Nouns are words that refer to an entity, quality, state, action, or concept.
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5 views
Singular to plural noun
Many nouns that end in f are made plural by changing the f to v and
adding es.
+----------+-----------+
| Singular | Plural |
+----------+-----------+
| half | halves |
| leaf | leaves ...
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1answer
43 views
Compliments — for people, things or both?
Are compliments applicable both to people and things, or to people only?
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3answers
59 views
What is the difference between the words “stream”, “flow” etc.?
What is the difference in meaning and usage between the nouns “stream”, “flow” (“pour” is excluded from this list based on comments) and probably other words with similar meaning? What is more ...
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0answers
40 views
Are all words nouns? [closed]
A noun is a 'name' assigned to a particular person, place or a thing. Does that make every word a noun, since each word, be it a verb, adjective or anything else is also a 'name' for that idea? For ...
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votes
1answer
45 views
Meaning of “function” in “I cannot stay here. I have a function tonight.” [closed]
I cannot stay here. I have a function tonight.
What does function mean here? Is it oftentimes related to church activities?
3
votes
2answers
88 views
What is the deciding difference between “field”, “industry”, and “sector”?
I have seen the three words frequently used to express similar meanings.
But what exactly is their difference that tells me which is the most suitable one in a certain case?
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Sub-classification or subclassification?
We’re debating this at work.
Merriam-Webster says it’s “subclassification”.
Dictionary.Reference.com allows “sub-classification” and “subclassification”
Is there a ‘more correct’ word to use?
...
1
vote
2answers
88 views
How to use the word “petrichor” in a sentence?
What are the ways in which the word petrichor which means scent of the rain, might be used?
Can we use a phrase like "the pleasant petrichor"?
2
votes
3answers
116 views
What are the key difference among a liberal, liberalist and libertarian?
There was the following statement in Time magazine’s article (June 14) titled, “The geeks who leak”
“Both Edward J. Snowden and Bradley Manning (who leaked massive volume
of military and ...
2
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3answers
96 views
How to refer to the part of the desk where one usually puts the speakers?
Here's a picture of one:
Is there a simple but clear way of referring to it?
7
votes
5answers
325 views
what is the adjectival form of the word “noun?”
What is the adjectival form of the word 'noun'?
Every result I get is for the adjectival form of a noun, not the word 'noun' itself.
6
votes
2answers
147 views
“Dignity” vs. “respect”
Today, I read an article, and one sentence talked about
treating other people with dignity and respect
I had thought I understood the difference between the words dignity and respect. But then ...
0
votes
2answers
59 views
Singular vs. Plural with Multiple Gerunds as Subject (IE: [Gerund] and [Gerund] are/is [something].)
I'm trying to find out whether I should use a singular or plural verb when there are multiple gerunds as the subject of the sentence.
For example:
Running the correct course and keeping a steady ...
-2
votes
3answers
65 views
Offer / Quotation / Proposal? [closed]
I'm looking for a word to describe a piece of paper I hand to my customer - to offer (well, ...) something for a specified amount of money.
Let's say I send my customer a letter with the content ...
1
vote
3answers
85 views
When to add “the” before a noun followed with a clause
E.g.
"Although they work in most cases, they cannot handle cases when a comment or script is broken by the cutting"
Should I put "the" between "handle" and "cases"?
-1
votes
1answer
55 views
“Disclaimer” vs. “disclosure”
What is the difference between disclaimer and disclosure, and when is it appropriate to use each?
Often I see (especially on answers on SE) comments like: "Disclaimer: I work for company that makes ...
7
votes
3answers
80 views
What is the equivalent word for “screening” when referring to recorded sound only?
In other words:
theater : performance ::
film : screening ::
audio tape : ??
It doesn't happen very often, but in exceptional circumstances there exist audio recordings that are rare ...
-1
votes
1answer
54 views
Pronunciation of 'Commentary'
I hear sometimes a longer version (reading fully the ending '-tary), and other times a version as if ending in '-try'. Why is that? Are these choices a matter of dialect? What other examples can be ...
2
votes
3answers
72 views
If I want to talk about a person, but not one in specific, should I use: “Subject”, “One” or “Persons”?
I'd like to use a noun to mention a person, but not a specific one, like generalising.
Should I say it like this?
It allows the subject to speak for themselves.
Or like this?
It allows ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Circle is to cylinder as ellipse is to what?
What do you call the geometric shape obtained when you give an ellipse thickness? Or in other words, a circle is to a cylinder as an ellipse is to what?
10
votes
2answers
915 views
What is the word to mean to apply attributes of an entire race to a single individual?
Normally racism is used to mean generalizing about an entire race based on a few individual examples, but what is the word to mean to apply attributes of an entire race to a single individual? That is ...
0
votes
4answers
73 views
“Commitment” vs. “work ethic”
I am writing a paper for a squad leader audition for marching band. We have to describe our strengths and weaknesses for each subject. The different subjects
Leadership
Commitment
Attitude
...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
Number of noun modified by coordinated PP: “the [X-sg] of [Y] and [Z] is”, or “the [X-pl] of [Y] and [Z] are”?
I've tried searching Google and StackExchange for this one, but I find it difficult to state the problem generally and therefore have had no luck so far; apologies if the answer is already out there ...
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2answers
46 views
What metaphor can I use for a collection of notes/facts?
I'm trying to come up with a metaphor that represents a collection of facts/notes around one thing. I've tried "deck" and "notebook" but they don't really work. Any ideas?
