How and why certain words are used in varying ways within various contexts.
3
votes
2answers
77 views
Does “Paraphernalia” have a negative connotation?
By definition, the word paraphernalia does not portray either negative or positive emotions. Does it, in everyday usage?
In my particular case, I am making a website about programming. I have a ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Can one feel claustrophobic?
I often hear people say they "feel claustrophobic" (e.g. in a lift). This sounds wrong. To me, one is claustrophobic, or one feels claustrophobia.
Am I correct in assuming the expression "to feel ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
about the expression 'on someone's behalf'
I know the expression 'on (someone's) behalf' usually reads or is understood as 'instead of someone' but I'm wondering if it's possible for it to have a benefactive reading, that is, if it can be used ...
-1
votes
0answers
30 views
Please let me know what did you think of the new set of changes? [closed]
Is the question
Please let me know what did you think of the new set of changes?
a semantically correct rephrasing of the question
Are you OK with the new set of changes?
2
votes
1answer
124 views
Difference between: Also, too and as well [duplicate]
I understand that the correct usage of also is with a verb:
She was smart, she also studied so much.
However, my trouble is with too and as well, I have been reading and I just found that as ...
5
votes
2answers
133 views
Is the expression 'too much, too young' grammatically acceptable?
I'm happy to see that grammar is being seen as important enough to be taught in English schools ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22403731 ) again. I think. At least it might improve some people's ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
What's a useful replacement idiom for “money shot?”
I'm afraid I have been somewhat innocently causing offense by using the term "money shot" in its general, non-pornographic sense. My coworkers either have dirty minds or lack awareness of the other ...
0
votes
1answer
65 views
Adverse or averse? [closed]
I have been thinking about these two words for quite a while. I have looked up the dictionary on these two words and it seemed as if the two words are not identical. However, there are claims of the ...
-1
votes
2answers
70 views
How do you say “I made books fall off the shelf” [closed]
One way is to say "I spilled the books off the shelf". I am looking for a more suitable usage of words.
6
votes
1answer
181 views
Using “rather” to correct a misstatement
For some reason I have it in my head that I can use the word "rather" at the end of a phrase to indicate that I am correcting a previous misstatement.
For example:
Down the hall, you'll find the ...
0
votes
4answers
63 views
Alternatives to “enthusiasm declined”? [closed]
I'd like to say something like "My enthusiasm declined after I read the news", but I'm not sure decline goes well with enthusiasm. Is there a better alternative? Or is decline just fine?
0
votes
1answer
63 views
“Customer usage” or “customer use”? [duplicate]
I'm working for a truck manufacturer and I have to analyse what our customers do with their vehicles (for example, how many kilometres do they usually drive per day, or how much fuel do they use?).
...
0
votes
2answers
53 views
“difficulty with -ing”
Is this usage of "to have difficulty with" ok?
I've been having some difficulty with reading the books that I decide to read.
A Google search suggested that the "with" may perhaps be dropped, but ...
0
votes
3answers
172 views
Use of “though” versus “however”
Consider the sentence
E-books are on the rise, but they haven't suppressed paper books though.
This usage seems to be quite common, but when I learned English I was taught to use "however" ...
-2
votes
4answers
222 views
Why is poker a “sport” and not just a “game?” [closed]
So, first off, as tempting as it might be to do so, this is not an invitation to wax poetic on poker. I actually don't play it, but I know how it works.
The question really is one of etymology. ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
What does “Take the disguise” mean?
I was reading this particular sentence:
She took the disguise of an old woman and came to Eleusis, where she was welcomed by the family of King Celeus.
Disguise means costume. So, does it mean ...
3
votes
1answer
271 views
Is using past participle instead of present one more polite?
On christianity.stackexchange.com I asked this question:
"Is it true that John Paul the Second restored the practice of selling indulgences in 2000?"
and one supporter suggested that I replace ...
2
votes
1answer
112 views
Should I say “I make a living by teaching” or “I make a living teaching”? Which one is correct? Is the preposition 'by' necessary?
I am confused about the correct usage of the phrasal verb, 'make a living'. I don't know whether I should add the preposition 'by' at the end of it.
I looked up several dictionaries, most of which ...
2
votes
5answers
7k views
When to use 'ourselves' vs. 'our self'
I wrote
when we place our self
meaning each one of us, his or her self -- and was told to use "ourselves" instead. Who is right?
0
votes
0answers
58 views
Can I say “I take my son to school by car everyday”? [migrated]
I drive my son to school. How to say it in correct English? Can I say "I drop my son"?
I am not on my way to work and return home after dropping him.
-2
votes
1answer
85 views
“Perhaps” versus “probably” [closed]
Can I say
Perhaps the most natural option is to...
instead of
The most natural option is probably to...
Do these two sentences have the same meaning? Generally speaking, should I prefer ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
“Still” and “Yet” as Conjunctions
I know there are already many posts on still and yet, but I really find it difficult to use them as conjunction as in following sentences:
It's a small car, yet/still it's surprisingly ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
What does “pacing is spot on” mean? [closed]
What is the exact meaning of pacing is spot on, especially in the context of film and cinema?
Example:
For Argo, pacing is spot on.
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Is “to” inclusive in “I worked at company X from April 2012 to April 2013”? [duplicate]
I have a question about the use of the word to as a time proposition. Is to inclusive in the following sentence?
I worked at company X from April 2012 to April 2013.
1
vote
1answer
29 views
“Curious X”: X is the subject or an object
When 'curious' is used as an adjective (e.g., in the construction "A is a curious B"), there is ambiguity as to whether the noun it modifies is:-
The subject: A feels curious (e.g., "Humans are a ...
