Tagged Questions
0
votes
1answer
29 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
69 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 ...
-1
votes
0answers
34 views
standard vs. criterion [closed]
What's the difference between the two words?
Can I use "criterion" in the following sentence?
That company sets the standard in this profession.
1
vote
2answers
58 views
Meaning of the word “findings”? [closed]
I need to find a word to define the products you see in the capture.
The best match I've found is findings.
Is this word the correct one? Is there a better word for these products?
0
votes
2answers
42 views
How frequent is the use of 'Appropriation' in American English compared with British English?
How frequently is the word 'Appropriation' used in American English? In what contexts might young people commonly hear it?
1
vote
1answer
101 views
“Choices” vs. “options”
Are the two words synonyms? Is it grammatically correct to say "you have two choices, this or that?" Isn't that one choice? Should it not be "you have one choice, this or that" or "you have two ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Does “approbate one's flaws” make sense?
I'm going for a little stronger word than accept and I like the word approbate.
To approbate my flaws.
Does it work?
3
votes
4answers
207 views
Religious use of “exegete”
I've noticed quite a number of religious professionals of late have used phrases such as "let's exegete this text" or "we need to exegete Paul's meaning here." Of course, an exegete is one skilled in ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Can we use “commiseration” and “condolence” interchangeably?
On what occasions can we use these terms and are they perfect synonym for each other to use interchangeably?
Can we say to someone who has lost a friend "our commiseration to ..."?
-1
votes
2answers
55 views
Is “rightsayer” a word? [closed]
Is "rightsayer" a word that describes someone that believes themselves to always be right?
0
votes
2answers
154 views
It is common to call washing machines “washers”? [closed]
According to Wikipedia:
A washing machine (laundry machine, washing machine, clothes washer, or washer) is a machine to wash laundry, such as clothing and sheets.
I think some washing machines ...
3
votes
2answers
89 views
“Dysfunction” as a verb?
I wonder if it is possible to use the noun "dysfunction" as a verb.
It is certainly a noun, but in general use it seems to mean something far more awful and much less technical than "malfunction". ...
0
votes
3answers
128 views
Is “setup” an acceptable noun in formal writing?
I'm editing a draft of a scientific paper which repeatedly uses the word "setup" to refer to the, well, experimental setup.
Example:
The dimensions of the setup are 250 mm × 250 mm × 50 mm.
...
13
votes
6answers
502 views
Does the word “newbie” have a negative connotation?
Imagine that I'm running a friendly and informal online business. I would like to introduce my service to the new customers by a blog post that entitles, 'Are you a newbie to XYZ.com?'. Will that ...
0
votes
1answer
189 views
What is the difference between “vocabulary” and “word”? [closed]
Why does my English teacher usually point out my mistake when I wrote the following sentence?
I learned a lot of new vocabulary. -> I learned a lot of new vocabulary words.
Why do I have to put ...
1
vote
2answers
59 views
Using the word “deadbeat” as an adjective
BBC quotes President Obama:
America is "not a deadbeat nation", US President Barack Obama has said, as he warned Republicans unconditionally to approve a rise in the US debt ceiling.
It appears ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
“To consolidate cost”
Is it correct to use the expression "consolidate cost" when you add cost figures in a specific period of time? The context is a description of what a piece of code is doing:
consolidate cost over ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
Why does “corn” mean “maize” in American English?
I keep hearing "corn" as a synonym of "maize". This is widely popularized worldwide by popcorn. However, this is American English! In British English, "corn" can mean any type of "grain", especially ...
0
votes
3answers
152 views
Can we use “liaison” casually?
Then there was the Mad Russian, who made her laugh and behaved
impossibly badly and proposed to her daily. Some other shorter-lived
liaisons, now forgotten. Then Henry.
— William Nicholson, ...
-1
votes
5answers
78 views
Alternative for “seats” in expressions such as “40% of the total seats are reserved for students of backward cast”
All of the leading educational institutes have 60% of their seats reserved for students of backward castes. It is a fairly common expression and a sad fact in India.
What would be an alternative to ...
0
votes
2answers
76 views
“He knows his counterparts in each branch”
Can I use the word counterpart this way:
He knows his counterparts in each branch.
The context is that he works as the marketing manager in one of the company branches. And the counterparts ...
4
votes
3answers
259 views
Usage of the word “demise”
Is it appropriate to use demise in the following sentence:
it is with deep sympathy that we announce the sad demise of ...
It sounds archaic and I was not sure whether it was used correctly. How ...
4
votes
2answers
137 views
Using the word 'kind' for a category
I found on englishplus (accessed on 23 Dec 2012) that the phrase 'kind of animal' refers to a category of animal.
If you are using an expression like kind of, sort of, type of, or variety of, ...
2
votes
4answers
304 views
Is it common to use “grocery” as a verb?
My favorite NY-Times columnist Maureen Dowd who consistently supplies me the material for posting questions in EL&U site begins today’s (December 8) article titled “A Lost Civilization” with the ...
5
votes
3answers
113 views
Usage of the word “genocide”
I am wondering whether the word genocide can also be used for the killing of a group of people based on their religion, for example: 'the Sikh genocide'. I have never seen it used that way, I have ...
1
vote
4answers
389 views
Is it appropriate to use “sport”, “champ”, or “kiddo” to call a child (e.g. your son)?
I'm Spanish, just in case some of you think this question is kind of silly.
I watch TV series in English very frequently to practise my listening skills. The words I've heard in relation to children ...
