Questions about (online and offline) resources.
2
votes
2answers
57 views
How does one find a word with a rhyming middle syllable?
In conversation today I wanted to find a set of words that have an "or" sound in their middles, as in "torrent" and "sorcerer".
I couldn't find one. Most rhyming dictionaries I found only concerned ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views
Where can I find an English dictionary that can be used as reference? [duplicate]
I usually use Google Translate to translate from my language into English and vice versa. But sometimes the translation is not right as words have different meanings depending on context, or maybe the ...
3
votes
5answers
2k views
Is there a list of all English words (singular and plural) anywhere on the net?
Does anyone know of a resource online that lists all known English words, including plural and singular forms of a word?
-1
votes
1answer
83 views
Is there a way to search for a specific sentence structure in a long text? [closed]
I'm looking for a way to search/count all the sentences in a bunch of text where there is a lack of personal pronouns. For example, "laundry gets folded", "laundry is folded" satisfy this condition ...
-1
votes
1answer
150 views
Is there any book about origins of phrasal verbs' meaning?
In Macmillan dictionary, 3rd meaning of roll up:
[TRANSITIVE] if you roll a car window up, you turn a handle or push a button
so that the window goes up
I've learned 'roll up' below:
...
1
vote
1answer
210 views
What pronunciation does Google dictionary use?
I generally use the "define" Google search tool to find what a word means, and how it should be pronounced correctly. Unlike websites like thefreedictionary.com, Google doesn't tell you what ...
0
votes
0answers
43 views
Is there any software which tells us word for a phrase? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are your favorite English language tools?
I am searching for a piece of software or an online application where I enter a phrase or a particular action and get a ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Which is the definitive reference for the English language [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Regulatory bodies and authoritative dictionaries for English
What are your favorite English language tools?
This should be a reference for word meaning and usage, which ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
Resources describing Somerset English [closed]
Can anyone suggest any good resources describing the grammar of traditional Somerset English (not accented standard English)? The Wikipedia article for the West Country dialects provides a good ...
80
votes
42answers
4k views
What are your favorite English language tools? [closed]
This will prevent myself from asking an obvious, silly question again. What are the English language tools you found most useful?
I found Corpus Concordance English extremely useful for looking up ...
0
votes
2answers
167 views
Vocabulary resources for abstract concepts [closed]
I watch out for a resource that provides me with vocabulary for comparatively 'abstract' concepts, which means words from areas such as:
emotional/inner states
communication
personal relationships
...
3
votes
0answers
234 views
What's the best resource for improving everyday speaking? [closed]
I'm having a job interview in a month. My writing, reading and listening are good. However, I have weak conversation skills. I need an efficient resource to improve my speaking. Any resource is ...
5
votes
3answers
239 views
Count vs. mass — where can you look this up?
Most dictionaries don't say whether a noun is count vs. mass. Short of asking a fluent English speaker, where can you get this kind of information?
I've tried asking various other ESL/EFL people I ...
4
votes
2answers
352 views
Idiom thesaurus? [closed]
Can you recommend some searchable resource that maps given expression onto idioms meaning that thing?
There are quite a few dictionaries that contain a list of idioms containing a given word which is ...
3
votes
5answers
387 views
Archaic text suggestions
I'm interested in learning Archaic English. As a starting point, I guess simple texts that are easy to comprehend would be a good choice. I would appreciate any suggestions.
-1
votes
1answer
247 views
List of truncated words [closed]
I don't know if I'm in the right place, but I was wondering if anyone knows where I can find a list of truncated words (and if possible the complete word). For example, tho ⇒ though.
-1
votes
0answers
31 views
Is there any grammar or vocabulary reference reliable enough? [duplicate]
Duplicate of:
Regulatory bodies and authoritative dictionaries for English
In other languages there are official institutions which control the development of the language and provide ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
Is there an online sample sentence database or search engine?
Sometime, I am not sure if I use a specific word correctly. I would like to get some sample sentences to learn from.
So, is there a online sample sentence database/search engine?
-2
votes
1answer
116 views
Does and online repository exist for texts written in African American English / 'Ebonics'? [closed]
I wonder whether I can find a work of literature in AAE somewhere? I mean not citations of conversations or songs etc, but a full-fledged story or novel or technical text.
1
vote
2answers
217 views
What irregular verbs are there in Early Modern English?
Can anyone tell me, or direct me to a site where it would have a list of, irregular verbs in Early Modern English? I understand verbs such as "to be" or "to have", but how many more are there, and ...
3
votes
2answers
194 views
Order of definitions in dictionaries
Are dictionary definitions for words with multiple meanings ordered based on chronology, hierarchy, or frequency of usage? Is/was there a standard format?
2
votes
2answers
175 views
Proper usage of pronouns
As an ESL student, sometimes I wonder whether I use too many pronouns. For example:
She grabbed her purse, she took some money and then she went to buy some groceries. After that she returned ...
4
votes
1answer
828 views
Distinctive features of English diphthongs
I am looking for a table of distinctive features for English dipthongs along the lines of that available for other vowels here. I don't trust my purely book learned linguistic skills to produce an ...
17
votes
4answers
2k views
What are some of the better English reference grammars?
What is your favorite English reference grammar, particularly in terms of accuracy and completeness? Please note I am not asking for usage guides. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the best ...
6
votes
2answers
997 views
English parts of speech — better new treatments
Can anyone please recommend a better treatment of English parts of speech / word classes than that offered by most traditional grammars?
Many of the latter stick with the sacrosanct 8 of antiquity, ...
