This tag is for questions about correctly using a word.
6
votes
3answers
807 views
Reason for the current trend to use «she» as the gender-neutral pronoun?
There are some questions on gender-neutral pronouns both here and on Writers.
User Christine Letts writes:
In academia, there is currently a
movement toward using the feminine
pronoun at all ...
6
votes
4answers
4k views
“In school” vs “at school”
I sometimes get confused whether to use in or at. For example,
Children were not at school yesterday, because yesterday was a holiday.
Children were not in school yesterday, because yesterday ...
66
votes
6answers
7k views
Can “doubt” sometimes mean “question”?
I often see questions on Stack Exchange sites which I presume are written by non-native English speakers who use the word "doubt" in place of the word "question". Is this a case of misunderstanding ...
23
votes
7answers
1k views
What makes “like” and “so” popular?
So, I was like, why does everyone say like and so in every sentence? Where did this trend come from, like, what started it, and is it actually grammatically correct to like, insert like into our ...
7
votes
5answers
3k views
What's an easy way to remember when to use “affect” or “effect”?
Is there an easy way to remember when to use the word affect or effect in a sentence? It is very confusing, and I still get them mixed up.
7
votes
3answers
737 views
Why do some people say “the reason is is that,” with “is” twice in a row?
Does anybody have any conjectures as to why this quirk is so common? For an example, see this TED talk by Kevin Slavin.
5
votes
5answers
8k views
What is the proper usage of the phrase “due diligence”?
I have encountered the phrase "due diligence" in the business world. The usage examples I have seen (mostly emails) cannot exactly be considered grammatical canon. An internet search produces ...
0
votes
3answers
2k views
Do we ask for check or cheque in restaurants?
I know there is a related question asked here. But its slightly different than it and seeking more information.
I live in India, I have been to America couple of times. In my first trip it was ...
33
votes
8answers
4k views
Can I “wear an umbrella”?
Does it make sense to say the following?
Yesterday I wore an umbrella and a coat.
14
votes
2answers
4k views
People's names as names for genitalia?
How did Peter, the surname, Johnson, and the nicknames for William(Willy) and Richard(Dick), come to mean penis? Was the first instance of these usages, related to a specific person?
Are there more ...
8
votes
5answers
3k views
“Know about” vs. “know of”
Recently one of my friends told me that there is distinct difference between 'know of something' and 'know about something' expressions.
'know of' is used when you have personal experience with what ...
5
votes
5answers
4k views
“Dear Professor” vs “Dear Mr”: differences between British and American usage
In British English, is it acceptable to address a professor as "Dear Professor X" when writing a formal or informal letter? Does it sound natural?
Why I am asking this question:
I was looking ...
3
votes
4answers
376 views
Is it normal in English to talk about oneself in the third person in these cases?
A Japanese person said that it is often normal to talk about oneself in the third person in English. This is what he wrote:
For example, when you write a CV or an introduction of yourself, the
...
3
votes
2answers
683 views
Can “grammatical” mean “grammatically correct”? [closed]
I have been seeing phrases like, "That sentence isn't grammatical" etc. recently, and at first I wrote them off thinking, "Oh, well that technically isn't right, but I get what he's saying so I'm not ...
9
votes
1answer
288 views
On the usage of “etcetera”
In Spanish, we use the word etcétera at the end of an enumeration to imply there are more things to mention, which may (or not) be important, but they will be omitted. Thus, I was fairly surprised ...
9
votes
3answers
954 views
Why is Ukraine often called “the Ukraine”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using the definite article before a country/state name
Hearing the Ukraine used to make me unsure whether Ukraine was really a country. Now though I have realized ...
8
votes
4answers
726 views
Difference between “spirit” and “soul”
What is the difference between spirit and soul? Is the word soul used for only human beings? For instance,
He [Descartes] thought the brain worked as a center for the spirits of
the soul.
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Usage of “many” vs “many a”?
Can someone please elucidate the difference between "many" and "many a". In what context of usage should we add an extra "a" beside the word "many"?
For example: Many times, I had seen that..... vs
...
7
votes
5answers
667 views
When and how did “momentarily” come to mean “in a moment”, rather than “for a moment”?
"Momentarily" used to mean "for a moment" only, and not "in a moment". Thus, newscasters could be divided into two clear groups: those who would say "we'll be back momentarily," and those who would ...
6
votes
7answers
1k views
Does the term “Asian” have different meanings among various English-speaking countries?
I have always had the view that the term "Asian", when pertaining to cultures, primarily refers to the cultures of the Far East. Recently I have been told that it also includes Indian and other ...
5
votes
3answers
123 views
Does a whole “compose” its parts?
I just wrote a sentence like this and I'm wondering I've used the word compose correctly.
In order to find the length of the train, you'll need to measure the individual cars it composes.
Is ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What's a reception room / parlor / parlour / drawing room?
What's a reception room/parlor/parlour/ drawing room?
I'm thinking, is it just another word for the living room of my house?
4
votes
7answers
456 views
Can we say “on the brink of off-topic”?
I recently learned on the brink in context of to teeter on the brink of disaster.
Now, when I want to mention that something is marginal or borderline I remember on the brink.
This question is ...
4
votes
4answers
400 views
Is “since I'm” now an acceptable alternative to “since I was”?
In a recent episode of the television show Entourage, Ari Gold (a 40 year old man) says:
I've known her since I'm 19.
In an episode of Sex and the City, a character, who is 15, tells Carrie:
...