5
votes
4answers
355 views
Can “zealot” have a positive connotation?
A zealot is a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
I have never seen this word used with positive connotation, but could it (without ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Are legs a choice? [closed]
Legs are a choice in that we could choose not to have them by cutting them off.
Is it correct here to use the word choice meaning "an option"?
Is it correct to say that legs are a choice I could ...
0
votes
2answers
147 views
What is the correct usage of the word “frontier”? [closed]
How to use the word frontier correctly?
For example, is this sentence correct:
Imagination enables going beyond the scientific knowledge frontier.
2
votes
4answers
332 views
“Parishioner” vs. “congregant”
I've always thought that the words parishioner and congregant meant the same thing and could be used interchangeably within the context of someone who attends a place of worship. Are there any ...
2
votes
1answer
296 views
What is the difference between 'framework curriculum' and 'curricular framework'?
I know that curricular is an adjective and curriculum a noun, but are they both used in exactly the same meaning? Or are there some differences concerning what they imply or apply to? Being a ...
2
votes
2answers
102 views
Can I use “adjournment” as antonym of “inauguration”, is there a word for “last time use”?
I would like to know if there is an antonym to inauguration? By inauguration I mean "first time use of".
I googled this and thesaurus provided me with "adjournment". Can I use it in the following ...
4
votes
3answers
269 views
Usage — referring to my husband as my son's dad?
I received an invitation for a session at my son's (John) school. The teacher had asked us to confirm our attendance for the event. I wrote the following
John's Dad and I will be attending the ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
“The language of the question/answer”
Are these sentences correct?
I have changed the language of the question, so that you may understand easily.
I have changed the language of the answer, so that you may understand easily.
...
2
votes
4answers
602 views
“Go to the country”, “go to the countryside”
I'm a non-native speaker of English. A lot of people say although you would say 'I went to the country,' meaning 'I went to a rural area,' you wouldn't likely say 'I went to the countryside.' Is this ...
0
votes
1answer
435 views
A proper definition for “hogget”?
This is the meaning of hogget in the Collins English Dictionary:
a sheep up to the age of one year that has yet to be sheared
the meat of this sheep
So, is a lamb a hogget? This ...
7
votes
5answers
619 views
Is there a particular name for this kind of “poster”? Is this called a poster?
I was talking to a friend and wanted to speak about a particular kind of "poster" that has small hanging strips of paper containing information about services, sellers, or in this case the cat owner:
...
6
votes
7answers
362 views
Is the word “throwee” acceptable?
I wanted to have a word to refer to the thing being thrown, so I decided to use the word "throwee". I can't find this word in online dictionaries, so I guess this word does not exist in the English ...
1
vote
4answers
163 views
Can a person be described as fugue?
Can a person be described as "fugue" or is it reserved only for a state? Can the word be used as a modifier for something other than a living thing's state?
Fugue: (from merriam-webster.com)
a ...
3
votes
2answers
200 views
Can the word “luxury” be used as a concrete noun?
I was wondering if we can use the word "luxury" to refer to a "luxurious item",
For example, are the sentences below considered grammatical? :
I have a luxury.
I have one luxury.
I have three ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
What's the difference between 'fowl' and 'poultry'?
As the title says, I'm interested in the semantic difference between these two words.
OALD gives the definition of fowl as "a bird that is kept for its meat and eggs, for example a chicken."
Poultry ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views
Is there a word for the extreme opposite of “irony”
My understanding of irony comes from the movie "Reality Bites":
It's when the actual meaning is the complete opposite from the literal meaning
Frequently people use the term incorrectly, ...
7
votes
7answers
7k views
“Integrity” vs. “honesty”—what's the difference?
In what situations would you say that someone "has integrity" as opposed to "behaves with honesty"?
For instance, if an employee is meticulous about reporting his hours, does he have integrity or is ...
10
votes
3answers
3k views
Is there a difference between “leading edge” and “bleeding edge”?
It seems to me that "leading edge" is the more established phrase, while "bleeding edge" is basically the same thing but the user has adapted the phrase for extra (rather meaningless) emphasis.
Or is ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Difference between “function” and “operation”
Which one of the following is correct?
Instructions given by the Vice Principal on behalf of the Principal for smooth function of the school must be followed by all staff members.
or
...
3
votes
1answer
621 views
Etymology of seemingly weird collective nouns [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Terms for collections of animals
In the collective names unkindness of ravens, shrewdness of apes, murder of crows, I cannot find any remote relation to a group. What is ...
1
vote
1answer
251 views
Is ‘eclectic bunch’ trendy instead of simply saying ‘a group of different types of constituents'?
I found the words ‘eclectic bunch’ in the following sentence of a New York Times (July 29, 2011) article reporting increase in foraging in city parks, which is titled ‘Enjoy Park Greenery, City Says, ...
3
votes
1answer
405 views
Good example of “hubris”
If a person needs help but will not ask for it because they don't want to need to depend on other people (based on their pride), is the word hubris fitting to describe this?
How would you use it in ...
3
votes
4answers
311 views
Is integer a commonly understood term?
Is it common for an English speaking person to understand the word "integer" (i.e. the whole numbers ..., -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, ...)?
Or should I not use that word outside the domain of mathematics or ...
4
votes
2answers
655 views
Damage vs. Damages
The word damage is non-count and its plural turns into a different definition (court-awarded money). Am I incorrect in thinking that damages can also be used to indicate various types/kinds of damage? ...