0
votes
1answer
195 views
Nuances/shades-of-meaning online? [closed]
Is there an online reference resource devoted to commentary on the finer points of usage, connotation, and word choice in English?
(E.g. what nuances/shades-of-meaning/usage considerations would ...
6
votes
3answers
615 views
A dictionary based on word occurrence frequencies
Since there are so many language resources on the internet nowadays, I was wondering if there is an online dictionary(or any other language tool) that would list the words not only in the alphabetical ...
-2
votes
1answer
160 views
Learn vocabulary by translation or meaning? [closed]
I'am learning a lot a vocabulary at the moment. Which way is the best to learn a new word? By the meaning or by translation - In this case by german translation?
2
votes
2answers
134 views
What public domain thesauruses are available? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
English synonym online database?
I am working on a project which needs access to the database of a English synonyms, preferably as a raw text file. Are there any public ...
1
vote
1answer
575 views
How to check what type a noun is [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can we check if a noun is concrete or abstract?
Is there any resource or online dictionary to check the type of noun? For example: I want to check if Room, House, ...
-2
votes
2answers
178 views
Does anyone know of a markup language (XML) that represents English grammar rules? [closed]
Some colleagues and I would like to put together a grammar compendium to teach English grammar and would like to record the rules and examples in XML so as to increase the kinds of ways it can be ...
1
vote
0answers
474 views
List of all English intensifiers [closed]
Is there a list of English intensifiers available on the web? Also, for bonus points have the intensity (slight, moderate, high) with each word. I hope this is not an unreasonable request.
3
votes
1answer
516 views
How do I use the prefix 'de-' correctly?
Is there a dictionary dedicated to word prefixes? I'd like to know more about de-, but there's no uniform meaning; for example, in demystify it signifies a reverse action, while in delimit it's a ...
4
votes
2answers
555 views
Website giving pronunciations of English words recorded in different dialects?
I'm aware that there are certain websites around that provide recorded examples of English words pronounced in different accents/dialects. Could anybody list some of them?
0
votes
1answer
245 views
Looking for a grammar book [closed]
Is there any English grammar book which describe how to talk/write English instead of understand English?
For example instead of detailing all situation where "would/will" is used, describing all ...
1
vote
0answers
131 views
Where can I find sorted word lists used by native students? [closed]
I would like to find a sorted list of vocabulary that is studied by native students in primary and secondary school in UK or USA, arranged by grade level. Is there any official place to download such ...
-2
votes
1answer
325 views
No-nonsense grammar exercise book [closed]
I have want to improve my writing. Mastering grammar and spelling are building blocks of writing. Therefore I concentrate on grammar first. The books I use are:
- Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation
...
6
votes
3answers
206 views
Are published books to be considered an official reference for spelling? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Regulatory bodies and authoritative dictionaries for English
Many times I searched across several books for the usage of some words and many times I've found my results ...
1
vote
2answers
201 views
Recurring difficulty finding a concise definition of “reasoned compromise”
Today, in an attempt to clarify my thoughts on a political argument I had with a friend, I searched for a concise definition of the term "reasoned compromise".
A short Google search turned up ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Do Thomas and his friends do anything besides start the rusted wheel of things? [closed]
The melody of the theme song of the cartoon series “Thomas and his friends” matches the scansion of poem X (“March”) of A.E. Housman’s “A Shropshire Lad”. There are five verses to Housman’s poem, but ...
3
votes
0answers
208 views
Is there a thesaurus which indicates the language of origin of each word? [closed]
I would be interested in using a sort of etymological thesaurus. Imagine a normal thesaurus, but with each word in an entry somehow marked to indicate whether it comes ultimately from Latin, German, ...
4
votes
2answers
737 views
What are some good books on articulation?
I am fully capable of speaking, reading and writing (British-)English and my native language, but I find that I tend to mumble and muffle my voice. Furthermore, I would love to perfect my speech in ...
2
votes
1answer
277 views
Are there any definitive sources for English word forms?
My interest in English grammar began because of learning about the rules of grammar while learning Latin. In inter-language dictionaries, it's common to mention the declension of nouns, conjugation of ...
1
vote
2answers
910 views
Any website to look up words with similar pronunciation or spelling?
Is there any website(s) to look up words with similar pronunciation or spelling?
For example: stack, steak, stake, stick.
(It can help me as a non-native English speaker to learn confusing words.)
1
vote
1answer
407 views
Where can I find a relatively inclusive word-list for analysis of prefixes and suffixes? [closed]
To illustrate a simple example, when I encounter the word "claustrophobia", what I already knew is the left part "claustro-" means "small and enclosed", and I want to discover if "-phobia" has a fixed ...
5
votes
3answers
759 views
How to pronounce family names?
Does anyone know a tool to look up names like Rumbaugh?
Sometimes I hear something like "rumba" or even "rambo".
Is there a dictionary where I could look up the correct pronunciation?
2
votes
0answers
57 views
Commonly used sources [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are your favorite English language tools?
I have a question regarding the English language that is too general for this site according to the faq. OTOH, I don't ...
0
votes
2answers
375 views
Advice on good list of American idioms [closed]
I want to master American idioms and would like to use a complete list as a reference. Would you please suggest one?
1
vote
1answer
632 views
Prepositional phrases on the internet
Is there any online dictionary or database of prepositional phrases? What I would like is to enter e. g. "justification" and it would give me: "justification to somebody", "justification of ...
5
votes
2answers
156 views
Modern replacement for checking frequency tables?
What is the most up-to-date, robust, and reliable way to check verb (or other POS) frequencies in current usage?
Is there any hope of an algorithm involving counting Google hits and dividing by some ...