2
votes
0answers
89 views
Use of “any more than” to relate two different situations [closed]
In the following quote by Billy Sunday “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” can anyone pls explain/elaborate the usage and meaning of ...
-1
votes
1answer
92 views
Things singular or plural? [closed]
Which sentence is correct, and why?
Things needs to be done.
Things need to be done.
Do I count things as the plural of "thing" or can "things" be counted as a singular noun? What about ...
3
votes
2answers
95 views
To write or to write to?
Is it correct to say "I wrote him" or "I wrote to him"? My Mother was a stickler for English grammar and would say "I wrote your Uncle..." rather than "I wrote to your Uncle..."
-2
votes
1answer
131 views
Meaning and usage of “Make me”
Sometimes the literal translations of "slang" sentences just don't make sense, so after reading a "Make me" answer (which I consider slang, due to its informal use, if I'm not wrong) to a request I ...
0
votes
2answers
38 views
“Lucid intervals” usage?
Does "Lucid Interval" immediately bring to mind medical disorder? I would like to use it as the title for a blog and I don't want people to be put off.
1
vote
3answers
200 views
Does “intellectual gymnastics” always have a negative connotation?
As far as I know, “intellectual gymnastics” is used in a negative sense. For example, the discipline of philosophy can be belittled as “intellectual gymnastics”.
However, a university in Japan seems ...
3
votes
4answers
93 views
Is it “Ministry of Economy” or “Ministry of the Economy”?
Recently, a government official gave me a business card that stated the official's department as "Ministry of Economy."
I did a double take, because, in my mind, I took that to mean "Ministry of ...
0
votes
0answers
68 views
Where are you AT? [duplicate]
Is the use of the redundant "at" a regional idiosyncracy? As in "Where are you at?" when asking someone their physical location, or progress in a project? It seems to be a Chicago regional saying.
2
votes
0answers
32 views
Does issue as “Offspring, progeny; a child or children” have modern usage? [closed]
When looking at the word "issue" in the thesaurus I noticed that children was given as one of the definitions. Having not seen issue used in this context before, I decided to do some investigation. ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Difference between “Knock it off!” and “Drop it!”
What is the difference between "Knock it off!" and "Drop it!". I do translate both as "Stop it". Is there any context-based usage difference? Thank you.
-1
votes
1answer
116 views
Is this sentence correct - “what an ephemeral rendezvous we had”?
I met some girls last month, and recently I came in contact with one of them. And I really wanted to say something about our first meeting. Can you please tell me if the following sentence is correct ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
“nones” used to describe people who are spiritual, but not religious
I work for the Church and I've seen the term "nones" used to describe those who are non-Christian or those who are considered "spiritual, but not religious." I find the term belittling. What's the ...
-2
votes
1answer
102 views
Why 007 said “You weren't using it”? [closed]
I've watched 007 skyfall. Had one scene, that Agent was driving and 007 sat beside her. She drove very fast and then car side mirror was removed because crashed with something beside the road.
after ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
When to use “programming's” vs. “programming is” [duplicate]
My sentence can be said as:
Programming is fun.
and it can also be said as:
Programming's fun.
Both seem to be correct. When should I use one instead of the other?
-2
votes
2answers
47 views
Up to versus one's responsibility
Can "up to" be used to convey the idea of one's responsibility like in the quoted sentence below:
It is up to the system to set all the needed variables.
Is this usage natural or is there any ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
Is it “to play a game on someone” or “play games with someone”?
I find this expression strange because it's clearly widely used, but seems sort of "unofficial", the "official" version, meaning the one described in dictionaries and grammar books, being playing ...
-1
votes
1answer
86 views
An approach to do something vs. an approach to doing something
What is the preferred way to express something like this:
An approach to design a software system
(here design is a verb)
or
An approach to design of a software system
(here design is a ...
1
vote
2answers
167 views
“Normalise” or “normalize” (British English)?
Is normalise perhaps obsolete in British English, and normalize preferred instead?
I have done some Googling, it seems British English dictionaries prefer normalize, but I haven't found any ...
1
vote
1answer
100 views
Which abbreviation for the world wars is more correct; WWI or WW1?
At my daughter's school, there is an exercise in general knowledge; this term's is about " The World Wars". The question posed is which abbreviation is correct, the first with Roman numerals or the ...
0
votes
2answers
131 views
How can you encourage native speakers to correct mistakes non-native speakers make? [closed]
My English is pretty advanced, yet I still make mistakes (not many, but some).
I am constantly talking to native speakers and always tell them to correct my mistakes.
My problem is that in most ...
-1
votes
2answers
72 views
Is it OK to replace the preposition “through” with “during”? [closed]
You'll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who's working his way through college.
This is a line from President Obama's address. My question is why it is through ...
0
votes
3answers
79 views
Although correct, is “the above” to be avoided?
Although the phrase the above is not exactly incorrect, should it be avoided?
For example, imagine a letter with a heading "Re: Order for 79 purple cardboard slugs". Should a paragraph in the letter ...
1
vote
4answers
119 views
What's the meaning of “I put the chic in freak”?
I am a non-native speaker of English (Polish) and I teach English as a Foreign Language in Poland. A few months ago I came across this phrase / sentence printed on the student's notebook and got ...
0
votes
3answers
558 views
Behind of or in front of?
We daily use terms like "I was sitting in front of the television" and "Spent the all day behind the computer".
What is the most appropriate term to use and why is it that people sit in front of the ...
4
votes
2answers
131 views
Is it typical native speaker usage to inconsistently use the pronoun “one” in a paragraph?
[NB: This is a re-post of a closed question that was rightly judged "off topic". It does present an interesting problem, though, so I've rewritten it and asked an on-topic usage question.]
Is it ...
