites to see” or “Sights to see”?
A google search turns up results for either. The two are seemingly interchangeable. Which is it? Does one see sights or see sites?
1
vote
3answers
181 views
Is it correct to say “that place is like 5 miles from here”? [duplicate]
Is it correct to say "that place is like 5 miles from here"? I'm not sure if the use of "like" is correct?
0
votes
2answers
130 views
Was “their being followed” replaced by “they're being followed” over the years?
I was reading A Study in Scarlet yesterday and noticed the following sentence:
They must have thought that there was some chance of their being followed, for they would never go out alone, and ...
2
votes
1answer
107 views
“For Heaven's Sake” or “For Heaven Sakes”?
I hear these used almost interchangeably. To me "for heaven's sake" makes sense grammatically, but is there something I'm missing?
1
vote
5answers
100 views
“Photo playback” — can photos be played?
The phrase "photo playback" has about 35k Google hits, especially in production descriptions, but is it correct English?
It seems that “playback” can be used with video and audio, because we can play ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Where does “emphasis mine” go in a quotation?
I have often seen the term emphasis mine used whenever an author wishes to denote that emphasis in a given quotation originates from said author rather than from the original source.
What is the ...
6
votes
6answers
281 views
The usage of “the same…as…”
Which one of the following two sentences is more correct?
We use the same space as is specified in Chapter 1.
We use the same space as specified in Chapter 1.
1
vote
2answers
173 views
Usage of the expression “go they went”
I noticed the usage of go they went in the TV show How I Met Your Mother:
Marshall: Where are all my underpants?
Lily: Did you check your suitcase?
(Marshall checks his suitcase, gives a ...
0
votes
4answers
130 views
How can I say four different colors for five different items using “one”, “another”, “the other”? [closed]
Am I saying this correctly?
There are five items in four different colors. One is in red, another is in yellow, another is in green, and the others are in black.
Also, can I say:
Two items ...
1
vote
4answers
291 views
Use 'suggest' passively
How can I use passive voice to say this sentence with suggest? Is this grammatical:
These models are suggested to be phased out by us.
4
votes
5answers
870 views
Why do we say “to be a laughing stock”?
I've come through the expression "to be a laughing stock" to talk about a person who has done something stupid and who people laugh at because of that, and I've started to wonder about it.
First of ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Is the sentence “We're done” grammatically correct? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
I'm done or I've done
When the class is over, our lecturer always says "OK, we're done." Is this sentence grammatically correct? Isn't it a passive form, which ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Is “a ways to go” grammatically correct?
In English we often say, for example, "he still has a ways to go before he's done." Is this grammatically correct?
-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.
15
votes
5answers
887 views
Why prefix a request with “I'm going to have to ask you…”
Say you are in a nice restaurant and, at the table next you, a gentleman lights up the most offensive cigar you ever smelled.
You mention it to the manager and then the manager goes up to the ...
10
votes
3answers
3k views
Do we say “… is greater or equal to…” or “… is greater or equal than…”?
We do say "… is equal to…", but we say "… is greater than…".
What happens when we mix those? What should we say:
"… is greater or equal to…" (297,000,000 hits on Google), or
"… is greater or equal ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Is “very less” correct English?
Is using very less correct English? My friend suggests it should be very little. Are they both correct, or is there a difference?
13
votes
7answers
962 views
Is the phrase “for free” correct?
A friend claims that the phrase for free is incorrect. Should we only say at no cost instead?
4
votes
3answers
6k views
“I'm home” or “I'm at home”
The second form looks more correct to me, but the first expression is present in several titles of movies and songs. Which form is preferable?
5
votes
2answers
232 views
Is “wait up!” considered correct English?
I thought if you wanted someone to wait for you, you would say, "wait for me". However, I've heard/seen a lot of people speak/write "wait up" instead. Is "wait up" correct English?
5
votes
5answers
382 views
Is it possible to say “as you can”?
Is it possible to say that "someone does something as he or she can" to express that he or she is doing it with full enthusiasm or is this just badly translated German?
Edit: Unusual language ...
5
votes
5answers
345 views
Is “it is no calculus” correct grammar?
I often hear people saying, it's no big deal, or I am no […], etc.
I was wondering if it is acceptable to say it is no calculus in a college essay.
5
votes
2answers
589 views
Use of “parley” meaning to convert?
I sometimes use the word "parley" as a verb effectively meaning "to convert from one language or system to another". Such as
Stargate parleys the Egyptian deities into villainous star-faring ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Is “bad loser” a valid expression?
Is the expression "(someone is a) bad loser" valid?
If it is valid, is it equal to "sore loser", or does it have a different meaning and/or use?
5
votes
2answers
609 views
Is “fake teeth” correct?
Is the phrase "fake teeth" correct? I googled it and found out that it is used. But my English tutor says that this phrase is incorrect and the book from Hillside Press had this phrase as a mistake.
...