2
votes
2answers
61 views
A soft substance that can be used to seal a seam between a bathtub and a wall [closed]
I need to go shopping for a certain thing, but do not know a proper English word for it.
It is a soft substance usually sold in a tube that can be used to seal a seam between a bathtub and a wall. It ...
1
vote
2answers
57 views
Does a name go before or after the noun it modifies?
The sentence
The user “John Smith” has been registered; go to the “User Profile” tab to view the user’s details.
reads more naturally to me than
The “John Smith” user has been registered; go ...
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votes
1answer
64 views
“Flatly denied that he had copied” vs. “flatly denied the charges that he had copied”
The student flatly denied that he had copied in the examination hall.
The above sentence is not correct, I found that it must be "flatly denied the charges that".
Am I thinking in the right ...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
In real estate, what is a split plan? [closed]
I'm looking through house listings and keep coming across "split plan." This is not a synonym of "split level," because the houses are pretty flat. What is a "split plan" house?
0
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3answers
54 views
Party organized by the students of a department
At German universities, there student councils, called "Fachshaft", which is an extracurricular representative structure for students.
Each year (or semester), the student councils organize parties ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Attributive or Possessive noun
In the following is it better to use a possessive noun with an apostrophe or an attributive noun without an apostrophe?
The following list details the assumptions that have been made in
...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Does the word “simpleness” actually exist? [closed]
I always thought the word "simpleness" didn't exist and this was even confirmed by some American friends of mine. However, I tried to look it up on some online dictionaries and I was surprised to find ...
0
votes
2answers
86 views
“Concision” vs. “conciseness” [closed]
Is there any difference in the meaning between concision and conciseness? Is one preferred over the other?
My friend claims that concision is more correct.
3
votes
1answer
81 views
What is a baby ling called?
Here is a ling. I was wondering what a baby ling would be called, as a a baby cod is called a cod-ling.
2
votes
1answer
266 views
What is swag? And where does it come from?
I'd just like to know where it comes from. This is a word that I've heard all my life but it has always been a special kind of curtain. I was baffled when kids started calling each other curtains so I ...
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0answers
59 views
Connotation of the word “sprezzatura ”
According to Wikipedia, sprezzatura means
a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.
...
-1
votes
1answer
65 views
Proper adjective to use with the word “chance” (“low”, “small”, “slim”, etc.)
What is the proper adjective to use with the word chance? Can chance be low, small, slim?
What would be your suggestion?
-1
votes
1answer
50 views
Jukebox - I know what a Box is but what exactly is a Juke? [closed]
What exactly is a Juke? I only know this word if: 1) it's attached to -box; 2) an athlete confuses his/her opponent with a series of moves.
But what is its exact origin? JEP
0
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1answer
34 views
Usage and spelling of “wordlength” and “bitbreadth”
As far as I know, these are the meanings:
wordlength — for instance, 4 bytes when the bitbreadth is 32 and 8 bytes when the bitbreadth is 64.
bitbreadth — for example, 32 or 64 or 4 bits for a ...
3
votes
3answers
88 views
Is a ship's biscuit a biscuit or a cake?
Cakes go hard when they are stale. Biscuits go soft when they are stale.
So, what about a ship's biscuit?
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1answer
84 views
I am looking for a word that is the same as “aspiration” but it's done
For example if you wish to do or have something, you can use aspiration. What word is the best to use for things that you have and done already?
I was thinking about accomplishment, but it only ...
1
vote
3answers
68 views
What word means “the thing you added”
What word means "the thing(s) you added to something"? It's something like 'addium' or something Latin-like! But I can't really remember.
I remember seeing it used in some context as follows.
You ...
0
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0answers
25 views
Doubts on relation - Father and Son [closed]
If I have a statement of the form George is the father of James, who is in fact the father of Thomas. Then how do I expand it ?
Is it that
James is the father of Thomas
Or
George is the father ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Hypernym for injured and dead
I'm working on some project that deals with natural disasters. I need to find the most proper word that can be used to refer to someone who either was injured or died in a disaster.
Can I use ...
0
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2answers
69 views
Correct punctuation with two nouns? [duplicate]
There's an old play on words that goes like so:
Grammar: The difference between helping your uncle Jack off a horse, and helping your uncle jack off a horse.
I've been told that it should ...
25
votes
3answers
2k views
What kind of noun is a picture?
I'm not sure of the right place to ask this, but I got confused trying to understand how the computer will interpret the sentence:
This is my picture.
In actual sense, the real owner of the ...
-1
votes
4answers
157 views
Does “neighbor” really mean “he who lives close”?
I thought that's what it means, but Dictionary.com says that it can also mean
One's fellow human being: to be generous toward one's less fortunate neighbors.
A person who shows kindliness or ...
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1answer
1k views
Technical English is not the part of technology’. [closed]
'Technical English is not the part of technology’.
1
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2answers
77 views
First printed use of the word “diagram” in English
I’m trying to track down the first printed use of the word diagram in English. Can anyone tell me the name, author, and date of the publication in question? It would be especially valuable, on top of ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Migratory or migration?
In this phrase:
the migratory activity of white blood cells
is it possible to replaced the adjective migratory by the noun migration, which also serves as an adjective? Only one variant is ...
3
votes
5answers
288 views
Difference between “jargon” and “technical terms”
Each subject matter has its own set of terms called jargon which is expressed in its particular grammatical rules. Technical terminology or Term of Art is the specialized vocabulary of any specialized ...