4
votes
2answers
713 views
Usage of “ain't”?
As far as I understand, "ain't" can mean either "isn't" (ain't no sunshine) or "hasn't" (you ain't seen nothing yet).
Are there any rules when "ain't" is used? Does it have a different meaning than ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Which phrase is correct: “dependent on” or “dependent upon”
which sentence is correct?
my project is dependent upon your project completing
my project is dependent on your project completing.
2
votes
3answers
328 views
Usage of “ever” in a negative statement
I know that "ever" can be used to express the strengthened negation but would it work like that?
I created a session but nobody ever joined.
Is it possible? It does not sound right to me. If ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Usage of “just”, “only” and word-order [intended meaning]
I've got these sentences, which meanings are correct (my interpretations are in brackets):
Use of only:
(1) Only in 1996, Ford sold a rebadged Mazda 626 GV over here as its rebranded Japanese ...
1
vote
3answers
632 views
Using hyphenated words in technical writing?
I always get confused when using hyphenated words in my research papers. Is there any specific rule for using hyphenated words? For example, which one of the following is the correct usage of co ...
0
votes
1answer
325 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
3answers
1k views
If 'pre' is previous, 'post' is after, what is current? [closed]
We were discussing something like pre-boss era, post-boss era. What word describes the era where the boss is still there?
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Et cetera vs Et al
Probably one of the most used word around is et cetera. I also come across people substituting et al for etc. Google says me that both of them more or less give away the same meaning 'and the others'. ...
12
votes
4answers
506 views
What are the possible meanings of positive “any more”?
Ordinary any more [usually with negative or in questions]
to any further extent; any longer:
she refused to listen any more
Positive any more is the use of the adverb any more in an ...
10
votes
2answers
615 views
What does “adorkable” mean? How popular is this word? To what kind of objects and occasions can I apply “adorkable”?
I happened to find the paperback book titled Adorkable, by Sarra Manning, on the GoodReads site.
There is no entry for adorkable in the Cambridge, Oxford or Merriam-Webster dictionaries, or in ...
6
votes
5answers
847 views
Can sound be “blurry?”
Can sound be considered "blurry?"
I have heard of visual things being "blurry." Examples of this include blurry photographs or blurred vision.
Is the word "blurry" restricted only to vision? I ...
3
votes
3answers
956 views
“At all” vs “Not at all” in negated sentences
If I say That makes sense to me. I would say definitively at all.
That makes sense to me at all.
But in the negated sentence I'm not sure. I've the feeling, that it is still at all. But if I say ...
27
votes
8answers
4k views
If someone is electrocuted, do they have to die or can they just be injured?
Is it correct to say I electrocuted my friend if he was only injured by electricity?
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Is “what on earth” still commonly used in real life? Is there any alternative that is not cursing or obscene?
I'm a non-native speaker. When I was at school, we were taught that "on earth" is used for emphasis in questions such as:
What on earth are you talking about?
However, from my experience ...
18
votes
9answers
2k views
How should “deceptively” actually be used?
I'm not sure if this is a duplicate question, but I couldn't find anything on here on the topic. I can't seem to figure out what is actually meant when using the word "deceptive," or rather, what is ...
13
votes
9answers
999 views
Word for someone who is extremely up-to-date with the latest facts (news or research)
I seek a word for one who is up-to-date, enlightened, and extremely well informed about the latest developments or research in a particular field.
An example is a person who complains about a recent ...
13
votes
3answers
2k views
What is a “Hobbesian trap”?
A recent Economist article (see The drug war hits Central America) uses something called a Hobbesian trap like this:
Central America has fallen into a
Hobbesian trap: the better-off make
...
13
votes
2answers
2k views
Is it incorrect to use “hard” when I mean “difficult”?
My late grandfather had several word-choice peeves for which he would gently interrupt a speaker, especially a grandchild, in order to correct. The one I remember most was his dislike for the use of ...
12
votes
3answers
262 views
Can I use “US-American” to disambiguate “American”? If not, what can I use?
Based on this question, I wonder: as an alternative to USAian (which is very nonstandard) is it OK to use US-American to more clearly indicate "inhabitant of the USA"?
According to Google Ngram, this ...
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 ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Is ‘Take something cum grano salis’ a popular phrase? Can I use it in casual conversation?
I came across the phrase, ‘cum grano salis’ in the article written by Chris Cillizza, a political pundit in the August 8th Washington Post’s article under the title ‘GOP smells blood in Presidential ...
6
votes
3answers
9k views
“Consist in” vs. “consist of”
I would like to have this clear once and for all:
What is the correct use of consist in / consist of?
"Meditation consists in/of attentive watchfulness."
"The body consists in/of cells."
...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Difference between “no” and “nope” [closed]
When is it correct to use no and nope? Is there any difference between them?
6
votes
5answers
2k views
Do native English speakers use the word “touristic”?
A word usage that always annoys me and feels like Euroenglish to me is "touristic".
I don't believe I've ever seen it printed or heard it used by a native English speaker and I've travelled in most ...
6
votes
5answers
16k views
Usage of 'Dear All'
Is it correct to use "Dear All" at the beginning of the e-mail, when you are writing to more than one person?
It seems so informal to me. Is there any better way?
6
votes
2answers
1k views
What does it mean to call something Leviathan in comparison to others?
Wordweb describes Leviathan as:
The largest or most massive thing of its kind
Monstrous sea creature symbolizing evil in the Old Testament
A recent Economist article (see The drug war ...
