A sentence is a set of words that is complete in itself, typically containing a subject and predicate.
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12answers
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When is it appropriate to end a sentence in a preposition?
Like many others, I commonly find myself ending a sentence with a preposition. Yes, it makes me cringe. I usually rewrite the sentence, but sometimes (in emails) I just live with it. To, with... ...
19
votes
5answers
2k views
Is there some rule against ending a sentence with the contraction “it's”?
I heard this lyric in a song the other day and it just sounded so wrong that I assumed it must be incorrect grammar, but I can't find any specific prohibition that applies.
That's what it's.
...
20
votes
2answers
3k views
How do you capitalize a proper noun such as “iPhone”?
I was always taught to capitalize the first letter of the first word in a sentence, and also the first letter of proper nouns. In the last few years it's been common for certain firms to name their ...
14
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5answers
3k views
Is it really incorrect to start a sentence with “and”?
I know it's wrong, but I do it all the time or else my sentences would go on forever.
12
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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?
25
votes
10answers
3k views
Can a sentence start with “Because”?
In my grade school days, I recall a teacher proclaiming to the class:
You should never start a sentence with the word "Because".
Of course, I've since seen lots of examples to the contrary, and ...
1
vote
1answer
960 views
Capitalization of names that begin lowercased, at the beginning of a sentence [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
How Should Trademarks be Written?
How do you capitalize a proper noun such as “iPhone”?
Many products these days have names that intentionally begin with ...
15
votes
14answers
9k views
26
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12answers
3k views
“Nothing to tell” versus “nothing to say”
There's nothing to tell.
There's nothing to say.
Can anyone explain the difference between those two statements and give some examples on how they should be used? I think I do have a basic ...
20
votes
6answers
606 views
Is there any valid rule discouraging the use of a certain word to start a sentence?
Is there any rule you think is valid that discourages the use of a certain word to start a sentence?
Because I suspect the answer is no.
But it would be good to have a blanket answer to this kind of ...
2
votes
2answers
651 views
Capitalising a sentence whose first word is explicitly lowercase [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Capitalization of names that begin lowercased, at the beginning of a sentence
Let's say that you have a word that should be typed with leading lowercase letter. Perhaps ...
12
votes
1answer
570 views
How to deal with abbreviations at the end of a question?
In a sentence like
Should we host them on imgur et cetera?
where I want to abbreviate the "et cetera", what is the correct punctuation? Using a period after the "etc." like mid sentence usages ...
10
votes
4answers
364 views
Why am I always compelled to begin a response with “Well, ”?
Because of a certain 140 character limit I've learned where I can trim characters on responses but even after all this time I still reply with "Well, so and so . . ." and I go back and have to delete ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
When using complete sentences in parenthetical e.g. or i.e. situations, should the first word be capitalized?
In a bulleted list of very technical sentences, where each bulleted item has one or two parenthetical examples or restatements which are complete sentences, should the first letter of each e.g. or ...
2
votes
0answers
965 views
Are there other repeated single word sentences like the Buffalo sentence? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Awkward sounding but grammatically correct sentences?
My friend told me about the Buffalo sentence:
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
buffalo buffalo Buffalo ...
13
votes
3answers
2k views
Starting an independent statement with “I mean, …”
A friend was noting that his daughter would occasionally start sentences with the phrase "I mean, " simply for emphasis, not for clarification:
Friend: How was the Miley Cyrus concert?
...
8
votes
3answers
8k views
Sentences beginning with “so”?
This also came up on either a BBC or CBC science program, but not as a linguistically-oriented discussion.
Over the last two or three years I've noticed a lot more people starting a sentence with ...
5
votes
1answer
386 views
“I give nothing to no-one” or “I do not give anything to anyone”
I have a bit of an issue with negations. Are the following correct?
I do not give anything to anyone //I guess this is correct
I give nothing to no-one //can I say that?
Generally, is it the same ...
1
vote
1answer
412 views
Do “that” and “it” refer to different things in this sentence?
He likes going to the library
to study. That always makes her happy.
What if the last sentence were to be changed to
It always makes her happy.
Do these two sentences mean something ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
Is a sentence always grammatically incorrect if it has no verb?
Is the following grammatically correct? My friend says the second sentence is grammatically incorrect, but couldn't explain why.
I have always been fascinated by statistics. The different ways in
...
5
votes
4answers
574 views
Attributive and predicative position of an adjective
I have some difficulty understanding the position of adjectives.
In English I have to put the adjective before the referred name (e.g., I'm an Italian man).
In some languages (as Italian or Ancient ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
“Outside” or “outside of”?
The word rarely turns up outside that context.
and
The word rarely turns up outside of that context.
Which one is correct and why?
1
vote
3answers
828 views
How can I rephrase compound sentences to make them simpler?
Following Martha's advise I am splitting up a question Compound sentences, the punctuation and mooore.
Consider the following sentence:
One of the items that needed a further development was a ...
0
votes
1answer
329 views
Can't understand the meaning of “facile” in these example [closed]
I found the meaning of facile is easy, getting something without effort.
http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/facile
I have read those sentences. But can't understand it clearly.
I'm trying to ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Meaning of “you don't need no memory” and its grammar or rhetoric [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“We don't need no education”
You don't need no memory.
Just don't know what it means.
21
votes
7answers
3k views
Is it acceptable to start a sentence with “however”?
I have heard that starting a sentence with however is wrong. What are the grounds for this view and is it still held by a majority of pedants?
They would suggest changing
However, some people are ...
4
votes
4answers
529 views
What to do if a sentence ends with “Yahoo!”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to handle a name that includes an exclamation point (or other punctuation)?
Just like the title of this question.
I was reading an article about CAPTCHAs on ...
1
vote
3answers
171 views
Do these adjectives refer to ice?
In this sentence from Wuthering Heights
I declined joining their breakfast, and, at the first gleam of dawn,
took an opportunity of escaping into the free air, now clear, and
still, and cold ...
10
votes
2answers
5k views
Can you grammatically end a sentence with “with”?
Do you want to come with?
Can I come with?
I seem to hear this construction more often in recent years, but it still grates on my ear.
I know it's often said that one shouldn't end a ...
7
votes
1answer
504 views
Is it okay to start a sentence with a Greek letter (variable)?
Is it okay to start a sentence with a variable? Do I need to rewrite a sentence just because the subject is typeset as a Greek letter?
For example:
Φ is treated in a special way.
vs.
...
4
votes
2answers
868 views
Is “Please advise” a real sentence?
Is
Please advise
really a sentence?
If so, is it because there is an implied subject (I am not sure if that even exists)?
4
votes
6answers
7k views
Forming valid one word sentences
I remember my English teacher saying that there are only two valid ways to make a one-word sentence:
A question:
Why? Where?
A command:
Go! Stop!
Is this correct?
3
votes
2answers
297 views
Answering questions with a negation at the end
How are you supposed to answer a question like this (assuming you're from Minnesota)?
You are a Minnesotan, no?
Are you supposed to give the same answer as your answer to this question or give ...
9
votes
3answers
991 views
The sentence with the most prepositions at its end — does it really work?
What did you bring that book that I don't want to be read to from out of about 'Down Under' up for?
I was wondering whether this sentence is actually correct and if it is, whether someone could ...
6
votes
3answers
4k views
What does “find someone well” mean?
I got some email from a stranger that contains:
I hope this email finds you well.
So what does "find you well" means here? Does it mean "Are you well" or "The email find the right guy"? I'm a ...
3
votes
2answers
425 views
What is the meaning of this sentence - “Were it not for the bodies there on the ground, it would have appeared to be a normal day at the oasis.”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Conditional sentences not starting with “if”
What is the meaning of this sentence - "Were it not for the bodies there on the ground, it would have appeared to be a ...
3
votes
2answers
633 views
“Not possible” and “Impossible”
When we say,
It is not fair.
or
It is unfair.
I'm not sure enough to say whether both of the sentences have the same meaning or not though superficially, there is no difference between ...
3
votes
3answers
484 views
Is it a good idea to begin a sentence with a number or a variable name?
Is it acceptable to have the following sentences in formal writing?
2.5 years have already been completed.
or
n shows the number of something.
2
votes
2answers
832 views
Is “Just because X doesn't mean Y” a grammatical sentence? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Sentence Construction: “Just Because … Does Not Mean”
“just because… doesn't mean…”
I'm wondering if "Just because X doesn't mean Y" is a grammatical ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
Can I start a sentence with “i.e.”?
While writing a rhetorical question I ran into a case where it seemed natural to start a sentence with "I.e":
How do we handle the case when the list is empty? I.e., if the filter matched no ...
2
votes
2answers
308 views
Is the sentence “we grew warmer and warmer” grammatical?
I did a Google search on the the sentence, "We grew warmer and warmer," and it only came up with a few hits, not even one page worth. So is this grammatically incorrect? Is there a better way to put ...
1
vote
1answer
971 views
What does “Fight through the pain” mean?
What does sentence "Fight through the pain" mean? I heard this sentence in XBox360 game Gears of War. Can the sentence be also used with other verbs - can it be simply expressed as pattern "Do ...
